Art Fair Time - Stockholm, WI

So....., Saturday, July 16, 2011, didn't really dawn. It boomed and crackled and blew and poured, and I thought Todd and my last words would be "Wow!!" Mr. T was simply driving out of Stillwater - heading for the Stockholm Art Festival. Weather forecasts promised a fine, if humid, day - if we didn't run into power lines or have a tree drop on our precious old red Ford truck. Thunder-lightning-way-too-close was our companion for most of the drive, but skies lifted and rain stopped as we slopped our way past River Falls,Ellsworth, Bay City and the like. Whew and whew.

The park grounds at Stockholm were darned damp but O.K. to drive in. Booths raised the night before appeared fine and dandy. Life was potentially good. We got our goodies out of the truck and up under the trees. Time for coffee and scones - Thanks to the festival folks. Thanks, festival folks!


As the photo above shows - I believe in the power of plastic..... The day was hot and muggy, and downpours often felt just-around-the-next-dark-cloud, but we survived the moisture early and settled in for a day Stockholm Festival shoppers. The small town fills up fast, and I have no idea where people end up parking. But they come early and stay late - a point we always appreciate. When one can make sales before the official opening of a show - ye ha!

We met people from all over the U. S., solved the UWRF Beck/Beckham confusion, and discussed possibilities for chat/art/eating event that's always in the back of my mind. People laughed and chatted and bought and laughed.

After a lovely evening plate of tasty goodies provided by the staff we parted ways with good buddies, gambled a bit at the casino, and napped - thunder and lightning free. A rare "free" summer Sunday was next. I spent it on the couch........ but that's another story.

Thanks, Stockholm - now, on to Ely!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Small Pleasures - Tiny Cows

An artists can't live by pastels alone. Lately, some companions have been a small handfull of tiny cows. They are items left from a former life and only come upon by a chance deep cleaning of a closet. Ya yust neffer know.

So some live out in the patio garden, some stay in the house, and some come on our travels.

The above duo are trying out the acoustics at the Lakefront Park amphitheater in Hudson, Wisconsin. No, they are NOT doing "Moooooon River."


Later they took in the view from the bridge just south of the park. Folks were enjoying a day of sailing on the St. Croix River. The cows were content to stay on dry ground.

If one cow is good, are three cows better? I don't know, and they're not telling.

These strange little adventures will probably not end up as great art, but it appears that the Holsteins will be being hauled along for the rest of the summer.

Go clean a closet - you might be inspired by the mysteries you'll find there!

This weekend it's off to Virginia, MN and The Land of the Loons Festival for the bruins and me.

June 25 - 26 we will be at the Art Fair at beautiful Park Point in Duluth, Minnesota. If you make the trek "Up North" check out our goodies atBlue Lake Gallery in Duluth's Canal Park.

And Best of Luck to all you Grandma's Marathon -ers!!!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Hudson Hot Air Affair

We are excited to be part of Hudson, Wisconsin's Hudson Hot Air Affair!! This large hot air balloon festival is said to be the largest of it's kind in the Midwest, and weather looks to be cooperating this year.

Our bears will be available all day at the Marketplace in the gymnasium of the E.P. Rock Elementary School, 340 13th St. S., Hudson.

This is a close-up of one of our newest pieces. His name is "Pudge." I don't know why.

Come join the frosty fun in Hudson this weekend!

Then on to the Super bowl insanity....
GO PACK!!!!

- Sue

Bayfield Apple Fest - the Easy Part

The Easy Part of an art fair or festival is demonstrated here by daughter Tara. One goes down by the shore of Lake Superior and rests up for all the heavy lifting that is to come.

The drive up from Stillwater on Thursday afternoon was gorgeous and beautiful and relatively warm. The Good Old Red Ford pick-up truck did the heavy lifting that day. Our magnets may be cute and little but in volume they add lots to a load... We scored an excellent parking spot on the edge of the park in Bayfield, Wisconsin, sighed, took some deep breaths and proceeded to unload. Two hours later we were as done as we were going to get for the day. Treated ourselves to raspberry pie, a burger, and a shared malt at Gruenke's. Then took a room for the night, there, too. After dinner we explored the new new bookstore (we hit the old used bookstore the next day...), then checked in on-line doings of friends and family. Got to watch "Project Runway" in real time, and then had good sleeps in our vintage beds.

It was strange but wonderful to wake up Saturday already in town and not 50 miles away in Gurney. A bit of sun teased us. We headed for the first of many trips to Big Water coffee-shop for caffeine and excellent scones. Grey happened while we tweaked the booth goodies. Then clamps and big plastic came in handy as the rains started and stopped for much of Friday. Sigh and sigh.
Hearty shoppers poked their way into venders' tents and some made purchases. Hooray! Only one big splash of wayward water made it into the tent - unfortunately, it landed in the center of a box holding greeting cards.... sigh again. Only a few brave cards were lost in the adventure. Eventually we could take plastic sheets down and clamp them up to dry.

Eventually five o'clock happened and it was time to zip up and head for home-town, Gurney, Wis. The weather forecast had been for a delightful weekend, but at Ashland we could see whitecaps on da big lake. A clerk at Walmart told of small craft warnings for the night. We don't like those words - even on land. Sure enough - at Gurney brother Rick turned on his marine radio. Small craft warnings. We had not tied down the booth to the concrete park bench like we usually do. Oh well. Sleep was not as sound as the previous nights'. Small craft warnings don't make for sweet dreams. (to be continued.)

- Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Studio Time

Greetings -

New pastels from good old Dick Blick. Simple pleasures are the best? Six new Terry Ludwig soft pastels as a lovely Spring treat. And guess what? A touch or six from some of these new sticks are just the thing for saving some winter bears from a possible Spring bonfire. Whew!

One survivor is a large face that was "finished" since last Fall. He sat in his pale green-ness in front of a pale greenish background, and although the dude was pleasant enough he just never came out of his boring greenish shell. He has had a make-over.......both in color and scale. Now his little writing in the corner states: I'm no longer boring." True and kinda scary? True. His new title might be "Hudson's Cousin." Wouldn't want to meet them together in a dark forest. What a difference a few layers of powdered color can make.

The newest experiment is a large sheet of Rives BFK covered with the dust of drawings past. A wonderful warm grey. Am working on a batch of sitting bears a tone or two lighter than the original layer. Foggy misty fun. On to it.

A bunch of the bears are on display for the month of March at Manna Cafe in Madison, Wisconsin. Bears and food just go together so well! Here's hoping that the furry crew will be missed when they're gone, and that a few Madison folks will have been introduced to their quirky kind of fun.

-Sue