Killing two birds with one stone?


what if everyone who needed help from a charitable organization such as Community Sharing (where what has been donated by some is given freely to those in need ) ..... could come with a voucher from recycling some trash. One bag of paper or trash picked up from the street or even trash from their own homes would buy one voucher that would be reimbursed at a charity. One voucher equals one large item or one bag of clothes, etc.. I wonder if our streets and yards would be a bit cleaner. This idea would allow those receiving charity to contribute to there community and be a part of the solution which is what most want but no one is hiring!  

The recycling bins could be placed by the charities to make this process simpler for all. This could eliminate the problem of someone handing out vouchers. What do you think of this idea? It may also help those who feel despair when asking for help. 

My thoughts go to the effects of cleaning up our environment as well as our homes. It makes for clearer thoughts. I have a need to clear out the clutter before I can really get creative and when I see others who are having a hard time.... one of the first things I see is the clutter around them. There is usually more of everything and they are overwhelmed and seem to be buried under too much garbage or problems. We could start working on problems with simple cleanup and recycling. 

Gil Harrison

Gil Harrison's pottery. Gil passed away while I was in Florida and I put a stop on all sales as soon as I learned of his death. I've since been in touch with his close friend and executer of the estate. They are planning a memorial service for later after the shock of this sudden loss. So many are missing him now. I only knew him this past year as he placed his work in the gallery. One of the more straight forward, honest people I've met. I liked that about him. "What you see is what you get" No reservations.
 Our last conversation was just days before he passed as he was bringing in a larger amount of work. He had an exceptionally good sale in Medford the previous month. As he put it "the kind of customers you want to wish for" . As he put it ...."there was a line of people waiting to get in and they were all there to buy". He had sold most of his work then and had finally some new work fired to bring in. 

We talked about having another artist reception for him this spring during the gallery's 4th yr. anniversary. That would have been the end of February. This is a lesson once again to appreciate every encounter we have. Never take for granted the moments we share with others. When I hear of the memorial service I will post info. 

Back from sunny Florida and into the clouds of Oregon. We took my mother to Disney World for her 80th birthday. She is now back in ND ....20 below yesterday.... Uffda!!

These people all mistook mom for the queen of england.... too much drink, maybe???

Just finishing this floor cloth,  7 ft x 8 ft . Should be on display in the gallery by tuesday 

Almaz and I walked into a salon in Oslo and got new do's.  

Almaz holding her pony tail that she donated for wigs. I brought it back with me and sent it off to Pantene Beautiful Locks.... a charity that creates free wigs for cancer patients. http://www.pantene.com/en-US/PanteneBeautifulLengths/Pages/default.aspx

Almaz after the cut.  

Almaz at the Vigalund park in Oslo, doing a little imitation before getting all her hair cut off

Almaz with her zodiac at Vigalund

With Karin Ingar at the Lundeby farmstead, Norway

park around an ancient Viking castle

Viking castle ruins enclosed in glass to protect it.

This is Oct. beautiful day!!

I call this the spotted owl mirror

Just finished today

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Incolorgallery?ref=si_shop

mirrors

Just hung this one up. 6 in. x 8 1/2 in. Just plain fun

Go to the etsy button on the top left to see more pics of mirrors

This is the work of one of the newer artists in my gallery. She has many purses here, I'm working on getting them all on-line. Each has its own personality.

this one is called Green Power

"Zebra Tote" by Pat Rollins

The latest mirror I'm working on . Not done yet. Soon

One of Andrea Mull's story book birdhouses. It is in my gallery's on line store. You can come into the gallery and see it for real along with all the others . They are more amazing when you see them up close. lots of surprising details. http://incolorgallery.com

Willy Wonka's chocolate factory birdhouse. See more pics of this in the on line store site.

Western bottle cap birdhouse

fun mirrors

6 1/2 inches. another little accent piece. always a challenge to paint up these little ugly ducklings I find in the dump heap.

A tiny mirror with a big frame. A fun little accent piece. Only about 5 inches square

Just finished this last week

found this smile face mirror at the local 2nd hand shop and gave it a little more umph! More sunshine needed!!!

The Gallery is carrying baby rattles! Made from all non toxic woods and sealed with bees wax.  

Maple rattle. These are just right for a baby's hand . Sell for 15.00 each

Some edible finger paints for baby. Everything in the gallery is made locally. These two entrepreneurs both happen to be child care providers saw a need for healthy and creative baby toys. 

Almaz posing in front of the shed that is behind my grandmothers home. Note the reindeer antlers! 

Old fishing cottage to house the fishermen when the seas were rough. 

Amazing and beautiful. This is what you see everywhere you turn when traveling through the Lofoten Islands.

Almaz doesn't look too excited about the prospect of eating whale burger!

cousin Gunhild hosted us while visiting the homestead lands of my Grandmothers family.... near the Lofoten islands.

this was the landscape in every direction! Amazing but alas I am not the best photographer. I guess I need to do some painting

This is the view from my guest bedroom balcony at the site where grandma Anna grew up. this was taken Oct 7th. Weather not unlike Oregon. Mild even though we are across the arctic circle here. 

floor cloth repair

8X10 floor cloth with the business logo. this cloth has had thousands of feet on it since it was displayed at the Eugene home show more for several seasons. I was happy to see that there was no damage or even wear from all the traffic, but rather is strictly due to improper storage. The heat caused softening of the sealer and since it was rolled tightly, the layers stuck together and pulled some of the paint up. 

I often add a touch of tromp l' oeil artwork to a floor piece , especially if it is for a business where you want to draw attention. I felt 10 penny nails would be fitting for this contractor. 

I'm currently repairing a floor cloth that was rolled up and stored in an attic.... probably 110 degrees plus. This is a rug I had done for a contractor to have on the floor of his booth space at home shows. Typically floor cloths are always in use and not stored.  I can give some tips on storage if you have a floor cloth that you want to roll up and store for whatever reason.

Always roll the rug around a hard tube like a carpet tube, right side up so that when you put the rug back down the curl is downward on the floor. Use some cloth to tie around the rolled rug at rope may crimp the rug. Keep the rug in a room or basement that is room temperature. Not under 50 and not over 90. Pretty much the same as how you store your paint cans. The products I use are extremely durable and last a lifetime but when they get heated up or wet they respond like most surfaces.... not well. Actually floor cloths hold up better than any other form of floor rug . One more thing.... I would recommend putting the rolled up floor cloth in a plastic bag and seal it tightly with tape to prevent moisture from getting into it.

artist reception

Friday, Aug 17th 5:00-8:00
Come and meet the artist Gil Harrison. A larger display of his work will be shown. 

Lesley Strother will be here also and is displaying works in her collection that aren't often seen at shows. 

Canvas totes

  

Print from the 7x6 foot floor cloth that was completed to accent a retro red and white enameled dinette

print from entrance floor cloth on canvas tote 

"pink lady" print turned out nice on the canvas totes also