Friday, 23 November 2018
We began by delivering a bouquet to the Don Nisbett Art Gallery, whose big event is tomorrow’s Shop Small Saturday.
My original plan for the studio tour was just to visit Joe Chasse’s home, which was on the official tour for the first time. However, we went to most of the locations that were in private home studios, partly because several of the artists had purchased Allan’s boating book and he wanted to exchange the older copies with ones with the spiffing new cover.
Jim Unwin’s Hobbit Shop
up a woodsy one lane drive
Allan’s photo
wild rose hips
The Hobbit Shop
Jim told us that he had started carving a piece of wood and found a bird inside.
I love this crow piece.
To the north of the shop lies several acres of woods that we helped save from logging by donating to a fund to buy the property for preservation.
Joe Chasse’s Dangerous Toys Studio
Joe’s place
gate into the back yard, but we are not going there today
front porch
front porch
a man after my own heart
Joe is known for his steampunkish “toys” and his caravans built from license plates.
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
This was the first year Joe had been officially on the tour. (Last year, he just put out his own sign.) By the time we ended our visit, a crowd had gathered, more than we saw at any of the other studios.
interlude
Just a coffee break in Ocean Park while Allan scopes out places that might carry his book. He had sold one already today to an enthusiastic kayaker at Joe’s place who had seen the book on Joe’s table!…
Adelaide’s in Ocean Park
inside Adelaide’s
A cute cottage in Ocean Park:
just my size
Bette Lu Krause Gallery
in Ocean Park
Bette Lu’s garden view
Bette Lu had bought Allan’s book early on and was pleased to trade for the new colour cover.
Oysterville
We went up a long one lane road to Harmony Soapworks, where we were greeted by Erin. I threw her ball several times before entering the soap making studio.
darling Erin
Soapmaker Diane is a woman after my own heart.
The Oysterville Store had featured artists…
…but I got distracted by chatting inside and then by store owner Greg’s house next door.
I love the purple.
That stick was a bit large to throw.
…no matter how strong the plea… (Allan’s photo)
Allan’s photo
Allan took a quick walk out to the shoreline of Willapa Bay.
Carol Couch Studio
I do like visiting Carol’s Ocean Park home, which she had designed for ease of older living.
She always offers the best snacks on the tour.
the large deck
a laser light ceiling effect which I quite liked.
desert rose
darling Ginger!
the deck from outside
I had heard some talk about kayaking while I had my delicious snack of stromboli and tea cakes and learned that Allan had traded a book for one of Carol’s paintings, appropriately featuring a red kayak.
We visited Eric’s gallery. I enjoyed looking at my former garden there, now cared for by Eric’s brother Todd. It was a treat to see gallery manager Kristl, who said she was happy with the original cover of Allan’s book and did not need to trade.
Eric’s gallery, north side
west side
Todd has achieved the goal for the west side which eluded me, some height, by adding some grasses between the two windows. I planted all the other ornamental grasses there back in the day, so why did I not think of that?
south side
Allan’s photo
Allan’s photo
view from inside looking south
one of the rooms of glorious art
Karen has chickens now!
beautiful and friendly
Karen was happy to get a new copy of Allan’s book with the colour cover. I was happy to get some Christmas shopping done.
in the studio
pretty new cranberry bowls
vases
and birdbaths
And then we were home again where I hope to stay for several days, days that I hope will be rainy reading time. This could mean that this blog will begin its winter habit of intermittent rather than daily posts. If not now, soon….
Oh wow oh wow! Another tour that blows your socks off. What fantastic toys! Love that Desert Rose mirror! And there are those lovely cranberry pottery bowls again!
Can you show Allan’s cover before & after? It would be fun to see it.
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Yes, I’ll do that next time I write a post. Taking perhaps a two day break because not doing much!
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At every stop I would have wanted to buy something. Limited of course by funds available.
And a great, and red-kayaker fitting swap by Allan!
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Same here re buying! I’d have bought that crow from a window art by Jim and one of Joe’s canned ham trailers (caravans).
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Joe calls his caravans “Canned Hams” because of the shape. I have always loved Carol’s house! Great new stuff at Karen’s. Hate that I missed this tour…again.
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You are the one who first told us we must see Carol’s house. 🙂
In less than three years, you’ll be here for all the events. Seems like a long time but perhaps it will speed by.
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A thoroughly worthwhile tour.
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Thanks for coming “with” us.
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Loved the tour of homes and studios of such creative artists! I hope to have a Karen Brownlee cranberry plate some day. Carol’s big covered porch would be a great place to sit with a cup of tea.
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Karen’s cranberry plates are gorgeous. I have a cranberry plate mirror by her (round mirror with border like the cranberry plates).
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little known gems. I would love to visit these shops. Are they open in February?
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No, except maybe by appointment…. most open only once a year and otherwise sell at other shops or markets. Bay Avenue Gallery in Ocean Park would have the work of some of them.
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