One Year later.....

If looking for something coastal and artsy to do mid week next week...come see me at the 4th Annual Bar Harbor Fine Crafts Show!

 

 

Three Dog Farm's yummy radishes at the Lubec Open Air Market

Saturday mornings, 9-11 a.m.

 

 

Bello hanging out in our garden. The garden has grown a lot since this pic was taken. Primarily weeds...but happy to report that we are enjoying plenty of kale, swiss chard, basil, and we just ate the first tomato and pea pod yesterday!

 

 

 

Chris giving it his best shot at saving the garden from a complete takeover by weeds.

 

 

Lisa Dellwo's encaustic piece that was created during a workshop that I presented a couple weeks ago.

http://dellwo.zenfolio.com/

 

 

Lisa Tyson Ennis working on an encaustic piece with embedded porcupine quills during a workshop that I presented a couple weeks ago.

http://www.lisatysonennis.com/

 

 

 Be sure not to miss this!

DIFFERENT and DIVERSE

Ann Rosebrooks and Jean Bookman artworks on exhibit at Lubec Landmarks

August 1-13, 2013

The opening was fabulous - show looks great. Check it out!!

 

 

 Greta Bell's R/evolving Circus at West Quoddy Visitor Center

A bicycle powered community storybook!

Greta's traveling carousel displays revolving paintings powered by her bike. While the images spin, Greta tells stories associated with the objects.

Watch this wonderful short video about the project!

 

 

 Mixing encaustic medium made up of melted beeswax and dammar resin.

 

 

Live music at this summer's Lubec Open Air Market has been a mainstay. Fred Pierce of Cobscook Bay Music has done a wonderful job organizing and Summer Keys faculty and students offer up their talents, too!

 

 

Last weekend's Lubec Market started out with three musicians and it quickly grew to six. I don't know everyones  name, and everyone was awesome, but have to mention that the young fiddler from North Carolina was incredible - such talent at such a young age!!! And the guest appearance by Liz Rogers was such a wonderful surprise.

Had a great time vending my wares in Bar Harbor at the Maine Crafts Guild MDI Directions show. Thirty-eight years running and chock full of amazing artisans from all over Maine! I'll be back in Bar Harbor with my pottery in a couple weeks at the Maine Crafts Guild Bar Harbor Show, August 14-16 at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Conference Center. Swing on by and say hi if you're in the area!

It's been a while since I last blogged. I do believe that life has been a wee bit hectic of late. It has been just about one year to the day that I decided to toss in the towel on school teaching and embark on the full time potter/artist journey. Even though I had been working as a potter/artist for many years, I had not fully committed myself due to teaching. Hindsight, I have no regrets. It has been an amazing year, one of self-discovery.

I was able to take some time during the winter months to put the bulk of my energies toward my Master's work. I got a taste of being "the artist" for a bit and boy oh boy it sure was tantalizing. Now that summer has hit and I am in the throws of tourist season and vending craft shows, I am thinking that this coming winter I will need to balance my schedule a bit more so that I can focus as well on the functional works in preparation for next summer. I have always had a hearty work ethic and putting in extra hours does not deter me, but I must admit that I had no full idea of what it takes to be a potter by trade. The work sells as fast as it exits the kiln and commission jobs pile up quick. You would think potters would be rich due to this fact, but no, it just isn't so. It is a labor of love. In the summer, tending shop and traveling to shows is full time work in and of itself. I think if I tweak my ratio of pottery to art this coming winter, then I will be able to find a reprieve from the sixteen hour work days and maybe...just maybe...be able to add in a bit play. Summer is short here in Maine, best not waste it!

Things are moving along and each day is meaningful. In-between greeting shop visitors I manage to pot and carve. People are usually greeted by a messy, clay-covered, holey and glaze-stained shirted me and somehow they are (usually) brave enough to stick around for a while to check out the pottery. I have to embarrassingly say once in a while that I clean up well. At least I think I do. On days I am away for business Chris graciously takes over shop duties. He sets up his writing space in the downstairs and greets visitors as they arrive. I know it isn't ideal for his writing sessions so I surely do appreciate his willingness to help.

The past month or so was a flurry of activity. Lubec Arts Alive happened but is still in progress. Dealing with weather and a small committee with scattered schedules has been a challenge. The project is super cool but is taking just a bit longer to bring to fruition than anticipated. It seemed that we were working against the tide to pull the project together but are so grateful that we have had the assistance of artist John McMurray. If you want to create something funky and fun that moves...he's the expert on it! 

While trying to get LAA up and running, I noticed lots of other little things not going exactly as planned. And even more specifically, almost everything technological started to kick out on us. I jokingly said "what is it...Mercury in retrograde?" Well...I found out that indeed it was! I always thought I was exempt from this astrological phenomenon and quite frankly did not put much stock in....that was until this past month. Let's see. This summer we have dealt with broken printer, computer, lawnmower, credit card machine, telephone system, cable, and CD player. Aside from that, postal deliveries went awry, supply orders showed up damaged, and just in general plans did not work out. It got to one point that I went to market to stock up on a few days' groceries with the intention of not leaving the house for a while until the universe settled itself down a bit.

All else seems to be going well, though. The Lubec Open Air Market has been a beautiful, yummy, musically-delightful presence downtown this summer. I love seeing the faces of friends who return from far-off places and the general energy is very uplifting. Lots of smiles and hugs and catching-up.

I am pulled away fairly often with pottery business and a couple weeks ago I had my first Bar Harbor vending experience. The crafters at the MDI Directions show were amazing. I left feeling that I really need to step-up my game as far as booth display. Still, I need to work within the parameters of a teeny economy car. So, yes, there are limitations. I also need to tweak which work I choose to represent me to the greater audience. There is a learning curve, but I am learning. I return to Bar Harbor next week for another fine craft venue with the Maine Crafts Guild. I am working pretty steadily to rebuild stock in time for travel. Kiln is firing as I write this entry and as soon as I post, I go back to glazing for three more firings before I hit the road.

I best get back to work!

Forgive me if I don't take the time to edit grammar and spelling!!!

Note:

VisitLubecMaine website just updated their website. It is a fairly comprehensive resource for lodging, dining, and shopping in Lubec. Also, for a listing of cultural events in the area, visit CulturePass site.