A podcast shout-out to artist moms

I tell you, there aren't many things that are more fun than hanging out Ricë Freeman-Zachery and her husband Earl...

 ... except maybe doing a podcast with Ricë! Which I did last week, with Aimee Myers Dolich of Artsyville, as we talked about risking sanity and carving out time to make art while also being somebody's mother.

I first met Ricë three years ago at Art & Soul Portland, and sometime last year Ricë introduced me to Aimee on Facebook. As Ricë said in her post about the podcast, she's not exactly the motherly type (although she's said she'd be happy to meet my kids when they're a little older and less prone to stickiness). But Aimee and I are not exactly uber-Mommy types, either, so we have a lot to talk about. Go listen!

Support your local artists BEFORE the last minute

Now that I'm doing all these exhibitions and events, I'm thinking a little more about Supporting Local Artists. Obviously, selling your work is why you're there... but it's nice when someone you know makes the effort to cheer you on too. So say hi to Roz of ScarfCity!

I got a gorgeous knit head scarf that buttons in the back, like the one below, only red.

 Perfect for throwing on my head for the walk to The Boy's schoolbus stop. Roz is a member of EtsyRain, the official Etsy street team in Seattle. ("Etsy Teams are groups of organized Etsy members who network, share skills, and promote their shops and Etsy together," according to the Etsy website.)

You know how it is... once you try one you have to try more...

 This one's from Emily of Sly Spider Designs, who shared a table with Trilby of TrilbyMade.

These squid pendants are recycled leather, laser-cut. Trilby tried hand-cutting them once; she says it took eight hours just to do one.

Julia of Entangles made a necklace I picked up for one of my sisters-in-law. Sorry, can't show you the necklace... I never know when the SIL in question happens to find a moment to websurf and I don't wanna ruin the surprise.

Funny how a skilled DJ can get you in the mood to buy more stuff. 

Like the doll from Hasenpfeffer Incorporated that I picked up for one of my nieces. I came back for two reasons: they're cute as all-get-out, and they come in different skin shades. And yes, I made sure to tell the designer Daniela why I came back.

I also picked up a coupla pieces from UglyBaby and Greenbelts... and I think I'm just about spent. Someone else want to pack 'em up for me? I'll take care of the shipping...

Hey, great to see you!

This was my little corner of the world last night, at Edmonds Bookshop, where I was selling my signed copies of Mixed-Media Dollhouses. And guess who came to see me? My friends Tonnie Wolfe, her daughter and brand-new granddaughter!

I know Tonnie from church, but I hadn't realized she's also a mixed-media artist. She's also going to hook me up with a local group of artists who organize a four-day art show every year.

It seems my most interested audience is women who think their arty granddaughters and nieces would love the book and my art...

... arty girls... the occasional arty boy or guy. I was too busy talking to the kids to take pictures of them, but a teacher brought her kids in to talk to me, and my last customer was a ten-year-old who convinced her mom she needed the book.

And guess who else stopped by?

Nancy Leson, food writer for the Seattle Times -- I know her a little because she and The Husband read their food writing at an event a few years ago. (He's really good. See?)

And I'd highly recommend Supporting Your Local Bookshop -- and by that I mean Edmonds Bookshop. If it weren't for the fact that I was boosting my own book, I'd've been burrowing through the fabulous selections. Thanks, Mary Kay!