Slightly Off Center

(Reblogged from offcenter.biz)

Well, the coast, at least.

We leave on Wednesday, August 2, for the northern Washington coast, for the Anacortes Arts Festival. We've been going for years, now, it's a great opportunity to get away from the Oregon summer heat and smoke. (Usually. Last year we headed right into the Washington and British Columbia smoke.) It's a lovely show that takes over the entire downtown, stretching from the port all the way to 10th Street along Commercial Avenue. They run booths up both curbs, and another row of booths up the center of the street. For about a decade now, we've been in space 905E, on the east side right at the start of the craft booths, overlooking the jazz stage.

It's a lovely spot, though I've had to offer to check bags for customers who've just arrived, and don't want to carry their pottery around all day. As long as I can get a name and cell phone number on the bag, it works out fine.

The only problem with my space is the wind. I'm just above mid-block, but facing an open parking lot, and if the wind comes up of an evening (or even in the daytime), the roof of my booth catches it, and wants to walk up the street. It doesn't help that the space next to me is empty. This year, I bought an extra set of booth weights. We'll see if fifty pounds of sand per corner will stabilize things any.

Because Anacortes is such an ocean-centric location, I always have to stock up on sea life. Octopus and crab are perennial favorites, with sea otter close behind. This year, I'll also have some extra orcas, humpback whales, and possibly a sea turtle or two.