I had such a great weekend....for a lot of reasons.

1.) I met some really great artists in the valley here who make their living being artists, year-round, and they all are so excited for me, and want to see my art succeed....that kind of open-arms-community is really refreshing and positive. Jennifer and Erik, you rock.

2.) It really is okay to wear a ribbon, with the title "ARTIST". I have always struggled with this word, and I believe all artists, makers, crafters, creators....whatever you want to call yourself...have also struggled with that title at one point or another. I am coming to peace with my inner "Fuck that....I don't need to define me....to anyone" attitude, and I am trying on for size this word: Artist.

3.)I made back my money, and then some. Maybe not the clamoring for jewels that I had imagined, and got pretty nervous for, but definitely enough. And so thats cool.

4.) First time for everything. Always something to learn, someone to meet. I passed out a LOT of business cards, so that is cool too.

Being my first "show", this was definitely a good one to start on.....

so now back to the studio, 'cuz Bigfork Arts Festival is next!

Arts in the Park!

Arts in the Park!

Crazy Potters next to me were the best part of the weekend, Jennifer and Erik.

They make the most beautiful Wood-Fired work, really beautiful stuff.

I think they were my favorite part of this show, always lucky to get stuck next to VERY fun people all weekend....

More on the weekend later, gotta run to my "real job" this morning.....

Cheers, ERin

You see, I want a lot.

Perhaps I want everything:

The darkness that comes with every infinite fall

and the shivering blaze of every step up.

So many live on and want nothing,

and are raised to the rank of prince

by the slippery ease of their light judgments.

But what you love to see are faces

that do work and feel thirst.

You love most of all those who need you

as they need a crowbar or a hoe.

You have not grown old, and it is not too late

to dive into your increasing depths

where life calmly gives out its own secret.

~Rainer Maria Rilke

Here we go folks.........wish me luck. Many thanks to everyone who wrote via facebook or here, you all are amazing. I really love that I have a web of love out there, just to grab onto, whenever I need it. Very sincerely, Erin

.......

okay....so getting a little nervous for this thing this weekend

.......Not gonna lie.

Arts in the Park is in kalispell friday, saturday, and sunday

....and i really have no idea what to expect. None. Nothing. Nada.

I had to pay a boot-full of money to be in it (and for shows i am sure it is on the low-cost end of things, but man, sure does suck to put up a couple hundo and not know if it's going to be seen again) . It is juried, and photos were judged early spring, the whole gamut went down before alaska. And at the time sounded like the next step....

I have been doing farmers markets this summer, and have been for a few summers now, but this is TOTALLY different. Playing with the big kids this time folks, and hopefully I dont look like the snotty-nosed little kid on the bike with the training wheels and clickety-clackety things on my bike spokes....

I think the scary thing about this show is that it's three days, from 9-6 saturday and sunday....and 10-5 sunday. What the F am I going to do for that long!??? What if i have to pee???? What if I dont sell anything??? What if I sell Everything????? WHat if my prices are too high....too low???? What if's continue on and on and on and on.......and it is driving me crazy!!!!! If you have any "show" advice, please comment!

I did make a sweet sign today, out of canvas and some sweet little grommets. A way for the big kids to at least know who I am....hehe.

It made me feel a little better about this impending showtime....

sweet grommet action.

And I like how it turned out. I tried doing a little paint creativity behind the words, but it just looked sloppy. It's a big version of my business card, and I just love that color!

And I did do some inventory, I am hoping it's enough! What do you think about taking stones with me and offering to do custom work with the stones I bring, or something like that? Does that work, or am I inviting a whole pain-in-the-arse project that maybe isn't worth it? and the biggie, should I bring the super-rad oak table that I got at the vintage whites market, just for a great booth display, or too much of a bother? It is the perfect size, but is definitely "furniture" and I just don't know.....is that too much?

Hope you all have a lovely week, and I will let you know how the show went.....in the meantime, I am going to shake off this nervousness, put on my big-girl britches, and maybe go play in the garden. Dirt always helps. Much love, Erin.

Feathers and Bones continued.

Beautiful bones. in blue.

Feathers for the future, bones for the past.

I had a dream, very vivid. Almost lucid. I could smell the smoke.

and the earth, and everything around me.

I could tell i was in good company, warmth.

Very dark skies, smoke, and a fire.

I was in a field....or a thicket....

A blue-eyed shaman followed me to the fire.

Eyes cool as the glacier blue ice, gapped teeth that showed his age and his life.

He smiled and handed me a feather.

He told me everything would be fine, finally some peace.

.........

Working on some great things in the studio lately, getting very excited and nervous.

Kalispell Arts in the Park is next weekend. yikes.

I have been wicked busy. blurry busy. house busy. studio busy.

Markets lately have been lovely, and just what I have been craving. It's very nice to get a chance to show my jewels in my hometown, something I haven't really had the chance to do yet.

And the best thing this week........ my orange living room.

fresh orange!

Thanks to katie, my lovely neighbor, who did all the edges....(saint)......we got this all done in an afternoon. Having a home is really fabulous. Next project is my shade garden. I am going to have to wait a bit for that. Come to find out, paint is cheap. Plants are not.

yesterday's market love

Market yesterday was just awesome....great music. good people. and I sold a few things (YAY).

So funny, this gal came up to my table.....

"Excuse Me....I don't....uh....mean to be rude.....but could I buy your flowers from you?"

I laughed heartily and told her she could just have them....juice jar and all.....there's a huge bush in my front yard right now that is going bonkers, poor peonies are so beautiful and heavy that they tend to lay on the ground.....too heavy for their own good! She refused to let me give them to her, so I reluctantly took a couple bucks....and the funny thing is......she wants me to bring her more next week! HAHAH! Never occurred to me to sell the flowers in my yard, or off my table for that matter.

Anyway, great market. Peonies caught wandering eyes, thats for sure. I am getting nervous for summer shows. I have never done a full day show, let alone a whole weekend.....starting to realize I don't have enough stuff....and the days are getting warmer and longer and more beautiful by the minute here. It gets harder to stay in my studio, harder to be inside. Summer is so short in Montana, soon there'll be snow again and 10 months of solid, uninterrupted time to make to my hearts content. The house is a bundle of projects, work is full blown, and all I can think of is how much I need to create....and soon.

.........overwhelming sigh.............

I think I will go get some mint from the garden and make mojitos. Want one?

Feathers and Bones

. . . . . . . . . .

.....feathers and bones.

Its so old....

and interesting.....

captivating.

I can see the medicine-man and his pouch. Leather.

His smoky eyes and laughter.

He pulls out a dark, shiny feather.

In the other hand holds an old bone.

Powerful. Infinite. Old wisdom.

Smoke swirls around a gold fire, and there is magic hanging....

on everything alive.

Feathers and bones.