Yamhill Art Harvest

Yesterday my friend, Jeri, and I went out to Yamhill County for the annual Artists' Studio Tour. Yamhill county is south and west of Portland and is best known as Oregon Wine country. It is green, lush rolling hills, farms, vineyards and orchards. This time of year it is especially beautiful, so part of the charm of this open studio tour is the drive through the countryside.
We started in McMinnville where four artists were showing at the home and studio of Marilyn Worrix. Marilyn and her husband purchased the old Elks' Club in downtown McMinnville and renovated it with shops on the street level and apartment and studio on the second floor where they live. Marilyn was very gracious about allowing me to take pictures of her home, which is a faithful restoration of this classic Craftsman building. The street level entrance gives you a hint of what is to come. Marilyn, a book artist, has a spacious studio space crammed full of supplies. She was demonstrating in the studio during the tour. Book artists are similar to fabric artists, in that they hoard bits and pieces and accumulate large stashes of paper (instead of fabric). She also had drawers and jars and containers of buttons and charms and ribbons and cords, plus a nice assortment of cutters and scissors and rulers and mats. Jeri and I felt right at home.
Marilyn's husband allowed us to look into the ballroom, which is their next renovation project. It is currently being used as a shop and is full of tools and equipment. I was as impressed by the tour of the apartment as I was by the art.

To be continued . . .