Six months of projects

Looking back thru my photos, I realize it has been quite some time since I shared my art projects with you. Some have been commissioned pieces, and others gifts. At the moment I am working on a sewing project, cloth napkins for my friend Cynthia’s jungle hotel, and a painted piece for my bestie Leo.

All these fish I took to the Crucita Art fair, and only came home with a few.

This was a commissioned piece for friends from Canada, who were here for several months, but alas had to return to The North.

Circular one was commissioned, and the other I did as a companion piece. I have at least a few others planned, as I hung these in a small gallery format at the homeowners.

Regalo for Leo’s mom, this is her favorite Bible passage. And a birthday present for another friend in San Clemente

Another sewing project, again for Cynthia’s jungle retreat. Eleven yoga mat covers. She brought the pads, and fabric, and I did the rest. It was a very rewarding project, very pleased with the outcome.

Edison, the shrimp vender needed his sign revamped, so I traded paint for shrimp.

A sign I made for the back of my new bike. (Friends got together for my birthday and bought my a trike)

Another gift I made recently is a jewelry holder, took a piece of broken plastic trashcan, and attached to the board. Earrings can hang on the plastic, and hook hangers for necklaces and braclets.

Next week I am painting two murals in San Clemente, need to finish the napkin project this week, and also in September am having a Spa day in Crucita, new hair clients with hopes of bringing in manicurist and massuese in November. The sun is starting to burn thru the marine layer, and it looks like another beautiful day...so I better get to sewing. Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Moms trip Part Four

Our last night on the road was in Puerto Cayo, a tiny fishing village an hour and fifteen minutes south of Manta. We got up said good bye to Senora and headed north, saw parts of Manta one doesnt usually see while going to the airport, and arrived at the fish market around 10 am. Here on the coast a favorite breakfast food is fish soup, they say it is a must for hang overs, and makes All the men strong. The best and first Encebollado I ever had was at the Manta fish market, so I shared that experience with mom, Jhonny and Vicente.

After our breakfast, we walked the beach and saw the big boat repairs being done. I never get tired of seeing the maestros at work.

A short drive and we were home in San Jacinto, said goodbye to our drivers and friends, Jhonny and Vicente and settled in for a low key afternoon. Mom was to stay with me a week, and I had some plans, but not much. One thing I arranged was a boat tour up the PortoViejo river with some friends.

I coordinated with Pasqual the boat captain, and with a moto taxi guy, and we had about 14 people from San Clemente and San Jacinto. We met at the “boca” at 4pm, with drinks and snacks, and had another fun trip. My friend Leo was with us, so he was able to translate what Pasqual was saying, and that meant we got to ask questions too. Learned about the various birds and life in mangroves.

Pasqual said the top tree was probably 150 years old, and he motioned over these crabbers, so we could see what they were catching.

About thirty minutes up the river is a small riverside village, and we passed many a boat, as it was “rush hour” and the men were going to work. I love this little area, and if I didnt mind being so secluded, I could live there.

The trip was $3 a person, and a little over an hour, well worth it. Dinner in San Clemente afterwards, and a good time was had by all. Another day Mom and I took the bus to Sosote, for tagua jewelry and some plants fo my patio, she adopted my outside reading nook, and read three or four books while here, and of course we beach walked. A very nice trip with lots of down time to visit. Next year...maybe an Amazon trip, so stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Moms trip Part Three

After Montanita, we continued north, stopping quickly at Los Frailes beach, and on to Puerto Cayo. Our driver Jhonny had said Puerto Lopez did not have much to see, wow was he wrong, as it was Puerto Cayo that was the small one...but we found a gem and I will see Puerto Lopez another trip. But first Los Frailes, Manabians say one of the prettiest beaches...

When we arrived in Puerto Cayo, after drivng thru some real interesting micro climates, mini cloud forests, and then desert terrain, I was shocked at how small it was, smaller than my little fishing village. We stopped for lunch at a beach fron Cabana, similar to ours in SJ, and then looked for lodging. We literally had two choices, we opted for the more expensive but quirky one at the end of the malecon. Hotel Puerto Cayo has been run by the sweet lady for 30 years, and we had the place to ourselves, tho it had upward of ten rooms, Senora said usually only around Carnivale were they booked.

This was such a sprawling property, with little nooks and crannies everywhere. Would be a wonderful place to rent for a destination wedding or family reunion. Senora has a lot of time on her hands, being unoccupied so often, she had done little crafty things everywhere.

The rooms were large, bright and had beautiful views from the private balconies. Hot water, but the internet did not reach into the guest rooms, oh well...we werent there for wifi.

Such an interesting location, within an hour 15 minutes south of Manta, it would be a wonderful romantic weekend getaway.

One more stop on our way north to San Jacinto, we will have a quick tour of the fish market and Boat repair yard in Manta, so stay tuned...the adventure continues!

Moms trip Part Two

We said goodbye to Salinas, and ventured up the Ruta de Spondylus highway, stopped at one very small little fishing village, and what do you know, it looked very much like mine.

By noon we were in Montanita, and looking for lunch. We had not planned on sleeping in Montanita, but since it was a Wednesday and low season, we thought it wouldnt be too loud. Montanita is definatly a different feel, even the buildings were a new experience, so tall! I guess because they need to accomidate the hoardes of people that come during high season, and weekends. Montanita is THE PARTY PLACE.

I would say the town is twelve streets by eight, and the center of town was the place to be, Im sure ALL the streets are crowded on weekends, but again, since it was mid week, it was a dull roar. The people walking around were much younger than other places, athletic, surfers and backpackers, dreadlocks and tattoos.

It was a beautiful sunny day, and after we found a little ceviche stand for lunch, the World Cup was on, and we got to watch the town folk enjoy themselves.

We had originally thought we would stay in Olon, but decided to sleep in Montanita, thought we may stay thru the next day, but awoke to rain, so we got in the car after breakfast and ventured north. My friend Jerri wants to see Montanita, so one of these days we will go down on a weekend, and get the “full effect”, but for this trip, Im glad it was tranquilo. Next stop Las Frailes, so stay tuned, the adventure continues...