Calorie-Free Treats!

Kreations by Karina has featured me on her blog this morning! To check it out, here's the link.
Karina is a fellow Etsian and soapmaker. She's quite deserving of her own "Favorite Things" blog post, so I decided to make her shop my topic du jour!

Etsy Buy Handmade KreatedbyKarina

Her shop features some of my favorite kinds of scents...dessert! A friendly warning to those with a sweet tooth: do not visit her page if you're hungry. She has posted luscious pictures of what item the soap smells like. You're bombarded with images of sugar-topped blueberry muffins, gooey cherry cheesecake, white chocolate torte, and creamy vanilla cupcakes. (Personally, I have my eye on her coconut cream pie soap.) Thank God she's not a bakery, because my waistline would be in big trouble! Lucky for all of us, Karina's treats are of the calorie-free variety and good for your skin.
Unlike many commercial soap makers, none of her soaps contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). As Karina says on her site, "The sodium lauryl sulfate found in commercial soaps and some other soaps on Etsy (it's claimed as a lathering agent) is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines." Um. Ewwwww!
It's obvious Karina has put a lot of care and thought into her hand-crafted products. Isn't it time to pamper yourself with yummy bath treats? (If you can't decide - she does offer a soap sampler!) Stop by her shop to look around, and make sure you read her blog today...after all, I'm on it! (o;

Back to School 101

This summer, I decided it would be to my benefit if I were certified in graphic design. When I actually do get the rare freelancing gig with a company, many of them seem to expect me to be able to do the layouts and design for their brochures and ads as well as the illustration. I can't. My BFA is in illustration, and things like typography boggle my mind. I'd rather have someone else take care of text and layout than to do a poor job of it myself. Poor design seriously detracts from good illustration.
But the need for graphic design knowledge kept popping up in my life. I eventually began to feel like I was trying to build a house with only one hammer instead of a complete toolbox. I decided it was necessary I learn those other skills. Besides, a graphic design degree coupled with my 4 year illustration degree may eventually lead into a full-time design position (or so I hope).
So, eight years after I graduated from art school, I find myself back in the classroom. Let me tell you, it's so much different the second time around. When you're a full time student you have the luxury to eat, sleep and breathe your studies. It's your world. Though not an easy one by far, at least your sole concern is your education. As a grown woman taking night classes, there's a full day's worth of work at my job before I ever even get to class. Tack that onto the fact that I'm commuting 1-2 hours (depending on traffic) one way just to get to school. You can forget maintaining your household.
Taking two classes last semester nearly killed me. I was staying up until 3 a.m. on a weeknight just to finish my homework. When you work an 8-5 that isn't pretty, let me tell you. Somehow I survived (with straight A's too!). I'm fiercely proud of myself. I'm not generally a risk-taker, and the decision to go back to school was a big one for me. However, it's also taking a lot out of me. The winter break was much needed.
This past Sunday, I realized with a start that my spring semester begins this week. My first class is tonight, as a matter of fact. I do not feel emotionally ready to get back into that maniac schedule. Things should be a little better this semester though, since I was only to take one class due to prerequisite requirements. Still...the commute, the homework, the late nights...ugh. This will go on for three-plus years until I am certified. I don't know how I'm going to make it. It's just one of those things you can't think about, you just have to do. (Sort of like how I get myself to aerobics class every day.)
Are there any other "grown-ups" taking night courses, enrolled in post-grad programs, or continuing ed? How are you dealing with it? Do you have any secrets for time management? I could definitely use some advice. Personally, I just had to set priorities. That meant work and school came first, but unfortunately I let everything else slide. Our house was a disaster, I couldn't exercise as regularly because of my schedule, and I often had to eat on the run. It left me feeling icky. I wish I could balance it all. I'm hoping it'll be easier this time around. How do you do it?

Art for Mini-Muffins

I just got back from brunch with a good friend who is expecting. She's due in 3 weeks, and this will be her first baby. You know what that means...baby shower! Unfortunately I was unable to make her shower, hence our brunch date this morning. While catching up, I asked how her baby room was coming along. She said it was good but the walls were still bare. My face lit up. Nothing makes an artist happier than naked walls just crying out for their artwork. I started pointing to myself enthusiastically and saying "Just tell me what you want, I'll make a painting for you guys!"
I love creating paintings for baby rooms. First, most people already have a theme in mind. Second, there's an obvious deadline. It's basically an illustration gig, but you have a lot more creative wiggle room. Plus, baby themes are pure fun. Here are some of my past commissions and gifts for moms-to-be:



This was my first baby shower painting for my cousin. My aunt informed me her baby room theme was frogs. Well, me being me - I couldn't just paint a simple frog sitting on a Lily pad and be done with it. Oh no. I had to make synchronized swimming froggies. Eat your heart out, Esther Williams.



This was a commission for a grandmother awaiting the arrival of her first granddaughter. The painting is a recreated and embellished version of an image the grandmother had hanging over her own bed as a child. Though not entirely my own invention (I didn't make up that 1950's baby angel!), it was still fun.



A client of mine had two friends who were expecting at the same time. One was having a girl, one was having a boy. The theme for this little girl's room was vague. "Pink floral" I was told. A perfect opportunity to showcase some of my crazy bees, of course.



This was the painting for the baby boy's room. The theme was "safari". I love monkeys.

I'm curious to know what my friend's theme will be. She said that she and her husband briefly considered a Noah's arc theme, but quickly decided they didn't want "two of everything". That made me laugh. Still, it sounds like a possible animal theme is brewing. This is obviously right up my ally. Hurry up and decide, honey! My brushes are out and I'm ready to roll!

Putting my feelers out there...

Yesterday I started a thread on the Etsy forums to get some sort of consensus on what people were interested in seeing more of in my shop. Do people like the illustrations? The prints? Plush characters? My bee ornaments? I bought fabric last weekend, but since no one has been buying anything at all, it's really hard to gage which direction I should go in.
Not a ton of people responded to the thread, but the ones who did all said the illustrations were the way to go.
I'm starting to feel the way I did my senior year in college. Confused.
Though I majored in illustration, I started experimenting with creating 3-D pieces in my last year...which went over really well with my teachers and classmates. My teachers encouraged me to continue in that direction. But when I asked them which career path I should turn to after college, I got a bunch of blank stares or vague replies. After all, this was the illustration department. How were they supposed to know what non-illustration path you'd be qualified for? No one seemed to like my illustrations as much as the items I was sewing or sculpting. I would go home from my senior portfolio class feeling lost and directionless. The tears would start building as I climbed the hill towards my apartment. By the time I got home, I'd be full-out crying. That is, until my roommate wandered in to lend an ear, (and often coffee or a cookie) to cheer me up.
People would suggest, "Design for children's rooms!" or "Work for a toy company!" The problem is that there are plenty of talented industrial design and textile professionals for both of those jobs. Some random illustrator is not qualified at all. Or so I learned after several job interviews where I failed miserably. I spent a full year after graduation floundering. I had interview after fruitless interview. I tried to branch out on my own and sell my own work. I tried sending promotional postcards to publishers. Nothing. Since I had spent my portfolio class sewing polymer clay sea creatures to a pair of fake bloody mittens, I didn't have enough illustration work to make a decent portfolio. I finally settled into the soul-killing world of 8-5 office work just to I could pay the bills and at the very least move out of my parents' house. Talk about hitting bottom.
Now here I am, years later. Admittedly, I'm doing better by leaps and bounds than the above narrative may imply. I've been involved in a few successful art fairs. I have some freelance illustration work (for real companies!) under my belt. I've completed several commissioned paintings. I have my Etsy shop. And most significant of all...I even made it onto HGTV somehow! (I am still working full time in an office to survive, but at least I finally like my job.)
Yet, I am confronted with the same question. Illustration vs. 3-D. Which path? It seems that other artists or illustrators love my 3-D things (the bees go over especially well) and the remainder favors my illustrations.
I still sort of feel the need to define myself. I realize that I can do both things and am perfectly capable of wearing two hats. At the same time, I also feel like I should have a primary focus. Even if it's simply in terms of what to create first (or more of) for my teeny online shop.
So...which is it?

Technical Difficulties (and Miorats!)

I didn't post yesterday because I was bogged down in technical difficulties. First, I didn't know what to blog about. When I finally decided that I wanted to profile some of my favorite Etsy shops, I had no idea how to go about getting a hold of the code for their "mini". For those of you not hip to the Esty lingo, the Etsy Mini is the lovely shop pic/link/profile that you can post on websites. Mine is on my sidebar off to the right.
The general consensus on the Etsy forums was that I should e-mail my favorite sellers, ask if they'd like to be profiled on my blog and if so, request their mini code. However, the prospect of writing to people I don't know, waiting for a reply, a code, and probably having to wrangle up some interview questions was simply too much for me. All I wanted to do was a quick blog! This was starting to require serious amounts of work. I promptly gave up.
Today I've figured out how to post someone else's mini on my page, but I've also decided to take the easy way out. I'll be profiling Etsy artists, however I'm going to use a bit of nepotism to do it. (Sorry to my favorite sellers, I'll get to you later!)
These two artists are fellow Etsians, but they're also good friends of mine from college. I'll probably profile one today and one tomorrow. I know they wouldn't mind and I'm not afraid to e-mail them!

First meet Jen:

Etsy Buy Handmade miorats

Jen's a fellow Illustration grad. She doesn't have a ton up in her Etsy shop, so I would highly suggest linking here or here to see more of her work. What I love most about Jen's work is how she's created a world that is so distinctly her. Her illustrations are full of glowing translucent color (hard to believe they're acrylic and oil paintings) and often include collage elements from foreign newspapers collected during her travels. At first glance the cuteness of an image will draw you in. But once you're there, you're assaulted with something extremely creepy or uncomfortable. For example, "Aw, what a sweet illustration of a kitty...HOLDING A SEVERED HEAD???" Haha. I love it. I bought this painting from her last Christmas. It's in my studio and it makes me happy. Go check her out...and stay tuned for another profile tomorrow!

We must use time creatively.

In honor of the holiday, the title of this blog is a Martin Luther King Jr. quote. Do you have today off? If so, what are you doing to use your time creatively?

Flash-in-the-pan Saturday

I always have such lofty goals for my weekends. I have visions of somehow completing 100 errands, producing an immaculate house and oodles of creative work. To accomplish this, you need to be one of those insane Type A personalities. Those are the people who are up at 6 a.m., spend the day being a whirlwind of productivity, and have conquered all their goals before lunch. The only problem is that's not me.

On Saturdays I am one of those people who get up, lazily eat a bowl of Cheerios while staring at the crossword (I have no idea why I bother. I can never remember any words, and even when I do I'm an atrocious speller.) After that, I usually stroll up to my studio in my pajamas to listen to "Car Talk" or "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" on NPR while drinking my coffee and clicking through the Internet for a couple hours. Eventually, I remember that I had "THINGS TO DO" and will get dressed and leave the house...mid-afternoon. Doesn't leave too much time for taking over the world, does it? Though, I must admit I've been much better with getting down to business lately.

What I did accomplish today was the errand part. I paid a visit to the fabric store, which I haven't done in ages. The fabric store can be a dangerous place for artists and crafty people. Especially me. I'm not interested in boring inexpensive cotton. Oh no. I'm buying up yards of satin, sequins, and anything remotely textured. Furry? I want it. Fuzzy? It's mine! Faux leather??? Fork it over! Oh yeah. My weird stuffed animals are better dressed than I am. C'est la vie. But check out the goods:



From bottom layer to top - sheep-like fluffiness (dunno if that fabric has a name. It was in the fake fur area), flannel, fleece, felt, and velvet.
I have visions of stuffed sheep in my future. I also had this massive brainstorm for a stuffed animal where a big chunk of the proceeds will go to charity. Which charity (and the reasons why I chose it) is a sad story that deserves a post of it's own...later.

Anyway, while I was out and about today, I was heading back to my car in a MAJOR shopping plaza parking lot. Traffic was whizzing by, people were stalking shoppers in order to get a parking space, and in the middle of all this there were...ducks. Yes, ducks. There were 4 gorgeous Mallard ducks sitting behind a van, quacking away like it ain't no thang. There were probably 2-4 more walking around the busy parking lot in between cars. The males had those distinctive bright glossy green heads and the brown females had that little familiar band of blue on their wings. I wish I had a camera on me, it was a bizarre sight. I was so scared they'd get run over. I probably chased about 3 of them away from oncoming traffic. I eventually realized that I couldn't stay in this massive parking lot all day long being "The Crazy Duck Lady" so I reluctantly got into my car and drove away. I'm still obviously wondering about them. Don't ducks migrate? I mean, it's cold here! And duckies, why a parking lot? I mean, really! There are loads of duck-friendly rural spots not even 5 minutes from the shopping plaza. Puzzling.

In other news, the Main Showcase I was in yesterday on Etsy was a total and complete bust. I made zero sales from it. I did get a lot of hearts, but only a couple more than I would've gotten on a normal day. I have received just as many hearts simply from talking to people in the forums. For you non-Estians, "hearts" are a way of bookmarking the page of a seller you like. It's also your way to tell the seller, "Hey, I think your artwork is awesome!" Or, that's how I like to interpret it. Here are my hearts if you want to see what it looks like. In any event, I don't think I'll be wasting my money again any time soon. Blah. Sad. I'm not letting my sales disappointments stop me, though. I have new fabric and am going to get to work. Due to the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, I have a long weekend ahead. That's plenty of time to pick my chin up.