Worktable Wednesday - Scratching the Surface

I'm trying my hand at scratchboard, whenever I have a spare moment.  (HA!)  Drawing my mandalas into the scratchboard (board covered in clay and ink) is so very relaxing and fun!  I'm coloring it as I go with watercolors.  I'll be looking forward to seeing how it looks when it's done.

Worktable Wednesday Almost Ready

 "A Creative Mind"
This painting is almost done.  Just one or two more gears to get onto it, and the hanging wire on the back.
I think I would have been more satisfied with it if the gears actually spun, almost continually of course.  After all, that's how a creative mind works:  always moving, but the gears don't always mesh.

Until next week, keep your sand blue!

Hanging My Paintings: The Good and The Bad

Nerve wracking.  Yep.  It was nerve wracking (and still is).

Now, knowing about me and my business, I've made jewelry and painted silk scarves, and created cards, and painted tee shirts, and crocheted stuff, and sold it (or tried to) at craft show after craft show after craft show.  I've also tried selling it online in my Etsy shop.  Somehow, none of this has ever been as nerve wracking for me as my latest attempt: hanging paintings for sale at the Fluvanna County Public Library.

I'm not sure why, but I feel like I have a much more personal attachment and connection to my paintings and collages than I do to my jewelry, scarves, and other works of art.  When hanging these paintings on the wall, I felt like I was opening part of my soul to the public.  

These paintings were created with specific days in mind, like this one:

This one was done after Father's Day this past June.  We spent the day picking cherries at a local cherry orchard.  Lots of cherries.  More cherries than you could imagine.  Or maybe you could imagine 17 lbs of cherries.  I couldn't until we picked that many.  

Two of the paintings are recreated from my past:

My giraffe painting, from when I was in elementary school, taking summer art courses.  The eyelashes are even sparkly, just as I envisioned them all those years ago.  And, of course, Sand is Blue.  That one was a real challenge to paint.  It was hard, but a lot of fun, because I could just let myself go.  I wanted it to have a "coloring book" feel to it, which I think it does.  The small child in my felt vindicated and proud when I hung that painting on the wall of the library.  

There are several more paintings to be finished, priced, and hung.  I hope I can overcome all the feelings of insecurity I have when those paintings go up.  I hope I can get past seeing the faults, and seeing them through the eyes of the art teachers I had so very long ago.  

Until next time, 

Keep your Sand Blue

Worktable Wednesday - Ready to Go!

Small paintings and collages ready to go to the Library!

This is it.  I was getting ready for my first public show of my art.  Not my jewelry.  Not my scarves.  But my real Hanging-on-the-Wall, Used-Paint-and-Stuff paintings and collages.  These are now adorning the walls of the Fluvanna County Public Library, along with some other paintings.  And there are a few more to come, too.  How does time get away from me so quickly?  I don't know.  But slowly, the desk is clearing off, and the tubs will be getting empty.  Maybe.  If I don't take on any more projects.  ;-)

Worktable Wednesday - Sand is Blue

Several years ago, I posted a story here in my blog about sand being blue.  Lately, I've felt compelled to recreate the paintings that were lost so many years ago.  They were lost due to frustration, anger, and a lot of hurt.  This is all part of my rebuilding of my self esteem  Here is one of the first paintings, almost done.  There will be more coming in the future!

Until next time, keep your sand blue!

Worktable Wednesday - Pendents, pendents and more pendents

I have quite a collection of really cute pendents.  Quilts, flowers, and Art Nouveau.  I'll probably be adding some of my own mandalas once I get some free time.  I love making them.  Next step is to figure out where to sell these little beauties!

Worktable Wednesday - Resin Pretties

When I get a few minutes, I love playing with my resin!  All the colors I can create, swirling colors together to make something new and different.... The only problem is this:  what on earth do I do with all the resin pretties that I make?  Some are turned into pendents, some are turned into buttons.  But mostly, they get thrown into a box, and forgotten about for awhile.  Shame on me!  ;-)

Summing It Up Sunday - A week in review

Another Sunday rolls around.  Time for rest, relaxation, and reviewing the accomplishments of the week.  And what a week it has been.

To start with, if you remember my blog post from August 6, I was wondering what to do with the piles of stock I have laying around my living room.

Well, I've started to take care of that.  I'm doing a slow listing in my Etsy shop.  Just one piece a day or so, but it will slowly start to rebuild my shop.  

Admittedly, these pieces are actually being re-listed.  But you know what?  That's okay.  New and fun things will be added soon.  As soon as I can get my camera set up.  

New scarves are being painted to be added to the stock that is going to Over the Moon Bookstore and Artisan Gallery, located in beautiful Crozet, Virginia.  It's a great independent book shop, with lots of beautiful artisan-crafted jewelry and lovely works of art.  Art and books.  Books and art.  Can't really go wrong with that combination!  

Until next time, make sure your sand stays blue!

Worktable Wednesday - Silk Scarves Everywhere

This week, I'm busy fulfilling an order of 10 silk scarves, that will (hopefully) arrive at Over the Moon Bookstore on Friday.  Each scarf can take upwards of 4 days to complete, from start to finish.  It's a long process, but one that I love.  

Worktable Wednesday-More than just a photo

Normally, this would be just a photo.   However , a little explanation is in order.  This is just one plastic tub of stock I have made.  I really need to stop making things until I get some sold or something.  This is the problem with being an out of control crafter.  And being caught in a Catch-22 of epic proportions.  How do I list stock when I have neither the time or finances to do so?  Any suggestions are welcome!