It's that time again!

Please join us in the studio for the annual summer sale!

Over 20 local artists will fill the studio and garden with handmade art.

Artists reception and preview evening

Friday, June 3rd  •  6-9 pm

Saturday and Sunday

June 4th and 5th

10 am - 6 pm

Celebrate summer!
We're located at 4458 NE Brazee, between NE 44th & 45th Avenues
in Portland's Hollywood neighborhood.
Click here for a handy map to the studio

controlled chaos...

The day before a Camp Cactus sale is always full of chaos and color, with totes full of ceramics, glass, and all kinds of art piled high, waiting to be arranged, dusted and displayed. In a space of two days or so, the studio becomes a gallery and boutique showing the creations of our fantastic local artists.

Somehow, it all comes together with the help of family, friends and artists, who pitch in and get the job done!
Here's a sneak preview of what you'll see this weekend:

 Judee Moonbeam works with the brightest and cheeriest colors to bring you functional art that you can wear and use every day...

 Tiny terrariums by yours truly...

 Miniature desert landscapes...

 Beautifully coordinated and eminently useful softgoods by Tamara King...

…and I'll have some of my recent paintings of nests for sale as well!

Please stop by and check us out this weekend.

Your purchases help support local artists and a percentage of all sales is donated to Oregon Food Bank.

Summer Sale Hours:

 Preview Evening: Friday,  June 5th • 6 - 9 pm

Saturday & Sunday, June 6th & 7th • 10 am - 6 pm

Camp Cactus Studio is located at 4458 NE Brazee

between NE 44th & 45th Avenues

in Portland's Hollywood district.

Here's a link to the map

get ready for summer!

It's almost June, and our fantastic and creative artists are working their hearts out getting ready for the Summer Sale at Camp Cactus.

I hope you'll join us the first weekend in June to shop for some unique, handmade art and beautiful crafts, stroll in the garden, and soak up some warm summer air!

the summer sale is right around the corner

Wow.  The time has really gotten away from me! I've been so crazy busy in the studio drawing, painting and making all sorts of new things, that the blog has been sorely neglected…but I'm back on track, and in the next few days, I promise to show you some previews of what's to come!
 In the meantime, here is the who, what, when, where and why:

What? 

Camp Cactus Summer Sale

cool stuff handmade by local artists

When?

Preview evening: Friday, June 6th • 6-9 pm

Saturday & Sunday, June 7th & 8th • 10 am - 6 pm

Where?

Camp Cactus Studio

NE Brazee, between 44th & 45th Avenues

Portland, Oregon 97213

Who?

Local artists and craftspeople, including:

Michele Avanti 

(mystical, magical delights)

Jan Behrs 

(tiny little succulent gardens)

Bruce Bensen

(handmade mason bee houses)

Kelly Boverman

(delightful fused glass garden ornaments)

Matthew Brown 

(urban cool photography)

Darris Dietz

(pottery in cheerful, retro colors)

Maura Greenblum 

(it's always a surprise!)

Holly Hestand 

(jeweler extraordinaire)

Tamara King

(hip and coordinated fabric items)

Judee Moonbeam 

(fabulous wearable art and accessories)

Tonia Twigger McConnell 

(travel photography and inspirational books)

Roberta Palmer 

(fantastic cast-concrete leaves)

Rachael Ramos 

(crochet accessories and other delights)

Jane Russell 

(enchanting fairy couture and original art)

Laura Russell 

(witty signs and home decor)

Siri Schillios

(whimsical paintings and prints)

Greg Sparks 

(earthy and functional pottery)

Laurie Stabenow 

(colorful aprons for kids)

Julie Stewart 

(hand-thrown ceramics)

Elisabeth Cook Sullivan

(ceramic prayer flags and realistic bird sculptures)

Pauline Dugas Tait 

(gorgeous mosaics)

Tiffany Williams

(jewelry and aliens!)

Kris Zorko 

(fabulous paper goods and handmade soaps)

Why?

To support our local craftspeople and artists

and, we all donate a portion of our sales to
  Oregon Food Bank!

Hope to see you there!

one more day!

The sun is out and the weather is warm, perfect for strolling through the beautiful and historic Hollywood neighborhood.  While you're at it, stop by and find something that makes your heart sing!
Tomorrow is the last day we'll be open until December, and not all our artists will be returning for the Winter show, so take a walk and come see us!

Camp Cactus Summer Sale 

Sunday Hours: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

4458 NE Brazee, between 44th and 45th Avenues

in Portland's Hollywood neighborhood

here's how to find us:

for the garden

Sculptor Roberta Palmer is back with more 

amazing cast-concrete leaves.

 They are all cast from leaves grown in her gorgeous garden.

 Her inventory is limited this year,

 as she's booked in more than one show this weekend, so come early for the best selection!

birdies, birdies everywhere!

The summer sale is happening in the studio this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and a flock of birds has come to roost! Here's a sneak peek at a few of them:

Glass artist Kelly Boverman is back with a new series 

of her cheerful little bird garden ornaments

Ceramic sculpter Elisabeth Cook Sullivan has

studied her Audubon bird book and captured the essence of

a large variety of feathered friends,

from chickadees to snowy owls.

Artist and cellist extraordinaire Lori Presthus paints exquisite birds in egg tempera,

and also has a gorgeous line of jewelry

 featuring her birds and flowers.

Stop by this weekend for some bird watching!

summer sale update!

{click to enlarge}

The Summer Sale is less than a month away!

Stay tuned for a list of our participating artists...

Camp Cactus Summer Sale 

Preview evening: Friday, June 7th • 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday, June 8th & 9th • 10:00am - 6:00 pm

4458 NE Brazee, between 44th and 45th Avenues

in Portland's Hollywood neighborhood

here's how to find us:

View Larger Map

last day for the summer sale!

The Summer Sale is in full swing at Camp Cactus Studio!

The place was hopping' Friday night for the party, but there is still plenty of great stuff left! Stop by and purchase art and crafts from local artists and keep your money in the neighborhood...and thanks from all of us for your encouragement and support!

We'll be open for one more day:

 Sunday, June 10th from 10 am - 6pm

Camp Cactus Summer Sale

4458 NE Brazee between 44th and 45th Avenue

Portland, Oregon

here's a map:

portland artists: putting birds on things since the beginning of time

Yeah, I know. Thanks to the TV show Portlandia, the art scene around here has become the butt of a lot of jokes...but there's no denying that Oregonians like nature, and birds are a big part of nature, so it stands to reason that nature-lovin' Portland artists would paint them, photograph them, wear them and sculpt them...

These cute little wooden signs are made with repurposed red oak parquet flooring and the birds and letters are cut from old pulp fiction paperbacks.

What could be more Portland than recycled art with birds on it?

In fact, the studio is practically overrun with little ceramic birds like these chickadees by

  Elisabeth Cook Sullivan...

and a couple of curious baby owls by Michelle Gallagher

Here's a beautiful birdie necklace 

by artist Gretchen Boylan...

and another from jeweler Holly Hestand 

of Hollyhocks Metal and Rocks.

Tonight is our preview evening and artist's reception, so come on by and meet many of our talented artists and learn about their work!

Click on the Summer Sale image in the sidebar to the left for a map to the studio.

light up your life with glass

We're lucky to have four extraordinary 

glass artists in the show this summer.

Artists Sondra Radcliffe and Jane Godfrey 

of Ambiente Art Glass are painters in this medium

 using layers of glass as both pigment and canvas.

Sondra and Jane create incredible landscapes, bowls, tables, and garden art...all in colorful glass.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *

Also joining us is another talented glass artist, Jenelle Kathan of Moonbeam Glassworks . 

Jenelle's designs are jazzy, bright and functional, combining geometric lines 

and traditional quilt patterns with a contemporary esthetic. 

I'm dying to make over my favorite sweater with her gorgeous buttons!

*    *    *    *    *    *    *   

Kelly Boverman is back with her whimsical garden ornaments and pendants.

I can't wait to see how all this color lights up the studio!
Click here for the sale hours or click on the sidebar for a map to the studio.

summer forecast

Summer Sale forecast: it's all about color!  

Fibre Artist Judee Moonbeam revels in it: 

her happy mixes of texture, print and shape, accented with original silkscreened images, all come together in a multicultural explosion of form and function. 

I mean, how could you not be happy wearing a purple backpack?

(Or a red, green or blue one)

Come over to the Summer Sale this weekend 

and get happy!

* ~ *

Artist's Reception:

Friday, June 8th 6-9 pm

Weekend hours:

Saturday and Sunday, June 9th & 10th • 10 am - 6 pm

click on the sidebar for a map, or scroll down to the previous post for a complete list of participating artists and links to their work .

camp cactus summer sale is next weekend!

It's that time of year when the farmer's market is bursting with fresh produce and colorful berries,  everybody's curbside planter boxes are planted, and all the artists in the neighborhood have been busy creating new and wonderful things to showcase at the Camp Cactus Summer Sale. Stay tuned for a list of artists and a sneak peek at the work they'll be offering next weekend!

Here are the details:

Preview evening: 
Friday June 8th 6-9 pm

Saturday & Sunday
 June 9th & 10th

10:00am - 6:00 pm

NE Brazee at 45th Avenue in Portland

click here for a map to the studio 

our amazing artists:

Ambiente Art Glass

Darris Dietz

Holly Hestand
Gretchen Boylan

Judee Moonbeam

Dan Ennis

Tamara King

Pauline Dugas Tait

Elisabeth Cook Sullivan

Jane Russell

Matthew Brown

Roberta Palmer

Michelle Gallagher/The Funny Thing
Carol Sands
Maura Greenblum
Ann Wilson
Rachael Ramos
Kelly Boverman
Stuart Allen Levy
Teresa Drilling
Moonbeam Glassworks
Rosie Mallett
Marla Munnich
Kathy Kearns
Susan Hurst
Jan Behrs
Larry Shapiro

Stay tuned for more info on these wonderful artists!

summer sale ends sunday

Last night's opening reception was a fun event!

 Wine flowed, scrumptious appetizers were eaten,

 and lots of beautiful art went to new homes... 

and did I mention the appetizers? And the wine?

My son Matt and daughter Caitie and Art Camp sidekick Liz catered all the food,

 and wowed us with their culinary skills. 

(Awesome bird paintings by Chris McLaren)

 Here's some

 colorful and durable oven-safe dinnerware by Darris Dietz

 Jewelry by Holly Hestand, Chris McLaren and Kelly Boverman

groovy little garden faces by Dan Ennis

we still have a few baby quilts and tiny knitted socks by Kathy Kearns

and last, but definitely not least, ceramic birdhouses by Elisabeth Cook Sullivan.

We'll be open for one more day tomorrow from 10 am - 6pm

Camp Cactus Summer Sale

NE Brazee between 44th and 45th Avenue

Portland, Oregon

here's a map:

View Larger Map