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Thanks so much for your visit!

"Johnny Cash" one of our new steers

Johnny's brother Hank Williams

Lucy & Ethel

Millie

Along with the steers, we’ve added some ‘hair’ sheep – no shearing required. They are slowly becoming accustomed to people. They love blackberries as much as the goats and are pretty cute I’ve been reseeding the pastures, cleaning the barn more often, and enjoying tending a few more animals. The goats are a bit jealous of all the new additions, but are a real help in teaching the newbies that we are to be trusted. Them, and the grain bucket doesn’t hurt either, heh!

I’ve also been spending lots of my time trying to reconfigure my website. It was overdue for a new look, and I’m hoping to be able to reveal it before the holidays

My blogging hiatus has also allowed me some time for renewing my reading passion. Here are some of the great reads that have been keeping me busy, offline and on!

First off: I highly recommend this recent read:

I’d also like to mention some of the fabulous blogs that have been keeping me busy at the computer:

Pomegranates and Paper – a real-world artist/attorney with a fabulous sense of humor and richly visual life

Works by Tracy Helgeson – wife, mother, small farmer and fabulous artist from upstate New York

Unlikely Diplomat – copywriter & foodie living in Paris and learning French. Can I say HYSTERICAL French vocab lessons?

My Month of Hundreds – Portlander Jill Ginsberg’s inspiring project to honor her mother’s memory and connect to her world.

Check them out for some fabulous writing & art! What have you been reading? I’m always on the lookout for a good read

I’d like to share some of the things I love about the light in autumn and images that remind me of them:

• Energy
• Color
• Passion
• Excitement
• Harvest

And some of the things and images that thrill me about the ever increasing darkness:

• Mystery
• Interior Warmth
• Gatherings
• Rest
• Glittering Stars, Shimmering Lights

As you can tell, I’m really getting excited about the holidays. I even started my Christmas shopping at last weekend’s Open Studio.  I’ve been marking lots of favorites for my shopping list on Etsy. One of the nice results is that my artwork has been featured in this wonderful treasury! Check out all the creative gift giving and decorating ideas! You can click on any of the images to go to the etsy site directly!

‘We’ll dance till Sunrise…’ by WhiteRabbit7

Truly, Madly, Deeply – … rutharmitage $19.00	Vamp Moxiedoll $32.00	The TEMPTRESS converti… dominiqueansar… $89.98
Raven Leather Mask SundriesAndPlu… $45.00	Fabric Flower Shoe Clip… No144 $28.00	SALE – Vintage Mercedes… 8milecreekdesi… $35.00
Redwood Glossy Lip Tint… FlourishBathBo… $6.00	Headband Red Wool Felt … sewZinski $12.00	Photo Lamp – Love jerseymaids $45.00
Cookies and Cream Bodac… LollipopsSugar… $6.00	Pretty, red, detailed p… cloudninecreat… $18.00	14 karat white gold vi… ValerieKStudio $525.00
1950′s black laurel… Thrush $84.00	Dorothy – 8×10 Original… ellemoss $30.00	My Circus Train Pulls T… juliebcreative $200.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

I’ve been making a few treasuries myself: I have a few of these items checked for people on my shopping list

‘Soft and Sweet a Treasury Challenge’ by rutharmitage

This is a Team Discovery challenge treasury made up of undiscovered shops (less than 20 sales) and team members. Anyone can join in this challenge. http://etsyteamdiscovery.blogspot.com/2010/10/monday-treasury-challenge-vintage.html

Snowy Owl Felt Pin junebugsinjuly $15.00	Softie Monkey MeeMonkey $46.00	very grey shine brooch xxxRedStitcHxx… $18.00
Colorful Cotton Cap – H… ShirleyKnits $22.00	I Dream in Tangerine – … ReaganJuel $40.00	vintage cotton thread o… thefoxparade $3.50
Lavender Silk Shawl Nat… materialconcer… $50.00	Palest Citrine Briolett… LisaRaspino $15.00	Colosseum Sketch OhThePlaces $25.00
DiBA DoG .. Sterling Si… DiBAdog $35.00	Original watercolor and… tahliaday $150.00	Ivory Moonstone Oxidize… jenniferdarezz… $70.00
Parisian VintageTravel … ScrapHappyLyre… $15.00	Bendable white mustache… TheTangledWeb $5.00	Casablanca TrenchCoat WhiteRabbit7 $28.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

And here is another!

‘Everyone wishes for Silver and Gold’ by rutharmitage

Enjoy! This is a non team challenge, find out more at http://treasurychallengenonteam.blogspot.com/2010/10/nonteam-treasury-challenge-1.htm

Vintage French Stock Ce… pinkcrowstudio $800.00	Leather Writing Journal… AwakenJournali… $45.00	Unconditional Love Alte… GatheringStars $18.00
Elegant Pirolette turnyourhead $149.95	Bad hair day in the avi… concentric $25.00	Sasha corset in brocade… Espalore $449.00
Vintage Sheffield Silve… birdie1 $24.00	Honeycomb Necklace, Jew… EternalEden $32.00	Freya the Feather-taile… Blubies $43.00
Little Ochre Pitcher fo… meadowpoint $12.00	Rustic Sunshine Silver … OriginalHardwa… $44.00	We Heart Fall-Goldtone … toniandtree $25.00
5mm hand forged hammere… RavensRefuge $585.00	Fabulous Antique Vintag… birdie1 $119.00	Trinket Keepsake box funwallart $25.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Have a GREAT weekend! Get out & see some art

Enjoy the day! I’m off to enjoy a cool morning in the garden, then a long afternoon in the studio!

‘floating’ by PaulaArt

in the mood for lightness

8×12 – One Day I Slowly Floa… lightleaks $38.00	Magreb, a goatskin cuff by L… LaTouchables $55.00	PINK FLOYD’S LEARNING TO… BeeKai $16.00
FOR HIM – Handknited Cowl Silvia66 $53.00	Original large Watercolor – … rutharmitage $195.00	Blue Bird and Red Mittens ConstantDreame… $20.00
6 oz flask, japanese floral … wickedpen $18.00	Success is 1 step at a time … dragonhouseofy… $4.00	The feather (5/50) movezerb $25.00
Winter bottles Jo2SF $100.00	Boja 06 – Fine art photograp… JKphotography $25.00	Beech Nut Warmers InnerWild $58.00
Found Object Assemblage Ikeb… LuneRouge $65.00	Two Trees ArtGoods $10.00	Garden Goddess Shoe Mudgoddess $120.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

I’ve been very busy in the garden, planting gleanings from my mother’s and sister’s gardens, bulbs, harvesting and savoring the last sunny days. Today’s rain is a perfect moment to stop, plan, run errands and hole up in the studio.

I had more good news this week: My painting “Truly, Madly, Deeply” was accepted for the Northwest Watercolor Society’s Waterworks Exhibition which opens October 12. Today I will be tracking down plexi-glass for framing the two exhibition paintings.

'Truly, Madly, Deeply' copyright Ruth Armitage 22x15"

I am preparing to judge the Southwest Washington Watercolor Association’s Exhibition next month, as well as preparing my seminars for the Watercolor Society of Oregon’s Convention coming up next weekend. I said goodbye to my son yesterday as he set off for his third year of college. How does that happen? One day they are getting on the bus to kindergarten, the next they are driving off to another part of the state! Blink of an eye.

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain’d
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

“The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust’ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather’d clouds strew flowers round her head.

“The spirits of the air live in the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.”
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat,
Then rose, girded himself, and o’er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.

To Autumn

William Blake (from Poetical Sketches, 1783)

Don’t forget to plan a day to visit me October 8, 9 & 10 for Open Studios of Beavercreek!  And it is not to late to sign up for my Focus on Color workshop Remember my offers from this post.

     1. Open Studios of Beavercreek, October 8, 9, & 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I will be number 9 on the map. I hope you can join me, as I’m getting lots of fun things together…. New work, prints, cards, treats… I’m even getting the ceiling in the studio painting (by hook or by crook if I have to stay up til midnight to do it!) and track lights put up. (I hope!) I have to mail out & distribute cards, clean, and basically get it all together for this one. Check the website (link above)for a map to the studio.

     2. Watercolor Society of Oregon’s  Fall Transparent Exhibition, and our convention October 1, 2, & 3 in Salem. I will be presenting a “Mock Jury” for one session where participants look at artwork & act as jurors, then compare notes. Then 10 mins. after that session I will be moderating a panel discussion with a group of gallery representatives on “Choosing the Best Venue for your Art”.  It will be a jam-packed weekend… critiques, social hours, the awards banquet, and most of all, seeing friends from all over the state & their artwork.

     3. I’m really trying to stir up some enthusiasm for my “Focus on Color” six week class that will start Wednesday, October 13. For readers of the blog & their friends, I’m offering the first class free… just mention this post! I’m trying to be as flexible as possible with this, as I know everyone is busy. You can sign up for just one session, or the whole series. Just leave me a comment when you sign up here on my Teachstreet listing!

     4. I’m really working hard on getting a new website designed that will integrate with my blog & provide a more professional presentation. Many hours here at my desk are going into this. I’m hoping it won’t take all winter!

     5. I still have things to plant in the garden: perrenials, bulbs and groundcovers. Plus, this weekend is the Fall Plant Sale sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society. Do you think I might be able to find more plants that I can’t live without? Will I be able to afford it? Should I just wait until next year, and spend my time gleaning starts from my Mom & my excellent gardening neighbor? Tune in later for updates in the continuing saga.

Two important things… I probably shouldn’t have left them till last:

"Gathering" 22"x22" Watercolor on Yupo Copyright Ruth Armitage 2010

I WON an award! I just got notice Wednesday that my painting “Gathering” was awarded the Swede Johnson Memorial Award in the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition. Juror Judy Morris is someone that I respect and admire, which makes it even sweeter. The show runs through October 31, so if you are anywhere near Golden, CO… stop in!

And finally: I am preparing to do a blog post about different settings for my artwork. If you have a painting or a print of mine, you can help me out! Here is the deal: Send me a jpeg of my artwork hanging in your home, and I will send you a signed, limited edition print of the “Naughty Aunties”. Already have that one? You can choose one from my Etsy shop! By submitting your image, you agree to allow me to use it for blogging and marketing purposes. If I get lots of them, I may even choose a Grand Prize Winner!

I hope you have a great weekend!

"Red Dog, Blue Dog" Copyright Ruth Armitage, Watercolor on Yupo 20"x28"

I’ve also been doing a little jurying of my own. I was flattered to be chosen to jury the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Electronic Imaging Division Invitational. There were three jurors, and the works chosen will be displayed at the Florence Events Center during their convention September 24, 25 & 26. It was a very interesting process, trying to separate my personal preferences from my artistic assessments. Each juror was asked to rate each entry numerically, and the scores were then added together. Clubs from all over the Northwest were invited to join. It should be a wonderful exhibition… as many of the entries were stellar.

I’ve also just put together a fun treasury for fall on Etsy.com ‘Fresh Olives for Fall’ with one of my sister’s new paintings in it! I’ve been updating my shop with a few new originals too, so take a look

In October, I will also be jurying for the Southwest Washington Watercolor Society’s Fall Show which will be exhibited October 6-10 at the Westfield Vancouver Mall. I look forward to seeing some wonderful paintings

In other, more personal news, a large part of my time has been devoted lately to getting my daughter off to Rome for a term of study abroad. She has started a blog about her Experiences: Italian Do’s & Don’ts. So far, she is having a wonderful time and has signed up for all Art History classes! I’m missing her here at home, especially in caring for our orphaned kittens who are just about ready for their new homes. Anyone need a darling little friend?

Free Kittens!

I’ve also been devoting a lot of time to gardening now that the weather is cooler. I’ve visited some great gardens lately, including Laurel Hedge out in Estacada. They had a fabulous Art in the Garden event last month! Last chance to visit, though, as they close for the season on September 25. I’m off to the garden! Happy September!

"Contented Solitude" Watercolor & Gouache, 11x15 copyright Ruth Armitage 2010

As an artist, I often hear the comment “I love your colors!” This is something I’ve been thinking about quite a bit, as I consider how my new website should look, what my ‘brand’ or ‘image’ should look like, etc. When I’m in the painting mode, the colors that are ‘in vogue’ or the colors of my home or anyone’s home really are the furthest thing from my mind. I’m more likely to be feeling the emotion of the painting, and not thinking at all… just trying to get the color relationships right.

At my gallery opening at RiverSea in March, I took a chance & engaged a viewer… when they said “I love your Colors” I asked why or what they loved about the color. Their response: “It makes me feel comfortable.” I thought that was a very good answer, and it is something I look for as I paint. The color may not feel comfortable for everyone, but it feels good to me.

I have a couple of questions for those who would like to enter the dialog:

1) How do you choose colors for your home? By how they feel together, With a set Palette in mind? Etc.

2) How would you describe the color in my work?

3) Do you have experience working with a reasonably priced web designer?

I’d love to start some more discussion here, so leave me a comment

Ruth & Marc, August 20, 2010

This past weekend, my husband & I celebrated 24 years of marriage! We were so lucky to be invited to share an evening of wine tasting and a winemaker’s dinner by chef Philippe Boulot - winner of the James Beard Award of Excellence  Best Chef of the Pacific Northwest. The setting was The Grand Cru Estates in the Yamhill-Carlton area. I want to share just a few of the moments of that special evening with friends.

The Grand Cru Estates Winery

After an informative talk on Bio-dynamic Viticulture, and a few barrel tastings from each vineyard, we flew off on our own private helicopter tour of the various properties. The views were spectacular and inspiring. I could get used to this mode of travel!

Vineyards over Yamhill-Carlton

After landing, we were back in the cellar, concocting our own blends, which was a real kick. Then up to the dining room, where this spectacular table awaited us. We were a party of about 20, with some familiar & some unfamiliar faces, which made for fun conversations.

The dinner was beyond the pale… sumptuous courses, each paired with delectable wines… I was so busy enjoying myself that I didn’t get pictures of each course… The first was a Cauliflower Vichyssoise with a Halibut Ceviche. We also enjoyed a de-constructed  Nicoise Salad. Here are just a few images of some of the other courses.

Heirloom Tomatoes - Fresh Northwest Produce at its Best

Lamb Chops with Grilled Onion, Polenta and Berries

Grilled Peaches & Raspberry Sauce with Lavender Ice Cream

Wines, Glorious Wines!

The Cooling Evening Sunset over the Vineyard

Amelia, our Designated Driver and big sister Erin

I wish I’d gotten a good picture of our hosts, such wonderful friends! We topped off the evening with a stay at the beautiful Allison Inn & Spa. This luxury resort is so tastefully appointed, with original art from local artists gracing every room and public space. Our room was ready with champagne and a fire when we arrived. Bliss! I took advantage of the Spa on Saturday and my pampering was complete. I’m feeling so lucky to live in such a beautiful area, with a wonderful man, blessed by great kids and very special friends to share our joy.