Morning Coffee - Dance like you mean it!!

The Art Market

The Art Market is a local arts and crafts show held the 1st and 3rd Saturdays during June, July and August down along the riverfront in Dubuque, IA. The Art Market is put on by The Dubuque Art Center (in conjunction with other local sponsors) and I have taken part in the last two. This is the first time I have ventured into selling my wares "face-to-face" and I have really enjoyed the experience so far. Not that I have made a ton of money or anything. The little money I have made has come in handy but times these days are not easy for a lot of people and I make jewelry. No matter how you slice it, jewelry is a luxury item. 'Nuf said.

BUT I will say that I enjoy seeing people react to what I make and I love it when one of my creations goes off to a new home. I also like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a day of honest work. Selling at fairs is hard work! It's definitely not for woosies and (for me, at least) takes some strategic planning to make sure you have all of you ducks in a row. The bottom line is that I really enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who has been thinking about diving into doing weekend craft shows.

My advice is to start small and local. Borrow a tent canopy your first couple times out. Unless you know you will want to use a canopy anyway for backyard picnics and weekend camping trips, don't invest in one right away. If you start by doing shows locally, you will not have to worry too much about hotels, meals and travel expenses. And if you forget something, you will be close enough to (A) drive home and get it or (B) call someone who loves you enough to bring it to you.

Money aside, I find that I enjoy it. REALLY enjoy it! And I know I want to expand and continue exploring the art/craft show possibilities. Here are some shots from yesterday at The Art Market:

THE SHOW

MY BOOTH

Morning Coffee Quotes

The first blossom of summer! - photo by Cindy Caraway

“If the whole world followed you, would you be pleased with where you took it?”
- Neale Donald Walsch

“Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth.”
- Ludwig Börne

“Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
- John Wooden

“Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.”
- Henri Louis Bergson

“What torments of grief you endured, from evils that never arrived.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Learn how to separate the majors and the minors. A lot of people don't do well simply because they major in minor things.”
- Jim Rohn

“There is no worse sorrow than remembering happiness in the day of sorrow.”
- Alfred De Musset

“To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves.”
- Will Durant

“We have the Bill of Rights.
What we need is a Bill of Responsibilities.”
- Bill Maher

“Respect gained by fear is only an empty pretense that turns to contempt the moment the threat disappears.”
- Michael Josephson

“An optimist is someone who goes after Moby Dick in a rowboat and takes the tartar sauce with him.”
- Zig Ziglar

Quilt Scraps

I told you yesterday about some quilt scraps I bought in Branson. I have started making some cuffs with them and I really like how they are turning out! My jewelry typically tends to be a bit on the "over produced" side - which I think is good in most cases. Threads are clipped and secured, the edges are meticulously finished, details are seen to - so much so that the slightest oversight in one of my pieces, ones that are not even noticeable except to myself, will bug me forever!! I'm not bragging about this - I am a perfectionist and (some might say) a control freak. It might be labeled as neurosis :)

I am, none-the-less, very attracted to clothing and accessories that look like they've been around for a while and arose spontaneously - raveling edges, loose threads, amorphous shape. So, I am using this as an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. Working more with fiber than beads has already helped a lot. Here are some shots of cuffs I've made so far. The tops are made from the quilt scraps which are then embellished using my fun stash of lace, doilies and other trims. Some embroidery is added to hold the layers together and it is backed with some lovely tea stained fabric and finally signed and dated. Let me know what you think of them :)

T-shirt Yarn

A Night out on the Range... continued...

Here are some more shots of a custom piece I have been working on called "A Night Out On the Range". The lovely lady I am making this for was kind enough to send some personal items for me to incorporate: locks of hair from her horses, silk cloth cut from some favorite scarves, a corner of a beautiful wool blanket and a selection of very pretty beads. This was truly to be a mixed media piece and some of the materials were the kind I have never thought of using before. Not wanting to dive right in with the treasures she sent, I decided to make a practice piece using some things I had in the studio. Here is the "practice" piece:

It is meant to bring to mind a glowing campfire under a full moon. Since this sample passed muster, I set to working on the "real" piece. I am very pleased with how it's turning out! The silk has become boulders on the western range and the black horsehair the curtain of night. Wrapped in a warm woolen blanket to guard from the chill, the horsehair ends in a pretty tassel. More has been added since these photos were taken but I hope you will enjoy this little glimpse.

Siberian Princess

I don't think I ever posted photos of "Siberian Princess". As I remember, I had taken a few "teaser" shots and then didn't follow through (typical...). Anyway, here she is! She was featured in my gallery show in March and April and will be in a another show at the end of the month.

I started with a faux fur collar, then added some pretty trim and buttons. The bead embroidered pendant is fashioned from rows of beaded netting in iridescent colors and attaches with beaded loops to the buttons. A hook and eye closure was also added to the collar for extra security.