Advent: Nine Days and counting!

Today I was called on the carpet for letting so much time go by since writing on my blog. (And I deserved it!!!) So I would like to say hi and explain a little about the delay.

I enjoyed a couple of weeks visiting my family in MA and Vermont. They all managed to take time to get together one weekend, and we had such a good time. My Niece and Nephews, Bother and Sister-in Law are all leading interesting things and are great fun to be with.

When I got home, I had the Art on the Prairie show in Perry to prepare for. It was such a great show!! It was fun to visit with friend, old and new.

Artist-Daughter Betsy Peterson and her husband officially had the Grand Opening of their shop, just east of Perry on 141 on Nov, 20th, and I was with them to welcome folks Some of my Santas are in the shop. (First place after the radio station, going east)

I've been busy creating and have had folks come to the house to get their driftwood Santa. )Maybe I should have a Christmas Open House next year!??)

I have a "driftwood folkart" site on facebook, and that's had some activity recently.

In order to keep connected to you, I'm going to close for now, and promise to be back soon!

I hope all your Christmas preparations.......... in ALL areas of your life!!.......... are accomplishing what you HOPE for!

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

Sun Shine!

What a beautiful week we've had!!! It's been warm and sunny-- a welcome change from the very wet summer we've had!

The Valley Junction Art Market was mostly fun. Setting up and taking down is the hard part. The drizzly rain slowed down everyone. One of the best parts was seeing folks we hadn't seen since closing the FOLKART shop! Jill, Leyria and Jackie were so much help and moral support!! I would have had a difficult time trying to do the show alone, and was/am grateful for their help. It was an invigorating day!

After a much looked-forward to trip to visit family in New England, I look forward to doing a show at the HOTEL PATTEE, in Perry on November 13-14. The show,"Art on the Prairie", (see their website www.destination33.com/artonthe prairie ) promises to be special, with an interesting variety of artists. This is their first annual show, and I look forward meeting other artists, and hopefully meeting new and old friends and customers.

I also have santas, and lots of other pieces in Betsy and Eric's Perry shop, on Rt, 141, east of Perry. They are planning 2 open houses around each side of Thanksgiving, and they will have their newly and beautifully built shop open for these weekends.

These days of dry weather have given me time to get the boat ready to float again, and it's all snuggly covered, ready for Winter and perhaps, a new life with a new owner in the spring!??

Your inquiries are welcome, and I hope you will contact me by email or phone if you have special requests or ideas.

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

Jumping into Fall!

It's been a busy, wet summer, and I've left this spot without writing for quite a while.
I sense Fall in the air today, as the leaves begin to cover the patio and trees turn a little color.
I've been keeping up with Santa-creating, but have added some new Fall pieces:
some driftwood scarecrows, as well as pumpkins, witches, loons and jack 0'lanterns.

Gathering driftwood has been difficult this year. The lake has been too high to get to
the wood, and I'm almost ashamed to admit, that I had enough collected from other years to get
by. Except for the wonderful opportunity I had early in the summer. A wedding reception
on the shore of the lake, provided a beautiful batch of wood, and I was blessed to have a
group of faithful friends help me fill the bags FULL!

Last week the Marina called to say my boat was listing to the starboard, and
investigating, proved there was a leak in the pontoon. It took 2 days to get it to the trailer,
drained, and back on dry land. And the generosity of a good friend who helped at every stage.
Boating is over for this year, and maybe for a long time. I may decide it's time to pass the
boat, LIBERTY, to a new owner. It's been part of my routine and pleasure and work for 25 years.

Facebook has provided a spot for setting up a sort of website. I"m using it these days
to let folks see what I will have at the Fall Valley Junction Art Market on September 19th, 10-5.
Maybe someone who hadn't known, would like to come and see all that will be there. I'm looking
forward to being on 5th Street again!

Please check out the spots set up to share the 2010 folkart pieces I've created to brighten
the busy days ahead.

Till later........
Marge

Red-White and Blue all over the place!

The Flag days of Spring and Summer reach a peak on July 4! I've posted photos reflecting that season.

Now, guess what! I'm going to show you the first of this year's Santa collection. Many of these santas
will be headed for B&E's Perry Shop in the next few days.

Their shop is on the South side of Rt.141 just east of Perry.
They've designed and built a quaint and delightful shop on their land, among the several white barns.
It's easy to spot as you drive along, about a mile east of town.

It's never been too early to have the santas featured, as they are collected all year long.
This year I have a new figure of St. Nicolas to bring to your notice.

I'm encouraged that I'll make it as I keep looking for new venues and find exciting new opportunities
showing up.

The boat is finally back in the lake, after a high-water scare, so I'll be doing some of my painting and weaving
out there for the next few months.

I'll be looking forward to hearing from you by phone and email mwmfolkart@raccoon.com or facebook!

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

A New Beginning.......

It is with regret that the web site trAloola is 'signing off.' This site-and the developer- have afforded a great platform for me to display and sell my artwork. It was a dream that I hope will find a new way to be expressed by its creator!

So when that goes away after this month, I will try to use this site to share pieces of art you might like to see and/or have.

You may contact me by e mail at < mwmfolkart@raccoon.com >
I will attach here, some Fourth of July pieces. You can e mail me to learn more about any one piece, and others you would like to special order.

Thanks to all of you who have been regular visitors. Please check back often!

I will keep you alerted to any other changes

till later......
Marge Wedge Mable

Another wonderful day!

It's a great day to be outside doing some of the yard work that's calling to me. First, though I want to address this blog to fellow artists who may be trying to figure out how to find a market for our creations.

It's discouraging to keep creating and have no outlet, nor finding the right way to get it to our 'public'. For me, the labor of doing shows isn't possible, (The exception will be to do the September ART FEST in my old stomping grounds of Valley Junction, when I expect to have new Santas and angels, and fish and a booth full of what our FOLKART SHOP had.)

Many friends have made good suggestions on ways for me to market, but it isn't shows on a regular basis, and it doesn't seem to be working for me to be online. I think I've figured out that people want to see and touch the art, while talking to the creator.
I'm not convinced that it's just the "economy" now, either!

If anyone is is interested in getting together some sort of "art marketing guild", please let me know. I would hope for a group of creative minds to share our thoughts and come up with a workable way to keep in business. I've talked with several of you about this, but hope we can be more deliberate and successful at finding our way.

I hope you will get in touch with me, and that we can work out a strategy for getting to the public.

Hoping to hear from you........

Marge

I've posted my nephew's ICE AGE Scrat. because he has perseverved through three movies to find his acorn....... and I'm sure our acorn waits!

Another wonderful day!

What a day!

This warm sunny, breezy Spring day is close to perfection! It's the kind of day that calls me to get out the paints and camera, to try to capture the variety of greens in the landscape.

I'm very fortunate to live on a wooded spot, with Oaks, Walnuts,Maples, Pines, Cedars, and shrubs that are a fresh yellow green. I'm also keeping a close eye on my Red Bud tree. I don't want to miss any of its coloring.

It's been a good time to do a little transplanting of Lillies of the Valley. I wish I'd thought earlier, of starting some in a shady spot where the Hostas are. They spread so well that I probably could have good ground cover by now.

Summer plans progress as we await Jill and Tom's visit from their missions work in Romania. Jill enjoys kayaking, so we hope for some nice lake days to enjoy that together. One of the milestones of this summer is Lauren and Ben's wedding. It will be celebrated in PA. with family and friends. I finally have my outfit chosen, altered and ready to go. The final touch for it, is the "Barbara Bush pearl look", appropriate for the Grandmother of the bride !! There's a lot of creative scurrying around to insure that this be an elegantly simple day! It's hard to be so far away during the preparations, but we communicate on a pretty regular basis. I also will be getting the boat ready to put in the lake soon.

To return to the painting theme......... I've discovered a painter-teacher, David Dunlop on "Create TV". He has an interesting and motivating teaching method. This is a good day to take advantage of his motivation, and see if I can bring a Spring painting into being today.

So Please enjoy these wonderful Spring days with me!

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

AAHHHhhhh......... Spring!

The calendar says "Spring", and the weather is cooperating today to make it believable! I just came back from my daily walk, all energized to do something. I guess this is the first 'something' I will get to.

This being the day after Palm Sunday, will bring Lent to a close, after the journey through this week will come the "Alleluia!!!" day! Easter is such a wonderful day of daffodils, and lillies, and family and joyous celebration!

There are no Grandchildren who are young enough to dream about the Easter Bunny, but we've devised a clever 'hunt and shop' plan that works well and doesn't overload with sugar. (The oldest 2 of 11 grandchildren are married, and the youngest will be 10 soon.)

I've made a few driftwood rabbits, but my driftwood supply badly needs refreshing. I've taken the boating steps to help with collecting a new supply . The boat, "LIBERTY" is now registered, and the slip at Big Creek is locked in. I'm working on making a table top to replace the one lost in a storm last summer, and will aim to get it launched around the first of May. Hope this week is an omen of the kind of summer we have ahead. Sunny and in the 70º's all week.

Wednesday I'm looking forward to giving a talk on Folk Art in Urbandale. It's been fun to prepare what to say and what to take to display to encourage audience questions . Writing a 'script' went easily, and I've organized about a dozen areas of what I consider folk art, and will display pieces in each catagory........... including "decorative pieces" so I will take some driftwood Santas, and Sams, and rabbits, etc. Maybe it's even time to re-introduce the all-season-necklace!

I look forward to being among folks who will have come to listen because they're interested in the Arts. I already know several friends who will be there, and it will be fun to visit with them.

I wish everyone a Happy Easter !!
I've enjoyed our visit.

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

Marge

A touch of Spring!

This is one of the nicest days we've had here in ages, and it feels so good to see a hint of what Spring holds for us. (I'm avoiding thinking about tornado season!)

I've had a quiet winter, but glad not to have to get to the shop on some of those snowy days.

It's been really hard, after our 29 years of having the FOLKART SHOP not to be in touch with all the folks we came to call friends. I stop in the old shop occassionally (which is in the process of being sold, and the reason we felt it was time to move last year, before it became a 'rush- get-out" kind of move.)

Betsy and Eric will be opening their Perry shop in a few months and have asked me to have some of my work there. I will plan on helping out some...... maybe a day a week. I'm looking forward to that.

I'm taking a break from working on a couple of small paintings now. Looking out on the back yard isn't very colorful yet, but it's provided subject matter enough to get my brush moving!

Happy St. Patrick's Day and Happy Spring!

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

Marge

Winter White!

Iowa has had a very consistent landscape this season. We've enjoyed...mostly!!!... having the ground covered with a blanket of snow since early December. I recall trudging to school in Vermont, along a path made on top of the plowed snow piles. The snow this year, in Iowa, is taking me back to Eastern winters of sledding and skiing and happy snow times of childhood.

This morning I've shoveled enough snow to get in and out of my driveway, I've worked on two paintings, and vacuumed... a little! I've put final touches on writing a talk I'm giving next month on the subject of folk art. Usually, I don't enjoy "speaking" to groups, but this is fun to prepare for, and to plan what pieces of folk art I will take to share with the group, the folk art I've been creating for the shop and web sites.

I'm so looking forward to attending the Thursday (2,25) evening debut of a magazine Dave and Dee have been building, called "Iowa Momentum Endurance Sports". All has seemed to fall into place for their interests and talents to combine in this venue. They are active bikers, runners, and swimmers, and have many athletic friends whose stories will be able to be told in the magazine. For local's it will be free on racks all over Iowa. And can be subscribed to from their site. So keep your eyes pealed for it's public debut . March 1, 2010!

Today I sent in my boat registration, committing to another year on the lake in my 25 year old pontoon boat, "Liberty". I look forward to having Jill home for the summer, so we can do some kayaking together.

But before that, starts, we have a wedding in PA. to celebrate! My first Grandaughter is being married to a special young man. It will be a fun family time! Some of us are flying, and some driving.... but all of us looking forward to being together for such a special event.

I'm getting way ahead of myself, and better get back to painting! It's been fun to share with you. I hope you're each finding pleasure in the snows of this winter.

till later........

Marge

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