Really, Really Close!

If anyone were reading this, I would say to them that I am so very close to posting all of my items on the etsy shop. I have been up to my elbows in art, but getting all the finishing touches done is very time consuming.

GOOD THINGS:

* I am buying a computer with my tax return, which means I will be mobile and able to sync my camera with a personal computer rather than work computer on my lunch break. Having accessibility to a computer at home will have a huge impact on my blogging and shopkeeping.

* In January I joined the Burlington City Arts Clay Studio. I have been making ceramic acorns, mythical beasts (0kay, animals that were supposed to look like real animals and don't), and an exciting surprise creature that will integrate clay and wool! I'm getting ready to bisque my pieces for the first time and then glaze them and watch the magical transformation of mud into art. I can't wait to post pictures! The cats are always trying to eat the clay at home, so I think I'll be spending a lot of time physically at the studio. Kind of a bummer because I love making art in my pajamas, but one has to make exceptions now and then.

* I have a full line of wool creatures ready to go! There are penguins in love, koala bears, foxes, pigs, polar bears, frogs, birds, whales, bees, manatees, and mermaids!

* I have a full collection of vintage pieces to list on etsy including a beautiful Russian brass tile with a stork done in enamel on it. I also found some fun glass birds, mid-century brass mice, and bakelite plastic boars that are cuter than buttons. Buttons aren't that cute, but you get the idea.

BAD THINGS:

* My art is time consuming! While I hope that I sell all of my creations, keeping my shop stocked will be a Herculean effort. It has consumed almost all of my free time. I've become one of those people who always has a project in her hands. This is the life I want for myself, but I can see how being an artist is a full time job. Maybe someday I can quit my day job and be an artist full time - I'd even love to teach art part of the day...but for now, my humble beginnings must remain humble.

UP AND COMING:

* I'm going to be adding an excercise regime to my day! This isn't art-related, but I'm happy about it nevertheless.
* I'm going to be expanding on the mermaid line I started. The mermaids are very popular and have wild curly hair. I think everyone wants to be a mermaid with wild curly hair.
* I'm going to venture into the world of sewing little creatures using vintage fabrics. I need some assistance in learning how to make patterns, but I would love to sew dolls and plush animals.

That's all I have for an update for now. No one is reading this anyway, but I like to hope one day someone will. It's good to keep track of the process. Pictures soon! I'm aiming for a mid-February opening date for the etsy shop....time to get busy(ier)!

Wool Paintings and New Tiny Needles

I recently purchased a set of four (but she sent five!) teeny tiny felting needles from fellow Etsian Fantiny and am astounded by the detail work I'm able to do. So far I've made a tiny felted pig and am currently working on a series of wool paintings done on a pre-felted square. The painting is turning out beautifully. The strands of wool are almost like watercolor. I'll be taking some pictures tonight and posting them. I have to find a good way to showcase the paintings, and am considering using embroidery hoops. We'll see!

I'm excited to get back into art after having spent the last few months dealing with some trying family issues. I'm hoping to ramp up my esty business and spend more time in my studio making my dreams come true.

Blubber

September is like Christmas for me. I have many family members and friends who have birthdays this month, so the needle-felting has gone a lot more slowly than I initially anticipated. Also, I've been kind of slacking on photographing the whole process - something I'm hoping to remedy when I have a little more life energy.

For my birthday (mid-September), my husband, sister, and I went to the New England Aquarium and on a whale watch. I fell in love with some Harbor Seals in front of the Aquarium and came home to stab out some plumpy seals. They need some finishing touches, but boy are they cute. I realized that any creature with a layer of blubber is tops in my book.

Pictures soon? I hope.

Stabbin' and Slicin'

After a delightful (sunny) long weekend spent with family, I feel recouperated enough to take up the stabbing again. Unfortunately, I sliced off some of my finger last night on a vegetable manolin, and this will put a small dent in production. It's hard to want to needlefelt when you're tired, as the incidence of stabbing one's self in the thumb with a barbed needled increases tenfold.

I finally figured out the close-range lens on the camera, making it breezier to take fantastic pictures of the plumpies. I'm also finding that each plumpy is different - as it should be. No two will ever be exactly alike. This pleases me greatly.

I'm going to work on getting pictures up this week of my works-in-progress!!!!

Plumpies and Heycorns Oh My!

I've been hard at work redesigning my business vision. I've planned, primped, ordered supplies, and stabbed into creation my new line of needle-felted creatures known as Plumpies. They fit right in the palm of your hand, are fat (of course), and ridiculously cute. I will be posting the whole lot of them online in the coming weeks. As I build inventory, I hope to sell them on Esty and at a local toystore called Jamie Two-Coats that specializes in Waldorf inspired, handmade toys.

It's been a while since I've opened my tin of watercolors, and hopefully will get back to those again someday soon. Right now, I'm loving creating animals in 3D.

I will post a family photo of the first round of Plumpies this week. I'm so excited!

Fox

Watercolors - Work to Date