We ended up doing two hikes yesterday. The first hike we were going to do turned out to be mostly closed due to a wash out. The Gorge had a really tough winter and a lot of trails are full of debris and landslides. So, after the section we could do ended up being really short, we headed down the road a ways and did a second leg. 

It was really hot and we were both thankful for the waterfalls and cooler sections of the hike. There were quite a bit of people out and we ended up seeing some kind of unusual things... Here they are, in order of weirdness:

1. A cat on someones shoulders.

2. A mom reading to her son, not back off the trail, but literally on the trail.

3. Someone listening to rap rather loudly on their phone. No headphones.

4. A stroller - note this is a very, very rocky trail in most places. She didn't look like she was having much fun...

Anyway, it was entertaining to say the least and we felt like we had one some sort of hiking Bingo.

I'm really happy with this system. It's called the Svalnas. The furthest the widest shelf is just over 9" and this combination cost $250. There are a multitude of combinations that you can buy as well as desks and cupboards you can add.

 I can also add a couple of shelves here and there if I need to. So long as Ikea doesn't discontinue it any time soon. 

It looks so much nicer than just a large blank wall and now I have a place for my books! Win win.

I'm about to get a little Polly Anna here for a moment, so forgive me. Participating in this craft fair was a little emotional for me. Seeing people wearing "Not My President" t-shirts and "Nasty Woman" t-shirts made me tear up a little bit and it made me feel really lucky to live in a city where so many people share the same views I do about our president elect.

The other great thing about doing a big craft fair like this is seeing people's reactions to my work. Seeing people smile and laugh is really one of the best things about doing this. I am alone for most of my day and there is very little human interaction. To see a person's face light up and a smile cross their face validates my reasons for drawing and painting the things that I love to create.



This really sweet 9 year old girl came to my table. She picked up my sloth hugs card and let out a quiet squeal. She then saw that I had a print of it. She picked it up and gave it a hug! She looked at her dad with the biggest brown eyes I've ever seen and needless to say, he bought it for her. Seeing things like that just make my heart smile so much.

It's more than just the customers too. Seeing people that I've done this craft fair with for years is always so nice. Giving hugs and catching up is something that I always love. Especially after the year we've all had. I felt a lot of love at this last Crafty and it made me feel a little better about the upcoming year and our current political climate.

At the end of the weekend over 20,000 people came and I broke another sales record! I'd like to say thanks to everyone who came out and supported local artists and makers. I really hope I'm accepted again next year. Fingers crossed.

Okay, Pollyanna moment is over. Thanks for bearing with me with that!

I've been taking some time off since Crafty Wonderland, and it's been great! I've been busy wrapping gifts and doing Christmas shopping and really just enjoying the holiday season. I'm so grateful that I can do this. I remember working retail for many years and it was so hard for me to really take this in. Being in my feet all day, was terribly exhausting and it kind of made me dislike the holidays. I'm so happy I work for myself now and I can take a few days off.

I have been working on shipping my Etsy orders and I've gotten a couple of commissions this past week. I worked on 13 year old Gus last weekend. It's for a lovely lady's parents who are just in love with their little old pug. He's not doing very well so she wanted to give her parents something really special to help remember him when he's no longer around.

I like the texture of this portrait. The grass is made up of little brushstrokes of different colors of green. The flowers were really watery paint that I kept adding blues and pinks to.
I hope they like it and I hope that Gus gets to live many more years with them.

Crafty Wonderland is this weekend! I've been really busy all week getting ready for this enormous event. It's so much work but, at the end of the weekend, it's so very worth it. 

One of my favorite things about doing this show is seeing all my vendor friends. Catching up with them and seeing, in person, what they've been making is really fun. This job can get a bit lonely sometimes, so connecting with others who do similar work is really great.

I also love seeing the customers who shop every year and make a point to come over to my booth to say hello. Some of them have been shopping this craft fair every year for the past 6 years. You see their families grow and connect with them about your new work.

It's such a great reminder on why I love being an artist. By the end of the weekend I am so exhausted, but I'm also excited about making new work and being in this community of makers and artists. 

Yesterday I did a mock set up of my booth. It helps me feel a little more confidant about the set up today. It also helps me remember everything that I need to bring. I think one of the hardest things about doing a craft fair is remembering everything that you need to have on hand. All those little things that aren't art, or work, but the tools you need to have to help put the booth together. Tape, scissors, business cards, pens, snacks, etc. etc. etc.

We had a bit of a snow day yesterday. It's mostly all ice right now and I'm really hoping most of it has melted by the time I have to load up my car and drive down to the Convention Center. I don't mind a good snow day as long as I don't have to drive in it. I was reminded of the two years I lived in Michigan while the flakes were falling. It snowed a lot there and I actually really liked it as long as I didn't have to go anywhere. They did salt and plow the roads really well there, so driving wasn't usually too bad, but I still found it slightly terrifying, even there.
The ice is supposed to melt later this morning and it looks like just plain old rain for this weekend. Good news for the big craft fair!

It was also very windy yesterday. My little humming bird friend hung around my back yard most of the day. I could hear her tweeting and I saw her hanging out on this branch quite a bit. I made sure to keep her food from freezing and gave her a little refresher mid day. She's one tough little bird. It was freezing yesterday and that wind was brutal. I hope she made it through the night. I have yet to see her this morning.

Well, if you're in Portland this weekend, please come by the Convention Center from 11-6. It's free and it's so much fun. You can meet local artists and find some really awesome gifts. And hopefully there won't be any ice!