Monday, August 31, 2009

I survived a natural disaster!







On Saturday we went to my Aunt and Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party. It was at the Canandaigua Yacht Club. It started raining pretty hard, then harder, then all of a sudden it was sideways rain and you couldn't see anything outside through the windows. An alarm went off, but nobody seemed to know what it was, and there was no instruction from the staff at the club. My 93 year old Grandma was sitting in front of a window, and we surrounded her to get her moved (she doesn't move real fast). Don took Wilson on the other side of the room away from the windows, The rain was really loud and absolutely pounding on the windows, and I said "maybe we should go downstairs to the basement". As soon as I said this there was a huge bang, and the rain died down. We could see out the window now, and a Huge tree had fallen right next to us. We went outside. There were several huge chestnut trees all all over the grounds, as we looked to the lake we could see a pile of boats and more strewn across the beach that had been picked up and tossed about. There were a couple that had been tossed out into the lake that were capsized and sinking. We could not believe the damage, and how concentrated it was- a straight line from behind the club house (where we were having our party) to the marina, all the destruction seemed to be a path about 50 yards wide. We later found out the National Weather service said it was a tornado! What are the chances of being smack dab in the middle of a tornado?!! We finished the party- we couldn't get out because of all the downed trees. The electric was out, but the bar was open and there was much to talk about! It was the most interesting anniversary party I have ever been to!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The usual routine...



I have been painting my usual best sellers this week getting ready for the Farmers' Market on Sunday. I haven't been in a couple of weeks so I am excited to go and "hawk my wares". It has been a bit of a slow week at the Gallerage, but I have been getting a bit of my own work done, so that's good.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

An announcement:

The Gallerage will be closed this Saturday August 29th due to a mandatory family event. Sorry if this is a problem, these things come up occasionally- I am a one woman operation.

A great night out!


My Lover-Boyce took me out for dinner and a show last night. We scarfed a hot dog 2 minutes before going into the theater! We try to get to at least one show a season at the Merry-Go-Round playhouse at the end of Owasco Lake. Last night we took in one of my favorites- A Chorus Line. I Love this musical. I think I have seen it 3 or 4 times now. I had the original cast recording on vinyl. When I was in High School, I knew every song by heart, and ask my parents they endured many a car ride with me in the back seat singing "Tits and Ass" at the top of my lungs! I used that kind of language only in the name of ART! Great play- see it if you can. I'll be singing all day today!

Monday, August 24, 2009

It's my weekend!

I have 2 days off in a row! I still have a bit of school shopping to get done, so I will be running some errands with my fabulous assistant Wilson Henry! That means we will probably have to go to McDonald's for lunch- if my assistant is a well behaved young man. Bribes help me get things done!
I don't usually like to paint furniture, but a friend asked me to do a child's chair for him to give as a gift. I couldn't say no! Anahlee's chair is really cute, I hope she likes it!


As long as I keep things simple, I guess I don't mind doing this sort of thing. Just a few more touch-ups and then the poly finish.
Now, on with my weekend!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

settled into a routine...


I am all cleaned up from Olde Home Days, and the place looks great. I am really feeling comfortable in my new space. Don did my monthly bookkeeping, and I think many of my artisans will be surprised with their checks! Business is definitely better being on Main St.
With sales being so good I will not be able to do the Farmers' Market this Sunday- my inventory
is really low- I keep selling stuff!
It was a nice night, but the humidity is back today- what happened to that cold front we were supposed to get? I think I'll bring another fan to the shop today.
Back to painting...

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Back to the Gal!


My Salvador is looking a bit tired and "wolf- like" after our busy day at the lake. Lots of swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing- it was a great day.
I have many creative outlets. I am a painter, but every now and then I like to do something different. My "baubles" have been selling very well at the shop, so I thought I would show a sample of new pieces.


Yesterday I took Wilson school shopping, while I was at the mall, I had to stop in at AC Moore. I spent a little cash on beads! It is a bad habit to get into!
Now, Back to painting today!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Made it through the weekend!




The big day has come and gone! Groton's Summer Celebration, aka Olde Home Days was HOT, and I mean HOT! I was wearing a towel around my neck filled with ice to try and stay cool. We had a lot of traffic at the new Gallerage, but I think it was a bit uncomfortable to stand in the sun and do my giant "Paint by Numbers." I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, maybe I'll save it for next year and we can finish it then!
Dino DiArtist was a hit, he stayed busy doing caricatures all day. We hope to have him again next year. If you stop in at Bun Appetit take a look at the drawing he did of Jodi and I- pretty funny! Thanks Dino!
We had live music, a pie contest, and the big parade! What a LONG DAY, and I was beat at the end of it.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Gallerage, it was great to see so many people visiting my shop- I love the traffic on Main St.!
Now, on with my regular stuff, I have orders to fill, and lots of painting to keep me busy. I also have to get my web site back in order- I'm working on it. But, today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year, so Wils, Salvador and I are going to go to the lake and have a nice, wet, relaxing day, work starts tomorrow!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Hello Again!


It has been a while since I have sat down and checked in! I have been busy getting ready for Olde Home Days. I am glad that it is finally here- this weekend Groton celebrates 75 years of our town's summer festival. I will be judging the photography show on Friday night, and Saturday is my Giant Paint By Numbers community art project. Thanks to my FAB Hubby for helping out with this! I also have an amazing caricature artist coming to do portraits under the tent in front of the Gallerage. If you are around on Saturday make sure you check out Dino DiArtist- he is really good at what he does!
It is supposed to be a beautiful day (for a change) HOT & SUNNY- and we will be selling ice cold bottled water to help keep people hydrated. There is much going on including the parade at 6:00, this is the biggest day of the year in our little town!
I have also been painting- yes, I do have some new pieces!



Stop by and see me Saturday!

Friday, August 7, 2009

When I Dream...

When I have dreams at night, it is usually during a time when I am very busy with projects. I have been incredibly busy lately! My dream is: I am a waitress, and I never seem to catch up with food service, coffee refills, clean up, I just can't make my customers happy! I am running around all night, trying to serve an unrecognizable crowd of people. I wake up exhausted thinking about all I have to do, and feeling like I have taken too much on- once again! Hopefully after next weekend I will be able to take a deep breath and feel like it was worth it.
I will be doing a giant paint by numbers community art project for Olde Home Days- It's called
Paint a Postcard From Groton! Hopefully I will be able to pull this off!



It has taken me a lot of hours to figure out how to do this outline, and I still have to do the numbering! I know they have programs to do the work, but they don't run on a Mac. So I have done it by trial and error, and a lot of time!
I also have Dino DiArtist coming to the Gallerage on Saturday August 15th to do caricatures for Olde Home Days. Dino used to do the Ithaca Farmers' Market with me, and he is REALLY GOOD!


Dino will be here from 11:00- 4:00 Saturday August 15, come and have your caricature done by a true artist!
Okay- now I have to try to get my web site back in order...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

web site disaster!

So, I go to my web site yesterday, and all my photos are gone! I have just recently updated things, and now it has to be redone! Oh, CRAP!

Monday, August 3, 2009

A beautiful Monday!


I was not able to make it to the Farmers' Market this past Sunday. I have been too busy finishing up with moving anything else I had at the church. One more piece of furniture, and I'm totally done! I just need to round up a vehicle that my Grandmother's buffet can fit into.
I have been painting and hopefully my display will be somewhat plentiful at the market next week! I have been working on switch plates, heart magnets, necklaces, a soap pump salt & peps, and more.
I was able to take a break yesterday to celebrate Don's birthday, we went to see G-force in 3D! Not Don's first pick, but it was Wilson's! It was pretty entertaining for a kid's movie.
I hope you had a Happy Birthday Babe!