This festival will always hold a really special place in my heart. It's small scale and gorgeous location in Bartow, West Virginia is really just the perfect way to end every summer. Only 3 or so hours from Richmond, we basically know everyone that attends.
The pink ring sitting backwards on my pinky (with the amazing tourmaline metal inlay pendant) is my new goodie. I've treated myself to something special at every festival this year and this is, handsdown, the most exciting thing I've bought. An antique glass dome with diamond cuts along the side, blue specks of shine inside and set in sterling silver - I am obsessed with it! And speaking of pink ... we totally dyed four of my dreads with manic panic in the creek one afternoon. It was hilarious and it turned out really great. I'm thinking about dying a few more.
It's been really interesting to watch the vendors and traveling artists this summer... the nomad lifestyle they lead really intrigues me and I think I might consider actually purchasing booth spots next year. The amount of rings I sold to people in person this summer, exceeded every sale I've ever made on Etsy. Each time someone told me my cluster rings were something they had never seen before or how inspired they were - my heart lit up. I had been missing my family of creative people from art school this past winter but I think I've found an even better niche now.
With the season being over, I'm working towards giving Etsy my full attention again and setting up some new shop stock for the approaching holidays. We aren't going to stop moving around anytime soon though. On thursday we are heading down to Asheville, North Carolina to see Stephen's brother at Penland and stay with some wonderful friends in their country home!
Last but not least, I've added the rest of these pictures to my 2011 Festival photos on flickr...
what a colorful summer we've had!
ps - incase you're wondering, just a little while ago we all felt that 5.9 magnitude earthquake pretty strongly here in Richmond. Stephen and I were sitting at a stop light and thought my car was about to explode. Never thought I'd ever get to feel the earth shake so hard before moving out west. Crazy!
3 comments:
these photos are just so lovely. i adore the 1st painting, looks surreal
good stuff Arlie!
I adore that ring and it def should be worn backwards like that… as if your gifting its beauty whenever you open up your hand :)
cheers!
ursula
ESW
ps. dont forget to look for the black truck full of rainbow lights, skulls, a few plants and of course, my droolin puppies that lov to feel the breeze in their hair... as we roll down to VA to celebrate EarthShatterDay! ;)~
I like this idea of collecting something from each festival.. very happy memories for each item I'm sure, and a great way to gather a collection of handmade things
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