PHOTO ESSAY BY MARSHA MORGAN AND MARCIA WESLEY
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributors
January 5, 2017
For the first time this year, the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosted outdoor skating the week after Christmas, and hundreds of people took advantage of the opportunity. The “ice” was synthetic and the snow came from a machine, but the smiles were real, and the event was so popular that organizers expect to bring skating back in 2017.
The Welcome Wagon for the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors Island Ice. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)A view of the rink. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)A little girl puts her trust in Dad as he swings her around the ice. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)Best friends support each other as they skate around the rink. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)Taking a tumble. (Photo by Marcia Wesley)And all the cool kids skate… (Photo by Marsha Morgan)It’s fun for all ages, including grandparents. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)The “snow machine,” although tiny, produces a facsimile of snow and adds a festive air to the outside of the rink. (Photo by Marsha Morgan)“I’ve got you.” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)“Race you!” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)“Don’t let go!” (Photo by Marcia Wesley)“Can we come back tomorrow?” (Photo by Marsha Morgan)
Marsha Morgan and Marcia Wesley are WLM staff photographers.
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The universe has hung its lights, and the season of giving is upon us!
This holiday season, find exquisite gifts by your favorite artists at Rob Schouten Gallery at Greenbank Farm during its “Fine Art in the Season of Light” holiday show from Nov. 28 to Jan. 1. Celebrate those you love with a one-of-a-kind piece chosen especially for them.
“Senzo,” bronze by Sharon Spencer (photo by Michael Stadler)
Rob Schouten Gallery has once again outdone itself by featuring original art of exceptional quality by a number of world-class Whidbey Island and Northwest artists. The gallery is chock full of elegant and unique art in a variety of prices and forms, including glass, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, encaustics, ceramics, fiber arts, woodwork and handmade prints and books, as well as a good collection of giclée prints and cards.
Kathleen Otley encaustic with nest (photo courtesy of the artist)
Get your jingle on and enjoy some refreshments and festive live music with those local jazz swingers, Keith Bowers and Kristi O’Donnell, at our Holiday Reception from1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Ring in the season in style and help us celebrate the joys of 2014 and the hopefulness of 2015!
Tammi Sloan enamel pendants from My Brown Wren Jewelry (photo courtesy of the artist)Linnane Armstrong, “Gilded Lily” block print (photo courtesy of the artist)“Birdsview Autumn,” oil on canvas, Pete Jordan (photo courtesy of the artist)
Come on in, say hello and get some holiday shopping done at the three galleries, wine shop, cheese shop and pies cafe at the Greenbank Farm! We’d love to see you!
One note of gratitude: You may have seen the news in a previous edition of WLM that we won “Best Art Gallery in Western Washington” in the 2014 KING 5 Best of Western Washington Contest. Thanks again to everyone who voted and a special thanks to the 30 amazing regional artists who make it all happen. We love you!
Happy Holidays, Everybody!
Rob Schouten Gallery, a premier showcase for Whidbey Island and Northwest artists, is located at 765 Wonn Road, #C-103 at the historic Greenbank Farm. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends; Tuesdays by appointment only. For further information, call 360-222-3070 or email patricia@robschoutengallery.com.
Slow down. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Take a breath.
There’ll be no rushing this holiday season.
Peruse. Enjoy yourself.
Buying gifts for the people that are dear to you is fun. It’s the Holidays! Relax. Take your time. Spread some joy.
It all sounds very delightful. Now, tell me how.
The mall?
I don’t think so.
Bayview Cash Store?
Oh, yes. Much better. Local. And pleasant!
What’s up?
“Handcrafted on Whidbey” that’s what’s up!
It’s a “pop-up,” actually.
Starting Friday, Oct. 18. Handcrafted on Whidbey will sell the wares of island neighbors through the holiday season until Dec. 31.
Local farmers, all kinds of artists, publishers and food producers have gathered together to create a holiday market, along with Tres Gringos, which will offer fresh, local authentic Mexican food, while you shop. Food ready-to-eat or ready to take home! Inside at the former Star Store deli. Hooray!
Christine Maifeld sets up the Handcrafted on Whidbey pop-up shop. She’s partnering with her mom, Vicky Brown to create a holiday market at Bayview Cash Store. / Photos courtesy of Vicky Brown
Handcrafted on Whidbey is a pop-up, temporary shop created by Little Brown Farm’s (chief milkmaid) Vicky Brown and her daughter Christine Maifeld. Vicky and Christine have created an easy-stop, holiday-shopping experience, that will start with the hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Shoppers will find a variety of goods there, including a locally-harvested flakey Sea Salt, cheese, chocolates, jams and jellies, jewelry, cookbooks, calendars, sculptures, hats, paintings, gourds, ─ you know, the good stuff whipped up by local artists and these folks: Willowood Farm, Island Apiaries, 3Generations Jam, Sweet Mona’s Chocolate Boutique, Lavender Wind Farm, Little Brown Farm, and other producers of “delicious.”
Handcrafted on Whidbey will also offer gift-wrapping and shipping services to make it easy to share Whidbey Island’s most authentic flavors and all these colorful goods with both friends and family. Customer service!
The “grand opening” will be Saturday, Nov. 2, when the pop-up will expand its hours and days of operation. (Check WLM’s Handy Lists for updates.)
Also, look for a special “unveiling” of the market’s local, holiday-season delights on Friday, Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving, when the producers, artists, and everybody pumps up the festive spirit to make an excellent, spreading-joy kind of local shopping experience!
Look for these and other vendors/artists popping up at Handcrafted on Whidbey for the holidays (click on the links of the WLM members to see more):
Also selling at Handcrafted on Whidbey will be Jody Bone, Pam Mitchell, Nancy Mayers, Clovy Tsuchiya, Jordan Jones, Marian Myszkowski, Linda Schwarz, Sharon Warwick, Jessie Lyle and Joan Littrel.
Patricia Duff is a freelance journalist and the editor of this magazine. Reach her at editor@whidbeylifemagazine.org.
