I had the good fortune to travel to a very special place this past week. Seattle. AND. Vancouver. Wow.
A little background on the event…..When I began my blog exactly one year ago, a follower who popped up pretty quickly after beginning commented frequently on my posts and found my postings by discovering my art on the web. We quickly became furious penpals, writing back and forth about art (she is an accomplished artist in her own right), family, and the wonders of life. It was really cool. This one person in the world out there. Thousands of miles away. We meet by accident really. Our friendship is awesome, fresh , not to mention we have lots in common. Well…I don’t eat Nutella. But she doesn’t eat cultured veggies. But chocolate is a no brainer for each of us. So, almost a perfect match.
Fast forward….I have attended the National Mosaic Conference several times over the last ten years. This year it was taking place in Seattle. Seattle is a super cool place to visit if you have not been there. That alone is reason enough for me to attend. But my little pea brain starting rollin’ and I realized Seattle is so close to Vancouver, where my pen pal is from, that wouldn’t it be neat to meet her in real life.
I emailed her about it. She thought it was great. And so the journey began.
I attended my conference in Seattle, which was a great learning experience, and my pal drove down to Seattle to hang out and then take me up to her home north of Vancouver.
Seattle’s year round farmers market, Pike Street Market, is right on the wharf and it is filled with goodness, tradition, age, color and a great vibe. A photographers dream. My photos cannot do it justice at all. Since I am not at all a photographer. It is a crap shoot EVERY time I click.
HUGE bundles of flowers cost 10- 15 dollars. Thousands of them. I remember one time I was there and bought a single bouquet for 15.oo and was able to break it into 4 pretty good size vases. ugh. To have that available for our wedding coming up.
As you can imagine, having a few short days to talk about our whole lives, I am sure she is as wiped out as I am. Jabber jabber. Danga danga. I don’t have to talk for a good couple of weeks.
We visited the Museum of Glass, and a favorite artist’s studio. Marc Bohne. It was a pleasure meeting him after all this time of drooling over his paintings. He was very generous with his time. Even shared some painting secrets. I now have a Marc Bohne painting in my home.
Marc Bohne Painting
Then it was off to my friends land.
View from her living room.
Come on. When you have inspiration like this out your window every day. How can you not express it in some way. Good girl.
Again, from her window
My favorite corner in her home.
The little beach at the base of her street.
It was a whirlwind of fun and learning for me. If you are out there, my penpal friend, thank you for your hospitality, your loveliness and sharing your awesome family.
If you haven’t visited that end of the world, it would do your soul a bit of good to do so.
God bless,
Karen
The Shieling 