Good Bye Tom Fool Paisley

Today has been a grand day. Anna & Marissa stopped in on their way back to Dallas. They were on a road trip to show Anna, visiting from Scotland, the sights in TX, OK, KS, CO & NM. They did some shopping and thus, goodbye to Tom Fool Paisley. He is a handmade horse figure made by New Mexico artist Amy Caldwell. Amy's horses are so cute it's just crazy!

I am excited about the Old West Days being held in Clayton, New Mexico tomorrow. (Clayton is the next town 40 miles east of here.) Read about the event here. I can't go but I hope you will, and if you'll be driving through town stop in to visit.

I'm swimming in Endangered Species chocolate thanks to the new order I recently made! big bend coffee roasters' whole bean organic fair trade beans are here by the pound for your morning java pleasure... or take a cup to go as you head on down the road; east to Clayton, west to Raton.

Gabrielle Louise will be here with David Rynhart on the 29th to wow you with her original songs, expressive playing and warm generous spirit. Kathryn Engel will be here too, she's bringing an heirloom letter from her great grandfather and will give a dramatic reading which is sure to inspire you! I encourage you to bring something of your talent to share with us as we start the show with our open mike. You'll be glad you did!

A big shout out to new friends Sherry Wolf & Steve Knight at knight/wolf studios in Cimarron New Mexico. Yvonne O'Brien introduced me to Sherry & Steve during the reception we held in celebration of her show. Yvonne's photography is available at their gallery, Old Town Gallery located at 114 East 17th Street in Cimarron and here at Studio C in Des Moines New Mexico.

I'm headed out to watch my swallowtail butterfly worms...... hope you too are enjoying this fabulous late summer weather!

Blessings and Salutations~

Christina

Finding Flow

Happy Fathers Day!

It's a lovely summer day here in northeastern New Mexico. The smell of BBQ wafts in the gentle breeze telling of fathers all around celebrating their day.

I'm working on the blog when I want to be outside working on the landscaping, or painting, or kicking back with my love who is a wonderful father to a very special daughter. We'd make a toast to my father and the life he gave me and my siblings. Speaking of siblings, my sister just had a very successful reception for the artist, she being the artist, down in Santa Fe. Mom threw the reception at El Museo Cultural Center where her show Blue is hanging. The work was made in part to help her mourn the passing of dad. Karyna will be here next weekend as our featured act for Live @ Studio C! and I would love to have the house filled for her performance. The theme will be Dear Dad for the open mike. It will be a great chance to honor and share your thoughts on fatherhood, your dad, and life in general.

I've got a lot of new items to put into the gallery so that keeps me busy too.

I'm switching out artists in the gallery over the next ten days. Yvonne O'Brien's show ends officially today. She'll pick up her work Thursday or Friday so you have a chance to meet her. Give me a call and I'll let you know when to be here. We'll be keeping some of her work and her cards as she becomes one of the gallery "regulars".

Nathaniel Franklin, local sculptor and painter, will be bringing his work the next week. His show is titled Facing West. I am pleased to be able to show his work and look forward to what he has to bring.... he's still working on new pieces so I'm not sure exactly what we will be getting! We've decided on Saturday August 7th for his reception. Check back for more details as it gets closer.

I'll be headed south to deliver artwork created this spring at Des Moines Schools in the Art Plays Its Part! program for display in the 48th annual New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair next weekend in Albuquerque. If you can see the show please do!

Have a great day and a wonderful week. Find your flow. Share your Joy!

Christina

Rain ~ Dancing ~ Answering Prayers ~ Prayers Answered!

It is a lovely rainy sky day, thunder rolling in the distance, gray skies getting closer, and coffee freshly brewed keeping me happy. The rains have just begun falling and we are dancing with gratitude for the much needed moisture and the forecast for more!

Yvonne O'Brien's fine art photography graces the gallery now. We are getting ready for you to join us to see this new show. I'd love for you to come to the artist's reception to meet Yvonne Friday May 22nd from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Coffee will be flowing as well as iced mint tea, along with other goodies we've got to share. I hope you will make time to come celebrate with us. Purchase one of Yvonne's framed prints this weekend, May 22 - 24, and you'll receive a 10% discount.

I'm feeling really good about the way the energy is flowing in the gallery and want to thank Sasha for helping me with displays and other painterly tasks. I'm open, to remind you, Thursdays - Saturdays 10:00 am until 6:00 and Sundays noon - 4:00 pm. 

In the community news: A Community Yard Sale happens on Saturday May 23rd from 7:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. at the corner of Clayton Hwy 87 & Folsom Hwy 325 in Des Moines. It's a great opportunity to buy, sell or trade your trash, treasures & goods. Call Jalane Osborn @ 575-278-3402 for more information. There will be a concession stand with BBQ, hot dogs, drinks & snacks so you can come out, show your wares, buy others wares and get to know your neighbors. Vital Roads is a sponsor of this event which will happen annually from now on.

The other thing you can do this Saturday is to take the Dry Cimarron Scenic Byways Tour. Sponsored by the Folsom Museum in association with the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Month. You'll meet at the Folsom Museum at 8:00 am. Bring water, good walking shoes, a light jacket, sunscreen and a hat. (Do I sound motherly?) The tour will take all day so make sure your car has a full tank of gas. Lunch will be BBQ at the Cross L Ranch.... donations are always appreciated. Call 575-278-2122 for more information.

Live @ Studio C! is next Saturday May 30th. We start at 5:30 with the open mike which now has three people signed up. Karen Anderson will be here to play her Celtic harp which leads nicely into Russ Ballew's original songs. Get out your creativity and take up this challenge: write. Write about anything... or if you prefer... draw, dance, sing, or play your instrument. If you can't think of anything to inspire your creation I have a suggestion: Share your experience with compassion. Then sign up for open mike and share it on the 30th with our audience here in Des Moines New Mexico.

So, there it is!

May the Rains fall gently and generously all across our parched lands.

Christina