Post-xmas

So far I have not been doing well with my 3 entries a week. :( This week I spent less time beading and making art, and more time cooking for the holiday's. I did cook up a whole xmas dinner, all on my own which was fun...but left me exhausted. Everyone that received some LTC jewelry this holiday went crazy for it. It was reassuring to hear that it was a hit.

Some good news on the business side of LTC, I do have a store that has expressed interested in selling my jewelry... more to come on that if it goes threw. (Fingers crossed)

Memory wire

My newest obsession is memory wire. Memory wire is amazing. I happen to really love it because I have unusually small wrists and most bracelets don't fit me. I also have a hard time clasping a bracelet together. Memory wire remembers the fit of your wrist and there is no clasps to mess with. Pretty cool hu?

on a personal note

The holidays are supposed to be about cheer, bringing people together, seeing those we haven't seen in a while... sadly so much of the holidays is not cheer, but argument, fighting, hurt feelings, and exclusion. For me, holidays end up being those negative feelings. This year I started to see an upside to the holidays because I've been getting a lot of support from friends and family about my art. Sadly, it can all be destroyed when the one(s) you love and want to be with don't want to be with you in the same manner.

Sorry for the rainy downpour its just whats on my mind this night.

happy

Battling with the downs in life I've realized I'm very content. People don't understand my issues with a normal job. They tell me work is work and its not supposed to be fun or be easy but for me its near impossible. I shut down. When I had to stop working I wasn't sure I'd be able to even make a penny to help myself.

This last few months have really taught me to get back to what I'm good at and what I love. I'm back to babysitting special needs children and doing my art. I don't make much, in fact I'm living paycheck to paycheck (so to say since I don't actually get a paycheck). But I am happy, waking up in the morning isn't something I dread (unless its unusually early) and I even look forward to my day.

Yes work isn't usually fun, but I think when your doing what your good at and what you love everything else falls into place.

13

Lucky number 13. That is how many items I sold in November 2011. That may not sound like a lot. In-fact it sounds pretty lame, but for me that is huge. I went from being an artist that sold maybe 7 things a year to 13 things in one month. That show growth and man is that exciting. I can't wait to see where December takes me.

International!

I am officially an international artist. I sold my first international item! A mug I made in 2010 is going down under. I think its extra funny that its going to Australia because my sister is living there, but on the other side from the sale.

Grief

Things happen in life that are unexplainable. One of the families I've baby sat for was expecting their second child and it didn't make it threw delivery. I'm am kinda in a funk about it because they are such wonderful parents and the mom took great care of herself during the pregnancy. I just don't understand how these things happen.

I've been trying to think all day how I could use are to help heal. Art heals me, the more detailed, the more I can think. I wish I could put that healing process on other people so they can heal. Art is so healing.

A Thanksgiving Resolution

At Thanksgiving I spoke with my biggest blog fan, yes she's family, and she has requested more posts. This got me thinking, why wait for New Years to make a resolution? So here is my thanksgiving resolution: post at least 3 times a week. Lets see if we can stick to it.

Since this week is almost over I'm not counting this post :)

As many of you know I can't stay with one medium for too long. I need to mix it up, but I do stick with the same few ceramics, fabric, jewelry, and painting. I dabble in others but those are my top four.

Word seems to have gotten out that I have a mystical, magical sewing machine that can do 10 colors at time. Yes, and its an embroidery machine. My cousin has put together a vintage style quilt (her first I believe). She has asked me to use my embroidery skills as a way of quilting it.

She gave me free reign over it so I picked out 3 vintage flower patterns to put on each block. Surprisingly, to most, the most difficult part is hooping the fabric. But its not impossible. Actually what makes it hardest is when I lay it down to hoop it my little Penny Layne runs on to it and lays down. Great, now I have to make a quilt just for my dog.
MUCH LOVE

A New Rewards Program for my Customers

I have a very special program for my customers. Each time you purchase and leave a comment (good or bad) you will be messaged a coupon code. Each time you do this your coupon code will get larger and larger until you are able to receive a free item. For example; 1 purchase = 10% off, 2 purchases = 20% 0ff.. etc.

The Jewelry Factory

I have been mainly focusing on my jewelry design. I'm very inspired by the 1920's right now. That means I've been playing around with golds, browns, and vintage styles. Yesterday I spent a good amount of time in my art room. My favorite thing is that while I'm working super hard, music turned up all the way, and covered in a mess of beads...My dogs take their naps. :)

Trying something new

Well I have definitely been branching out with my jewelry. I got this idea when I was working on wire wrapping. I've been having a lot of fun sitting and had coiling these rings. Interesting thing is I seem to be the only one that thinks this is something fun to wear.

But art is a journey, a journey of trial and error and also a constant experiment to see what catches the eye of others.

OML (oh my lord)

I have totally failed at the blogging idea. Where have I been? Lala land. :)

I have taken my art in a new direction the last few weeks. I am focusing more on jewelry. My nature is in ceramics but my kiln has broken (again) and seems to be beyond repair. At this time i don't have the money to get a new one so I needed to look else where for my art outlet.

I came up with the jewelry way of going because a good friend of mine is creating a business for her senior project at Laguna Beach Art College and asked that I be "head of jewelry" for it. So far I have been loving this change. I have taken to wire jewelry the most. To me it is like ceramics in the sense that you're building something.

Above is an example of some wire experimenting I did. I like the wire art because it is messy. Usually in my art I like to do everything in a minimalist/clean way but its fun to let the piece look messy and abstract. I hope more excitement is coming soon!

Once again

I realized I had not written anything in here in a while. Unfortunately, I've been super busy. Art has had to take a seat on the back burner for a while. My kiln broke so ceramics are out for a while, or at least until I can get it fixed (again). I started a new job...and I could sit here with excuse after excuse of why I haven't been writing on here and sharing my art, but they would all be excuses.

My new job is at a sewing machine dealership and so sewing has now taken a step into my world of art. I just got an embroidery machine. I am venturing into the world thread and have finally completed my first project.

The embroidery machine I have doesn't do things on a large scale so my sizing is limited to less then an 8x10. However, I am enjoying it.

Above is a 5x7 picture of a singing bird. The bird is professionally mounted and is quite adorable if you ask me. I am rather proud of my little love song bird.

More to come soon I hope.