My First Sale of Crafty Pegs

Two big things happened to me this week!  I found a cute name for my painted pegs - besides what I've been calling them - and I made my first big sale!  Yay!  

I posted my first photo of my Crafty Pegs on 365 Project and found the response fantastic.  People loved them; and one lady asked about price and postage.  So, through e-mail, we organised a sale.  And today, I posted 3 dozen off to her.  I do hope they arrive safely as they are for a house-warming party this weekend.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Bob Godfrey Passes Away

On Friday, one of the great, animators of our time passed away aged 91.  Bob Godfrey was the creator of Henry's Cat and Noah and Nelly as well as the much-loved cartoon 'Roobarb' with Custard the Cat. 

I only just found out online today, but his family informed the art community on Friday of his passing.  I've thought to dig up some articles about this great artist and animator for you all.

Bob Godfrey Dies 

Celebrated Animator Bob Godfrey Dies 

British Cartoonist Dies 

Bob Godfrey - from somebody who knew him 

I hate when headlines say 'dies'... it's so final and sounds rude and harsh.  There are other ways to say somebody died than that word.  This is why I don't use it in my post titles.  The link titles are taken from the titles of the articles (that's why I used them).  I thought to find good links for you all; and one from somebody who worked with him.   

Busy Art Week

This week has been one for the books.  I've been so busy art-wise that I've found myself wanting to just turn out the light without reading at night.

On Monday - as you know - I began attending a craft group.  And what a group!  The ladies at this group are lovely and very informative and friendly.  They do all kinds of art and enjoy each others' company very much and do the most wonderful art and craft.  And they have agreed to help me with learning to crochet too.  Fortunately, I took photos of how the hook has to rest on my fingers and the position of my hands so I don't forget for the next time I wish to crochet.

Otherwise, I've really gotten into my painting again; in more ways than one, and I got the best idea for finishing off a painting I got stuck on last year in of all places, but my shower (isn't that always the way?). Anyway, after I had the idea in my head, it wouldn't leave and so I pulled the painting out and tried out the idea and found it's worked!  How cool is that?

And over the last day or so, I've been sitting and painting more clothes pegs than I actually own personally.  These are to hopefull sell at the Logan Art Gallery.  If I can't sell them there, I'll try selling them at the Queen Beez Craft Group as the ladies there are anxious to see what other crafts I'm into.

So, that's what I've been up to this week.  I've been very busy and so I'm very tired from working hard at my art and craft.  What have you been getting your nose and hands into lately?  Until my next post, keep creating!    

Busy Beez at Queen Beez Craft Group

Today, I woke to a dull and wet day, but I needed to go out.  I had promised to get my butt out to a craft group this year - to get myself more social and improve on my craft skills - and this was what I was going to do.  

So, after breakfast hunting around for my 'Crobots' book my brother  gave me for Christmas - and finding it - I caught the bus to Springwood and walked to Mum and Dad's place.  Sure I was two hours early, but with the weather the way it was, I didn't wish to be late, and I didn't want to trust the roads being all that safe.
My folks were reading The Sunday Mail from yesterday.  They had been out all day seeing my brother at Brighton, and didn't get a chance to read the paper, so spent the morning having a good look through it all.  Meanwhile I sat and read 'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy until it was time to leave for the Springwood Community Centre; only a 5 minute walk up the road.  And soon, it was time for me to take off up there, where I arrived 10 minutes early and in time for introductions to everyone there, including Coral, who remembered me from around 15 years ago when I had attempted to join up with them but wasn't in as good health as I am now.
I explained that my health is a lot better now, and I am able to attend groups such as these on a more regular basis; and everyone was pleased.  They also took the precaution in asking me to sit on the outside of the tables because I've got a medical condition where I'd need space if I collapsed.  Good thinking, but I told them I was fine now and stablised; but still they insisted.

The ladies there varied in age from around 35 - 85 and they were skilled in all kinds of crafts; from needlepoint, tapestry, crocheting, knitting, painting and other styles of work as well which they couldn't bring along, but they did bring the finished products to sell.  Then, we had myself and Christine - both of us new-comers - who wanted to learn something new.  Christine could crochet, but wanted to learn to knit; whereas I could knit but wanted to learn to crochet!  How's that for irony!  I offered to teach her to knit, but she brushed me off a little for somebody else a bit older.  I didn't mind as I really did want to concentrate on learning better techniques in crocheting from these ladies.
Coffee and tea was supplied along with the ladies of Queen Beez Craft Group supplying us well with home made goodies of jam drop biscuits, scones and other such treats to scoff into!  Yummo!  I had some ice coffee I made there in a small mug and ended up eating some of the goods.  Then, I found the hand-made items on sale pretty nice too.  There was a knee rug I liked and bought for $10 from one of the older ladies which was in the colours of my favourite AFL team; I can't wait until the season starts!

Too soon, the 3 hours passed by and it was time to go... actually, we broke early due to the weather and not knowing if it was going to get worse.  So, we put away out chairs and packed up.  Once the rain settled down, we all rushed off to our cars and I walked back to my folks' house with my umbrella.  They were pleased I enjoyed myself and that I wanted to go back next week.  Until my next post, keep creating!    

Craft Groups And Crocheting

Over the last few weeks, I've been looking for a craft group to get involved with; and to learn to crochet.  For Christmas, I received a book on how to make Crobots, but don't know how to crochet, so the first thing I have to do is learn how to crochet.  And the best way is to find somebody who does it all the time.

So, tomorrow, I'm off to Springwood to learn the basics on how to crochet.  Wish me luck!  Until my next post, keep creating!

Working Again

I'm working again, however not on what most of you think.  I've been painting clothes pegs as an inbetween, fun thing however I have found I can probably make a bit of money out of them.  So, I'm hoping to make up some samples and show them to the gallery I work at to see if they'd put them in their store for me.

If they don't, well, I'll try them out at the Butter Factory.  I have been trying to sell my artwork at the art gallery store for years now, and they don't let me.  So, it looks as though I'll have to take my works somewhere else.

This does frustrate me when one place doesn't give an artist a try out, and yet they let others in.  I hope I get a chance with the gallery... it'll be my foot in the door for an exhibition next. 

Sketches on Holidays

Whenever I'm on holidays at Brunswick Heads, I find that the arty side of me gets itchy.  This is because there's no television and not a very good selection of radio stations.  So, when I have a clear-enough head from the big city, I find I want to photograph and draw everything I see.

And it's around this time, I realise I should have brought along something to draw with!  Not a problem, I went out and bought some cheap art materials and sat in the cool shade of the fly of the van and began on a drawing.  Here's the drawings from day one to the last one... there's not many as we got in and had some fun in between.

Camp Kitchen  

The camp kitchen is where everyone cooks.  It's a shared environment and we have all had great times there.  There's two BBQ plates, two hotplates, a toaster, a kettle, a microwave, a fridge (which is regularly raided by greedy people) and a massive sink to wash up in.  It's a great place to eat too if you don't want to eat at your van or don't have the space.

Paperbark Tree 

I drew this tree in the first drawing, but wanted to do one of it on its own.  I think it turned out better; but I needed a bigger sketch pad.

Tree Tops 

There's these big pine trees lining the front of the van park; and the tops of them all look different from each other.  I spent my last few days, trying to get them looking right... it was really hard.

On The Riverfront 

I drew this view on the river front when I was having lunch with my parents under the trees there.  There's boats all moored along the front, and the shade was lovely.  A few days later, I came home

Necklace Wall-Hanging is Complete!

Yesterday I was at my easel working on the wall hanging for my necklaces.  I wanted to get it finished and done before Christmas; and so I could also get it all done up and complete before the New Year.

Besides, I wanted to see if it worked.

Anyway, I worked through the afternoon on it until dinner.  Then, I took an hour's break and got stuck back into it and didn't stop until it was finished completely at 10:30pm.  Wow!  What a long time to be painting!  But then, I also sat through 'The Santa Clause 2' - a funny Tim Allan movie - to help me keep going.  Well, Here are the photos to it.  Hope you like it as much as I do.

Necklace Wallhanging1 

Necklace Wallhanging2  

Necklace Wallhanging3  

Now, all I need to do is hang it up on the wall in my bedroom and put all my necklaces on it with the Alligator clips.  I'm so thrilled at how it worked out.  Until my next post - and project - keep creating!

Christmas Is All Wrapped Up

I must say that this year hasn't been without it's problems; especially now.  As some of you know - from following my other blogs and knowing me in Real Life - I've recently suffered a loss of a dear feathered friend over the weekend.  
But I find that if I delve myself into my work, I get through grief and loss better.  So, I found myself working through the rest of Gabe and Kat's Christmas present faster than ever before.  I got around 8 pegs painted each night over the last 3 nights and before I knew it, they were finished!  This morning, I varnished them; and here is the next set I did this morning.

Painted Pegs for Gabe & Kat1 

Painted Pegs for Gabe & Kat2 

 

Arty Pegs for Chrissy Pressies

I've got about three weeks until Christmas Day; and I have finished all of my present shopping.  Yep, I'm that organised!  But I'm taking my time with one lot of the family presents; and for a good reason too... it needs a lot of patience and detail.  Fortunately, I have that in spades.
I'm painting up a set of clothes pegs for my brother and his partner so they always have enough to use.
I thought of making them some - personalised ones - while I was minding their place at Brighton in October.  Thought it would be a fun thing to have on their clothes line... and a very arty thing to add to their house if they use them on their clothes horse too.  I've taken a few pictures of the ones I've gotten done so far... nice don't you think?

Personalised Pegs1 

Personalised Pegs2  

Well, Until my next post, keep creating!