Silver Dollar City - Just One More Week

We've been at this for six weeks now, and there's one week left. Must confess, we're ready for it to be over. Yes, we meet a lot of awfully nice people who are genuinely interested in learning all they can about hummingbirds, who enjoy their hummers throughout the summer, and who appreciate the work we put into making our art. BUT there are also some really inconsiderate, mis-informed, know-it-all's out there. For instance, the question of the day today was, "Do you know where you get your stoppers?" Well, of course we do. We are the ones who get them. And no, we're not going to tell you where we get them because you just bought a house with "at least 100 bottles in the basement" that you think you can turn into feeders if only we will provide you with the information so that you can. A photographer friend loves this question, "Were you there when you took these pictures?" And another artist friend loses it with this question, "Can I ask you a dumb question?" Sure. Go ahead. We're here to please.

Went home about a month ago and our hummer population was down from over three dozen to just two individuals. Then when we went home last, no sign of hummer activity at all. They are off to warmer surroundings for the winter and lordy how we miss them!

Spending time with other artists, we have been able to add quite a few pieces to our hummingbird art collection. One artist, who did his first ever hummer painting for us, joked that in a few years the BOMH artists at Silver Dollar City would be the BOMH Hummingbird Artists. So much talent in Missouri and thank goodness we have the opportunity to own some of their fantastic pieces! And thank goodness they are willing to accommodate our hummingbird "jones".

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummers do NOT fly south on the backs of geese. Geese don't go to the same locales and fly way too high for hummers to withstand the altitude. Hummers fly individually, just above tree-top level so they can feed along the way.

Best of Missouri Hands at Silver Dollar City

The National Harvest Festival runs September 13 through October 27 at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO (park is closed Mon. and Tues.). Inside the Frisco Barn you will find work by Best of Missouri Hands artists and artisans. Some pieces will be on display as part of the Best of Missouri Art Faire. You will also find working artists, creating their pieces right before your very eyes. Demonstrating craftsmen change throughout the Festival. Check this schedule for specific BOMH artists and the dates you can find them "in residence".

We still have hummers and Baltimore orioles, although the herd seems to be thinning a bit. It appears there are fewer males, and the remaining birds are fattening up for the long journey home. The orioles should be heading south soon, with the hummers following shortly thereafter. It's always a bit sad to look out the window and not see our busy little summer visitors.

Wild Birds Unlimited in Conroe, TX, now has Ozarklake feeders in their inventory. We're hoping to hear from a lot of the WBU stores now that we have been approved as a supplier by the national WBU organization.

Hummingbird fact for today:  Hummingbirds will NOT delay migration if a feeder is present; they are driven by forces more powerful than hunger.

Made in Missouri Juried Exhibit

Silver Dollar City (SDC) in Branson, MO, has a strong commitment to Missouri artists and artisans. Each fall during the Harvest Festival, a variety of Best of Missouri Hands (BOMH) juried artists are invited to demonstrate their craft during the Festival. I have participated for a number of years and thoroughly enjoy my time at Silver Dollar City.



Cascade in Blue

 Last year, SDC expanded its support of Missouri artists and artisans with its Made in Missouri Exhibit. This special exhibit showcased some of the finest work by BOMH juried artists as determined by judges who selected participating pieces from submitted applications. The 2012 Harvest Festival will once again feature the Made in Missouri Exhibit in the Frisco Barn, with visiting BOMH artisans demonstrating along the perimeter of the Exhibit. There are $5,000 in awards to be given with judging by the leadership of Herschend Family Entertainment, parent company of SDC, the leadership team of SDC and the general public.

I am humbled and honored that my submission, Cascade in Blue, has been accepted to be a part of this year's Made in Missouri Exhibit.
 
Dates for the Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City are September 13 - October 27, 2012.
 
Hummingbird fact for today: To keep their feathers in top shape, hummingbirds will leaf-bathe by fluttering against wet leaves.

Whew! Stop the merry-go-round!

The nearly eight weeks at Silver Dollar City in Branson is definitely a fun gig, but it sure leaves us out of touch at home - yard unmowed, leaves unraked, etc. We had some construction work going on while we were gone, and we've still not got the house back together from that. After we got home we have to completely shift gears, from the 1890's to indoor holiday art shopping. In early October, Terrie went to the Wild Bird Expo in Mexico, MO, and we had several good orders from that. They've all been created and shipped out. Plus Terrie is mid-way through her FINAL term at Columbia College (graduation is Dec. 17) and that takes a lot of time. It just seems that the hurried-er we go, the behind-er we get.

I'd like to devote more time and energy to the Best of Missouri Hands and the Lake Arts Council. Being on the road so much, I feel I'm doing a disservice to these organizations in my position as a board member, yet the LAC made me Vice President of Visual Arts. The amount of talent at the Lake of the Ozarks is really amazing.

Holiday plans are made. We'll go to Kirksville, MO, Thanksgiving week so we can finally meet the twin grandsons who were born in March. Over Christmas we'll go to Maryville, TN, to see family and visit with Lt. Cmdr. Sean before he and Kate and the twin grandsons head off to Japan for 3 years. Somewhere in between we'd like to see the 3 other grandsons in Smithville, MO. Guess getting the house back together can wait until January......... Unless, of course, we're called off the waitlist for the Southwest Arts Festival in Indio, CA!

The application process has begun for 2012 shows. It seems that the deadlines keep getting earlier. And most of them want you to send a check for the booth space, which they will hold for the 3-6 months until the jury process either approves or disapproves your inclusion in the show. Wouldn't it make more sense to request the booth fee UPON acceptance into the show? And of course we don't know what we will be doing in 2012 until the shows make their decisions.

The Hummingbird Society is planning a Hummingbird Festival in Sedona, AZ, in August. Yep, we plan to be there.

Networking with my fellow artists at SDC gave me insight into some new techniques that I'm anxious to try out over the winter. I also want to create some new items. Just need more hours in a day.........

Hummingbird fact for today: Even though hummingbirds are extremely resilient, they do face problems: 31 of the 331 known species have been designated at risk of extinction.

Hard at work at Silver Dollar City

I am awed and humbled to be in the company of such amazing Best of Missouri Hands Juried Artists! Our new location inside the Frisco Freight Barn seems to be beneficial, especially when it is raining outside and we don't have to worry about getting wet! We're in our third weekend and we're having a blast. We have jewelers, photographers, painters, woodworkers, potters, and mixed media artists. Some have been here and gone only to be replaced by other high caliber creative people. A few more will change out this week. In addition to being able to see how talented my fellow artists are, I am also learning a few things from them that I plan to use in my work in the future. This is undoubtedly THE best time of the year to visit Silver Dollar City!

When we went home last week we noticed that our hummer population is down. It seems that all the males have headed back to the tropics, with females and juveniles soon to follow. Thank goodness our neighbor Steve is taking care of our hummers because we will spend the winter looking forward to their April return.

Hummmingbird fact for today: Hummers migrate individually, with this year's juveniles the last to head south. They instinctively know when to leave and where they are going.

New Item - A Hummingbird ONEsie

This is without a doubt the handiest little hummingbird feeder I've created. The copper coil holds one nectar tube and attaches to any window. I always test my ideas for functionality and these pictures are proof positive that hummers have no trouble finding the feeders and are delighted with them. I put a couple of these on the doors of the studio and hummers found them within just a few minutes. The hummers don't even seem to be bothered as we move around inside. These little feeders provide an opportunity for great close-up photos, too. Feeder activity is especially busy as they are trying to double their body weight before heading south. We sure will miss them!

We've been trying to get new carpet in for over two years - ever since the trees fell into the house and we had the roof and ceiling re-done. Now that we finally have all of Ozarklake's "stuff" moved to the studio, this project is moving along. What a hassle! Especially since we're having all the floors repaired as we go so they won't squeak anymore (the sub-flooring was originally installed wrong). After the great job they did on the studio, we're having Powell Construction do this project for us, too. We've been with these guys so much for so long that they feel like part of the family!

Heading off to Branson soon to set up shop at Silver Dollar City. We've lined up some holiday season shows for November and December. Then we'll spend some time just recuperating from a very busy summer.

Hummingbird fact for today: The drought in Texas may affect the hummingbird migration.

Mission Accomplished!

Terrie and I have now driven to 49 states together! Plus the District of Columbia and five Canadian provinces. This trip completed the states (with the exception of Hawaii) and we've done all of this traveling in less than 14 years together.

Terrible show and terrible weather for the show in Binghamton, NY. But excellent show, excellent weather, and an excellent show in Bar Harbor, ME. We always meet so many wonderful people. Heading home so we can get ready for the National Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO.

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummingbirds can be found in 49 states at some point throughout the year. The only state they do not visit is Hawaii.

An Amazing Seven Weeks!

We're home now after being "citizens" of Silver Dollar City for 7 weeks. What an amazing experience! First, thank you Phil and Charleen, Jerre and Jimbo, Marty, Delma, and all the rest of the SDC employees who make it SO pleasant and SO easy for the artists in the Best of Missouri Hands Craft Village. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your fantastic circle for a limited time. Thank you BOMH artists - for your art, for your love, for your comraderie. Thank you Golden Arrow Resort for being our home away from home. And thank you visitors at Silver Dollar City for your interest, your questions, your sincere desire to learn about my art and hummingbirds and orioles - YOU are the reason I set up shop there for the Harvest Festival. It is an amazing and rewarding experience.

Off to Artstravaganza in St. Louis this coming weekend. And to Cape Girardeau later this month.

It is so sad to return home and know that our little hummer friends are gone until April. They were such fun this summer, with the feeder hat and hand-feeding over the porch rail and the constant activity on the front porch. There is nothing in the world that can compare!

Hummingbird fact for today: Carotenoid pigments, which create the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows of birds such as warblers, orioles, and goldfinches, play little or no role in the plumage color of hummingbirds.

The Joy Has Left Our House

All of our little hummer friends have departed for points south. The cats watch the window expectantly, but there is no more activity. April is a l-o-n-n-g-g way off! I think Terrie is actually having withdrawal pains.

The National Harvest Festival is well underway at Silver Dollar City in Branson. We've seen several people who we met last year and even some of our neighbors from Camdenton. It was terribly hot until last week, but with fall weather finally here we expect to see even larger crowds through the end of October. There is some TERRIFIC art to see. I am always amazed at the amount of talent that lives right here in Missouri. PLEASE stop in and see us!

Hummingbird fact for today: There is good evidence that hummers do not fly very high during migration. Over land, it is unlikely they get much over tree-top height -- the better to see potential food sources along the migration route. (No, they do not ride on the backs of geese; the cold air at that altitude would kill them.)

Silver Dollar City!

The Best of Missouri Hands Village at Silver Dollar City opens this Saturday, September 11. The BEST handcrafted items will be on display for purchase and some INCREDIBLE Missouri artists will be demonstrating. Come by and see us in our 1890's costumes! We'll be down by the Red Gold Barn until the end of October (park is closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

Hummer season at Lake of the Ozarks seems to be winding down. We've seen just one male this week at the feeders along with eight or so females and/or juveniles. They're feeding like crazy, plumping up for their long journey back to the tropics. Ozzy and Izzy will miss their morning "kitty TV" out the kitchen window. The chittering and chest-bumping goes on all day and thinking of their imminent departure is rather depressing.

The Wolfe Gallery in Deland, Florida, just received a shipment of Ozarklake feeders. We're excited to have our work out in that part of the country. Chosen in West Volusia County as "Best in the West", co-owners Martha Ashley and Nancy Wagar invite you to stop by and experience Wolfe Gallery for yourself.

Hummingbird fact for today: Male Ruby-throateds leave the breeding areas first to open up food sources for the females and the young. The juveniles born this year will be the last to leave. Each bird migrates individually with no guidance except for that provided by Mother Nature.

Copper in the Arts

The Copper Development Association Inc. is the market development, engineering and information services arm of the copper industry, chartered to enhance and expand markets for copper and its alloys in North America. Each month the CDA publishes an online magazine, Copper in the Arts, featuring innovative and artistic uses of copper. I am honored to be featured in the August 2010 issue.

The Festival of the Little Hills in St. Charles was awful this year. Downpours on Friday left the grounds of Riverfront Park a total swampland. Neither the City of St. Charles nor the Festival staff cared that people could not walk into artists' booths without sinking in the mud. I've been at other shows where storms created problems, and the staff at those shows busted their butts to help the artists. In Des Moines when our tent was blown down, unknown volunteers appeared to help us salvage what we could. In Mt. Vernon, IL, a muddy site was transformed by scores of volunteers scattering straw so people could walk. But in St. Charles, we were handed one bag of OilDri, which covered approximately one square foot of muck. No assistance at all was given to those artists whose tents were destroyed by wind. And then the staff just disappeared. So after 2 days of watching people go by carefully stepping around the water pools on the concrete sidewalk while studiously avoiding the muck in the booths, we gave it up, tore down our booth, and left. The complete lack of concern for the artists left a bad taste in my mouth and I would not recommend this show to anyone.

Terrie's had a lot on her mind this month. In addition to being the responsible party for her aging and ailing grandfather in the nursing home, school, and dealing with our business, she was convinced she was just minutes away from a heart attack. So.....she had a cardiac cath and should now be able to rest easy because she does not have any problems. However, recovery from the procedure is limiting her activities somewhat and is driving her nuts. This, too, shall pass.

We haven't seen an oriole in a few days, so they must have headed south. Also, our gaggle of hummers is thinning somewhat. Sure do hate to see them go, but understand why they must.

Next up is the Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City in Branson. Yay! We love the time we spend there and meeting all the people who come by. After the summer show season we've had, we're both ready to "move in" to our booth in the City. Come see us! September 11-October 30, park is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Hummingbird fact for today: Male hummingbirds orient their feathers toward rivals to best display their brilliant iridescent colors.

The King of His Realm

A customer and fellow hummer fanatic managed to capture the personality/attitude of the male Ruby-throated hummingbird regarding HIS feeder. This photo is published here with permission of the photographer, Cam Schutte, Kansas City, MO. Thanks, Cam, for sharing!

Cam and his wife Shirley are prime examples of how easy it is to fall victim to the charm of the Ruby-throated hummingbird. We met them at an art show a few years ago. They knew there were hummers in their area, but they had never had a feeder. They purchased one, followed our tips, and soon were enchanted by the amazing creatures. They added another feeder a year or so later so that Cam could enjoy watching them from his home office. They stop by to visit every time we do an art show in their area - not to purchase another feeder but to share their new-found infatuation with the little charmers. They are now almost as smitten as we are. And thankfully, Cam is a much better photographer than I am!

We are shipping orders to two new wholesale locations, and shipping more items to an established customer. Thanks to The Flying Pig in Algoma, WI, for the re-order. New retail locations are Bear Creek Cafe & Gift Shop in Bear Creek, PA. And Wolfe Gallery in Deland, FL.

The last outdoor show this season for us is this coming weekend. The Festival of the Little Hills in St. Charles, MO, draws an attendance of over 100,000. The hours are long and the weather is supposed to be hot and humid. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that there is no rain!

After we get home from St. Charles, we'll put away all of our "modern" display and start gathering everything we use in our booth in the 1890's setting of Silver Dollar City, the home of American craftsmanship, in Branson. The National Harvest Festival runs Sept. 11-Oct. 30. If you've ever wanted to visit Silver Dollar City, this is the time to do it! Literally hundreds of artisans are on site with their amazing handcrafted items, including over 50 Best of Missouri Hands Juried Artists.

Hummingbird fact for today: The 17 species of hummingbirds that have bred in the United States and Canada represent approximately 5 percent of the world's hummingbird species.

Our Winter Feathered Friends

While hummingbirds are definitely my favorite bird followed closely by orioles, I also enjoy the birds of winter. I make my own suet and have several feeders with different kinds of seed as well. With the outside temperature just a few degrees above zero, the activity at the feeders has certainly picked up. Some of these guys are almost as colorful as the summertime birds-the bright red of the cardinals and the stunning blue of the jays. We also have several different kinds of woodpeckers, and each species is a colorful delight. The cats' window seat allows them a good view of all the activity at the feeders; they chirp and chatter at the birds while the birds are oblivious to the cats. We call it kitty tv.

Just got the word today that I will be at Silver Dollar City in Branson for the entire fall craft festival that runs September 11 through October 30. We really like it there. The staff is extremely helpful and visitors to the park seem to be truly interested in the work of the artisans. It also gives us the opportunity to get better acquainted with other Best of Missouri Hands artists. It does make life a little difficult for Terrie, though, because the place we stay doesn't have the best internet access and she's taking on-line classes working toward her BA. Luckily there's a nice little bar close by with wifi. Apparently she can tune out the bar noise when doing her class work because her GPA is 4.0.

I need to get serious about making art for our March run to Texas. We were accepted into the Artscape Show at the Dallas Arboretum March 20-21. All work in this show has to be nature related. My functional copper art should fit right in.

Hummingbird fact for today: A hummingbird's iridescent colors are artifacts of the moment, changing with the relative positions of feather, viewer, and light source. This is especially true of the highly specialized metallic colors.

Where Did The Summer Go?

I "moved in" to Silver Dollar City in September. It was still summer. The wife was in shorts. The hummers were still hitting the feeders. Then autumn swept in! We came home once and the hummers were gone. So sad to take down our feeders. We'll miss those little guys and all the entertainment they provided.

Six weeks as craftsman-in-residence at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, were a blast. Sort of. When it didn't rain. And some days it rained buckets! One day there was 10 inches of rain recorded in the area. Meeting the visitors, talking to them, showing them how a bottle becomes a decorator feeder was fun. There's just no other word for it. I love what I'm doing!

The weather has cooled off and everyone we talked to said their hummers had moved south. Actually they depend on the length of the day and not temperature. But they are now at home in the tropics and we'll see them again in the spring. It gives us something to look forward to.

We still have pre-Christmas shows we're doing, so be sure to come by and see us if you're in Columbia or Hermann.

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummers in fresh plumage often show pale, fringelike feather edges. These edges are broader and more comspicuous in young birds and wear away over time.

Hurry Up and Wait

This is probably the toughest part of the year in an artist's life. The spring and summer shows set their deadlines for applications between Nov. and Mar. So we hurry up and complete applications, take pictures, resize pictures for each application's requirements, write checks for jury and booth fees, and put them in the mail. Then we sit and wait. And wait. And wait. Some of the shows provide a "notification by" date, but then they don't adhere to that date. It is totally exasperating not being able to plan our time and (hopefully) income.

We did learn that we will once again be at Silver Dollar City, this year in October, with the Best of Missouri Hands. That was really a fun gig. I had to create every day, out in the open in front of people. At first it was a bit intimidating. But people are so open and asked wonderful questions and we had a great time with the interaction. We're looking forward to October!

Little Izzy misrepresented herself. At first she was all snuggly and cuddly. Now that she's familiar with her new home, she's acting more like a cat - independent and rather haughty. She and Ozzie are becoming friends and playmates, so I guess she just doesn't need her humans as much as she did when she first arrived.

We're just about ready to head west. We've got tons of garden art packed and I'm still working on creating new pieces. Looking forward to seeing my son's home in Ventura and visiting Terrie's mom. I think Terrie's son might be a bit upset. Grandson #3 will be born (via c-section) while we are gone. It can't be helped though. As I stated before, we have to submit applications to shows and then sit and wait to see if we get in or not. We happened to get accepted to three shows on three consecutive weekends that happen to be in March. Terrie is a "hands off" mom/in-law/and grandparent though. She doesn't believe she should intrude in their lives and if they need something, they will let her know. I think her son is secretly glad that his mom is busy with this new art life - because if she was bored, she could be a real pain. She's disappointed she has to wait to meet grandson #3, but she's also excited about this trip we're taking.

We're "teaching" a community education class on hummingbirds next week at the local high school. That should be a fun evening!

Hummingbird fact for today: The hummingbird has the largest brain, relative to size, of all birds, at 4.2 percent of total body weight.

Fun Two Weeks!

We had a great time at Silver Dollar City. It was a lot of fun to actually demonstrate and talk with people. Everyone seemed fascinated, especially the kids. We had good sales and good weather. Terrie complained that the period dresses were hot, but then the weather was not as cool as we expected for September.

Visiting with so many people during this time, we heard over and over about other hummingbird feeders that leak. The common theme was the black rubber stopper. You do NOT want a feeder with anything other than white rubber!!! The composition of the colored stoppers is different and they deteriorate quickly. When that happens, air gets into the feeder which allows nectar to drip out. If you have a leaking feeder, you do not have a water leak - you have an air leak. Air is somehow getting into the feeder. Try wetting the stopper before you put it back in as water on the rubber stopper allows it to slide smoothly against the glass, go in deeper, and seal better.

The sad news is that our hummers have headed south. The juveniles were hitting the feeders hot and heavy before we left but we've seen no activity since we've been home. We'll miss the little guys but know they will return in the spring.

Hummingbird fact for today: Feeders were beginning to be developed about 1928 but a National Geographic article in 1947 used a newly developed strobe flash to show hummingbirds in flight at a feeder and interest was heightened outside the scientific community. In 1950 the Audubon Novelty Company offered an affordable feeder and hummingbird feeding has never looked back.

A New Adventure

We'll be leaving soon to set up shop in Silver Dollar City for two weeks. Terrie and I both have mixed emotions about this. Being in one location, setting up and tearing down only once, will be nice. Talking with people visiting Silver Dollar City will be nice. I've never actually created and worked with an audience, though, so this will be a totally new experience. And of course, we do not know what to expect as far as sales. With a big show in St. Louis immediately following, we don't want to sell out. Yet, we do want to sell as many items as possible. Talk about inner conflict! So if you are out and about, come see us in our 1800's costumes. It should be fun.

The show at the Cedarhurst Art Museum in Mt. Vernon, IL, was a good one. The coordinators treat the artists very nicely. Big crowds browse and buy throughout the weekend. The nicest moment came from a local photographer. He bought a feeder last year and came back to our booth this year to add to his "collection". He takes a lot of graduation pictures, and he said our feeders in the background add to the ambiance. Wow. What a nice thing to hear.

On the home front, we're still waiting on the contractor to finish up a few little things. The new carpet will be the next big project. That is a matter of having the time at home to have the house torn up for a couple of days. Right now we just don't have the time to be unhooking and unplugging and moving furniture when we need to be getting ready for the upcoming shows. Ah well..............eventually. Watching the footage of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ike makes our earlier storm damage pale in comparison. Our hearts go out to all those affected.

Hummingbird fact for today: Hummingbirds have about 1,500 feathers.

Exciting News (at least we think so)!

It's so rewarding when one's art is recognized by other artists and by art promoters.

We will be "residents" of Silver Dollar City in September along with other Best of Missouri Hands Juried Artists. The week after we committed to that invitation, we were contacted by the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair and invited to spend two weeks there in July. We've not done any "in resident" shows so we're excited about these! The great thing is that you get to unload and set up just once and then tear down and head home just once but you get the benefit of two weekend shows plus some weekdays.

Get your feeders ready! Our little feathered friends will be returning soon - just 2 to 3 weeks in most parts of the US!

Hummingbird fact for today: Males use their bright gorget as a signal flag to opponents and potential mates. Females generally have their most distinctive markings on their tails and will fan and wave the tail as a warning signal.