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.