Salt Fork River Festival Recap

Mom posing with a bag of trail mix.

Well, I know it is a little late for the Salt Fork River Festival recap but I still wanted to share some of the photos from the two day sale.  This art show is held at our friends winery Sleepy Creek Vineyards in Illinois.  This is our favorite show of the year and we always look forward to the show rolling around.

Mom and I are always in the same location - between a pathway of trees looking out onto the pond.  I think if anyone swiped our spot, mom would physically move them - you don't mess with mom :)  It is also great because we are right next to the hummingbird feeder - saw plenty but couldn't get the camera out quick enough to take pictures.

This is the view of the pond from my seat this year.  It is so cool to just look out on the pond, hear the wind rustling through the trees and talk with customers.  A very relaxing weekend - but still hard work too.

A picture of our booth from across the pond.  Both mom and I get up throughout the day to walk around and take pictures.

This is a white board telling about all the different activities that were happening on Saturday and Sunday.  Joe and Dawn always have live entertainment throughout both days.  It is awesome being able to hear all the different groups that they have performing.

One of the musical acts - he played both Saturday and Sunday and it was freaking awesome.  He also used PVC pipes too for his music - who would have known you could use PVC pipes to make music.

Some of the vendors and customers walking around.

There was a wine tasting tent outside or you could go inside to taste your wine.

The winery through the trees.

The next images are of the trees, butterfly, and vines that mom I took over the two days we were at the show.  I was playing with a new photo editing site that I just love - BeFunky.

A butterfly I came across

Grapes that were left on the vines

Trees against the sky - love playing with the editing tools

You can see the vines through the break in the trees

Mom took this pic - some sort of seed pods near the pond

Another tree against the sky

My favorite pic - the vines with trees and sky in the background

So, that is the recap of the show.  If you are every near Fairmont, IL I seriously recommend stopping at Sleepy Creek Vineyards and checking out the place.  Mom and I go there to just relax, drink some wine, talk with Joe and Dawn and knit.

Update on the extension:
Crossing our fingers that they are finally done next week.  As of right now, the plumber and electrician is in the extension putting up my ceiling fans, lights for the closet and bathroom.  The furnace and AC are supposed to go in next week.  Yesterday they worked on mom's yard by laying down 15 tons of dirt, grass seed and straw.

Mom and I have not had a chance to work in the studio at all and I think I am serious creating withdrawal.  We are going to have to clean the studio again because there is insulation stuff everywhere.  We also need to put the studio back together again because the contractors moved stuff around (like my kilns - I can't work with how they put them back - going to have to set the studio back to rights).

Please cross your fingers with mom and I that they are done next week.  The following week I can move and clean my house and put it on the market.  Once I am moved back in - then mom and I can start making pieces again.  SERIOUSLY - I never thought I would say I miss creating!

Child of God Blog Hop

Today is the reveal of Miss Erin's Child of God blog hop.

Back in August Erin had a story bead give away on her blog.  Erin was giving away two of her wonderful beads and all you needed to do was a leave a comment answering this question:

If you are a Child of God and you can do anything, what is that anything you would want to do?

My answer was:

Erin,
Again happy birthday and I am glad you were able to take some of it to do something for you!

Thanks for sharing the story of Erv - he sounds like a wonderful man to be friends with!

I would love to do something more for our military veterans. I especially want to do something at my university for them - I would love to have a Veterans Culture Center as a place to gather for events or have the ROTC students to come over and meet with veterans and hear their stories. A place to collect all the stories of our veterans who are alums and share them with the next generation.

Thanks again for this awesome post!

Isn't that bead just plain gorgeous!  You can see more of Erin's Child of God beads in her Etsy store.  I always feel so privileged to work with Erin's pieces and she has outdone herself with these beads!

Now I feel bad because I totally forgot that today is October 4th, the blog hop day.  I even forgot it was October until we received Erin's email last night reminding us.  Erin I sincerely apologize for the following photos but I wanted to create a post to share what mom and I created with your wonderful bead.  I will work on taking better pictures tonight to share.

This is me, this morning, trying to get a picture of the necklace - was having issues with the camera so got mom to take some more pictures when I got to her house.

The lampwork glass beads are made by mom and me, the Viking Knit is also made by mom and me and then of course Erin's Child of God bead.

A close up of our beads - gray with pink frit.

A close up of Erin's Child of God Bead.

This necklace can actually be worn three different ways - the way I am wearing it now happens to be my favorite. 

First way is the bead is on the Viking Knit and the beads are in the back.

Second way is how I am wearing it in the photograph - the hoop all the way up the side of beads.

Third way is just having the toggle clasp in the front hanging down.

I will work on taking updated pictures tonight but I wanted to write this post for Erin's blog hop and share what she sent us.  Oh, I have had a lot of wonderful feedback on the necklace and Erin's beads.  You do good work Miss Erin!

Focus on Life Week 39 - Your Best Shot

I first have to give a shout out to Sleepy Creek for this weekend's show!  Mom and I look forward to this show every year and it keeps getting better and better!  If you are near Oakwood, IL this weekend come on out to the winery and check out all of the artists and of course the wine!

Just to tempt you - here is a photo of the awesome wine slushies!!!!!

Okay - on with the show.  This week is Focus on Life week 39 (holy smokes where did the time go?) and Give it your best shot!  Sally told us to get snap happy - well I am sharing photos from past year shows at Sleepy Creek.

So, hold on for a lot of pics.

This is one of the photos from last year - yes I used it for our banner to promote this weekend's show.  It is of the vines and the trees changing colors across the road.

Our booth from last year

leaf from the grape vines

Where I booth is at there are hummingbird feeders.  Last year the birds were
flying into the booth and onto the jewelry.  I tried to take pics but they
were just too fast for me.

Main area - near us is the set up for the musicians.  Last year there
were belly dancers and I guess they are back again this year too.
Need to get more pics this year!

Of course I needed pics of the grapes!

I plan on posting a recap of the weekend sometime next week.  I am not going to promise a date because I haven't been good on my blogging promises lately.

Below is a link of all the participants for this week's photo hop.  Enjoy!

Recap of Show and Upcoming Shows

Yesterday mom and I had a show at the 2013 Apple Popcorn Festival in Brookston, IN.  It was a very long day for us.  We both were up at 4:20 to get ready and then pack the car (couldn't pack the night before because it was pouring down rain).

Not sure if we will do the show again - we weren't totally skunked.  We made our booth fee, paid for lunch and gas with just a little bit left over.  I also think mom and I need to look for more indoor venues.  We both were in so much pain after the show it wasn't even funny.  I thought my feet would pound off and I am sure mom's neck, knees, and feet were killing her (I think it was a two pain killer night for her).

I do have to say that talking to people made up for everything else.  People were so nice and seemed appreciative of what mom and I make.  We had one couple stop by asking where we were this year because we didn't make it into Art on the Wabash.  The lady said she had our business card and was looking for us - that made my day!  We had another customer buy mom's most favorite necklace - Lei it On Me.  We had another vendor stop by and she even sent us an email which I have to share:

Hi..

Met you today at Brookston.....I so admire your work and appreciate your friendliness...I go to a lot of art shows...most of which  are juried... and you are right up there with the best of them.....I meant to get back and buy something...but the crowd made me nuts....I was the one who liked the bracelet with the message....I hope you had a great day!

 

Oh My Goodness - that so made mom and my night last night to receive that email!!!

 

Mom and I do have a two day show next week, a one day show on October 19th and a one day show on November 23 and we are done with shows for the year.

 

Here is show information:

 

 

Our favorite show of all time - Salt Fork River Art & Music Festival - at our friends winery Sleepy Creek Vineyards.  They are located in Fairmount, IL.  If you are in the area please stop by because the show is AWESOME!

 

Carroll County Celebrate the Arts located in Delphi, IN.  This show will be held on October 19th from 9am to 6pm.  It will be located in the Wabash and Erie Canal Center in Delphi, IN.  There will be over 40 artists on display.

Harrison Band Booster Craft Show on Saturday, November 23.  The show will run from 9am to 2pm and it will be at the Harrison High School in West Lafayette, IN.

If you have any questions about the shows please send us an email at e13e14mccord@yahoo.com.  Right now the Etsy store is closed because of all of the shows plus I need to update the shop after all the sales we have had from the shows.  If there is something specific you are looking for or would like us to create please email us at e13e14mccord@yahoo.com.

One last update:

They have laid the wood floors in the extension this week.  The bathroom needs to be laid, the door to the extension needs to be cut out, AC and furnace, electrical and inspection are it.  Hopefully, cross your fingers, it can be done this week.  Both mom and I are so ready to be done and me moved back in.  Also it would be great to get the plastic off of everything in the garage and we can start working in there again.

We will keep you updated on the progress.

Have an awesome Sunday everyone!

House Update and More Metal Prints

This is the calendar mom came up with to finish working on my house to get it ready to sell.  Some of the days we had to push back because we couldn't get the mulch due to holiday or weather related incidents.  But, we have got a lot done so far.

We have laid down five yards of mulch in my yard within a two day span - yes we were hauling butt to get it put down before the weather turned freaking hot!!!

Mom putting up the new houses numbers (because I don't measure) on my freshly painted trim.

Me on a 12 foot ladder painting the decorative circle over my garage.

Me with a death grip on the ladder because I don't like heights and it was pretty windy that day.  Let me tell you I will ONLY do the lower trim and not the higher trim, I will see if our contractor will do that!

We found a birds nest in George, my rose bush, when mom was trimming him back.

One egg hatched and the other didn't.  Love the colors on the shells!

 

They are now moving right along in the extension.  Painting should be completed today.  I have a yellow bathroom.

A granny smith apple green for my bedroom and closet.

A taupe color for the living room and I didn't take a pic (yesterday) of the accent wall which will be a very dark red.  They still need to put another coat of red on today and touch up paint on the walls.  I think next week the floors will be laid, the bathroom fixtures installed, the electrician will be there and then I think the next week the AC and furnace will be installed.  Then it is inspection time and crossing our fingers move in time.

A grill, horn and light and an old Model A

Mom and I have a show next weekend and we are both freaking out because we have not been working in the studio (our fault and no one else!).  So, we decided to order some more prints.  This time we used photos we took at a car show.

I love this one of a steering wheel and the panel and an engine of an old car that they restored.

Pictures of buildings around Purdue - the bell tower and the "P".

Love the bottom straw flower - mom and I thought it looked like a smiley face but our contractor thought it looked like a heart.  He asked if we touched it up and we said nope - that is how the flower looked.

Not sure what is going to happen this weekend - mom is hope sick with a migraine so I guess it depends on how she feels.  I know I want to pack some in the house but I also have a few pieces I want to get enameled and two necklaces assembled.  So, won't make any promises on what gets accomplished.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Focus on Life - Week 36 In Two

This week's Focus on Life is In Two. We were to focus on things in twos.  To be honest the only thing I have done this week was go to work and then go home to work in the yard.  I really didn't think I would find anything in pairs.  Well, I was wrong.

I had to go over to mom's place of work this week to train two of her students on one of our databases.  When I walk to her place I walk in front of the Visual and Performing Arts building.  Well, they had these two heads installed a few weeks ago as part of their Florence H. Lonsford Endowment.

The structures are called "Brickhead Conversations" and were designed by sculptor artist James Tyler.  They are to "explore the nature of being human on the planet".  The heads are not intended to be portraiture or realism, Tyler says, but instead depict all human races and genders collectively.

When you walk by the heads they emit sounds of our local wetland wildlife - from the chirping of cardinals to the landing of geese and the buzzing of insects.  The sounds came largely from Bryan Pijanowski, a professor of foestry and natural resources and sound ecologist.

You can read more about the sculptors by clicking here.  All the information that I shared with you came from this article.  I am really disappointed that I missed the dedication (didn't get the invite until a day after the dedication).  It is fun walking by and hearing the sounds of nature coming from the heads.

So, if you are ever in the neighborhood of Purdue stop by and check out the chirping heads!

Please head on over to the Studio Sublime and check out what everyone else saw in pairs this week.