Let's Face it......

It's been a tough week.  After a not-too serious fall on Sunday, I am nevertheless moving slowly in my last minute preparations for the St. James Court Art Fair this weekend.   My scraped up face (yes, I face-planed across that mulch and dirt with great impact!) looks worse than it feels, but sore muscles and bruises have kept me in bed with ice packs.
I can hardly wait to greet 200,000 visitors to the show this weekend looking like a battered babe, but I will be there with some new pieces providing nothing happens between here and Louisville!

Stop by and see the new work, and my new face!  Booth #409 on the court!

No More Monkey'n Around!

Yes, time has run out...no more monkey'n around.  We are putting the final touches on pieces for the Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts this weekend here in sunny (not rainy) Bloomington, IN.

"Stop by" and see us in booth #98.  

Bloomington's own CandyLand

Yes, the U Hauls are circling and thousands of shower curtains,  desk lamps and mini refrigerators line the shelves of Target.   Landlords have been hauling out the old and installing the new.
Bloomington residents know this signals the start of the new school year.  The on-going cycle of young, eager-to-learn, and ready-to-party students return to our bucolic B-ton.  

This year, some lucky students will be signing a lease to live in "CandyLand", one of Bloomington's most colorful rentals owned by an equally colorful and cool landlord!

He can be seen here approving the installation of his new "CandyLand" mosaic.  

Pork n' Stein

Pork n' Stein, a photo by Moe's Ache on Flickr.

This little piggy's going to market....
Pork n' Stein will make his debut at the Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts Labor Day weekend.

• A recent article in Eco-Artwear Notes featuring our recycled pieces  reminded me that I need to start making mailboxes again.  

With the advent of  email and texting in addition to postal rate hikes and less "snail mail", I was questioning if we even need mailboxes anymore. 

But after some thought on the matter, I realize we do.  Ever since I was a kid the sound of the postman coming up to the door meant the possibility of something just "for me".

As a resident of a neighborhood with older homes, we have the luxury of a mailbox mounted on our porch.  I know the sound of the lid being closed, signaling that the postman "cometh" and among the (albeit fewer) pieces of junk mail, bills and pizza coupons there may be some correspondence of the old fashioned personal kind.  

So, I am going to re-visit my stash of "orphan mailboxes" I have acquired over the years and start tiling!  Maybe the "build it, they will come" idea will work.  A beautiful mosaic mailbox with a real handwritten letter tucked inside waiting for the recipient.  Nothing better! 

Swimming Up Stream

Here it is 4 days before the Krasl Art Fair. The studio looks like a disaster zone,  partially finished pieces cover the work tables, the floor is crunchy with glass and packing material sits in "stand by" mode.  What happened to June?  Why will I never be ready for the next show?
We always look forward to Krasl.  A beautiful show in Saint Joseph, MI, on the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.  This year they celebrate their 50th anniversary.  What once started as a "clothesline" art fair in 1962 has now turned into one of the nicest, juried art fairs in the midwest.  I'm always excited when I get my "acceptance", but never seem to have enough time to finish all the work I want to share with the patrons.  Although, Bud (packer-boy) will disagree with me when it comes time to load all the new work in the van!

So, back to the studio to put the finishing touches on the new pieces.  'Hope you will stop by this weekend, July 9 10 a.m to 6 p.m. and July 10 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  We'll be in booth #181, just in front of the gardens across from the art center.

If I Only Had A Crystal Ball....

Well, it's not crystal, but our new gazing ball stand with cool blue tempered glass ball is finished and will debut at the Talbot Street Art Fair this weekend, June 11-12.  
Gazing globes as we all know look fabulous in the garden.  They also come with a rather fabulous legend.
A globe was said to bring happiness, good luck and prosperity to those who owned it. The globe was known to ward off evil spirits, misfortune, illness and, of all things, witches!  Some say the ball should be placed near the entrance to the house so that if a witch came to your house she would not be able to get past her reflection as she cannot tear herself away from her own image. There are other accounts that say a witch cannot bear to see her own reflection so she will not come near a "witch’s ball"
A more practical use for these beauties originated in the south.  Placed strategically by the path from the front gate, one could see from the veranda who was calling before the caller could see them, allowing plenty of time to prepare refreshments for their guest or to hide — whichever was fitting.
Whether you love the legend, or just the beauty of a unique piece of art in the garden, gazing balls are predictably cool! 

Art Fair Season is Upon Us

Moe's Ache Studio was  featured recently in an Indianapolis Star article about summer art fairs in Indiana.  We are fortunate to have so many great art shows and talented artists in and around our community.  It seems like almost every show I do always has a large number of Bloomington and Brown County artists represented.  I don't know whether there is a "magic meridian" that runs through this area attracting them, but when artists find a creative atmosphere and a supportive audience, they stay and good art flows!  You won't need to travel far this summer to enjoy their offerings.  With gas at $4.07/gal this is a good thing!  Check out "Summer Art Fairs:  This season is a work of art" to get the "inside" scoop on the upcoming shows.
Kicking off the list is the Broad Ripple Art Fair,  May 21-22.  We'll be in booth #90 (in the artist field) with some brand new mosaics.  'Hope to see you there!

Awesome Artist Yard Sale May 13-14

I'm psyched!  For the past two years I have had a booth at this fun event, however this year I will be attending as a shopper and helper only.  I'd like to say that I created no "mistakes or seconds" this year.  I did have a few "not next to perfect" mosaic creations however they were scooped up earlier this year leaving me with little art work to sell at the Awesome Artist Yard Sale.  A busy show schedule has left me with little time to clean the studio, so this year I will be shopping instead of selling.
In addition to the art, "junk" and "funk" offered by the artists cleaning out their studios and closets, the sale will feature a "big tent" sale with larger items (furniture, art work, display fixtures and collectables to name a few).  Lunch will be served with proceeds helping to purchase a tent for the children's activity booth at this year's Fourth Street Festival of the Arts and Crafts.
It's a fun event filled with some great bargains and unusual stuff from some of Bloomington's most unusual artists.  Join us Friday and Saturday at 1114 Brooks Drive from 9 a.m- 4 p.m.  You know you need some new spring "stuff"!

Rain, rain go away we need a sunny art fair day

I apologize for this last minute post, but it's been a soggy week in the studio.  As the rain just keeps on coming, we keep moving things to higher ground, and the studio gets a good "rinsing".  Needless to say we've spent too much time dealing with the water leaving me little time to get the word out about our next show.  

We will be back at Cherokee Triangle this weekend April 30 and May 1.   And we are anticipating some nice weather along with that wonderful Louisville hospitality.  So stop by and see us in booth #707 (across from the Cherokee outdoor dining area).  

Speaking of outdoor dining.  We will have a selection of "take out" tables perfect for the deck, patio or porch.  These beautiful, one of a kind glass mosaic end tables can be easily folded and stored during the winter.  Custom colors are also available!

Hope to see y'all this weekend in Louisville!

Indiana Artisan Marketplace

Somehow I thought there would be plenty of time to finish up the new work, photograph it and get it posted to the blog well before the Indiana Artisan Marketplace.....hmmm.  Not quite, but new pieces will be completed this weekend, so check back.  In the meantime check out the website for the inaugural Marketplace coming up April 16 and 17th at the Expo Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  225 Indiana and Kentucky artisans will share their arts, crafts and locally produced food items (be prepared to sample lots of goodies).  Discount admission coupons are available at the site as well as a list of exhibitors and their specialties.  Moe's Ache Studio will be in booth #306.  Look for the big blue mosaic bull dog!

Kentucky Crafted Virgins!

After 30+ years of "exhibiting ourselves" (as my friend Beth Ann refers to it) at art shows it's hard to consider ourselves "newbies" on the show circuit.  However, we are excited to be included in the Kentucky Crafted Market opening in Louisville March 19 and 20th.  In it's 29th year, the market isn't a "newbie" either!  Traditionally open to Kentucky artists only, this year members of the Indiana Artisan's program will be showing there for the first time.  I guess we're really Indiana virgins.
We're excited and honored to be able to attend such a prestigious event.
Keeping an eye on things in our booth will be "Ruff the Red Eye Dog"

ART FAIR GARAGE SALE THIS SATURDAY!

Moe's Ache Studio will be at the Garage Sale Art Fair this Saturday in Kalamazoo, MI. Artists clean out their studios and bring their seconds, weirdos and misfits all at reduced prices.  I love to shop this show even more than selling my own work!  Fortunately, Bud will be with me so our booth will be "manned" while I'm out scouring for new treasures (that will more than likely be included in future creations).  In addition to our own "smashing" misfits, we're bringing some mosaic supplies for those artists just "breaking into" the art.   See you in the 'Zoo!

Great Website for Cold, Dreary Days

It's been a tough winter.  I wish I would have discovered this site earlier, when the days were shorter, and the weather even more dismal (can you tell I'm not a "winter" person?).

Great site that lets you explore some of the great art museums in the world:
http://www.googleartproject.com/