My blog has been on hiatus for the last two months. I didn't plan to stop writing posts...but in dealing with roller coaster emotions after losing my job, and the holidays starting, it went on the back burner. I did question if blogging was a good way to spend any of my time at this point, and I suppose that's still debatable. But I do enjoy it so I would like to resume writing as I am able.
I hope everyone had a good holiday season! I enjoyed them with my family and appreciated the time to relax. My etsy shop had a few sales and I ended the year with what I felt was a good first six months of growth.
I'm spending time working on my shop and on new art for my shop. In my previous post I showed photos of the wood bowls and dishes I planned to paint. Here they are again:
All have been painted, and four are listed in my shop as I finish the fifth, plus a few more I have going.
I enjoy finding and painting these great bowls and dishes.
I've also painted half a dozen pendants so far. Wearable art is a fun option.
I'll be doing more designs for the pendants too. I also just started on the first of what I plan to be a series of 11 x 14 inch paintings,
of a Japanese garden. I'll take photos as I go and share them here soon.
I'm working a lot on my shop's appearance, my listings, and learning about how to help people find my shop. I love having my little art business, and I love being a "working artist"! I wish there were more hours in the day for all I'd like to accomplish!
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Hi all,
After another long break, I'm back with some new things to show you.
Just to let you know why I've been quiet lately, I was having a lot of stress at my day job for several months. It had increased recently and led to some anxiety attacks, insomnia, and a fibromyalgia flare up. My work troubles finally culminated in being let go without warning last week. After over 3 years doing my best for my employer, it was quite a shock, though I knew I needed to move on and had just started looking for another job.
So I've filed for unemployment benefits and started a job search, but after getting over the initial upset, I'm feeling like I've been let out of prison. Financially it's not a good thing, but emotionally it feels heavenly. I'm taking my dogs for walks again. Sitting down to eat breakfast. Catching up on some of the things I haven't had time for. Yes, please, more of this ^^.
And so, on with the Art! I hope to have more time to develop the ideas and work on the projects that have been sitting on the back burner for so long.
I finished four of the St. Nicholas candle holders I was working on in my last blog post. These two sold immediately to an old friend:
and these two are still listed in my shop, looking for a good home :)
I've started on a new idea this week. I collected a few old wooden bowls & dishes at a thrift store recently. After some TLC as needed for each, I will paint the inside surface and varnish it. Here is my first collection, with one I've started working on:
They can be used for interesting decor on a shelf, table, or dresser, and can be useful for holding jewelry, change, keys, or whatever. Some might be fun to hang on a wall as art. I like finding a way to reclaim and recycle an unwanted used thing and make it pretty and new again. They are all so different and interesting to me!
I hope to get back to writing blog posts more often again. Best wishes to all.
Here's what I've been working on for the last few weeks: St. Nicholas candlesticks, or candle holders perhaps is the more correct way to say it. I used to make these some years ago, and sold some on consignment in a gift shop, as well as giving some as gifts. I was on the fence about whether to make any for my etsy shop for awhile, because they are time intensive, but decided to go ahead and make a few.
Here is what I start with: a commercial American Colonial style table leg that is 10 1/2 inches tall, and a pre-cut plaque, in this case a 5 inch square. My husband helps me by drilling a hole in the end for the candle (this is not easy to do!) and one in the center of the plaque to thread the screw end of the table leg into. I sand and seal the raw wood.
Then I put base coats on them (here just showing a St. Nicholas candle holder that will have a green coat):
I start painting the details, shaping the features of his face and fold of the fabric with highlights and shadows to give the illusion of depth and prominence to the flat wood surface. This one has a red coat and holds a teddy bear and candy cane. The plaque is just base coated in this photo.
After a bunch more hours of painting, then varnishing, the I have a finished St. Nicholas. This one is in a red coat and hat with fur edging, putting a shiny red apple in a stocking:
This is the only one I've finished so far. I hope to have two listed in my etsy shop by next weekend, and two more by Thanksgiving. I doubt I'll have time to do more. I don't know if any potential buyers will find them this year, but I hope maybe next year I'll have more visibility. I think this is a unique craft and could appeal to collectors, if they find me!
I'd like to eventually start turning our own sticks, since that would be truly handmade and not just hand painted. The table legs are not easy to find anymore, either. I have a small supply from past years but it won't last forever! First I have to see if there is a market for them before investing in a lathe, though!
On another note, I have to apologize for going missing for three weeks! I would like to be a regular blogger, who posts like clockwork, but okay, I'm not. Sometimes stuff gets in the way...and sometimes I don't feel inspired to write. I think it was a combination of both this time. Well, it happens. I don't think I've hit my stride yet on blogging. Guess we'll see if and when I do! But thanks so much for tagging along! I feel honored that you take the time to read my post...thank you!
