Summer has come. And with it has come mornings spent at the pool with friends, lunches filled with fresh berries and veggies from the Farmer’s Market, and holiday deadlines that make you go ‘huh? holiday?’. Indeed, the life of an artist|stay-at-home-mama breaking out! Wish us luck!
Filed under Real Life
There was a time (I think) when decoupage was (both) all the rage and faux pas. I’m not quite sure where it stands now, but I’ll readily admit I’m not (often) one to admit to decoupaging things in my free time (mostly I sneak around decoupaging things whilst listening to Spice Girls). Nonetheless, I’ve been needing/looking for a new (vintage) desk to use in my display, both for the July trade show I’m taking part in, and a few other shows I’m excited to have my name attached to. So, a few weeks ago when I saw this baby appear on FB for sale at the IU Surplus Store, I grabbed the little brother who was staying with us for the week, and we hi-tailed it over to pick it up.
Now, it wasn’t all I was hoping for, I’ll be honest. The legs are super loose (easily fixed) and the table top is UGLY. Clearly I was going to have to do something to it to make it show-worthy. I mean, I’m spending upwards of $3,000 to be involved in these shows, the least I can do is re-furbish a $30 old desk from IU. Right? Right! The day before the little brother (and little man and hubs actually) joined me to partake in the Spring Library Book Sale from our local library. There I picked up this vintage (1901) Collier’s Cylopedia – Compendium of Profitable Knowledge. This book is amazing, and I’m actually a little sad I brutally tore out at least 20 pages from its interior to decoupage my table, but alas, this is what I do. I apologize profusely to the book. {Of note: my mother-in-law was reading over the many left pages and found a few tidbits of great interest – for instance, when you’re on a walk with a friend, and you meet another friend on the street, it is IMPOLITE to introduce the two, because one might not care to know the other. Seriously. GEMS!}
Anywho, little bro and I sat to work on decoupaging the table the week he was here – and we had a ball. He Loved it so, and this is what I got from it! Gorgeous, imho. Today I finished it off by staining/aging it a little with . . . you guessed it, SOY SAUCE! See, I started watching this new show called Flea Market Flip on HGTV, and one of the designers had a deco project and she stained it with soy sauce! While it stinks much more than cofee or tea, it works much faster and is less messy.
So, what do you think? Have you done a recent decoupage project you’ve been too scared to share? Come on out with your guilty pleasures;)
Filed under Art Days, Craft Fairs
{ cross-posted to Gathering! }
I have this thing inside of me, wanting to bust out, to yell out to the world my intentions, my goals, and my dreams. I’ve told a few people – maybe more than a few. Maybe I’ve already screamed it from the tops of the tallest buildings in Bloomington, who knows, lately I’ve been so engrossed inside my head I don’t have a clue what I’m telling, whispering or screaming. But I do know I haven’t written it out here yet – at least not in a form like this – in a dedicated blog post that is detailing out to you, my dear readers, my deepest desire, my most outrageous dream, my most exciting (to date) endeavor – and that is this:
Well, that’s the plan at least. I feel like I’ve been preparing for this moment my entire . . . well, Conduit Press career at least. I’ve always wanted to open a store of my own, even before Conduit Press, but I didn’t know then what I wanted that store to carry – music, books, free trade, decor. And now, after this great community has embraced me and my creative endeavors for the past four years and counting, I want to give back. I want to advocate for my local (and regional) artists in a way that I can’t do as just Conduit Press. I want to represent them in this town that cares so much about art and all that it entails. I want to create this dream for myself, for my family, and for my amazingly talented artist friends.
When?!Well, see, that’s what these Gathering events are for. The three Gathering events throughout the year (the first in Feb, the second in May, the third in Aug) are all to promote Gathering as a handmade boutique – to create a following in different outlets and bring them all together at a culminating event: a month-long (Dec 2013) pop-up shop located in (hopefully!) downtown Bloomington. In my dreams, Gathering will be home to a variety of handmade artists that I am honored to call my friends and colleagues in this world of art. I hope for two years to open the pop-up, and then open a permanent B&M.
I would absolutely Love it if you were all involved. Obviously not everyone (in the world) can be represented in the shop, but I’ll do my darnedest! There will be an application (in the coming months) and a small fee to apply (to cover rent and general start-up costs) and all work will be sold on consignment. If you’re interested – be sure to sign up for the mailing list in order to be privy to all the applications deadlines and such.
Well, I would be remiss if I didn’t send out some sincere thank you’s to those that have inspired and encouraged this beyond my imagination. First, my dear Molly for merely sending out the suggestion during that dinner at Feast. It was that simple suggestion that got the ball rolling that me running a shop was a possibility, and it never stopped rolling. To Lori for the push to host that first home show that grew into so much more. To Martha for taking the time to school me on the in’s and out’s of pop-up shops, Sally for allowing me to be involved with BHM from the very start as a vendor and Nicole, Mia, and Jessica for inviting me with open arms to help organize the most wonderful show in the world(!) that has opened so many doors. To my husband for indulging me, and all of my artists friends (Laura, Megan, Jaime, Elizabeth, Jessi, Sam, Shan, Holli, Erin, Joelle, Jessica ( 2 and 3), Katie, Sarah, Candice, Megan, J.D., Grace, Lori and Olivera (and so many many more) and most of all, the Bloomington Creatives Collective for being an amazing resource for artists in our little community.
Maybe I’m speaking too soon – saying thank you’s before there is anything to thank them for, but I like to think not. That ball is rolling, and it’s never going to stop. I’m dedicated to Gathering and all it represents in my head and heart and I so want to share it with you.
Here’s to hoping if I put it out there – FOR REAL – I can make it happen. What I’ve been saying out loud a lot lately is simply . . .
{images from Pinterest – see my Pinterest board for Gathering store decor ideas! see what the store might look like come November/December}
Filed under Announcements, Real Life, Uncategorized
A few years ago a neighbor friend purchased a book from me and responded, “This is definitely mine, it’s in my colors,” and I thought “. . . well, ok.” I sold a book. I honestly didn’t think much of it. Now, years later, having thought deeply about color and color theory, mostly in regard to my work, I’m thinking again about what are MY colors? This woman, when she bought the book from me, stated it was in her colors and now, that I think about it, her home, her person, and even her cars and sometimes her small children are always clothed in those colors. So then, what are my colors?
Well, that’s not very hard to figure out actually, but I think they’re changing – and I wonder – is that normal?
See, for the longest time my personal colors were very different from my home colors, my kids’ colors, my car color…etc. If you know me at all, I don’t wear color. Mostly at all. Black and gray, and very occasionally a dash of color, or maybe brown. I’ve pretty much been this way my entire life. I’m not a fan of a LOT of color. There is an exception to that rule – and that’s my home (and my work). When we moved into this house nearly 8 years ago all of the walls were beige save for the kids’ bedrooms and the master. Oh, and the bathrooms were all wall-papered in horrendous florals. We hosted a painting party and beige turned into golden yellow, deep orange, navy blue, and olive green. Not all in the same room, but definitely all on the same floor. Our house is nothing if not colorful.
Today that got me to thinking about what my colors are – are they these dark earth tones I’ve always painted rooms in my homes since college? I know that’s where it started. I can actually pinpoint the exact time. Junior year in undergrad I lived with a dear friend in campus apartments – I remember I purchased a candle from Pier One that had three very distinct colors (golden yellow, orange, red) and that candle has been the sheer focus of color since the year 2000! That year we painted our walls DARK RED. When we moved into various apartments over the years, I always purchased deep dark red furnishings, with a speck of mustard yellow, or olive green. That didn’t change when we moved into this house – it was only furthered. And it worked. For a long time. It felt cozy, comfortable, like home. It felt full, encompassing, warm. It felt safe, relaxing, and just . . . like home.
But now times are changing. I’m craving light and clean and reflective. I’m craving change. And so, we’ve already painted our dining room “repose gray” (Sherwin Williams) and now I look forward to when all of the hallways (currently beige) and the back room (currently beige and dark orange) can be transformed as well. I look forward to feeling light and new in the entire space and I just can’t wait.
And so, all that being said – yes, I think at one point in time my ‘colors’ were red, orange, and yellow. And finally (it only took 13 years) my colors are changing, maturing, lightening into gray, light yellow, and dark purple with just a dash of turquoise and navy blue. And, I’m perfectly ok with that.
What are your colors? Do you have a set of colors that you feel defines your person, your home, your life? Please share, I’d Love to hear about them!
Filed under Dream House, Real Life, Uncategorized
