Air Force One!

We were down at the airport yesterday, shipping some orders, at about the time that President Obama's plane was due to land. The President was coming to Portland to visit the Intel facility in Hillsboro.

We wanted to see the plane land, but soon realized that we were at the wrong end of the airport (air traffic was coming in from the west; we were at the east end of the runway). So, we hurried to the other side of the airport, hoping that there would be a place that we could stop and have a good view, but not really knowing the area.

When we saw a group of cars stopped at the side of the road, we figured that they must know something. We had no sooner parked and gotten out of the car when, there it was, massive Air Force One, heading straight at us. It looked so low, it really looked like it was going to land on us!

What a sight! The whole experience lasted less than a minute, but it was really spectacular. Somehow, with no time whatsoever to prepare and no idea what to expect or where to set up, Yvonne managed to get the above shots.

The Tulips Are Sprouting!

While much of the country is blanketed in snow and ice, here in the Pacific Northwest our Spring-blooming plants are popping up out of the ground and thriving in the mild temperatures. Seeing the foliage of daffodils and tulips everywhere, it isn't hard to imagine the spectacular scene that's just around the corner at places like the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Oregon, just south of Portland.

Our Art at Trinette's in Southeast Portland

Trinette Weber and her daughter, Marlis, are currently displaying our work in their flower and gift shop, Trinette's, at the corner of SE Stark and 81st in the heart of the Montavilla neighborhood. In addition to an "island" display containing matted and framed prints, we also have smaller displays with pendants, magnets, bag tags, and note cards for sale. A limited number of 2011 calendars of the Portland Japanese Garden, with our "Sunrise" on the cover, are also available. Several of our large framed prints are on display in the windows, as well.
This stretch of SE Stark is a vibrant area filled with great restaurants, bars, and boutiques and the beautifully restored Academy Theater. On the first Friday of each month, the businesses stay open late and host art openings, concerts, and food and drink specials. If you're in the area, please stop by Trinette's and show your support for local artists!

Preventing Nozzle Clogs in Our Large Format Printer

Like anyone else with a professional level Epson printer, we're constantly battling against the dreaded clogged nozzles. The situation is always worse in the winter, when we're constantly heating our home, creating a dry environment. Well, George at Pro Photo Supply just gave us something new to try: placing a wet sponge in a Tupperware container with holes drilled in the lid into the cabinet while the printer is not in use. This will create a mini "humidifier" that should help keep the microscopic nozzles from drying out and clogging. We'll let you know how successful it turns out to be!

The Flat Garden at Portland Japanese Garden

We love the Flat Garden at Portland Japanese Garden. However, due to the narrow space between the railing and the benches on the porch of the Pavilion, it's impossible to capture the entire Flat Garden in one shot. So, Yvonne decided to get creative and produce a panoramic image that includes everything!

All of the plants and trees appear just as they do to the naked eye. However, Yvonne had to adapt the wooden rail and the overhang of the roof of the Pavilion in order to show, all at once, the view to the right, to the left, and center. We hope that you like it!

Making PDX Japanese Garden Even Better

It was a strange sight at Portland Japanese Garden yesterday, seeing Heavenly Falls and the Lower Pond completely empty. A worker stood where the water should have been, sweeping with a large broom. Two ducks landed in the dry pond and waddled around, probably wondering who had drained their pool.

All of this was for a good cause, though, as the garden puts the finishing touches on the renovation of the "Zig-Zag" bridge that winds through the iris bed. The Garden says that the new version of the bridge will be "sturdier and less confined, while remaining in harmony with the Garden setting". During the construction, the Garden's koi have been moved to the Upper Pond.

We'll resume our "Etsy Artist of the Day" feature with our next post. In the meantime, thanks for supporting local artists and buying hand-made!

Spring is Here!

Spring has arrived 4 weeks early in Portland! The crocuses and some of the daffodils in our front yard are already blooming. . .

**********
The other day, we were contacted by a photographer that we've never heard of. The gist of his message was that he apparently sells similar images and products to ours and he offered to "sit down and show (us) a few tips and shortcuts". Hmm. . . We thought we were doing pretty well, on our own. Bizarre. . .

**********

Our ETSY ARTIST OF THE DAY is the multi-talented D. Antonia Truesdale, whose Etsy shop is called The Midnight Orange.

An artist since a very early age, D. Antonia says that her work evolved "from jewelry onto mixed media" and that she "loves making altered books and assemblages". We're particularly fond of her magnificant clay pieces, like those shown above.

You'll find more of D. Antonia's work in her Etsy shop.
You can also follow her on:
Facebook: The Midnight Orange
Blog: www.themidnightorange.blogspot.com
Flickr: www.flickr.com

As always, thanks for supporting independent artists and buying hand-made!