Sunday, November 29, 2009

latest preoccupation...

Just waiting for all my image files to move from one drive to another (I've run out of space!)...but I'm really excited to download the latest!

I've been working on a collection of Li'l Decor Trees!

Most or all of them will be available to purchase this Christmas season from
Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery in Port Perry, ON.

I'm glad of the opportunity/incentive to make so many at once, as it allows me to have some fun with the photography, and hopefully provide me with a few good images to use for my latest product, greeting cards.

He he! Here they are!....



This is one of my favorite designs! Simplistic, fun, and whimsical.

Sold as a set of 3.



Bye for now...I have more creating to do!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

messy studio!

So, I've finished off my last big craft show for 2009, ending on a +'ve note! Yay! But am now desperately trying to regroup!
I have a couple of custom orders to fill & ship (yay!), and a big order for Meta4 (they're going to carry my Li'l Trees this year...yay!)...and so even though I'm done with the shows, I've continued to be quite busy with deadlines...leaving my studio in one huge mess of an aftermath of car unloading!

Friday, November 13, 2009

another pre-show night...

and I'm finally organized!

It's a miracle! I have (virtually) all of my things packed (just a couple loose ends...but nothing big, honest!), and I'm just about to sit down & finish off a couple of extra ornaments.

Yes, I am making "just one more" item for sale tomorrow, but I think I'm finally doing it the right way...after everything else has been taken care of.

Can't wait to get my good night's sleep, so I'll be bright and cheery (ha! as if that will ever happen) tomorrow morning, take my last few remaining product photos (of the ornaments currently under production), load up my car, then take off to the Heintzman House!

Speaking of, I'm off!

Next time,
Karen

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

a new clay?

Back from taking my first precious metal clay class!

I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but I can honestly admit that I have a new found appreciation for all artisans out there who use this medium!

Having worked with polymer clay for so many years, I have come to understand the feel of the medium...even when using different brands (such as Sculpy) from my usual FIMO. So I suppose that I may (may) have had a slight advantage over the other students in the class when it came to working with the precious metal clay (we used Art Clay Silver)...but it is very different from what I'm used to!

From the little tidbits that I remember of using pottery clay (in grade school perhaps?), I imagine that this is much more similar (though a LOT more expensive!). For example, it actually blends with water, creating pastes and various other consistancies for moistening and binding...not at all like polymer.

This is still very new to me, but I still have hopes that it may be a new source for design oportunities, and I'm eager to experiment a little further!

Interested in your thoughts, if you've tried it before, or are wanting to give it a try.

For information on classes, try these sites:

www.beadfx.com (where I took my class yesterday)
www.finesilvergirl.com (art clay instructor: Heather Bell Denison)

Monday, November 9, 2009

precious metal clay

I'm so excited about taking my first Precious Metal Clay class tomorrow!

I hope I love it! I'm thinking of all the wonderful possibilities for new designs!...

Will keep you all posted!

Fan Page!

If you haven't joined already, please come to www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=nf#/pages/Richmond-Hill-ON/Subtle-Details/170787796120?ref=nf , the Subtle Details Fan Page on Facebook, and sign up as a "fan"!

We're really excited about this new page!

Come for updates on craft shows, loads of pictures to look at in our albums, and upload your own (showing off your Subtle Details purchases) to help us build our "fan photos" album!


Can't wait to see you there!


-Karen

Friday, November 6, 2009

The Night Before....a Show

'Twas the night before craft show, and all through the house
not a creature was stirring, except for the...artist?

Ok, so this isn't going to rhyme...

I just finished off another day at the craft show, this time the CBC Charity Craft Show in downtown Toronto, and was so relieved to discover that I was not the only one who was running on pure adrenaline. The two vendors on either side of me also managed to squeak in perhaps 3 hours of sleep the "night" before...if they were lucky!

It seems that every time I work up to a show...lets say about a week before...I promise myself that I'll be prepared, packed, and in bed by some reasonable hour....lets say about 10:00pm, the night before...do I ever? No.

Maybe one of these days I'll learn that perhaps it isn't so necessary to create one more ornament, or jewellery piece, or whatever! On that day, I will actually pack my things in the morning, load the car, then kick back, relax, and have a restful evening before the hectic events of the following day!

Ahh, one can only dream!