Holiday Festival Season is Nearly Upon Us

After last year's holiday season, the Professor and I decided to limit this year's participation. "Why?" you may be asking. We worked hard to create hand-made journals for months in preparation. And we did not break even. Not even close.

This is not an uncommon fate for the artists you see at these festivals. They pay a fee (sometimes substantial) to just be showing you their creations. Then they often pay a percentage of the sale price (can be as much as 40%) to the organization hosting the event. In order to make even a small wage, prices may appear high to the regular chain, big-box store. Most of these talented artists do not make a livable wage, so they keep a day job to support their passion. When you purchase an item at a local craft festival, not only are you supporting the artist who created the unique item, but you are keeping your funds in the pockets that reside in your area. It is a win for the artist and the community.

And that rant is yours free of charge!

Anyway, I said all that to explain my absence in the local Holiday Festivals this year. We have chosen instead to open our shared studio and provide an extremely low cost venue for other artists to share their creations. We're excited to try this idea out. If it works, we could do it more often.

So if you're around Bellingham either Friday, November 4 or Friday, December 2, plan to come downtown and see what these talented artists have for you. (If you're elsewhere, check out your local artists. They will have wonderful offerings for you, I'm certain.)

Oh, and I'll have a few things available as well. Sure would love to see you. And you, of course, know why. Because I love you. Bunches.

Meet Bekah

After much planning, procrastination and prayer on my part, I have asked a very talented  woman to join my team and keep my online presence in order. Bekah Willis  is a gifted writer who knows the ins and outs of cyberspace. She has fearlessly visited all my online sites and corralled them all into one place. She suggested that perhaps it would be easier for people to find me if I were to use my name instead of the anonymous  "Meanderings Northwest." She's kind of smart that way.

As a disorganized, Creative Explorer, I feel successful if I occasionally post images of studio progress. Never mind that my store (s) and gallery have not had a new posting in ages. My Etsy store listings expired months (years?) ago, never to be renewed. Keeping up with that kind of business is not something I enjoy. I  simply prefer getting my hands into the paint.

Bekah is the solution to this problem. She will be able to keep my store and gallery online up to date. She will motivate me to communicate with you more regularly. She has already taken a mishmash of sites and streamlined their presentation. She is truly a gift. I did go in and tweak some things (don't shoot me, Bekah), but she has the final say. I am so grateful for her willingness to apply her gifts and talents to my work. Once she gets me shipshape, she will be looking for other creative souls to organize.

Bekah is currently located in Florida with her husband, expecting their first son, Peyton, in the fall.