Monday, November 21, 2011

Wild Arts Festival

Oh my goodness.  My friend, Marguerite, who has just been hired as Executive Director of the Friends of Vista House (a position I held for 15 years), invited me to go the the Audubon Society's "Wild Arts Festival" yesterday to do some scouting for new items for the Gift Gallery at Vista House.  I headed out and the day was beautiful and sunny and as I drove down the Sandy River gorge I felt wonderful to be heading out to enjoy the day.  The Autumn leaves swirled around and covered the ground next to the river.  I drove on the freeway across to the other side of Portland to Montgomery Park where the festival was being held.  This was the show's 32nd year and it was my first time.. it won't be my last.  It was the absolute most wonderful art and craft show I've ever seen.  Needless to say, we found a lot of new things for the shop and I found some new things for my home. :-)
The first booth we saw bowled us over!  An artist named Kate Saunders did these amazing glass plates and bowls using nature designs and the large ones have our indigenous petroglyphs done by the native people in this area in prehistoric times on the rocks in the Columbia River Gorge.  
I was so tempted to get the one with "Spedis Owl", upper left on aqua glass.  Aren't they amazing?
These are the middle sized bowls.
I bought 2 of the little ones above.. you can put a candle on them, serve nuts, put a truffle on them, your change, whatever.  They're beautiful!
Next up was "Fired Up Clay Works" - they make wonderful traditional designed red ware beautifully painted - he does the throwing and making of the dishes and she does the beautiful hand painted glazing.  
I'd love a whole set of dishes with spots and swirls!! 
And imagine serving a turkey on this platter?  Speaking of turkeys.. the Audubon Society had a big display area and this is the back of a Turkey Vulture.  :-)
Then on the other side of the stage was this darling Owl.  It was a bit bright in this room for the poor guy. 
I missed taking more photos.. but the next one that I was in *love* with was this one where a man makes very cool things out of rocks!!  See the vases and the lamp bases of stacked stones?  I found a granite stone vase that I just had to have. :-)
Some had "frogs in them for putting a flower in.   
Here is his website
 After a very successful scouting trip and a shopping venture we headed a few blocks down the street to a restaurant that I'd had on my "Bucket List" of places to go but had never gone.  Meriwethers Restaurant.  We sat in the pub part and had the "happy hour" menu.  The bacon cheeseburger was "only" 9.  We shared the "truffle salt fries" which were yummy.  And both had their own ice cream they churn each day there - chocolate.  You would not believe how creamy it was.
My purchases were 2 of the small plates.. aren't they pretty? 
This image is of cedar twigs. 
This is my granite vase.  I love how there is green in it.. kind of moss-like. 
Holding some orange daisies. 
My vase with a candle holder made out of solid iron by a blacksmith.  Why did I buy such heavy stuff to carry?  :-) 
My other purchase was 3 tiny gourd ornaments - hand-painted with Columbia Gorge Petroglyph designs.  And as I looked at the artist, I was happy to find that it was an old friend, Barbara Kennedy.  We worked together on Vista House, she was with the US Forest Service.  Now she lives in Central Oregon and does landscapes and Western art!
There were probably 100 artists, so I missed a lot of photos, but if you have the chance to go to this show next year, you should!!  It's always the weekend before Thanksgiving in Portland, Oregon. 
All in all a wonderful day!  And when I came home, hubby had cleaned the fridge so it would be ready for Thanksgiving.  Thanks for coming to visit!!  I love your comments.
((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

17 comments:

  1. Oh wow, you must have had an amazing day. I love all of your gorgeous things but those gourds are fabulous. I once bought a large stone elephant on the Kings Road in London and had to carry it around for almost the whole day. Sometimes practicality is just not as important as having the object of our desires!
    X

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  2. What an amazingly fun day!!! Love the artwork and the pottery, oh my!!!
    I also love the gourds you purchased, and candle holders too! So fun to live in such a wonderful place!!

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  3. Thanks for sharing all those goodies it looks lke a great day. I love the stacked rocks. I agree though very heavy purchases. :)

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  4. I absolutely love all of your finds! The plates are G O R G E O U S! Bringing nature inspired art into a home seems to make things a little more relaxing IMO. I never thought of using a rock as a vase and It looks wonderful holding your lovely daisies. Great post!

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  5. What a fun day. I love all that you purchased and I bet next year you will find even more fun treasures.
    Hugs to you Teresa,
    Meredith

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  6. Teresa that art festival was fabulous. I loved seeing all your purchases. What great choices you made, it must have been hard to not buy MORE! I'm bad at craft fairs. I want it all....I have gotten better though. What a nice invitation and adventurous day you got to have.
    Happy Thanksgiving to the Kasner Family. xoRobin❤

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  7. Did I just die and go to heaven. This looks like the most fabulous art show EVER. And believe me when I say I've dragged Scoots to alot. I love love love the glass piece you brought home. The Pottery link will be my next stop. How you survived this I do not know. My heart would have stopped a million gazillion times. Now, I know where you were and why I was waiting for WWF. It was worth the wait for this posting.

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  8. Very pretty crafts from artisans in your area.

    Just wondering, have you ever been to Voodoo Donuts? I keep seeing them on the Food Network and just about die with want.

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  9. So many beautiful crafted items! Wow, how did you ever make up your mind?! Thank you so much for sharing! I think I might have to do a bit more Christmas shopping now!
    ~Lacey

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  10. Gosh you live an interesting life Teresa. I'm in love with your granite vase and those little dishes are so sweet. Just as well we don't have a market like that near where I live or I'd be doing some serious damage to my plastic !!

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  11. Some wonderful work there Teresa, love the glass
    Wish l could go, a tad too far for me though lol
    Hugs x

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  12. Beautiful! That poor owl. Were you able to pet him/her? I'm going to take a gander at the stone man's website. Thanks for sharing!

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  13. Wow! There are some really beautiful things there! We have the Carolina Craftsman's Fair this weekend and it sounds very similar. I'll be going with my sister :) Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

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  14. Thank you for your lovely comment on my post Teresa. There is always room on my comfy sofa for somebody to crochet with! X

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  15. I love them all! Those glass plates are just awesome looking. And the granite vases as well! Everything is just gorgeous in "fired up Clay Works"! I wouldn't know what to choose, except one of everything! Haha!

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
    Nancy

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  16. Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow
    Hugs x

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  17. I keep thinking about your comment about a 27lbs. turkey. Went to bed thinking about it and woke up thinking about it. ; Just how many are you having. OK, it's back to work here on the next dish. Just wanted to wish you and your family the very best and peaceful day tomorrow. I'm sure you have it under control.

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