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Ok- deep breath. i just made it through possibly the busiest spring in years. maybe i am just getting old and having a hard time keeping up. i think it just been all out too busy. today, a dear friend of mine asked me how i do it. she said "you cram so much into your life, just reading your facebook posts make me tired." so deep breath, inserted right here. i've actually been taking a mediation class, which IS helping me slow down (a little.) but i do sort of have this philosophy that i can sleep when i'm dead.

really, i get it all done, because i don't sleep more than about 6 hours a day during the week, i don't watch more than 1 hour a week of TV, and my house will never be featured in Better Homes and Gardens. 

to rewind to were i have been, work, my day job has been crazy nuts busy. art: oh, that's been pretty too. i participated in the queen city craft bazaar. which was a very successful day, thanks so much to kacey boone and hillary sherman for such a great show. two weeks later, i was hawking my wares at the Bolton Spring Bazaar, and where my 10x10 tent had it's last breath and had to be retired. i've been too some great antique auctions picking up great new pieces to include in my art. duane merrill's auctions has been a source of weekend entertainment, inspiration and materials. and i just finished up a 4 week photoshop class.

i've been checking out some new venues: i will be trying out the south burlington farmers market this summer. stay tuned for the dates i will be there. and some old venues. i'm back at the S.P.A.C.E. gallery, in the Art of Networking show.  i'm signed up for the craft show at CVU, and WCS. and i am working on putting together my first solo show in the gallery at the Seminary Arts Center.oh, yes and i have been trying to breath some air back into my etsy shop.

so i have been a busy girl. hope your head isn't spinning too much. mine has just stopped! all this in about 6 weeks. so please accept my apologies for not blogging. i'm trying to find the time to keep you all in the loop. this summer is chock full of all sorts of fun things, new projects and yes a vacation!

5 days and counting

The Queen City Craft Bazaar is this Saturday, May 8th.  I am so excited. It's going to be an awesome show! Don't miss it- 10am to 5pm- Downtown Burlington, 1 Main Street. Right near the waterfront- with FREE parking and FREE admission.

Life here in the little house in Williston has been busy, busy, busy as I have been preparing for this summer's art show season. I've been scouting for materials for my pieces at thrift stores and estate auctions. I've been drilling and nailing and playing with the new Dremel. My hands have been covered in paint and glue. My dining room has been transformed into my staging area, as I try to figure out the best way to configure my booth. I've been updating my email contact list, so I can send out a little quarterly newsletter. And, geez.... I still have jewelry, fabric hearts and maybe some new tags to make and an assemblage that I am hoping to add a light fixture too.
All of this and juggle, the working mom and wife thing. Trying not to freak out too much, this still needs to remain fun.

After QCCB, I will be selling my wares at the Smilie School Spring Bazaar, Saturday, May 22nd.
Stay tuned for more details on that venue and the rest of the craft shows and events I will be at this summer. 


And, oh yes! I almost forgot. Although you might have noticed. The new blog header! You like??

Queen City Craft Bazaar

Kacey Boone, girl behind Queen City Craft, Subsixstudios and founding member of Burlington Craft Mafia has enlisted me to help her with this year's QCCB. QCCB was the first craft show I ever sold at, and it feels a little like coming home to be part of the organization this year.

I have the extreme pleasure of working with Kacey at Burton Snowboards, where she is a web analyst. She has an amazing spirit for crafting, even as she balances the demands of home life with two kids and a husband and her demanding 9-5 job. She is a strong believer in DIY and indie crafts. To her it is all about pushing the limits, finding your own line, reusing, recrafting, and creating. It is about offering an alternative.

What is indie craft? To quote Wikipedia " The indie design movement is made up of independent designers, artists and craftspeople who design and make a wide array of products without being part of large, industrialized businesses." Large shows like Renegade Craft Fairs, Bazaar Bizaare have helped spread the word about indie craft. Products seen at such events tend to be a bit hipper, punker and edgier than your typical craft show. "I believe fine craft has always had a home here in VT but indie craft is a different culture that also deserves to be supported and promoted. I hope to create a space where all indie crafters in Vermont feel welcome. I want to give us a voice, support, teach, and spread the word."

To that end Kacey has made it her goal to bring Indie Craft to Burlington in a bi-annual basis. Interested in showing your work at 1 Main Street this year? Get an application and learn more about the show at the QCC website, http://www.queencitycraft.com/.

Don't delay the deadline is 3/26!











also....
Stacy aka ArtSnark, recently had an interesting blog post about the do's and don't of craft shows for both buyers and sellers. Check it out when you get a chance... Artsnark's Artifacts

41

My birthday has come and gone, I am now another year older. Having a birthday, especially so close to New Years, has always made me contemplate what I have accomplished, the successes and joys of the year and well as the shortcomings and projects left unfinished.

Lately I have been thinking about inspir

ation. Where does it come from, how does it affect the art I produce, the choices I make.

I've been reflecting back on the people who's influence in my life, who's tracks have crossed my, who's creativity has inspired me. There are so many people, who have touched my life, but as an exercise, I created a list of the 41 most influential women who have effected my life to this point. Some extraordinary souls, who probably have no idea how or why they have touched my being, but they have.

So to to salute them, I give you my 41 most influential women, in no particular order, with out weigh or judgement. These women have all had a huge impact on who I am today, 1 week after my 41st birthday.

1. My mother, Ellen
2. My sister, Christine
3. My Aunt Debbie
4. My Great Aunt Flo
5. Heather Brush
6. Jennifer Bailey
7. Christine Van Goethmend
8. Marianne Lust
9. tarin chaplin
10. Sue Quinn
11. Audrey Chasse
12. Tori Amos
13. Kate Bush
14. Frida Kahlo
15. Isadora Duncan
16. Martha Graham
17. Sarah Normandin
18. Angela Brande
19. Adrienne Cochrane
20. Barbara Lucchesse
21. Angelic Perret
22. Jodi Ohl
23. Alice Hoffman
24. Judy Wilkenfeld
25. Suzanne Buckner
26. Dana Scully
27. Amy Magyer
28. Gail Braverman
29. Margaret Atwood
30. Angela Fung
31. Suzanne Vega
32. Ellen Graft
33. Nancy Stone
34. Molly Sheehan
35. Laura Oliver
36. Hillary Clinton
37. Tammy Hetrick
38. Julia Child
39. Sylvia Plath
40. Betsy Johnson
41. The Women of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory

I am grateful for the joy and inspiration you have given

me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

the artist's way

i have started reading the artist way's by julia cameron, again. i have to admit the first time i started the book, which is really a 12 week course, i didn't give it i fighting chance, at all. i skimmed through the first few chapters, thinking, that's not me, or that's sort of dumb, i'm not doing that, etc. i put up a ton of obstacles. but lately, i have been caught in these waves of artist's blocks and divine inspiration. and when i am inspired i have not been able to act upon the spark. i am in need of a way out of this cycle. something to help me get my creative process on track.

so, when cameron's book, which was buried in my reading pile at my bedside, had some how made it to the top during one of my cleaning, purging moments i started to think i might give it another chance. it sat there begging me to open the cover and try again. so with nothing to lose i decided to give it another chance.
last night, i read chapter one again, and commitment myself to start the daily journal writing process, she calls the morning pages. my notebook sits open beside the computer and the cup of coffee patiently waiting for me to stop blogging and get down to the unblocking. the sun is shining and my day is full of potential (and things to do) so i need to get moving on this, before the motivation is gone.
during the next few weeks, i will keep you posted on the progress, for good or naught, the book may bring. i would love to hear what other people had done, are doing to kick start their creative self, to nurture the artist within, to unveil the potential. or if you have read ms cameron's book, liked it, hated it, what have you. wishing you a creative, joyful day!

The Traveling Show

i think i need to see this....

contemplating joy

i recently had a conversation with a friend about joy. and a life filled with joy is crucial to a person's emotional, spiritual and physical well being. idea is not huge or earth shattering. everyone should live a joyous life, but still it is something some of us struggle with.

so the question was raised how do you find happiness? how do you plant the seeds of hope and get prosperity and fortune to blossom? how do you start to possess the things you desire or that which you delight in? what brings joy and happiness into your life?

to answer this question for myself, i started to think about made me happy, brought a smile to my face, what did i rejoiced in. a mental list started to bubble up in my mind, images and events made me smile to think about them. Simply the action of thinking about them, gave me pause and made me realize there is so much potential in the world and in myself.

so here we are the second week of the year, thinking about the joys of life and how to embrace them. I ask you, what my friend asked me, what brings you happiness? what brings you joy? what does it look like in your life?

this is what it looks like in mine.

-a long walk in the woods with my dog
-tucking my son into bed and he says to me, "I love you Momma."
-the sunlight creeping through the bedroom window and across my face in the morning
-sitting on the screen porch at the end of the day drinking a glass of wine in the dark listening to the creek, the owl and and the wind in the trees
-thunderstorms and pouring rain in the summer with the windows open
-sitting on the beach at twilight
-how it felt to catch my first trout and then let it go
-driving down the highway with the radio blasting and the windows down
-nightfires
-the stillness of the snow covered mountains
-memories of marching and playing brass all summer long
-sewing costumes for theatre (the bigger the better)
-leonidas belgian chocolates
-tackling a new recipe and having it come out right the first time
-seeing duran duran live- any time
-starting a new piece of artwork
-finishing a new piece of artwork
-browsing the library for the next book to read
-watching a favorite film that i know all the words to, like dune, highlander, blue velvet or rocky horror
-traveling to places i have never been to before
- holding my child's hand as we cross the street
-a good cup of coffee
-an un-opened jar of gel medium
-new york
-vermont
-montreal
-art museums
-listening to tori, kate, sarah or annie
-crisp clean sheets right out of the dryer
-ben and jerry's creme brule
-pims
-kermit the frog
-x files
-ferry rides
-the wind in my hair
-sunsets
-peppermint
-foxglove
-beets
-teaching
-dancing
-having a beer with good friends
-your smile