Good morning friends,
I have come to a realization that I really need to decide , and soon, what I want to be when I grow up. By that I mean what artistic medium or style do I most gravitate to. I took a long look at my Etsy shop yesterday and noticed how very eclectic it is. I am not sure if that is good or bad. On one hand, doesn't it show diversity in style, willingness to embrace multiple art forms and a thirst for crafty knowledge? Or does it mean I can't make up my mind and not good at any one thing or worse yet , fickle? Why can't I do it all? I have noticed on Etsy, most of the artists who are featured are selling one particular item or style. The top seller sells reprints of her art and an occasional doll, jewelry makers do just that, handbag sellers ..handbags, soap and toiletry makers..just that. Get the idea? I have never seen a seller who offers many different treasures in her shop be featured. Why is that? My shop has hand sewn items, knitted and crocheted items, felted clothing for children, paintings and prints and note cards from my paintings. Is it all too much of everything and not enough of any one thing?? I would love some feedback on this subject. What are people looking for? Please don't misunderstand...I am not whining about not having been featured on Etsy. All the sellers who are, deserve it and offer fabulous items in their shops.
I want to get to a place where I am as original as I can be. Let's face it everything has been done already, in one form or another. I have to laugh at the crafter who has a basic tote bag for sale in her online shop and a footnote about it being her original design and requesting you not copy. Paaalease.............that is like painting a picture of an apple and claiming it is your original design. How different is your tote from all the thousands of totes being sold out there? All I ask is that we not take this original art or item design thing too far. If the great masters thought like this our museums would be empty. Lets face it..even the greats copied each other's style.
Well enough ranting for now...sorry to subject you to it,but there has to be others who feel like I do about this. Are you out there???? Have a good day and remember..be kind.
P.S. The lady cardinal in the photo above was all tucked into herself, trying to stay warm. It was 12 degrees this morning. Click on her to get a closer look, she is very pretty.
I have a Llama farm down the road from me and these guys were very happy to see me (I brought carrots). The guy on top is coming after my carrot, not me. He does look a little scary. I better watch my fingers. The two on the bottom cracked me up..I don't have clue what they were looking up at. They did that a few times...should I have been offended?
Took a walk today in search of signs of spring. One of my neighbors has this great hedge of forsythia, which were in full bloom. Very pretty. Also found some naturalized patches of daffodils, spring...I think so. My own pear trees are getting ready to pop with flowers. I am not sure what the deal is with the discarded television in the woods. Maybe the squirrels are getting ready for American Idol tonight! Is that a sign of Spring?? Kind of like an animal Drive-in movie.
Morning friends...just a quick post to show you what I have been up to in the studio. I have been sewing up these beautiful (if I do say so myself) Montauk tote bags. The linings are just as pretty as the outside. I have used lots of assorted prints for each bag lining. Very colorful! I must admit the design is not all mine. I started with a purchased Butler pattern and changed it up quite a bit. I made it much easier to construct. Sometimes I think these designers make their patterns complicated on purpose to justify the cost. I almost always find an easier way after my first one. I remember seeing a purse at a local quilt show and buying the pattern. When I got it home and tried to sew one I got sooooo frustrated by her instructions that I decide to wing it. Well my purse looks just like hers and I skipped 1/3 of her steps. She was making it way too difficult. I have been having fun with all the pastel prints I have been using. I hope these sell at my booth ;-)......I have also been using up my scraps making pretty pin cushions. I will post them soon. Until next time...stay creative and be kind.
Morning friends..just a quick post to show what I have been up to in my studio this week. I have been very busy sewing up wonderful spring inspired aprons and totes for the Warrenton Spring Festival in May. The apron pictured here is sewn using remnants from Fabric Emporium and lovely new fabric from Kelly Ann's quilt shop. All the cheery new fabrics I have been using lately are really making me yearn for spring. Well I am off to the Salvation Army store. I am on the hunt for a dress or parts of a dress that might resemble the one Liesl wore in The Sound of Music, the 16 going on 17 number. My beautiful and talented niece Kellys( she is my model in my Etsy shop) is playing the role of Liesl in a musical production in NY. Kelly has one of those big beautiful voices that belong on Broadway. You should hear her sing Judy Garland songs...OMG..she is fabulous. She has a Judy shrine in her room, I love it! Hopefully I can sew up something that will do her justice.
Hello friends, just a quick post to offer proof that spring is just around the corner. My crocus are in bloom! Every year I depend on them to tell me when to expect warmer weather. I actually had my coffee out on the back deck this morning. While working in my studio, I had to put the ceiling fan on. My kitchen windows are open and the sun roof was letting in the air. All sure signs that winter will soon be a thing of the past.
Good morning friends,I have been meaning to post this photo for a while now. While I was in Rhode Island last year, taking care of my sister Mary Sue, I looked out her back window and spotted this cute raccoon. Turns out it was a momma raccoon and she had started a family in the attic of the apartments behind us. She was so cute, every night she would leave the attic in search of food for her babies. She had a very precise route up the deck supports, down the railings and over to the dumpster. It was like Thanksgiving at the dumpster, enough food for a whole brood of raccoons. Sad to say the apartment managers decided that rather than move the mom and babies to a safe location in the wild, they called an exterminating company to come get rid of them. Get rid of them they did....very sad day for me and my sister. Totally uncalled for...they just could not be bothered to be a little compassionate.
