Touring Michigan: The Chippewa County Fair

I can't remember the last time we went to a county fair, certainly not in the ten years we've been on Mackinac, but this past Saturday we were looking for something fun to do nearby (but definitely OFF Island) - so we went to the Chippewa County Fair.

First on the agenda was looking at all the animals; while we see plenty of horses on a daily basis, there's no longer any other livestock on Mackinac.


I had to laugh at these guys, one of our local poets just published a new anthology entitled "Low Down and Coming On: A Feast of Delicious and Dangerous Poems About Pigs" - I wonder what they would think about being thus immortalized?

The sheep in spandex were pretty funny too!

I loved this sign, it's right to the point!

I really enjoyed walking the midway; it was exactly as I remembered with the rides and games, all the colors and activity.

This was a bit different, I sure don't remember ATM's at the fair before! But I bet it gets a lot of use.

Going to the fair and eating food with no nutritional redeeming value is just a must...

Does the ice cream count as a serving of dairy?

Last we toured all the 4-H exhibits, it's just not a fair without giant vegetables.

As well as intricate needlework projects:

And preserves:

My husband showed at the fair years ago,as we walked about he kept saying "I was sooo tired by Saturday night, but it was sooo much fun!"

We had a great time and it's a great place to remember where all our food really comes from: The Farm - not the grocery store.

Soak Up the Sun, Summer's Almost Done!

It just occurred to me that I've not been sharing any Island images lately, and that's a shame as it's been just beautiful!

We walked through the Annex and along the West Bluff this afternoon and I couldn't help but stop and enjoy all the blooms:

There was a great concert at Grand a couple weeks ago, all WWII era music and speakers; I took the opportunity to stroll the porch:

Signs that the season is changing are starting to be seen and felt - these guys are off to pasture for the winter:

I'm not sure what this guy's up to, trying to jump the porch maybe?

And this one's just enjoying a day off - it just feels so good!

From Inauspicious Beginnings..

It doesn't look like much...

but just wait....

you won't believe what you can do with it!

I was especially fortunate this week; I had the pleasure of taking a "Silver Evenings" class with Rosemary Gould.

Rosemary is an incredible artist and teacher - we had a great time learning to work with PMC or Precious Metal Clay.

PMC looks like clay and is formed of very small particles of silver suspended in an organic binder, it's easily rolled:


Or cut into shapes:

Or formed into shapes or given texture.


On our first night, we made a charm. This taught us a lot about handling the clay, adding textures and "appliqueing" to pieces together. When we had the charm formed, it went on a mug warmer to dry.

Next comes the exciting part - transforming clay to silver - it made me feel like quite the alchemist!

We used a small butane torch, first the binder burns off, with a blue glow:

When it glows bright pink, the countdown begins - two minutes:

Then a quick cold water bath, a bit of work with a wire brush and voila! A charm!

Not perfect, but not bad for a first attempt and I'm really looking forward to night #2.

I even did my homework, rough sketching some possible designs for a pendant. I actually ended up with a couple dozen sketches, but this is the one I decided to attempt to create - very freeform and a definite emphasis on texture.

Anyone who knows me will not be surprised that my final result has little resemblance to my sketch - but there's still a lot of emphasis on texture, here it is before torching:

And after:

I see so many possibilities with this technique, so many ways it can enhance my bead work, giving me the ability to form just the exact focal or accent piece for whatever I'm trying to create - more to come I'm sure - thanks Rosemary!

Ride the Moon

"Ride the Moon" is my submission for the August Art Bead Scene monthly challenge.

The inspiration for this month's challenge was an 1899 advertising poster for America Crescent Bicycles by Frederick Ramsdell - who was from my part of the world, Manistee, Michigan.

I really struggled with this challenge, bikes are such a large part of my everyday life on Mackinac and I was so focused on a very literal interpretation - it wasn't until I decided to skip this month that the concept of a crescent neckpiece occurred to me - after that, it all flowed together.

This necklace is a good example of mixed media jewelry. I started with a silk taffeta crescent, hand embroidered with black silk "wheels", those wheels have been embellished with beads in a variety of sizes and finishes. The crescent is finished with a binding of black beads and the center features a subtle lampworked focal bead.

The crescent is suspended by brass chain and chandelier crystal chain and closes with a simple brass toggle clasp.

I'm pleased with the results - elegant, but a bit edgy, with just a touch of steampunk.

Available for purchase here.

Touring Michigan: Lavender Hill Farm

Lavender Hill Farm is near Horton Bay, Michigan, in the heart of Hemingway Country and nearly on the 45th parallel - lavender thrives on the 45th parallel in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

The limestone soil provides an ideal pH for growing lavender and the farm has over 25 different varieties.

So why start a lavender farm? To feed the bees, of course!

After the bees have had their fill of nectar and pollen, the lavender is still gorgeous and fragrant.

The lavender is grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides.

It was so relaxing strolling the fields, the scent was so intoxicating and the hum of the bees so soothing, I think I could have taken a nap in the rows!

We had a great time watching this character:


We could tell that something was moving in the plants and all of a sudden, he would pop his head out, stand up and look around and take off again!

There's a lovely shop, with culinary and body products, as well as artwork.

You can even pick your own bouquet of lavender:

All in all, a wonderful place to visit and relax!

Touring Michigan - Boyne City Farmers Market

I love living on Mackinac, but there are a few things available in the "real world" that I do miss - and one of those things is visiting the farmer's market on a regular basis.

I recently discovered a great farmer's market in Boyne City; it's been in operation since 1982 and currently has over 70 vendors, all located within a 30 mile radius.

There was a very long line waiting to purchase raspberries - they were HUGE, and ours didn't make it back to the car, we ate them all as we strolled.

There were lots of flowers available, especially sunflowers.

I would have loved a bouquet, but it just isn't practical when camping in a tent.

Actually, I think I would have come home with bushels of produce if we hadn't been camping, it all looked so wonderful.


There was so much more than produce and flowers on display, we sampled some wonderful cheeses from Farm Country Cheese House (a pound or so came home with us), discovered Cook Family Farms meats, tasted (and purchased) artichoke pesto, and tried our best to be strong and resist all the incredible baked goods.

Farm markets offer so much to a community, providing positive financial opportunities for the farmer, making a variety of locally grown and made farm products directly available for purchase, as well as encouraging direct communication between local farmers and their customers.

Eat local!

I Won!

Alison at Handprinted by A. Deegan recently hosted a giveaway - and I won!!!

Alison creates beautiful hand pulled prints and I won two: a great red squirrel and a framed "Winged Seeds".

Not only is her work beautiful, but so is her packaging; it was so much fun to open.

Thank you Alison - I love both of them.

Everyone else: please do check out both Alison's blog and Etsy shop, adeegan.