Pop-Up Store Opening Night

Last night, I went out to the opening of the Pop-Up Store at the Logan Art Gallery. 

It was a huge night, as it not only opening that exhibition, but also three others in the art gallery. My work of beanies is on display in the first gallery, and I'm so proud to be able to show my work in there at this time of year - because people can buy my work and enjoy them; and hopefully buy more off me too. 

Other work there included an exhibition of the winner of the Artwaves Exhibitions - whose works include watercolours of dragons; and mixed media as well. And there's an Indigenous display of gorgeous works. And then there's one about Seria as well; all in photographs.

The Pop-Up Store is at its very best this year with everyone adding more and more into it as the years go by. 

I do encourage you to go to the Logan Art Gallery to have a look at everything there. We change our exhibits every six weeks; and every time, there's always something great to look at and experience.

A Busy Time

It's been busy over the past few weeks, and I'm glad it's been like this. But, it's also been a weird time too. Over the past few days, I've been losing my voice - so I'm off to the doctors tomorrow; and I know I'm going to be sticking around the house for the rest of the week.

But I've been knitting and doing arty things while I've had my art in those three galleries across Brisbane. So far, one of the exhibitions finished - and nobody who put their work in sold their work. So, my piece came home and his currently on my bedroom wall; awaiting next year to be shown again. 

Then, in the next week or two, there'll be my 'Crazy Beanies' being sold at the Logan Art Gallery's Pop-Up Store. And on 9th, November, I'll be there doing a demonstration day in their workshop - which is always fun. I take along my knitting, yarn, and other gear and set up a table and demonstrate what I do, and how I do it, and make some sales there too.

My other piece is still in at the Judith Wright Centre in the city. I'm not sure if somebody has bought it or not. But people are liking '18 Butterflies'. 

I'm still knitting and painting right now. However, with my throat, it's a very quiet time for me. How's your craft and work going? 

Arty Things Afoot!

Well, I've got art in three galleries across Brisbane as I write this. 

One is in the Judith Wright Centre. Then, there's a painting in the Abel Gallery at the Logan Artists Association and then just this week, I dropped off my Crazy Beanies to the Logan Art Gallery. 

This is looking really good. 

I may sell some of my works, and yet over the Christmas Season when the Pop-Up Store is on at the Logan Art Gallery, I always sell something there. So, I will make some money from that. I'm really looking forward to the demonstration day there where I can sit and knit there and sell things there too. 

This is going to be a good year for me in the way of money and art.

I've had a friend remind me that I've got a Red Bubble account, but as in the past, I still have problems with people wanting to buy things which are printed onto items of my paintings which aren't the original things... I know that sounds strange, but really it's been 9 years since I created that account and I still don't like that idea. 

Well, it's just me I guess.

So, what have you been up to with your creations? As you can see, I've been really busy! Until my next post, keep creating!

Big News!

Okay... I haven't been in here as much as I wanted to be, and there's a really good reason for it.

I've been knitting my fingers off to get as many Crazy Beanies finished - and Baby Beanies - finished to put in an application to the 'Pop-Up Store' at the Logan Art Gallery this year.

And....?

Well, they accepted my application! I'm so stoked about this! So far, I've knitted three more beanies and five more Baby Beanies... and the number is just increasing.

That's not all!

At the Logan Artists Association, I'm putting in 'Morning Storm' to the September Members Exhibition - as I finished it just this Tuesday gone! It's an extraordinary piece of a morning storm at Brunswick Heads which will be going for $95 or so at the Able Gallery next month. 

So, that's two art galleries I'll have work in next month. What a great time to be working, right? Until my next post, keep creating!

Creating New Things

I haven't been in here lately, but there's a good reason for it.

I've created a new beanie - and it took me a few months to get it down. Well, okay, there's a little fib in there: it took me about a year, but I worked on its final bits over the past month or so. And it turned out so well!

I called it 'Lynda's Crazy Beanie' and it's been popular amongst people on Facebook and I'm really happy about it.

The great thing is that there's not a lot of counting or maths in it; and that's what I wanted in my own creation of a beanie - nothing difficult. The only counting is casting on, and the Moss Stitches I chose to make it take on some texture. 

Otherwise, it's worked out so well! I've already sold a few and am hoping to sell more in the future. I've got family wanting them too - so I've been hunting around looking for different types of yarn to use too. 

You know, there's nothing like designing something which works out so well, and yet is so easy to make! 

So, what have you been up to? Until my next post, keep creating!

Woah! Been So Busy!

It's 4 months into the new year and I haven't written here yet! I'm sorry about this, but my life has been busy as hell.

Anyway, I've been busily painting away, still working and attending the Social Art Group at the Logan Artists Association at Loganlea and enjoying myself... and I've also taken part in the first members exhibition - 'Express Yourself' - which has raised funds for The Leukaemia Foundation. This was something I really wished for them to do for me as I shaved my head this year and donated my hair... and getting the LAA on board to help me raise money was going to be a big money-spinner for me.

So, as this event came up for me in March (shaving my head that is), I was crazily knitting beanies for myself. I managed to knit 4 beanies for myself and 1 beanie-scarf. I'm part-way through knitting a 2nd beanie-scarf which is going to be way longer than the first one and in my favourite colours too! 

I'm still working on doing a series of paintings of the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales - and am having loads of fun doing it. It still takes me a bit of time to get myself to the part where it gets easier... but seeing I'm up to my 7th painting - and am dabbling on another 2 unfinished paintings sitting around the place. Yeah, I get stuck with my paintings sometimes, so put them off to one side to 'wait for me to get to them'.

Otherwise, that's all I've been really doing...oh! Besides looking at saving up for a trailer tent - but that's a long-term goal. Yep, I want to travel big-time and get myself painting while I'm traveling... sounds like fun, right? Yeah, sure it does! Well, until my next post, keep on creating.

Busy As Hell...

Aaaw yeah! I've been busy!

And you know something, I've finally gotten art in two art galleries this year! 

Now, this is why I haven't been in here for a long time, and I do apologise for being so slack, but I gotta say, it has been well worth being slack in here as my hard work has paid off!

Not only have I got 2 paintings in the Logan Artists Association, but I have also got my Itty-Bitty Pin Cushions in the Logan Art Gallery Pop-Up Store too... two totally different places and they're great places to start my artistic life too. 

This year, too, I was booted from my art class on Mondays by my teacher, and he got into a lot of trouble for doing that - so I moved to another day of painting. This was the Tuesday Social Class... and they're a great group of people, who are just so chilled out that I can't wait to get back there next year. 

The best thing is that on 8th, December, I had 2 morning teas to attend - or choose from - and I attended both of them that day. I went to the LAA's one and the Logan Art Gallery's one too. It was most certainly a very busy day for me, but well worth going out all day for. 

Since then, I've gone out to a break-up lunch for the Logan Artists Association at the Runcorn Tavern on 11th December where we had a ball! And then, after that? Well, we've broken up for the year. While we're away, the Association is being worked on and improved by construction workers - yep, we're getting improvements done to the place. 

Well, I've been painting more and more over the past two weeks or so, and it's been great. All of my Christmas presents are bought, wrapped and under the tree.. and I'm stoked that I'm ready for my family's time of year to get together and hang out, swap presents and enjoy being with each other and catch up with what we've all been doing. 

Well, that's what I've been doing... being very busy since November. But in the New Year, there's going to be so much more going on and I hope you all stick around. Now, I'll be uploading more photos and work onto my website for Brunswick Heads, and I hope you all go and have a look at it in the next few weeks and months to come. 

Otherwise, until then, Merry Christmas and I wish you a very happy and safe New Year. And please do keep on creating throughout this time too.

New Paintings, New Website...

Yep! That's how things go with a new phase of a life... you start something new and different in your life, you gotta do up a new website.

Now, my Crafty Pegs website will still be there with all its cute stuff on there; but 'Brunswick Heads - My Second Home' will be a new one I have to show off my paintings as I finish them and display them. 

Okay... that's the news for now, I hope you enjoy the new website... oh! You need a link to the new site!

Brunswick Heads - My Second Home

And here you have it! Go, look and enjoy. 

More Paintings, Even Faster Now...

Since changing from Aaron's big classes on Mondays, I've been working so much faster than ever before. 

And this is great!

I've enjoyed the total freedom of jumping between two paintings while at the Social Painting Day on Tuesday mornings - same place and times, but different lot of people - and with a very laid back kind of way of looking at things.

So far, since going to this new group, I've finished 'Torakina' and started another painting, and I'm halfway through 'Shoes on a Fence'... which I'm thrilled with. Once I got the perspective fixed up on the latter one, I was fine. 

And it was all set for me next week. And I'm looking forward to painting while I'm at Brunswick Heads while holidaying down there as well early December. Yep, I'll be taking my tablet down there with me to get more photos of the township and more ideas for my exhibition and I'll be also starting some paintings while I'm down there too. 

Now, I've asked my Dad if he minded if I broke out my painting kit and he said 'No, whatever you want to do... it'll be great to see you in action.' He's never seen me start a painting before, only the bits and pieces of the painting when it's almost done. I think he'll like to see the bones of how it all starts up. 

I'll be doing some en plein air while I'm there too, to get into the feel of it all while I'm at the place. I mean, why not! It's such a pretty town, and very arty, it deserves to be painted in the daylight and not just from a studio with photographs. 

Well, I'm looking forward to starting new paintings while I'm at the coast and enjoying myself completely while I'm there - painting, reading and getting in and doing some knitting too at night - all the things which relax me. And then when I get home, I'll be painting, painting, painting and getting more of my exhibition worked out for the next year or so. So exciting, right?

What have you been up to lately? Anything new? Anything old? Are you making things for loved ones for Christmas? I am, but I'm not saying who I'm making things for because they read my blogs. Well, anyway, until my next post, keep creating!

Painting Faster Than Ever!

Well, it's been a really busy few weeks - and I'm still broke from some strangely big and small expensive things.

How weird is that? 

Well, give it another month, I'll be back on track financially - I know it. How? You see, I've been through this kind of thing before with money... I think we all have. 

But the main thing is:  I'm painting faster than I ever did in Aaron's class. Now, I'm not being mean to his teaching methods - he's good at giving out information; but letting me have my own style was way out of the question.

And that's the thing with teaching, you have to know when to step back and let the student have a go and add their own style to their work. I think he had a problem letting go and didn't know that I was trying to let him know our time was through - and besides I couldn't afford his classes anyway.

Well, I've finished The Picture House - finally! After 4 1/2 months of pushing and pulling with that painting, and much arguing over what was happening with shadows and where the trees were going, how it all looked and other small details, I just took it home one day and never brought it back in. I brought in 'Torakina' and that was it... it was a quarter finished. 

Now, it's 24th, October, and just yesterday I finished it! I love it and it's just how it's supposed to look too! It's got that fresh, lovely morning appearance with a storm brewing in the back hills - as it does at Brunswick Heads some days - and the fine grasses in the foreground not taking over the whole picture... which it's supposed to do.  I signed it and it looks great!

Then, I got in and worked on 'Shoes on a Fence'... a street scape, which has gotten a little out of hand with the vanishing point, but once I used some liquin on it, and scrubbed back some layers of paint to the acrylic underneath, I found where I went wrong. I learned that on YouTube... the different ways you can use liquin! Such a great product with more than one way to use it! 

So, it's October, and the paintings finished so far are:

The Surf Beach
The Harbour Wall
The Picture House
Torakina

The one I'm working on now is:

Shoes on a Fence

Now, that's not bad if you ask me... and I'm hoping to work much faster over the next month or two and get in and make more paintings from my tablet to get together my exhibition much faster. 

So, what have you been up to lately? I'd love to know. Until my next post, keep creating!