Olympia Blog

I started this blog with the intention of keeping it up, and I did quite well for awhile.  But then as we all know only too well, life got busy.
I have begun to work with the OlyEtsy team to develop their blog, and that is where my posting time has gone to.   The most exciting thing about the OlyEtsy page is the Photo Editing tutorials for Etsy sellers!

I will continue to post to this blog, but not nearly as often.  I think my plan is to continue to keep up my Sketch a day project.  Perhaps make it my main posting subject. 

Feel free to come visit me and some of the other amazing artist who live in and around Olympia WA as we build forces and create beautiful art on our blog Olympia Etsy Artist!

Art on the Ave, Tacoma WA

I admit it, before this year I had never even heard of Art on the Ave.  But in the last months I have been hot on the trail for events to vend at.  And behold, Art on the Ave appeared to me with a reasonable booth fee, a weekend I was available and a town not very far from Olympia.

What I discovered was an event with much diversity in activities, music, arts, food and people.  There were four different stages ranging from hip-hop to rock to jazz and even a family stage.  There were five different beer gardens, a basketball tournament, a half pipe, pet zone, roller derby girls and so much more.  There was literally something for everyone.

I am very proud of myself for this show, I did most all the heavy lifting by myself and set up and tore down almost all by myself.  I had a little help getting my tent all the way up, I'm not quite tall enough.  This is after all the first show I've done without my husband there to help.  He would have loved this event, particularly the half pipe.  I'm kind of glad he was not there, we don't need any broken bodies.      

Luckily my good friends Trista with Wigglin' Wasabi and Niki Bilodeau with her hand etched glass were vending at the same event. Although we wanted to set up our tents side by side we were unfortunately back to back.   But they were  still around to give me bathroom breaks and a hand setting up and tearing down. 

Trista with Wigglin' Wasabi and Niki with her hand etched glass were in the booth behind me.

One vendor used his space for sidewalk chalk fun.  It was great watching his process!

Overall the event was a success, I gained more fans, sold some merchandise, made a few contacts that will lead to future sales, and had a great time.  I will most likely do this show next year.

Surf Cabin 2011 in Ocean Shores

Every year a group of my friends rent a cabin/house at the Ocean.  Usually we find a place close to surfing, but this year the house we found was in Ocean Shores WA located on 23miles of canal and only miles from the beaches.  The house was closer to a mansion than a cabin, with beds enough for 12, a Bed and Breakfast type dinning room, a garden Rail Road, and a private movie theater seating 14 with a ice cream parlor.  Crazy!

Our days were spent combing the beach, riding mopeds around town, and paddling the canal.  My days were also spent doing some fabulous water colors.  To see more of the watercolors, follow this link to my Sketch-A-Day Page.

For more pictures of the house.  Follow this link to the Gibson House B&B.

Hot Air Balloon clocks

 

Up and coming clocks.

Stay tuned, they should be released next week!

Does Sand Sketching Count as a Sketch-A-Day project?

Out at the Ocean this last weekend and I went a little nuts on the beach!  Check out my Sketch-A-Day page for more pics.

I made the front page and it made my day!

My Vending Booth

I've been waiting for a dry and sunny weekend with a bit of free time to set up my full booth for the first time and this last weekend was it.
All my pieces that I've been collecting for this booth over the last few months fit together perfectly.  Having it up gave me some great ideas for unique signage specific to my upcycled records and I'm excited to get them started as to have them up for my next show.

The Henn Coop!

My husband has been talking about getting chickens since we met.  At every mention of chickens he would raise his eyebrows at me.  I wanted nothing to do with chickens, but since we have the yard and the know how I figured what the hey.
He started the coop a little over two weeks ago and what do you know we already got an egg out of our efforts.  Well it's mostly him.  I helped paint and that's about it.  I did recruit a good friend of his to help, mostly so I could spend the time in the studio creating new clocks!  I'm so thoughtful.
Any-hoo... pictures tell a better story.

The Start

My Goofy Husband

An old dear friend of saved this home made screen door just for us.

  It's perfect!

Sailor puppy took care to carry away every scrap of wood that hit the ground

He didn't use any plans, we just looked around at what was already done and winged it.

We have very large raccoons in are area and we made sure to take extra precautions against any infiltrators.

A few of the ladies.  We got five laying hens total.

Waiting for the chickens to come down.

Where I'm from dosn't define where I'm going

An old friend of mine approached me to design a tattoo for him.  If I had a dollar for every person who asked me to draw a tattoo but never got back with me to disccuse design I'd be much better off than I am now.  But this friend knew exactly what he wanted, he had been thinking about it for awhile and had already decided that he wanted me to draw it. 

I grew up with this friend in Nisqually Valley located just North of Olympia WA.  He had just gotten the Rainier beer logo, essentially a giant red "R" inked on his arm and wanted the Nisqually glaicier side of Mt. Rainier partially wrapped around his arm as the background behind the logo. 

Now Rainier beer is not the best of beers, but it is well know in these parts.  It definitely defines Nisqually and he is after all one of my oldest friends.  So I sat down and completed his image the day before his birthday.  I'd say it was a successful birthday present and am looking forward to seeing the completed tattoo.

My first rough draft looks like a cow

I'm no fool, I put my light table to good use.

Pencil drawing turned into ink drawing.

Ready for the tattoo artist!

What do I do with it now?

Once upon a caffeinated late crafting night just before my wedding last fall, I created a card box that emphasized our desire to have contributions toward fixing up our house instead of typical wedding gifts.  I was very proud of my creation and still am, but now what do I do with it?

What I would love to do with this creation is pass it on to another bride who will use it.  Or possibly a little girl who would use it as a play house.
If you know anyone let me know.  I'm willing to gift this to the right person.
--Laurel--