Setting the Fall Schedule

So it begins...The finalization of Fall shows. I love when the calendar starts to gel and I can plan studio time, college football games, regular life stuff, and Holiday shows! Life is rather simple these days; empty nest means less housework, and I am now retired from being a Band Booster after 6 years :) There are really a lot of hours in a day!

Things start in 2 weeks; at BazaarSpark in downtown Raleigh on Saturday September 18th. Come on out to Martin St. from 10-5 and check out all the handmade local art and fine crafts. Guaranteed to be some awesome unique treasures...

Imaginese Gifts in Cary at Stonecreek Village is continuing to carry my glass tile pendants; maps, old postage stamps and handpainted vintage paper. This is such a cool store with so many neat items you've never seen before. I love it!

My preparations for the fall season involve some re organizing of my inventory; after a summer off from shows, I need to take stock of what needs to be done, and maybe pick new table coverings and spruce up my signage. Fall is very rejuvenating!

Follow up on Blog Block

I would be glad to post more often if I could only remember to come on in!
As for last week's blog, I actually have made progress! I decided I would give myself permission to tear up a little whenever I felt like it. I can be a sentimental Momma if I choose!
I started the grad party planning, decided I would have a party whether Son wanted one or not hahaha.
Worked on my website, which is totally empty :( because I haven't listing anything new in FOREVER shame on me. I took a bunch of pictures, and editted them. Only to lose the first listing I tried to post (operator error)! Well, try and try again...
Made lots of Art; in the form of graduation cards for several of my son's friends; I will miss them all as they drift away to the 4 corners of the world (or the 4 corners of the UNC college system)
My next project is going to finish a recycled journal I began in a workshop at Inspired a few weks ago. I loved the class, but it will be a work in progress.
Pendants for Imaginese
Pendant-special order
Secret birthday present for friend (late)
get through graduation party start cooking and buying NOW
relax today, It's a holiday!

Blog Block

Hello, Blog. It's been awhile. I'm a little ashamed how out of touch we've been. A bit of discipline is all I need. Since i've never been a journal keeper, it's still tough to sit down and bang out a blog entry. I never had a pink diary with a tiny key to hold my secret thoughts. I am much more of a list maker than a writer.
So:
1.Graduation is approaching for my youngest son. Plan the party.
2.Think about whether I will tear up or just be happy at the Grad ceremony.
3.Plan the trip to said son's college for overnight orientation. Will I cry?
4.Find a few craft shows to apply for; the blow to my ego from being rejected by
Lazy Daze still stings a little.
5.Finally decide on a color for the powder room and paint it. It's not gonna happen
on it's own.
6.Website. Do it. Enough said.

Maybe I should have been saving my lists all these years. Looking at my to do lists does allow me to look at what's going on in my life when I read between the lines.
My Blog may need to adapt to a laundry list rather than a composition.
Let's see how this works...

Starting out with good intentions...

...doesn't always mean I follow through! The craft table is pared down, but not quite neat. And everything isn't put away in the right place. But I am starting to wade throught the post holiday sluggishness, and spruce up my ETSY site. I have also gotten in some fun background painting with my sister last week; turning them in to some pretty darn cute bookmarks!
The applications for shows are printed out, and one has already been submitted. This is a good thing. I start looking forward to festivals about this time; Holiday shows seem like a long time ago. Planning far ahead is a bit tricky this year with my younger son graduating from High School and college Open House days taking up a lot of Saturdays. It will all work out...

Thanks to the CMMAG, I have dabbled where I have never gone before; into the realm of ATCs. I made 4 for the January meeting and hope to do the February "passion" theme cards. I picked up 4 mini pieces of Art from other members. This is a neat way to share without a huge investment of time and materials. I am looking forward to a busy and fun year with the Art Guild; they have a lot of cool stuff planned :)

End of Year

It all culminated in a very nice, and relaxing Christmas day. I am taking a sabbatical until New Year's! I plan on enjoying my husband, who is on vacation; and my 2 boys! I will need a very long afternoon in my Studio to set up for a fresh new year; so that's on my list. I will also be reckoning my financials for 2009. There's always something satisfying about wrapping up an old year and having a clear slate to begin fresh...

To all my artistic friends; thank you for your support and friendship this year, and look forward to many upcoming events and making Art!

See you next year!

So the Christmas shows begin! Last weekend was a lot of fun; a church Christmas bazaar is a nice way to ease in to thinking about all the things that need to get done before the end of December.
I always have fun doing shows with my good friend Julie; we help each other and have a lot of fun. Looking at a couple new shows for next year.

I have been working on some new canvas collages; 6X6 and smaller themed collages. I made a handful of them last weekend. Once I started, I couldn't stop. They are so cute.My work table looked like a tornado hit! Of course it always does, so I'm not sure how I can tell the difference!

I attended the Art of Carolinas on Thursday and Friday; there's a lot going on. I only worked on Thursday, which was fun; but I took and awesome class by Patti Brady--layers and layers of Golden products.Loved it! Then of course the shopping was great; nothing to buy for husband or sons. haha

This weekend requires a lot of catching up and cleaning. It's been a long week of later than usual nights for me. I'm on the downhill slide from being a Band Booster Mom; the season is almost over. The cool and cloudy weather will at least keep me in the house. Maybe even a session in the studio for work on some new Christmas ornaments...

Just a quick invitation--Imaginese Gifts in Cary is hosting a Meet the Artist Evening on the Friday after Thanksgiving, from 6 to 7:30PM. Light refreshments, music, and several local artists will be on hand to meet and talk about their work. Take your out of town guests to jump on Holiday shopping, and to get out of the house! Andrea has an awesome selection of unique items; a very cool store!

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.