Gardens, flowers and literacy

Looks like a perfect weekend for the Garden Tour in Gig Harbor.

This Feel Good FREE Art Project was asked if we would like to donate some FREE art for the Garden Tour...... So..... In every garden you will find 2 - 4 pieces of FREE art, donated by several different artists. You'll know it is FREE because the art is labeled FREE.
Have fun finding your art!!!
There is a preview of some of the FREE art at the Garden Party on Friday evening. Be sure to stop by the Feel Good FREE Art table..
.perhaps you will find one of those pieces of FREE art in the Gardens
With every piece of FREE art that you find, you will also receive a large savings on a great massage...look for that coupon with all the art.
Now, before you find your FREE art, you must get a ticket. TCC of course, is a great place for tickets and other retailers in town as well, including...

"Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow"

This is the 14th year for the Garden Tour. The goal of the Gig Harbor Garden Tour Association is help bring our community to 98 percent literacy.
Perhaps you will purchase your ticket in Seasons....be sure to look for these daffodils.

This is a beautiful hand created basket by Sherry Mayfarth, which will be in one of the gardens...for you to find.

This weekend is a great opportunity for gardeners to visit other gardens and to help raise money for education programs for adults and children in our area...that's where your ticket money goes!
Looking for a good place for lunch? Head on over to the Mobile Cafe at the Community Gardens...good food, FREE art, check out the organic plants.

Or perhaps you would like this FREE wire wrapped pendent, from Sam Chavis. A beautiful stone and a surprise gift for you when you find it!

Sure you had lots of fun reading all about the Garden Tour in the special handout that was in the Gateway on Wednesday. 7 private gardens and the community garden.

"Friends are the flowers in life's garden" Perhaps you will find this little FREE art when you purchase your tickets from the Garden Room in UPTOWN. Garden Tour is always more fun with friends, go together.



Beautiful photography from Sue Hickam


One of Kathy Thurston's tiles on a little tiny easel.

Hand created cross stitch bookmarks, all about flowers and literacy. By Stacey Webber

And lots more art for you to find.....

"Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope"
The Gig Harbor Garden Tour, a great opportunity to support literacy in our local area. Lots of FREE art at all the gardens....a little hint to make sure you get to the Community Garden...just a little hint!!!

Do you have your tickets yet???

Father's Day this weekend.......two good suggestions for him!!

#1. Take Dad to the Harbor History Museum, this time, let him play with all the hands on exhibits!!! Then take him to the GigFest Maritime Art Exhibition in the Harbor HistoryMuseum!!
#2. If your Dad likes to garden, get him tickets to the Gig Harbor Garden Tour,
happening June 25, and 26th ....do something fun and perhaps a little unexpected with Dad this year!!!
Perhaps Dad can find some FREE art...
or maybe you will find the FREE art!

"Earth laughs in flowers" When people learn to read an entire world of possibilities opens up for them and life gets better for all of us.. When you purchase a tick to the Gig Harbor Garden Tour, the proceeds go towards Adult literacy programs at TCC here in Gig Harbor.
Where are you going to find this little flower of possibility? What is your favorite jewelry store up on Kimbal Drive? While there check out the new jewelry arrivals....they are not free, but they are very beautiful!!! Great selection, great price.

While you are on the Garden Tour, be sure to look for some Feel Good FREE Art in all the gardens ....just a little something special to make you feel good...from local artists....to you!

So, now you are in UPTOWN, doing a little walking...well, walk on in to Elandan Gallery, so much fun and so many beautiful things, for yourself or a great gift area..... While there check for this beautiful watercolor reproduction by Susy Stremel. Susy is a recent artist to Gig Harbor and if you miss her work in Elandan, just head on down to Ebb Tide Gallery on Pioneer and you'll find more of Susy's watercolors!!!!

"Turn Me Over!!!" and when you do, you will discover this art card is FREE to you, just to make your day a little brighter. This beautiful art card is by Kathy Thurston and you can find it at The Wine Studio.
Whew, it is Friday, thank goodness...why not head on over to The Wine Studio for some relaxation and wine tasting...every Friday 5-7pm. Now, if you miss Kathy's work at The Wine Studio, head on down to Ebb Tide Gallery cause that is where you will find more of Kathy's work.
And you will find more of Kathy's work on the Garden Tour next weekend...be on the lookout!!

How thrilled will you be to find this little unexpected wirewrapped pendent..FREE...to you? This one you will have to hunt a little for...you will find it on Pioneer in downtown Gig Harbor. After your hunt you might need a little snack, so head on over to Kelly's for a delicious burger.
The jeweler artist on this one is Sam Chavis. Everyone loves her jewelry and if you are late finding this one, just go on to Ebb Tide Gallery, you'll find more jewelry there.
Of course, you will also find a piece of Sam's wonderful jewelry in one of the Gardens on the tour next weekend....look very carefully!!!

"One who plants a garden, plants happiness"
Now, have you gotten your ticket yet to the Garden Tour? You will see beautiful flowers, beautiful gardens and beautiful art.
Right now, you can find this little piece of Feel Good FREE Art at the Harbor History Museum.


While at the History Museum you must check out the GigFest Martime Art Exhibition and look who I discovered when I was checking out the exhibition.....Yep, that's Lynn Guenard and she is an award winner at the art exhibition. This is one of her works of art and you can see lots more when you visit the Harbor History Museum's GigFest Maritime Art Exhibition....just a very small sample here......

Got visitors? Get on over the the Harbor History Museum....great art and lots of fun learning about this wonderful town we live in!!!

Where ever you go...what ever you do..always be on the look out for Feel Good FREE Art!!!

Where did you find your FREE art?

Congrats and WELCOME!!!

Ok...Ok....my favorite float in this year's Maritime Gig Parade and awarded..... Best Depiction of Theme.....goes to
Gig Harbor Film Festival

October 14,15,16....great independent films you just have to see! Or perhaps you would like to volunteer..or both....gigharborfilmfestival.org

My second favorite was the Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association and all those flowering volunteers...They had a little act of watering and were just so cute...Yep, those are the folks that keep your downtown looking beautiful with all the flower baskets...you can be a volunteer with them as well....

And there were so many cute little, and not so little, ones...these two stand out for me....don't even know who they are...just cute!

Now, on to FREE art....where is it and will you be the one to find it????

"A weed is only a misplaced flower" Where are you going to be on June 25 and 26th...Gig Harbor Garden Tour!!! Click on the link for all Garden Tour information And when you are on the tour, be on the look out for FREE art in the gardens.....great art, gorgeous gardens...a great day!!
When you are out this weekend, be sure to stop in For Art Sake, it has relocated and you can read all about it below...

Walk down the street, past For Art Sake, and right into Java and Clay. You might be a little thirsty, they are now serving beer and wine...relax.
This beautiful fused art glass plate is created by Marcia Hildabrant. If it is gone at Java, then head on up to Ebb Tide Gallery and see more of Marcia's beautiful art glass

How about a little happy hour or a wonderful dinner at Anthony's..and a great view comes with your dinning experience while there!! While there hope you get to find this little, original art piece. Rebecca Westeren created this and she has more in her relocated gallery on Harborview at the bottom of Pioneer, sort of.

Are you in need of a little something summery? Then head on over to McBecklands Ladies Boutique cause she has some really nice clothes and accessories to put you in the mood for summer. 30 years here in Gig Harbor....find out why???
"The true meaning of life is to plants trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."


UPTOWN, a great place for sandwiches, salads, bakery good....hum....what store could it be? You're going to have to find this one....hope you don't get lost in all the bread!!!

This beautiful art card is another one by Mark Ritchy. Don't you just want to find this location, Ecola Beach right here in our own beautiful state? Well, if you miss this art card by Mark, head on down to the EBB Tide Gallery on Pioneer, you'll find more of Mark's photos there!!
And, a great BIG WELCOME to Rebecca Westeren and her gallery, For Art Sake!!
Rebecca has just relocated her gallery from the Finholm Area to downtown on Harborview, just across the street from Wild Birds...Rebecca has some new artists and some well known artists in this new space....so, stop by....see something new!!!


Here is a beautifu lgarden copper sculpture "Rosie Blooms" by Catherine Foster Art Studio in support of breast cancer.
It would look great in your garden!!!






Beautiful art glass by Lisa Stirrett











Beautiful paintings by Carrie Goller. Carrie is 1 of 500 artists, world wide, to jury into the Artists for Conservations Foundation.

Ready....Set....GO!

Go to downtown Gig Harbor this weekend.....

Lots to do in the beautiful sunny weather
Sat 10 am starts it off with Yo Ho Harbor Grand Parade
Continuing with lots more activities all day Saturday
AND
The Blessing Of The Fleet on Sunday 2:45
1st Saturday Art Walk on Saturday with lots of wonderful art.....
Where will you find your FREE art this weekend?????
(Remember, FREE art on Saturday....not before!!)

This original painting is created by Charlie Meacham and you will find it at Kit Kuhn, A Jeweler Designed For You....while at Kit's check out his silver "Gig" (rowboat) framed in a silver circle...... It could have sailed right into this painting by Charlie...or Gig Harbor!


The sun is shinning....time for a new, FREE, summer purse. Find this one at Ebb Tide Gallery While at Ebb Tide be sure to check out the beautiful photography of Bryan Peterson...landscape, marine and nature are his subjects.... YOU might want to get on over to the park at 4pm to take your own photos of The Valentines Performing Pigs...got to see this!!

This is a beautiful watercolor art card by Susy Stremel "Summer" and you can find this FREE art at Water's Edge Gallery. Susy is a new artist in town and new participating artist for our blog. Susy creates beautiful watercolors and if you miss her card at Water's Edge, just walk on over to Ebb Tide Gallery where you will see more of her beautiful paintings. While at Water's Edge Gallery be sure to check out the beautiful maritime and landscape photography of Jim Nelson


Perhaps you are in the mood for a piece of beautiful wire wrapped jewelry.
Birdnest Gallery & Framing...find it and find this beautiful FREE wire wrapped pendant by Sam Chavis. You know Sam's beautiful pieces, if you miss this pendant at Birdnest walk on down to Ebb Tide Gallery to find more of her beautiful jewelry. Take time at Birdnest Gallery to admire all their maritime artists and the beautiful oils by Xochi Hughes-Madera.

This is a new original oil painting by Xochi, titled "Morning Reflection". Stop in Birdnest Gallery for a wonderful piece of FREE art by Sam Chavis and to admire wonderful paintings by Xochi.

While out and about this weekend, be on the look out for some extra FREE art!!!