Santa's Workshop

This time of year it feels like Jennah and I are elves hard at work in Santa's workshop. With two events coming up we are hard at it to get some stock put together before show time.

This weeks work included churning out fourteen bird houses, prepping 15 frames, weaving a LARGE braided basket, prepping a small braided basket, and a partridge in a pear tree. Work begins at 5:00 AM and doesn't stop until 8:00 PM. It's a wonder I don't see over/under patterns in my sleep accented with the tock, tock, tock, of hammering brads. It's a good thing that I love what I do.

We've been running an eight dog hitch about 12 mile now. We've got just enough snow to make a good trail with another 2-4 inches in the forecast. The team is a joy to run! They act like I just put them up for the season as they listen and execute every command I give them. There is nothing so serene as slipping through the forest with a team of sled dogs. On the other end of it I had to clean up the dog lot yesterday. The not so romantic part of owning a sled dog team.

Duty calls and I must obey - back out to the studio and continue the production line of J. Choate Basketry goods.

Have blog will travel

Now who would have thought a fellow Alaskan artist blogger would make the pilgrimmage to my house in the winter? Judy Vars is a bold soul who made it to my place and even got on the runners for a wild ride.

Judy and I have only communicated through the internet and kept up with each other's progress via BLOG updates. But she needed pictures of sled dogs and wanted to come out and visit. The road allowed her passage yesterday and she and her daughter made it out.

Jennah and I decided the only way to get good pictures of sled dogs is to get out on the trail with the dogs. So we gave Judy a crash course in how to ride a sled and Jenn hauled her out in front of me with the team to get shots.

It's important to watch what you say when giving instructions to teenagers. I told Jenn, "the only way this will work is if you go like a bat-out-of-hell to get in front of me and then stop and let her take pictures". Jenn got the bat-out-of-hell idea and as she flashed past on the snow machine with Judy in a death grip behind her. I thought to myself, I hope she makes back to the cabin in one piece.

Can't wait to see the pictures because they sure have a good story behind them. For a good time call Judy.

AMB: Friends and Fun

Here's some great pics of the AMB convention and some of my students. One of the best things about going to convention is seeing old friends and getting the opportunity to make some new ones.

Also getting an opportunity to mesh with all those other creative minds sure does get you fired up about your craft. Almost as exhilarating as hooking up a team of sixteen and letting 'er rip...well almost.



You can tell that my classes are very dry and my students very bored with what they are learning.

Lots of fun was had by all and some great new ideas were brought up to Alaska to share with my friends up north.

Can't wait to get on tour again beginning in April to see all my other buddies across the L-48.

Back in the groove

That jet lag takes a bit to get over but I'm back in my groove once again. Up here its cold but warming up. The snow we had has packed down to not much but I'm going to take the dogs out today anyway and see how we do.

With all this cold weather the creek has frozen up which will make for a great trail for the dogs when we get a bit of snow. Off to Amber Lake we'll go and across to the parking landing.

Jenn and I have been cranking out product once again in anticipation of the big CRAFTS WEEKEND at the Anchorage Museum on Thanksgiving weekend. Then Colony days on the second weekend of December. Then it will be time to take a break, run dogs, and come up with some new designs again.