It is now just a day till I leave on my trip to pick up my restored 1976 GMC Birchaven RV in Orlando.  I keep myself busy so I don't overthink everything. Lucky has the right idea, just chill and relax,  she certainly does not look worried at all does she?  My 2 dogs are coming with me for this journey.

Well after waiting for over a year, it is now 4 days and counting till I leave for Orlando and pick up my restored RV.  I realized this morning that I had packed warm clothes for myself, but had nothing for the dogs. Oops! I pulled out the sewing machine and in a few hours had whipped up 2 doggie coats.  Pretty simple, and now that I have it figured out, watch out Martha Stewart!

Remember when we were kids and school was out for Christmas vacation?  One week was just an intolerable time to wait until christmas came.  It seemed like ages. Now a year can go by and we wonder where it went!  ​

Today I am reminded of a wonderful friend.  True bosom friends are one of the few jewels we seem give ourselves in life.  They sparkle and have deep rich and vibrant colors that remain with you forever.  Jim was such a friend.
It was the summer of 2010 and I was having an end of summer party at the house.  Jim showed up as a friend of a friend.  Jim was new in town, and soon he became the life of the party (in a good way)  He was gregarious and before I knew it he had become the unofficial host of the party, helping everyone feel welcome.  He had a southern accent, and was a true gentleman.

 I did a series of photographs about a year ago that I titled Playing with Paint.  It was about some objects left behind by a painter after he had finished a job.  In his mind they were finished, disposed of, and were to be just thrown away.
 I love trying to find such objects and then look for the inner beauties that lie within.  I sometimes have to really search, scratch my head a bit, and then other times the beauty is right in front of me.  I have no idea where most of these items are now.  Maybe they are now playing with other lost objects and weaving their own abstract beauty just waiting to be discovered again.
 Each day I try and reweave myself.  I search for a new hidden beauty within that might have overlooked before, and then  try to explore new ways to appreciate those gifts that were given to me.  I am truly a lucky person and can't wait for each new day to see what new and interesting challenges it brings.

 Welcome to the Studio Dave Gardner Blog.  This is exciting for me, as I will be sharing with you creative adventures in Photography, Sculpture, Woodworking and Travel.
By goal is to help you understand my passion for many forms of art and self expression that I find fulfilling.  I hope to post items that will stimulate your own form(s) of artistic self expression.
 As I develop new ways to take my photographs,  as I stumble on interesting new ways to make sculptures, as I build new pieces of furniture, and as I travel, I hope to be able to share a bit of myself here with you that you will enjoy.  Please feel free to comment as we go along since you are an important ingredient to me and this site.