January thaw

Here is a little sunshine for folks that are weathering the winter season!  I find it so fun looking through my summer photos in the dead of winter.  It's actually balmy by Minnesota standards today, so after this, I am going down to do the long version of chores. I really enjoy taking care of my animals, it gets me outside every day in all weather,  and I truly would not leave the house some days if I didn't have to. 

In the winter I have a small studio up here at the house, and I am really enjoying making things.  Shipping was the order of the day this morning, and I was surprised and grateful for the sales since I have extended my internet break.    I also sent out another important package, and future posts will fill in the details.

Warmer temperatures here means our southern friends should be feeling a warm up too, I hope so,  I was really surprised when my mom told me it was  zero or below in Missouri where they live.

Here is my cold weather tip for folks experiencing colder than normal weather.  Dress in layers, and start with long underwear.  I put on my cuddlduds  in October or November, and they are a staple of my wardrobe all winter.  They have a bamboo fabric that is so soft it is like a second skin. They last me a full year longer than the silk version I had purchased from another company.   Okay I am off to enjoy the January thaw!!

Balance in all things

Today I put on my happy hat that I bought on Etsy from a really cool lady.   The hat is a tribute to her last goat, who lived to be eighteen.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pomegranite80

This purchase was my gift to myself this year, and the money that I spent in her shop goes toward her donkey rescue operation.   This item touched my heart on so many levels, and considering the year end woes posted yesterday, I needed to fill my heart with a little joy.

During my hiatus from computer I have been sculpting, and goats are flowing easily from my hands, I have several in progress animals, but the goats are getting finished first and I am obtaining quite a herd. I can only think it is because of the magic goat hat!!!

Thanks Ady, donkey lady, for the cool hat and for the inspiration!!!
Denise

PS Thanks to my muddy buddies who posted with the cyber hugs, it means a lot!!

Back to work......

.....But I just can't seem to get enough steam to start my routine again.  Monday before Christmas was my last shipping day, and the last firing for any special orders.  Now I have wrestled with special orders over the years, and made the decision to end that practice for 2010.  The worst part of the deal for me is being the person in the middle taking orders, and then making sure Paul makes it, and then praying for it to turn out using various kilns, and firing methods.  I soooo hate disappointing my customers, and it is me that has to tell them when the piece they have been waiting for did not turn out.
   Besides the kiln problems, we had 2  deer/van incidents that finally put our van out of commission.  At the same time, I needed dental work and that is so costly. 
   The online sales had slipped, rather than built up as I expected them to at this time last year.  
    Midway through the December selling , my new computer crashed,  very costly repairs on that, and I think I probably voided my warranty in order to have it fixed here locally, but not before hours with tech support.

So on that Monday of the last day of shipping, I totally shut down.  I took the past two weeks to just shut off the computer, and not worry about stuff.  The trouble is now, I don't want to go back to it.  Especially the worrying.  It is now when I tend to beat myself up for the career choices I have made.  I do not know of many couples who work together the way we have,  but with Paul and I at this point in our lives have no other choice but to keep building on our skills, and keep being creative.  

Well with all that said, I am planning to stay away from the computer a bit longer, and focus on more varied selling venues, and give myself more time to do what I do all of this for, so I CAN WORK WITH CLAY!!

 I am confident that a couple of new ventures might pan out, and help our situation.  I will be posting my new work closer to February, and there will be new functional work offered soon.



Denise

Winter hit full force today

Well we are well outside the heavy snowfall area, but the wind is howling and the snow is sharp cutting crystals.  Well, it's a good night to try and catch up on extra curricular things such as blogging. 

I seem to be in a funny vortex of misfortune of late, but with each setback , there seems to be a benefit to balance it out.

Saturday night while I was in the middle of organizing my etsy orders, my computer crashed.  This is a brand new computer  less than 6 months old, and I spent until 4am Sunday morning using diagnostics, and talking to tech support.  Finally about nine on Sunday I was informed that it was the software that was the problem, and I didn't have a warranty on the software, but I could purchase said warranty on the spot and be sent to microsoft, I presume  to have the software issues fixed.  Oh warranty would cost $275.00.  Well the good side of this debacle was that I hadn't shut down my old computer, and I am still able to do business at the busiest time of the year. I still had 3 months of virus protection left on this one.  And I am forced to work without the TV shows, we'll see if I am more productive.

I was able to find replacement bulbs for my therapy light and I think that having fresh light power is helping me remain calm under pressure.  Tonight Paul hit a deer and ruined the van.  Fluids were running out of the front.  We'll see all the damage in the light of day.  

I am preparing for a show in Mankato this weekend the Goldsmith Reunion Fine Art Show    
This is the 7th annual, it will be my third time attending.   Tomorrow I will be packing  and hoping the weather has settled down.

Fall Toad

20091114_1cropen
Originally uploaded by fiddldede

I have been playing with some watercolor pencils lately. While trying to find some challenging subject matter I found this toad in my files and I decided to do a quick study. Well it is Saturday the fifth day in a row with no sunshine. It remains mild in temperatures if not wet. The ground needed a good soaking before it freezes.

Today I will be continuing to list new items in my Etsy store , and continuing the efficient packing and shipping department program. I think this will be my last chance to put the hoses and garden tools away, it may be warm but it feels like snow!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Home shows and studio tours

Having just participated in two home grown art shows in the last two weeks, I am full of ideas for next year, and am actually looking forward to the meeting tomorrow to share my ideas and hear others too.  We meet year round , on a monthly basis to organize and keep our show growing.

Our original "Sticks and Stones Festival" was  held outside of town.  The concept of sticks and stones being that art was everywhere, and those early shows always included rock stacking, and some stick sculptures with visitor participation encouraged. 

We switched this year to an in town location at the Kanabec History Center in Mora.  This change of venue gave us better parking, some indoor options in case of rain, more room for guest artists,and best of all, a permanent wooded spot for the Labyrinth, another feature of our event.   The wood fired pizza oven was completed by Paul and several volunteers and was a big hit with the crowd.  We had even more visitors this year at the new location.

We charge no admission fees, nor do we sell food.  The whole thing is based on donations  except for the Artisan wares.  We feel that the visitor will  have more money for buying craft work if they aren't obligated in other ways.   We have always been able to break even on food and entertainment just by collecting donations. 

The show Paul helped with this past weekend had a cider press running all weekend and it was a big hit.  We are thinking of adding a cider press next year, would compliment the pizza oven.

Reports are that the participating artists did well.  We added 20 artist booths to the show this year.

I love the concept of the Studio Tour / Home show, and the artists and craftspeople taking it back into their own hands to present their wares.

As we have expanded and grown over the years, the show has become less about my own sales, and more about getting people out and giving them a taste of what the local art community has to offer.  My Department has been booking the entertainment.   It was really gratifying to hear other artists saying it was a well run show and they wanted to come back.  I highly recommend that other artists do the same in their communities.