Hi!
It's been awhile. I've been dealing with some personal things that I didn't think were pertinent to this blog. Nothing serious. Just everyday things. Also, summer happened. I've been trying to get outside as much as I can. Which, has been a bit difficult with so many shows in the works.
Since I last wrote a blog post I did Crafty Wonderland, a group show in Chicago, a show and a show at Salt and Straw in Portland. Right now I'm getting ready for a show at Crafty Wonderland shop in August. Oh, I'm also working at the ole day job. Busy things.
I've been making a ton of new work. If you follow me on Etsy I'm sure you've seen some of it. I'll post some here but if you'd like to see more head over to my Etsy shop!
I'm hoping to do some more blogging. Hopefully going back to almost everyday, or at least once a week.
So, I really dropped the ball on the Valentine's day cards this year. I just didn't plan well for it. I wanted to make some, I really did. However, time escaped me and well, I didn't get them ready in enough time for my printer to print them.
However, just because I slacked off in getting them printed, doesn't mean that I can't share them with you. I thought that I would post it up here, for free. All you need is a printer and some paper! If you have some nice photo paper that would be even better.
It's Cyber Monday! Whoohoo! One of my favorite days of the year.
My Etsy sale is still going strong, but I wanted to offer a special discount to those of you who follow my blog. If you use the coupon code THANKYOU you get free shipping and 35% off your order :) You can find my shop at http://www.michelemaule.etsy.com. This will be my last sale until March 2013.
I've got a few more little pieces of art in the works and I hope to have them done and listed next week. I've been working so much on paper I've forgotten that I have some small panels that I can paint on. I'm hoping to get around to working on those next week, and hopefully I can add some new paintings to my shop next month.
Here she is. She went home with her new owner this morning. The woman I painted this for was so incredibly happy and excited to bring her home.
She loved it and thanked me over and over. It made me feel so happy. I was happy that she loved it, and I was even more happy that I had made someone happy. Happiness!
anyway, the beautiful sunshine we had this morning along with such a happy client, made for a fantastic day.
I thought I would share the two new pieces I was able to finish and get listed this week.
There is this original painting here and this little watercolor painting here.
I was hoping to get 2 more listed, but I was really struggling this week. I started 3 illustrations and completely overworked all of them.
I'm ususally good at knowing when a piece is finished and I'm able to walk away and start something new. This week I just kept on working them until they really didn't make any sense.
It's okay, it happens. Not everything is going to turn out great all the time. However, it would be nice to get those hours back.
Trying to wake up this morning. It's a work day so I don't think that is contributing to my sleepiness. I always seem to want to sleep in on the days I have to be at work...
Number 51
You Can Stay as Long as You Need
It's also very grey and rainy outside and that is not helping the situation either.
Sunshine, please don't hide out for too long. My garden needs you. I need you.
In other news, I've added two new pieces to my Etsy shop! Yes! Here and here.
I feel like I return to collage because it is such a meditative process for me. I rip and tear paper and find places for them on a small piece of paper. alone the torn bits of paper are just that. Together, they make up an odd pattern. They become cohesive. a lot like a quilt. So, I tend to return to this medium when I want to make art, but I don't know where to start.
anyway, I hope you enjoy them as well! Have a great Wednesday.
Oh my...
I had a short bout of some sort of plague yesterday.
I'm feeling much better this morning, however! Hooray!
Wonderful Place - Mixed Media Collage
Despite feeling like death yesterday, I managed to get two new little pieces listed in my shop. Wonderful Place lives here and Be Brave lives here. For the record, I didn't start to feel too terrible until just after I posted them ;)
Be Brave - Watercolor Painting
anyway, it's Saturday! We're supposed to get snow tonight and tomorrow! We'll see if that really happens... Thankfully it's a weekend so we won't see this city totally loose it's mind. Hope the weekend is treating you well.
Well, the official first day of Fall is about a week away, and it's already feeling very Fall like today.
Grey skies, cool air, and I even saw some leaves changing color on my walk with Chloe this morning. Where did Summer go? I feel like it had just gotten here last week. Oh well, that's Summer in Oregon. Gone in a blink of an eye.
I've already started prepping myself for the long winter. I'm envisioning lots of tea and cozy blankets. all I'm missing right now is a new winter coat and some new rain boots. My blue boots have giant holes in them... I guess they don't make rubber boots like they used to...
In other news, I got so much work accomplished today! I organized over 300 greeting cards and got some new paintings listed in my Etsy shop. The upside to not selling a lot at a show is that you're able to add all of that hard work to your Etsy shop when it's over. Now, hopefully people will enjoy them there! Maybe enough to purchase one ;)
Yes. It's a new day. Going a little more smoothly than yesterday.
They're all done, and packaged up. Ready to go to the post office, along with some other items.
I feel a little sense of relief, but, I still have a lot of work to do for the upcoming show in June for Surface Gallery...
I think I've got a pretty good start so far, so I am not too worried.
Michael took Chloe with him to school, and I keep listening for her little tags clinking away. My day has been a little lonely without her. That's one of the great things about having a pet. At least for me, I never feel lonely.
Oh well. They should be home soon. Oh Yeah! I almost forgot!
Michael has had some time on his hands the last week or so, so he decided to re-vamp my website! www.michelemaule.com. He is still in the process of adding links and such, so it's not quite done yet. But you can get a good idea.
I like it! He did a great job!
Well, it's a pretty, sunny day here in Pontiac. Hope you are having a lovely day.
I have a million things that need to be done this morning, so I thought I would blog now.
I have had a few questions about the "voting" on Paper n' Stitch so I thought I would post a little blog about that.
It is a little confusing seeing as there really isn't a little "vote here" button or anything. Basically you just want to clock on that little heart with the number on it. And here is where you click on the little heart. That's it!
So far I have 14!! Yay! That's great! Thanks to everyone who has given me a heart so far :) That's awesome. For those people who maybe missed yesterdays blog, I have an opportunity to win $150.00 and a free month on Paper n' Stitch. The person with the most hearts by January 18th wins both :)
I'm really hoping to use the $150.00 to go towards supplies, and the extra month on Paper n' Stitch would be a great help to.
Okay, I have to get started on the million things I need to do today. Well, know it's only 999,999 things to do :) Thanks everyone!
I had such a great time, and the venue was amazing! It was held in the Filmore Theater in down town Detroit, and the theater was beautiful. Really.
I was not only impressed with the venue, but also how well the whole thing was organized. Big kudos to everyone who put everything together.
There were so many really cool vendors as well. I have been hearing a lot of craft fairs are allowing people to sell manufactured goods, and things like AVON. But the DUCF was all handmade and all of it was really well made. I was so glad to be a part of it :)
I am actually sad that I won't be able to do it next year.
So I thought I would share some tips on craft fairs for those of you who might be thinking of doing one, or have an upcoming one in the schedule.
This is mostly for people who are selling art...things might be a little different for those of you who sell other items.
BRING BUSINESS CARDS. I can't stress that enough. Sometimes people don't have money at that time, but really like your things. Sometimes people will see something, but the person they want to buy it for is with them. Sometimes people want to contact you for a future show, or art fair, or interview, whatever. Sometimes people will just take one to take one and never visit your website again, but regardless bring them! I bring about 200 and never run out.
Bring some bags. I buy my bags at Uline.com. You have to buy them in quantities of 1,000...which is a lot. But they are really good things to have. I got the plain brown ones, then screen printed one of my typewriters on it. I always ask if they would like a bag, and most of the time people say yes. It just makes their life a little easier.
Bring change! I bring $200.00 in ones, fives, and tens. I price my items much like I price my Etsy items. Everything ends in a 5 or 0. It makes doing the math a lot easier. If you have a lot of items that end in 1, 2, 3, etc. Bring lots of ones.
Go to the thrift store and look for cool linens and items to place your prints in. I found these little plastic baskets for .99 each. I also found a pretty light blue table cloth for 3.00.
Make sure to have different "levels" to your table. Give it some height. If you look closely at the picture you'll notice I have two small white "walls" that I hung my paintings on. I gessoed two unfinished panels and hinged them together. I think for the next fair I do I am going to go out and get some bigger pieces of plywood and do something similar. I just don't have a lot of money to spend on any more craft fair items...
Throught out the day be sure to straighten and move some of your items around. Switch it up a little bit!
Bring a sketchbook, or something small to work on while you're there. Hopefully you'll be too busy to sit down and do anything, but even when there are people at your table it's nice to have something to do while they are shopping. You don't want to be staring at them, making them feel unfortable :)
Generally just smile, say hello, and be friendly. Don't be too overbearing, but let them know you're friendly.
Have fun!! I always have a lot of fun while I am there. Before and after can be stressful, but once I am there I always have a really good time.
