I've been on an art trip around Olympia, and I feel like a gadfly! I started at the gallery on the West side, The Artist's Gallery. I had a lovely spot, lots of room to show my stuff, but there was so little traffic, it just didn't seem worth the time. So I decided to withdraw, with no plans for another gallery. Wayne and my working on our re do trailers takes lot of time, and my energy level was so low, that seemed to be all I could handle. I also withdrew from the Manje Gallery in Edmonds, where I have sold for 5 or 6 years.  And then I sat.  I worked at the shop, which is fun and great to be with Wayne all day, we work well together.  I fussed around home, getting darn near nothing done. And something was missing.
I have thought of myself as an artist for  lots of years, at least 35, I'd guess, and that was the missing part of me. I did know that the artistic side of me was important, but I hadn't realized until I wasn't creating anything much how important. I felt like I'd gotten rid of a part of me, and I sure didn't like it!  It was one thing to decide how to remove all the  years from an aluminum window, very satisfying and hard work, and totally another to chose and create the fabric, the garment, the scarf by my own talent. And I missed that, along with the "thinking" time that goes with creation.
So, an opportunity came along to jury for a gallery on the boardwalk in Olympia, Splash. Pretty nice, good work all around, and you sign up for a 3 month trial period. The artists were welcoming, the space was good, the location seemed wonderful. And the sales were nil. Nothing for two months , aside from good words and smiles all around. The time it took to be there along with the cost of the space was not proving to be a help to me, and to tell the truth, I was embarrassed that I had no sales. The third month I did sell some things, lower in  price range, but with my trial period coming up, and the costs of being there without sight of payment, I had to admit that I couldn't stay there and just hope. So I removed myself once again.
I contacted the owner at Manje Gallery, and she graciously let me back into her sales floor.
The very time I was out of Splash Gallery, a new gallery was opened, called Gallery Boom. Much lower in price per month, less time needing spent at the gallery working, and something new and bright, and , again, full of possibilities. So I've taken the leap again, trying to find an audience for the things I love to make. I have a smaller space than I've had before, a longer commitment, and again high hopes. Christine, the owner, is full of energy and positive vibes, and I hope this  turns out to be true. We're not in the main part of downtown, could be a problem, and a year to go seems like a long time. But I've made one little sale already, which helps me to look forward to this year with a happy face and a hopeful heart. It is important to me to have sales, other wise I will be covered and smothered when I die with tons of fabric and scarves, with my angels on my belly and back. And armpits and elbows.  But I am happy to be creating again, and I know I have room in my life for both the trailers with Wayne, and the wonderful and almost wonderful things that come out of my studio. Now if only I could keep house!