Winter is the Time for Making Plans

 By all accounts, its been a strange winter in Minnesota!  Still, whether the snow flies or not, winter is the time for me to make all my summer plans.  Winter is when I apply for grants, open calls and (gulp) handle interviews for new jobs.  Here's a picture of me and my son hard at work finalizing a design for an application.  I'd rather be outside with a hammer in hand, but this is part of the business of being an elf house landlord!

Still Thinking About Elf Houses

 Even in the dead of winter, I'm still thinking about elf houses.  Summer is my prime building time, but today I was asked to make a lantern in the clay studio.  A natural shape for my lantern came easily to mind: this little elf house. Here's to warmer days!

Back in the Clay

 When we reach November, I have to start admitting that elf house season is behind me.  Well there was that one year we put the elf houses on ice for Art Shanties at Bde Uma.

But usually my work making elf houses calms down in the winter months.  That means I had back to the clay studio to make art and have adventures there.  I'm really trying to perfect my lid game.  These two jars are my latest attempts.  

Mac Grove Fest - Eagan's Art Block Momentary Certainties

 This September 9th weekend will be a busy one for me artistically.  I will be in person at the Mac Grove Festival with one of my Huldufolk (elf) Houses.  So if you have a problem that only an elf can solve, please stop by and leave a letter for the elves.  Here is some more information about the festival.

The Fest is an all ages, FREE event at the Edgcumbe Rec Center Fields!

Join us on September 9 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Edgcumbe Rec Center Fields (320 Griggs St S) to celebrate the businesses, organizations, artists, and residents that make Saint Paul a great place to live, work, learn and play. Attendees are encouraged to walk, take public transit, or bike to Mac-Grove Fest.

-Food trucks: Buy tasty treats from local food trucks and vendors: Soft Serve Social, The Big Red Wagon, and Thai Thai Street Food

-Music and dance: Enjoy a variety of performances throughout the day: School of Rock, O'Shea Irish Dance (OID), Kashimana, and Lex-Ham Community Band (you are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, hammocks, and more!)

-Arts & Crafts: Look out for the free teaching artists on site: Now Make Art, Art Start, Crayon Kelly, and Huldufolk Houses

-Activities: Face painting, craft fair, robotics demo from Highland HS Robotics Team, yard games, gaga pit, and more!

-Marketplace: Visit local businesses, artists, and organizations in the Business Marketplace and Makers Market!

The same weekend, at basically the same time, my new art piece "Rainbow Loom" will be making its debut at the Eagan Art Block Momentary Certainties exhibit.  Here's some information in that terrific event as well.  Fall is a very busy time in Minnesota!  I will post photos from both events here in the blog.

Momentary Certainties 2023, examines the intertwined themes of ephemerality and permanence. This outdoor, temporary exhibition will be installed along walking paths and throughout the lawns, meadows, and native grasses on the grounds of the Eagan Art House as part of the Eagan Art Block 2023 celebration of art and community.

Friends for the Holidays

My favorite part of Christmas is seeing old friends.  We were delighted to find out early this morning that our Elf friend from our summer travels decided to stop by!  And he came with gifts!!!

Happy Holidays to all my friends and followers on this blog!  I hope you have a magical season - and even see an elf or two yourselves!

Chilly weather

 As the wind gets colder, even the hardy elves are settling in for the winter.  I snapped this cozy picture of my own garden elf house.  Hope you like it - it fills me with a sense of warmth and peace.

IMAGE Art Show - East Central Regional Arts Council - Elf House

 This past week, I had the chance to share my sculpture with some new crowds!  The IMAGE Art Show from the East Central Regional Arts Council was a lot of fun.  I'm very grateful for the opportunity to present a brand new elf house at the event.  Since this event was indoor, I got to go a little "wild" with owls, moss and mushrooms galore!

Here are some pictures of the house from a fun night.

The fun is always in the details!