Art in The Pearl, Copic markers and Moroccan blankets...

What a weekend! We decided we needed to get away from the never ending saga of trying to get this place in order and I needed to get some Copic markers - yes, the charm swaps are starting in full swing with the Art and Soul season and so off to Maria's Collage we went. Got about 24 new ones that should keep me at least within the range of colors I plan to use. Love these beauties, they are fun and the colors are so yummy! So, with the temperature hovering over the 70s, the sun out and us with no desire to march back into the salt mine, we were off from there to our once a year great fun in the Park blocks: Art in The Pearl.

Of course the reason was twofold: we love to look at art but this year it was much more important.

Someone who has become very dear to me over the ether was showing there. We have had plans to have lunch by ourselves and dinner with our Beloveds for eons, and for one reason or another which always seemed to pop up to ruin our plans, we simply never done the deed. She has been a dear in more ways than I could explain here. We have shared secrets, and tears and laughter, all over emails and blogs. I have grown to love her as an old friend, never afraid to confide in her or to keep her confidences locked in my heart. She is indeed an old and much loved friend by now.

So B.Loved and I marched into her booth - remember, she had never set eyes on me so she had no face to put to her ether confidant - and I picked up a beautiful piece meant to go into B.Loved's office and ask her "Are friends allowed to buy here?" She looked at me and I whispered "I am Allegra". I swear the planet stopped moving for a second. The look in her face was the same as a child to whom an unexpected present has been given. I don't have any idea what I looked like because we both literally folded each other into a warm and heartfelt embrace, the kind you give to a sister, to a brother, to a life long friend. For the next two hours, while B.Loved was watching a repeat of Gore's speech at the Convention on his iPhone and keeping himself busy, Judy and I chatted away, she took care of business (you can tell by seeing the people coming to her booth how popular and admired she and her work are) But we managed to make a bubble to hold the two of us for those two hours, laughing and getting emotional, and laughing some more and speaking lovingly of those we know in common and knowing that many more times like this are waiting for us to laugh and share. She is pure gold, all spirit and both B.Loved and I felt completely at ease with her. Big hugs as we left and the promise to get together soon, this time we know that somehow, this is going to happen.

And then it was a matter of showing to Maryam the only place in my atelier that is clean and organized. Why? because the Moroccan blanket we bought from her and that once was going to be in the guest bedroom, seduced me into putting it near my bench, where I hold my jewelry books so I can see it every day. So Maryam, here is the blanket, pride of place and we cannot wait until the next one arrives, they are addictive and it would be like having a million stars every night to greet us in our bedroom no matter what the weather may be outside.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, there is a light at the end of our tunnel, with any luck the space will be clear of boxes and assorted other things. B.Loved has been wonderful and taken several boxes to the Community Warehouse in North Portland, which brings me to remind all of you who have extra household items you are not using to bring them there if you live in or around Portland. There is much need these days and it is a great way of liberating ourselves from way too many things.