Not too hot to weave ...

Arletta making rag placemats

With the Studio and Garden Tour 2012 now behind us and a hot, dry summer settling in, things are getting  back to normal at the weaving studio. This week, Chris has three women from Illinois who are spending four days taking weaving lessons and producing their own treasures.

Keena weaving a dish towel.

Myrna making huck placemats.

The gardens were affected by the drought and nighttime visits from our deer friends. Chris notes that the weather must make it tough on the deer, too, so we're cutting them a little slack and a day lily snack or two.

Temps around here have hit 107, and it's been weeks since we've had significant rainfall. Fourth of July fireworks locally have been postponed until Labor Day. We are managing to keep the veggie garden going with water from the green tank in the middle of the picture below. The tank fills from the gutters and downspout at the back of the studio (when it rains) and from the pond on our property when it doesn't.

Part of the back garden ... tomatoes and kale.

We met some interesting folks on the tour, with the first visitors being from Edinburgh. Scotland, that is, not Indiana, and lots of folks from Indianapolis, Columbus, Ohio and Louisville, Ky. Visitors trying their hands at weaving produced two "community rugs" which will be given to local charities as fundraisers. We raised about $80 from the sale of Chris' mug rugs to be donated to the Brown County Art Scholarship fund. And some funds were raised by selling peace flags which we created on the tour last year. We are suggesting a donation of $10, all of which goes to the local Habitat for Humanity. (We can ship them for $15, and it's an ongoing project until all the flags have found new homes.) 

Peace Flags for your garden - visitors to the studio tour wrote messages
on the fabric which was then woven into flags.

Guest artist Doug Runyan sold several of his paintings and pastels and created one of his best drawings while demonstrating pastel techniques.

"Consider the Lillies of the Field" by Douglas Runyan

Chris just finished several scarves, some of which will be going to the Columbus (Ind.) Visitor's Center. 

We're also preparing a group of rugs and clothing to be listed on the Indiana Artisan's new virtual marketplace website. More on that later.

The studio will remain open throughout the summer, booking day weaving classes as weather permits. Visitors are always welcome.
Bob (and Chris)

Big doin's at the weaving studio

With just two days left  before the 14th annual Brown County Studio and Garden Tour, last-minute preparations are under way. This year's tour features nine working studios and 23 artists.  Again this year we will have Doug Runyan of the Fort Wayne area as a guest artist. Doug will be demonstrating pastels and promises to have a sale bin of his artwork.

Chris' inventory for the sale is probably at its best ever. Last week she removed her inventory from the Brown County Craft Gallery in Nashville, and much of that will be available for sale at the tour.  Her new retail outlet in Nashville is Spears Gallery, where some work is already on display. 

Some of Chris' newest creations, including wall hangings which were on display at the recent Earth Day show at The Gallery at Hotel Indigo in Columbus, will highlight this year's tour.

 About a dozen of her popular Mobius shawls will be available




and many shaggy rugs made from Sunbrella fabric selvedge.

A late-spring drought and nocturnal visits from the resident deer have left the flower gardens less colorful than usual, but we're hoping the zinnias poke their bright multicolored heads out in time to greet visitors. Tomatoes are just beginning to set on the 60-plus plants protected by fences behind the studio, and a couple of the new crops include Margherita tomatoes, Russian kale and Swiss chard. (We're becoming an international vegetable garden.)

Our studio special for this year's tour will feature 10 percent off on all sales over $100, a mist fan for those who want to cool off, the return of cotton plants to the Weaver's Garden, a sale basket to benefit Habitat for Humanity, and the usual demonstrations, good music and Freeze-Pop treats. (Plus a freshened inventory and Doug Runyan to boot.)

The tour runs 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Get a map at the Brown County Visitor's Center, many local businesses and any of the nine tour sites. Or visit browncountystudiotour.com for more information.

Hope to see you here!

Bob (and Chris)