Holidays and creating

The holidays are here and creating is the game! I've been working on fulfilling orders for the holidays and just finished them all and posted them. Now I can focus on finishing shopping for family and friends and planning menus for various holiday parties and gatherings.

I've not had time to create any gifts (except one but cannot say what it is yet). But I have had time to do some baking, designing, planning and research. All work to share but it's not quite ready yet to share... but soon.

Back to the holidays and the fun surrounding them... Question is will we get our cards in the mail before the holiday?

Enjoy!

What's next?

Sue and I are looking ahead! We are going to a few art/craft fairs this weekend to see the potential for next year. Our goal in 2012 is to get to one fair minimum. Now with working full time, that is about all that we can manage -- we think! In any case, I'm excited to see what the future holds for us.

Our recent experience gave lots of food for thought as to our goods, our creating process and our production itself.

What does it all mean? No idea! but it is forward motion and positive energy. My favorite path to follow.

Craft Fair #3 -The results

Yesterday we had a great time. Everyone was fantastic and while business was slower than anticipated, we talked to many of you about specific items you would like to have made in the coming months. We will be in touch soon. A special thank you to our family and friends that stopped by. Lisa thanks for taking a chance...glass things next year for sure!

Sue and I commented that no matter what happens at these fairs, it the fun of sharing our passions that we enjoy the most and the creative process to get there!

Until the next one...all our best...

Craft Fair #3

Later this month, we are participating in the craft fair (where I work) for the third time. This time with a renewed vigor! They are publicizing it to more people in the area than just the building tenants. It will be in the lower level of One Rotary Center (1560 Sherman Ave Evanston IL) fromj 9-3pm on 18 November.

We are both really excited about it and cannot wait to show off everything we've made this year. Sue has made some truly outstanding clutches that I am sure will be extremely popular. I've been busy making journals, including a new "large" journal.

So the focus is now getting ready for it (and has been for the past few weeks)!

Let the holiday shopping begin...

Photography does make a world of difference!

Thanks to my sister, we have new photos of a very professional caliber of our products. An up and coming photographer (Christi) in the Quad Cities works for my sister currently and we are in awe of her work! So without further ado...Here are the photos!

Getting back in the swing..

Absenteeism...describes me to a "T". I've been away from the creative process a bit. Instead I've been enjoying cleaning out closets, our storage unit, the car, and anything else I can find. It feels GREAT! But now I'm juiced to get back on track and back to the creative process and back to the fun and joy of it all.

I did some painting tonight and move a journal along so I can finish it soon. I have two of those chipboard shaped journals -- one star shaped and the other a flower! I painted the flower pages in autumnal colors. When dry, I'll start the embellishment soon. Tomorrow we're babysitting. Maybe I can get the kids to finger paint...My husband is frowning over that one. We'll see. Maybe we'll just bake instead. Now he's smiling!

Interesting though - when you start creating physically you realize that you never stop creating - ideas are filling my head - almost overwhelmingly so and I just keep adding ideas to my creativity notebook. (Best recommendation I ever got was to start a creativity journal!)

Of to jot some things down before I forget!

Retreat

36 hrs and counting ... to CREATE Retreat! While Sue and I are taking the same class, we aren't taking it the same day! But I'm doing a surface design class that will net me 2 yards of "designed by me" fabric! I CANNOT WAIT!

Sue's making an apron and not just any apron of course! We'll post photos don't worry! I'm really looking forward to taking two classes with Jane Lafazio. Her watercolor journals are gorgeous and I hope to "develop" my drawing talent.

Something Sue and I talk about incessantly is how inspired we get at events like CREATE. How much we want to run home and design, make art and play. These types of events truly keep up our momentum and stimulate our ideas. The opportunity to learn new techniques inspires our confidence and leads us down new design pathways.

I know this retreat will be such fun and end up in so much more art!

We'll see.

Retreat - Create!!

We're so excited to be going to the CREATE Retreat in Lisle, IL! We cannot wait! Okay three days off our real jobs is key. The classes we have signed up for should be great fun. I have two classes with Jane LaFazio that will be great fun.

I get to learn how to use paperclay with Sue Pelletier. And make fabric with Jeannie Palmer Moore! Hee Hee! CANNOT WAIT!!!

Stencils

Just found this kit at my local drug store chain. Love it! The price is so low and there are 4 pages of stencils I can use in my art journals or in my art quilts. The ideas are swarming in my head. Good thing I packed some water color paper on my business trip so I can play! I'll post my work.

Spring time is here ...sort of...

Well we have had two days of 80-90 degree weather here in the midwest that ended in horrible thunderstorms with huge HAIL! So I thought we need something more "springy" to focus on!

One of Sue's recent bags! The daisy broche makes it very spring-like! I love this one. And yes it is for sale!