Ethics

Recently, I had somebody ask me to do a commissioned set of pegs. However, the client didn't ask me to do just any of my designs, they asked me to do original Aboriginal Dot Art. 

I said no.

You see, I'm not Aboriginal, nor do I have any ancestors who are Aboriginal. So, I have no right to produce this kind of artwork and no legal right to sell it to anyone.

Yes, I was taught by an Aboriginal artist - Nevil MacKenzie - to do Aboriginal Dot Painting. He taught a class of us here in Logan City and he also taught us how to read their paintings. It was a great experience... I'll never forget it and have never forgotten my lessons. 

I made lovely work for my family, and they love it all. However, I have never painted anything in the Aboriginal Dot Painting style and sold it because I have no rights to.

I tried to tell this to my client and asked them to pick another design and I'd do it for them. But they explained they wanted a set of the Original Crafty Pegs in the Aboriginal Dot Artwork for her friend in Finland. I still said no and ethically it was wrong for me to do anything like that... and legally I could get in some serious shit for selling it to her. I could lose my business for doing it.

She didn't seem to care less if I got into any shit, so long her friend got the pegs. 

I said maybe, see what I can do.

Maybe doesn't mean yes.. it means no.

If I said no to start with and am pushed by somebody and I turn around and say maybe, it means no.


So, when doing your work - if you've picked up your style from another indigenous style and adapted it to your own - and somebody asks you to do some original works for them (because they don't care about your ethics) and you've said no... don't cave to them, keep to your standards.

Until my next post, keep creating.

New Little Ideas Coming To Light

I have had one idea after another over the past few weeks. However getting them to work quickly is frustratingly slow.

It's not that I haven't tried - it's money that's the issue. I have little of the money I need and a lot of the ideas which are pouring out of my head and I can't seem to keep up with.

I love that I am having these ideas, but it's the time I don't have to make them work... well, I was hoping to get some of the ideas working by next month, and see how they go. But it seems I have to wait on a few things and see how it all happens while I work on other projects I still have on hand.

There's a commission I am working on - which is taking its sweet time to get going as my brain just isn't switched on into is, because it's from my old work from years ago and I don't do the style I've been asked to do anymore. The customer asked me to do Aboriginal dot and in the colours and I told her I legally can't; but she pushed me about it. I'll have to see what I can do. Deep down, I really don't want to do them because I have my ethics and know I'm not allowed to make that kind of art and sell it. I'm not an Aboriginal and it wouldn't be right.

So, I've made the decision and will not do the pegs the customer asked me to do; and I will have to explain again why. Yes, I'm an artist, but no I can't do those types of designs due to the laws and that I'm not indigenous; and I'm not permitted to sell Aboriginal artwork.

Other ideas are going well, yet slowly - as usual - and I've got around seven coat hangers all in some way either in the beginning, middle or ending stages of being painted. Then, there's the picture frames... oh do I have picture frames! I have new ones from yesterday and then there's other ones from a week or two ago and then there's one I'm donating to Old School Tattoo and Barber Shop for their raffle - the big black one with gold and silver flowers I can't sell at the markets. I can't wait to get into that venture with them. 

So, what have you been up to? Now you know why I haven't been here for a bit. Until my next post, keep creating.

Mama Mia Craft Markets For August

Yesterday, I had a market in a new location at Bulimba. This was good because it had more foot traffic and bad because the last time I tried to find it - via the GPS - it took me over an hour to get my butt home.  That stupid GPS took me all over Brisbane before getting me back on the highway.

Damned thing!

Anyway, I digress.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day for the markets and I'm happy we had such great weather for what we did. The outdoor stalls had plenty of room to spread out, there was shade as well from the trees and we had more adults coming than children - which is always a plus.

However, parking was a real hassle. I had to park far away; which didn't bother me during the day, but when the market finished at 6pm, it was dark and I had to walk to my car in that darkness. At 5pm, the police came out and booked anyone parked even an inch onto the yellow lines around the place (which thankfully wasn't me) and they didn't wait for you to move your car, they just did it quickly. One of the retailers said he'd never seen a cop pounce so fast in all his life!

But we did have a good time networking and talking - even if we didn't sell many goods; due to being in a new location. A lot of the locals did say that it was about time a craft market came to the area; and some of them wondered if it was going to stick around. I hope we get to that place as a regular thing; as the locals hope too.

We did have some teething problems with setting up - as you always do in a new place - but they were cleared up by the organiser. Her friend, and helper, there came up and handled my gear without clearing with me first; shoving things against the wall and pushing my back table (where I put my cashbook, calculator and hide my water and food away from people normally) into the dressing room, saying I didn't need it, when I did - otherwise I wouldn't have brought it with me.  Of course I defended myself and the organiser came to see what was going on and backed me, advising her helper not to just grab a retailer's belongings without asking first; especially when they've begun setting up. 

So, after all those hours, we all networked, chatted and lived through that earthquake - which had no affect on any of us - and then we packed up and went home.  It was a very exhausting day and I took a little under $20... oh well, next time will be better. Until my next post, keep creating.

Moving On In A Cold Snap

Brisbane is going through a cold snap and I've been very active in my creativeness over that time... and before it too.

However I'm also not well; having come down with the cold/flu that's doing the rounds at this time of year.  Yep, I burnt myself out after 6 months of being on the go without a good rest and caught the first cold that I came up against... oh yay, how fun.

Oh well, it happens to the best of us, and it's just our bodies telling us to slow down.

But I've worked on and finished that large piece of work for my bedroom and it's looking great.  My neighbours who leave their light on unintentionally have yet to do just that to see if it does work out... but I do believe I have this little problem kicked and I'll be able to sleep a full night with a lovely painting on my wall. 

Anyway, I've been taking care of myself with this cold and the worst of it is over... except the cough, which is making me sound like a foghorn, but it'll go away soon too.

Over the last few days, I've been sanding down more photo frames to paint up for the next few markets, looking at working on more pegs, coat hangers and wrapping up more stock for the Lucky Dip for the next market so more stock gets moved on... yep, I'm hoping to get in and work on more things sooner.  Anything not sold in the market in September, is going to be in the Lucky Dip for October.

It seems as though I'm going to be busy, but I'm not really, it's just working out what will sell, what won't and how much wrapping paper to buy at the $2.00 store. So, how has your creativeness be going? Better than mine I hope!  Until my next post, keep creating!

Another New Creation In Progress

Being an artist really does change one's life, and the way you look at things.

Like housework for example. I just don't get the point in my house being totally and completely tidy... because in my mind, the more clutter there is, the more likely I'll be able to create something very cool to work with.

Last week, I started a new painting at a friend's house at Thorneside. I did this because it's a messy process and usually I get paint absolutely everywhere!  So, I used their garage to start it off. Well, I worked from 11am Thursday morning until 11pm that night and I got further in a messy garage than I ever would have in my own place; mainly because of a few good reasons:

1. I live in a unit complex. There's kids everywhere who just wouldn't leave me alone, other kids who would steal things from my carport and then say they didn't do it. And while I've gone and left my piece of work alone in my carport to go to get a drink or to go to the toilet, they'd do something to the painting or poke a hole in the canvas, and well, ... goodbye $40 I spent on a canvas... I may as well throw it out.

2. I simply don't have the space to flick paint all over my house, carpet and I don't think my Dad would like seeing paint all over the wall of the carport (which would also bring down the selling price of my place). 

Anyway, since Thursday, I've really gotten in and worked on this piece. It's gone from nothing to something, and each night, I do work on it more and more to make it better.  

The Beginning

The Framework

So Far, So Good

New Table Cloths and New Stock

It's cold and raining here in Brisbane; and this means staying indoors and keeping warm and occupied with either housework (meh, boring) or arty crafty stuff (yay! Exciting!)...I'm leaning towards the latter, I know you are!

This week, I scored three free bolts of fabric from a friend who's cleaning out his house; and they're just gorgeous! So, I brought them home but left them in the car to take to my folks' place to use.

Well!  I've made some table cloths with them, and began a curtain for the bathroom (it really needed a curtain for some privacy). 

Anyway, after three and a half hours at Mum and Dad's house, a lot of measuring, pinning and tacking, I got my table cloths all sewn up on my machine on their kitchen table.  I used their house because of the space they have in the living room - which I lack greatly - and that they're not there right now... plus the wild birdies loved it that I was there to feed them today too (man, they're such cuties!).

Well, my idea worked out really well, as I came home with all my gear, left the rest of the material in the spare room at Mum and Dad's place and pulled out my tables to see how it all went... and you know something?  The table cloths worked out just fine!  

The major one was a under-cloth - a double-sided one! - of my original calico cloth sewn to the new green material so I could use the green cloth with the new overhanging floral design one market and the calico and the red/white flower overhanging designs at another market... give my stall a bit of fun and elegance if needs be.  A bigger plus is that with the cloths sewn together like this, it will also make the cloth heavier and more sturdy when I'm outside at school fairs.

Well, what have you been up to which is just as creative as this? Until my next post, keep creating.

A Busy Time

The last few weeks have been crazy. 

Honestly, it has.

I have had markets to prepare for and writer's block to contend with - damned thing! - and then I found a very cool chair in my unit complex; and I mean it's retro!

So, I took it to my folk's house and refurbished it!  It took me about a week and I loved getting to know it.  And seeing it wasn't all that aged, Dad helped with the sander - a tiny little one - which worked hand in hand with the hand-sanding, I found the work just moved smoothly.

Anyway, before I knew it, my chair was off to the upholsterer's at Slacks Creek where I picked out a fabric and they took 2 weeks to get it done... now? Well, it arrived home last Thursday; and I haven't had any time to get to know my chair.

It's sitting here in my office waiting for me to snuggle into it... and isn't it the most lovely Reading Chair you're ever likely to see?

Anyway, the Murarrie Mini-markets were on yesterday and even though there were lots of stalls, not many people showed up.  So, not many of us made as many sales as we had hoped. There were three factors working against us: the long weekend, the Life Line Book Fest and the Scrapbook and Craft Show in the city... yeppers, they were all working against us; as people were either in the city or taking off out of the city to have that great long weekend either down the coast or up the coast.  Either way, nobody wanted to go to a craft market this weekend...

Oh well... there's always next time. 

Until my next post, keep creating!

Been Busy!

Oh, yes!  I've been busy indeed!

First off the Murarrie State School Organic and Craft Markets were great!  The day was gorgeously sunny and lovely - our first Winter's day too - and the crowds were bigger than last time. There were plenty of foodies there, as well as other great things for the kiddies to do - like a huge jumping castle!

We had a few stall owners who complained that they didn't know about the market until a few days before. 

Okay... I'm going to say something that might offend some people:  if you don't do you homework - you don't follow up on your inquiries and e-mails and look on Facebook - you're not going to know anything about where the market is.  Just sayin'.  We were informed that this market was postponed for two weeks.  We were told last week about it all still being on too... so when I showed up and everything was in full swing at 7:20am, I wasn't surprised to find parking difficult.

Even though I broke even, it was a lovely day.  It didn't rain until the very end, when we were all packing up, and even then, it was just a light shower and it went away. But we all had a wonderful day.


Earlier that week, I had found a great chair in my unit complex. It was all wrapped up and shoved into the recycling area up the back.  After unwrapping it with one of my neighbours, we looked at each other as a lovely chair was revealed. I asked if she wanted it; and she said no.  So I took it home.

Over the weekend, I've been moving it from one place to the next and sanding down the arms to prepare it for varnishing.  That was on Sunday.

Today, I Dad and I took to their place where I finished sanding it and put two coats of varnish on it... and wow!... what a difference this has made to it so far!

This week, I have to put on a couple of coats of clear top coat and then drop it off to the furniture guy to get cushions made for it... now that's going to be fun! And... well, by then, there'll be more photos to show off!  So, how was your week? Busy like mine?  Hope so!  Until my next post, keep creating!

Busy Times Ahead... And Now...

Wow... it's starting to get really busy really quick and it's at the right time of getting really busy too.

I have markets starting up fast, a new line of work being included into 'Crafty Pegs' at my markets and a recycle/reinvent challenge my craft group online have introduced for us to take part in which has just started up for me today.

Okay, how did that happen?  I found a chair at the back of my unit complex.  This chair wasn't just any chair.  It was all wrapped up, looking like it was going to be moved or had been delivered or something, and the people didn't want it; so they dumped it up the back still wrapped up.
Today, I happened to put out my rubbish and chat to a neighbour who was told me that her next door neighbours just dumped their crap there, and something that was wrapped up (and who would wrap something then dump it?).  So, I went over and looked at it, unwrapped it and - OMG! - what a gorgeous chair! 

Okay, it doesn't have its cushions and it does have a little wear and tear on it, but I who cares.  I'll fix all that needs fixing on it.

It's going to become my Reading Chair... and I love it that it's got all that wear on it; that means it's got history.

Otherwise, I've been knitting up a storm of dishcloths.  People love them.  I've got a commission to make three for a lady who is an artist at the gallery; and I'm currently halfway through the first dishcloth she's asked me to make for her.  Very cool.

Well, there you have it.  I'm busy, busy, busy.  But I'll keep you updated with the chair, photos of what's going on with it, and how pretty it's going to look too.  

And the market for this week is at Murrarie State School; it was postponed from 2nd May due to bad weather conditions.  This week, it'll be back on - without a doubt! - and I hope to see you there.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Working Up A Storm!

I've been working hard on my new line of dishcloths over the last month or so.  They've come up a real treat!  The display looks wonderful!

Dishcloth Display

And today, I got back into working on my actual Crafty Pegs workbench where I sat down and painted up some pegs and pencils to some good hard rock music. 

What a great afternoon! 

I painted up 3 pencils, got some pegs all sorted out and cleaned up a lot of plates in the fridge ready to be used over the next few months.

By the time all this got done, it was around 4pm and I had started at 1:30pm.  So, there was a fair bit of fiddly word done and I sat down and did at bit of knitting for another hour or so before getting in and figuring out what to have for dinner.

I've been knitting for the last 3 hours... now that's a lot of work between two different patterns and colours to be done.  Tomorrow, I'm off to Spotlight to find a few more counters for myself.  This is so I can do more patterns on other needles and get more done.  I have only one counter, and so if I want to get in and do another complex pattern I can't while I am using that one.  

Well, what have you been up to in your craft lately? Until my next post, keep creating!

NB:  The Murarrie State School Organic & Craft Markets were postponed over the weekend due to the harsh weather conditions preceding it.  It will be held, instead, on 16th, May from 9am - 2pm.  I will still be there.