It's Over

and we didn't do as well as I had hoped, in terms of sales. Which made me spend a few minutes thinking about why I go to sales, and what makes sales a success. My two table mates were quite happy with the sales--and we all made just about the same amount. We had fun1 We chatted and teased each other and "dissed" the people walking by. There were two weddings in the same facility while the sale was on. We saw a bride wearing a very nice white dress with a V-neck. The tattoo on her chest fit quite nicely into the V shape. The tattoos on her legs barely showed above the tops of her white satin combat boots. The Best man/ Usher in that party had a white ribbon in his dreadlocks-which went down to his knees. In the other party the bride was wearing a white blouse and slacks--even her underwear was white ( We could see it through her slacks). At first we weren't sure that this bride was a "she", but we went and looked again and we're pretty sure that she was. And the procession into the wedding area walked right through the middle of our sale tables. So between talking up potential buyers and waching stange weddings we had a busy day. We all felt that the networking we were able to do, and the socialization we experienced made it a good day. I've unpacked and put all of my stock away. I didn't have to go through the inventory, as the few pieces that were sold were pretty obvious. But two people approached us and indicated an interest in having our work on consignment in their shops--so maybe it was a day well-spent after all.

Calm before the storm

Tomorrow is the big sale. Today I feel like I'm just putting in time, waiting to hit the road, set up the booth, and start taking in money (hohoho). I have so much time and effort invested in this sale, that I'll just about die if nothing sells. These waiting times are when you start doubting yourself. You become convinced that what you make is crap and that you will be laughed out of the building for trying to sell it. When I was writing up my inventory, I realized that I really don't have much to sell, but if you add up the dollar value, it's significant. I have to see if I can make arrangements to take credit cards, as my previous arrangement fell through. I think I know someone who will put them through for me. What a joke--as if anyone will buy so much of my stuff that I'll be asked to take a credit card. I would be much better off making sure that I can make change for a dollar! Actually, I figure it's a success if I just make enough to go out for supper after the sale! I went to the gallery where some of my stuff has been on display, and brought home the larger pieces that I want to put out tomorrow. I don't expect them to sell but they are very eye catching, and just may bring in customers. We'll let you know how it goes.

Linda Says....

that I'm supp0sed to write in here more frequently. I wish my life was interesting enough that I had something to say. I have been very, very busy getting ready to teach a one day course on Journal Quilts. I really sweat bullets over this, and was super prepared. The class went really well and I am so glad that I put the time into getting ready for the course. I now have to get ready for a big sale on Friday and Saturday of this week. I have several new items and am anxious to know if they will sell. I've been giving a lot of thought lately to why I do these things to myself. The conclusion is that I have the dream of a fibre art business, but haven't bothered to put the effort into making that dream a reality. So now I've spent some time organizing "to do" lists to get me on track of making this a real thing, instead of just a dream. Today was spent finishing up those piddly little jobs that seem to pile up. I had to make a costume piece for a fellow just starting out to become a "quick change Artist". It had to be sewn by hand, but really didn't take all that long once I got started. The biggest problem was figuring out how to tie a Windsor knot, but my DH helped and the job got done. Then I had to finish altering an outfit to wear to the sale on Friday, and then I finished the last postcards I'm committed to making for Internet swaps. Now I've finished all of those small jobs and my way is clear to get started on becoming a "great artist"--BUT--I don't know where to start!! Darn it! With no little jobs that just have to get done, I have no excuses to procrastinate with! I might actually have to work! But not today as I have a supper meeting for a volunteer job I do. Whew! I can start to be a "great artist" tomorrow.

Here's the back view. You can see a lot more of the gold work and red jasper beads here.

This is the picture of my box "Copper Autumn". It has just come back from a show in Oakville Ontario and will be in a show at the Fleet Gallery here in Winnipeg for the next two weeks. Now that I see it here, I think I want to add one of the back of the box where most of the gold work is.

Been awhile

I've been having trouble getting in to publish new posts, but it seems to be working well today. I've been very busy in the studio. I have a demonstration class on March 17. I have to repeat the demo 6 times so have been getting 6 separate sets of supplies ready. Then I teach an all day class on Journal quilts on March 24th. This one has taken a lot of preparation, and I'm not done yet. I've got all my hand outs ready and that was a major step. Yesterday I got my box "Copper Autumn" back from the show in Oakville, and had to rush it right over to a show that is being mounted here today. Then I have a big sale on March 30-31. So I'm stitching as much as I can to get ready for that. Since I can't do any hand stitching for awhile, everything has to be by machine. This can be frustrating. I have a class on March 19 which will be entirely hand stitching, so I really want to save my hands for that. This will be one time when I will take drugs if I have to in order to keep going during class. I don't like to do that as I feel that pain is Nature's way of telling you that you are doing something you shouldn't be. I'm going to see if I can post a picture of Copper Autumn. I wasn't allowed to publish anything prior to the show in Oakville, but it shoud be okay now.

I'm excited

My hand function is very unreliable. Too much hand work, and I have to take a few days or weeks off to let the pain recede. I resent the down time. I want to sew! Now I've been asked to teach a workshop on a box I made, entirely by hand, just over a year ago. This would mean making one or two more examples, just to use for teaching. I protect my hands and will only use them to produce things that are meant for a show or are to be judged. I thought about it a lot and came to realize that the class is about the technique. If I can demonstrate the technique in class, and most of the students will be familiar with the stitches involved, then that's all I really need to do. But if I could figure out some way of producing the samples mostly by machine, I could save my hands and still be able to accept the job of teaching the class. And I have! Whoopee! I am so pleased with this. I've been working on it all morning, and just have a little finishing to take care of. Maybe i'll have a picture by the weekend.

Eh, Gad!

What a lovely picture. My friend Linda has helped me post a picture of my most recent journal quilt. This was made in response to a challenge within my small support group--Ravenesque. We were to use the copper decorative cord, use the colours lime green and hot pink, and include some machine work. I had seen some writing done in a thread painting way and had wanted to try it, so made the green ribbons. I found that the technique worked quite well, and I think it's something I'll use again. I've made other journal quilts that I'm happier with, but this one filled the bill for the challenge. However, Linda, you put it in upside down. I was thinking a bit of a hot air balloon when I made it, but Roseanne thought it looked better as a dress. I guess Linda agreed with her.
In my spare moments I've been finishing things. I finally finished the top of a quilt that I've been working on for 11 years. It is a Piecemakers pattern with a lot of applique. I'll never do applique again because of problems with my hands and wrists, so this is a bittersweet moment for me. However, I've found someone to hand quilt it for me, so it'll get the finishing that it deserves. When it's done I'll be sure to get Linda to help me post a picture of it--right side up.

My Journal Quilt

Vindication!!

After all of my moaning, and the little pity party I threw myself in my last post, today someone today told me that my work goes beyond technical skill and evokes an emotional response in the viewer. This person felt that this response moves my work into the realm of Art. WOW! I feel really good about this, as this person is someone whose opinion I value and trust. Made my day. So how did I spend my day--making the quick and easy, low priced items for the sales coming up. These items sell well, and really are the "bread and butter" stuff that I need to keep going financially. With this stuff to back me up and fill up the table, I don't have to worry about making sure that I have enough "arty" items. I can now concentrate on making a few really good pieces, that I can price realistically. I feel I can carry on.