Also on the program is Mark Yamanaka, a young guitarist and falsetto singer from Hilo whose debut CD, "Lei Pua Kenikeni," was named Hawaii's 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano album of the year. Mark also took home awards for best male vocalist, song of the year and most promising new artist.

MCs Skylark Rossetti and Bruddah Gomes and dancers from a local hula halau add to this fantastic line-up.

I have heard all of these musicians -- in both Seattle and Hawaii -- all I can say is, buy your tickets now and come prepared for an amazing experience!

The festival begins on Saturday morning at the Dusty Strings Music School in the Fremont District with guitar and ukulele workshops taught by Cyril Pahinui, Sonny Lim, Kunia Galdeira, Jeff Peterson and Kawika Kahiapo. Mike Ka`awa plans to sit in with his 12-string guitar, too. Advance registration for the workshops is required, and participants must bring their own instruments.

Please note that my e-mail address My Glass Duchess is for text messages only, not for photos or other attachments. If you wish to submit glassware, china or pottery photos for identification, please use Identification, Please.

You may also join the My Glass Duchess Wish List group and add your images to the appropriate identification folder. Please be sure to write a photo title and caption and/or create a text file to describe your glass, china or pottery item. Information should include size, color, design description, backstamp details, and any other clues that may be useful.

Now you can search the entire My Glass Duchess site:

Search The Web My Glass Duchess for Get a Free Search Engine for Your Website

Cadia Los Create Your Badge

Meanwhile, I've placed some magazine ads, postcards and books on eBay and will be adding more soon. I have also begun listing on Specialist Auctions, based in the United Kingdom. Hope you'll take a look and bid! More used or out-of-print books on pottery and porcelain are also available.

In January 2000, I launched the Aloha, Don Blanding Collectors Society, which has become a very lively discussion group indeed! In Carmel, California, where Blanding lived in the late 1930s, the Carmel Heritage Society mounted an exhibit of Blanding memorabilia in the fall of 2000. The display was assembled and arranged by members of ADBCS.

A meeting place for collectors of almost anything is My Glass Duchess Wish List , where members may post messages, chat, talk, create databases and upload wish lists and photos to the Files.

Cool, rain showers, fog, maybe a sun break or two -- and an occasional earthquake! -- that's Puget Sound country, and "The Mountain" is sometimes out. On rare days Rainier appears like an enormous scoop of vanilla ice cream just when you least expect it.

On gray days when the mountain decides not to grace the skyline . . . oh, it IS out there, we like to tell visitors, just beyond that dip in the ridge, slightly to the left of those trees . . . well, it does take some imagination. Or perhaps some photos will do. For some wonderful views of Mount Rainier, won't you check out my friend Bob's "Northwest Environmental Notes"?

When you have quiet moment, here's A Little Light Reading, a selection of stories and poems written over many years by my mother.

I hope you've taken a look at our Guestbook, where you may leave comments and suggestions and introduce yourself to other collectors. Opportunities to view and sign the Guestbook appear on this page, and will be added to other segments as well. I look forward to hearing from you . . . enjoy!