flying lessons

Delicious color! Super-talented artist Helen Shafer Garcia was teaching this week at the Art and Soul Retreat in Portland and I grabbed the opportunity to take her "Batik Flora and Fauna" workshop. The colorful, folk art quality of Helen's current work really resonated with me. The class combined watercolor painting and collage, and I was completely hooked!

Helen is an excellent teacher with a fun sense of humor and laid-back style.

There was a pile of inspirational material to choose from in class to get us started.

I almost had this finished by the end of class, which was satisfying. Can't wait to do more!

working on

I've been on a jewelry-making jag lately...getting a head start on some things for the PAC holiday show. Some of the soldered pendants I made a few months ago are now necklaces.

The findings and beads collected in the past year or so are coming together for earrings.

Did I mention that I am the "featured artist" for this month on the Portland Art Collective blog?
If you scroll down a bit there, you'll find my moment in the spotlight. :)

treasures...and oysters

It's been a good summer for treasure hunting...this last weekend in Astoria, Oregon and on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington was some of the best. Art buddies Paula and Jan joined me this time for a little relaxation and fun at the coast. Our first stop was in Astoria where we visited several shops and galleries. And there were cupcakes, oh yes! But I think our favorite place in town was Dots 'N Doodles art supply store; amazing goods and the shop owners are beyond great!
There were several spots out on Long Beach Peninsula to find vintage goodies, including Raven's Haven and Nahcotta Antiques and Collectibles.

The weather was brilliant...these gulls were catching a few rays on Willapa Bay near Oysterville.

We looked on as bags of newly harvested oysters were unloaded at the dock.

We all agreed that this trip was a perfect way to spend one of our last summer weekends.

city by the bay

Throngs of tourists. The smells of sourdough bread and steaming crab pots along the wharf. The familiar sight of that famous bridge. Barking sea lions and street musicians. One brief day in San Francisco, my birthday. And I enjoyed every minute.

The Golden Gate is more interesting to see from the water below.

The best name in bread.

Need I say more?

An evening stroll along the wharf.

These boisterous salmon-nabbers seem to be much more welcome here than below the damn on the Columbia River.

Watching the sun set behind Alcatraz from the end of the pier. It's corny, and printed on every other tee-shirt in the City, but....I do love San Francisco.

charming gardeners

summer scenes

I didn't want this month to end without adding a few more photos here; a somewhat random sampling of the last week or so, mostly at the coast.

A Bald Eagle!...sitting on the beach near Ocean Park, Washington; seeming to wait for the fisherman to throw something its way.

My favorite Oysterville garden; there are different things blooming at each spring and summer visit. This time the garden was full of Foxglove (digitalis purpurea). Those tall stalks of flowers are really striking.

There were a lot of dogs hanging out at the Saturday Market in Ilwaco; I think Charlie took the prize for "coolest canine".

My friend, Cynthia, shopping for felted goods at the Market.

We picked up some fresh salmon for dinner, which Cynthia cooked perfectly. Yum!!

At home, the new sewing machine was given a first run on a quilt project.

I hope you are enjoying this season.

a june give-away

I really love June; the days are so long, and even though it's not quite summer-y yet in the Northwest, you can feel that it's near. A few of my pals have, or are about to have, new grand babies this month. Everything is lush and green from our wet spring. I celebrated my daughter's birthday. Enjoyed time with friends--and some days alone at the beach. Made a few things, and brought home a new sewing machine. A full month it's been, already.

I'm offering up a couple of my pieces at the Portland Art Collective blog this month; a hand-bound blank journal and soldered pendant necklace. Just hop on over to the PAC blog and leave a comment at the June Give-Away post to enter the drawing to have both of these items sent your way.