There used to be this really cool Art and Wine Festival that my husband and I used to go to whenever we could. They always do it on Mother’s Day weekend so there were times when we would be visiting my mother so we wouldn’t be able to attend. It is a one day festival, which I think makes it a little challenging for the actual artists because driving from afar and setting up just for one day might not always be worth it. It used to be my favorite festival. It was small, but big enough that we could always find a lot of stuff to buy. And over the years we became friends with a few of the artists and so we would hang out in their booths and visit with them. One of the artists was the creator of solar art. He put together things with solar cells and they would spin. He made solar bugs. The festival isn’t the same as it used to be, it is less artists with really cool stuff and more like booths of merchandise that you can buy from Oriental Trading Company. At least that was how it was the last time I stopped by. We don’t make it a point to attend, but we did hear from the solar guy recently.
The artist of the solar bugs sent us a note at the end of last year and said that he had redesigned his “solar dragonfly’ and offered us one because we had always been such great customers. So we are the lucky recipients of this newly designed solar dragonfly. His past designs were the same in that the sun made the bug move around and his spiral wire butt danced. But they used to be secured on a small metal stake, so they would stick in the ground. This new design is for hanging. Since the bug is not secured to a stake at the bottom, Jon, the creator, has attached things on a ring that spins around.
These bugs are so funny. They make me happy watching them dance around. When the sun is bright and hitting the solar cells just right they really get moving. As they get less light they start to slow down. It is really fun when they are getting all the light.
If anyone is interested in buying a dancing solar dragonfly for your yard let me know. I can get you in touch with Jon so you can order one (or more)!
Terre Pruitt's Blog 