I had planned on doing a post/book review on Susan Lenart Kazmer’s Making Connections. But as I was reading my feeds this morning, a new post on Make and Meaning which, if you haven’t visited and read this phenomenal blog? Go. Now!

The gist of the last few posts has been [...]]]>

A Diversion

I had planned on doing a post/book review on Susan Lenart Kazmer’s Making Connections. But as I was reading my feeds this morning, a new post on Make and Meaning which, if you haven’t visited and read this phenomenal blog? Go. Now!

The gist of the last few posts has been about “free” in the craft world – both in the good sense (read: NOT to generate meaningless traffic one’s site via a giveaway. I know. The irony was not lost on me. ) in that giving with an open heart and hand is not blog suicide – and in the bad sense in that, as artists, we are asked way too often to donate our time, energy and “product” for loosely defined/if any benefits.

However it was a link within the latest post that has me more excited than I’ve been in a very long time – THIS post. If you’ve known me for any length of time you know I’ve been grumbling about the craft publishing business getting “rich” off the backs of crafters/artists good will. I know rich is subjective but I’m guessing that they, the publishers/authors, are at least getting SOMETHING for their efforts. But that isn’t what’s got me all in a dither.

It is the second paragraph of this comment that has my mind racing:

shescrafty December 8, 2009 at 1:14 amReally great to read you post and see what people have shared about their own experiences. No doubt the publishing industry is in a transition and it will be interesting to see what happens. I have just published my first book of knitting patterns, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, and I also sell individual patterns as PDF files on my website. My goal with writing the book was to increase my overall traffic to my website and my individual pattern sales and see if it is worth continuing on with. Time will tell.

I think the craft industry is also following in the foot steps of the music industry and it is up to us to figure out how to make it work. Remember back in the day when you had to buy the whole album even though you only wanted one song? Now we can download and purchase the one song. Well, as designers we are probably going to need to follow the same idea. Curators can organize and sell designs by artists and craftspeople with the lions share going directly to the artist. Magazine style. There are many websites that follow in that idea and more to come…

OMFG! Can you envision the possibilities? A central site …a designer collective … that allows upload/download of PDF  projects/patterns? Or! Pick and choose which project or process or technique you’d like to include after which they are collated, printed and sent to you as your own personal how-to handbook?? We only pay for what we want. And each designer gets compensated for their work. No middleman. No publisher. No “author”.  It truly boggles the mind!

We got a Royal Sh*tkicking aka old-fashioned snow storm that started on the 1st of January and didn’t stop until sometime in the wee hours of January3. Two full days of snow, wind, some rain and more snow. We started to dig out on Saturday the 2nd and realized it [...]]]> 1. Winter weather

We got a Royal Sh*tkicking aka old-fashioned snow storm that started on the 1st of January and didn’t stop until sometime in the wee hours of January3. Two full days of snow, wind, some rain and more snow. We started to dig out on Saturday the 2nd and realized it was pointless as the white stuff was coming down almost as fast as we could plow/shovel. By Sunday, the temperatures were hovering around the freezing mark making for some VERY heavy snow and within 10 minutes of shoveling my pathways I’d put my back out. Niiiicccee!

2. Back to routines abandoned – morning walks

I’m becoming less enamoured with holiday excess. Even though we’ve cut way back in recent years – starting our celebrations on Winter Solstice(Dec 21) and pretty much winding it up by my birthday (Dec 28 – my 50th this year!) – a week of overindulgence is probably 6 days too many. As such, I’m thrilled beyond belief when school goes back and routines return to normal. Wrecked back notwithstanding, I’ve jumped back on the exercise/nutrition bandwagon and am much happier for it!

3. Sticking to resolutions – more photos

Part of the reason I don’t post as often as I’d actually like  is that I feel somehow that I’m cheating you all if I don’t have pretty things for you to look at while you’re reading. Maybe that’s silly. Maybe you really like reading what I write. But just in case you need shiny things, I feel it necessary to accommodate. Even though I’m not getting quite as much studio time as I’d like (read: studio=COLD; Stella=attention span of a gnat) I can still show you my world. So one of my intentions in 2010 is to take my camera with me more often.

4. 100 Artists Show – this year the theme of  Nourish & Sustain

As I wrote in my Artist Statement for this piece, titled “Teach A Man To Fish”, I explored my whimsical side when creating this. Each artist was sent a tin can (tomato or apple juice can size … 16oz??) in the mail with something sealed inside. As soon as I realized the contents were 2 bean seeds, the Chinese Proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” immediately came to mind. I also explored a technique I’d seen in Art Jewelry for the fish giving some movement to the piece. I don’t know if I’ll do anything else like this. But it sure was fun exploring my less than dark side!

And just in case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve posted “One Heart ? One World“‘s banner over there on the lefthand side. I hope to have something special made for the giveaway by the time it starts on January 25. This will be my first time participating. It should be fun!

A few years ago I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions and started attributing a word for the year. Last year, for example, my word was “Shine”. As in “that little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine” and for the most part, I think I did. It got kinda cloudy toward the [...]]]>

A few years ago I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions and started attributing a word for the year. Last year, for example, my word was “Shine”. As in “that little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine” and for the most part, I think I did. It got kinda cloudy toward the end there, but June, July and August? Brilliant!

This year my word is “Light”. Which sounds very similar but the intent is quite different.

Light of spirit.

Light of body.

Light of “stuff”.

Continuing with my pre-Christmas theme, I want to lighten my palette. Leave the Mars Black and Quin Gold in the drawer and focus on Titanium White and… I don’t know! What other whites are there??

I want to be more thoughtful, more methodical perhaps, in my assemblage. It will require a huge amount of self-discipline not to mention patience. Finding just the right thing always means sitting on one’s hands for awhile.

I also want to lighten my stuff. Yes. I’m jumping on the de-stashing bandwagon all too prevalent in the mixed media blogging world right now. For the moment, all items remaining on etsy will be deeply discounted and watch for more “stuff” being listed. And if you’re interested in anything particular give me a holler. Likely I have it. And it’ll be cheap!

In the meantime, I’m off to shovel. Again. Whoever ordered the snow? Enough already!

May all your wishes for 2010 come true!

In case I don’t get back here before Friday, Merry Christmas to everyone! Peace and best wishes. xo

December Walk - entrance to the woods

With the plunging mercury, what was soppy, wet and muddy earlier in the week, had now [...]]]> It’s cold out there today. But dog … or puppy … waits for no warmth. Or something. We headed for the woods to shelter us from the raw North wind.

December Walk - entrance to the woods

With the plunging mercury, what was soppy, wet and muddy earlier in the week, had now frozen up. The sun was weak with occasional peeps through the scudding clouds. And the wind, relentless.

December Walk - in the woods

Stella, wrapped in her woolie sweater, was perhaps not a willing companion but at least game.

December Walk - Stella in woolies

The snow and fallen leaves crunched under foot. Overhead the firs whistled in the wind but at ground level, quiet. Calm. Waiting.

December Walk - the lichens wait

Stella can’t quite understand the interest and whimpers. “My feet, Mom, they’re gettin’ cold!”

December Walk - Stella investigates

We turn around. The sun beams through the branches overhead. The wind continues to whistle picking up the dry snow, swirling.

December Walk - heading back

Stella, afraid I might change my mind, dashes back. “Come ON Mom!”

December Walk - impatient Stella

Headed home, Stella. Heading home!

December Walk - heading home

Inspired by Katie.

It’s a blustery day out there today! Woke up to an icing sugar dusting which has changed back to greys and browns with a side of electric green where grass is exposed. I have to admit to being somewhat amused by all the folks on the “leftside” freaking out about how [...]]]>

Blustery Day

It’s a blustery day out there today! Woke up to an icing sugar dusting which has changed back to greys and browns with a side of electric green where grass is exposed. I have to admit to being somewhat amused by all the folks on the “leftside” freaking out about how cold it is. In my heart of hearts I know it isn’t funny as most houses/people aren’t equipped for what we consider normal temps for this time of year. But I can’t help letting a smile escape, even for a second.

I think we Canadians (save the west because really y’all you aren’t … Canadian … seriously!) are so used to accommodating the weather around whatever our plans are … Going to the city (if it doesn’t snow). Having a yard sale this Saturday (rain date on Sunday).  Racing next week (unless there’s a hurricane). … it’s integral to who we are as a nation. We expect the weather to screw up our plans!

I can only imagine what it must be like to have day after day after day of “the same” – be it 70°F and sun  or 50°F and rain – and not have to dress for sun and rain and cold and heat within a 4 hour span. Completely foreign concept!

In other news, I continue to list silly little things on etsy (or click the link to your right –> ).

Last night I had one of those lovely studio epiphanies wherein a plaster disaster was resurrected. LOVE when that happens! I had taken some 3×5″ wood panels and slopped some extra plaster into the “wrong” side then planted some not perfect plaster face molds that I had kicking around into the wet plaster. They really looked … not great! lol

I was added to someone’s gallery on flickr – Little Houses – and noticed I did indeed create alot of house-type forms. *click* The panels would work perfectly as wee houses – metal triangle (read: roof) additions – plus some wing shaped wire and Voila! I have some Guardian Home Angels. They’re still works in progress but I promise some photos soon.

A final note … I’ve started on Fin’s assemblage too. I’m pretty excited where it’s headed. A look at Fin’s lovely offerings:

Assemblage Challenge - Fin's Stuff

It all started when I did a post for LiveMultiSport a week ago and found [...]]]> I’ve spent the entire day – in between walks with Stella – doing my Christmas shopping. But! I’m all done. Yay! All praise the Etsy-way! It’s going to be a Handmade Christmas under my tree (and other’s) this year.

It all started when I did a post for LiveMultiSport a week ago and found items for those sometimes hard-to-buy-for athletes in your life. I was amazed at the artsy goodness with the sports-inclined in mind I found.

Etsy - MultiSport Items

I’d originally hoped to make most of my presents this year. And then of course, Stella came along. And that went out the window. Babies take up an amazing amount of time … new moms stop laughing!

Crazy Stella!

So I went on an etsy shopping spree … cuz if I can’t make it myself, I’m gonna support my peeps (aka living artists). And oh the yummy things I found. Which I can’t post because, y’know, I want it to be a surprise!

But I found some things I would love too!

Like this:

Cat Wind Dancer

And this:

Decorative Shelf - from andrewsreclaimed

Or this:

Vintage Letterpress Tray

Actually luckylittledot had quite a few  I’d like items.

And then I found BigCartel … Oh. My. I had the vespers and had to be revived. So many pretty things. So little money!

from decor8 blog

I keep being drawn to [...]]]> These past few weeks, returning to being a primary caregiver, has given me lots of sitting time while Stella naps. I’ve been cruising the hi-ways ‘n’ bi-ways of the internets as I am prone to do and discovering and rediscovering new sites, and yes, sights!

from decor8 blog

I keep being drawn to the Scandinavian aesthetic … that clean, bright white look with bare floors and pastel shades … particularly the graphics. Stark. Clean. SO not where I’m at artistically. Bizarre!

What is it then that draws me to these clean lines? This spare design?

from decor8 - Elle Interior

I know another blogger – Penny aka Little Brown Sparrow - has been struggling on the opposite side, changing from “pretty” to dark, charcoal dust. But by any other name, a rose is still a rose or, wanting to change one’s style, is still a huge upheaval. It requires deep thought and conscious creation. Something I haven’t done. At. All.

I’m a by-the-seat-of-the-pants kind of creationist. I just shove my brain into neutral and “DO”. True I’m often excited and sometimes, even pleased with the outcome and when I don’t have any pre-conceived notion of final product I can hardly be disappointed. However. When I set out to make something spare, something clean lined and it ends up looking like my normal stuff – textured and painted within an inch of its life – I can’t help feel that there needs to be another way, another path that I can take.

I want to create this:

Agenda by James Michael Starr

But end up with this:

Fembot Queen

Ya know?

There’s an intention with simplicity. There’s a mindset. There’s a conscious decision NOT to add. To pare down. To wait for the right item.  Patience. And Gord knows I am not strong on patience!

Paraphrasing that smart Little Prince, it’s all about “Seeing Rightly”.

In the meantime, I will continue to visit and drink up simplicity.

Swarm - http://swarmhome.com/index.html

Simply Photo – http://simplyphoto.blogspot.com/

Twelve22 – http://www.twelve22.org/

Camilla Engman - http://camillaengman.blogspot.com/

Decor8 – http://decor8blog.com

*sigh*