. . . a perfect afternoon with Shell . . .

Shelly Rollins of Bungalow Bling and I met at Skagit Valley Gardens

for lunch at the Garden Cafe. She's my *first* met-through-blogland buddy,

and I'm sooooo glad we got together. Too much fun in too little time!!

Not a moment's silence between us--comfortable, easy conversation

right from the get-go. Shell knows what's most precious

in life and shows it with gusto!

She's a very creative spirit who shares

my passion for vintage (duh!!). Working at Joyworks in Snohomish,

she has a quick eye for textiles, color and potential

for vintage items to upcycle and repurpose.

I don't have a creative crafter bone in my body and am in awe of

what Shelly sees in her mind's eye. I know, cuz we went SHOPPING

together after lunch--what fun to see what she spotted!

(Skagit Valley Gardens purchased this

fabulous "Jewelers" sign from yours truly)

Short on time, and focused on the task at hand (did I say SHOPPING?!),

there was no time for photo-ops . . . a mad dash to LaConner to

visit Mary Davis Lighting (so glad Mary is feeling better after a real

scare with a nasty virus!!). LOVE her shop!

Then a quick stop at Egg and Dart . . . Shell found some gorgeous

vintage ribbon for her projects. Ran out of time, although we wanted to stop

by MoonRose and Hutch Studio (next time for sure!).

Dashing off to Mount Vernon to catch Dilly Dally and the Red Door

before they closed . . . whew, we did it!!!

I came home with the best treasure of all . . . thank you Shelly for

this darling wall vase with flowers from her yard (oh, look, it has

a Frenchie lady on it!). We certainly crammed a lot of fun into just a

few short hours together--can't wait for another road trip

and another perfect afternoon with Shell.

xoxo Debi

Prepare to be AMAZED!!!

Cast Paper Sculptures of Native American scenes

* by Allen and Patty Eckman *

This is a radical departure from my *normal* blogging. After my cousin

Linda in Modesto forwarded these images to me, I just had to

share them with you.

These incredible art "sculptures" absolutely

take my breath away. I've never seen such beautiful

renderings of the Cherokee so lovingly formed. Hope you enjoy

seeing these amazing pieces as much as I do!!

These stunningly detailed sculptures may be made from mere paper, but they

are being snapped up by art fans for tens of thousands of dollars.

The intricate creations depict Native American scenes and took up to 11 months

to make using a specially formulated paper pulp which is inserted

into clay moulds and pressurized to remove the water.

The hard, lightweight pieces are then removed from the molds, and details

are painstakingly finished with a wide range of tools.

Allen and Patty Eckman have been making these creations since 1987 at their

home studio, in South Dakota. The pieces depict traditional scenes from

Native American history of Cherokees hunting and dancing.

Allen says, "We create Indians partly because my great, great grandmother was

Cherokee, and my family on both sides admire the native Americans..."

... "I work on the men and animals and Patty does the women and children",

explains Allen. "I enjoy most doing the detail. The paper really lends

itself to unlimited detail. I'm really interested in the Indians' material, physical

and spiritual culture; and that whole period of our nation's history

I find fascinating. From the western expansion, through the Civil War

and beyond, is of great interest to me."

Allen explains their technique: "It should not be confused with

paper mache. The two mediums are completely different.

I call what we do . . . "cast paper sculpture".

"Some of them are life-size, and some are scaled down to 1/6th life-size."

"These sculptures are posed as standing nude figures and limited-detail

animals with no ears, tails or hair. We transform them by sculpting

on top of them--creating detail with soft and hard paper made in

various thicknesses and textures."

About the artists:

http://www.eckmanfineart.com/about_allen-patty.html

A bit of . . . the Bite of Skagit

Wanting to stay closer to home, we opted to flea it

at the Bite of Skagit on Saturday.

Low key. Laid back. No fancy setup. Just right, right now!

This little darling enjoyed my Victorian seagrass chair . . .

doesn't she look turned-out-pretty for the party?

Downtown Mount Vernon was bustling with families enjoying

the comfy temperatures . . . ahhhh, a perfect 72 degrees!

There was live music, a sidewalk sale,

beer/wine garden (too far away from me, darn it!), cooking

with Graham Kerr, and a farmer's market.

A perfect slice of small-town living on a summer day!

Happiness is a perfectly matched pair--goodbye little green mohair bear!

* * * *

Life is so good in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest . . . wishing

you a happy summer filled with love.

Palmer-Wirfs Portland Expo never disappoints . . . !

Happily exhausted from the Palmer-Wirfs Portland Expo show

(temperatures climbing to nearly 100 degrees!),

we've arrived safely home in Bellingham--greeted by comfortable weather

conditions around 70 degrees (we're soooo spoiled!!).

It's difficult to gauge how successful any show is going to be in

challenging economic times. I'm always tremendously grateful to

have a show that doesn't land me in the dog house.

Palmer-Wirfs Portland Expo certainly brought in the crowds!!

The buying public was a bit more reserved than in previous shows,

and--thank goodness--they were buying!!

Having said that, customers "just looking" at either merchandise

itself--or trying to determine

market values for something they own--does not help dealers afford

to return year after year. Purchases are absolutely essential.

Demands of customers have changed, both in terms of perceived financial

"value" of an item, as well as the desirability of the merchandise

itself . . . leaving many hard-working dealers with inventory

that may not meet the criteria of the new--increasingly younger--buying public.

This is a new "dance partner" . . . for both dealer and customer, and we

have to communicate and be fair with each other in seeking ways

to have our needs met. This is not "business as usual" for any of us, that's for sure.

But the challenge is exciting and keeps us fresh!

There is a new balance evolving, but it feels very much like walking a tight-rope

at times. Being just a bit *scared* keeps us on our toes, right?!

Many cultural, technical and political changes are certainly stirring the pot.

But humanity has shown tremendous resiliance, creativity and

drive over the years . . . the present being no exception.

It's easy to get discouraged . . . not knowing what the next right

step might be. It's important to remember the singular characteristic

that binds us to each other in this industry: PASSION!!

But passion is a two-sided coin (like love); and sometimes our interests

may collide--where creative jealousies and competition rule, instead of

mutual collaboration and sharing.

Hey, it's human--but we're all on the same, ultimate path. Soooo . . .

. . . like this beautiful customer, let's ENJOY that path together!!!

I thank each and every one of you for stopping by my booth--if only

to say hello. We share space on this amazing earth and are so blessed to be doing so!

THANK YOU Portland for another great show!!!

* * * *

xoxo Debi

Portland Expo: Hall E . . . Spaces C6 & C7

Portland Expo is the largest--and most serious-- show of the year for me.

With over 1,200 booths and literally tens-of-thousands of customers,

the pressure is on for presenting the best-of-the best!

Displaying my finest antique & vintage collections in an approachable,

friendly fashion is very challenging. I don't want

anyone feeling they can't come in and be comfortable

exploring for items from $5 . . . and beyond!!

There are many flavors of ice cream . . . none is actually

better than the other--it just depends on what you

like and are comfortable spending for the taste.

Portland Expo is known for being the place to find the cool urban,

the rustic, the funkiest junk. I will not disappoint!

Being the most physically demanding and expensive show we do,

it's imperative to make it count. I've been

planning the mix of stunning merchandise for a year!

When you have a "traveling shop", it's difficult to

display experienced treasures in a new light each time.

My greatest desire is to please customers and delight their

senses . . . the world is so full of treasures created

by talented and loving hands. Shared passions for us all!!

This is but a tiny bite of a very satisfying meal awaiting

you in the next week. Please join me--I'd love

to connect with you in the joy

of the amazing, the common, the deeply rooted

arts of the ages!!

This is my inescapable, true path . . . please come

and share a bit of it with me.

For as long as I can remember, the beauty of

the past has been an awe-inspiring

treasure map for charting my future.

To be truly modern, hip or--whatever word melts your butter--

(apologies from a southern-girl), your soles must

be rooted in the past to walk on *new* air!

How you integrate that amazing past with your hopeful future is

where the most satisfying pleasure lies. Not many young people

want to be "old-fashioned", except maybe in values.

We have a rich *life-tapestry* to draw from . . . .

Please come explore the beauty and share the enchantment.

Words are inadequate . . . come see the magic for yourself!!!!

xoxo Debi

July 1st

Birthdays always makes me feel like a happy kid!

Today I celebrate being alive . . . having such wonderful

family, friends and a business that feeds my soul. It's a good day!!

xoxo Debi