Casual Art

We had an awesome Blueberry Festival up in Ely, Minnesota this past weekend - thank you to old friends and new customers! Our goodies have been restocked at Mostly Moose and More downtown. And once again I'm trying to exercise off an art-fair eating frenzy...

This afternoon I cut up a large piece of sanded pastel paper - large goodie picked up for free at a Lake Country Pastel Society meeting two years ago. Because it was free it was easier to chop up than some papers. Also, it was slightly damaged. It felt good to toss away that last little piece - although the hoarder in me still felt bad about wasting possibly useful stuff.

Now one large piece is five smaller pieces - so on to the adventure! I did a small bear from the back - using only Nupastels. No text yet - don't know if it needs any. And started a red-toned dancing couple. The couple traded places during the dance - female is now on left - original thought had her on the right. But with no pressure to stick to plan - bam - just switch sides and continue on. Whew.

Also toned a sheet of Wallis paper orange-red. Will probably get two small works out of the sheet. Might attempt some "cute" stuff on purpose. After all the years of doing "not cute" stuff on purpose.

Tara and I went to the Bikery this morning to drink coffee and design. She has a magic sketchbook right now - one of those that refuses to accept any bad drawings. So lovely fashion designs are filling the pages. I just keep chopping white cardstock in half and seeing who comes out of the Sharpie markers. Three or four possible card designs today. I had a long list of possible things to work on - of course none of the new bears helped cross anything off the list. Sigh.

Time for chocolate mint ice cream with a small handful of almonds tossed in for good measure.

Fare-thee-well,
sue

This and That

Summer is zooming by. I try to find time to take a few photos, head downtown for Stillwater's Summer Tuesdays, and sort through old bears. August is hiding at the end of this week. I'm trying not to panic.

July 7th Already

Greetings - on this sunny moist morning -

Here is Mandan, ND during the recent 4th of July celebration. The long line of folks up and down Main Street were attempting to set the world record for most people doing the Chicken Dance. Some folks knew how - some appeared not to know how. By the time things kind of got going it was time to stop. The line was thick in places and spotty in some. Had I not been my usual shy and retiring sort there was plenty of room in front of our spot where another body could have been tucked in. However, I preferred to participate as a witness. Dance on Chicken Dancers! I didn't see "officials" anywhere but you know they had to be around. Good Luck to everybody involved - I hope ya did the deed!


We set up the booth a bit differently every day. And, of course, found that we'd forgotten to pack some of the best-selling cards and magnets. Inventory control! Inventory control! Oh well. And another lesson learned - stick with the more readable business cards. I love the look of our new prettier ones, but the black background does make the white print hard to read for some customers. Back to designing newer cards - on white stock again.
On to the day. Filling orders, working a shift at American Gothic, sneaking up to Fresh Fields for a cup of coffee. First, a slow walk among the tomato plants and lilies.

Fare-thee-well, and on with the day-
Sue

Pioneers

New poem this morning:
------------------
Good Morning

Up, up, up.
Be a pioneer
today.

------------------

On to being a wee tad of a pioneer.

Other tidbits:
Witnessed the Mandan, ND 4th of July World Record attempt for most folks doing The Chicken Dance. I took photos - they don't show much flapping, mostly standing.

As usual - we met gobs of interesting folks, one couple lives a few miles north of us in Stillwater...., had great neighbors - the local art teacher clued us in on history and politics, got hugs, gave hugs, made new friends.

On the way home it's fun to see all the tiny far-away firework explosions at distant spots on the prairie.

Now it's time to head downtown to check on the antique shop.

Oh! Must not forget the Most Excellent Bakery (my title) an Main Street in Alexandria, MN. I am sad that we don't live in a down with that bakery. And fiesty clerks to boot! I miss the lemon boat... yum.

-On to the day - it's a steamer.
Sue

Big Storm Coming

Greetings -
No photos for now. Just the reporting of grey and windy and some folks Up North dealing with Grapefruit-sized Hail. I do not want to know that there can be grapefruit-sized hail..... The tomato plants have their metal frames around them. The delphinium and foxgloves will have to fend for themselves. Good Luck Flowers!!!

We had a delightful time in Grand Forks, ND at that city's lovely art festival. I got to be one of the Artists in Action so was located in a row of permanent little structures on one side of the park. Near the music and close to the food, and with "civilized" restroom facilities nearby. We artists did two-hour stints of demonstrating. I worked on three bear pastels, and one celebrating guinea pigs!
I didn't bring along my favorite pastels so will finish the pieces at home.

This weekend (June 19 - 20) holds The Stone Arch Art Festival in Minneapolis, MN. I do not want to deal a weekend weather adventure. Stone Arch has had it's share of whole displays going bye-bye... But it is a beautiful show, with wonderful work. We will be in Father Hennipin Park again. The main street area might get more folks but I enjoy meeting the strollers along the paths. We will bring along our first wax of the Larry Bear sculpture. He's wildly golden-furred, thanks to Rub-N-Buff, but his funky personality shines through even that. We plan to do him in ceramic and see what happens. Two-dimensional bears are yearning to be three!

The longer I type the closer the storm, and as I'm the nervous storm type, just ask my sister...., it's time to unplug this and go watch the interesting skies!

Fare-thee-well,
Sue

Amazed By Average Iris

Greetings -
Our iris are done for the season. Just your normal every-day some-bulbs-I-bought-at-Walmart iris. But what glorious creatures they were this Spring. Getting larger and more plentiful every year, and each year filling me with more amazement.

Now with the aid of close-up photography and a cover from a photo box we can appreciate the blossoms of 2010 while looking forward to the same-but-different buds of 2011.

These designs, as well as some floral shadow photos, will grace some of our new greeting cards. It's fun to head in a different direction, and down the garden path ( or up the path in our backyard) is where I'm often headed these days.

On to the Summer art fairs - stop by our booth and say "Hi!"

- Sue

A Perfect Day?

Greetings -
It's another perfect day in late May. Lupines blooming, bees checking out their blossoms, blue sky, green grass, light breeze, warmish not hot. Will need to remember this sort of thing in the midst of January 2011.
We are heading downtown to check on doings on Stillwater, MN's Main Street. A ribs cook-off is going on as I type --- eeek! I'm missing out on ribs!
Tomorrow holds The Stillwater Marathon and other races. Part of the route passes close to home so we may go out and cheer on the running folk.
The art fair season is shaping up. No Lake Genevea, WI spot for us this year, but we will be at many of our usual events. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones! We will get the schedule on our website: suerowe.com

I've been working on some Graduation card designs. Late, of course, but in time for next year. And now a few more moose are sticking their noses into cards and magnets. They are both fun to draw and hard to draw. And with luck they will find fans among the bear customers.

Glad to hear that black bears Lily and Hope were re-united up in Ely. That luck does not happen every time cubs and moms get separated. And most wild bears'doings don't turn into international news.

Wishing everyone a safe and thoughtful Memorial Day weekend.

Fare-thee-well,
Sue