Getting down to business...

Now is a great time for getting my studio ready for the Holiday Season Shows. I'm trying to clean and reorganize for prodution time. I did de stash by bringing a bagful to the CMMAG meeting at Scrap Exchange last week. It was a fun event, making ATC'S for the Art of Carolinas in November. I had never made an ATC before! Mini Art! Everyone in the group is super nice.

I have some work to do before October--Charm swap, and I have the perfect raw material to make mine! Old bus tokens from Springfield, Mass. Always go to the flea market when you ned something. I also am starting the AOC challenge canvas this week, I do better with a deadline, and this one is coming up!

Stop out sometime and visit Imaginese Gifts in Cary! This is an awesome store/gallery that has recently started to carry my glass and scrabble tile pendants. Owner Andrea has a huge seletion of unique jewelry, home gifts, and Art of all kinds. She is located at Stonecreek Village on High House Rd. between Davis and 55.

Lazy Daze 2009

Lazy Daze has come and gone. It was a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a lot of rain! It was also pretty successful; although several people noticed a smaller turnout than most years. Economy, threat of rain? Who knows? I love doing this show, though. I had a lot of repeat customers, and met some great new ones. Thanks to all who stopped by my booth!
A lot of appreciation for my "staff"---Lauren, Julie, Peggy, and Lois (mom:)) You are all out of sight! I could never ask for better friends! Honorable mention to my husband Dave, and my boys Matt and Chris for heavy lifting and setting up the %&^%$##% EZ UP tent! Even my Dad loaned me his van :)
I always like to introduce something new to my inventory at a show; my glass tile pendants were almost a sellout! The worry stones went over well, too. Back to the drawing board for a new idea for the Christmas Season shows...
Now I turn my attention to art waiting to be created: Art of the Carolinas challenge, CMMAG charm swap, (as well as my nametags!) I can't wait to get into the bag for the AOC and start making something fabulous!

Down to the Wire

A week and a half until Lazy Daze; why do I wait until the last minute and then work like a demon? I hope to get a lot of work done in the next week. As far as the heat goes, I am wishing for a repeat of last year's great weather. Crossing my fingers for sun, some fluffy white clouds and temps in the 80s...

I have discovered you really can bring very little in the way of supplies and still get a lot of work done. I was away last week as a camp chaperone, and brought my Goodwill travel case with some foil tape, glass, and hand painted papers. Did a lot of wrapping and burnishing. So as soon as the temperature drops below 120 degrees in my garage, I'll get in a soldering session.

I joined the CMMAG at their last meeting, and I already missed the first meeting since I was out of town. I am excited to join this group of very talented and enthusiastic artists. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. I am looking forward to the challenge we will be working on for display at the Art of the Carolinas. and the CMMAG Charm swap. I was involved in the CPS swap, and I loved it. Maybe I can fill in my charm bracelet...

Now that I have my light box in operation,I'm finally getting around to posting a picture of the charm exchange I participated in with my Artful friends; and Cloth Paper Scissors! Mine are the black background postage stamps, the green orange glitter handpainted paper by Christine, the sexy eye is Lynn, and the others are from the magazine exchange. I want to use them on a bracelet, but I would like a lot more charms! I might have to get another swap going, it was so much fun getting the package in the mail. It's neat to see what everyone thought of when "charm" was the challenge; quite an array of ideas.

Quick Picture update

Here is a picture of my lightbox--if I can make it, anyone can!

The Lightbox is Ready!

The lightbox is built! A free box from BJ's, some clear packing tape, a yard of plastic table cover runner (white), and a box cutter! I spent about 50 cents on the white poster board to make a seamless background. So I spent about an hour in the making, and fired it up out in the back yard. It was sunny and perfect to test it out. I took pictures for 2 listings on Etsy, which I actually already edited and posted! Many thanks to Jane from Ornamentea for all the great tips I got from her photo class I took in March. She is very talented at the technical end as well as making some awesome jewelry :)
I had a small show this past weekend at Downtown Live in Moore Square. Let it suffice to say, not every venue will be a success. BUT, you never know until you try. My friend Julie helped and kept me company. Trust me, it took a very good friend to do this!!!
Check out my Etsy site to see the glass tile and scrabble tile pendants I just listed, let me know what you think. I think I have figured out the computer part, so I will be listing more items very soon.

Treasures don't come in chests, they come in the mail!

I love a good package! There is nothing better than walking down to the mailbox and finding a package with craft supplies waiting for me. Two days in a row; my Mom would call that a "Lucky Strike Extra"! I am going to spend part of this weekend making some of those popular glass tile pedants that have papers glued on from the back, and silver pendant bails. They are sooo cute and I want several for me! Plus my studio table is pretty clean and organized for once. I have been thinking maybe some with vintage dictionary text, some with art glitter, and some with old photos I have been wanting to use. I hope to also finally construct my lightbox (what a procrastinator I have been). There may also be a few garage sales in my future if I get out of bed early enough. I would love to restock my supplies of scrabble tiles, watches, buttons, etc.
I love stuff!