The Incredible Work of Allen and Mary Dee Dodge

This married couple met in art school and collaborate on small and giant pcs. Go to their web site and be prepared to be blown away at their talent. www.allenmarydee.com.

There is sooooo much art that I covet in Rick and Kents' home.

These are just two examples of the handcarved, handpainted, genius of Allen and Mary Dee.

The boys are having a party new years day do you think they would nottice if these went missing and wound up in my house. Hmmmmmmm.

Oh Christmas Tree

Christmas Decor at Epler/Milburn Estate

Queenie wasn't sure that she wanted to disrupt her art filled home with a christmas tree...... So instead she got two.

Random Tuesday / Cookie Bake Off

When Kent called to ask me if I could help bake cookies all day....I said "I'm In!". My skills in the kitchen are legend so I could see how he couldn't accomplish the task with out my assistance.

After a day of baking I concluded that cookies are way too much work and only fun with Kent and glasses of wine. Slice and Bake at my house next time.

Newly Tiled Kitchen at Milburn/Epler Estate

Perfect for Random Cookie Bake Offs!!!

LuLu in her half price after christmas sale hat

The Girls Who Need Accessories/ Happy New Year!!!

Happy B-day Sam!!!

Today was declared Samday since it is the Birth of our Sam. We (me and doggies) celebrated Samday by loading up the car for a drive, breakfasting on bisuits and gravy, stopping at the exit 16 Flea Market, hiking an old cemetary in the woods, shopping at the Bass Pro Shop (I went next door to Old Time Pottery), dining at Havana Rumba, watching the movie "UP". Does it get any better than this????

Robbie / Snow Goddess

I am home in front of the fire feeling grateful for everyone who is in my life! Thanks to you and yours I have been able to earn a living doing what I love.

My store rocked this holiday season! Big Thanks!

I plan to post some of the treasures I discovered over the year. For the next week or so I will put the wonderful folks I see at shows and in my store. People first then Places then Things.

Christmas Eve Hours / 11-?

Cathy will be tending to my store Christmas Eve. I told her if she is there and the place is deserted to go home and spend more time with her family.

Store Goddess / New Dress

This year my store Goddesss got a new Christmas tree dress. Also 4 legs so she will not blow over when windy!

Only 2 more days. I will be in the store on Wednesday 11-6

Amanda Clark / String Scarves

New Batch of Amanda's String scarves.

Only 3 more shopping days.

Store Open Tuesday and Wednesday 11-6

Thursday 11-4

Sam / Scooter

Sam glows as he bundles up in his big red Sandy Claws suit to go on a scooter ride. All he needs is 8 tiny reindeer. Maybe Bear and LuLu can help.

Paula Burke / Cardinal Fan

Today I happened to run into Paula Burke in my store. She owns everything I make so I couldn't believe she was back.....She needed a few gifts and brought me a wonderful ornament back from her recent visit to Amsterdam. Girl..You are the BEST!!!

Cathy Brown / Paintings

Cathy Brown not only does an excellent job running my store but in her spare time she paints. I am lucky enough to feature her work in my store. She has had much success. Can't wait to see what she produces next. Only 5 more days of shopping.

Dave Fry / F.D.L.

Excited to have Dave Fry's work in my store. Dave and Margie have been doing art shows as long as I have. It is always a pleasure to encounter them. Dave's FDL wall plaques make a perfect gift for any Louisvillian. Only 6 more shopping days till christmas. See store hours.

Caroline Zama's Wise Guys

I have only 3 sets of Wise Guys in my store. Come see us the next 6 days. The Reason for the Season.

Fa La La

Every so often I will meet Jenny Elkins half way between my home in Louisville and her home in Indianapolis. Spent the day in the The Exit 76 Antique Mall, Edinburgh IN. I found a couple things I couldn't live without. Jenny did too. A good day was had by all.

Playing Store from now till December 24

Adorable Bear

Jenny Elkins / Santa Wreath

My hope for the upcoming year is to convince Jenny Elkins to do trunk shows in my store. She has quite a following in Louisville.

Also an excuse to spend more time with her. I just don't see her often enough even tho we e-mail daily.

I will be spending a day with her next week and will keep you posted on adventures.

Stockings Hung by the Chimney with Care

My Snow Man Collection

Finally had an afternoon to decorate my home for the holidays.

Snow Men from Big Lots

We have a house filled with wonderful hand crafted stuff that I have collected over the years.... trades with other artists etc...

Yet still one of my favorite christmas decorations are these funky snowmen purchased for 5.99 each at Big Lots several years ago.

Bear/ Tis the Season

Bear is a wonderful model. LuLu on the other hand has her hat in her mouth.

Kent /Shopping

Dressed in one of his dazzeling western shirts Kent manages to find time between sales to make a few christmas purchases at the Columbus Winterfair Art Show.

Million Dollar Idea /Shu Juan Lu

At the Cinn. ODC Show there was an interesting booth. All Black. Jackets that are cut a certain way to form shapes. They looked remarkable on everyone! I am not even sure there was sewing. Just the inate talent of Shu Juan Lu and her mad skills with fabric.

Ruby Ballard /On the Loose

At the Columbus Winterfair show I request to be next to Ruby. We usually are both traveling alone and can watch out for each other.

When Kent and Rick started doing shows they immediately nabbed Ruby as their friend too. She has even spent a weekend at their lovely Silver Hills home.

Ruby and Kent clicked right away with their love for sewing and fiber.

Ruby makes wonderful jackets out of African fabric. She imports the fabric to America. However; she got to go on the trip of a lifetime to Africa this past summer. Naturally she wanted to shop for fabric in the markets and was told it was too dangerous to be"on the loose" without a body guard. Well this did not stop Ruby who went to the Marketplace with her personal armed guard. Now we call her Ruby on the Loose.

The Laughing Boy / Kent Epler

The past two weeks I have been traveling with Kent Epler to the ODC Winterfair Art Shows. He is the best traveling companion a girl can have.

Loves to shop, laugh, and cook. We had a kitchen in our last hotel and Kent womped us up yummy omelettes each day to provide energy so we would be up for the masses who attend the show. And then would stir fry something for a lite late meal when we returned to our hotel and had nite caps.

We talked into the night. We missed our partners Rick and Sam. But managed to have fun without them.

Sales were great! There will be a Christmas no matter what the economy is doing.

Winterfairs / Cincinnatti and Columbus

Cincinnatti Hours November 27. 10-5/ November 28. 10-5/ November 29. 11-4

Columbus Hours December 4. 10-8/ December 5. 10-8/ December 6. 12-5

Gallery JanJoBe / Myths, Fairy Tales, and Spirits Show

Janet Bailey Birch shows off her latest work for the Spirit Show going on now in JanJoBe Gallery at the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center.

This work is somewhat of a departure for Janet who concentrates on Equine art. Love the whimsy of her figures.

Russell Centrowitz takes the Ville

Cathi, Russell, and Gerry left the Big Apple to visit Louisville. Russell, photographed here in mocha fur, had a suite at the Sealbach. He was excluded from the races at Churchill Downs on friday. Gross oversight. He then made up for lost time.....Lunched at the Brown. Denied entrance to the Louisville Slugger Museum. Enjoyed the art work at 21C the Museum Hotel (Go Micki Go). Marked the Great Lawn. Dined at the Bristol Bar and Grille on artichoke fritters. Sniffed Bear and LuLu while eating cheese cake. Chilled listening to cool jazz at Air Devils Inn. Russell catches a flight back to Manhattan today so he can rest up for his next adventure. Oh yeah, it was great seeing Cathi and Gerry too.

Goddess

Goddess Jamie was in the hood last night.

Thanks to all the Goddesses who came to our Goddess Gig.

A good time was had by all!

Goddess of Lobe / Open house

Every Woman around the globe is by nature a Goddess of Lobe!!

Jamie will be in town for our Goddess Gig November 19. @ my store in the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center. 4-8 / Refreshments / Door Prizes.

No matter where they went or what they did these women loved to accesorize!

Queenie Epler-Milburn

When Queenie wants everyone to go to bed she will pull out all her tricks. Bring Rick a toy to wake him up off the couch and go to bed.

Bring her bed to the den and flop on it and huff and puff to let everyone know she is ready.

Clearly, Queenie needs more beauty sleep than the boys.

Election Day / Tomorrow

Keith and Rachel will keep me posted on the results.

Time to get out the Skulls for Day of the Dead

Another wonderful mixed media skull by Tami Floyd.

Sadly we only had 6 trick or treaters in my hood. It didn't help that a registered sex offender lived on our street for a year. Then, there was the urban myth of tainted candy and razor blades in an apple. Even on a good year we had 20 trick or treaters. I know there are kids on our street but they probably go to parties or Halloween events.

Gone is the Halloween I remember of lines of kids parading costumes along the street. Still my favorite holiday. But Day of the Dead is fast aproaching as my new FAVE. Remember Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft will have their Day of the Dead party Friday November 6th. See earlier Blog for time.

Halloween Trolley Hop @ Mellwood Arts Center

Who cares about a few raindrops!

Come out tonight for the FAT Friday Trolley Hop. The Trolleys run up and down Frankfort and Mellwood Avenues every 15 minutes. Park @ Mellwood and jump on the Trolley. Or spend the entire evening at Mellwood.

I will be in my store from 6-9 pm. Spiced Cider anyone?