My Christmas Wish For You

My Christmas Wish For You...
My Christmas wish for you, my friend
is not a simple one
For I wish you hope and joy and peace
Days filled with warmth and sun
I wish you love and friendship too
Throughout the coming year
Lots of laughter and happiness
To fill you world with cheer
May you count your blessings, one by one
And when totaled by the lot
May you find all you've been given
To be more than what you sought
May your journeys be short, your burdens light
May your spirit never grow old
May all your clouds have silver linings
And your rainbows pots of gold
I wish this all and so much more
May all your dreams come true
May you have a Merry Christmas friend
And a happy New Year, too.
-Author Unknown

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
May you find love and laughter and peace in 2011.

This FeelGoodFreeArtProject will be out and about a bit on 1st Saturday Art Walk in January....or maybe before...subscribe here and follow us on facebook!

Great Gifts all over Gig Harbor

Have you found just the perfect gift yet?

Well, it is right here in Gig Harbor.

Gig Harbor has great jewelry stores, great wine shops, great clothing stores, great home accessories stores. We have great artists, and you know their work, cause their contact information can be found right here on this little ol' blog.

Why, you can even purchase a star from the Harbor Walk of STARS for your love or your family or your thoughts to be immortalized forever...or just about.

While you are out there shopping, how about a little FREE art for you?

Aren't you just exhausted and wouldn't it feel just great for a little Happy Hour? Stop in at Anthony's for Happy Hour. We had 2 beef sliders $2.50 and two Salmon sliders $2.50. If you are very lucky, might find a little FREE art at Anthony's. This is one of Kathy Thurston's art cards...also a perfect gift. If you miss her at Anthony's, just walk on over to Ebb Tide Gallery. Yep, that's where you will find Kathy's art.

"May the warmth of Christmas grant you love"

If you haven't been to SEASONS yet, you don't know Christmas. So many beautiful things for your home or someone else's. While there, be on the lookout for a beautiful, original, painting from Rebecca Westeren from For Art Sake. Might find a little Santa art there as well.

If you miss Rebecca's work at Season's, just head on over to For Art Sake and enjoy lots of Rebecca's art in her gallery.

"Perhaps the elf should go first" There are lots of beautiful things at Clark's Jewelers....probably should be carried through the front door. New jewelry and new purses arriving all the time. Great jewelry at all price levels and a great place to go for purses in Gig Harbor. Check it out!

So, are you at a total loss for a special female gift? Just at your wits end? Check out Simply Charmed in the Harbor. Affordable jeans, great sweaters, another great purse place.....or how about a little spa treatment?
How about a little 'pop' of color with our favorite pop artist, Ty Cline. This is an original piece of art. You can frame it, you can turn it into a special art card...put it inside a purse...let your imagination run wild.

Next, stop in at the Wine Studio. Great wine, great tasting, at great prices. What could be a better gift than a beautiful bottle of wine and a special original painting by Robin Peterson. This is a beautiful still life and if you miss her painting at Wine Studio, just look her up at Fernwood Studio.

How many Santa's can you find?

ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Rebecca Westeren and For Art Sake. Why? Because Rebecca is a great artist and one of our great giving artists in Gig Harbor. A fine group gathered at her gallery, For Art Sake, last Saturday evening for great music, great friendship, wonderful snacks and a toasty, dry place to watch the Gig Harbor Lighted Boat
Parade. A great BIG thank you to Rebecca for an wonderful evening.

Where will you BE?

Where will you be?

- Thursday, Dec. 9th 7 pm for caroling in the harbor? Practicing and fun begins in the park about 7pm. The Argosy ship arrives at 8:20. The idea is the Argosy sings carols to us and we sing carols back to them. Great fun for all!
- Saturday, Dec. 11th. A great day to shop in the harbor. Merchants will be open until 7pm, on Friday, 10th as well. Shop often...shop local.....have fun!!! -Saturday, Dec. 11th. When your feet get tired of shopping might stop in Water to Wine as they will be sampling sparkling wine all the day long. "Champagne" and shopping, can it get any better?

YES, it can.

4pm Saturday, Dec. 11, just down the street from Water to Wine is For Art Sake Gallery, and at 4pm Rebecca is having a party and you are all invited. Munchies, beverages, music, great art and a lighted boat parade...be there!

Great week to be shopping in the harbor. Stop in at the Harbor Peddler, she has GH logo merchandise, great gift ideas...and FREE art. This beautiful piece of original art is from Rebecca Westeren...you know Rebecca, she is having the party on Saturday evening. This is FREE art from Rebecca, you could put paper on the back side and turn it into a beautiful Holiday card and it is a great gift alone.

"You are the best Christmas gift"...and you really are. Especially when you find this little FREE art at the Harbor History Museum. Thursday the History Museum is having a fun sale. You pull your number out of a hat and that is the percent you receive off your purchase from the gift shop. If you are a member you receive the hat number and also your membership discount....two discounts, how much fun. And if you are early, this FREE piece of art might be yours just for the taking.

Hot, spiced cider...on a crisp December day, sounds good. Tastes better at Morso Wine Bar.

This is a beautiful, original sumi painting by Darlene Dihiel. It is a piece of bamboo and a lady bug...good luck symbols. So, if you are looking for good luck, be quick on this piece of FREE art at Morso.
Darlene's contact information is mddihel@aol.com.

Might be a little chilly on Thursday evening in the park....you will find really good hot chocolate, coffee, tea, warm drinks at Java & Clay Cafe.
While enjoying hot chocolate the other day I noticed folks painting great clay gifts.

While you are in there, be on the lookout for this great pen and ink drawing by Kathy Thurston...so beautiful. If you miss it at Java, head on over to Ebb Tide Gallery to see more of her wonderful art.
Might find another Santa FREE art piece. Lots of Santas all over the harbor, just make sure the one you take says it is from the FeelGoodFreeArtProject!

So, did you get just the right gift for someone and now need the perfect special box to put it in? This is a beautiful fabric covered box by Delaine Gately. Perfect for that little something special.
Have a little pasta...have a little pizza at Spiro's....find a little FREE art.

"It is Christmas in your heart that puts Christmas in the air."
Where's a great place to go for some Holiday baked goods, in a store....in UPTOWN. Might find a little FREE art there!

Where ever you steps take you this week, enjoy Gig Harbor. This town stays great because YOU make it so.

Artist of the Week!!!

This is Sandra "Sam" Chavis. You know Sam because she is the wonderful jewelry artist that donates some of her wire wrapped pendants. Some of you have received her pendants and some of you have written to the blog thrilled to have received your wonderful jewelry....for FREE!
Sam expresses her passion through her jewelry and each distinctive piece she creates resonates with positive vibration and communicates those feelings to the wearer....and you get to have that positiveness in your world.
Find Sam through her link above and at the Ebb Tide Gallery on Pioneer in the harbor.

Tis the Season!!

Began to look at lot like Christmas about a week ago, didn't it?

So, now it is even starting to feel like this very special season of the year.

This Sat. Dec. 4 is 1st Sat. Artwalk. Extra special FeelGoodFreeArt on that day...better make a stop by the Christmas Tree!!! Which,of course gets 'lit' about 5pm on Saturday. Stop by for hot chocolate, cider and cookies....then Santa arrives at 5:30!
This Saturday/Sunday is also TideFest at Gig Harbor High.

And

You don't have to wait till the weekend to find your little piece of FREE art.
Are you going to keep it?
Are you going to give it away as a Holiday Present?
Better find it fast.....

So, we are all having fun at...For Art Sake! Then, what do I spy, or perhaps you spy, somewhere on one of the shelves...over there, no the other way...there...there.... It is a wonderful piece of original art by Ty Cline. Ty is a great artist and when you need a special little pop of design and color, Ty is your go to man! By the way, where you gonna be on boat parade night, December 11? Rebecca is having a party...the place to be and watch the boats....For Art Sake 4- 8 pm; music, a little munchey....MAYBE a little FREE art....be there...!

While at For Art Sake, choose from over 100 of their special artist created, ornaments. 100% Gross sales go towards benefiting Washington State Foster children. A little something for you...a little something for those in need.

"Santa is jolly because he knows where all the bad girls live!" Ok! It's the Holiday Season and we need to remember to take ourselves lightly. We also need to take ourselves with beautiful kitchen, dinning accessories.....Hum. It is in UPTOWN....Oh, let me think. Where is the one place in UPTOWN you can find beautiful items for your kitchen and dinning areas.

Welcome to Darlene Dihel, a new participating artist.
Darlene is a Sumi artist, read all about her below and find her at TideFest this weekend in Gig Harbor.
OR
If you are really fast you might just find this original Sumi painting by Darlene at Suzanne's Bakery. While at Suzanne's you must try any of her homemade items..Do have a little snack!!

Just everybody loves Rebecca's winter wonder series, at least that is what I have named them!

These original pieces all remind me of the Great Pacific Northwest with the snowy, iceyness of fall leaves. Easy to feel the winter in this one. Better be quick!!!! Oops! Where, you ask?
Who is having a special on crab leg dinners? Quickly, find great art there! Just down the street from For Art Sake!

Ok. We know you are going to be at For Ark Sake on Dec. 11th for the boat parade...but what are you going to wear? Where are you going to find that perfect gift?

When is the last time you were in McBecklands Ladies Boutique on Harborview? Now is the time to stop in for a holiday ensemble or a great vest or a perfect purse or ......take your pick. Just be sure and stop in!
Now this is a very special art card by Kathy Thurston. You are going to need to be quick on this one and if you miss it there, just walk around the corner to Ebb Tide Gallery to find more of Kathy's wonderful cards. They also make a great gift. Who...Who...Who...will you give this card to...get it "Who" the sound an owl makes!!!

Artists of the Week

Here is Nan Feagin. Nan is a member of the Peninsula Art League and is currently showing her pastels, thru this week, at Kimball Espresso Gallery. If you are not familiar with pastel paintings then stop by and immerse yourself in Nan's art. "My work is strongly influenced by my views and feeling about the natural world. The places where sky and earth meet. I find the directness and flexibility of pastels a perfect medium to catch the atmosphere." Contact Nan at 253-549-2358.

As you enjoy this beautiful piece, you can just feel the cool spray of the surf...easy to get lost in. Easy to enjoy with a cup of Latte from Espresso Gallery.

A Big welcome to Darlene as a new Participating Artist with this blog. If you find one of her pieces of art, you will be lucky in more ways than one.
Meet Darlene Dihel, Sumi Artist. You may recognize Darlene as she participates in several Art Shows in Gig Harbor and teaches Sumi in the area.
Look for her this Sat and Sun. at Tide Fest, located at Gig Harbor High.

SUMI-E is a form of ancient Asian Art. SUMI means black ink stick and E represents the word "picture"
The philosophy of sumi is characteristic of the spirit of ZEN, where nothing is wasted and the world is expressed in a language reduced to the most essential limits.

Whether she is painting landscapes, flowers or even crabs, each stoke of her brush has a purpose and beautiful meaning. Which is your favorite?

What is Thanksgiving to you?

Enjoy Thanksgiving....see you next week.

This is a poem by a wonderful friend...nothing more to be said.

Two Thousand and Ten will soon be history,

Two Thousand and Eleven is still a mystery;

As we enjoy this Thanksgiving event,

Let us not forget it's honorable intent;

To give Thanks for our harvest, our family, our friends,

To ask forgiveness... to make our amends;

To remember those no longer here,

And reach out to those that we hold dear;

To enjoy daily victories, no matter how small,

And to remember the best things... aren't things at all,

But that feeling of trust and respect, over a lifetime earned,

And to have those feelings, warmly returned.

Thank you, Roy.

Check out the Holiday sale on the blog side!

Last Wed. at Girls Night Out there was lots of FREE art.

Do let us know who found what and where and
what you are doing to do with it!!!!
Now
Where will you find your free art this week?
AND
A great holiday sale by wonderful artists. Check out the side of the blog!!!

How lucky is Gig Harbor to have our very own wonderful, hands on History Museum? A great place for you to visit! A great place to take your visitors....and while you are there find this beautiful art card by Laura Bethke. It is titled "Feather Dancer" and if you miss it at the History Museum, just walk on over to Ebb Tide Gallery to find more of Laura's beautiful art!!

Yes, that is one of Ty Cline's original paintings. Wonder where you will find it? Here's a hint.....see that snowman? Well, inside the snowman is filled with peanuts and right next to Ty's painting you will find cranberry birdseed. Hum!!!!! Those are all the hints. Go forth and find!

Is this a beautiful piece of agate wrapped in sterling wire? You better be quick on this one.

Sandra "Sam" Chavis created this beautiful piece.
Where will you find this? Need a great gift for someone? Check out the Harbor Mercantile and if it is already gone, just walk next door to the Ebb Tide Gallery to find more of Sam's beautiful jewelry!

Well, 'they' say it is going to snow this weekend. Here's a beautiful piece of original art by Rebecca Westeren that is frosty and sparkly and silvery and looks like new fallen snow...watch out. This is beautiful piece of art at Elandan Gallery (might find a great rain hat there as well) If you miss Rebecca's painting at Elandan, just head on over to For Art Sake Gallery and you'll find more of Rebecca's beautiful art...also a great party at Rebecca's on Dec. 11, boat parade night; 4 - 8pm. It's in the harbor, on the water, great place to be for the Gig Harbor Boat Parade!

One of the coziest places in the harbor, is in Harbor Kitchen. Great soup for lunch, great tea to warm up with.
Gonna find a little FREE art there as well. "You may be disappointed if you fail, if you don't try, you will be doomed."

FEATURED ARTISTS OF THE WEEK
Two new great featured artists this week....ENJOY!

Meet Lynn Guenard. Do you love flowers? Do you love shoes? Do you love watercolor and acrylic beautiful paintings. Well, you must know Lynn, then. She is currently working on a beautiful water color painting that has drops of water on the rose petals and you can feel the wetness. For the 10th Annual Holiday Art Sale (side blog info) Lynn has been working on Circus shoes and 3-D collage pieces.



Meet Jana Fisher, potter extraordinaire. You saw an example of Jana's work on Girls Night Out, at Sharon's Consignment and Spa. Wonder who found that beautiful pot with lid and spoon...sugar? honey? Or, perhaps you found her beautiful tile. Give Jana a call and plan on stopping by her place for a little tea and a great present for yourself or someone else. 253-853-5390

Girls Night Out - SUCCESS

The First Annual Girls Night Out
last Wednesday - Success!
So, all the girlfriends were out last Wednesday, great savings on shopping by local merchants, thank you and girlfriends did shopping!
Then girlfriends did partying!!! Do we have to wait another whole year for another Girls Night Out?
There was lots of great FREE art around. Let us know what you found and where and how much fun.
And come back next week for a new blog and more great FREE art!

Hey, that is a great necklace Sharon is wearing. Hey that is great art Sharon is holding. This is a great piece of hand created pottery by Jana Fisher . You can find both the one of a kind piece of pottery and the necklace at Sharon's Consignment and Spa. You'll find lots more at Sharon's too. Last time that great purse was on the blog...somebody came and got it....YEA! If Jana's potter is gone from Sharon's, you're still in luck cause Jana is having a great holiday on Nov. 20 and 21. Give Jana a call at 253-853-5390 for more information on her sale....great hand created pottery!

This is a beautiful piece of artistic basketry from Sherry Mayfarth and a beautiful cross stitch bookmark from Sherry Webber. If you are very lucky, you will find both of these FREE pieces of art at For Ark Sake in the Filmholm District.
Information on both Sherry's can be found on the Participating Artist page of the blog. Sherry Mayfarth is one of the featured artists this week on the blog and can also be found at the Ebb Tide Gallery.
So, stop in For Art Sake, take a look at the beautiful photograph that was censored by a minority of one, from the PAL show in City Hall. (I have great admiration for the Second Amendment of our Constitution)

Who is your favorite independent bookstore in the harbor? Most friendly and always happy to order if they do not have on hand. Mostly they have a lot of Books. But you'll just have to guess the location.

Could this turtle be Adelaide? It is one of Kathy Thurston's art cards, you know the ones with the stores behind all the paints. Kathy is one of the featured artist of the week. Read more below!!! If you miss Kathy's beautiful card at the book place, just walk on over to Ebb Tide Gallery to find more of Kathy's wonderful art!

Don't you just love walking in Simply Charmed and visiting and shopping. Great yoga pants, great purses, great accessories and yes...can it be....a great piece of original art from Rebecca Westeren
So, get on over to Simply Charmed and pick yourself up a little something special and perhaps you will find this original painting. Now, if you do not find the painting at Simply Charmed, then walk down to the Filholm area to For Ark Sake and find lots more of Rebecca's paintings.

"She Loves to Dance" by Laura Bethke. After a fine wine or two at this lovely wine bar, you may love to dance as well..... Special beverages, raffles Wed 7-8 at Morso and Anthony's celebrating Girls Night Out.

If you miss this wonderful art by Laura, just head on over to the Ebb Tide Gallery and you will find more of her creativity!!!

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPONSORS OF THE FIRST ANNUAL GIRLS NIGHT OUT IN GIG HARBOR!!!!
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS OF THE WEEK!!
Two participating artists of this week and they are both featured artists at Ebb Tide Gallery the entire month of November.

Meet Cathy Thurston. You've seen her art here on the blog and if you've been really lucky, you have found her donated art to the FeelGoodFreeArtProject. Kathy begain painting when she retired and she paints in various mediums. Her paintings are always titled, that's because they each tell a story. Perhaps it is a story about a turtle, or another animal. Get on over to Ebb Tide Gallery, pick up a piece of Cathy's art, read the title and figure out the story.

Meet Sherry Mayfarth. Sherry, Joyful Basketry, is a basketry artisan. Sherry's baskets are an expression of effort, creativity and love. She has only been creating these beautiful pieces since 2006 and when she is on duty in the gallery, she is usually creating a basket. Go in a watch and ask her questions, cause she loves to talk about her work.