August 20th

This has been such a hot summer, I feel that my creativity has been zapped a bit.  August 20th was my 7th wedding anniversary and what better way to celebrate than here.  It also helped get my creativity back up and running! 

When I asked my husband to go with me to Port Clyde and collect mussel shells, well he was less than excited.  But reluctantly, he went.  The morning was perfect - sun shining and a light breeze that sends the salt of the ocean onto your skin.  The tide was low and because it was early morn, the sand reminded me of a continuous sheet of suede - still wet from the tide that just rolled out.  Every so often the track of a bird or an animal would be visible, lightly disturbing the perfect span of beach.  I often take this for granted and it is days like these that make me appreciate where I live.  Many of my customers ask what inspires me.  And although I have 4 seasons of changes and beauty, it is more than my natural surroundings.  For me, it is completing a piece that was created for a reason or in a special moment.  I have created pieces in sadness after I have lost loved ones, or during happier times, one of them being when I was getting married.  Although the beauty of the day definitely is inspirational, what will be more meaningful is when whatever is created from the shells we collected takes me back to this day.  And when I share those stories with my customers, it takes them there as well.  That is what inspires me.

So, You Think You're a Tourist

My brother Jamie recently came to visit and he brought his new girlfriend (who's name is also Jamie - oh, what fun we had with that).  He had a full itinerary planned to give her the full "Maine experience".  I was actually quite impressed with the ground they covered in 3 days.  My brother grew up in this area but it was amusing to me that he was able to fully take on the tourist role.  There were wine tastings at Cellardoor Winery, alot of shopping in Rockland (and yes, he did quite well at Uptown Studio), Camden and Belfast, fishing on N. Pond, swimming at Megunticook and many great meals along the way.  The highlight of his trip was the sail cruise out of Camden where his main objective was to see a Puffin.  Now I must admit, I am a native Mainer and have never seen one myself.  And neither had he.  And he had done his homework - he knew all the Puffin "stats" and the chances of a Puffin siting.  He was suprised that I had not done a Puffin Pillow.  He said if I painted one, it would be his (where did this fondness of Puffins come from?).  So here is my interpretation of the Puffin. 

I know you are wondering, did he see one on his cruise - no.  Does he now own a Puffin Pillow - yes.  I guess one out of two isn't bad. Thanks for the visit Jamie and Jamie.