I had the privilege of participating in Randy Brodnax and Friends Spring Art Show this past weekend. Although rain threatened there was nary a drop that fell on this magical bunch. Wool hats in May? in Texas? Against those odds it actually turned out pretty good, sales being moderate, meeting new folks and getting the word out about Cimarrona. But that was not the best part of this event.

The setting was the Lancaster Country Club, a rustic verdant setting with a boat dock from half a decade ago, a gravel circle drive and a number of wood frame buildings. An array of amazing artists were gathered in this circle with wares that ranged from whimsical clay rattles and vessels by Linda Gossett sophisticated and elegant jewelry by Zeke and Marty, compelling manipulated photography by my neighbor Patricia Pusateri and of course Randy buzzing about being the ultimate host on four wheels. My coworker/ husband Shannon was even allowed a bit of time on Randy’s lake to do a little fly fishing. I was pretty worn out by Sunday evening, but it is hard to consider anything about the weekend “work”. It was play.

The First Friday of the month is this Friday. As you may already know, we will have the studio doors open from 4:00 – 9:00 pm and will have some new items for sale. But don’t just stop at our place- other studios and businesses will keep later hours that night. You can find a more extensive list of participating businesses at First Friday Denton. We hope that if you are out an about you will stop by. We will put Gumby out there, so look for him- he is green, and big.

Look for Gumby when the studio is open.

This year has started off with a couple of nice press pieces for Cimarrona. First I had an e-mail with congratulations for being picked one of the top 10 eco-friendly hats of 2010 by Greenopolis. You can read the whole article here. Then when we started up our First Friday Open Studio at the beginning of February, the local paper gave us a call and the next day this article appeared: Exposed workings- Artists band together. I am tickled that folks are taking note and look forward to seeing how this exposure increases attendance around town on those first friday nights. Time will tell and I will keep you posted.

The other day I was sitting at a light right next to the courthouse and had one of those start-stop- you-go-first-no-after-you…engagements with a pedestrian. As he passed in front of me, I noticed his hat. It looked familiar- a grey band and an ochre top, I recognized it as a hat I’d made a year ago. The confirmation was the button, when he was just one the other side of the car I saw it. The button on the back with the red thread stitched in an “X”. I have been marking my hats with the button since I first started sewing them. It is just a little thing, but it makes a difference to me.  So, if you are out and about and you think you might be looking at a Cimarrona hat, look for the button.

Welcome to the new and improved Cimarrona website. I am so excited about the changes that are being made- even at this very moment. It has been exciting to have an idea and put it in the hands of people that can turn it into a reality. Thanks Mina, Thanks Shannon.