DIY

Do It Yourself.
That's what it means. But, is it really about ourselves, and doing it ourselves? I don't think it is.

I have been thinking a lot about a blog post that Holly of Decor8 wrote a little while ago.
She wrote about how even though we, as independent artists, are doing it independently from big galleries, or corporations, we still need to rely on each other for promotion and support. We need our community to be strong, so that we, as independent business owners can be strong. She calls this Interdependence. Helping each other out, not to benefit only ourselves, but to help build a strong craft/art/indie community.

She points out that stepping on people in the business world is common, and is used in order to get ahead, or on top. However, this can eventually lead you to the bottom in an indie scene. I feel really strongly about that. People aren't always going to get along, and yes, this is a business, but it doesn't need to replicate the very thing that we are essentially working against.

The indie/craft scene in Detroit is still pretty unfamiliar to me, and I have only really gotten to know a hand full of people who participate in it. I'm not 100% sure what the craft scene in Portland is like either...but I am really eager to get involved. I am pretty familiar with the art scene in Portland, however. I was quite involved with it, and had a lot of friends who were regulars at openings and other arsty goings on. I hope all of that is still there when I get home...

I remember the final critique that I attended at Portland State. It actually wasn't for my class, I sat in on it because it was the final critique for several of my friends. Anyway, the instructor, Katherine Ace, gave a wonderful closing talk. She talked about what a great little community of friends and artists we had all become. That we were not only individual artists, but a community of artists, who helped each other out and who supported and welcomed new ideas. She commented on how we all needed to take this great little community out into the art world, and keep it going. We needed to show people that this is what being an artist is about. It's not all about competition. I will always remember that talk. It's one of the most valuable things I learned in school.

Anyway, I've just been thinking a lot about this, and Holly's post...
Thought I would share :)

Detroit Sounds and Spirits!

Okay, so my friend Shannon of ComfortablyLovely, invited me to be part of the the first ever holiday art/craft show! It's in conjunction with the Detroit Sounds and Spirits show, which has been taking place for the last 7 years.

Basically, from what I understand, it's a ton of bands, on two stages, that either cover Christmas songs, or sing their own. It sounds like a lot of fun, and Shannon has reassured me that it is.

I've never had a show at a, well, a show, before so we'll see how it goes!

If you're in the area, and would like to come here is the info:

Detroit Sounds and Spirits
The Magic Stick
December 19th
$15.00

The cool thing is that the $15.00 cover goes to the Detroit Coalition of Temporary Shelter.
An organization that provides emergency shelter and transitional housing for single men, women and families with children who need assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient.

Very cool!

Okay. That's it. I was going to work today, but decided to take the afternoon off so I could hang out with my boyfriend. :) Yay!

Don't Really Feel Like Writing Anything

Yeah.
So there isn't a lot I really feel like writing about today.
My friend Nate is coming to visit me for a couple of days, so yes, a tour of Downtown Detroit is on my list of things to do. I can take him down and show him how depressing and sad it all is. I still don't understand why we spending all this money on a useless war, when right in our own back yards cities like Detroit are crumbling and self destructing.

It is so sad.

Anyway, I have been listening to this song over and over and I really love it.
It makes me want to move to New York. But I don't think I will. I am too much of a Portland girl.

Also! I got another blog award :)
Thanks Angie!

Ok.
I need to get some stuff done before Nate shows up.
Hope everyone is having a good Thursday.

ps. Megan, I am SOoooo looking forward to your blog tomorrow!

Egads!

I like that word. Egads!!

haha.

Anyway...I said that the other day when Michael said that he had built 83 panels of varying sizes for me!!! Egads! 83...panels....I *hope* that will get me through the summer. If it doesn't, well, I am going to raise my prices 125% and hire an assistant :)

I had a good weekend. Not as much work done as I would have liked, but I am waiting for my panels to be finished so I can get to work on them. I want to put more paintings in my shop....

I went to a craft fair in Flint that was really fun. It was called Flint City Handmade. It took about an hour to drive there, but Flint was actually kinda cute. I thought it would be like Pontiac. Run down and abandoned, but it wasn't. They even had really good coffee! :) yay!

I also met a fellow Ety peep! yay! My first Etsy peep. His Etsy shop is Kill Taupe and he was recently a featured seller. I bought these awesome Detroit Hooker magnets :)

I almost met him a few weeks ago at the 323 Gallery opening...he has work there too...but I was too shy. Anyway, this time I just walked right up and said hi, and he was really really nice. He's thinking about moving to Portland! He totally should. I think he would fit right in.

Anyway..that's about it. Look for new paintings very soon...very very soon.

Have a good Monday.

ps only 8 days until I leave for NYC!!

Happy Birthday!

It's Michael's birthday!

We were going to go get burgers and beer, and I was going to make some tasty treats...but our truck decided to start making a weird noise last week, so we decided to take it in. It's still in the shop, and seeing as Detroit, and it's surrounding areas, has no public transportation...we will be sitting at home this weekend.

I did suggest that we ride our bikes down to the gas station, pick up some 40 oz. and happily drink them in the weird park/trailer park down the road. He didn't seem to be too interested in that though.

Anyway. I found some really interesting links this morning.

This one is about Detroit.
I want to go here.
Detroit Public Schools Book Depository
(scroll down the page a little)

I also found a fellow Detroit crafter/artist
The Phantom Limb
She has really cool stuff.

Also, if you haven't discovered Megan Chapman's blog, you should.
She writes a weekly blog, every Friday, and this weeks was one of the best. Ever.
I am still thinking about what she wrote, and taking it in.
Thank you Megan!


ps. the pictures were taken by Mike. The house, is a house in our neighborhood. During Christmas there was a Christmas tree in every window.