Artful Adventures

Shop to Remember Tracie Miser

 
Feel like shopping?  A lot of you may remember Tracie Miser, who was very active in altered art of all kinds, and also very good at it.  She was a good friend of mine that I met through the yahoo group for Altered Books where she was the first to volunteer to act as a mentor, and I was her first "mentee".  A friendship was born that I feel very lucky to have had in my life.  She did so much more than offer advice (which she freely offered up), but also introduced me to Valley Ridge Art Studio, insisting I go take some classes with her, something I can't thank her enough for.  That's where we first met in real life, sharing our lives, sitting up late chatting, trying to solve all our problems and had a lot of laughs, too.  If you knew Tracie, you know how much she liked to shop-unbelievable!  I swear she had every stamp, paper, tool, whatever that was out there for sale.  Keep reading, more about this coming up.  Sadly, Tracie passed away last fall, you can read about it here.  Since then, her sister Erika and husband Ron have left their home in WI and moved to Tracie's neighborhood, buying a house near Tracie's house so they could take in her her 3 boys and not disrupt their lives anymore than it already has been.  This will allow them to keep their old friends nearby, go to the same schools, stay in the same sports, etc.  A huge loving sacrifice on their part!  Ok, now to the shopping part, Memories & Beyond in Downer's Grove, IL has agreed to do a sale/benefit this coming weekend to liquidate all of Tracie's supplies-we're talking well over 3000 stamps alone, not to mention everything else she had!  100% of the proceeds are going directly to a trust fund for the boys, since the store is donating all their time, space & staff to this, they're asking to not use charge cards so no more expenses are incurred.  The store is located at 1400 C 75th St, Downer's Grove, Il and the phone# is 630-217-0610 if you have any questions.  Ron, Erika and the Boys will be there during the sale on Sat, 6/26 from 10-6 and again on Sunday 6/27 from 12-6 with a collection of pictures and a collection of Tracie's work.  If you're in the area & can make it, it's going to be amazing!  Sadly, I can't be there, but I will be sending a donation.  If you can manage to do so, all donations would be appreciated and can be sent directly to First Community Bank, 2728 West 75th St, Naperville, IL, 60564, attn: Tracie Miser Children Fund.  I've also got Erika's address if you'd like to send a note to the family, just let me know  I'll send you the address.  Tracie will be missed, but here's a unique chance to help the family, something I feel really good about.  So on this longest day of the year, I'm hoping you all strongly consider shopping or donating-you'll feel great either way!

Care to Join Me?

 

For a cup of coffee?

 
Or maybe some tea?  Who wouldn't be enticed when using this beautiful pottery made by the very talented Renee' Schwaller of Off the Wheel Pottery in Egg Harbor, up in Door County.  I met Renee' a few years ago, when I was invited to participate in a show there, what an honor!  And then last summer, I had my own show there, sharing space with Renee' in a wonderful converted barn, so much fun!  If you get the opportunity to visit Door County this summer, put this shop on your list of places to go.  If you can't get there, she'll gladly ship something to you that's caught your eye on her website or on facebook.   I'm fortunate enough to own a few of her pieces, and have added to my little collection, the coffee cups from the top picture.  It was actually a trade we made, her art for mine.  But when I look at the quality of her work, and the detail, it makes me wonder if I got the better end of the deal!  Whenever I look at art in a medium that I have no experience with and have never tried, I'm always in awe of what can result from 2 hands, learned skills, and a lot of creativity.  Do all artists feel that way?  Not that I don't have respect for artists in my own field and look at their art in awe, because I do,but at least I have a clue how (most of the time anyway!) how they did what they did.  Anyway, I'll leave you with a couple more images images of Renee's work, incuding a vessel sink that I'd love to own.  And hopefully will if we get the last of the addition touch ups done, the gardens done, a lot of clean up done, and then be able to do a little work in the bathroom-we'd better hurry up before it's gone!

  
 

Happy Mother's Day!

 
Look at what the force of Mother Nature can do!  We found these on the beach exactly as you see them-the larger stone with a heart shape carved in the center, and then a heart shaped stone leaning up against it.  Very, very cool, right?  And I truly believe that we "Mothers" have the same kind of power.  And by Mother, I mean anyone , male or female, who has taken the time & effort to nurture anyone or anything-kids, maybe a stranger, the 4 legged furry ones, or even something with it's roots firmly planted in a pot of soil.  And let's not forget our art, we nurture it and our skills all the time.  You've all heard the old adage "don't mess with Mother Nature", well I think we all feel the same way about whatever/whoever we're mothering-don't mess with us or them:)  Anything's possible if we just try and then have our eyes open to see the results of our efforts whenever it should happen, life can can have some amazing moments sprinkled in with the everyday stuff if we just pay attention.  OK, besides that-how is everybody out in blogland?  I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted!  Once again, life got in the way, but things are starting to be a little more "normal" around here.  There's a lot to do yet, but with me not being very mobile, I'm just going to swalloow my pride & have the neighbor girl come & help me with the cleaning & getting things back in order.  All the stuff that's left to do after construction-blech!  But I do have to say, I love how everything turned out.  Anyway, whatever your plans are for Sunday, enjoy them, and have a Happy Mother's Day!

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A Must Read book!

 

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Annie Lockhart (that really does sound too formal!) at a class taught by Nina and held at Valley Ridge Art Studio, which is an absolutely magical place.  Turns out that Annie & I share a birthday, and the fun started from there, turning us into "Sweet Sistah's".  That said, I couldn't be any happier or more proud of Annie for this book that she wrote and was just released.  It is WONDERFUL!!!  Seriously, I buy a lot of books, and this is hands down, one of the best.  She makes you think about what you're creating.  After reading this book, you'll never again glue something to something-just because.  Or because it's trendy and all the kids are doing it:)  You'll think about those elements and what they mean, what do they add, and you'll soon have something that reflects you, not so & so.  Oh, just buy the book-you won't regret it!

How's this month of Love & Hearts going?

 Always a little late-didn't quite get this posted on Valentine's Day, but it's close:)  Besides, the whole month is all about hearts and love and reds and pinks, right?  So I use a black & white photo-go figure.  But the fact remains that this man standing next next to me, he loves me with all his heart, even after 30 plus years-and I love him right back!  Don't get me wrong, we have our days just like anybody else.  But anyone who can take care of me when I'm sick the way he has, sitting next to my hospital bed all too often so that when I wake up he's the first person I see, and still put up with me at home, (yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm not all that easy to live with)-is a keeper.  So there it is for the world to know!  Anyone else care to step up & tell us about your great love???  We'd all love to hear about it-seriously! Saunday, we made a quick run over to The Flying Pig for coffee-a regular week end event.  We have to wait until May 1 for the regular summer hours of 7 days a week, right now they're open Fri-Sun, and for some reason I miss Mondays there.  Don't ask me why because I don't have a clue, every Monday I want to go over there.  It's even more fun now, hearing about the crazy wild vacation that they just back from:)  Go ck out their blog and read about it, you'll be grinning and dreaming about what YOUR favorite wild & crazy vacation would be.  I have many-walking along a river's edge & seeing a grizzly bear, seeing a whale while I'm in a boat close enough to appreciate it, walking along a beach and finding baby turtles.  There's more, right now I'd just like to be healthy, walk normal, get this remodeling job done-but that would require them to come back to finish it first-it'll happen:)   Compliments of a glass artist at the gallery, here's a heart of a different color-just to be different!

 
 

Back for a bit---

 Gary can always manage to capture the beauty of something as everyday, and yet so complex, as frost on the window.  As beautiful as it is, it looks out of place to me right now, but then I feel out of place right now.  Winters in WI are long, and I've always broken them up by certain events-Christmas, Gary's birthday, Jeremy's birthday,
(and yes, Vicki, your's too:).  Simple things like turning the pages on the calendar, watching it snow and seeing the flurry of birds at the feeder.  But this year, I lost a lot of those days, and it seems like I lost winter right along with it.  There's plenty of winter left, so I'm hoping to see each & everyday of the rest of it from my home.  See, I didn't just take a blogging break, I got sick-really sick.  There's not much memory of most of December, and then I spent the last 10 days of the month in the hospital with 6 of those days in ICU on a ventilator.  Then I got to take another surprise weekend visit there about 10 days ago.  Is that it?  Who knows! Last week end I had an injection and was supposed to stay planted at home for a couple of days with an ice pack.  I did-but we did take a quick ride to the beach, I had to see it, see something real & familiar.  Just looking at it now makes it hard to believe that where all those tumbled ice chunks are now, is really hot sand in the summer.  Close your eyes and think about it, I'll bet you can almost feel the hot sand between your toes.  If you can't, try harder:)  While on the ventilator, there were, nights that I wasn't quite knocked out, and spent hours staring at the ceiling, trying to burn the memory of the shadows and shapes I saw into my brain, then I'd choose a color and try to imagine how it would sound and feel.  That's not as goofy as it sounds, there's a couple of gals out here, Watercolor Harps, who create music "to  escape into their impressions of the color palette with their 'watercolor' sounds - audible imagery - to match your mood or create a new one."  We've been fortunate enough to attend their first cd release party at The Flying Piga couple of years ago.  I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure I got it at the time, but I so craved color, music, beauty all those nights, that I think I got it.  Sometimes it takes me awhile----.  We're starting to get our ideas together, and rather than dwell on all this negative health stuff, we're both (yay for Gary) will be creating art, new toys are here, designs being worked out, and we need a studio space now-after we get this addition done.  But there are still bright spots like this that just make you smile.  I'll try to post more often, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of the world has been up to.

 

Want to speed up winter? Go see Alyson Stanfield!

In WI, the winters are notoriously cold and yet beautiful with all the snow and the brilliant red cardinals  on the branches, the just tend to be a little long.  But this year, in about a month actually, Alyson Stanfield is coming to Racine, WI to give a marketing workshop.  Can you think of a better way to end the winter and start thinking about spring?  I can't:)  It'll be held March 9-10, 2010 at The Sienna Center in  Racine, Wisconsin. This workshop is being conducted for the annual retreat for the Professional Art Quilters Alliance, but is open to everyone, and sounds exciting!  Just click HERE, for all the details, and start planning a little winter get away that you'll not only love, but will learn so much!  Oh, and there's a bonus if you sign up before Feb. 12!

Help spread the word, with Alyson's permission you can use this information and blog, facebook, tweet it, or tell all your friends!

How would you like to sell more art?

If you could use some fresh and practical ideas for marketing your art, check this out. 

Alyson B. Stanfield, author of “I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion,” is coming to Wisconsin in early March to help us get a groove on our marketing.

I’D RATHER BE IN THE STUDIO

A NO-EXCUSES ART MARKETING WORKSHOP

March 9-10, 2010 

Siena Center, Racine

**Sign up by February 12 and get a bonus gift from Alyson! 

http://www.artquilters.com/retreats/retreat10-03.html

 During these two days, you’ll learn

 

-- How to write a better artist statement that connects with your audience

 -- How to organize and expand your mailing list

 -- The tragic mistakes artists make on websites and blogs (and how to fix them)

 -- Email secrets that produce results

 -- How to increase traffic to your website and blog

 -- How to build your online presence with Facebook and Twitter without becoming a slave to your computer

And it’s only $100! Alyson says this is a crazy low price, so you should probably grab it while you can.

Two full days of ideas, examples, and motivation to help you get your art out of the studio and in front of people who can see it and buy it. AND, you’re going to leave with an action plan. 

Get the details and register (by February 12 to get the bonus!) at:

http://www.artquilters.com/retreats/retreat10-03.html

Please help fill the room by sharing this information with other artists who could use this kind of a workshop. 

Enjoy the rest of the winter-I know I'm going to give it the old college try!

Sue Pieper

You don't want to miss this give-away!

 

This flag was made by KC Willis, "The Women-The Flag",measuring 32"x50"-that's huge!  The first one of these that she made in the series is in the permanent collection of The Cowgirl Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas.  In a couple of weeks, she'll be having a drawing & some lucky person will win this one!  Are you curious yet, want to know why, need to know how to enter? Just go back & read the post, spread the word on your own blog, linking to KC's best plan yet (more about that in a minute) then go back & leave a comment on KC's blog post that you've done all this, and you're in the drawing-easy!!  Now, her "best plan yet" is that KC is going to share her extensive marketing expertise in a group called KC Willis Marketing Mindset, Navigating the Art Market.  This woman is a bundle of energy, and she wouldn't have accomplished what she has without a lot of hard work, and a lot good marketing sense.  There has to be a balance,time for making art, time to market so that the art moves on & finds it's rightful owner, and time for a life-well, at least I'm hoping there's time for a little life here & there:)  So spread the word, try to win the flag, and think about joining us on this marketing journey!