holiday sale highlights

Whew! What a weekend at Camp Cactus! The place was packed to the rafters opening night on Friday. The wine flowed freely, the munchies were consumed, and sales were terrific.

Holiday spirits were high (or maybe it was all the wine)

Everyone seemed to want to support local artists and keep their money in the community.


Thankfully, the rains held off most of the weekend, and though it was really cold, we had a fire going outside as well as inside, and everyone stayed toasty.


All in all it was a great sale, and on behalf of all the artists, I'd like to thank everyone who turned out for it this weekend


and I'm looking forward to writing a big fat check to Oregon Food Bank this week.

Thanks again, and Happy, happy holidays to all!

so much art!

This weekend we'll have original watercolors and prints by artist Bart DeGraaf...

...and gorgeous work by Hadley Hutton:

Come on by and meet the artists at the preview tonight!

dan ennis ceramics

Dan just brought these by today.

I love the playful colors and cool designs.

They look even better against a fence or greenery in the backyard...

It was too dark to shoot them outside, but I think they sure look great in my kitchen, too!

even more art!

Beautiful jewelry made of vintage buttons by Edith & Lulu

and bags by Jane Russell (see, I told ya I was making something!)

If you don't live in the Portland, Oregon area and can't get to the sale this weekend, many of these items are available at the artists' on line shops...and click on over to Buenos Burritos today for a giveaway!

more art!

The artists have begun dropping off their work for the Holiday Sale at Camp Cactus...

Amy Hekker brought some pillows made from beautiful vintage tablecloths and buttons.

And some stockings, too.

Check back later for more!

tamara's new totes

Tamara King has some new totes at Camp Cactus

Perfect for shopping at the Farmer's Market,

schlepping books home from the library with style,

and stopping for an espresso.

Don't forget the Holiday Sale at Camp Cactus
Friday, December 5th • 6-9pm
Saturday & Sunday, December 6th & 7th • 10am-6pm

Holiday Sale next weekend

Come on by and check out the Holiday Sale next weekend!

Preview night: Friday, December 5th • 6-9pm
Saturday & Sunday, December 6th & 7th • 10am-6pm

Here's some new work by mosaic artist Pauline Dugas Tait:

Pauline uses recycled windows and other objects to create beautiful and functional mosaic pieces .

fall fairy tales, part 2

Yesterday there was a commotion in the studio at Camp Cactus. Here's the rest of the story:

I watched mutely as she dried herself off with the kleenex and draped it carefully over a pincushion to dry. Wings fluttering gently, she perched on a small birch branch on my workbench. "Now that's much better," she chirped, "You're lucky I didn't drown on your doorstep!" She still looked a bit disheveled. A yellow flower-hat on her head was askew, and her chestnut colored hair was dripping on her tunic. She peered at me intently for a second, then shook her head at my apparent inability to speak.

I finally managed to blurt out, "You're a fairy!"

"Well, you sure do have a talent for stating the obvious, don'tcha?"


Hopping off the branch, she stuck out her hand and introduced herself. "The name's Marigold. Hope I didn't freak you out too much." She nodded toward Abbie, who was sniffing the air furiously in her direction. "I think the dog's about to hyperventilate. They can't really see me very well, but they can smell me."

"What are you doing here?" I was finally starting to regain my composure and my curiosity.

"I'm on temporary assignment here as the Leaf and Flower Painter. We're not supposed to paint in the rain, but I was getting behind, and then the wind picked up and started blowing me around like a dang seed pod, so I thought I'd duck in here for a bit."

"Well you're doing a wonderful job," I said, "the leaves are gorgeous." 

"Shucks. It's my pleasure," she said, blushing from her cheeks to her toes. "Listen, I gotta skeedaddle. The rain's let up, and I've got stuff to do. Nice to meet ya."

"Come by anytime you like," I said.

And with that, she buzzed on out, promising to come back tomorrow and bring some friends.

Stay tuned...

fall fairy tales

Yesterday afternoon a fall rainstorm swooped in, the wind sweeping big wet drops against the windows and blowing rain in through the open studio door where Abbie stood motionless, staring out into the yard.


I glanced over at her, wondering what she was looking at so intently. The rain was coming in and the rug was getting soaked. As I got up to close the door, a small fluttery movement just in front of the doorway caught my eye. I thought at first it was a hummingbird...(the red-headed kind called Anna's Hummingbird) it was buzzing just above Abbie's head, and getting blown around by the wind. But something about it was a little off. It was flying erratically, even for a hummingbird. I was pretty unprepared for what came next.

The thing whizzed past Abbie's nose and flew straight in the door, bounced off a wall, and landed in a soggy heap on my workbench. As I walked over to investigate, it picked itself up and shook off, splashing water all over the project I was working on. "Sheesh!" I muttered to myself, thinking now I'd have to try and catch the freaked out little bird before it killed itself trying to get back outside. Its back was turned, and as I reached for it, it spun around and I suddenly realized it wasn't a bird at all, but a pissed off, dripping little red headed fairy. Hands on her hips, she sputtered "Well, if that ain't the bee's knees! The least a human could do is offer a fairy a towel before she tosses her back into the cold!"

My vocal chords didn't seem to be functioning at this point, so I handed her a kleenex.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow...

late nights

It's that time of year again, when my whole being starts buzzing with creative energy.  I couldn't sleep last night, so I got up and loaded some photos of this guy on my etsy shop.

I'll have a few more Santas up as soon as I get them photographed, which means first clearing a space on a flat surface in the studio.  Wish me luck!

doggy business

I had lots of fun this past week, painting a sign on the side of a building with my friend Elissa. We don't get to work with each other often anymore, and when we do I consider it a real treat.


Here's what the building looked like before we started. It looks a lot bigger from far away.


First we painted the background.



Then we traced the design onto the wall, but not before we ran into a minor snag involving an electrical box...Here's Doug, the owner, working on a solution.


Once that problem was solved, we set about painting in the details...



And speaking of details, we saw lots of colors that matched the sign as we were up there painting. Like this guy waiting for the bus with his goldfish.

Calling all Artists!

Camp Cactus needs your art!

We've just set the dates for this year's Holiday Sale, and you're invited to send us photos of your work for consideration...

A Portland tradition now in it's 15th or 16th year (I've lost track, to tell you the truth!), this cozy little studio in Portland's Hollywood district is transformed into a small shop/gallery to showcase and sell the art and crafts of local artists on consignment. In the past, artists have offered ceramics, paintings, toys, mosaics, jewelry, pet stuff, paintings, photography, handmade Santas, fairies, books, ornaments, and more beautiful things than I have room to mention here!

Here are the dates for our 2008 Holiday Sale:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
December 5th, 6th & 7th

Deadline for application: Wednesday, September 24th

Commission on sales: 25%
5% of all commissions go to Oregon Food Bank.

We're looking for original work, handmade by artists who love their craft.
If this describes you, drop us an email at:
campcactusmail {at} yahoo {dot} com

and we'll send you all the details.

summer sale highlights...

We had a lovely sale this weekend! The Summer Solstice on Friday evening didn't disappoint, bringing gorgeous (not rainy!) summer weather to Portland. Thanks to everyone who came and helped out, partied with us, and shopped! (And a big, big thanks to those of you who picked me up off the floor after my oh-so-graceful fall!)

house charms

House charms and jewelry by Gretchen Boylan...

come see them at the Camp Cactus Summer Sale

 tonight and this weekend!