Summer on the Westside of Ventura

It has been some time since I've written and I've been staying busy getting settled in my new home.  It's always so flattering to see some of you and hear how you actually read my emails and follow my travels from my intermittent emails and blog entries.  I'm now on the Westside of Ventura off of "The Avenue" in a great 3 bd. 2 ba house with a huge yard.  The yard is so big, my bus "Patience" fits comfortably in it, right outside my bedroom window.  I can't really explain the feeling of well being I get from having my bus there at the house.  As I plant my garden and fight with the resident gophers, I know this is what I've been needing for years now and it feels good to get back to the homebody I am.  There's a reason why I travel in a bus, I like to be home, I'm a nester.  ;) 

I have been super productive since I've been in my new digs, making my "hips", the upcycledpockets that work instead of a purse to keep me organized and sane, my hand dyed hemp dog leashes and collars and fun hair falls that I like to call "Crazy Ponies" that give a fun and instant Fraggle Rock look.  The newest development on that front is the electric kiln that just arrived in my garage, thanks to Lynn and Elle Je which I am learning about and working to get hooked up.  With the ceramics wheel belonging to Michelle, it seems that I suddenly got ceramics studio once again!  I earned my degree in art from Humboldt in studio art but as music moved forward, it took the spotlight for the past 10 years and I had long ago sold my studio as a package in order to fund music and recording projects.  Oh, and ALWAYS, my old bus.

I am staying close to home this summer, by the cool breezes of the Pacific and focusing on getting some of the material I've been collecting organized into songs.  With the new songs I've written over the past year, I'm working to get a new album ready to record in January 2012.  To get this done, I have decided to go on hiatus from the road, play some music close to home and catch up on things long overdue.    I was planning on heading up north to Seattle and back again as I did last year but have decided that with gas over $4 per gallon and a mere 5 miles to the gallon on average, I don't think anyone could blame me for changing my plan.  I think I will make a goal to get back on the road next year with a new album to warrant attention from the press and my beloved music fans and supporters.

I am also amazed at the new instruments that have been added to the product line of Luna Guitars and am thrilled to have been endorsing them for over the past 6 years now.  I've been putting instruments in the hands of many budding and professional musicians as a dealer artist and am so happy to hear from these players who are in love with their new guitars!  Keep it up!!

I hope you are well and as always I'd love to hear from you and keep in touch with you and your world. 
Much love,
Rachel