Only 2-1/2 weeks now until the big Wearable Art Extravaganza here at Western Avenue Studios.  Although I have been involved since the beginning planning, the reality of it all finally hit me Monday night when we had a meeting of the participating artists, designers, and models.  I'd been so focused on the bits that were my responsibility that it was hard to see the whole picture.  The meeting made it clear just how exciting this whole thing will be.  We'll have everything from beautiful things for everyday wear to the wildly extravagant outfits to be worn one time only.

I will have two jackets and a shawl in the show.  They definitely fall in the milder end of the spectrum for the show.  Today I was trying to decide what color dress should be worn with the shawl and one of the jackets.  Here are the options:

I'm leaning toward the lavender jacket with the black dress, and the shawl with the purple dress.  I know that the jacket color doesn't wash out against the purple dress as much "in person" as it does in my (pitiful) photo, but it still doesn't pop in the same way.  On the other hand, the black dress somehow seems to dull the colors in the shawl.  We'll have to see how they look under the bright lights of the show.

This event is being put on by a partnership of The Miracle Providers Northeast (MPs) and the Loading Dock Gallery as part of ArtWeek Boston and Lowell Open Studios. The donations made for tickets will go to the MPs annual holiday gift event which provides, through various agencies, a wish list of gifts for approximately 400 children whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS.   The event will begin at 6:30 pm following open studios and the artist reception in the Loading Dock Gallery.  Cash bar and refreshments will be available.   Suggested donation is $10 per person, $15 per couple.Tickets are available through Eventbrite.

Yesterday I did my spirit of the Maker demonstration at the League of NH Craftsmen Gallery in Meredith, NH.  It was an amazing afternoon.  I still can't believe that the weather was cooperative and I was able to set up outside and stay there all afternoon.  There was a little breeze - enough to keep me reasonably cool as the afternoon warmed up, but not strong enough to blow away my little silk bits.  It was humid enough to soften up my stabilizer a bit, but not so humid that it got too sticky to work with.  And best of all it didn't rain; so no mad dashes inside to save my sewing machine or keep my project from dissolving away too soon.

It gave me quit a jolt to drive up to the gallery and see my name in "lights" so to speak - so of course, I had to get my picture taken drumming up business. 

Here are a few more pictures of my set-up. It doesn't show up very well in the third picture, but I could actually see Lake Winnepesaukee behind me. It was a lovely place to spend the afternoon.  It was fun to chat with people and share my work.  One of the best things was meeting Cynthia - one of the women who works in the shop.  Turned out that she has been friends for many, many years with the mother of a friend I met in my yoga class at the Y in Lowell.  She also grew up in Lowell so we had many connections.  That was so nice.

"Despite" the lovely setting, I actually got some work done too.  I have a good start on three scarves so that should keep me out of mischief this week.