Well I'd say that the Big Art Show in Brooklyn this past weekend was a success and well worth coming back late Friday for.
I really liked the crowd and the feel of the whole thing, and it seemed like everyone was enjoying it as well. The presence of alcohol was a big help, I'm sure. But even without, it was nice to be included in such a creative group. Thankfully, I got one of the last spots against a wall where Jen and I could fit tables and get a little wall space.
Jen and Ben in our spot. That is
NOT her rooster (see picture above her) nor her creepy doll. Don't get us STARTED on that display.
Our spot was affectionately called "The Happy Corner" by a show attendee. Most of the art there was a little dark, I'll admit. Our brightly colored merchandise was a welcome sight at the end of the room. There were some other crafters with cute stuff, too:
Fort Cloudy,
Hobocamp Crafts,
Happy Panda Clothing and others but they were at opposite ends of the room, with some gloom in between. It was great to see other Etsy representatives there--I wonder if there were others I haven't mentioned.
People seem to love my wallets, and I sold two of them--to a girl AND a boy, ho HO! I also sold my favorite apron, which I never got a good quality picture of by itself but it's the one on the left:
See the money in my hand?
Girls seemed to really like my vinyl bags, too (note the girl inspecting my favorite one), but I'm wondering if they are priced too high. I know how much time and materials cost me and think I'm being fair, but time will tell.
A few more pictures:
Mellow Being's mello-warmers, pins and army of cozies.
My view from behind my table.
Yeah, I'm Haasome Goods, alright.
I made my goal of making back the car service money, with ample money to buy drinks with! A bunch of people took flyers, so hopefully they will check out my Etsy shop and refer friends.
Next up: Make some more aprons in time for Mother's Day, and
Artists & Fleas in a month or two. I definitely want to have some block prints and more bags done by then.
I mainly want to talk about being in New Orleans and how I'm loving it thus far, but a quick crafty update first.
I'm really excited about the aprons I've made. They're flipping adorable and I can't wait to make more. Especially some that are more crafty-tool belt-type. With some block prints on them and/or embroidery. Although I bitched about making bias tape, I have to admit that the final product is just so much cooler than it would have been using boring, monochromatic store-bought tape.
I
am a bit annoyed with myself because I didn't get any prints made. I've bought some of the necessary tools at least and have sketches done. I probably would've gotten some done if I had a printer and Photoshop at home.
Apparently I've been commissioned to make t-shirts for my coworkers for a conference (again in New Orleans) in September. That should be fun.
Okay so New Orleans is great. I've finally had raw oysters, gumbo and a po' boy. Saw lots of strip clubs and sex shops on Bourbon Street. Some guy sang into a bucket for a coworker. We've eaten at Cafe du Monde already. Amazing coffee (while I loved the beignets, too, but they were nothing new to me. Same exact thing as zeppoles and funnel cake).
Still on the agenda: an Imax movie about the formation of New Orleans by a hurricane in prehistoric times. Oh boy oh boy. The geek in me is too excited. Also, a steamboat ride. Eating at Nola. And more exploring in general.
Not to brag, but it's going to be about 80 degrees this week. Time to get to bed. I have an early an busy day tomorrow!
Labels: busybusy, sewing, travel
So what else is there to talk about besides the
SNOW in New York today? Big chunks, too. I just...sigh. Where's spring?
Let's talk about making things instead. As the title of this post says, I am in production mode. This means traipsing fabric scraps across the apartment, my fabric storage bins down from the cabinets above my closet, and the tabletop ironing board taking over the bar-height portion of my kitchen counter. How come? I'm trying to get some more stuff done before the
Big Art Show.
Update on the list I made in the
previous post: printmaking is to be done this weekend rather than during the week and instead of making more bags, I'm working on aprons. I really
would like to make a tote bag or two but I've still got three to
sell. But hey, I'm getting closer to crossing stuff off the list!
The fabrics have all been cut for the aprons:
Here's a close-up of my favorite. It's so kitschy-kitchen:
It reminds me of my Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, and the trips to the
Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival my mom would drag us on. Represent! Something about the colors and the tulips in the fabric reminds me of
hex signs.
And let me just say that making bias tape is not my favorite activity. If I ever become craftily rich and famous, I would consider paying someone to cut and press fabric for me.
Craft/art-making days left before day of show, including tonight: 5. Why? I'll be in New Orleans from 4/10 to 4/13. Eek!
Labels: busybusy, sewing
Hey there, fair readers. I've been a bit of a slacker lately--craftingwise and postingwise. I'm at this strange in-between place where I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and a touch of trepidation. I was entirely uncreative this weekend, slept late and watched TV when I could've sewed. Thankfully it was a much better and restorative weekend than the last few. But I really need to get going if I'm going to have some new things to show at the
Big Art Show in Brooklyn on April 14, which is immediately after a work-conference from April 10-13 in New Orleans.
I think I'd better list all the things I want to accomplish in my creative life. Maybe getting it out out of my head and seeing it in black & white in
public will make the list more tangible. Items on a list are meant to be crossed off with satisfaction. That's what I'm after.
Here goes. Things I want to do:
- Linocut printing. I'd like to make a few first edition prints this week for the Big Art Show. This is pretty scary in that I've never displayed my work for a big mass of people besides art classes. Does my Etsy shop count?
- To do: get supplies at Blick TOMORROW.
- Make some more bags. Even simple tote bags with the cool accoutrements I've got. In the midst of that I can work on Jen's bag, too. Forego the bias tape (I thought single-fold was something it is not) and use fabric ties. No need to go to P&S Fabrics; especially helpful since they might be closed due to Passover (and are they even open anymore? Wahhh...)
- To do: Lay out some fabric, press it, cut it up, and fire up the sewing machine. If I'm busy with printmaking this week, then this weekend.
- Paint the long living room wall and my bedroom. Tree mural? Maybe.
- To do: Get inspired at Home Depot and go through Apartment Therapy posts I've saved. This is to be done after the conference.
- Learn to play guitar.
- To do: Buy a frigging guitar. My friend bugs me enough with links to pretty guitars for sale in my price range. Buy a book about guitar playing. Bug friend to show me some chords. This summer I hope.
- Sew some clothes for myself, namely skirts.
- To do: Pick out a pattern from Sew U and get going in May-ish.
- Network some more and think about contributing to crafty zines and sites.
- To do: Get things on list done first!
So I hope this post might help anyone in a similar situation. I think I'll go do one of the creative exercises in the printmaking book I borrowed from the library. With the TV
OFF.
P.S. Be sure to check out the following :)
- The Big Art Show in Brooklyn, featuring my friend Jen (a.k.a. Mellowbeing) and moi:
- and CROQ Zine. I recently bought all the back issues and a subscription and am loving it so far. Thanks to Heather for combining shipping and for being so speedy!
Labels: art, event, ideas, inspiration
