Felt Forest Friends

First Friday Block Party season will be kicked off with Mary Clymer as the month's resident artist at Liberty Cafe starting this Friday. Channeling her favorite theme of trees and mushrooms, Mary's playful felt art wonders feature woodland friends and snippets of color enhanced nature. The show is entitled Fun Felt Forest.

Mary works from her interior inspiration. No patterns are drawn and the work is sewn without pins, so there is a very organic nature to her process. Mary loves how forgiving and cheap felt is to work with and has been amazed at what she has been able to create when allowing the felt to take over her living room for the last three weeks.

Not too long ago, Mary entered a contest for Pabst Blue Ribbon where she created a latch hook hanging that was selected to hang in the halls of the PBR headquarters back east. This spout of recognition created a little fire in Mary's creative belly, and she has been moving forward with her crafty self ever since.

Happy Delusions, the indie craft store that Mary owns and operates on South Third Street in what she has helped coin the "DTR" (aka Downtown Renton, y'all), kept Mary from some of her personal creative outlets for awhile. Now she is feeling really happy and at home with her chosen medium and having the show and deadline looming has helped bring her work into being.


Trucker hats with cute felt bling as well as headbands will also be available at the show. Some of the pieces that are to be hung are part of personal collections that are on loan for the show, but their are some recently created pictures that could go home with any of you.

The artist in her element

NellieLynn's Cheesecakes will be there with slices of cheesecake and wine, DJ Phil Anthony will be spinning some tunes - it is the place to be this Friday evening.

First Friday Block Party starts this Friday, May 7th at about 7pm

Liberty Cafe
926 S. Third Street
(425) 235 - 1400

Let's lift a PBR to the Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday to Miss Mary Clymer - proprietress of the super cool indie craft store in Downtown Renton, Happy Delusions, coiner of the hip new moniker for Downtown Renton -"DTR", and creator of original latch hook art.

This enticing tidbit, ripped from the pages of The Stranger newspaper is what got her going. A call out for PBR ART. Money prize and a lifetime of PBR's. Between you and I - she was in it for the money.

Mary was going to give the work another trim before heading out to the judges on Saturday. How did you do, Mary? How was the birthday bash at our local favorite hang? We await the news with baited breath.

Rockin' Renton - Block Party

If you weren't at S. Third and Main last night - you should have been, shame on you. It was a Rockin' Renton scene, to be sure, and the turnout was great right from the git go.

Happy Delusions "Meet the Artist" night colluded with Liberty Cafe's Grand Opening Celebration, and the outcome was more like a Block Party, and it was good.

Mary Clymer, Happy Delusions owner, has been trying to get the other businesses on both sides of her block on S. Third to commit to having such gatherings every Third Thursday of the month. Give people a destination out at night to our historic downtown corridor and add some flair to our local "scene".

Now the neighbor's of S.Third can see for themselves what a monthly Block Party would be like, maybe they will be more ready to commit. It was a success and I think would add a greatly needed dimension to out local evening options.

Co-Owners Mike Moscowitz and Johnny Uysal of the Liberty Cafe had a great set-up last night, and the crowds that showed up can bear that out. Scrumptious food from Cafe Lure and Armondos, wine, beer, coffee (a given!) plus DJ Phil Anthony manned the music and occasionally Johnny and friend Matthew played drums. There was even dancing on the pavement outside. When did that last happen in Downtown Renton, folks?

Party at Happy Delusions - Meet the Artist

Friday night - and you should have plans to be on the uppermost western corner of South Third Street. Why? Because it is a night of celebration, food, fun and meeting ARTISTS.

Happy Delusions is hosting a Meet The Artist gathering this Friday from 5 pm till 9 pm, and all of you are welcome. This should be fun, folks!

Mary Clymer, owner of Happy Delusions, has 35 vendors within her store and quite a few of them (15 in total!!) will be on hand to introduce themselves and their wares.

Look for:

Alex Sandlin of the big eyed girl painting, Susanna of Sustudio Jewelery lovely silver jewelry, Mary of Blue Mockingbird Designs cute necklaces, Linda Vidmar of the wonderful pottery, Emi of the adorable plushy toys!

Happy Delusions 924 S. 3rd St. (425)255-6078
www.happydelusions.wordpress.com

When being good unto others makes a difference

Best Neighbor Award goes to Mary Clymer, of Happy Delusions this week. Deb, her neighbor at Girlfriend's Antiques, Gifts and Floral made the beautiful floral arrangement and christened this new award. I personally love the idea - and you will be seeing more of that in The Picaroon!

Mother's Day Shopping Happens on Third Street

Deb at Girlfriennd's Antiques, Gifts and Florals has some really adorable planters full of fresh flowering blooms for you to give to Mom. Located at 920 S. Third and she will open at 10. You never know what other goodies may be lurking there - I adore this woman's vintage window displays!

Feathered Nest has the most endearing interior and so many lovely treasures that any Mother in the world would adore - I am especially fond of the scented candle selections and the wonderful lamp displays. There is also a 30% storewide sale that is applied to almost everything - with those prices you can shop like you want - one for you, then one for Mom. Sue Moeller will be open 11 am - 5:30, and that's at 914 S. Third.

Mary Clymer of Happy Delusions is having a Celebrate Mom Party at her store that begins tonight at 5pm. A little wine, tasty nibbles and some drawings to be held that evening for gift baskets - oh la la.

Two of the artists represented in the store - ALex Sandlin and Ladora Bornum, will be bringing in a special selection of artwork for the evening's gathering.

Alex Sandlin, know for her lovely paintings of girls with large, pouty eyes, will have eleven full sized canvases of new work for our special viewing pleasure.

Ladora Barnum will be bringing a selection of her pottery. Ladora does a series of hanging dolls with porcelain faces and flowing robes that I am personally very partial too - I have one in my bedroom and on my front door! Mary's store opens at 10 am today - 924 S. Third St.

As always, Shop Local and remember to give your Mom some love - she deserves it!

It's the people that count

Here is a dear soul, know to all of us as "Pinky" (that is her friend, Eric, on the right) and she has lived in Renton her entire life. But soon to be no more. Tomorrow we all bid her a fond adieu as she goes out into the world, moving away from her roots here to seek adventure in another cool town. Goodbye Pinky! We will all miss you.

If you ever take secret pleasure in reading certain columns in the Stranger and The Weekly newspapers, and we all know just what columns those might be... there is nothing more enertaining than having a great cup of coffee at the Liberty Cafe and having someone read them aloud to you - in public. Stephen Klanieki's voice adds an element of flair to the whole experience.

Mary Clymer (of Happy Delusions fame), adds color to our downtown in so many ways - but my favorite has to be this Lifesaver colored scarf that has to bring a smile whenever you see it wrapped around her. (Thank you Mary for giving a shout out to The ole Picaroon, here)

Someone brought sweet offerings to the hard at work student who sits endlessly near the entrance to our downtown library. Hoodie wrapped around his tired shoulders and a bunch of posies at his feet - he must be in need of a Spring Break. Aren't we all!!

Love the one you're with...

Back in 1976, a famous illustrator came up with a great slogan to help New York's economic development agency at a time when the recession was hitting everyone hard and the word bankruptcy was hanging in the air. Milton Glaser's design has lovingly been replicated and appropriated ever since, all across the world, even here in Renton. Mary Clymer, owner of Happy Delusions on S.Third, returned home to Renton last year and went to City Hall to get her "I Heart Renton" button, just like the one her grandfather wore everyday for 20 years back when she was growing up. None were to be had. So now Mary makes her own and sells them at her amazing store - for a dollar. At a time when many of our own pocketbooks are being hit and we are being called to spend locally, it doesn't hurt to show your good intentions on your sleeve - or jacket - wherever a cool pin for good 'ole Renton can be seen.