Chicago Jazz Festival Art Fair

Greetings All,

This coming weekend I will be hanging out vending at the Chicago Jazz Festival. This will be a first for me and I hope/pray not the last. The art fair will be set up surrounding the north rose garden in Grant Park between Jackson Blvd and the famed Buckingham Fountain. I will be there for 3 days starting Friday and ending Sunday (Sept 4th, 5th, & 6th) from 11 am to 9:30pm each day and my darling daughter will be coming in from Georgia to lend me a hand and to just hang out with her mom.

The other fabulous artists/artisans in attendance are , Nnamdi African Origins, Wire Art Jewelry, Avril's Designs, Pretty Afrika Designs, Samsara Boutique, B&N Designs, Out of Africa, Ernani Silva, Cheryl Toles, Peter Hurley Studio, Sam Thread Art, Chester Allen, Patrick Crouch ("Official Artist"), Chris C. Crystals and More, Gallery Guichard, Third Generation Jewelers, Paul S. Benjamin, Kerream Jones, JJB Silver & More, Bayo Studio, Window to Imagination, Kit Enterprise LLC, and Semmerling & Schaefer Masks Studios.

The music line-up is great and some of my favorites are Dee Alexander, Esperanza Spalding, Fareed Haque, Muhal Richard Abrams, Von Freeman with the "New Apartment Jam", and Archie Shepp Quartet just to name a few. I am going to have a great time and if you are in town come on down to the fest and hear some wonderful music and stop by and say hello.

Innovations in Textiles 8

Greetings All,
My piece "Mother Earth" (right) from my mother series was accepted into the "Made by Hand" exhibit that is a part of the "Innovations in Textiles 8" event in St Louis, MO Sept 8 - Oct 8 at the Crossroads Art Studio and Gallery, 501 N. Kingshigway, St. Charles, MO. Made by Hand is regional juried exhibition sponsored by the St Louis Women's Caucus for Art. Opening reception, Sept 11th, 7-9 pm at Crossroads Art studio.

Other members of this exhibit are: Roxanne Phillips, Pat Owoc, Jennifer Weigel, Virginia Dragshutz, Clairan Ferrono, Nino Hecht, Lydia Brockman, Linda Elkow, Jean Mills, Janice Nesser, Kathy Weaver, Betsy Dollar, Christine Ilewski, Lisa Becker, Marie Samuels, Evie Shucart and Leslie Hume. I am in very good company and if you're in St. Louis, MO area check out the show and let me know what you think.

26th Annual Seaway Bank Art Fair

Greetings All,

I made it through another weekend of vending and above are the "We Three Quilter" (Charlotte Keith, Doris Barnes and friend). These ladies love machine embroidery and color. It was great seeing them and they won 3rd place in the fiber/doll category and I came in 2nd and Juliette Hurtz came in 1st. Above is Lori Watts-Branch, owner of "Sen Tea Mental Moods" relaxation & wellness specialty teas. I have been drinking Lori's teas all week and they are just wonderful. She also to me had the best display with her booth set-up it was just as relaxing as her teas.

Everett C. Williams (left) had for me the most interesting art and I love his laid back attitude. Gerald Sanders of "Studio Bronzeville" (below) and some of his students where there and I always look forward to seeing them and what they are doing. It is my desire to take classes with Gerald I love his technique and they way that he brings out the best in his students.

Bill Hill (below) of the "Murphy-Hill Gallery" was a 1st time exhibitor and I was great to see his wonderful photography. One of the most interesting artists to me was Dr. Yemonja Smalls (below) a clinical psychologist, specializing in treatment of behavioral disorders for children and adults. I love her colors, her sense of style and she has the most beautiful personality.

Eddie Hudson (below) is also one of my favorite artist and that is because he uses pencils/ball-point pens and dose lots of black/whites and I have a strong passion for black/white. It was great to see Eddie again this year.

The gathering of mature men, Babatunde (right) hanging out with one of his friends. Tunde is one of Chicago fabulous jewelry designers and is known across the country for his unique style. I own several of is small pieces and wear them with pride.

The "Over The Rainbow" coat was a hit again and it still has not found a home. This woman (right) told me that I was not going to be able to sell this coat until she went back to work next month because this coat belong to her. She asked to try it on and I agreed, but I didn't get her name She told me that she had seen me last month at the "Ethnic Festival" in Evanston, IL and had come to this event to see if her coat was still there. I will take it out again next month to the "Chicago Jazz Festival" Sept 4th, 5th, and 6th and we shall see if it sales then. The life on the road. I'm now on my way to "Artisans 21 Gallery" to do my bit for the day.

Artisans 21 Gallery

Greetings All,

I just returned from Artisans 21 Gallery dropping of some more small works and completing some paperwork. It's official now I am a member of the gallery and I'm very excited about that because this is a new beginning for me and I'm in some very good company. Do go to the website and check out some of the other artists. Two of the artists I just met within the last two months and one I've known for years, but never knew she was a part of this group, nor did I thinking about joining before. I am always amazed by life and for that I am thankful. The pieces I took I sewed them to mat-boards that I painted too complement. I notice that after a couple of months of hanging on the wall the pieces started to flop and needed more structure.