April and May...

April ended with a welding workshop at my great friend Susan's ranch in northeastern Nevada (the Keddy). The WildWomen came from all points for three days of welding, talking, printmaking, walking, yakking and general catching up. The result of the communal effort at welding was Queen Keddyah: we had all been charged previously with making something lifesize to be attached at the "retreat". Claudia made felt feet, Barbara made ceramic jewelry, Jimmie made a gigantic head, Kristen made fantastic woven wire hands and a bird, Susan was charged with masterminding putting it all together as a humanoid with junkyard finds. I made a hat that totally did not fit the scale of the head... Our result turned out to be larger than life-size but very fun. I took the head home to put a patina on it and to figure out a different headpiece. I think I found the one I need to use in one of our rust dumps the other day. I will post a picture later when I finish the patina...

And now we are all getting ready for our huge Memorial Day Open Studio show and sale. All of Tuscarora and the Independence Valley is involved: 8 studios and 22 artists open to the public, the Independence Valley and North Fork 4-H Club is having a continuous 2-day barbecue and bake sale, there will be tours of the cemetery, and I have a Mini Putt-putt Golf Course in my Back 40. Pictures to follow...