by Xanthe

Friday, July 09, 2010

Summer Road Trip part 3

We had high hopes of finding a bunch of Topaz, hopefully Bixbyite and the holy grail...Red Beryl! We really didn't find much. Mostly small clear Topaz that washed down from the mountain. There were about 2 dozen people climbing and rockhounding and hopefully they had better luck. I wish we found something cool, but either way we had lots of fun hiking around. I'd like to go back again with a better idea of where to go.

Turn off for Topaz Mountain Rock Hounding Area (nearest town is Delta, UT)

Topaz crystals in Rhyolite

If you look carefully, you can see our campsite way down by the gravel road

Working hard climbing around looking for Topaz

We can't forget campfire roasted marshmallows!

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Summer Road Trip part 2

I love the badlands! We spent a few days in SD two years ago and loved it.
This year we just stopped by on the way to Utah.

We forgot to take a photo of the sign that says "Prairie Dogs Have Plague!"

Look how sweet it is...plague? :-)

Baby bison are so cute!

Hello there big guy

We quickly realized Emma is part mountain goat!
She was always ahead of us effortlessly climbing up and down the slopes.

It seemed as if we were the only ones on an alien planet.

Summer RoadTrip part 1

Through the viewfinder shots of the Badlands!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Camping with my Cub Scout

I'm off to a fun and probably cold and wet weekend camping with my little guy! A Mom and Son weekend is such a great idea. Emma and I spend time together at art fairs, so this is my time with Ethan. Weather report is iffy...hope we don't get washed away!

I'm just worried what Mike and Emma are going to do. Last year, we came home to a kitten. Cute yes, but I'm allergic to cats!

I haven't made anything artsy this whole week except for altering my tote bag. Just in time for this weekend. I got this canvas bag for a $1, but it had an ugly logo on it. I was going to applique and embroider it, but I was too busy so out came the paint!

man is it dark outside today!

Have a great weekend!!!!!!

Monday, June 07, 2010

ART, STORMS, ROADTRIP, OH MY!

Yesterday the kids and I spent the whole day in the van! all! We went to Eau Claire and Minneapolis and back to restock stores. I kept putting it off, so now I had to do it in one day with the kids. Emma and Ethan were OK and beside I bribed them with food *grins*
We stopped at one of their favorite restaurants, Dino's. MMMMM Greek food! There are worse ways to spend a rainy day.

Alright, I never got around to recapping this past weekend's art fair. Well, the Dragon Art Fair was a bust. The day began promising....no rain. A good start, warm and that is OK. There just wasn't too many shoppers. As the morning passed it got nice and sunny, but with that the heat. Still I don't have a problem as long as the heat doesn't keep people away. at one point it seemed to get busy but without buyers. Hmmm.

I do realize that there are a lot of people that go to art fairs to get out and look. I'm totally fine with that, but since I am trying to make a living it is nice to have the "just looking" mixed with the "I'm here to buy". The business end of art can be difficult. Sometimes I wonder if I should just chuck it for a guaranteed pay check. Not to put tons into a show, only to loose money. I guess that is the inherit risk is being self employed in any area. So I keep plugging away and realize that every show is an opportunity to learn something new.
I keep on keeping on....

As usual, I met some very nice people that I otherwise would have never met if I didn't take the risk and put myself out there. I talked to other artists and most of us are in the same boat....except maybe the people with the copper yard art. I always see customers carrying them around! In fact, I saw a pieces I'd like in my garden!

To be honest, I didn't have my first sale until 1pm and by 2pm it was thundering and raining. By about 2:15 the tornado warning siren went off (right next to us, very very loud) I'm very paranoid about tornadoes so you don't need to tell me twice! I started packing art into a tote along with my money.

Art fair staff and firefighters from next door told everyone there was a funnel cloud sighted in a nearby town and we need to evacuate to the basement of the public library. Emma and I took shelter until the all clear was given. Afterwards, everyone just packed up and left. I know some people had things damaged since they didn't have walls up on their tent. Since it didn't get too blustery all the tents stayed up.

Whew! to recap; low sales, nice people, tornado nearby, but no wind damage.