A new friend, Carrie Boucher!

I have a new friend ... and a very talented one at that!  It's funny how the internet leads you to people.  You fall down the rabbit hole and where you end up is anyone's guess.  I started my morning by indulging myself in a visit to Pinterest.  I'm merrily going about my business and come across this!

My heart skipped a beat ... you mean a "person" made this!  I followed the link to this etsy site and noticed that Carrie spent at least part of her time in Tampa Bay!  

Her etsy site mentioned her blog, which was my next stop.

I loved Carrie's writing, which gave a good sense of who she is and what she was experiencing ... just the kind of person you'd love to meet and would feel comfortable around.  I emailed Carrie and told her I had read her blog and was setting up a studio in St. Pete.  When she wrote back, I was thrilled.  We made plans to meet.  She came to the studio/shop a couple of days ago wearing that gorgeous piece that led me to her in the first place ... and her zebra ballet slippers!  

She explained a little bit about the piece.  In my husband's hands he started playing pachinko with the three little stars that move.  The piece is made of 6 sheets of sterling silver, a stock certificate, and cast resin. I felt somewhat embarrassed to introduce her to torch firing, but she loved it!  I know in her hands she'll make something truly marvelous.

We had a wonderful morning of gab and a great lunch of Thai food at the Queen and I, just a few doors down from the shop.  I've noticed a pattern with the Queen and I ... by about 11 a.m. the whole area is permeated with the smell of garlic!  It's wonderful!

We're going to have another play date with Carrie, her mother, and her sisters before she leaves for Peru on March 22 for 6 weeks. She'll be spending the time at an artists' retreat.  

Please visit Carrie's etsy shop and her blog.  It's quite a treat. :-)  Barbara

Setting the Record Straight

Work by Dale Chihuly, glass artist

A few days ago I took you on a walking tour of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg.  Some of my information about the Chihuly Collection was incorrect.  The truth of the matter is that the Morean Arts Center will present The Chihuly Collection at the Morean's new 10,000 square foot space at 400 Beach Drive.  How great is that?!!!  As other art centers are struggling, the Morean is expanding ... I mean really expanding!

The new Glass Studio & Hot Shop, approximately 4000 sq. ft at the main location on Central Avenue at 7th,  will house furnaces, kilns, studio and retail space. There will also be an area that can seat 60 people where glass artists can be observed creating their artworks. I was able to watch Venetian glass artists at work in Murano and the making of their vessels seemed a form of Performance Art.  The Glass Studio and Hot Shop is scheduled to open in early June.

In addition, the Morean has moved its clay studios from the main location on Central Avenue to the Historic Train Station at 420 22nd Street, which is two blocks from the location of my new studio (details will be forthcoming).  I've been in their clay studios, which is bright with light streaming through arched windows.  Constantly changing exhibits, curated by Valerie Scott Knaust, greet you at their entrance and give glimpses into the workings of the clay studios.

And, finally, the Bank of America Children's Learning Center, a 1500 sq. ft. space at the main location, will provide hands-on learning that is in keeping with Dale Chihuly's interest in youth art programs.

So, there you have it ... better than even I imagined ....

Art in the Park in Historic Kenwood

My Craft Booth at Art in the Park, Kenwood, St. Pete

Did this Motley Crew scare away customers, do you think?

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, but very blustery.  Our booth underwent changes all afternoon to the point that the mirror (right hand corner on the table) was laying down to prevent 7 years of bad luck!  Fortunately, everything was staked down well, but I still couldn't help myself from jumping up to hold down the tent when a big gust came.

It was our annual Art in the Park in Kenwood, our neighborhood in St. Pete.  Kenwood is a very neat area, I've written about it here before, so if I'm boring you, I apologize.  It's 2 miles from dead center  downtown St. Pete and 12 minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida.  Our house is 2 blocks off of Central Avenue, which is the main drag that goes from downtown St. Pete to the beaches.  

In Maryland we leave in a rural area.  It is very beautiful, on the water, with an "unofficial" bird sanctuary on the opposite shore that provides tons of entertainment.  But it is friggin' far from every convenience in the world.  It takes me 30 minutes to go to any department store, by that I mean a Target or Walmart, which really aren't department stores!

After our trips to Europe in 2005 and 2007 I told Jim that I really wanted to have a more urban setting for our next home.  I wanted to walk to places.  Here I walk to my hair salon, walk to the art supply store, to the Goodyear Plant where they have neat rubber things for jewelry, to some wonderful restaurants, to Haslems (the oldest book seller in the U.S.).  We're 2 miles from Bay Walk, which has a Muvico with stadium seating and an IMAX theatre where I hope to see Alice in Wonderland this trip.

Kenwood also has the largest concentration of Bungalows in the state.  When downtown St. Pete was being developed in the 1930's, the City moved the Bungalows to our neighborhood.  It is very quaint, but still in a state of renovation.  Howeve, Cottage Living voted Kenwood one of the best cottage communities in the country in 2005.  It has a great sense of community because when Kenwood started it's redevelopment in the early 1990's, it was spurred on by a series of "porch parties," a tradition that still exists.  

Kenwood has been voted many times as a community having the greatest sense of "community" in St. Petersburg and with the most active citizens association.  I can't wait until we're permanent residents.   As you can tell, I love it here!  

If you're looking for a home (secondary or primary) in a warmer contact, get in touch with me ... I know a great real estate agent!  Actually, I sound like I should work for the Chamber of Commerce or something!

Enjoy your Sunday ... it's sunny outside!