The New Art Area

Today, I really started in on the new art area.  I went out and bought a box that is big enough for all the small stuff and will be used for the coat hangers later on when the bench is finished.  Most of the gear I have boxed up already is ready to be moved out and cleared out, but there's little things that need to be put away.  I also need to have probably two more boxes with lids for rags for cleaning brushes and another to hold all my other bits; but I'll see what I really need first.

I will be looking for a new chair next week and so will be searching the charity stores to see what's available.  It's gotta be a nice bar stool with a gas-lift style chair so I can sit on it when I really need to.  Otherwise, I'm ready to start in on this piece of work once the money is pulled together.  

I'm really looking forward to doing this bench.  I hope Dad is... it'll be fun to do.  This weekend, I'll be working on cleaning out the drawers in the wardrobe in the guest room and taking them outside to sand down and paint them up with a couple of coats of colour.  It should look good... or maybe just leave it the way it is after I clean it out and let the spots of paint I drop on it give it character.

I did some new work tonight, and really ran out of space fast... I am looking forward to getting this new work bench put together and here at my place before March.  It ought to be a good thing to have here.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Happy New Year!

Okay, you may have noticed a few new changes to 'A Natural Background's blog... like, it's not called that anymore.

Yep!  I've changed the name of it to 'Crafty Pegs' so it can reflect what I'm doing on my Crafty Pegs Facebook page and on my website too.  

Do you like the colours and font?  I thought to go with something fun and colourful this time around so you love to come back here again.

This year, Crafty Pegs is moving forward again.  I've been planning on working on a work bench for my craft area; and my Dad is going to help me get it done.  It's going to fit into the spot where my original table and bookcase has been sitting for the last year or so and will be a standing table.  It will also double as an easel for when I want to do other canvas'.

Sounds good, eh?  I'll show you pictures on my other sites and here when it's finished and put into place.

Anyway, I've begun working on other things to do with the Markets and other projects this year... I hope they work out the way I imagine them to.  Well, until my next post (and that will be soon), keep creating!

Busy With All Kinds of Things

Crafty Pegs has grown so much since the last time I've written here.  But first, a huge apology for not posting... my bad, honestly.  It's been so hectic lately, it's not that I have forgotten, but I've been working so much, I haven't had time to write.

But today, I do.

Let's see, where to start...

Since July, the Creative Markets at Springwood were sold to another party. So, I stuck it out for a month or so to see how it would go.  But it hasn't gotten any better.  

I haven't been making any money, and the rent is still the same - $50 for half a day - and the people just came and looked then didn't buy anything.  Then, in August, we had our 2nd Birthday, and the owner of the Creative Markets advertised that there'd be freebies and the place was bursting with people!  But they were only there for the freebies and they didn't buy anything... they scored the freebies and went around looking at our stuff, told us we were so clever and our things looked lovely and gorgeous and oh, did they mention we were clever?  Then, they went home.  

I went to a night market at Murarrie - Mama Mia's Mini market - and I made over $70 at that one market alone.  So, that made up my mind.  I was going to have one last market at Springwood and take up any other market I was offered - within reason - and pay nothing over $30 for a spot and make sure it was undercover (and pay extra for that if needs be).  Anyway, I've been booked into two other markets since my last market tomorrow... and they're all at the Murrarie.  I can't wait!  

I also started up a website on wix.com.  It's very cool and I love it.  I attached it to my Facebook page and people have been able to see my work on there better and read the blog there instead of just look at the pictures on my Facebook page; and there's a calendar there too, so they can keep up with where I'm going to be at as well.  I've also made the page cute and pretty enough that people will want to come back and look at it more too.  But it still needs work, as I've only just put it up online.  

Lynda's Crafty Pegs

So, there you go... what I've been up to over the last two months; and why I've been so quiet lately.  Until my next post, keep creating! 

Busy Working On A New Line for Crafty Pegs

Yes... I've been busily working on a new lot of things to sell at the Creative Markets for people to buy.  I'm hoping to get my customers interested in purchasing photo frames, Mega-Pegs and other such things all prettied up, wrapped up and ready to sell by the end of next month.

Also by the end of next month, I'll have a new small table to add to my set-up with a smallish suitcase I'm hoping to purchase from Brighton.  During August I'm visiting my brother and his girlfriend and there's a place not far from their house which sells vintage furniture and wares; and I'll be getting the suitcase from there.  

Anyway, I'm working on these things and my writing and other arty things around the house.  I'm also working on cleaning out my place too - still! - and it's going quite well.

So, what have you been working on lately?  A lot?  A little?  Is there anything creative you've begun and want to share, or is it still on the drawing board?  Until my next post, keep creating!

What a Month and... Where Has it Gone?

We are halfway through July and I'm wondering just where it's disappeared to. 

I've done so much and yet feel as though I've done so little.  But that's how things go when you're having fun I guess.  I worked hard on my Grandma's Glory Box and it's come up a real treat.  Now this Friday and the weekend, I just have to get my butt into working on the lid and putting bees wax polish into it all and getting everything put back together and it brought to my place... this will take a day or so to do, but it will happen.  
During that time, Mum wants to get the table for the basin, jug and wash set that she's given me for my bedroom and bring it to my place at the same time - which sounds like a good idea.

And just last night, I started seriously working on really brightly painted pencils and more pegs to pull together more stock for the Creative Markets.  I've got 5 Cool Pencils so far which are beautifully bright and aimed towards girls - as boys aren't looking at them anymore - and there's going to be a new line of things I'm bringing in at the end of August.

So, I've been very busily working away at my little hobby business to get it hopping along again.  I'm also working at my Secret Santa's present for my craft group; and I'm halfway through it... I'm looking forward to seeing it finished and giving it to the lady who it's going to.  I hope the person who is my Secret Santa is working on something nice for me too.

So, do tell, what have you been up to?  It's Winter here in Australia, so working indoors is something that us Aussies do quite a bit during the colder seasons... but I've been working outside and inside lately.  Have you been working in the garden, working on your craft, or have you been finding you're kicking back and keeping warm (or cool if you're in other climates)?  Love to know what you're all up to.  Until my next post, keep creating.

Grandma's Glory Box

Over the last few months, I've been thinking about getting my Grandmother's Glory Box out of storage and fixing it up for my own uses.  

Well, this week, I did just that, and it's looking great after 4 full, straight days of work.  I spent 6 hours each day at Mum and Dad's house working on this box and have put a lot of shellac on it, and it looking gorgeous!  I love it... 

Now, I have to wait for a week to go back to it.  But that doesn't mean I don't have other projects to do. However, I do have a few other busy things to get done before I get in and work on a box and my Great-Grandmother's Singer Sewing Machine (which still works!).

So, what have you been up to lately?  You know what I've been doing... and why I haven't been on here lately.  I'd like to know what you've been doing with yourselves - art-wise - in your lives.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Frida Kahlo

I absolutely adore Frida Kahlo's work, really I do.  She had such a passion for life and painted with brilliant colours and heart that she wasn't appreciated enough in her life when she was alive... and now she's no longer with us, everyone loves her work.

It's not the most amazing thing about her though...

I watched a movie about her life last night, this movie caused me to think hard about how much pain - physical pain - she suffered throughout her life.  

At a young age, Frida was involved in a bus accident which caused her to be in a full-body plaster cast for a long time because her back was badly damaged.  And due to the damage happening in a time when doctors could do very little for her, she just had to put up with the treatments of the time - the 1920's and 1930's. 

However, she was a determined woman.  She vowed to walk again.  She vowed to make something of herself - and she did.  Frida had to work hard for what she wanted in life; as being a artist was wrong for a woman in the eyes of society.  Frida changed that through a lot of hard work and a supportive family, friends and husband - who just couldn't stay loyal to her no matter how many chances she gave him.
However, she traveled with him when he was given chances to work in New York City and around America.  And they soon found out she was unable to have children when she miscarried and nearly died.  There was so much in this movie that I can't cover it in just this post.  However, I loved its colour, its beauty, how the paintings were mixed in with her life, her loves and her pain.  The whole piece was brilliantly cast and I want to see it again just to enjoy it even more.

What do you love about your favourite artist?  Mine is Frida Kahlo... and for a variety of reasons, I can relate to her.  However, I'd like to know yours.  Until my next post, keep creating.

Creative Minds

I've been very busy over the last few weeks... and have forgotten to write here.

But since my last post, I've acquired my own set of wheels!  Yep, Mum's Pajero is gone and I have a car that is cheaper to run in its place.  It's so much fun to work with and I've done the Creative Markets with it already too.

However, I've been working on getting myself to art stores lately to buy some more mat spray varnish.  And seeing the Garden City store of Riot Art is currently closed, the one at the Hyperdome is the one I've been going to instead for my supplies.

Then, there's cheap stores I've been going to get my magnets too - which only cost me $2.00 for 10... so I grab about 6 packets if they have them.  Otherwise, I'll get these magnets at the Riot Art Store at the Hyperdome instead.  It's further to go, but if I don't, I don't have the supplies to work with.

I have more coathangers than I know what to do with, and I've had a suggestion of painting door stops from Mum to sell.  I'll be looking into these for the next market; and buying the blank ones from Bunnings.  However for now, I'll see how I go with what I have now.  

It's now a week before the next Creative Markets - which are on 25th, May - and I'm relaxing and taking it easy.  I'm reading books, cleaning up and listening to music while I'm writing this.  However, I'm also thinking about what else I can do to make my market stall better.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Easter Coming Up

The weather is changing and I've been working on new designs and other things for the Creative Markets this month.  I'm looking forward to them; and hopefully I'll have as much fun as I've been having over the last few times.

This month I've been more relaxed and working a little less, however there's a good reason for that.  I've had to go off to my optometrist to get myself another set of glasses for close-up work.  He saw the kind of work I've been doing and said it's a good idea to get myself a pair for what I'm doing; instead of straining my eyes.

So, there's that.

I've also been back to Bunnings and looking at getting a clothes line and a basket to make my Crafty Pegs stall more authentic-looking.  It didn't cost me much, but it'll look a lot more peggy and fun now.

So, what have you been up to lately?  A lot of fun stuff or just kicking back and enjoying the cooler/warm weather?  Until my next post, keep creating!

Been Busily Creative

I've been busy and haven't had time to blog.

Must apologise for this.

However, I have some great news!  I'm a permanent member of the retailers at the Creative Market!  Yay!  How cool is that?  Very cool, if I do say so myself!  I was called 'The Peg Lady' by almost everyone I talked to at the end of March, and I was also told that I pushed out the last peg lady... I didn't mean to, but I took all her other customers.

Well... I have been busily working on other things since the markets.  I pulled apart the Sprung Pegs and put them into their own set collections of all vine flowers or dotty flowers or inverted dots or all squares, and will see if they sell next month.  

And just today - while I was at Bunnings - I got a great idea.  I bought a real clothes peg basket for $5.40 and a 24 meter length of white clothes line to string up on my stall so I could hang up my pegs all along the table... show people what they could hang up with my pegs.  Pretty cool, eh?

Also today, I was off to the optometrist.  I had to get myself fitted up for a pair of glasses for close-up work.  Graeme saw the kind of work I do and thought it was a good idea I came in and saw him for a new set of specs for my kind of detailing work... so my eyes were feeling like they were hanging out of my head all the time.  Besides, my reading glasses aren't designed for this kind of work; but the ones he's ordered for me are.  And he's thrilled I've created a job for myself - and he liked my Facebook page of Crafty Pegs too!  Very cool!

Anyway, what have you been up to?  I've got about a week before I can use my new glasses with my work - and not feel like my eyes are always tired.  And yes, I'll show you what my new specs look like too; they're very pretty.  Until my my next post, keep creating!