Catch Up Time!

I've been meaning to catch up with you all about what I've been up to lately. However the internet has only just been connected back up here after almost two weeks without it. Yep, Optus disconnected me and I was borrowing internet off my folks... long story short, they got back in contact with me, helped me back online and worked it all out. But there was no explanation of why it occurred.

But I kept myself busy during that time. I made a few pin cushions, started up my decluttering and began reading 'Lord of the Rings' again. I also started on a new self-portrait as well - it's been a while since I did one of those. I've also started thinking about looking into getting a new dining room table to be able to work on getting myself into doing more sewing (as my current one tips to one side if I put the sewing machine on it). 

Otherwise, I've begun writing again in long hand and have to get the car fixed for a second time for the same thing - fortunately it won't cost me anything because it's under warranty.

The garden it being looked at for this Winter - which means I'll be saving up money left and right for the next few months to get whole lot of the larger plants repotted and move smaller ones into the remaining pots left over... making the garden bigger. 
During the colder months, I'll be looking into working on making my home even more mine by clearing out more things so when Spring comes around, I'll be able to make more clothes and bags (which is the plan with the new dining room table) and keep the house tidier as well... and find more space with another little cabinet from Fantastic Furniture. 

By the end of the year, I hope to have my house with less rubbish, more of my style and working in such a way I don't feel as though I need to keep everything. I'm being brutal with my decluttering as it is anyway and I'm pleased with that. However I'm looking forward to being at the Boutique Markets next year again. Taking a year off wasn't a great idea - I feel like I'm at lose ends and am wasting my time... however I'm not really. I'm finding new things to add to my stall, old things to remove from it and better things to make it truly my own. 

So, you know what I've been up to, I hope you can all pop over to my new Pinterest Page and have a good look at the beginnings of my 'Craft Things' page to see what I've been up to. I'll be adding to this page over time so you can keep up with it all too. Until my next post, keep creating!

Back To Crafting At Springwood

Today I started back at the Queen Beez Craft Group at the community centre up the road from my parents' house. It was so good to catch up with the ladies there; despite how hot it's been lately - and today was so very steamy too!

Thankfully we had a nice storm and a good drenching of rain to help with the humidity. But the air-conditioning was something of a blessing to us inside. The ladies were amazed at how long my hair has grown since last December and that my right hand has healed so well since I was unable to really work with it the last time I was there.

They were equally amazed at what I've been up to lately too over the last month since my scar has healed properly. I have been making some lovely pin cushions - double-sided ones - of all sizes and have started selling them online as well as by chance when people walk into the Logan Art Gallery.
But not everyone was pleased about my little endeavour of how I was making them. The one lady I thought would love them wasn't pleased with them. She said 'they were okay... I guess.' and wouldn't touch them. She asked if I missed out on putting the tassel and cord in for the scissor-keeper. I said no, and that I had made them bigger and heavier so they were pin cushions for traveling, or for that time for when you don't need so many pins, or when you just need to use needles and that's it. She still didn't like them and walked off.
Ilene - one of the other ladies - told me that this lady who had taught me needlepoint last year, and had helped me through my first day when I burst into tears - didn't think of it first. And seeing I did, she didn't like it. I thought my teacher was being a wet blanket about it when a student does better than her. And that's the thing about teaching somebody something: if your student becomes the teacher and shows you something new, never poo-poo it. It's just not right.

Everyone else loves my double-sided pin cushions. They think they're wonderful; and that's it's even better that I have already sold two of them before going to the markets. 

First one sold

Lady Lace Tiny One I use

Aren't they the cutest things? They take three days to make and I have made about twelve of them so far. They price between $10 and $20Aust with a shipping fee depending where you live of $3.00 Domestic and $5.00 International (anywhere in the world). 

So, what have you been up to over the New Year period? Do let us all know. Until my next post, keep creating!

A Busy Little Crafter!

I've been busy since I got out of hospital. My stitches have healed beautifully; however I do still have a few nerve and muscle twinges from time to time.

This hasn't stopped me from working on new things for next year. 

The bottle cap magnets are one step forwards, two steps back... as all new things are. One of them came apart, so I have to figure out why that is, while the other two are still together.
Then, I started on working on painting door stops. The first one is lovely, but really, I don't think I'll put the rubber on the back, I'll just leave them the way they are - or figure out another way to make them work better.
And just last night, I started working on a newer thing I've been thinking about over the last week: pin cushions. But they're not the traditional type. Well until my next post, keep creating.

Preparing For Christmas

Over this time of year, I kick back, relax and fight the crowds to buy last minute presents for relatives... yep, my present-buying is all done by this time of the year.

However, my grocery shopping continues on... as much as I hate going, go I must as the pantry and fridge doesn't fill itself.

This year, I found myself a very cool thin bookcase at the back of the unit complex and it was left by some Indians in unit 43 before they moved out to be tossed out... it looks a little worn out, but nothing bad has happened to it - so I nabbed it!

I have also moved everything from next to the stereo to my upstairs wardrobe, as this week is the week I get my new/used washing machine from a friend who is moving to Tassie permanently. The machine is only 3 years old and is an expensive one too; just after my 13 year old Hoover/Simpson's timer bit the dust on me... and my machine has never missed a beat in all the time I've had it. I had it serviced 3 times and fixed once under warranty; but it's been a good machine to me. 

Over this time of year, I kinda chill out with a book, or watch a couple of movies, clean up the craft area and look after the garden more... an myself. I have been doing just that by getting all my sun cancers removed on 26th, November and this week the stitches come out... I'm looking forward to that because I can then put up the Christmas tree, decorate the house properly and look after the place better. 

Well, that's all for now. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New and Creative Year. Until then, keep creating!

It's been a While

I have been busy... yep, the creative block melted away and i got busy with learning more needlepoint. 

i also got busy with creating more ideas for the markets next year... yeah my idea factory in my head never seems to run out. just when i think i haven't thought of a new thing, bang! i get a new idea for something...

so, i started collecting metal bottle caps and i asked friends to send me some too from across the world. then, i had my sun cancers removed from my arms and hands - and i got stuck with a bandaged up hand; causing me to not only be brought to the coast for a week, but to be away from my craft table too.

but the ideas have kept on flowing. i'm glad about that... and i can't wait to get home to make my ideas go from just that into things to sell next year. until my next post, keep creating!

Creatively Blocked

I've been creatively blocked - and not in just my writing - it's been in every aspect of my life, from painting to my craft work, and I hate it!

When I get creatively blocked, it affects everything around me - not just my craft work and my writing. It affects my reading habits, the way I sleep (if I sleep) and how I run my life as well. It's really annoying.

This has been going on for about three months or so and over the last week, I've had the opportunity to go to a bookstore and peruse its shelves. Just doing that is relaxing to me; and it gets me out of the house too; and I love it more if it's a second-hand bookstore. The best thing is that I found a great book to read which snapped me out of my creative block and now I'm creating more than ever!

This is a great thing and I can't wait until tomorrow to get myself to my work bench and creating again... I'll be focused to keep working on my next lot of gear for the markets; and it's all new gear too! 

Until my next post, keep creating!

Wet and Rainy Days

I love doing craft things during wet days; even though it takes ages for things to dry. I could sit and paint, glue, stain and work at things until the cows come home - and really it's because I'd be sitting at my work bench (or standing, depending on how I feel) and just working on new pegs, new coat hangers or new little portraits until the light fades from the back door.

And I'd be happy... buzzing with caffeine from the many ice coffees I'd made that day, but happy.

Rainy days are the best time for me to get into the craft and work the hardest at them - and they're also the worst. My arthritis plays up in my right hand and wrist and I can't grip things as well as I normally can on dry days; and that sucks. So, when these days come along, I wish my joints didn't play up so much. But on the other hand (pun intended), I don't mind the grey skies which keep me trapped inside all day long.

Besides, right now, I'm working on a birthday gift for my niece, Riley, and it's taking some time to get finished. Some of it I have bought and hopefully she'll love, while the rest of it I'm making for her as it's something of a special birthday - her 16th - and I'm making sure she has something special to have her whole life. I'm not revealing anything until her birthday comes up... as some of it might not work out; yep it's experimental and I haven't done this before. And if it works out, I'll see if I can work it into my usual works for the markets.

Otherwise, in the past few weeks, I've been getting into staining any of the coat hangers I have in my wardrobe - to give them a little bit of class. These are the rejected coat hangers I can't paint up but I don't want to throw out as they're not that dreadful, they're just not good enough to use. 

I'm also learning new things at the Queen Beez Craft Group - needlepoint. Now, I'm not much a stitcher, but I'm getting there. My hands aren't used to all the threading and I'm not used to counting all those threads, but I'm enjoying the learning. And Mum's so proud of me for doing this as I'll be getting some other new things done soon... I've been thinking of getting in and working on a pin cushion. So far, I've cut out the squares of material for it, and now I have to decide on the design. This ought to be fun!

Well, that's everything from the last few weeks. I've been meaning to come on here and tell you all about the new things, old things and other craft things I've been doing - but have been so busy lately I haven't had time. What have you been up to? Until my next post, keep creating! 

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.