No moss anywhere near here...

What I mean by the title of this blog installment is that it has been a very busy week, yes what is new? This is our passion or one of a few and I do love to stay busy but I have been burning it at both ends as the old saying goes. Here are a few pictures of what has been going on ,the Buoy Lamps ,one is sold and possibly the other one as well, but if it is still available I will have it at the Market on the Mersey tomorrow Friday 19 th,10-2. Here is my latest Needle felted character "Pretty Maid" Mermaid. I have decided on my next Needle Felted Characters , an old Man and his wife, keep an eye out for them ,they will be cute ,I promise, I see them already in my mind. I dressed my Sea People commission this morning and they are drying in the sun. I will share a picture of them when they are done, they will be shipped to New Mexico and will be used as special gifts for graduating University Students from a dear Professor Friend /Client ,we have been making Wizard's for him for years now.

Here is a picture I took of our deck/pergola after dark the other night ,I love to sit out here, and just veg. in my hammock or make music,very inspiring.

We have as Summer often does reconnected with Friend's and relatives we may not see so much during the Winter Months and our smiles the past week have been very large with great hugs from special people, healing hugs ,they are the best of the best.

We also met a new friend this week, a fellow drummer, he will be bringing a few drums to the Market tomorrow and we will be doing a bit of a jam, anyone is welcome, the more the merrier. So come on down to The Market on the Mersey and get your willies out or shop for that great piece of art or treat from one of our vender's, the day should be beautiful as it has been the past thankfully few weeks.Summer did start out a bit rough regarding weather ,but here in Nova Scotia we get a little bit of everything as well I find our weather is nice ,right up until Christmas and beyond these past few years, nothing to complain about,it is what it is and it ain't what it ain't. I am off to check on my drying Wizard's and work on a sketch of my next needle felting.

Market on the Mersey and Hospital Hustle

The weather this past few weeks for Market on the Mersey has been quite wonderful!!!Summer seems to have arrived although when I look at my vines growing on my fence I see they are changing color already.I love Autumn and wish we could have the wonderful cool days with warm fall sun all year round. The heat is no longer my friend, at least in the cold of Winter we can put on more layers of cloths, but during the hot ,hot days of Summer, one can only remove so many cloths ,being seen nearly nude in our ripe older ages leaves much to be desired,yuk!!! I have been taking my Tongue Drum to the Market the past two weeks and I enjoy killing time doing what I love to do and that is to play any one of my drums , as you can see in this picture ,just how serious I am when playing :-) and I hope I am not offending any one's ears. There is a lot of interest from People in this drum ,not being something seen a lot, and the sound is soothing and different from other drums. I hang my Wind Chimes from the tree branches down in the Park so when the wind is blowing they are sounding as well. I finished sculpting my heads for my Sea People commission and they are just about dry and in the next couple of weeks I must make Sea Wizard's. Our local Hospital Hustle Fund Raiser is coming up soon and I am making a special wind chime for the Art/Craft Table, come take a look and consider buying something from this Table ,there should be some wonderful art to choose from or search for that special treasure waiting there for you ,the proceeds go to the Hospital and are very much needed.

We are headed to the Beach this afternoon to take in a bit of sand and surf before heading to a Little guy's birthday party. I needle felted him a Pocket Pet Bunny for his birthday.My Pocket Pets have been selling and I so enjoy seeing Children and Adults walking away with them, it's rather sweet watching them hold and play with their new Pets, the perfect Pet I might add, quiet and no need to feed and water. There just aren't enough hours in the Day ,I need to replenish my Needle felted dogs that I keep on hand, I have a great Dog book which I use for reference when doing my different Breeds . I also have to make time to do a couple needle felted figures ,I have a few ideas but ,where is the time. School will be back in soon ,it seems like it just got out.

Last week at the Market on the Mersey I was talking with a couple German Families and Folk's from New Jersey as well, it is great to have them drop by and visit and be entertained with local Talent and hospitality. Liverpool always is friendly and open armed ,everyone giving a wave and hello to all, just one of those small Town things, like when in Newfoundland , everyone is made welcome. So drop by the Market this coming Friday, it should be another great day on the Mersey.

Wind Chime update..busy day...

This post will be with few words, more pictures of the Wind Chimes to date, it was a great day ,and working together ,we got a lot done, as well,we took a walk with Little Riki.

These chimes will be with us this Friday "Market on the Mersey", come check them out..I love having productive days, but my house looks like we got a lot done, the next couple of days may be wet, so housework is on the list, gee, I may find something I thought I lost.Besides my mind ,at times :-).

meet our House Guest..

There isn't much I can say that you can't read from these pictures. Isn't she cute?!!! Her name is Little Riki and she is staying a few days with Aunt Deb and Uncle Chuck. Belly rubs and soft velvet ears and those eyes,look at those eyes. Yesterday I was on the deck late afternoon playing my Tongue Drum ,Little Riki thought my mallets were sticks to play with and bite,after discovering that Aunt Deb was not going to let her have them, she then laid her head on my drum listening to the music and feeling the vibration ,watching every move I made. She is a wonderful calm as well as incredibly handsome Puppy and we are enjoying her company. At the moment she is laying on my feet as I type. I will be doing a painting of her this Winter , her Daddy is an Artist and I know for sure he will be doing a painting of her as well. How could we not. In the near future I will be needle felting a Little Riki Pocket Pet ,see the photo here of some of my Pocket Pets which I will have again with me at the Market on the Mersey on Friday, I have tried to do many different breeds in the past and I do commissions from photos.By the way ,where are all the local folks from Town during these Friday Markets? Our Region has been trying to advertise shopping local but I see very few Locals on these days, so I wonder if maybe Saturdays may not be the best day for the Market instead of Fridays, having been doing shows and Markets over the years since the late 1970's I must say we have noticed Friday's always being a slow day, maybe next Summer it can be changed and hopefully be and become a busy Market. Weather permitting ,my plan is to take along my drum again this week, lets make our Market on the Mersey something to remember and give it a party feeling, Lets make Liverpool the place to be and visit and busy with fun and activities galore. I have an appointment with our local Book binding Shop Veinot's Print on Monday to discuss my Children's Book and I hope when I have a few on hand to give you all plenty of notice to bring your Children and Grand Children to the park to have me read to them my story"The Happy Puppy". So come on out and support our Local Sheriff. Come on down this Friday to Privateer Park in Liverpool 10-2 and take in some Home Town Flavor. Lets make it happen, once the word is out ,you will be impressed with how busy it can become. And don't forget , delicious Fish and Chips ,sausage etc. for your hungry Bellies from Chippy ,Chippy ,Bang Bang,which is on our Water Front daily as well near the Market on Fridays. Here are pictures of Chucks wind Chimes and a picture of Riki with my drum.

I must get to painting today and the next few days to replenish my consignment stock at our Local Fort Point gift Shop. I find the smaller boat piece paintings are popular with People travelling, something small that they can put right into their suitcases which can't be hurt while on the road packed in a car like a canvas could.

July and August

I have been this past July and into August so busy indeed that I have given up trying to get these pictures right side up, when I view them before I upload they are OK and up right and then ..see ,I give up..please turn your heads and stretch your necks, it may be good and limber you up while viewing my latest Summers work, having painted the floor mats , I decided to do something smaller and more affordable ,these are table runners or place mats ,as well they can be mounted and framed and put on the wall, but my preference is having them on the table .Easy clean up with a wet cloth. The Beach scene is our Dear "Carter's Beach" as well I thought one day to do a primitive Happy Day type of Table Runner ,the Flowers and music notes. My latest busy past weeks, I am working my little fingers to the bone not only supplying my Summer Consignments but trying to have something new and different for the Liverpool Friday 10-2 "Market on the Mersey"in Privateer Park . Chuck is working on his wind Chimes and I have been doing well ,lets just say I have been busy, I had a commission to finish up ,A Sea People figurine,see above, so I made four ,with Sea People that is the best method with making them, sometimes up to twelve at a time even more, there are a lot of steps to them and they, when in big numbers, hang around the house drying in different stages of completion .When we did the Atlantic Craft Trade Shows , our home was like a factory, we even made tables from boxes of Sea People waiting to be shipped out. But the quality of work with hiring People to help make them took the hands on and quality away from the product, so we felt it didn't work and we continued doing them in smaller numbers ourselves and sure enough today after the first prototype which was in 1978, with our Kitchen Witches and then in 85 ,we came up with the Sea People, we still get calls for them and it is amazing and interesting to hear from where they first saw them. There is a story to go along with our Sea People ,waiting yet to be told,one day .

I acquired some pieces of slate rock and have been painting on them too,great texture I like the finished product, I will have one at the Market this week along with a few other new items.I figured why not take along a drum or two as well this week, it's quiet down there during the Market with no music, we will see how it goes, if I see people running away ,I will stop.Maybe I might be able to offer someone a chance to drum along with me??We will see . So come on down to the Market on the Mersey on Friday....you never know what you may find and if not that treasure you have been in search for maybe you will run into an old or new friend and share a laugh and joke with someone.

found ,friend's and finds,

Most of you out there close and beyond have either shopped or have heard of our wonderful Maritime Guys Frenchy clothing outlets. Myself ,I have been shopping Frenchy's since back in 1970,71 when the first Frenchy's was in the ally behind what was then the Dominion Grocery Store and where "Curves" is now here in Liverpool. I recall only the Fish plant workers and myself shopping there back then. At the time Turtle Necks were my favorite style and I had one in every color thanks to Frenchy's. Today Frenchy's is the hip way to shop and it is amazing what you can find .Now that I live in town I drop in just about daily ,going for days without making a purchase but when I find that special ,just what I was looking for ,it is a great day. Always seeing the other regulars with a cheerful Hello. I tease the girl's who work there ,that I and we who drop in daily should be on the pay roll. This morning I popped in after gym on my routine bike ride as usual, my bike seems to drift into the Frenchy parking lot on it's own,amazing how that happens. I came home after and decided to ride down again in the afternoon to the park and take a look at a spot out of the sun in the shade where I could set up for the Market on the Mersey tomorrow Friday 29 th ,10-2, in my older years I find I break out in hives when in the sun for any length of time, so if I want to join in on the Market I must make sure I am protected. Well after finding a couple trees which may work ,I decided to stop into Frenchy's again and low and behold ,I heard at first her voice, and knew I had heard that voice before but not being able to place it I continued on with my shopping and next thing I know I am looking into the face of a Dear acquaintance/friend, fellow crafter from way back when Clay was just a young boy and he is 27 now. Meet our Dear Betty, as well here is a picture of a painting of Frenchy's that I did and had made into greeting cards and they are being sold at Guy's Frenchy's in Liverpool with the proceeds going to our local IWK Children's Hospital in Halifax.So you see Frenchy's is a very special spot where you can shop and find Treasures , say Hi to Folk's you see everyday and also rekindle with Friend's from years past, every body shops Guy's Frenchy's ,the place where there is something or someone waiting for you .

Betty and I were thrilled to see each other after so many years, we don't travel far from home these days and Betty from Mahone Bay does not drive so she just happened to be shopping Frenchy's with a friend of hers and Liverpool having a great Guy's Frenchy's was where they came and where we found each other.

Tomorrow the weather looks good for the Market on the Mersey, look for me in the shade. For, it will be a grand day on the Mersey. Come meet new and old Friend's.

show is over, now to...

Saturday's art show is over ,I still have my paintings ,actually only one painting sold at the show so I was told. So I won't take it too personal .Me not being the only one not to sell .The times are definitely different from years past. We do need to tighten our belts ,a pun in my case, having lost some weight, or should I say not necessarily pounds but moving my fat about and into muscle, for today I sit with a swim suit under my cloths , it has been awhile since I have been in a swim suit ,we are waiting on noon to drive to one of our many sand beaches, today we will visit hopefully and more then likely a quiet beach with few people and pets, we are taking our four legged Border Collie Lou Lou Belle , house guest for two weeks while her Mom and Dad are away visiting Family to the Beach. I mentioned in a past blog that I wrote a Children's Story about Lou Lou Belle. This little book ,of course illustrated by me ,no doubt will have to be published by me and I am getting closer to taking it to our local Vienot's Print to get a small number of books published and then the plan after they sell :-) I will order more, I really do believe it will be a wonderful happy little book, every time I read it ,and especially aloud it has a nice feeling and at least to me is fun, I believe if I have it made into the size I imagine ,that it can and will be enjoyed by ages 3 to even 10 year olds, and Adults like myself. Along with Lou Lou Belle we will be meeting up with our other four legged often House guest "Miss Laura " and her Mom for a ball chasing run on the Beach. Now us being who we are and all crippled up,we hope to not chase anyone other then a ball,if you get my drift, but I believe and was told by Belle's People that as long as there is a ball in hand, she will be right there front and center ,focused on the ball. The "Girl's " as I refer to them as ,are great friend's ,to watch them wrestle around the yard and sometimes in the middle of my small living room floor is heart warming. So I will take the camera and share our fun later with all of you . Funny how things happen? We at times do have Belle and Laura here at the same time for short periods of time, we found out just a couple weeks ago when we were sitting an old 14 year old ,blind,deaf dog "Buddy",that indeed he was a "Grumpy old Man" Belle came by just for the day and he would not stop growling at her and actually picked a fight, did I mention he had only a few teeth left in his head, so we had to separate them, and he would not listen or could not hear me when I told him" She can and will whoop your ass". Well yesterday I got a call from this dogs Mom wondering if I could keep him next week for only two days, but we have Belle so dare not. Then we got a call shortly after from friend's who wanted us to puppy sit their Springer Spaniel "Riki" for the day but we were going to be out and even though I know the girl's would have gotten along good ,we would not leave them alone together ,considering their first meeting. So today I am sure Laura and Belle will have a blast at the Beach. Back to the paintings that did not sell at the show ,they are still available, next week my plan is to join in on the "Market on the Mersey" I will have smaller items ,felting ,paintings and if weather permits ,no wind etc. I may take a couple canvases ,as well my painted cushion floor mats ,larger ones and table place mat size with me, so drop by if you can or give me an email if you are interested in seeing what I have . I picked up another order for our "Sea People" I will put a picture in of what a couple of the Characters look like for those who might not know the "Sea People" we have been making them since 1978, even though we seldom have them instock anymore, we keep getting requests, I have mentioned in the past ,that I have plans for writing a book about the "Sea People" Chuck and I came up with the idea of the "Sea People " and over the years like "Gnomes" have become to know them and their Mythical ways and hope to live long enough to share their story with the World. I need a lap top so I can take it with me and write wherever I wish instead of being tethered to the computer here in our closet computer room. So, please buy some art or pass it along to someone who might ,so I can purchase my dream lap top and move about ,inspired to write and share their story :-) thanks... speaking of inspired , yesterday we dropped into a friend's vintage and art shop in Port Medway, just before the Lighthouse and Wharf , and what did he have there? a Violin, I want it, why? wouldn't I like to know ,for I have owned a few stringed instruments in the past ,a dulcimer, auto harp,small harp and a banjo which I sadly sold and now I want this Violin, only four strings to tune unlike the Auto Harps 36 strings. I must be a frustrated rock star :-) I was messing around with the Violin yesterday and enjoyed it,even though Chuck laughed and said it sounded like a dyeing cat. But I still have the thought of it in my head and maybe he will do a trade, we will see, then my neighbor's may throw rotten tomatoes at me over the fence while I practice my new instrument, Thank God I am not one to stay up late so at least they will be able to sleep in peace, then I thought I bet someone close may be able to give me a lesson or two. We will see, the Lap top has top priority. Everyone out there have a great day, try and get some sand between your toes.

Above I added a couple pictures of our Beach adventure, we had a great day and I am exhausted . Sometimes a picture can say a thousand words, by the look of these two happy ball chasing dogs, I would say, that they had a wonderful!!! day as well and today here at home ,I am sweeping up sand instead of working on paintings.