January ice!

The white ground still inspires, and I'm closer to getting started with my paintings . I've been waiting to 'turn on' the "easel-painting" button!........ and I think it's starting today. I'm all set up to start as soon as I post this memo!

From collecting driftwood in summer, 'till Christmas, I have the fun of creating pieces from the collection of interesting driftwood gathered ..... mostly that is when I create Santas to make sure the Christmas Santa collection is filled with interesting uniques pieces.

Now, after finishing Santa-time, I have time for non-structured creative painting.

After enjoying that for awhile, I'll be ready to move onto making Valentine hearts, fun driftwood rabbits, Uncle Sams, Liberties, and whatever else a particular piece of wood calls for!

Sometimes it's a duck or turkey or turtle or guinie hen....... I never know! But stay in touch to see what's new!

So, on this icey afternoon in mid January, I will be creating and enjoying this beatiful winter day!

Be sure to take a look at each of my sites, listed at the right, and discover what's there and waiting for you to enjoy!

Till later........

Marge

Winter daze

Apologies for my absence through the Christmas Holidays! I've been busy And after all the busy-ness, I've been kind of down. It's been an emotional struggle not to see my friends at our Folkart Shop! In the normal getting-ready-for-Christmas, I was kept busy preparing in every way one does. PREPARATION is the big word for Advent, and that applies to body and Spirit!

It was several days after Christmas before I realized how much I missed the shop, and all the people I was missing seeing. I have developed so many friendships through the shop! I have missed visiting with friends. Through phone, Facebook , e mails and Skype, I've been able to visit with

folks, but it's good to relate in person.

Through their good-heartedness, I was invited to have my santas at 2 open houses. It was fun to be a small part of those, but I realized that my Driftwood Santas need a shop, called Folkart in Valley Junction, and meeting one-on-one with customers that is what my Santas are about!

My "Driftwood Folkart"website wasn't as successful as I had hoped, tho' there was a little activity. Thanks to Kellie, founder of trAloola, for coming to my house to help me set up a new website for my paintings. Please click here on the address below and take a look. (Neither site is available by clicking on this blog!?....... YET!)

https://www.traloola.com/artist/m.wedgem.paintings

We're still in the process of building two sites on the under the trAlooa umbrella, and hopefully, it will be worked out soon.

I've been starting to do some post-Christmas painting, and I so enjoy the snowy landscape we're covered with now. We still have about 2' of snow here--and now that we're plowed out, it's so peaceful and inspirational to look outside. Built-in scenes, waiting to be put on canvas and paper!

Thanks for keeping up with my blog. I'll try to be much more attentive to additions here!

(The painting shown is called "Dancing Trees". It is a 16"x20" acrylic.)

Till later..........

Marge

Snow days

How busy we get and leave out important things, like keeping up on our blog!! Sorry!
The neighborhood is covered with a beautiful Christmas snow that puts us in the spirit of Christmas........... after we've plowed out!!!

This is a time of anticipation and hope as we prepare for Christmas! And sometimes the preparation
gets out of control in the effort to shop and bake and paint and wrap and clean and .......... all that part of Christmas!

So........ it's good to slow down and reflect on the 'why' of Christmas and be able to share our
love with family and friends.

I wish all of you the blessings of Christmas.

Till later.......
Marge

Combining Seasons!

And now we've come to that time of year when all the seasons overlap, and we working artists must be creating pieces for the next season. Though I have been making this year's Santas since August! And oddly, I have only been out for driftwood 'hunts' only two times this year!! (This is because of my earlier back problems.) I have been storing up a very adequate driftwood stock, obviously! I still have my eye on a couple of large pieces I saw out there earlier, and you never know what other special shaped piece of wood could be found to make an exceptional Santa!

As of last week, I have been having the roof re-done, and so there's a little change of schedule with that, and the big--huge!!--dumpster sitting in the driveway! And in the midst of one of our rainest days, I discovered the battery on my main car was dead, so I've been grateful to have the little convertable to drive around. It's just that with the top up, I can't see very well, and it's just a sunny day car, usually! I got a battery on the way home from church today, and think Dave's going to find time to install it. I kind of identified with the reading from Job this morning in church.

This space isn't for complaints! So..... the good news is that soon some Christmas open houses will be coming up, beginning Nov.13th at June Wildash's, then, one of several that Betsy is having in Perry, starting on Sat. Nov 21st. I'll have santas at each of those. Plus! SISTER'S at 202 5th Street in Valley Junction has invited some of my santas to be part of their Christmas celebration!
It will be fun to have a Valley Junction presence again, and I hope we'll have to re-stock from time to time!

Of course my driftwood folkart site on trAloola has plenty of santas, and more variety than I'll get to the shows, so take a peak there--on and off. Pieces will leave, and others will be added.

Have some santa painting to do now, so......

till later.........
Marge

A couple of things......

For those of you in the Des Moines area, Tomorrow morning on Channel 8 (KCCI) at 8:40 AM, Kellie Markey will be telling the story of the "art show site" she has developed. She will be pointing out how to access our sites (booths), and more about some of the local work that is available through trAloola.com.

I have been working on a few Fallish pieces,(a couple of driftwood pumpkins and witches--) and have a pretty good start on the 2009 santa collection, as pictured.

I'll see you here soon to let you know where I'll be showing locally, as the season unfolds.

So, till later...........

Marge

Winter Atmosphere

It'way too long since posting here! It's a combination of ways I'm learning to let go of the last 28 years of having the shop. The snow today is an inspiration, and is a fitting compliment to my day of painting driftwood Santas, with a fire crackling in the fireplace. A cozy day!

The boat is on dry land in its spot by the driveway. We took it out early, but I'm grateful it's home and the stress of weather-worry is over. I still must cover it for the winter, but I'm sure there will be sunny October days ahead when I can do it.

Yesterday, I guess I sensed what today would bring. After a trip to the library for a couple of books and a movie, I came home to set up the trailer on the mower and the chain saw, and cut up some logs in the woodpile....some of which are now burning nicely in the fireplace, and some are dry in the woodbox, and some are by the door, covered with snow.

There are several outlets for my santas, including Valley Junction, Perry, and of course my website, which can be accessed by clicking on the trAloola icon here. (I'm working on getting better photos posted!)

Note the turkeys and pilgrims that are pictured on my "booth"

Sorry for those of you, especially Jackie and Russ at Covered Bridge, Dave and Dee biking at Honey Creek, and friend June showing in Galena today. I hope you're having a good day and finding the snow improving the mood of all.

Hopefully, I'm going to be up-dating here again --sooner than this last delay. So, back to the paint,another log on the fire, and a good afternoon.

Thanks to so many of you who have shown support and encouragement.........

And.....Till later.......
Marge

A Sunny Fall Day!