POP UP

POP UP SHOW this Sunday 11/18 at 7809 Zimpel St. New Orleans!!!!! 
Not far from Po-Boy Fest--stop by before or after and start getting ready for the holidays!!! 
Works by 4 local artists including jewelry, fiber, photographs and collectibles. 

Get all the details here::::

http://www.facebook.com/events/444636298927898/

these were taken at Audubon Park the day after the hurricane.  my familiar running sights- seen with a calm, stormy eye. 

hurricane isaac

so we decided to ride out the storm- our first hurricane ever- instead of evacuating.  we talked to several people and decided since it was a category 1 that it wouldn't be THAT bad....ummm yeah.  it was quite the experience!!! i imagine i could equate it to a southerner moving up north and experiencing their first snow storm.  kind of???

i tried to keep busy with tasks that required sitting still with no electricity during the storm- reading, embroidery and sleeping.  i got a few things made and after all craft is the point of this blog so i will focus on that and not the hurricane!!  i have quite a few embroidery wall pieces made so these stitchings will most likely be made into a pillow or a collage.  or maybe i'll put some on a bag.  here they are in their "ready for the next step" stage...

this may be cute on a tote bag

PA!

trying a new addition of vintage buttons

still not done stitching this one...(this fabric is a skirt i found at the thrift store and cut up)

a few other things that kept me sane are: my $10 battery powered radio from amazon, my book, and my leftover fan from white linen night.  i have no idea why i even saved this fan but am glad i did!!  it worked much better than a magazine.  one thing i happily learned is that instant coffee has made some major improvements from the last time i tried it (maybe 10 years ago, probably more).  it was delish.  even with the fake creamer!!

oh me oh my

so....now that i am working FT again i am ignoring my artist side!  this is very, very bad.

recently i was gifted with a little box of inspiration from one of my closest friends.  she always gives me fun findings, mostly of the vintage kind!  i came home to a lovely box of vintage buttons and misc. items the other night and couldn't be more happy about it.

you will see these in a collage soon!!

i am starting all sorts of things today--working on a custom order, going through boxes of collage supplies and making little piles that will soon become artwork.  i even got my box of paints out.  it's been way too long since i've painted and today it happened.  it's still a work in progress so wait for it! 

 in the mean time i finished up these two embroidery pieces....

oh, Pittsburgh i still LOVE you!!

everyone loves unicorns, right??

slacker

i can't believe it's been so long since i last posted!!!!  wow, just when i thought i may be good at this i turned into a major slacker.

anyways....LOTS of updates and changes.  i have recently accepted a new full time position in visual merchandising with my old company!!!!  i am super happy about it but it brings me to some cross roads.  i started this biz with the thoughts of screw big businesses, i'm gonna be an artist.  i'm gonna put all the energy and effort into what's mine and not another company.  but the thing is i have had a steady paycheck for so long that when i didn't i felt a little well...lost.  i have managed to balance craft/life/work for so long that maybe that is what really works for me.  i am happy to say i am still teaching painting b/c that still works with my new FT regular schedule! 

since becoming unemployed and then moving last year i have had a very "whatever will be will be" attitude.  trying to figure it all out in a new city will leave you with no other way to look at it without driving yourself crazy.  the truth is, i'd like to be one of those people that is very casual and happy with getting some money here and there but i don't think i am that person.  i admire those people.  the happy go lucky kind of people...i just drive myself crazy working toward the next *maybe* paycheck.  now i am swarmed with all those questions like --am i giving up too soon?  am i settling into a routine or really what's right for me? 

i do know a few things...some major changes might be coming up in the next month that i can't share yet.  if this change happens then this is the right move for me.  also, i know that i can keep crafting as long as i have the motivation to.  it just won't be my full time gig.  i need to craft for happiness.  it is part of who i am.  i will still dream of being a successful artist but then again maybe i need to change my definition of success.  i always tell my husband his success should=happiness.  i need to approach it the same way and not judge by monetary income. 

i didn't mean for this to be such a sappy post but i went all MIA on you and i felt i needed to share my absence.  and it kinda helps me sort some stuff out too by just writing about it.  i will continue to craft til the day i die but for now i am going to be a little slow at it.

xoxo

update!

Just added another show to the schedule for this year...

June 2nd I will be at the Freret Street Market from 12-5

Hope to see you there!!!!!

craft show moments....(kind of like Deep Thoughts SNL style but alot longer)

i always think i should keep a diary of sorts about "craft show moments" whether they are good or bad.  i never do.  my favorite highlight from tonight--before i forget--

* a boy about 4 or 5  RUNS over to my table and picks up a gold and black fleur de lis zipper pouch and says mom i want THIS!!  and shakes his ziploc baggie of change.   the mom replies and says well, we have to eat dinner first and then you have to ask your dad.  he won't put the pouch down and gives her this face, but not a pain pouty face, just mom PLEASE i'll buy it with my own money face.  i say i'm here all weekend and to come back after dinner to see me because she really couldn't get him to leave.  he must of ate really fast because he came back with his very manly dad....(i've had this happen before and it's a little awkward for me) the dad says "joseph, this is for a girl."  joseph doesn't budge but instead gives that face again and says i want to keep my money in it.  the dad says, "it's for a girl"....joseph REALLY wants it and just looks at him innocently....not understanding what is going on so the dad finally looks at me and says "who am i to judge?  his sister is getting a $8 tattoo that will rub off in 2 days.  at least this guy will have this for years since he tends to hoard."  joseph WINS!

PS--i need to think of a manly name for my zipper pouch....seriously parents get SO freaked out when their boys want one. not sure what the big deal is!

((not necessarily girly!!))