Spring is truly here

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......and I've just finished mowing the lawn........ guess I've had my workout for the day!!
It's been a busy time with graduations, wedding showers, birthdays, doctors visits ....... etc.
I've had cataract surgery on both eyes, and I'm amazed at the clarity that eveyone told me
would be the result. I need only "drug store" reading glasses, and can see everything so vividly!

I've been having fun painting, too. I have done a series if 8"x8*' acrylic barn-roof simple paintings. They go together well as a grouping, but each one shows well on its own.
I've been trying to set up another trAloola booth for just my paintings, but I keep hitting road bumps.
I'm not sure it's going to work, but if it does, it will be: .

Yesterday Jackie, Betsy and I had our first experience at the Valley Junction Farmer's Market.
Lots and lots of people we there. It was a fun time, and good exposure for our Folk Art shop. The weather was ideal for our first try. We'll be doing it (almost) every Thursday night 3-5 in front of the Community Center (where the restrooms are!). We're on a learning curve that I'm sure it will be a worthwhile adventure.

I wish each of you moms a happy Mother's day! And I look forward to sharing the day with my family, as well as remembering some very happy times with my own special Mother.

Till later,
Marge

Definitely Spring!

We're at the very edge of Spring. Maybe there's even a little 'Spring fever' in the air! As I write, I'm at home, having left the shop early, since the only one to darken the door was the mailman! The"guys"suggested that they could watch our folkart shop, so I decided there were lots of things I could do at home today..... this, being one of them!

I've been enjoying doing some small paintings, and am waiting for my banner to be finished, so I can set up that website. It will be called < m wedge m paintings >. I hope to get it started in the next few weeks. It's the "Wedge" genes in me that make me want to paint, so I wanted to honor that. Those genes have been especially obvious in the generation of my children and neices and nephews, and on down to their children: Graphic artists, painters, movie makers, architects, fabric artists, carvers, potters, writers ......... ad infinitum!

It's been almost a month since I've touched base here, but wanted to let you know the driftwood folkart site is always being up-dated, and since joining facebook, a whole new world has opened up with fun and interesting connections. I've signed up on twitter, too, but haven't spent enough time on it to know how to navigate.

Hope to be in touch soon, as we welcome Spring's new life!

Marge

Thinking Spring!

March has started!! And Spring officially arrives this month! Guess we all know that, but it's good to be reminded.

The shop was a busy fun spot yesterday. The sun brought folks out and groups of us thought it would have been fun, through the years to have set up a corner for socializing. That gets done, even tho' we're not really set up for it. Good things happen!

The shop,"Folkart", by the way, is located at 333 Fifth Street, in Valley Junction (West Des Moines) Iowa, 50265. I know lots of people pass through this area to spots north and south...... even east and west. So if you're anywhere near, come and check us out. We've been at the same spot (across from the 'pink house') for almost 28 years. The shop, gratefully, has brought many new friends into our lives.
A young couple came in the shop recently, and after they'd been there looking around awhile, her parents came in after their 3 hour drive. They made Folkart their meeting place! It's close enough to the interstate to be a good spot to meet.
If you're not going out, and are spending some time at the computer, check the website noted at the side. I'll soon be adding pieces to make it look "Springier".

Till later,
Marge

Sun on snow

The sun is casting long blue shadows on the snow as I write. I guess it's still winter, tho' we've had a few Spring-like days to remind us that it's coming!
There have been some good painting days, inspired by the snow and trees. I think some nostalgia is part of my loving to paint in the winter. Growing up in Upstate New York gave lots of exposure to snowy fun and so, good feelings about snowy days.
I recently had a fun email from a stranger in Texas, who had googled, and dug till she found my address. She posted a small, signed painting of mine that I had done in 1993, and which she had bought at an estate sale! We've had fun corresponding , and have found many uncanny connections. I did get her permission to write about this, but it's been great fun to know that my paintings have traveled to places I've never been!
Yesterday I was given the gift of a table made beautifully from 2 big walnut scraps I'd given the maker. It was a great surprise, and is a cherished piece of art. It was made by the maker of the beautiful Windsor chairs we have in our Folk Art shop.
There was a mention in the sermon today about Kansas, and when I inquired more about it, the person mentioned probably teaches at the same university as a distant cousin of mine!
Seems each step we take brings something new and unexpected. That reminds me of a customer who came in the shop a few years ago. Squire Rushnell, who had written the book, WHEN GOD WINKS. It talks at length about how many times coincidence comes into our lives, as a wink from God! I've had a number of good winks recently, and hope you become aware of some of the winks you're getting.
Thanks for taking time to visit, and I hope you'll check out the new rabbits and Liberties and Uncle Sams on my website, Driftwood Folkart. I'd be glad to talk with you about special orders if you have something specific in mind.
Till later.......

New Patriotic Valentine thoughts.....

New hope has come to our country as of January 20th! It feels good to combine a heart and a flag in a loving visual Valentine message.

I'm really proud of the opportunities we have in this country
to follow our hearts in pursuit of our dreams. The economy
has put up some roadblocks, but hasn't changed our ability to
follow dreams----sometimes in new directions than we'd thought.

With the power of our faith, we can keep working to reach out to each other with whatever gifts we have been given. I hope to bring hope and - to have hope-in what the future holds.

To see more hearts on my website, click on the upper right of this page.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Mid Winter? Not quite!!

Here it is the middle of January, and the ground is all covered with a fresh coat of snow! As I shoveled the end of the driveway, the piles of snow reminded me of the path made on top of similar snow piles, as we walked to and from our Burlington, VT. "primary"school--quite a few years ago!

This is the time of year I yearn to paint 'real' paintings. And yesterday I got started on the backgrounds of a couple of winter paintings. It felt so good that I'm going back to the studio area today and work on them. I'm looking into ways of posting paintings for sale, because I have a whole room filled with paintings I've done through the years, and something in me wants to share them. Maybe even to sell them. It will take time, discipline and know-how to get them on a site that will accomplish that, but I have "people" who might find time to help.

Now--- Maybe a bite of lunch, then down to the paint to release my "inner artist". (A college art professor once told the class that we became artists the moment we picked up a paint brush and laid down paint.)

My driftwood folkart website is overly heavy with Santas now, but I have de-activated a number of them, and have added some new driftwood pieces. You may want to check it out. I've also added a few of the many wooden heart-Valentines I've been making recently. It's getting time to order those, and to get ready for the "driftwood bunny invasion" that's already begun.

Enjoy the snow, at least the visual beauty........ And take time to feed the birds, too.
Marge

2009 today!!
It's 2009!! Welcome to this promising year!
With all the changes anticipated for the year
I feel good about the possibilities ahead.

To welcome this year, I was treated to a delightful
dinner with good friends, who are as close as family.
We then progressed to the Civic Center to enjoy
the Des Moines Symphony's "cirque de la symphonie",
a soul-filling evening of rich music and amazing acts
by cirque artist-acrobats.

What a positive way to start the year: growing good
friendships and being among people who are
appreciative of the arts!

I feel hopeful for what the year holds. It will involve
big changes and being "clever" about dealing with
these changes, but mostly having the faith that "no
doubt things are unfolding as they should".

May we all "keep on keeping on" and trusting in a year
that will see steps toward peace and stability.

Hope to meet you here soon again.
Marge