Getting Ready for Christmas at the Kristmas Kringle Shoppe

It's been fun this year decorating trees. I have learned a lot about christmas trees doing this. There are some trees that are just beautiful undecorated, and when you add the ornaments, they just dazzle you. There are some trees that are not so decorator friendly.  I am showing the best of the best, of course. This is a tree decorated with a wine theme. It has frosted pointsettas and lots of brown, copper and white.

This is a tree I dreamed of when sorting through ornaments and noticing so much teal. I originally wanted to combine teal and brown, but this is what evolved. This tree is now called the Peacock Tree. It does even have peacocks on it. There are some exotic porcelain doll ornaments, and some peacock butterflies. This tree is actually more decorated than what I show here. I may need to take a current pic. Anyway, that's what I have been up to. I will be in the studio as soon as possible and let you sneak peek next year's offerings.

Meanwhile visit Kristmas Kringle Shoppe at Facebook and "Like" us for all our current happenings! 

Week End In Conover and Cranberry Festival Eagle River

Eagle River Cranberry Festival Set Up Day (Friday)

Cranberry Festival in Eagle River showed up in its usual form. We can always expect to work for our money. It is either windy, raining, snowing, freezing and if we are really lucky, sunny and warm. We can always count on weather. Any kind of weather. 

Well, I know this is probably an uninteresting photo, but you see, this is what greets us when we get to a show. You always see everything already set up. I got between rain clouds and got a pic before we got things out of the trailor. However, I never got a shot after that.  We got things up as fast as possible and I forgot to take the sequence pics I planned on taking. 

This is the road to our friends' home. We were lucky to get to stay there for the weekend. It is mostly past peak colors, but, there was still a good show at Joan's and Nancy's. 

This is their driveway. I KNOW. I thought the same thing as I was going up it. Gosh. The color, the sounds, the smells, the sights........and then.......the friends. We had such a good time and felt so lucky. More pics to post. You just bask in them. I did. 

The Tree

 Progress on the Tree

Close up of the Tree

A Daunting Job

I worked on this a lot today and I am no where near finished. I am glad to be working in such a fun atmosphere. Now I have to go and rest so maybe, I can finish it tomorrow.

Decorating Christmas Trees

I work part time at a Christmas Shoppe and have been decorating trees. This one in particular is huge and daunting. I usually decorate a tree in three layers, starting from the inside and coming out. I try to put the boxes of ornaments out and look at them on the floor for balance and color. I try to place them symetrically around the tree as I am working. This particular tree, I am putting an accent ribbon on first, to guide me the rest of the way.

 

Here I have applied the ribbon and some of the ornaments. This took one day at work to do this far. I will post more pictures of my progress as I go. 

I suppose you can see the detail a little better here. I will try to take some close ups, I just wanted you to see how big this tree really is. 

Alright, now you can see what I am doing when I am not doing shows. This weekend, one more trip Up North to Eagle River Cranberry Festival. If you are up there, it is my last trip, so come and see me on Saturday or Sunday.  I will be in front of the tent behind the chocolate.

Where has the Summer Gone?

Jen is smiling but she is cold. She is my potter friend.

It was one of those days when you can't wait to go inside and warm up. Actually, I had dreams of a woodstove and warm soup. It is one of my last three trips Up North and it welcomed me good. I love going Up North and already am lamenting its end.

Well, we got new interfacing for our blogs and I am not quite sure how to use it yet. We will see. If this is goofy, its all their fault.....This is Robin, my good friend who does wonderful batik on shirts, sweatshirts and pictures.

You can see that people are dressed warmly. I had a very good day, anyway. Now, come and see me at Minocqua's Torpey Park for Beef-a-Rama on Saturday, Sept. 24, I will be along the parking lot by the Minocqua Brewery. 

I didn't get soup and a fire place, but I made me some mean Sauerkraut and Pork when I got home. I can still cook......lol. Caramel apple time and hunting has started. It is officially fall, summer is over........

Blogging Blues

Show sales have picked up. I had so many shows in a row without being able to come home and make more things, and still, was able to have good shows. I worked really hard to have enough for this time. The Donna Lexa Memorial Art Show was very, very good to me. If you are looking for a Fine Art Show at that time, you should try it. (I do understand that not everyone was happy with their sales).
I also had a good St. Germain Flea Market after that. So much so, that we drove up just for the next Flea Market after the Donna Lexa Show. It paid off. I only have five more shows, not counting the two remaining Flea Markets. It's hard to believe that they are almost over.
I played the game that some of my friends do, waiting until the very limit of sending in money for shows, and because of that, I didn't get into Lake Arrowhead Show. I am very, very disappointed about that, as it was a good show for me last year.

Well, I will be in St. Germain on Monday August 29th for the Flea Market. Only two more left, so come see me if you are there. I am along the soccer field in space number 6 and 7.

How's Summer Going for Ya?

I get asked this everyday. It's a subjective question for me. Some days good, some days not so good. I will admit to you that summer sales are not what they used to be, not by any stretch of the imagination. I feel for what is happening out there, that I am doing as well as the ones that are doing something. I have had to really work hard coming up with a reason for people to purchase for me when there is such an influx of goods for sale. I have never seen so many choices in all my days.
 It's like taking someone out for dinner that has already eaten at home. There is almost no more appetite for things. Everyone is stuffed. Don't know if its my age, but it seems like I hear a lot of: "oh, I am trying to get rid of things, not collect them".
So, I cannot be just an artist anymore. I need to think about how they will choose my art over someone else's or the stores that are shelves and shelves of choices. (I am thinking Hobby Lobby, here, or Michaels, or Stein's.) 

My dad always said, "there is nothing new under the sun", well, I have to think of something. Myself, I am always looking for something I haven't seen before. How many times people come in my booth and say, "I have never seen anything like this"---at this point, that is a high compliment.
Well, I have just two more days to make something special for the weekend show in Green Lake.  This is always one show I look forward to doing because it is truly an Art Show and not a Craft Show. Certainly there are find crafts, but, I still consider them art, for instance, pottery. 

St. Germain Flea Market

 Of, course, although I love art shows the best, I have found a Flea Market that has been good to me. I used to be offended when people would refer to what I do as "going to flea markets" vs doing "art shows". They didn't know the difference, but, that made it even more offensive to me because it meant they didn't know how "valuable" (laughing now) my art is.......afterall, Flea Market sales are things you want to get rid of because you have no use for them, whatever would My Art have to do with that????
I will give you this: I am not mad if someone at a Flea Market asks for a "deal", I may not give it to them, but I understand their thinking. It's my fault that I am selling in that type of atmosphere. However, it is never good etiquette to ask for a "deal" at an art show, and you may get flogged if you do it......just sayin'.

Star Lake Train 1930's

I always get requests for train items. I made up a few yesterday. Today, I will have to get inspired for the next three shows, as I won't be home in between them. I am also doing the Paul Bunyan Art and Craft Show in Eagle River on Wednesday. It's always a good and big show. Plus I get to visit Soda Pops, one of my favorite stores in Eagle River.
Well, hope to see you at a show. Otherwise, visit me on Facebook at Shebrews Artistic Expressions.

Land O Lakes Wisconsin Art Show

This is actually from the Artarama show a week earlier, but my booths tend to look the same. That show was disappointing for me, but I heard that some people had good sales. 

 

It took me forever to set up the show at Land O Lakes. I felt like I barely got set up, went and washed up and did my hair and makeup, returned, had two hours of sales and the sky opened up and the rains came. Now, normally, rain does not deter this crowd, as we have it quite frequently at this show....see last year....

But this year, the threat of serious weather just had us all packing up as fast as we could. As it was, I did get some damaged pieces as the water came in so fast and wicked on the back of them. The next day, at Nancy's we just put the tents up and the curtains and got them dry for Monday's Flea Market, which was not very good, either. 

It's gonna be a tough year, and I am not sure which direction to go at this point. Well, this week I will be up North all week, doing Mercer, Minocqua, Lakewood and then, St. Germain. 

It goes like this: 

August 3, Mercer Loon Days 

August 4, Minocqua Torpey Park 

August 6, Lakewood 

August 8, St. Germain

St. Germain Independence Day

Well, it was an absolutely beautiful weekend. The night before this show, I watched St. Germain's  fireworks from my RV while lying on the bed. It was an awesome display, and I haven't seen live fireworks for 20 years.
Sales were disappointing, and I don't know what to say about that. Things seem a little depressed this year, yet. I thought this would be the weekend to kick it all off. I feel like I did get a good response on the new things I have been painting, and so, I am thinking that I am going in the right direction.
I have a new button to "Like" me on facebook, so be sure you use it, it will let me know you are keeping up with me. Thanks.

Getting Ready for July 4th weekend

I have noticed that I have slowly been braver and adding more details. There is constant thinking about this and how I can make a story from various images combined in one piece. It reminds me of cooking sometimes. I made meatballs tonite for supper, but was perplexed about how to serve them. I didn't want the traditional "spagetti and meatballs", and finally decided on making them like appetizer meatballs. The recipe with grape jelly. Looking it up, I found that the other "secret" ingredient was chili sauce. Hmmm....I just googled substitute for chili sauce and it gave me a recipe to make my own, as I didn't have any on hand. Then, the chili sauce called for cinnamon, cloves, and one other ingredient......I didn't have any of those, but I had chinese five spice---pretty close. They turned out awesome, and I discovered that it is much like what I do in the studio. Grabbing things and putting them in the "pot" and seeing what it becomes.

This one I decided to actually do a little minnie painting, but because it was so little and detailed, I actually drew it out first in india ink and then painted the rest afterwards. I zoomed in on the painting so you could see.

I love everything about this one. I am getting more familiar with what works, and more relaxed about it. Another little drawing/painting, and I am learning to let some things just interpret themselves. I had planned on painting in the lake, but realized that it says it all without doing the. I like the layered textured background. I really enjoyed doing the little sign on the right. I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but everytime I see those signs on the roadside, I get happy. There is so little left of the days when I stayed in those little rented housekeeping cabins. They are slowly being replaced by condos. Seriously, why would you want to duplicate the big city life? If you want luxury, don't go for the Northwoods. I am against all this modernizing, it defeats the purpose to me. Keep it simple and fun. A cabin for 7 people should only have 7 plates, 7 forks and 7 spoons. A small fridge, just enough beds and a fishouse on the property. OOOOOOkay, I will stop now...don't get me going.......
These are my latest up to now. Today, I began painting on metal pieces. You shall see them next. Thanks for stopping by, and do leave a comment. Don't be afraid....there are no blogger police in the recesses of the internet waiting to grab all your information.

Working Hard for Art Shows

Plum Lake Public Pier with vintage Girl Swimmer

I was really happy with the results of this picture. I have had the print of the girl swimmer for quite awhile and knew that I would know what to do with it when the time came. 

You will see how my work evolves as I show you the next few paintings. 

The last time I did these collages, people seemed to like this dark background the best. However, I have experimented with other colors and think people will like them also. 

I like to paint the postcard into the picture if I can. It is difficult to write on paintings, so, if I can, I also add pre-lettered verses instead. 

I like the use of vintage maps and I actually found one that listed the resorts and put them on the map where they were. This is helpful in my research when doing these pieces. 

 

This is the map that listed the resorts. I tried to make it a bigger picture so you can see it. I really like working with fishing and canoeing themes, but I have plans to explore other subjects as well. 

I had a lot of fun creating the background for this nice piece. I enjoy using the illustrations of women in these themes.

Well, that's about it for now, but I hope to make a lot more this week. I will post them as I do them. I will be in St. Germain on July 3 and 4. Hope to see you there!!

Fun Collaging

I am so excited to be collaging and painting again. I feel all giggly about it and at the same time nervous. I am nervous because I cannot plan my art as it takes on a life of its own. I have an idea, but it takes things out of my mind and runs with it. I don't have so much time to create, so I don't want things to not turn out. I need them to turn out everytime......silly, I know.

My computer is acting weird, but I suddenly have the ability to make my photos larger.......I have another I can try to post, but so far it isn't letting me.

2011 Art and Craft Show Schedule for Wisconsin

Here is my schedule for the 2011 season. I have left a couple of shows out, and can talk about that in the future. I will be doing as many of the St. Germain Flea Markets as I can, if I am Up North at the time. I can let you know before I go, or email me for specifics of the shows.

I wanted to keep my schedule as small as possible, but I may find that I left out too much information. We will see.
Now I wanted to show you what I worked on yesterday.

 This one I have to look at awhile because something isn't quite right with it yet, to me. But, for the most part I was really happy. I think I have a good momentum and plans to do about five more before the next show.

I really liked this one especially, and so did my husband, who encouraged me to paint a few more with fishing themes. He especially likes the idea of the woods and cabins. I plan to try to replicate a few vintage postcards of area resorts. We will see how that works out. That's it for now. I have a busy weekend. Please let me know what you think. You will feel like you are having to fill out too much stuff to comment, but trust me, it's safe. Thanks. Eydie

A Walk in the Woods Art Show

This is the part of my display that I highlight my Wizard of Oz things. It is amazing how popular these things are. I noticed that in Minocqua there is a store that carries WOZ things, and Lucy, and Snoopy, John Wayne, Audrey Hepburn, Three Stooges, Betty Boop, and a few other classic themed things. I would have bought a Beatles thermos had they still had it, but there were none left. They also carry the Beatles things.

This show turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I am hoping it is a sign of the other art shows to come. I did better than I did last year. I felt that lots of people attended and they were buying. The weather was unbelieveably perfect. This is a fine art show, so no crafts. It is relatively small, around 50 exhibitors, I think. I wonder about doing it, as I do a lot of shows in St. Germain, but this crowd is different.

I had lots of display space as  I had two and I was an island. There was an aisle in front and back, so I just left it open both sides. At this point, I really don't think there are any bad spots. Eventually, it looks like they want to run them through the woods along the trail, but I am not sure any of us want to be in there because of the mosquitos. 

I am off for the next two weeks, but then I will be in St. Germain again the 3rd and 4th of July. Come and see me there!