A busy night in the studio.

I couldn’t sleep last night, so I got a lot done in the studio.

I like this “Purple Peas” pendant the best; I can’t wait to go out so I can wear it! Maybe the Little Guy and I will have to go to the trash and treasure markets so it can have an outing!

More salvaged copper jewellery.

My head is swimming with possibilities; I am in love with the process of turning pieces of scrap into something special. Off to the studio to see what evolves tonight!

My Creative Space

I’ve finished the Egyptian coil bracelet in Artistic Wire from last week. What do you think?

I am most of the way through the copper version. I really like the way the copper one is looking and I can’t wait to wear it.

I have been to the scrap metal yard; I think I will become a regular there! So many possibilities, I am quite sure the guy there thinks I am a nutter.

I started making little pendants from copper last night – a new addiction begins…….

So it’s busy, busy, busy in My Creative Space this week. Check out what other creative folk are up too over at Kootoyoo.

The run down...

I am officially an experienced marketer now. It was such a big day it really exhausted me I didn’t even unpack the car until Sunday night!

I had a wonderful site in the shade with friendly neighbours and just across from the fudge lady (deadly, but oh so tasty!). I shared a space with Cuggles Creations; you can see her beautiful top quality hand made children’s wear on the front table. If you want a closer look pop over to Cuggles Creations.

So many people braved the baking heat to come out and support local crafts people and soak up the atmosphere. Thanks to Liesa, Micky and Miriam for hosting such a great market, you really should be very proud of what you have done for local handmadies and the community.

Things I learnt at my first market stall.…

• I need to allow more time to set up, I felt rushed and looking at the photos I could have improved the display (especially of the paintings) if I had more time to contemplate and fiddle

• The playdough needs to go up the front (thanks for the tip Liesa). After taking your advice it started selling.

• I must remember to take painkillers with me. My back had been playing up all week so I really shouldn’t have forgotten them. I also decided not to wear my sunnies in the morning – thinking I would look friendlier. I just gave myself a headache and probably spent the morning squinting and frowning at people in the glare!

• I have wonderful friends, thanks to all of the friendly faces who popped by and brightened my day. I really appreciate your support along with support and good wishes I received from my bloggy friends.

I have a few things to improve and restock before the next market, but next time won’t take nearly as much preparation and hopefully I won’t be as nervous.

Just a little peek at my stall…..

I hope to get time for a full run down and more piccies tomorrow. Thanks for all of the good wishes and nice comments as I prepared for this adventure.

Handmade Expo - take one

Just one more sleep – if I can get to sleep! Market day tomorrow, I’m all packed, exhausted and excited. I wonder how it will go???????

A badly timed new obsession…

With just 2 days until The Handmade Expo, My Creative Space is supposed to be all about market preparation. There has been a lot of finishing touches on stock, making signs and planning presentation. Here are the photos I planned to share.

Then yesterday I saw this and immediately I just knew I had to give an Egyptian coil bracelet a go! It’s not quite finished, but a new obsession has begun. I am dreaming of copper and proper silver versions, learning how to oxidize, hammering techniques........ Do you think I have a short attention span??

Check out some other creative treasures over at Kootoyoo.

Red Door

I’ve been a very slack blogger of late – sorry! There has just been so much to do in preparation for my first market stall at this Saturday’s Handmade Expo.


Vic from Punky & Me wanted to see a photo of my red front door as she mentioned lusting after a red door of her own in her post for My Place and Yours this week.

So here it is, this is what I come home to, it certainly cheers up a dull day. We really do live in a rainbow house! It has been such a fun house and perfect for the party days of our twenties, but I am now ready to move on and the house we plan to build next year will be a serene bush retreat.

“Andy’s Chair”

After yesterdays post featuring a dreary photo of my messy studio, I thought I should offer up something a lot more cheerful and pleasant to look at today!

“Andy’s Chair” is another of the paintings I collected last week. The colour scheme was inspired by a trip to the Andy Warhol exhibition.  I don’t remember the name of the piece now or even what it was of; I just remember thinking what a fresh colour scheme; I’ll have to try something in those colours one day. Although I created it at the Art Day Out studio it is a lot freer and less planed out than most of the stuff I created there. I really like it and it and it has found a wall in my home rather than just being stacked away in the studio.
I hope this brightens your day a little and sends you off into the weekend in a cheery mood.

Busy, crowded, chaotic…..

They are all words that come to mind when thinking of how to describe my creative space at the moment. My desk is brimming with market preparations and every where you turn there are stacked paintings. Space was already at a premium, but after collecting 20 painting this week things are really tight.

I have purchased the canvas to begin the painting I mentioned last week, but I just don’t have the space to begin. I do hope some of the paintings find new homes in the next few weeks, a few look likely to go soon and I am hoping others don’t make it home after the Handmade Expo.

If you would like to check out some beautiful, calm, organized, creative spaces they can be found over here.  I don’t know that I will ever posses one of those!

The count down begins…..

Just 10 more days until my first ever market stall. I have had a productive morning preparing bits and pieces. As I have never done this before, I just don’t know what will be popular, how much stuff I should take, what prices are fair. So many unknowns, I shall just have to use this first time as a learning experience and if no one buys any of my goodies I shall have a batch of handmade Chrissy presents ready!!

I have been having so much fun making these little wire wrapped and button embellished magnets. I had planned to sell them as sets of three, but am now leaning towards singles.

The button bracelet idea has been revisited; I learnt some new skills and am so much happier with the finish. It’s so much nicer to wear and looks really professional. I am still not sure about selling them, I think I would have to sell them for $20 and I just don’t know if any one would be prepared to pay that much. What do you think?
Any tips or advice from the seasoned market sellers out there? I am really looking forward to it, but now that I know it’s only 10 days away I am starting to get nervous!

Overflowing

I collected the last of my paintings that have been in storage at the Art Day Out studio today.

This is just some of them; I was surprised by how many were still there. So now my poor little studio is even more crowded.

Hopefully some of these paintings will soon find new homes; a few are already on hold for a client and others will be coming with me to the Handmade Expo.

If something catches your eye, leave me a comment. I have reduced the prices drastically to move them quickly; the new prices range from $80 to $350 +p&h.

 If you think someone you know would be interested, please feel free to send them over for a look.

Look who’s just flown in from Curly Pops headquarters….

I think he’s going to like it here in sunny Queensland.  I’ve named him Alowishus, I’m not really sure why, it just came to me and it’s stuck already. He needed a distinctive name; he is one adorably quirky character.

Curly Pops has really out done her self this time. I love my flower brooch, but this little guy has stolen my heart already. It is going to be such a hard decision getting dressed now, something to off set my lovely flower or will Alowishus be making an outing today. Little Guy is also impressed, with lots of pointing and exclaiming preddy, preddy.

Keep your eyes opened over at Cam’s Curly Pops blog to see when some of Alowishus’s brothers and sisters fly into a market or Heavenly Handmade shop near you.

There are a few projects on in My Creative Space today.

On the easel is a little mock up pastel study for an oil painting, yes that’s right I am taking a baby step towards a “serious” painting again. It’s exciting and scary.

Little Guys first two years haven’t left me much time or head space for painting, I have done a couple of pieces, but just decorative stuff, not “art”. Even in the couple of years before his birth I didn’t produce much “art”. I was doing lots of corporate jobs and teaching and producing other stuff for the Art Day Out studio, so it’s been a long time. I am itching to get back to my true love.

I have to restock before I can get stuck into the painting, as luck would have it I have the perfect sized stretcher bars, but not enough canvas on my roll to get going. I have stuck to my guns and decided not to compromise on the quality of the canvas, I have a cheap, store bought canvas in the right size taking up room in the studio, but I am going to do this properly. Wish me luck on this exciting journey.

On the studio desk are some prototypes for new magnets for my Handmade Expo stand and a new stripy note book. It will be my morning pages book when I get my hands on another copy of The Artist Way. Thanks to Tinnie Girl for the inspiration to get back into this wonderful book, I am just so sad I can’t find my copy and I will have to go hunting for it in the book store.

To check out some more Creative Spaces head on over to Kootoyoo, it is truly inspiring seeing what else is going on with all the talented folk who play along.

I’ve taken THE PLUNGE!!!!!!

I have booked my first ever market space at The Handmade Expo. I am excited and nervous and overwhelmed. So make sure you mark it in your calendar, Saturday the 21st of November from 8 till 2. Don’t worry I won’t let you forget I am sure I will remind you again and again before we get there!!

While we are on the subject of The Handmade Expo, don’t forget to pop over to the blog and leave a comment on the give away post, even if you can’t be at the market to spend the voucher, by leaving a comment you will be increasing the prize money for the lucky winner (and that could be me!!!).

And just because I always like to include a picture and while we are talking of taking a plunge….. We took a plunge here too.

The ocean was crystal clear and it was perfect swimming weather, but it was just a quick dip as we looked out for salt water crocodiles! It is Cape York Peninsular (right at the very top of the pointy bit on the map of Queensland). It’s one of those very, very special places on our planet and I do hope we get the chance to go back there next year. Wouldn't you love to be there right now?