To Post or not to Post…THAT is the question

Once again I am trying something new. This week I started posting (almost) step by step pictures of a gourd bowl on my AngelsGourden page on Facebook. The pictures have been received very well. Quite a few people are sharing them which is fantastic! I have a few friends and family members who are quick to “Like” any art that I post but most of the time the photos do not get “Shared” with the Facebook world. I even got some feedback when I asked a question about the amount of color on the piece. Now my question is…Should I start the picture series with a “raw” gourd or should I do as I did this week and start with a gourd that has already been cleaned, cut, and sanded? The first few steps of the process are not very photogenic but they are a very necessary part of the creative process. The last few steps are usually where all of the interesting details and colors appear. I also want to take into account the number of pictures that I post. I do not want to overwhelm the Facebook Wall with a million “look at me” pictures and alienate my few followers. So readers I ask this question of you… Do I post the whole creative process or just the “pretty” parts? Thank you. Ag

Something New- Enameled Copper

In the midst of the storm-a light appears through the gloom. Something has been added to my latest gourd vase. A handmade enameled copper lighthouse!

Monarch Restaurant and Jour De Fete

My hubby’s coworkers all got together for dinner last night at the Monarch restaurant in Maplewood. A food tasting is a great way to get to know people and makes for some lively conversation. We got a chance to try out their new Cajun menu items and a bottle of the house wine. The sea food was great and the desserts were wonderful. I think that some of the other items could use a little more spice but that may be because when I think Cajun I think “Spicy”. The service was amazing and the atmosphere was great. They have an Italian Plaster wall in the dining room that is really a wonderful work of art! A great time was had by all.
Now that I have had a chance to socialize and have a great meal it is time to get back to work. My next sale is at the Bid 4 Auction Flea Market on Main Street in Ste Genevieve MO. I will be there during Jour De Fete the 14th and 15th of August. The Jour De Fete is the local festival where the citizens of Ste Genevieve and surround areas can celebrate their heritage. The festivities are always wonderful and the streets of the town are always lined with art and craft vendors. The local fire department usually has a boot where they sell wonderful food and there are other food vendors throughout the town. The area is known for its wineries so there are places to sample and buy a bottle to bring home.
The flea market is inside an old hardware store building on Main Street. I will have the comfort of air conditioning and a roof over my head in case of showers. I will be taking all of my sale items and some work in progress to keep my hands busy between customers! The road to Ste Genevieve runs through some beautiful scenic valleys so you can plan a short road trip and stop by to say “Hi” See you there!

Show Me St Louis Tuesday April 6th

Hi All!

AngelsGourden will be featured on Show Me St Louis (Channel 5) on Tuesday April 6th at 3 pm.
They came to the house this morning and spent an hour taping in the studio and in the front yard. There is a short interview with me and another one with the hubby.
They took pictures of my art and the area where we grow the gourds. I have no idea how this will turn out because I don't even remember what she asked or what I answered because it all went so fast.
Wish me luck.

Tristen's Birthday

What a beautiful day! Three of our children came over with their children to celebrate Tristen’s ninth birthday. We had BBQ followed by cake and ice cream. The grandkids played outside in the yard while the grownups sat on the porch and caught up on the family news.
The grandkids managed to put the kickball into the pond three times. The first two times Marty had to scoop it out with a dip net. By the end of the afternoon Brittney figured out how to get the ball out of the pond without help. All of the boys managed to get into the mud and had a great time doing it.
I tried to clean up the studio for the taping of my segment on Show Me St Louis next week but every time I started to work on it one of the grandkids needed their grandma. Oh well.. Who do I think I’m fooling anyway? The studio is always a mess. Being a Gourd Artist is just a dusty way of life. There is no clean way to work on a gourd.
The houses is quiet now so I will sneak off to the studio and see what can be done………………………….