It will be nice to get back to hosting some exciting classes after our busy and successful Summer Market
August 12 Erin Vanhee, an amazing teacher and herbalist will be teaching an all day class on medicinal plants – Herbal Medicine Making
Erin will cover many plants used, including some surprising ones we grow often for their ornamental value. Homemade pie is included and you just bring your lunch and notebook.
Coming up this Sunday – August 6th – is a jazz concert with the artist and woodworker Don Wodjenski playing with his group. Whidbey folks know him as a retired art teacher & photographer. We are fortunate he and his group are bringing their talents for a fun concert outside in the lawn. Bring your blanket or folding chairs and a picnic and beverages if desired. Pay at the door with cash or Venmo.
Sunday August 13th – 3-5 pm
Whidbey Island Music FestivalBach Cello Suites
buy tickets at the door or on line at Whidbey Island Music Festival
The Townies – a group new to Whidbey – will be playing on Saturday, August 19th in the gardens from 3-5.
The Townies play a mix of Americana covers and a few originals, all with their own unique spin of four part vocal harmonies and twists of old favors by John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Dolly Parton, Brad Carlie, Gillian Welch and many more.
I hope you can come enjoy the fun afternoon of lively music.It should be a great place to come and kids are welcome, as well as dancing in the lawn.
Bring your blanket, folding chairs and snacks and beverages as desired.
They will play on the front porch like the other concerts have been ( great acoustics ) and you’ll find a spot in the summer dry grass to sit.
$15.00 fee at the door
Sunday September 17th – Indigo Dying Day with Elin Noble
Elin returns to share her vast dye skills and shibori techniques with use on Sunday, September 17th for an all day class. Elin teaches all over the world so we are thrilled she’s back for another class in the gardens.
Click this link to find out more and register.
This past weekend we had so much going on with our Summer Arts & Crafts Market as well as a floral arranging class taught by Brita Fisher followed by a dinner for 40 by chef Matt Dillon.
Matt and Brita set out the long tables between an intimate corridor in the garden and folks enjoyed an incredible 5 course meal plus dessert and wines.
Matt used his wood fired oven on the back of a truck to cook.
Tucked near the birch trees he was close by but out of sight of the diners that just enjoyed garden and field views.
The market included so many new vendors including Ceda Clemmons with her daughter Juneau. Using African trade beads she’s collected for 30 years Ceda had many wonderful necklaces.
Mike Frickberg offered a whole new line of very well made cutting boards and wine caddies and openers made with elegant wood.
Kate Endle, illustrator and designer, was also a first time vendor ( generally selling at the Pike Place Market ) she was delighted with the response and we loved having her here.
Good friend and painter Jonni Reed came with her watercolors and oils paintings – she’s always a bright spot in anyones day as you can see by her wonderful smile.
Kirstin of The Herbal Workshop had her delightful soaps and other body products here on Saturday.
Folks are always taken by Joey’s blacksmithing – be it bells, triangles or can openers and much more. It’s really neat he loves to be at the markets here – he adds alot to our selection of high quality wares.
Greg Warnick from Seattle was back this year and plans to do so at our winter market – he’s just a darn good guy.
Lori Kane of Ritual Mischief was her wonderful self selling her many body products in a beautifully arranged booth. She’ll be her for the winter market too I’m pretty sure.
I was touched and delighted at the large turn out and the many many compliments and thanks I got for hosting the market, the lovely space / gardens and the high quality of the work. It is very important to me to put on a good market but is especially satisfying when the customers lavish such kind words. It’s exactly what I want to have happen – helping artists show their work in a setting that makes folks want to come.
The cutest booth had to be grandchildren selling cookies, iced coffee and hibiscus tea – they did well and had charmed many for sure.
I was so touched that Kate Rutherford, the famous woman rock climber and representative of Patagonia came to the market with her moms and found a dress I made that was perfect for her! She also makes the most stunning simple suspended rock jewelry – I hope to have her selling her one year if ever her schedule allowed.
Hope to see you for all the upcoming music as well as Erin and Elin’s classes.
Happy Summer
Mary Fisher
www.cultusbaygardens
7568 Cultus Bay Rd
Whidbey Island
Clinton