Ribbon Cutting Fun at Ojiketa Regional Park

 What a great day!  This was definitely a life highlight for me!  It was great to see so many friends and family at the recent ribbon cutting for my new elf house in Ojiketa Regional Park.

If you're looking to visit the elf house, it is a little hard to find.  From the Ojiketa parking lot you turn left towards the beach. You'll find the house just beyond the first trail head on the left.  The straw roof is a give away.  If you see the block and cinder shower house on your right, look left - the house should be visible.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

 

Come to the Ribbon Cutting at Ojiketa Regional Park

 This project has been in the work since last winter!  And now is almost time for the ribbon cutting!!  You are cordially invited to Ojiketa Regional Park in Chisago City on August 27, 2022 (Saturday) to see my newest Elf House!  Ribbon cutting at noon!  

I'm not ready for the big reveal yet, but here's a picture of my son and I working in the rain to get things finished on time!

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Wow! This has never happened before!!!

I started work on the Ojiketa Regional Park Elf House when something ...strange happened.  I was digging around the foundation and I suddenly uncovered a doll.  A doll buried in the woods.  A doll buried in the middle of the woods in the middle of nowhere!

Let's just say I've watched a lot of horror movies.  I've got an idea when this is going...

Needless to say, the doll did not come home with me.  Nope.  Not silly enough to do that!  but after I found the doll it started to rain.  Hard!  And I had to give up work for the day.  I really hope this turn around quick for this project.

Fire Saga: The Movie

 People always ask me if I like this movie because Elves are such a cool part of the plot.  The answer is always "Jaja ding dong!!!! Yes, we do!!!!!"

Letters to the Elves

The Elves tell me they appreciate all the wonderful letters they get!  In Iceland (where our Elves are visiting from) people tell the Elves their wishes.  If you ask politely, they might help you out!  But never be rude to an Elf - they can be tricky and might sneak a troll booger into your bed.

 

Learning Something New

 

We took a day off from making elf houses.  My youngest son and I went to the Northern Clay Center to learn wheel throwing pottery.  We got a little messy. One of my favorite parts about working as an artist is that I get to take my family with me.  My youngest son in particular is often drafted into being Dad's assistant.  I suppose if you showed up for surgery, you wouldn't want your doctor to say "yeah, my kid is helping today," but art is different.  I love that I get to work on something meaningful to me and share the time with my family.

Elves are Everywhere!

 I spotted this painting at a county fair.  I don't know the young artist, but its clear they are a friend of the elves!  It just goes to show - elves are everywhere.  You never know when you'll stumble across one!  This painting certainly deserved the blue ribbon.

Letters to the Elves

The Elves tell me they appreciate all the wonderful letters they get!  In Iceland (where our Elves are visiting from) people tell the Elves their wishes.  If you ask politely, they might help you out!  But never be rude to an Elf - they can be tricky and might sneak a troll booger into your bed.

 

Icelandic Hen Helpers

 People picture artists as tortured loners working alone in an attic.  I assure you, I am not alone.  Each time I'm in my yard working on a project, I have lots of company.  In fact, I consider my chickens my "brain trust."  They're not afraid to speak up when they don't like how a project is turning out.  I hatched these chickens in an incubator myself.  They are Icelandic Hens, a special heritage breed of cold hardy chickens from Iceland.  They are "my girls."