Theresa Stirling’s studio is a quiet sanctuary in a loft above her garage, a place between the earth and sky where serendipity joins inspiration. She takes mind-clearing breaks by walking in her yard, paddle boarding along Hood Canal or perhaps chatting with her chickens. Her art is spiritual, ethereal and subtle, whether she creates a […]
Sallie Wagner Brown
Sallie Wagner Brown is a former teacher who has a bachelor's degree in French and English literature and a master's in education and counseling. She is a blogger, freelance writer, traveler and rookie boater. Sallie's stories have been published in "Cup of Comfort," "Chicken Soup for the Soul," "Not Your Mother's Book" and "Blended, Writers on the Step-Family Experience."
Posted inAround West Sound
The Creative Spirit Thrives at BARN — Are You Missing Out?
My experience with Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) began in a tiny office behind a room full of looms on Rolling Bay. I met there with three or four other writers so we could critique each other’s drafts. Occasionally, we got a bit rowdy and were (kindly) shushed by those trying to put on a […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Turning Metal into Art
Bapatoms is all about home, family, creativity, plasma cutters and a MIG welder. Of course, it is also about metal, lots of metal! The name came from a creative grandchild who couldn’t quite say “Grampa Strom” and substituted “Bapatoms.” With extraordinary energy and an imagination formed during a childhood in the style of Tom Sawyer, […]
Posted inAround West Sound
New ‘Big Chairs’ Pop Up Around Kingston
“It makes me feel like a child again!” Susan Rodgers smiles as she talks about sitting in one of the big Adirondack chairs that seem to be multiplying around Kingston. You can’t miss the “Big Chairs” if you walk off the ferry or just come by the waterfront for a stroll. It all started with […]
Posted inAround West Sound
A Visit to SkyeLandeSea Farm is an Immersion in Magic
To visit Spirit of Horse Gallery at SkyeLandeSea Farm is to immerse yourself in artful magic. It is a result not only of planning but also of minds open to serendipitous revelations. A pair of ancient, carved Tibetan temple lions acknowledge your arrival. They give no sense of guarding. They simply announce a different way […]
Posted inAround West Sound
The Old is New Again in Kingston: Ale House is Coming Back
The Ale House in Kingston is coming back! There’s an underlying buzz in the town, a buzz felt even across the water. That spot in Kingston belongs to more than the locals. Memories of friendly dinners, the food, the sense that you are welcome and valued are built right into the very walls. All that […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, Featured
Spring Vintage Event Inspired by Grandmother’s Memory
On March 4 and 5, Kitsap County Fairgrounds will be filled with more than 60 vendors selling new and vintage wares at Josephine’s Redeemed Festival. Hosted by Josephine’s Redeemed Boutique, the event, in a way, is a tribute to owner Samantha Smith’s grandmother. While sitting with Samantha Smith in Josephine’s Redeemed Boutique in Annapolis, I […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
A Real, Old Time Fourth of July in Kingston
For years on the Fourth of July, people have lined Main Street in Kingston with lawn chairs and blankets, and kids have waited with bags ready for the candy to rain down. Even the Kingston ferry pauses out of respect. People who want to be a part of it all pull this show together in […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, Featured
Kites Over Kingston a Colorful, Fun Event
Kites over Kingston is a colorful, lighthearted celebration of spring where participants can either bring and fly their own kites or simply watch the sky fill with spiraling color. Come to the Mike Wallace Park on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to participate in this colorful, family- and dog-friendly event, sponsored […]