Monday, October 25

Phoenixville, PA



When I arrived in Phoenixville this Sunday after a 2.5 hour journey on the train and then a bus that tours every suburban mall and plaza and hideous corporate park in the region, I was excited to see the small town main street was worth the 45 minute wait at the Norristown Transportation Center.

I came for an architectural tour, but thanks to Septa's "signal problems" I missed the tour and wandered around on my own. Bridge street serves as their main street, crossed by Main street (little odd) running parallel to the river. Church street is further up the hill and had several churches (surprise) and a block of older houses with second story wrought iron balconies on porches that reminded me of New Orleans. The homes are unique and some are being renovated and the unusual woodwork restored.

The town is filled with independent businesses that had a home-made and fun feel, from the second floor bookstore with snarky signs, to the hand carved lava rock fountain store, to the movie theater playing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to the Fire House Bingo Nights (every Tuesday!). It's renovated, but still seems to belong to the town, not to trendy new business start-ups.

Right along the river, the old foundry was made into a Schulykill River Museum with a bridge, a small falls and a paved nature trail. Two bike stores in town rent bikes, including a tandem, for $9 - $14 per hour.

Iron Hill Brewery and Majolica are amoung the restaurants that offer local farm fresh foods and there were several coffee houses to choose from including a nice one with handmade ceramics piled up in the window and applesauce muffins

I'm planning another trip back to bike the trail and try the restaurants.

Wednesday, October 20

Upcoming Show: Space Planning




I'm currently showing work at Wellpoint Oriental Medicine in Fairmount in Philadelphia (2014 Fairmount Ave.) in an evolving show over the month. I had to move some work in to keep the walls from being empty as another artist moved out, but I only had the work sitting around my house to put up on short notice.


Starting next month, date TBA, I'll hang work in the waiting area, hallway and a second room that doors treatment doors open up to face. The space appealed to me because the eastern medicine, acupuncture and massage connects well with my nature photography and environmental conservation interest. It led me to start thinking about Feng Shui when I was hanging the nine pieces currently in the waiting room (the flowing water photo should flow into the building, not send energy out).

I wish I had more training in wall placement and creative show hanging. It's always a struggle to hang shows myself and feel like I did something to make the work more dynamic and not just static dots on the wall. Anyone teach a class in show hanging?
Come check out the results as they change from what I already hung in the space to the new pieces that go up in early November!

Wednesday, October 6

More Pictures from Swap O Rama Rama

Dana Henry's design for a Franken-pin. Her designs were fantastically simple and amazing.

My finished felt interpretation of her design.

The line for screen printing was long at times. This is the chickadee line (I got that print last year on a tee I love).



The Handmade Philly table was popular with the 8 and under crowd as well as adults.



A finished creation.

Sunday, October 3

Almost Live from Swap O Rama Rama


Here we are walking into the Urban Outfitters storage building for the Swap O Rama Rama!
What an amazing space: ferns, fish, native plant garden outside, giant crochet vases, fun.

Setting up supplies for the Handmade Philly table Monster Pins wokshop.


The fabric table. Wow.

The cafe!

Come join us from 12-5 pm today at the Navy Yard. Drive down Broad street till you see the Navy Yard sign past the last Broad Street Line stop. Keep driving straight until the river is straight ahaead and take a right! Minutes from downtown. Nice bike ride too.