Samples, Examples, and Whatnots

Here is a sample of some of my work.  I make all sorts of things for our home, friends and customers.  I do not charge very much simply  because I believe every one should have access to art.  I am starting a home business in the near future.  I have to iron out a few wrinkles but I do hope it will succeed.  It will be a customer service based business.  I am going to offer a service that manages birthday gifts, anniversary gift etc.  My clients will give me a list of birthdays, ages, gender and  color preferences and I will create gifts for them to buy for their friends and family.  I will notify my clients 30 days prior to the event and we will quickly discuss what they want to do.  I will charge for the service and for the gift plus shipping if it is necessary.  What do my readers think?  I can use excel spread sheets to keep track of things as wells as my computer's calendar.  Most people are so busy these days and are on tight budgets, but they still want to give something nice.

Where Does Your Inspiration Come From?

Creating new and interesting things with both form and function is such a unique talent that humans have.  As a species we seem to be very driven to create.  Why is that I wonder?  What inspires us?  What is the driving force to make something new or something pretty?  Is it the same inner voice that makes a person climb Mt. Everest?  I know I lie awake at night with dreams of things that I am inspired to make.  Not for any one in particular but because it is in my head and it dearly needs and wants to get out.  I dream of building,painting, stringing,punching, knitting, crocheting and writing.  I find an object that has been cast away and immediately start to rebuild, remake or find another  purpose for it.  My home studio is filled with these items being re-purposed or waiting quietly in the back ground until an idea hits me.I am an avid believer in recycle, re-purpose and reuse.   My grandfather was the same way and so was my mother, before her arthritis kicked in and her eyesight went bad.  I have to believe that this is an imprint in our genetic code that pushes us forward with these needs.

The following statement is from Wikipedia under creativity:

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/CreativityDeclining creativity?

Creativity as measured by the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking increased until 1990. An effect similar to the Flynn effect. Thereafter scores have been declining. Possible explanations include increased TV watching and video game playing.^[41]

This scares me.  Without creativity, our future is no longer secure.  We will not have those bright thinkers to solve the worlds problems.  So my fellow creators, go out and create,create, create!  

What a Day for a Daydream!

What a day for a daydream!  This is a home grown bottle gourd that was stained and stamped.  I added a crocheted neck warmer with stone moon beads.  Just having a little fun.  I am practicing photography, which is not one of my strengths.

I said I'm Artistic Not Autistic!

Sometimes I do feel like I am a bit autistic because it can be very difficult for an artist to concentrate on anything else but the art.  I am not demeaning any one with autism because I  am painfully aware of how hard it is to belong to the world.  What I do need is a routine and a little discipline.  My kiln should be ready first thing in the morning so when I wake up I can just turn it on to fire the piece that should be patiently waiting to be fired.  Unfortunately that piece is still in my sketch book waiting for the glass to be bought, then cut, then ground, then cleaned then fired and shaped.  But the laundry has to be done, the kids have to be cared for and loved, the house must be cleaned, the garden must be tended, the food must be cooked, exercise is ordered by the doctor, and attention is demanded by the hubby.  I am sorry but I need at least 6 hours of sleep a night or my fangs start to come out. I need to stay organized.

What it really comes down to is, I must make the time, set it aside and protect it with my life.  When this time is over I must stop, walk away from it and join the world.  I must not stay just another minute, I must punch out and go back to my domestic bliss.  This way I can go back tomorrow and do it all again.

Craft, Crafts, Crafting- Hobby or a Business?

I have been knitting, crocheting, painting, and glass work for years now.  I sell a few pieces once in a while but I have not pushed it.  My children both are going to be in school full time now so I am deciding whether to work for someone else or really push my hand craft business.  I am looking at all my options.  Does any one have any ideas on how to approach this the best way?  I am trying to stay home and have a home based business without working for a "boss"

Toby Taylor

Toby Taylor was a naughty little boy.

He liked to throw rocks and break all his toys.

Toby did not like many things.

He only liked ducks and the way his Mommy sings.

Early one morning Toby and his Mother went to the park.

He brought his favorite stuffed duck named Spark.

They went to see the ducks on the lake.

It was early morning so they were not awake.

Toby got mad and began to throw rocks.

He wanted to wake up the ducks near the docks.

The ducks quacked and looked for cover.

They all quacked for help to Toby’s mother.

“Toby do not throw rocks!”His mother said.

But it was too late a duck was hit in the head.

The duck did not move she did not quiver.

Toby started to cry and then shiver. 

The green and brown duck was dead.

Toby went near it with dread.

“Oh ducky, ducky please wake up!”  Toby cried.

But the duck did not move from the grass where she died.

Toby ran to his mother and grabbed her skirt.

He cried. “I did not mean to make the ducky hurt.”

“I promise I will not throw rocks anymore.”

This is what the duck was waiting for.

The duck stood up and winked at Toby’s mother. 

She flew into the air and hovered.

Toby looked up and clapped for joy.

Now Toby Taylor was a nice little boy.

Food and Us

Did you know that if every man, woman and child on the planet ate as much food as we do here in the US we would need 2 more planets to sustain us.  People let's think about this.  It's great that we have plenty, but just because we do does it mean we should?  We used to have an abundance only for festivals, weddings and funerals but every other day we lived a subsistence living.  We made do with so much less.  I am amazed at how much I can eat-  Are you?   We are obese, lethargic and unproductive.  Think about it and make a life decision on what to do about it.