Art Markets and Snowy Mountains

It's Thanksgiving Eve, and so I'm treating myself by working on this blog post while sipping on an egg nog latte at the Starbucks within walking distance from our house (don't judge!--there are no locally owned coffee shops with wifi within walking distance).  I'm feeling very happy and hopeful at the moment. 

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This past weekend I participated in my first pop-up art market!  It was a Winter Market put on by Portland Waldorf School.  I am ever so thankful to my good friend Beth for leading me through the process of planning and prepping (and for being a great table neighbor) and to my hunky husbee for helping me all day. 

(Full disclosure: All I think about when I look at the above picture is that my hand looks like a claw... I was nervously twirling my wedding rings, the market was just about to open.)  I feel good about the experience and am glad to have my first one under my belt. It was tiring--like I was warned--but also fun. I have a second market coming up as well.  If your in town next weekend, you can see me at the Rosewood Christmas Bazaar in Hillsboro (that's Hillsboro, OR, not Texas--to all you readers that are from Texas.  There's one here too)

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One new fun product that will be at the show are (is?) hand drawn bookmarks.

I love reading and inspirational words, so this made sense.  Plus, I wanted to have another lower price-point item to offer.  As many of you know, I usually spend weeks, if not months, on pieces.  I'm forcing myself to spend only 15 minutes on these little guys and to not get too crazy detailed so that I can make a bunch and sell them at a reasonable price. It's a good challenge for me. If you don't live in Portland and are interested in purchasing any bookmarks--for yourself or for stocking stuffers-- let me know.

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 I also just finished this cute little castle.

I began this on a whim, and then as soon as I posted it on social media a friend from back in Texas asked if she could purchase the original for her daughter.  After that, I created with purpose--for a specific lovely girl, for a specific room.  Love that!  Prints and such will be available for sale shortly.

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And I can't leave you without sharing a few pictures from our hike last Sunday.  We knew Mt. Hood had recently gotten a lot of snow, and so we were itching to go play in it.  I still I can't believe this was only a two hour drive from home! (click on images to make them bigger and see the whole photo)

I have so much to be thankful for and fun Thanksgiving plans to look forward to and half of an egg nog latte left....life is good.