October 16 Victor PTSA Arts and Crafts Sale

This Saturday 10/16  at the Victor Intermediate School, 953 High Steet I'll be in their Arts and Crafts show. Hours are 9-4.  Free to PTSA members, $1 admission. Crafts, food, raffle prizes. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Victor-Farmington Food Cupboard and receive a free raffle ticket.

Giveaways from RNEST-Rochester area Etsy Artists!

RNEST is a group of Rochester area artists and crafters who all have shops on Etsy, a website devoted to handmade items. To celebrate fall, RNEST is doing a bunch of giveaways. You can get more details at http://rochesternystreetteam.blogspot.com/2010/10/wednesday-wellspring-trick-or-treat.html I'm one of the RNEST artists with an item to be given away. The main idea of the giveaway is to look for pictures of candy hidden in different Etsy shops. The more you find, the more entries you can get in the giveaway, which means more chances to win!
Happy Candy Hunting!

Cozy Cowl in Progress

As the weather turns colder we all start reaching for something that will provide a little extra warmth. Neck cowls are a fantastic trend and I'm trying my hand at one that will be sure to stand out. The one on my loom right now is a sort of a woven interpretation of a Black and Tan. And if you have too many of them, things do indeed start swirling, much like the pattern. Or so I'm told.

I'm hoping to have this off the loom and up for sale by this Sunday, when I will be doing Artist Row at the Rochester Public Market. Rain or shine, I'll be there. Really, really hoping for no rain, and for temperatures at least in the 60's. If not , I'll be modeling a scarf, cowl, and wrist warmers simultaneaously!

Stephanie Lee Homesteader's Metalsmithing Class

If you're looking  for a little kickstart to your creativity, I do recommend taking a class with Stephanie Lee. I'm just finishing up on online class, Homesteader's Metalsmithing.  I've really enjoyed it. Sometimes in classes there is more "down time" than I would prefer even with the best of instructors. In this format, I can do what I want, when I want, which suits my personality (and limted time) quite well.  Another plus to this class was that  most of the material was brand new to me, so I feel it was time well spent, for sure.

I had heard of some of the techniques covered, but never tried them. Taking this class was one way to give myself  "permission" to purchase the supplies I need to try new techniques, and to devote precious minutes to experimentation and making things that won't necessarily end up for sale. This class has inspired me to make sure I set aside the time to engage in creative play and artistic exploration.

Here's a picture of an experimental piece I made. It was intended as a way to use my bottlecap magnets as pendants. The magnet it removable so it can be changed out to match an outfit or a mood. The concept works but the execution needs some fine tuning since it's much clunkier than I prefer. Still, it was something I would not have thought of without taking this class so I call it a win even though it's not the most elegant piece I ever made.

Show Schedule Updates

Things have been humming right along. Did the Bread and Water show in Rochester and then the Braddock Bay Red Tail Day show on back to back weekends. Despite a few road bumps, I really loved every minute of it! Many of the crafters and artists that I've met are like long lost friends. We admire (and purchase!) each other's work, commiserate, swap stories and in general speak the same language.

I've received my acceptance notification for a few more shows:

September 19 Artist Row  Rochester Public Market
October 23 St. Rita's School Holiday Craft Sale in Webster
October 16 Victor PTSA Holiday Craft Show

Now that there's no denying the cool weather is coming, gift buying season is right around the corner so I better get to it!

Bread and Water Theatre

I just found out about a really cool show for musicians and artists taking place this weekend! I'm hoping to be a vendor but I just applied a few minutes ago.

From their website:

"Last year, Bread & Water Theatre launched its first ever Recession Art Show and Sale to help struggling artists and musicians show their work to the general public to great success. To continue that work, BWT is taking the idea behind this one time event to make Bread & Water Theatre's Music and Art Fair an annual event dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming artists and musicians who live and work in the Rochester area. This event will be held inside and on the grounds of 243 Rosedale St. (at the corner of Monroe Ave. and Rosedale St.) on August 14th and 15th from 2-8pm. "

Anticipation Overdrive

No, it's not a new band name, but it does describe my frame of mind right about now! I am so excited to do the Lima Crossroads Festival tomorrow, I can barely contain myself. A lot of sweat equity (literally) has gone into the preparation of my booth and my inventory.You know all those humid days we've had here in Rochester recently? When I wasn't sweating inside my studio, I was sweating outside creating a my tent display fighting mosquitoes all the while. But it's going to look great.

I also am very excited to start an online class this Monday with phenomenal artist Stephanie Lee. I first learned of her existence in a recent issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry. That's a $15 an issue magazine. That's right, *$15*. Anyone who knows me really well knows I appreciate the value of a dollar, so the fact that I opened my wallet for it is a true testament to the caliber of projects featured in it. The March/April/May issue might have well been called "A Tribute to Stephanie Lee". Along with a piece featuring an interview and a project by her, almost every other artist in the magazine cited her as their inspiration or credited her with the technique used in their project. I decided that I had to check it out for myself, so I picked up her book Semiprecious Salvage. Then I Googled her, and found out from her blog that not only is she a true artist, gifted writer, and saavy business woman (all qualities which I greatly admire) but she was offering an online class. Took my about 2 minutes to decide I wanted to take the class.  Serendipity is a wonderful thing.