Art Market

I've participated in the Carey Street Crawl three times now.  The last time I did it, I said that was my last time; however, last night's space was split with a coworker friend, which made it easier to commit to.

It was an enjoyable evening, although a bit chilly.  There were several more vendors than in the past, probably because we're officially in holiday shopping season.  There was a  decent crowd, but we realized it was heavily influenced by the band's intermissions, most likely because of the cooler temps.

Again, I had no sales, but lots of lookers.  I even tried not putting price tags on things to get people to ask and tried a different display, but it didn't help.  My friend sold only one of her scarves, but also had lots of lookers.

Since I've done the market a few times now, I feel like I'm one of the gang.  There are some folks who have participated since day one; I think the first Carey Street Crawl was in March of this year. But the long time vendors seem to recognize me and I them, which makes it more like the community gathering that it's supposed to be.  For similar thoughts, read this post.

Lifestyle

Happy 2014!!!  This will be an even bigger year for us than last with the impending birth of our daughter and all the lifestyle changes that accompany being parents.  While that's incredibly exciting for us, I want to talk about a different lifestyle here.

There are so many art associations and involvement type organizations for people to join all over the place both online and in person.  Local ones, such as the St. Tammany Art Association and The Arts Council of New Orleans; regional ones, like Louisiana Division of the Arts; national ones, like Freelancers Union and the National Endowment of the Arts; and selling focused types, like Etsy and Big Cartel all offer membership and benefits of varying degrees for a fee.  Freelancers Union offers health insurance benefits for any type of entrepreneur (not just artists), which is pretty cool and to my knowledge, fairly unusual.

What these organizations offer collectively is a certain lifestyle. You can be a part of one or all, and depending on how involved or active in these groups you become, they can act as your professionsl network all the way to your social life. There's a sense of belonging with your own type and profession.
 

This post was originally typed in January 2014.  It was never published until now because I never thought it was finished.  Today, I decided it was ready.  

Mourning - 'Tis the Season

Today is the last day for tours of the Otis House in Fairview State Park.  Here are some other events going on that celebrate the season:

http://www.pitothouse.org/events/special-tour-st-louis-cemetery-no-3-and-pitot-house-museum-2

http://www.hgghh.org/exhibit/mourning/

http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2014/death-becomes-her

My favorite to observe, aside from Halloween, is Day of the Dead.

Halloween 2010 - Maleficent

It's Finally Fall!

My favorite time of year is finally here!  Fall officially starts today, and remarkably, we even have cooler, fall-like temps to match! 

I recently discovered that my sister-in-law is driving along the exact creative path I thought I would be after having my daughter.  I guess her daughter/my niece inspired her to nurture her writing and become a successful blogger with paid ads and all.  She's also got a lot to say, which I'm finding lately, that I don't.  It's not that I'm too busy (anymore, thankfully), but I just haven't had much creative drive lately.  Anyway, that's brought me to this post. 

What do I love most about fall?  Not only the cooler weather - which as you probably know if you're a southerner, we don't always get quite yet - but dressing for it!  I've become known at work for my fashion sense, which is kind of amusing since one of my best friends and former college roommates used to tease me about it all the time.  She even threatened to put me on What Not to Wear!  I'll admit, I've come a long way since then. 

I'm a reference librarian and I love the look I'll call librarian chic.  It's professional and fun, and allows plenty of room for using accessories.  I own at least 17 scarves (I know this because I just bought at scarf holder from Amazon to help me organize them and create space in a dresser drawer); I have at least 6 jewelry boxes full of costume jewelry, which my husband is baffled by; and I've been trying to introduce colors other than grey, black, or blue to my closet.  Lately, I've been getting more prints, and some pink, and red.  Green is harder to find, but I'm continuing to look. 

The ladies at my daughter's school all compliment her style, too, which I totally take credit for.  Not that I buy all of her clothes, but the look I've set out to make hers has caught on, so friends and family who buy her outfits know what's acceptable (no huge bows, no ruffled leg pants, no wild patterns; Gymboree and Carter's threads are my faves). 

So while I'm not creating some masterpieces in the ways of painting, sculpting, or photographing, I have discovered that I have greater appreciation for my career now because I am a mother.  I think my daughter will think it's cool that her mom is a librarian.  While she's young, because I'll bring home all the pretty new picture books for her, and when she's older because I'll have an "in" for school project research and college prep.  And while it's no where near the avenue or level of creativity I thought would be inspired by motherhood, playing fashionista/accessory goddess (or whatever else my husband and co-workers are calling me in that realm) is pretty fun for now for me by myself and with our daughter.  I'll take creativity and innovation wherever I can find it!

mixing patterns is fun!

Re Invention

The last two months, I've gotten my upcycled sculptures together (and made a few new ones), and participated in an artists' market in Slidell.  There was a good turn out both times, especially most recently...until the rain came.  It was only halfway through the evening and a thunderstorm came out of nowhere. 

Anytime I've shown my work, whether it's retail, an art market, a community/farmer's market, or when I opened my Etsy shop, I get great feed back.  I also get a lot of ideas, inspire other people, and meet lots of strangers.  It's a nice time overall; however, the point of my participation in these events is to sell my work.  All but this last time, and I'm blaming the rain, I've sold one piece.  Just one at each venue/event.  It's better than selling none, I have to say, but even selling two pieces would make me feel better.  I'm tired of looking at this stuff.  Sorry, but that's the honest truth.  Most of it's been around for two years and I have no place to store it. 

Right now, I feel like I'm done with the market scene.  Another artist gave me an idea that I'd much prefer - if you can't buy, let's trade!  I love art, and not just my own.  I've traded with a classmate a few years ago, and would love to trade with anyone who's got something I'm interested in - a finished work or supplies, or something functional.  The vendor set up next to me at the last event had beautiful crab and oyster shell paintings.  She said she'd trade, but the rain - lovely, cooling rain - had her run for cover and like most vendors, she never really got back on track. 

I was planning on recycling all of my cans next time the recycle truck came around and we've got an empty bin; however, now I'm thinking I can just cut the tops and bottoms off all the cans I really like  and save the middles to make metal sculptures. By cutting the cans with an X-acto knife I can do much more detailed work, and either use glue or rivets (depending on the piece) to hold things together.  Plus, storing flat metal is much easier than round cans. 

Pricing

The next chance to sell my stuff at the Carey Street Crawl is Friday, September 5.  I only sold one piece this past time, which covered the cost of my spot and a little bit extra; however, I was disappointed regardless, mostly because so many people stopped by and complimented my work, and several people came back and talked about how "(so and so) would love this!".  No one wanted to make the purchase, yet no one tried to bargain or commented on my prices.  Here are some pieces with their prices.  Please be honest, artist or not, and tell me if you would pay what I'm asking or if I should come down.

Priced at $50

 

Priced at $25

Priced at $40

Priced at $45

I know the shops do well for events like the Carey Street Crawl, but I didn't see any other street vendors making sales.  I'm trying to decide if it's worth trying again.  I'm not sure if my prices are why I didn't make any more sales or if things just don't sell at these types of events.  I also am keeping in mind that buying art is a luxury, not a commodity, and that times are tough for a lot of people right now.  Thanks!

Getting Back Out There

A coworker asked the other day, "have you had time to do any art since your baby's been born?". I replied, "Nope", which is not entirely true, but then again, what I've been able to do is minimal.  I'm not mad or annoyed about it - it is what it is; however, I really need to make it a point to finish up a few projects soon.

The most pressing is making a couple more up-cycled sculptures for the Carey Street Crawl happening on August 1.  That's THIS Friday in Olde Towne Slidell.   While baby slept the other day, I was able to crank out some butterflies on driftwood.  Later today, I'm making a sea turtle on driftwood and if things work out, a frog will go on another piece.  This event happens the first Friday of every month, and while I don't think I'll be able to participate every month, if things go well, I may be able to get on a rotation schedule with the organizer.    

Participating in this event has again brought up questions surrounding a small business. I've checked out several books on taxes and small business start-ups from the library to help me navigate this process.  It will be quite some time before the IRS cares about any of my sales if they ever get that big, but local government is less clear on what I need to worry about as far as my personal stuff getting mixed up with my business stuff.  All I know is that I need to submit or remit my taxes to the parish after the market is over.  

Is all this pushing me to get my business license?  Well, again, I'm hoping these books hold the answer.  I don't mind getting it as long as my personal yearly taxes aren't affected negatively and it's something I can use when needed, but also won't get penalized if I just let it sit.  I'm definitely not ready to have a store front; although, Small Business for Dummies says I'm likely to run a successful business.  Please chime in if you know the answers to any of these queries, by the way!  

So, THIS Friday, 5-10 PM, Carey Street in Slidell, Carey Street Crawl.  Next project: finally finishing felt mobile to hang above baby's crib, which she just moved into - she's growing up so fast!

Hope to see many of you Friday evening!  Cheers!

sea turtle done

Business Lessons

I've mentioned my business idea before.  It evolves slightly as my skills and interests change, but the basic idea is still the same.  I looked into renting this building in Old Mandeville, which seemed perfect for the plan.  I thought surely, it must be a sign that I should rent this space for my business since it's been sitting there for so long. 

So everything's not a sign.  I finally did some real research on this place and found out why it's been for rent for so long - it's an "as is" property and the rent is high, and to purchase it is even more expensive!  I did learn a few things in my research, though.  NNN stands for net-net-net, which translates to the renter paying for property taxes, insurance, and any maintenance the building needs while you are paying rent.  It comes with a TI, however, which means that any improvements that the renter would need to aide their business,  like a wall that needed to be moved, would be taken care of by the owner of the building. 

Either way, the owner is looking to make money whether it's by selling the building all together or making a living off of renting it out.  It was surely flooded by Katrina and Rita, and has been sitting vacant for three years, so no telling what the wall conditions are like.  This has gotten me curious to look into other places to rent, though.  If I would decide to finally pursue owning my own business, it definitely couldn't happen until our daughter is at least three.  Plenty of time to research places to rent and firm up exactly what I want to offer customers.

Sterling Properties image

Wedding Planning: Decorations

Our wedding is in three days.  Thursday is kind of prep day for getting the flowers together - making my bouquet, my dad and husband-to-be's boutonnieres, and making the last two head wreaths for the nieces to wear. 

The plan is carry a bouquet of sunflowers mixed with hydrangeas, but if it looks goofy, I'll just carry sunflowers because they're my favorite.  The hydrangeas are coming from my parents gardens and they look amazing.  They'll be sitting on tables in clear glass vases - most are globes, but some are in neat, previously emptied liquor and beer bottles.  My bouquet stems will be wrapped in burlap, and a thin blue ribbon for part of my "something blue".  I may add another accent flower of sorts if I see the right thing when I'm buying my sunflowers on Thursday, but if not, all will be good.  My other something blue is going to be tiny little satin roses that I bought at Michael's that the girl doing my hair will tuck into the chignon. 

I'm not feeling super confident about making the boutonnieres, so I've bought silk flowers from Hobby Lobby just in case.  The plan is to use a small cutting from a hydrangea, wrap the base in burlap and the thin blue ribbon; however, hydrangeas need lots of water and since it's a cutting and not even an entire head, I fear it won't last even through the ceremony. 

The head wreaths for our daughter and her cousins are made from a flower wired garland that I bought at Michael's.  Our daughter didn't mind wearing hers at all last weekend, so I'm hopeful that her cousins will like theirs just as well.  If not, though, my heart won't be broken.  I know better dealing with kids. 

As for decorations at the reception, the roll of burlap I bought for the flowers is twenty feet long, so there will be plenty to drape at the gazebo entrance where the ceremony will be held, as well as to drape across the fireplace mantel inside the house where the reception will be.  I also hope to hang up my collection of white paper lanterns inside the house.  They're all different shapes and sizes.  The PR person at the house we're renting said that as long as 3M strips are used to hang things and not nails or tacks, it's fine to do.  We'll try it out and hope for the best.  Again, if it doesn't work, I'm not going to be upset.  It's just an idea.  The house looks great without any decorations, really. 

People are already making it known that they're dying to see pictures of everything, so I'll at least post everything I've mentioned on here as soon as we get the pictures from our photographer.  Otherwise, don't expect to see our entire wedding album on here.  I'm not a fan of posting our daughter's photo on Facebook, or anywhere else creepy people could get a hold of it.  I work among lots of creepers every day, I know what they're capable of and it's not pretty.  Anyway, here's a happy note to close on....the hydrangeas

Attachment

One of the hardest things to do after spending so much time and energy on something is to let it go.  Human beings get so attached to things.  We have a favorite item of clothing, or that piece of equipment (a camera or a bike) that is a beloved hobby that we think we'd just die if something happened to it.  Depending on how much money any of these examples cost, sure, it would be upsetting if something did happen to damage them or lose them in some mishap or accident.  Creating things, like a piece of art in this case, and just giving it away or dismantling it or repurposing it can be a great challenge.

I mentioned in past posts that our daughter's room is shared with my art studio.  When I was organizing and sorting through things to condense everything into a confined space, I ended up with a stack of paintings that I wasn't entirely sure with what to do.  One has been shipped off to my future sister-in-law to hang in her office; another two are being saved for embellishing and bedazzling; and the last one....I decided to take apart!  The only other time that I ever dismantled pieces of art I made was after a college sculpture class (3-D design at LSU).  Since I didn't have never ending storage space, the giant cupcake made from plywood, corrugated PVC, batting and beads got taken apart, as did a copper wire orb, and an acrylic "mysterious ink spill" piece.  The cupcake was an installation for our final exam so it was meant to be temporary, and the other two weren't my favorites anyway, so there wasn't much emotional attachment.  

The painting that I just took apart the other day, however, took me 9 years to finish!  I started it when I worked at Forstall Art Supply in New Orleans in the early 2000's.  A friend and I had open studio night after the store closed and had the best time painting and chatting while music played in the background.  It was rejuvenating and enjoyable evening to say the least.  At the time, it was the biggest painting I'd ever done - about 6"x 5'.  It took until last year for me to get the background on the canvas with the acrylic medium I purchased when I was working at the art store! The image I had in my head was quite different from what the actual outcome was.  For a while afterwards, I contemplated offering the painting up for grabs or even putting it out for the trash.  The other day, I realized that the frame was still perfectly usable and so is the other side of the canvas!  Now I plan to save them both for when our daughter is old enough to paint. Maybe she and her cousins can work on a painting together, or she and I.  

My friends, when something has a better use as something else or with someone else, don't be afraid to send it on, repurpose it, or to completely start from scratch.  Giving something new life is much better than holding on to it for prides sake or for sentimental value.  I can't say it's always going to be this easy, but it's a start. Breaking our attachment habits - art related or not - can only be freeing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and that's good for everyone.  

Mardi Gras and Fine Art: Suddenly an Outsider

Normally at this time of year, I'm finishing up my corset for Flyday. I'd have been working on it since around Thanksgiving and would just be adding the final touches. By the way, Flyday is Friday, February 28 this year, and starts at Tujague's at 2 PM if any of you want to go.

This year is the 75th anniversary of Hermes.  There's a much talked about exhibit celebrating their Diamond Jubilee at the Presbytere.  Checking that out will be the extent of our Mardi Gras festivities this year, and not even during carnival season.  Our one-month-old is way too small to be out a parades, and we are way too tired to do a big field trip like that at this point.  The exhibit is up through December.

Next year, Mardi Gras might be spent trying a few family friendly day parades.  Depending on how that goes, we may try bringing petite bebe to the Bywater Mardi Gras celebration, which is my new favorite way to celebrate the day.  Fiance' and I went last year and had a blast.  Y'all think I'm creative with costuming - I'm just phoning it in compared to most people down there!  

The other day, when I was walking around the house holding my daughter, she seemed to notice a lithograph hanging on the wall that I'd made in college. It's black and white, which infants pick up on easily, and matted in a black frame. Although we like to think she's a genius, our one-month-old can not yet recognize anything that's going on in the lithograph. I realized, however, that doing art like that seemed to take place in another lifetime. Sure, I'm able to make things for her here and there, but to create what I think of as "fine art" is a thing of the past now, and that's okay.

There's an egg painting class happening in two weeks at the St. Tammany Art Association I'd like to try and attend, sleep/baby schedule depending.  Otherwise, I'm working on a felt mobile for baby's room and contemplating onesie embellishments.

Random assortment of costumes from the Bywater last year