Black Friday at the Blue Whole (well - sort of)

Gift Gallery to open on November 23rd!

Every November the Blue Whole Gallery opens it's gift gallery. Filled with special one of a kind items. From purses, scarves and jewelry to miniature paintings and sculptures, there's sure to be a gift to please everyone's taste. Many folks in the community pass us by never realizing that they can get a lovely personal gift for someone for around $40 or $50 instead of the usual store bought items. 

Every May my husband and I visit some friends in Victoria and spend a weekend at their home. As this always falls on their anniversary, we try to bring them something special. They are always delighted with the gifts we bring from beautiful bottle stoppers by one of our premier wood carvers, Carl Baker (see below) to small vases and pottery by Carol Janda. One year I purchased a set of chop stick holders made by Nancy Lawrence and they are proudly displayed in the dining room. They always remark on how wonderful it is to get something unique and finely crafted. 

So we hope to see you down there full of the holiday spirit seeking out unique and unusual gifts  for this holiday season.  -- Susan Spar, blog reporter.

Gift Gallery Items

Beautifully Crafted Wine Stoppers by Carl Baker

IN MEMORIAL

On September 28th in the early morning hours, The Blue Whole Gallery lost one of it's dearest and oldest founding members. Shirley Foss was 83 when she passed on. She was born to Maurice R. and Fern B (Kale) Balmer on December 25th, 1928 in Denver, Colorado.

She received her early schooling in Albany, Oregon and then majored in art at the University of Oregon. A trip taken to Alaska with some friends in 1952 introduced her to the wilds of the Northwest and started a love affair with wildlife and wild places that would last the rest of her life. She settled in Anchorage and later met and then married John Foss in 1954. They later lived both in Kansas and New Jersey before retiring in Sequim. John preceded Shirley in death in 1999.

Shirley was active in Alaskan galleries and art clubs and locally was a member of Sequim Arts since 1983. Her work reflected the wildlife and landscape that she was so entranced by in the Northwest. She worked in both pastels and oils and although she was unable to be physically in the gallery, she continued to contribute both art work and important clerical duties that she could perform at home.

Shirley was a Charter and active member of the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim and helped the gallery get it's start in 1997. She was for many of the gallery's operating years, it's manager and many members have remarked that when Shirley retired from active duty at the gallery's physical location, it took five people to fill her shoes. Even though she was small in physical stature, she was to all the gallery's members, bigger than life. She always had a cheerful word for everyone and though she faced many physical hardships, not a soul can ever remember her uttering a word of complaint. She will be sorely missed.