From Skilled Hands » Cuyahoga Valley

End of January

fromskilledhands — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:45:43 +0000

It’s the last day of the first month in the year 2012. Temperatures have risen to nearly 60 degrees F; birds are singing Spring songs; snowdrops have emerged, as have other bulbs.

And our dogs have fleas. This is winter?

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Red Sky at Night: A My Town Monday Post

fromskilledhands — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:32:37 +0000

One day last week, we had one of those picture perfect sunsets, the kind about which poets and artists dream. Take a look at what I saw in my town:

As always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by. And, if you are so inclined, wander over to My Town Monday, and see what others have to say about the places they call home.

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At the End of the Calendar Year…

fromskilledhands — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:52:34 +0000

This has been quite a year—another one. We’ve had our share of challenges, and have, I hope, grown because of, as well as in spite of them. 2011 was the year we continued to learn about patience, gratitude, kindness, and love.

These skilled hands wish you and yours a new year filled with love and light, peace and joy, art and music.

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What Color Was Your Friday?

fromskilledhands — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:33:34 +0000

In the Village of Peninsula, population 602, you can have whatever color Friday you’d like. We are small businesses—micro businesses actually—and when you support us, you support your neighbors and friends.

Here, we make things, one at a time, by hand. Being part of a continuum of craftspeople and artists, doing things like they’ve been done for centuries, incorporating the tools we have today, is an honor. We make things from our hearts, through our hands, and if all works out, something amazing happens.

Yesterday, I asked people what color their Friday was. Seems we had a rainbow in here. Just like I thought.

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Friday Musings

fromskilledhands — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:45:44 +0000

This media has given me the opportunity to connect with people all over this fine planet. It’s become the backyard fence, as we tappity tap our wishes, lies and dreams. I am sipping my morning coffee (with steamed milk and foam), considering the day, and listening to the sounds of folks from the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad getting ready for the Polar Express.

I have a slab of porcelain ready to carve, this year’s ornament to design and gallery things to think about. We’ve had our first snow of the season, and the air is fresh and clear. The sun is shining on the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. It’s all good.

What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

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October in the Valley: A My Town Monday Post

fromskilledhands — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:01:59 +0000

Lots of folks think that Ohio is a place you drive through on the way to somewhere else. Until they come to my Valley and feast their eyes upon it’s beauty. Take a look at a bit of this place we call home, the Village of Peninsula, population 602. Feel free, as always, to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by.

Take a walk on over to My Town Monday to see what others have to say about the places they hang their hats.

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Fall in the Valley

fromskilledhands — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:40:21 +0000

It’s a beautiful fall day in the Valley. The air is soft and warm; the breeze gentle. I hope that your day is an amazing one.

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Make Your Own Kind of Music: A My Town Monday Post

fromskilledhands — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:57:50 +0000

“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” ~Leopold Stokowski

Week before last, my town, the Village of Peninsula, population 602, was filled with the sound of music: the music of 18 different musicians during Music on the Porches, the music of the train whistle of The Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire No. 765 steam engine during the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Steam in the Valley , and the music of artists letting their spirits soar as they painted their impressions of this Valley called Cuyahoga during the Peninsula’s Third Annual Plein Air Competition.

We were lucky to host 2 sessions of live music in the Gallery. Kent, Ohio’s Crane Willow Lake, an acoustic indie folk trio, and 11 year old blues guitarists, Paul Kolbus and Mark Ray. Take a look at some sights of the day.

As always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone, (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by. And take a look at My Town Monday to see what others have to say about the places they call home.

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Plein Air Is Back in the Valley

fromskilledhands — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:44:15 +0000

Painters are an intrepid bunch. Rain—lots of rain, doesn’t seem to be deterring them from participating the the 2011 Peninsula Plein Air Competition. Take a look at what I’m seeing out my window:

The Plein Air Competition will continue throughout the weekend. Tomorrow, Music on the Porches will fill the Village with the sound of music. The Village of Peninsula, population 602, is a vibrant place. As always, feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone, (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by.

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Not So Wordless Wednesday: Steam in the Valley

fromskilledhands — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:07:55 +0000

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video with sound! must be worth at least 1001. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad has been celebrating the steam engine. Take a look at what we’ve been seeing and hearing.

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