06/23/11

Found this picture of a bakery in San Francisco online today - this is what I would have my own place look like..... A slice of Heaven! (no pun intended) - how beautiful is THIS??? I believe it's at the Miette Bakery - they have a new book out that's definitely on my list of "must haves"!

06/20/11

I came to the realization that tourists aren't in the market for art, but for trinkets. I set out to supply them with what they want and made 16 necklaces, a couple of bracelets and miniature books (journal type). Our new way of thinking is that the customer wants items priced under $20 so I am accomodating them. With a little bit of money invested into this project, I am in the midst of some heavy contemplating on what I'm going to do with this venture. Do I stay or do I go?

I babysit for my granddaughter full time. My anniversary was last month and my husband bought me an entry level dslr camera. Marry the two, and you get this! LOL or, actually, LOML (Love of My Life)! Ha ha! So I find myself torn between my love of crafting and the love of my offspring - naturally she'll win, but I do have to find a balance.

Yes, I made this hat for her - it's one of about 100! LOL Here's a picture of the first outfit I made for her (before we knew she was a girl). The emblems are for the Colorado Avalanche hockey team. My son is a devout follower.

06/09/11

I became part of a partnership in an Art Gallery about 2 months ago in a little town called Manitou Springs. It's one of those quaint little mountain towns that people just love to shop in. You can find the most unusual things there, but the main attraction is the water. There are 7 "springs", or fountains, placed strategically around town that spew the "magical" healing waters that the town is famous for. It's a bustling kind of place that one just likes to hang out at.

Our Art Gallery started out as an artist's co-op. There were initially 20 of us with similar interest, but we've since dwindled to about 6 strong members. We found this great little location to place and sell our art and so began "Artist's Edge". http://www.artistsedge.org/ Located in an old garage, it's the perfect setting for the ecclectic mixture of our offerings.

We all realize this wasn't exactly the best time to be starting a new business, (and Art to boot) but we all must be really bored and decided to go with it. With my experience in retail business, and my partners never-ending energy, it's a pretty good mix and should flourish.

Things have started off pretty slow, but it's June 9th and tourist season is just now beginning. We have decided to change the format of memberships and are now open to consignors - hoping that they will help us with the steep rent.

I sold these the other day:  Bottles covered in polymer clay. They seemed to be a hit since I placed them on the shelf.  I'll be making more as soon as possible. I also have lots of beaded jewelry there and these, my newest idea:

I love to create!!!

06/09/11

I can't believe I've waited this long to start writing about this experience! Crafty U is a business venture I undertook about 4 months ago. It was originally setup to TEACH (Hence the name, Crafty U - U for University). To date, I have held classes that instructed about 100 women on how to crochet, mainly. I have, however, also taught stamped metal jewelry and collage classes - but the majority seem to want to learn crochet. And I must admit, that surprised me. And excited me. I thought it was an art that was fading.

I've been involved in crafts my entire life and this also includes art. I have taken the equivalent of 20 years of art classes here and there (college and fine art classes through our local art museum). I was taught crochet by my grandmother at the age of 8. My mother encouraged me further when she bought me my first art set at 10. This led me to eventually learn every craft imaginable - seriously. I have several years experience of throwing pottery on a wheel, jewelry silversmithing, leather tooling and sculpting, oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, pen and ink, and pencil drawings. I can sew well, knit, create wooden outdoor furniture (who doesn't love power tools?), create collage, and I love to bake (since I was little)!

Though it sounds like I'm bragging, I can assure you I am not. I am the epitomy of the overacheiver. I cannot stop creating. I've made my own clothes, redecorated my homes (exhaustively), remodeled my landscapes, "flipped" houses, built or refinished my furniture, made my own fine jewelry, started MANY different businesses, and have created entire lines of products. Martha Stewart has little on me (except about a billion dollars). And sometimes, this non-stop activity is not a "Good Thing". LOL!

I feel I am blessed by the powers that be (though sometimes it feels like a curse). I have been given the knowledge to make whatever my heart desires.

Please join me on this venture. I would LOVE to make this a question and answer site - with you, the reader, challenging me with any and all crafting and art questions. It will not only help you, but I'm sure there will be times that I will have to research an answer and that in turn will make me more knowledgeable!

Let's go!