The Kitschen Crockpot

Oopsies!

2006-08-21T20:59:00.000-05:00

You know how proud I was of that knuck? Well, it turns out I made a mistake. Two mistakes, actually. I finished the other knuck, realized that I missed a couple repeat rows. I thought it was no big deal, because I thought I made the same mistake on the first one, and it fit anyway. Well I did infact skip the repeat rows, but I also somehow managed to do something really weird to the thumb gusset, so they're not the same. Actually, if you look at my previous post, you'll see that my decrease rows are angling the wrong way. I must have put my stitch markers in the wrong place, but really, I have no idea what I did.

Sigh. So I'll be undoing the thumb gusset on both knucks so they will both be correct. And the same, hopefully.

Knuck-a-long!

2006-08-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

I don't post about knitting much here, but I actually knit a lot. In progress at the moment I am working on a Clapotis ... I swear I must be the last internet-savvy knitter on the planet to make one. Little did I know it would be about the most boring project EVER. I live for dropping those stitches. I'm not even halfway done and it's been sitting around for months, save for the hour or so I can muster up the patience to plug through another 12 rows.

Anyway, onto the knucks.

I'm so very proud of myself. I thought the pattern would be way harder than it is. It's actually really fun! I'll try to knit the other glove over the weekend, and then do the cuffs on both. You can see the bright teal ball in the corner. I think I will do some stripey business with it but I haven't decided exactly what my plan is. And then maybe go back and do a little embroidery on the top, too? They are going to be very bright and obnoxious. I figure, hey, I totally learned how to knit GLOVES! I want people to notice!

ATCs

2006-07-28T21:09:00.000-05:00

Here are my completed ATCs for the Glitter ATC swap. I did a series created from sketches made for a larger watercolor painting I'm working on.

And the backs! Complete with my self-portrait and cutie-cozy envelopes.

Thanks Glitterati! It was lots of fun!

Illustration Friday: Clean

2006-07-25T20:59:00.000-05:00

Anyway. This is inspired by my bathroom tile (which is, of course, pristine at all times), sparkling with lemony freshness!

Fun with Watercolor!

2006-07-20T22:05:00.000-05:00

Wow I was re-reading my blog and not only am I ashamed that I've lapsed in posting, but I can't believe I haven't totally swooned about the new Moleskine Watercolor notebooks! I have to restrain myself from waxing poetic about my love of all things Moleskine, and just stick to the Watercolor notebook for the moment.

Usually I woork on good old Arches 140 cold press. It is the best, but you really can't beat the Moleskine for portability. And now I can have all my watercolor sketches neatly together rather than in little shards pinned to my board and falling on the floor in my studio. I'm also interested in trying to do some polaroid transfers on the MW, but I don't have any film at the moment.

The Mini-Review:
As much as I love the Moleskine sketchbooks, they are pretty crappy for painting. The journals are way too thin take anythng harsher than a delicate pen, and the sketchbook pages don't take water well at all. The Moleskine is definately less toothy than the Arches cold press, but this actually works out fine, since I have found that it's a little less fussy to draw on since the page is so small. I was a little worried that with the buckling, the pages would pop right off the perferation. This didn't happen; they're in there nice and snug. There is still some buckling of course, but I can't say I care really since I am one of those lazy artists who never bothers to stretch her watercolor paper anyway. It really takes the paint nicely and dries quickly enough to make sketching on the go a breeze!

The images:

On the fourth of July, my hubs and I went to Longwood Gardens. It was almost a no-go because of some vicious thunderstorms, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.

Just a quick sketch of the caladium growing in my patio garden.

Now I talk about pencils:
The Longwood Gardens sketch was done in the larger Moleskine with some student-grade Faber-Castell WC pencils, which I admittedly bought because: 1. I wasn't that into watercolor at the time and didn't want to cough up a pile of money and 2. I liked the metal tin they came in. After playing in my new book, it was immediately obvious that I needed better pencils. As you can see, the colors are a little cartoon-ish. Unfortunately, this is not just a problem with the pigment, but with the pencil itself. It really moved around when I wet it at first (creating really nice washes, actually), but when it dried, the initial layer was utterly unworkable, and it seemed to sort of seal the paper to make it virtually impossible to layer more color. Anyway, I still really enjoyed sketching at Longwood Gardens.

The caladium was done in the pocket sized Moleskine with my brand spankin' new Prismacolor WC pencils. These were immediately better to work with because I not only had more colors, but I had them in the familiar Prismacolor hues that I already know from the regular colored pencils. As you can see, the Primsacolors are way more saturated than the Faber-Castells. I have way more control over layering with these. The Prismacolors draw more like an actual colored pencil, even a little greasy, and I had to work a little to get a wash. This worked to my advantage, and I was able to build up color much better. Also, by wetting the paper first, I could get fantastic boldness and detail out of the pencils.

So now I have my Prismacolors in my old Faber-Castell case, and also carry a waterbrush and I'm ready for watercoloring all over town! What fun!

Illustration Friday: Sticky

2006-07-03T16:39:00.000-05:00

ATC Envelope Template

2006-06-30T14:34:00.000-05:00

I just joined an Artist Trading Card swap with the wonderful girls at Glitter

In the spirit of craftiness, I came up with an ATC Envelope template so each card can travel safely in its own special wrapper. The dotted lines should be a roomy 2.75" x 3.75" to provide ample space for your card, so be sure to turn off the page scaling in the print options so that it will print correctly.

Download the template in PDF format!

Have fun and email me if you'd like to swap cards!

Illustration Friday: Rain

2006-06-29T15:46:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, this is a topic we are all to familiar with in many parts of the country. My yoga class was cancelled last night because the studio flooded. At one of the classes I attended earlier this spring, as the instructor was coaching us through a series of poses, she said something to this effect:

"Now everyone, turn to your left ... and look at the lovely rain outside! It's so good for the plants and it's so beautiful! Some people don't like the rain, but it's really amazing. Just think, even as it comes down, and the clouds are filling the sky, the sun never stops shining."

I try to remember this when I am inconvenienced by the weather, and envision sunshine filling the sky above the clouds.

Illustration Friday: Jungle

2006-06-15T15:53:00.000-05:00

The Peanut Butter Files

2006-06-07T05:44:00.000-05:00

If you actually know me in real life, you know I love peanut butter! In my ongoing quest to eat more healthy, I have switched to natural peanut butter. I tried to look online to see some sort of review of peanut butters but I haven't found any such thing. Well now there is. I've taken it upon myself to sample all sorts of peanut butters until I find my one true love. Lets' begin.

NB: All these reviews are for the Crunchy variety unless otherwise noted.

Trader Joe's Organic
Saltiness: Medium
Crunchiness: Lame
Texture: Very Smooth
Overall: 8/10
Trader Joe's does a great peanut butter! It's every bit as creamy as Peanut Butter & Co (see below), and is more flavorful. It loses big points due to its inexcusable lack of crunchy bits. Comeon Trader Joe! Get with the program and make Crunchy like you mean it!

Woodstock Farms Organic
Saltiness: Medium
Crunchiness: Below Average
Texture: Slightly Gritty
Overall: 7/10
This has a really nice, roasted flavor. It also seems like some of the red "skins" to the peanuts are in there, which may be why it falls victim to that scary gritty consistency that afflicts some natural PBs. It still is tasty with a balanced saltiness, though not quite crunchy enough for me. Woodstock Farms also makes an organic "classic" peanut butter, which does contain palm oil, but is a good transition if you're not quite sure about making the jump to totally natural.

Peanut Butter & Company Crunch TIme
Saltiness: Medium
Crunchiness: Slightly Above Average
Texture: Very Smooth
Overall: 9/10
This is a really awesome one! It's made by a peanut butter restaurant in Greenwich Village, but you should be able to find it in a local store. The texture is very creamy and it has a slightly sweet, light flavor. The only improvement I would make would be more crunch and maybe a little more salt. I haven't tried their creamy version, but I imagine it would be perfect if you are a creamy eater.

Peanut Butter FAQ
Q: Why Natural?
A: Natural peanut butters have no hydrogenated oils, which are those nasty toxic trans fats! Just peanuts, and salt if you want it. It's great for purists!

Q: It's so OILY though!
A: Don't get grossed out. The oil settles on top, but with a good stir it blends in just fine. Flip the jar upside-down to store and it makes stirring easier. Most natural peanut butters actually have less oil than normal grocery store peanut butters because there is no hydrogenated oils added.

Q: So how do you do your peanut butter sandwich?
Rudi's Organic Bakery European Multi Grain bread. Gobs of crunchy peanut butter. A drizzle of honey or some kind of berry jam (never grape!!). Here's the trick: put the whole thing in the toaster oven for a few minutes to get warm and melty.

Other favorite peanut butter carriers: Granny Smith apples, bananas, and graham crackers.

Q: What's your favorite recipe?
A: The Elvis Sandwich.
Butter two slices of bread.
Peanut butter the other side of each slice.
Fill with sliced banana.
Grill on medium heat until browned on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside.

Illustration Friday: Portrait

2006-06-06T15:43:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! It's been a while -- I've been on vacation! I'm loving the new Illustration Friday site, and am delighted to contribute again!

How to Henna Your Hair

2006-04-25T18:29:00.000-05:00

When people find out that I dye my hair with henna, they are usually very curious about it. So, for the benefit of the inquiring minds dying to know (no pun intended) my most intimate beauty secrets, I've composed a step-by-step on basic hair henna-ing (Complete with embarassing photos).

I had dyed my hair with various chemicals, various colors, for almost ten years, finally deciding that I wanted to be a fiery redhead. I tried all sorts of red hair dyes and even the best ones only looked great for a week before they started to turn brassy or fade. After doing some research, I decided to try henna and have been a henna head ever since. Henna is a natural conditioner, and unlike chemical dyes, it's great for your hair! It is messy, though. It takes several hours, but hey, if you're home anyway, it doesn't matter. You can do some chores or have some spa time. Also it smells funny, but no worse than that knock-out chemical smell of other dyes!

Famous henna heads include Lucille Ball and my beloved late Grandma Hayes. If you want RED hair too, here's how it's done.

If you do some research you can see everyone has their own technique and add-ins to get the color just so. The concocting is not my area of expertise, so I will instead refer you to Henna For Hair as an invaluable resource when first figuring out what to do and how to make your own mix.

Before you get started, you'll need:
* Henna (pure, high quality)
* a glass mixing bowl
* gloves
* plastic spoon
* vaseline

DO NOT USE ANYTHING METAL! It will react to the henna and might turn your hair green.

I use Caca by Lush. Whether you get the brick style Lush henna, or henna powder, the steps are the same.

Using a double-boiler method, slowly add hot water to the henna, stirring constantly until it forms a lovely cake batter consistency. Add in any special fixings you like. I add about a tbs of olive oil for extra conditioning, a tsp of clove and a tsp of paprika to enhance the red. The heat will help the dye release.

Mmm, looks lovely, doesn't it? As you can see, the bowl is sitting in the sink. This is going to be very messy. I cover all around my hairline and ears in vaseline so I don't stain myself orange. Starting at the front of my head, I use the spoon to part my hair, and spread henna all around. I really reccomend the spoon method rather than a traditional hair dye brush. The brush doesn't hold nearly enough henna to be effective, and I ended up splattering all over the place. Part your hair & spread in the henna in about 1/2" - 1" sections, doing the roots first and working towards the ends. Don't be shy either, really glop it in there.

This is about halfway through the application. As you can see, I'm pretty well covered. Keep going! At this point, I just scoop up handfuls of the henna and squish it into my head until I run out. If you have long hair, pile it on top of your head as you go. I don't wear gloves because I am hardcore. But really, it will wash off your hands, and everything else if you wipe it up right away.

Ta-Da! This can be a little tricky. I have wrapped my head up in about a mile of cling wrap. Trust me, you want to do this. Otherwise, you will be leaving a trail of green crud everywhere you go. I stay wrapped for as long as I can stand it - about three or four hours. There will be some dribbling. This is normal. You may want to keep some tissues handy or try wearing an old sweatband to help mop it up.

The wash out: I soak in the tub and swish my hair around, then stand up in the shower to get the last of it out. Rinse Rinse Rinse! I finish off with a little conditioner. I do this every month to keep my locks vibrant and shiny!

Ta-Da! In spite of my very contrast-y face, my hair color is pretty accurate.

Final Thoughts on The Artist's Way

2006-04-19T20:25:00.000-05:00

I'm very proud of myself for having completed the Artist's Way. It feels odd to say "completed" because I know that there are activities left undone, morning pages skipped, and artist's dates lost in the bustle of the week. I even embrace this imperfection, because when I re-visit it there will plenty more for me to discover and devour.

As promised, I have a photograph of my finished sacred space I had sketched out earlier:

I haven't gotten the meditation cushions yet, and I'll add more trinkets to the little bench as they come to me. Right now, the only thing there is my God Jar, the little gold box. It's a place I can go to ask "What next?" or "Why bother?" and to deposit tokens of gratitude and grains of hope. Yes, that is a red mosquito net. You may think it is weird that I actually have and am using a red mosquito net, but I bet, secretly, you kind of wish you did too. You should honor that wish.

Often times, my own affirmations sound contrived and wrong - too weak to overcome my deepest, most negative thoughts. One night, at dance class, I was feeling especially down on myself, specifically about my spinning. I am a true follower when it comes to dancing, and so when I am asked to do a 360 on my own, I get clumsy and wobbly. My teacher recognizes this as a mental block rather than a physical one, and as I pivoted back and forth, he repeated encouragingly, "you are stable ... you are stable." Then I realized that he was right. I am stable. I can spin; I can express my beautiful, unique self through movement and the things I make.

I can't say I necessarily came out of this a great artist, or even a better artist. I am feeling more aware of small miracles, more attentive to my inner artist, and I am trying to take the time and care to be nicer to myself. In fact, in some ways, I am totally spoling myself and I don't even feel guilty about it!

Illustration Friday: Tattoo

2006-04-19T20:19:00.000-05:00

Nevermind that this Illustration Friday topic is, oh, maybe a month old. That's about how long I've been without DSL! Better late than never!

My husband and I were talking about tattoos. He said the only tattoo he would ever consider getting would be one of me. Here's myself in the style of a 50s pin-up girl.

...and my version of the traditional swallow.

Updates Galore!

2006-04-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

Finally! I am back from an unexpected hiatus from having DSL. This has seriously cramped my style. No blog entries for a month, no updating the Kitschen, no reading my favorite blogs and sites, and you should see the paperwork piled up in my office right now. I'm a little scared.

My hubs and I wrapped up our Latin Hustle classes and I feel that I successfully completed my journey through The Artist's Way, though I'm sure I will revisit the book often when I am feeling blocked. I'll write in more detail with some images later this week.

We've moved on to West Coast Swing now, which is so exciting because we have been patiently waiting for the studio to offer it forever! My mom helped me fill up the flower beds, I've signed up for Yoga again, and by all counts Spring is roaring in, and in full force at that.

It's amazing how time slips away. I'm never able to get all I want to in a day, in a week, and before I know it a month is gone by and I feel completely lost!

Illustration Friday: Insect

2006-03-04T10:19:00.001-05:00

1. Pill Bugs aka "Roly-Poly", Buckeystown, MD
I spent a lot of time outside when I was little. One of the joys of playing in the yard was finding these little bugs and watching them roll up in my palm when I picked them up.

2. Nabokov's Blue Butterfly, New York, NY
Vladimir Nabokov is one of my all-time favorite writers, and it was so exciting to see a different fruit of his passion at the Natural History Museum in New York.

3. Cane Spider, Kona, Hawaii
I know that spiders are arachnids and not insects, but this story is too good to pass up. I'm not sure how large this spider appears on your monitor, but I can assure you, without exaggeration, that this particular spider is at least the size of your palm. It's perfectly harmless, but it is huge. My family rented a minivan to tour the Big Island of Hawaii, and while my mom, sister and I were out, this spider crawled into the van. We tried to shoo it out but it crawled under a seat somewhere where we couldn't find it. So, we decided to park the car in the sun, shut all the windows, and hope that the hot afternoon sun would bake it while we spent the afternoon at the beach. We searched again for it when our family loaded in to go to dinner but it was nowhere to be found. It had either died or escaped. In the parking lot, leaving the restaurant, something crawled across my foot and I saw the spider scurry across the floor in the dark. Did I mention my dad is deathly afraid of spiders? He slammed on the break and we all flew out of the car. We made another feeble attempt to locate and shoo out the spider, but by this time it was dark, and the spider was clearly smarter than us. Being the brave man that he is, my dad called the rental car company, explained the situation, and requested a replacement van. Believe it or not, the company obliged - probably out of sheer delight at having such a silly tourist story to share!

4. Big Beetle, Columbia, MD
This is another large bug; it's a good three inches long. I can't say I regret not seeing this beetle in action. A friend of my father-in-law is an entymologist and gave this specimen to my husband as a graduation present. I honestly have no idea what kind of insect this is but it is a really unusual, beautiful treasure to have, and is proudly hanging on the wall in our office.

5. Ladybug, Frederick, MD
One year, my parents had an explosion of ladybugs hatch in the house. They lost count of how many they released somewhere around 200. Isn't it funny that most people who dislike bugs will gladly admire a lady bug and count its spots?

6. Firefly, Frederick, MD
There is a short, rural road that leads to my old house. In the summer time, in the evening, there are hundreds of lightning bugs lighting up the fields. Beautiful! I still like to catch them and peek at them lighting up in my hand before sending them out again.

7. Honeybee, Everywhere
Something many people do not know about me, is that I am not afraid of bees! Just a little piece of trivia there.

A Morbid Homage to Scrapbooking

2006-03-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

The photograph seen in the piece above I received with a set of ephemera I ordered from Silver Crow Creations. Who is this Bergstrom person? Who took the photograph? The shadow cast suggests that the photographer was alone. It must be at the very edge of a graveyard because there are no other graves around. In fact, there is nothing else around. It's an interesting photograph! I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it for months. I kept it out at my drawing table though, where I would look at it until it was ready to use.

Yesterday, I went to Recollections, which is a big scrapbooking and papercraft store. I'm not really into scrapbooking, but they have all sorts of little doo-dads and special tools that can be fun to play with, and can be especially fun for the mini-collages I make for pendants. I thought a lot about the aesthetic that they were selling there. They sold "Designer" Artist Trading Cards, and "Distressing Kits." They sell everything to make your art perfect. It's like instant creative problem-solving. Little metal charms, perfectly crafted die-cuts, collage papers in exactly the print and palette you had in mind. I don't want to seem like I am totally dissing Recollections because I did in fact buy a set of typewriter key stamps which I used in the piece above, and I often wander in just to see what toys they have that may inspire me. Still, doesn't adding too many tools to your arsenal make your work a little cold? This is the same problem I have with a lot of digital art. Yes it looks awesome and fancy and ... perfect. But does it really mean anything anymore? Or is just about all the perfect little pieces looking neat and tidy next to each other?

I can be incredibly fussy with my art. I get obsessive over details. I need to let it go! I need to stop worrying about the search for the perfect aesthetic and just let it flow.

Rock of the Month: Jade

2006-02-28T20:34:00.000-05:00

Check out Flissy's Rock of the Month! March's rock is Jade! My favorite!

Illustration Friday: Tea

2006-02-25T09:26:00.000-05:00

The Joy of Kitsch All Over The Internet

2006-02-23T11:23:00.000-05:00

Check out my my other blog for news on a hot new promo I'm running at The Kitschen.

Also, I have succumbed to the Great Internet Popularity Contest that is MySpace. Come say hi and be my friend!

Illustration Friday: Song

2006-02-19T23:37:00.000-05:00

Rock School!

2006-02-17T17:39:00.000-05:00

I am taking a lapidary class at my local Gem Cutters Guild, and finally, after five weeks I have a completed cabochon!

It's Indian Bloodstone, which is a kind of jasper. If you look closely, there are little specks of hematite that twinkle silver when the light hits it. Sorry about the funky photo quality - the batteries on my digital camera are dead and so I just plopped my rock on my scanner. I'm going to do some fancy wire wrapping around it to make a pendant and wear my first-hand-cut-rock-ever with pride!

Follow-up!

2006-02-17T08:34:00.000-05:00

As promised, I have a sketch of my studio with my new special space:

I'm fortunate enough to have a whole room for my creative space. It actually was intended to be the master bedroom, but I reclaimed it! It is actually painted nearly the same color as the pages of my Moleskine, with windows high in the wall that positively flood the room with light. I am always working on making my studio my refuge. I bring in meaningful bits of my life for comfort and inspiration. I have also relocated my yoga practice to my studio, which further establishes it as my sacred space. I love it! Even if you don't have the space to take an entire room, you should clear a little sacred, creative space in your home as your own.

And as my extended artist-date, I'll be going to the International Gem & Jewerly Show in the morning (BEADS!). Then I think I will take myself out to lunch, and shop for a few things for my newly carved special space. I'll hang the mosiquto net, too.

I'm going to take a little extra time on this week's adventures in the Artist's Way. It's about reclaiming your dreams. Sometimes it's hard to put down what I want on paper. Cameron talks about how artists *need* to be selfish some of the time, to protect the inner artist. The consequences of not nurturing yourself are of course, seeming giving and "nice" to everyone else, but it only works until your artist-self starts to feel empty, and then you get hostile towards others, and worse, yourself.

I don't know how she does it. Every chapter, I think, "That is *SO* me." I definately get self-hostile, because I get so burnt-out and frustrated. When I finally make time to create, I am so dried up and angry with myself, I am hopelessly blocked. Well this is my week to put my dreams on paper, and indulge my creativity by spoiling myself with all sorts of little gifts that will move me forward.

Artist's Way: Week 4

2006-02-06T11:09:00.000-05:00

Well, I did it! I filled up a sketchbook! I have never done this before, and I am incredibly proud of myself. I find myself working in sketchbooks and usually about a third of the way through, I look back on what I have done, think it is crap and never look at it again. I buy a new one and the cycle starts over. I finally filled one up with my morning pages. This is progress. I know I can do it now. I don't have to love every line I put down, I just have to get it done so I can move forward. Go me! I'm going to get myself a new sketchbook as a reward and I am genuinely excited about filling it up!

This is Reading Deprivation Week, according to the schedule. I am a reader! I spend lots of time reading about art & entreprenuership for ideas for myself. I read magazines about vegetarian eating and yoga. I read blogs. I'm reading a book about the history of vanilla. I read message boards about crafting. I love to read. I'm not sure how this will help me move forward but I'm going to do it. As a result, I will be spending significantly less time on the interenet this week.

Two tasks struck me as really exciting projects to do with my newly freed-up non-reading time:

1. Make a special, private environment for yourself. I already know what I want to do! I just need to get a floor pillow. I have been working on making my studio a safe haven for me, and this will be a fantastic next step. I'll put up some sketches or photos later this week!

2. Plan an extended artist date. Also fun! I think this will start with me going to the InterGem show in the morning, but I don't know what will happen next!

Illustration Friday: Chair

2006-02-03T12:11:00.000-05:00

When I received the topic this week, I immediately remembered the exercise in beginning art classes where we drew a chair to experiment with negative space. Here is my updated version, featuring a rocker that was a gift from my parents when I graduated from college. Sleeping cats are not usually an element of this particular exercise, but just try getting the Queen Piper off her throne!

Artist's Way: Week 3

2006-02-02T11:06:00.000-05:00

This week I was really touched by the last part of the chapter, when Cameron was talking about handling criticism, shame, and self doubt. I don't think I'm dealing with shame when it comes to my art, but there is definately self doubt. I realize that I'm doing myself and injustice when I say things like "Who cares what they think?" or "It doesn't matter."

I think about when I was a teenager and I would flippantly say to everything "I DON'T CARE!" or "WHAT-EVER!" My parents probably wanted to smack me! The truth is it does matter. It's good to be strong under criticism but it still hurts. It's okay to feel it, and then learn from it. Rather than be bitter about it and internalize it as self-doubt, which has been my pattern.

Right Brain Moment

2006-01-26T10:03:00.000-05:00

As I'm working through The Artist's Way, I've been slowing my thoughts down a little, being a little more aware of my creative spirit. I spent basically all afternoon yesterday shooting and photoshopping pendants to put on The Kitschen. (Watch out, everyone, for the motherlode pendant update! It should be up next week.) When my husband came home, he asked me about my day, and I was trying to talk about the LOST Podcast I listened to. I had hard time speaking, specifically, I could not find the word "landmark" for the life of me. I could picture things like the eiffel tower, and riding around in a tour bus, but the word just was not there. I couldn't get back into the word-zone of my brain. It's amazing and weird how our minds work!

Illustration Friday: E is for ...

2006-01-19T17:41:00.000-05:00

I had some help from my hubsie with this one:

Me: I'm not sure what to do for Illustration Friday this week. The topic is "E is for ..."
Hubs: Well, what's the first thing you think of that starts with an "E"?
Me: Eating.
Hubs: Edamame!

We're a good team.

Affirmations

2006-01-19T16:38:00.000-05:00

One of the main points in the first chapter of the Artist's Way to become safe being creative. I know that I am my harshest critic,
and believe me, that is one vicious critic. You wouldn't want it in your head, either. So to combat my inner critic, I have created a fun way to work on my personal creative affirmations.

Click Here to download a PDF file that you can print & color.

Now, if you look at it and think, "Gee, that seems rather childish," that's just your Inner Critic trying to be a spoilsport. Tell him/her to shut up and go get your crayons!

Illustration Friday: Sea

2006-01-10T15:17:00.000-05:00

I was reading Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards the other day. She was writing about how, as children, we come up for symbols for objects that we assemble into landscapes. I realized (or remembered!) that I really love drawing this way. So here is my little symbolic seascape - aren't jellyfish beautiful?!

Working Through The Artist's Way

2006-01-09T12:18:00.000-05:00

I'm starting to work through The Artist's Way (again) with some of the girls from the Get Crafty forums. Newcomers are welcome anytime!

Here are some resources that may be helpful:

100 Ideas by Keri Smith. Lots of these would work for fun Artist's Dates.

Kat's Paws. She's running an online group for The Artist's Way right now. They're about a week ahead of me, so it is great motivation!

Happy New Year!

2006-01-03T11:26:00.000-05:00

Wowzas it's been a long time since I updated!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Artist, Maker of Things, and Notary Public

2005-10-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

As you may or may not know, my glamorous day job is secretary for a law office. I recently got sworn in as Notary Public, and had to order a seal so I go around stamping documents with great authority. Due to a minor miscommunication, that is too silly to go into, it was a bit of a hassle to get the thing. The office supply store hadn't called to let me know it was done, so I checked up on them:

Big Corporate Office Supply Store: Hi! Thanks for calling Big Corporate Office Supply store! How can I help you?
Me: I'd like the copy Center please
BCOSS: Please hold, I'll transfer you.
*insert very loud 80s hold music*
BCOSS: Are you holding for the Copy Center?
Me: Yes.
BCOSS: Okay, hold please.
*insert very loud 80s hold music*
BCOSS: 101, 102 . . . 101, 102?
Me: Hello?
BCOSS: Hello.
Me: Is this the Copy Center?
BCOSS: No, I'll transfer you.
*insert very loud 80s hold music*
BSOSS: Hello.
Me: Is this the Copy Center?
BCOSS: um. *nooo*. Hold please.
*insert very loud 80s hold music*
BCOSS: Hello, Copy Center. Can I help you?
Me: Hi, I ordered a stamp last week, and it was supposed be done in-house, and I haven't heard from you. Do you have it?
BCOSS: Oh, yeah. It's done.

Thanks for letting me know guys! Sheesh!

Marketing II: Week III

2005-10-10T09:45:00.000-05:00

This week's homework is to come up with three prospective clients/selling agents to create a proposal for.

Marketing II: Week II

2005-10-03T21:33:00.000-05:00

More role-playing! Whee! I can say that I thoroughly botched my presentation. I got totally derailed, and somehow agreed to write an article for a fashion magazine? Oh well, I already know I need improvement in the small talk department.

I was really impressed by what good sports everybody seemed to be. It's nice to be with a supportive group of people.

Marketing II: Week I

2005-09-26T15:11:00.000-05:00

Well hey there! I haven't forgotten my blog, as it turns out. I was just on vacation!

We jumped right in to wacky role-playing excercises this class. Does anyone like role-playing? I doubt it. But it is really really helpful. Especially for people like me, who don't like to talk to other people. Maybe one day, I can be the savvy cocktail-party princess that I dream of becoming. In all honesty, my classmates and the professor were all wonderful and supportive, and I think we'll have fun.

You may have noticed on my other blog that I'm whipping up some goodies for The Sampler. You should check it out and subscribe, so you can get free swank from The Kitschen!

Hi! I like to knit!

2005-08-25T20:21:00.000-05:00

By the look of this picture, it would seem like I don't have two submission deadlines coming up! I'm having too much fun hiding behind my knitting! This is the back half of an Orangina designed by Glampyre. Check out that lace ... I'm so awesome. at procrastinating.

Illustration Friday: Wisdom

2005-08-16T19:59:00.000-05:00

"That the birds of worry fly over your head, this you cannot change.
But that they build nests in your hair, this you may prevent."

- Chinese Proverb

I love my hubsie.

2005-08-11T07:52:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, it doesn't take much to cheer a girl up. After a failed attempt at some retail therapy, my husband promised to buy me an iPod (pink, with a little stereo dock) or a bike (or maybe a cute little cruiser instead) if I complete a certain self-portrait.

The thing is, I really do have to finish it. The Maryland Art Place has released a Call for Entries for their upcoming exhibit ... KITSCH! I'm going to apply, since I all but got thown out of art school for "making kitsch, not art," so it seems like a theme I may actually have a shot at!

I've never gotten into a juried show before. I haven't really applied to many, either, and I never expect to get in, but that doesn't make the rejection any more wrenching. It's the hardest part of being an artist. It's the only job I know where sucess or failure feels like an evaluation of myself as a person. I'm way too sensative for this.

Illustration Friday: Empty

2005-08-10T21:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, this is in fact a large image for being empty. My parents are moving to Las Vegas. There is the pool where I floated last weekend. There is the moon through the huge foyer window. There is the driveway, empty. My family has 5 cars. The driveway never used to be vacant. I was doing a good job of being brave until this weekend, when my husband and I took some scraggling pieces of me back to our house, along with the last of the furniture. The movers came the next day to take the rest away. Yesterday, the plane took my dad away. Even though I am married and have my own house now, I still call that house home. I'm sad.

E-Mail Resolved

2005-08-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

Well, it turns out that the e-mail server I am on crashed in a big way on Friday. The hosting company has repaired it, so you may resume correspondence to flissy@the-kitschen.com. I submitted a problem ticket and got a big fat "It broke! Sorry! Thanks for using HostRocket!" I can't be too mad at them. I mean, their hosting service really does rock. Sometimes servers crash. Sometimes the backups crash too and that bites. Really, it does. And probably, even if you are a computer wiz, those things happen. Fortunately, I didn't have much email stored up on there, and I hadn't really figured out the mailing list system enough to add all my addresses on there, either. Sigh. Oh well.

Illustrator of Note

2005-08-08T12:47:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered and really like Kurt Halsey's illustrations and artwork

Broken E-mail!

2005-08-08T08:31:00.000-05:00

Please be aware that I am having problems with my e-mail!! If you have placed an order or otherwise attempted to contact the kitschen between Thursday, August 4th and Sunday, August 7th I may not have received it!

Illustration Friday: Aging

2005-08-01T20:48:00.000-05:00

~* Happiness is Positive Cash Flow *~

2005-08-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

See this new button over on the sidebar?

It's my new store at a brand new website called Etsy. It's an online store for handmade things. It works kind of like eBay in that the sellers are responsible for the transactions, Etsy just does the hosting. It's a really clever idea with a great design, and I think it has potential to be very popular. It was created by the people who made GetCrafty and Craftster which are both really great craft related websites. Check it out! It's awesome!

Business Basics II: Week VI

2005-07-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

For the last week of class, we met at the Engineer's Club in Baltimore. This place is seriously swank. Beautiful carved wood everywhere, a Tiffany glass dome and stained glass windows. Huge ballroom with mirrors. A dining room with hundred year old tapestries on the walls. It's three rowhouses wide and was originally owned by the first owners of the B&O railroad. As a member ANY of these rooms are at your disposal for events, anytime. They also have a dining room, bar, pool table, computer lab, meeting rooms, etc. Seriously, my professor had me sold on membership by the time we sat down for class. He's co-chairing a multi-million dollar capital campaign to fund rennovations, including installing a glass ceiling over the enormous, beautiful, courtyard.

Anyway. We did some discussing about financing, and general planning. I was saying that I want to move to Florida in five years (everyone, let's pitch in to get my husband on board, because I can't leave him behind!), and that I would probably not open a retail store until I moved. My prof was like ... why wait? The worst that can happen is that it will tank and five years from now you'll know better when you open a store in Florida. Best case scenario is that you do really well, and can either run two businesses, or you can sell the business up here to help start up one down there! Do you really want to go down there, not knowing anyone, and never having run a business before? PLUS you can take travel expenses for scoping out a location down there out of your taxes, everytime you go visit your parents!

hmm, this is sounding tempting!

I've also been toying with the idea of getting an MBA, since I can transfer 6 credits from the program I am in now towards the foundation requirements for an MBA. I'm not sure if it's really necessary for what I want to do. It could really help my organizational skills overall, and it sure would be nice going into business as an expert rather than a hopeful dope!

Business Basics II: Week V

2005-07-20T09:57:00.000-05:00

I really wish I had written down my thoughts last night, but when I got home, I was was greeted with the surprise visit of friend of ours.

I have a lot of ideas about promoting my biz, which is good, because next round of classes is Marketing II. I'm getting warmed up! I say this about once a month - I am a little bit of a perfectionist. Sometimes that I feel like my product or my website isn't *quite* good enough to show people yet. I'll make excuses. "Those two images need to be reset at a little higher resolution and THEN I'll send out a notice to my email list" ... or ... "I wouldn't want to send all these people to my site and not have a gift wrap option would I??" It's never good enough for me, and I have a hard time just sucking it up and showing off what I have even though it's not perfect. I need to say, "Okay, that image might be two pixels too wide but IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL." or "My artist statement (or whatever it is) still needs some work but OH WELL it's a work in progress" No one will buy anything if they don't know it exists! And how can anyone possible notice all these things I criticize myself for, anyway??

It's so much easier just to hide.

Business Basics II: Week IV

2005-07-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

As promised, an attorney from AGT lawyers spoke to the class this week and gave a great presentation on Intellectual Property Law. She was an excellent speaker and gave great advice on how to be a savvy business person when it comes to hanging onto your ideas.

I have been a bad girl lately and have not done much of my homework reading. *cringe* The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell is a really invigorating read, and I'll probably check out his new book Blink when I get a chance. Additional things on my to-read list are John Irving's new book and of course, the new Harry Potter!! (neither of which are art or business related but a girl must have her leisure time!)

Oh! I got my promotional mirrors from Looking Glass Girl and they turned out so great! They're so cute and I'm really excited about sending them out with my orders! Thanks Kellee! You rule!

Websites of Note - Sketching

2005-07-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

Moleskine Art and the Sketchbook of Russell Sutler feature my favorite sketchbook the Moleskine (the pocket sized grid style version I carry everywhere) and some really lovely artwork.

Business Basics II: Week 3

2005-07-06T09:42:00.000-05:00

I am just so burned out from ... well I'm not sure quite what to remember much about class last night. I do know we are bringing in a draft of our networking lists next week.

Next week we are having a guest from AGT Laywers discuss Intellectual Property Law with us. Check out their website! In the resource section, it has information you can download regarding trademark and copyright law.

Adventures in Small Business

2005-06-15T14:23:00.000-05:00

Remember the Got Print? post a few days back? Well they came in! Just like that! The printers accidentally grabbed the wrong file, so now I have 500 business cards with two backs and no contact information on them. Not even the *name* of my business. So I don't know what to do with them now. Not to worry, though. The fine people at GotPrint.com are making it right.

In other news, my very favorite supplier of beads and bits Rings & Things is having a trunk show in Baltimore tomorrow. Needless to say I am wildly excited and will come back with previews of unborn jewelry!

Statement (in progress)

2005-06-13T07:15:00.000-05:00

Occasionally people ask me, “What, exactly, is kitsch?” Kitsch is tacky, made-for-the-masses, low-brow, over-the-top, gauche. Think: creepy, huge-eyed paintings of animals & children that were popular in the 70s. While kitsch usually conjures negative connotations, it does play a part in our everyday lives. People attach themselves to the silliest of things, and even the most inane trophies can revive the fondest of memories. Likewise, American culture has picked out its favorite things about itself, and rewritten its popular history as a ubiquitous "retro" fashion. I enjoy diving into this universal nostalgia.

My paintings and accoutrements all celebrate a love of pop history, lounge culture and aesthetics. I relish in all things populuxe, a term describing the sleek, modern wildly popular designs that shaped every product of the 1950s through early 1960s. The populuxe lifestyle sprang up from post-war prosperity, and was infused with the idealism related to new discoveries in space and science. It is the era that brought us fins on cars, brilliantly patterned Formica tables, and the suburban dream. This "retro" aesthetic is experiencing a renaissance today, but not just for myself and my own optimistic nature. I believe that it is also the personality of my generation that came into adulthood at the turn of the century that is saturated with the excitement that comes with having a whole new millennium to be shaped and defined. We find ourselves looking back to what pop culture tells us is The Golden Age of America for inspiration for the future.

The vitality of the colors, designs and images from the populuxe era proclaim an admirable optimism about the future and joy for life. The populuxe design motifs and images I use reflect the attitude that anyone can live in luxury. They are symbols that represent a fond nostalgia for an era I know only secondhand; yet they signify my passion for exuberantly living in the moment.

Consequently, I like to reclaim kitsch as a positive word. Flissy’s Kitsch is bubbling with joy. Everyone needs silly, enchanting things in their lives. I'd like to think kitsch makes everything a little more fabulous.

The thing is, I'm not trying to be ironic. This is what I do! I make kitsch! That makes "real artists" squirrrrm! hehe.

Craft Manifesto

2005-06-10T14:06:00.000-05:00

See what HobbyPrincess has to say about crafting! Neat!

Yet more evidence that I need to have a manifesto instead of an artist statement. You may say, "But, Flissy, aren't manifestos for art movements or entire groups of people?" and to that I say, "Well, too bad. I am an artist and maker of things and that means I can do whatever I want!"

I have also decided to join up with some rad girls at Glitter to whip my Business Plan into shape.

Got Print?

2005-05-29T21:15:00.000-05:00

I just ordered a bunch of promo materials from Got Print. I can hardly wait to get them!

This is hard!

2005-05-16T09:41:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I just get so exhausted! It's really difficult to keep everything going at once. I can try to make a schedule but something more important, more fun, more pressing will come up and whatever I had in mind for that time just doesn't get done. I try to keep some sense of routine in my life, but usually something throws a wrench in the operation and all my plans all go the way of the Do-Do.

When this happens I try to keep in mind this mantra that I was told when I lived in Rome, "If you have five things you want to do in a day, and you get three of them done, it's been a good day."

My hubsie also tries to encourage me by telling me that I try to do to many things at once, an impossible number of things, and it's not the end of the world when I don't turn on the dishwasher or make 10 more necklaces or whatever RIGHT THAT MOMENT. It's still frustrating though.

Look at this! I saw Keri Smith's box of goodies and thought immediately ... I want one! And I want a life where I can tote it around and use it at my every whim!

I keep a Moleskine in my purse at all times. I use the kind with graph paper because I really like squares and symmetry so it makes my drawing easier. Also (most likely because I am a lefty) I cannot write on a straight line to save my life. I use my Moleskine to draw in, and also to make normal household notes in. I have commitment issues when it comes to journals. I probably have a dozen journals that are in various stages of emptiness. I'll get to a point and realize that I am displeased with my work and abandon the journal for another one. I'm crazy! How do I stop this? I need some sort of lessons in creativity management so when I have time for my creative time, I can really get down to business.

Marketing I: Week VI

2005-05-09T10:17:00.000-05:00

Pot Luck! I'm not sure why we have potlucks, but I made ramen salad again ... shhhh, don't tell anyone I burned half the sesame seeds.

Me: (quietly chopping up cabbage)
Hubsie: Why does it smell like smoke?
Me: Oh my gosh! (turning around to see smoke POURING OUT OF THE TOASTER OVEN.)

Sheep & Wool

2005-05-06T08:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I went to the Sheep & Wool Festival!

I met this adorable alpaca, who had just been clipped.

And saw lots of delicious fibers!

I came home with some mohair to play with. I would have also like to come home with an angora bunny, but I think my husband and kitties may have objected!

Marketing I: Week V

2005-05-03T09:40:00.000-05:00

I explained to my small group tonight that my plan is for my business to be self-sustaining in the next five years (which I think is a reasonable goal). The conversation then revolved around my price point. As you can see from my website - the price range of my beaded jewelry is about $30-80. To base my income on $30-80 products? That's a lot of necklaces. My peers posed that when ladies are shopping for something special and unique, the price point is more like $75-300 range. I wholeheartedly agree! I expect to pay at least $75 for a nice piece of jewelry. The problem thus far, I think, is that I have appeared at shows where people are shopping for "a little gift" for someone and don't want to spend more than $20-30. *Might I interest you in a pendant?!* I definately need to rethink both my pricing strategy and my aesthetic. And probably rearrange my webpage, too.

Glam it up? NO PROBLEM!

Ashes and Snow

2005-05-02T10:12:00.000-05:00

We went up to NYC this weekend for the Bike Tour.

While my dad was peddling around the five boros, my hubsie, his sister, and I went to the Nomadic Museum to see Gregory Colbert's photographic exhibit Ashes and Snow. It was an amazing exhibit so check out the link to see some fantastic photography of people and animals.

Books to Check Out

2005-04-22T13:51:00.000-05:00

Books

General Small Business

Marketing
The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell
Self Promotion for the Creative Person by Lee Silber

Art & Creativity
The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards

Periodicals
The Crafts Report

Please post comments to this thread with books you have found helpful and I will keep it updated with helpful resources!

Marketing I: Week IV

2005-04-22T13:35:00.000-05:00

Book Nite Books ...
Apparently there was a little SNAFU with the Book Nite Book List, so I will have to go back and add these later.

Five advertising or promotional tools I will put to use in the next six months
* Weblog
* Promotional Products
* Direct-Mail
*
*

Fill in my marketing plan *WITH DATES*

I'm so bad. All this stuff is on my home computer and I'm updating at work. Life gets crazy sometimes but I swear I've done my homework!

Do you smell smoke?

2005-04-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

I changed the title of this weblog yet again - this time from The Kitschen Cupboard to The Kitschen Crockpot. Why? Well, it is more appropriate to the clever tagline, because things typically don't burn in the cupboards. Or do they? I guess it depends who's doing the cooking!

Marketing I: Week III

2005-04-12T08:25:00.000-05:00

Everyone brought in their promotional materials this week. It was fun! There are a lot of creative and ambitious people in the class - it's great. Everyone seemed to like my website, which was encouraging.

Some changes that were suggested:
* Make the necklace page less scroll-y
* Use the messaround font in all the headings
* Add a sidebar of links (another scrolling issue)
* Add fun images to my "about me" page

These are all good ideas that I will work on! Also my paper materials need to be more coordinated, which I already knew. I'm getting there. Several people used the word "whimsical" to describe my work & materials. Believe it or not, people say that quite frequently. I'm a total cutie!

New Design! and Nervous Knittie

2005-04-07T22:39:00.009-05:00

Run over to The Kitschen and check out the new design! My hubsie is the webmaster -- he is the one that makes it so awesome! (Dont' forget to come back and read my blog though!)

As you know, Wednseday nite is Marketing Nite, and here are the fruits of my labor.

You might say, "Flissy! How is that marketing?! You don't even sell knitwear."
And I would say, "Gee, you're totally right! It has nothing to do with marketing at all. In fact, it doesn't even have much to do with the Kitschen either, since selling knitwear is frankly not my thing."

It's true. In addition to Marketing Nite, Wednesday is also LOST. And in case you didn't notice, it was the saddest and scariest episode yet!!! My butt was so scared off I was simply too traumatized to Market. I needed to do something else, and knitting is such a wonderful thing to do with my hands. I'm really excited because this is my first knitted garment (non-accessory). My slave-driver husband was yelling "KNIT! KNIT! PURL! PURL!" So I would finish. It's the back of a tank top, the pattern to which is featured in the latest knit.1.

I'm not sure if I mentioned that our textbook for this class is Self-Promotion for the Creative Person by Lee Silber. I get so neurotic reading this book! He asks so many questions and I think ... Oh my gosh! I never even thought about *that* .. Why haven't I done that yet?!

I worry. Just wait until I am prepping for a show!

Marketing I: Week II

2005-04-04T21:51:00.000-05:00

The homework for this week is to bring in all our current promotional materials.

I'm bringing the Internet!

Marketing I: Week I

2005-03-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

Playtime is over! I started the next class in my Entreprenuership Program.

Homework assignments for this week:

Killer Phrases: What are negative comments people make about my artwork?
Oh, a "Starving Artist" eh?
If *I* only had *your* talent, I would [make ______, be a hit, market _____, be sucessful]
My [friend, sister, neighbor] is an artist and I never understood it, he/she will never make any money at it.
Oh you're an artist! Could you make me a ______? for free?
You're so *talented* you just have to find a way to be more *marketable*
You can't make your stuff so "out there" that people won't want to buy it.

Two Goals to be completed within two years, and five objectives to be completed within one year to make those goals happen

Goal 1: Identify or Create a Target Audience
Goal 1 Objectives:
1. Survey who has bought my work in the past.
2. Note trends regarding who has bought my work.
3. Research competition: Who are they marketing to?
4. Identify the sort of people I want to work with and sell to.
5. If there seem to be differences in people who are interested in my work, find things that connect them.

Goal 2: Develop My "Brand" or Marketing Image
Goal 2 Objectives:
1. Unify all of my promotional materials.
2. Tailor my materials to complement the style of my work.
3. Maintain interest by incorporating new gimmicks.
4. Send out materials regularly.
5. Take advantage of all possible channels of communication.

Two more channels to market my product
Be a presence at gallery openings
Partner up with a fashion designer or interior designer

I also need to e-mail my professor with my area of focus, and choose a time each week to devote to marketing ... and plan to stick to it for a year.*

For the sake of accountability, Wednesday is Marketing Nite.

*stick to it for a YEAR?! ... this woman is apparently unaware of my many pressing social engagements! tee hee!

E-bay anyone?

2005-03-24T11:06:00.000-05:00

As I contemplate alternative venues for selling my wares, I am thinking about e-bay as an option.

Here's what Alisha Vincent, a sort of artist's coach says about e-bay

Here's what Art Business News says about e-bay (this is the article Alisha Vincent refers to)

Here's what e-bay says about selling on ebay

I think the trick is to advertise my product outside of just posting it on e-bay, because, as we all know, there are about 859 kabillion things listed on e-bay, including this and this. Actually I'd really like to have that optigan, but that's beside the point. The point is, without advertising, my items would be lost.

I don't think, as Ms. Vincent claims, selling on e-bay will devalue my work. In addition, it may help move some of the inventory that doesn't do the best at shows, because it may seem like a better "deal" on e-bay. I will continue to do research this week and post more articles as I find them.

All this, of course is partially in preparation for my marketing class that starts next week!

Website Construction

2005-03-24T10:49:00.000-05:00

I'm working on my new website. Well, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that my husband is working on my new website. I decided that there is way too much stuff happening on the old one (see for yourself). My hubsie is such an overacheiver. It's so fancy that, unfortunately, it looks like total crap in anything that's not Safari because his programing skillz are way beyond the yahoos who built internet explorer, which, regrettably 90% of people use because they are denial that macs are so very much better than their lame-o PCs. I'm feeling so mature today.

Seriously, my husband is awesome. He sees me clunking around on dreamweaver and he asks ever-so-quietly, "do you think maybe I could work on your webpage some?" and he does what I was trying to do much more efficiently and makes it work much better than I could.

I'm going for a new design, that hopefully will reflect my renewed inspiration to make things. and money.

This weekend's goals:
* take care of inventory
* photograph & rephotograph a bunch of things so that I can put them on the pages.
* research e-bay selling

Hopefully I'll be able to work on some of those in the midst of Easter and TAXES and dancing.

I'm cranky: Or damaging little comments.

2005-03-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned this before, but as my day job, I am a temp.

I was chatting with someone who happened to come into the office where I was working and she was asking me if I was looking for permanent work. I said not really, and offered that I am an artist and temping is a great way for me to invest more time in my artwork and have some flexibility if I need to prepare for a show. Here is how her side of the conversation went from there:

"Oh! My sister-in-law is an artist, too - she does ceramics. When she decided to do pottery I tried to tell her, 'You know, you're in for a life of destitution,' but she gets by. She doesn't have much but she's happy. She supports herself by taking care of an elderly lady. But,you know, that's great if you want to do that, it's a tough life though."

Oh, comments like this make me so angry! I hate that the stereotype of the "starving artist." Even more I hate that many artists do nothing to dispell this myth "Boo-Hoo, I'm so misunderstood" or "Alas, I am an undiscovered genius. I'm waiting for the Whitney to call." Get off your butts, artists, be proud of what you do, and try to make some money while you're at it.

Admittedly, this woman was well-intentioned. She was making pleasantries, but when the first thing I hear after I say I'm an artist is "Oh! My ________ is an artist and he/she is SO POOR!" I feel like my work is immediately devalued, before I even show it or explain it. I think non-artists just don't know what else to say to artists. Like we some alien life form. Some really impoverished deadbeat lifeform.

I didn't give my whole elevator speech though, maybe that was the kicker.

Reflections

2005-03-07T23:41:00.000-05:00

Today was the last class of Business Basics I, the first installment of the Arts Entreprenuership Program. Now is when I look back and see how I did.

I think I made more progress in the past six weeks than I have in the past year, as far as my business goes. I've been encouraged, and I've come to see the value in what I do. It's very difficult to start a business, and to fight to make it work, and then to be rejected from shows, have slow sales, and be discouraged at every turn. It's easy to not try anymore.

In six weeks, I have met my main goals for that particular class: I have established exactly where I want to be at the end of the program, I have identified what I want my business to be like, and I am ready to move on to more detailed parts of planning and marketing.

I do see now that I haven't maintained this weblog the way I would have liked to. Some of the entries are better and more thoughtful than others. I don't know that they would be terribly helpful for other people either, so I think that I'd like to add some questions that I have asked myself over the past few weeks. I'm sure I will need to revist those questions myself. Look for this space to be more constructive, more cooperative, and not entirely about my little brain trying to puzzle out my own little problems.

Three Month Goals

2005-03-07T23:31:00.000-05:00

Our professor had us write goals for ourselves, and she is going to mail them to us in three months. Here is what I wrote to myself:

* establish a more efficient way to manage my inventory
* create a more detailed financial plan
* update the kitschen website
* select at least one date to sell at the Eastern Market
* apply for at least one juried show
* concentrate on marketing
* expand mailing list
* maintain web log of business development
* enjoy my studio
* continue to edit and use elevator speech
* befriend at least one other artist I might to work with

Dear me,

Please don't beat yourself if you don't get all of these things done. This is a very difficult thing to do, building a business. Congratulations for how far you have come already! You are talented and brave for working so hard to be the girl you always wanted to be.

Elevator Speech

2005-03-04T13:38:00.000-05:00

One of the excercises my professor had us do was to come up with an "Elevator Speech" -- that is, if you are introducing yourself to someone, you should be able to say what you do and what your business is in the time it takes to ride up a few floors in an elevator, in such a way that it makes some one want to come out on your floor and learn more about it.

Let's give it a shot. I'll probably come back and edit this page about 5,982 times.

Hi! I'm an artist and maker of things. I sell beaded jewelry, paintings and other accoutrements through my business, Flissy's Kitschen -- that's K-I-T-S-C-H as in fabulous!

Illustration Friday: Sorrow

2005-02-23T23:10:00.000-05:00

I originally wasn't going to participate in this Illustration Friday, because i just thought it was so darn SAD. I immediately started feeling guilty because of my last debaucle of non-posting, and several weeks ago I decided Illustration Friday would be a great, non-intimidating, somewhat social way to get my creativity back on track. I also remembered a photograph that is on my mostly-retired blog The Avalanche right after I had slammed my finger in a closet door I was attempting to dismantle. Pretty pathetic. My husband thinks I have an extra-sad (and extra-cute) pout. I can't say that I'm sorry for the cuteness because, like I said, this week's topic was just so darn SAD ... and I didn't want to make anything so SAD.

Illustration Friday: Flight

2005-02-22T00:22:00.000-05:00

This is my first submission to Illustration Friday!

*edit* Okay I am a huge geek. This is the Illustration Friday from not one but TWO weeks ago. I must have linked myself some wackity way. I will try to catch up and do the correct one now!

How to be Creative

2005-02-15T11:17:00.000-05:00

Yesterday as I was leaving class, I remembered being in that same building as a anxious high school senior, toting around a big black portfolio to be reviewed by various art schools. I remembered tag-team waiting in line for three hours with my mother to speak to the Grand Wizard of Portfolio Reviews, the guy from Rhode Island School of Design, only to have him flip through my portfolio and say, "good ... no ... okay ... okay ... i don't think so ... good ... okay ..." I can't remember what exactly MICA had to say about my artwork at the time, but I know that on that day, when I was waiting in line with hundreds of other young artists, most of whom I thought for sure were more talented than me, I didn't think that I would be walking in and out of that marble building every week, a student of one of the top-ranked art schools in the country.

It makes me a little proud of myself.

Here's some great reading material by Hugh MacLeod: How to be Creative

Hi Sal!

2005-02-11T17:43:00.000-05:00

I had a "Now what?" sort of moment this morning. I haven't worked this week. I spent Monday and Tuesday attempting to legally change my name (resulting in fruitless hours at the MVA and a cryptic phone message from the District Courthouse), then Wednesday and Thursday were my domestic duty days. At least I didn't watch the soaps. I had done all the busywork I could do, and so this morning I could actually focus on The Kitschen. Scary! Didn't go in the studio! Didn't know what to make! Too scary to think about what to do next!

So I read. I looked up books about starting a business, about marketing, about the art-making process, then I went to Borders to browse them. I didn't come home with any of the things I thought I would buy.

I'd like to think that I have some sort of special connection to Salvador Dali. His artwork always appears in my life at some creatively ripe moment. Perhaps Dali is just such an art icon that he continues to pop up everywhere, but artists like Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso are just as pervasive figures, and while I love their work just as much, it never crashes into me like Dali's does. I have a running list I keep of my encounters with the artist, and what is going on in my life at the time. Lo & behold the feature article in ArtNews is Dali: Kitsch or Avante Garde? Coincidence, you may say, but I tell you, Dali is my artist-friend from the undead.

The second item I brought home was Urgent 2nd Class: Creating Curious Collage, Dubious Documents and Other Art from Ephemera by Nick Bantock. If you haven't experienced any of Nick Bantock's books, I encourage you to run out and look at the The Griffin & Sabine Trilogy right away. They are magical and inspirational. I have also read The Artful Dodger, which is a sort of visual autobiography, I suppose. He goes into detail regarding his methods of creating things at various points in his life, but I am very excited to see what he has to say about creativity from the instructional standpoint.

What a serendipitous afternoon it was! I think this weekend I will have to make pieces in honor of two of my favorite artists!

Week III thoughts

2005-02-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

After spending the past week thinking about my business, I realized that one important thing I neglected to do in the past is identifying my market.

Who is interested in my work? Who do I *want* to be interested in my work? Should I change my work to match my market? Or should I ditch my market and find a new one who is interested in my new work?

I think what I would really like to do is form some sort of collective. Not a cooperative; not a Co-Op. I really like the independence I have working from home; I have a studio that is exactly how I want it, and I don't have to keep set retail hours. It has all the benefits that I sought in being my own boss. I don't want to lose all those things by opening a retail space with all of the extra responsibility that entails: a significantly higher overhead, employees, inflexible hours, etc. I can already see disadvantages to running a co-op. I can see the gallery/space losing momentum because there are too many opinions on the gallery's operation, personal drama being brought to work, and confronting artists who aren't doing their part. I am already worried about it! What I would like to do instead, is to manage a COLLECTIVE of artists, all working and promoting themselves independently, but supporting one another and sharing ideas with each other, and coming together occasionally to do events at various venues. This is a very vague idea, of course, but I think I am on to something.

In class, this week's discussion was about creating a brief speech about your business. I should be able to answer the following questions briefly and in such a way to generate interest in, well, myself!

WHO AM I? WHAT DO I DO? WHY SHOULD YOU BUY FROM ME?

Our small group didn't get very far in addressing these questions in class tonight, but we did have another interesting discussion. My classmate and I both agreed that it is easy to call ourselves artists but difficult to explain in detail what that means. For example, she is a graphic designer, but her passion is painting, and she has a hard time saying, "I'm a painter and this is what my paintings are like ..." Likewise, I often introduce myself by saying, "I'm an artist and I make jewelry," and people are more inclined to ask details about my jewelry than my artwork. I think this is because non-artists feel like they can't talk about art because they feel like they don't really know enough about it to say. It's the only field of arts like this. People will easily say what kind of music they listen to, or their favorite movie, but when it comes to art, they'll say something like, "Oh I don't really know much about art," or make some obtuse reference to a cousin who draws horses or something else to that effect. My classmate says that she feels like non-artists put artists out in some other world. We commiserated that saying we were art history majors in college was a conversation stopper. So we're trying to figure out how to make saying "hey, I'm an artist!" Sound interesting and accessible!

Small Business Links, Volume I

2005-02-07T16:08:00.000-05:00

Local Resources
Live Baltimore
Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance

Books
The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell
Self Promotion for the Creative Person by Lee Silber

Small Business Planning
Planware
Maryland Small Business Development Center

The Backstory

2005-02-03T23:28:00.000-05:00

Hi! My name is Flissy and I am an artist and maker of things. In June 2003 I started my own business. By that, I mean I had made some jewelry that I thought people would like to buy, and I got myself a Tax ID. I worked part-time and spent a lot of time making jewelry, and trying to promote myself. I quickly ran out of steam, seeing that running a business is more than collecting sales tax, and quickly discouraged by rejections and slow sales. I got married (yay!) and bought a dump of a townhouse that you can see at The Avalanche that we made into a lovely home.

My day job made me miserable. I knew I never wanted to be the sort of person who is consumed by her job, who comes home and curls up and cries because she knows that tomorrow she has to do it all over again. So I quit. I enrolled in a Creative Entreprenuership certificate program that is a partnership between an Fancy Schmancy Art School and the Business Department at a local college. I am investing more of myself into my artwork and my business, because I know that as challenging as it is to be an artist and a small business owner, I will still be more happy, and a better wife and better person than I could be doing anything else.

Testing

2005-02-02T10:03:00.000-05:00

This is a test entry so that I may design my weblog. WHEE! Content to follow. An thanks to my husband for helping to make my blogspot look so pretty! YAY for pink! I'm so totally girlie!