Author: Dianna MacLeod

We’re turning ten!

It was five years ago that publisher Sue Taves launched the first issue of Whidbey Life Magazine. Taves, a sculptor and physical therapist, passionately believed in the power of a publication to speak to the entire island about all things Whidbey; the print magazine, published twice each year, and the weekly online magazine were the ways she put those beliefs into practice.

Not long ago, Taves retired from her role as publisher to concentrate on her art. Therefore, it’s fitting that the tenth issue of Whidbey Life Magazine features the sculpture of Sue Taves, authored by one of our long-standing writers, Siri Bardarson. The interview and images make it clear that Taves continues to tell the stories of Whidbey—in stone rather than in print.

The arrival of cooler, shorter days signals a return to our kitchens to prepare slow-cooked, sustaining meals made with local ingredients. Karen Achabal surveys Whidbey’s many farms and their abundant offerings in Homegrown for the Holidays.

Writer Kate Poss sugarcoats the dessert options in her companion article, Homemade for the Holidays.

Falling leaves direct our eyes downward to the forest floor where small plants live out their days without much fanfare. But photographer Larry Daloz is adept at bringing these small wonders to our attention. His photographs of lichens, mushrooms, and mosses will have you marveling at the miniature world beneath your feet.

“Spirited” beverages to compliment a winter meal, or to give as gifts at the holidays, are available locally. In Distilling the Essence, Steve Kilisky profiles the people behind the island’s artisan spirits movement.

Anything done well can be said to be artful, and sharpening tools is no exception, as Lea Cramer discovered in writing The Art of the Edge. Sharp tools are essential to rural life while professional sharpeners are increasingly rare. The story of Whidbey’s resident tool sharpener will prompt you to place your blades in her gloved hands.

In Setting the Stage writer Laura Berkley Boram takes us behind the scenes to meet the folks who construct the backdrops at our five island theaters. The diversity of the sets, and the challenges faced by the building crews, supply plenty of drama.

Using indigo to dye fabric is an ancient art that has experienced a recent resurgence. In Dyeing for the Blues, writer Keke Cribbs explores the work of three textile artists who use indigo to achieve fabulous colors. Their combined knowledge of techniques to produce varied patterns will have you newly attuned to blue. A companion piece by Deborah Nedelman about her experience as a newcomer to indigo dyeing will convince you of the potency of Leaf Magic.

Mice hide in plain sight on Whidbey, but few people ever notice them. Cynthia Kaul reveals the story of these wooden mice in public places—their origins and their originator—in her delightful article, Of Mice and Man.

Whether you live on the island or love it from a distance, you’re invited into the pages of our tenth issue to meet the people, see the places, and learn about the products that make Whidbey wonderful. We are so pleased to have you turning ten with us!

Dianna MacLeod
Editor and Publisher
206-778-8406
dianna@whidbeylifemagazine.org