Mail Me Art 2 Submission

I don't remember where I found the Mail Me Art 2 site, but I've been working on my submission for the last few months (with a break in between for the craft fair and holiday rush).  Somewhere along the line they bumped the deadline from March 31 to January 31.  I had been playing with my envelope a little each lunch hour, planning to finish some time in February or March.  Basically, I'd been slacking after the holidays.  I'm so glad I happened to visit the site!

I've realized something about myself recently I probably should have learned a long time ago.  I work much better with motivation and a solid deadline.  As I've mentioned before, it's normal for me to ignore my clay for the better part of a year, only to pull it out sporadically starting in September as I start to gear up for Christmas.  Having a solid deadline 2 months earlier than I expected was certainly motivating!

I visited USPS.com and did the math to figure out my envelope had to be at the Post Office no later than this past Wednesday, the 20th.  Even then I wasn't sure I'd be able to mail it as is, or if I'd have to pay a lot of $$ to mail it in a special international priority envelope, just to make sure it got to the UK in time.  The whole point of the contest is seeing what traveling through the postal system does to the artwork, of course.

I worked feverishly over the weekend, Monday and Tuesday evening, finishing with enough time for Sweetie to take pictures.  He was only able to get pictures of the back with the final coat of glaze, and even the bare pencil was shiny enough to cause photographic difficulties.  You can see where we were fighting glare.  Here is the finished product, both front and back:

 

Mailing this was harder than I expected.  I was ok putting the $2 worth of postage in the upper right corner.  Even knowing part of the art is the postal service's contribution, I still felt the piece was ruined when the clerk randomly slapped a white label on the front so she could stamp it "Priority Mail."

The contest originator has chosen one winner from all submissions that hit his doorstep between the first and last day of each month.  Having seen about 250 of the other submissions, I'm not hoping too hard I'll win the last coveted monthly spot.  I am hoping a little, of course!  I'm also hoping my submission will be published in the forthcoming book.  There will also be an exhibition, and eventually the opportunity to purchase select pieces.  If my piece is chosen for sale, I'll receive 70% of the purchase price.  If nothing else, I expect to eventually see it posted on the Facebook Event site.

Holiday rush = done -- craft fair and contest rush = just starting!

So the holiday is over, and with it came new learning experiences.  Some ideas went well, like the cat for Julie-at-work.  I liked this one well enough I actually signed it!  I worked out something of a process for this piece, and have plans for additional cats and other animals in similar style.  I have a few ideas on how to make the eyes more realistic, but can't decide if I really want to go there.  I enjoy the depth and effect of the eyes on this particular puss.  As always, more ideas to play and experiment with than I have time to play and experiment!

The scottish terrier on the photo frame (a present for friend Mary, with background photo courtesy of my fiance' Jeff) turned out well, too.  Other photo frame ideas did not go well at all, and I learned from some of my mistakes.  One of my biggest lessons, which I seem to have to learn over and over again, is not attempting too much at one time.  I spent several hours Christmas day working on a piece I had to finally give up on, because I was trying to get form and colors perfect at the same time.  The piece was non-salvageable, which always makes me sad.  I decided later I would have been much better off working out the form and proportion first, then adding the multiple colors on the surface as if painting in clay.  With this in mind, it is definitely a piece that will become reality at some point, along with others of that style. 

I learned a bit about new materials on the vase I made for Kim.  She won one of my first vases in a raffle several years ago, and liked it enough to display in her home.  One of her friends fell in love with it so Kim, being Kim, gifted it to her.  When I heard the story I of course realized I had to make Kim a new vase.  

I stopped making these vases (and coffee mugs in the same style) because I wanted them to be dishwasher safe and was unable to accomplish that aim.  Some weathered washing by hand.  Some did not.  I could not in good conscience sell a product that could not be used, so walked away from the entire project, until now.

Having decided to make a new vase for Kim, I searched the craft stores for new ways to make it dishwasher safe.  I thought I found a way with the white outlining paint, but it turns out this is only dishwasher safe when baked at high temperatures for almost an hour.  That of course would ruin the polymer clay, which bakes at much lower temperatures for 10-15 minutes.  The end result is similar in durability to the vase Kim originally won, in that she can clean it carefully, as long as she does not submerge it for any length of time.  In other words, pretty to look at but not serviceable.  Back to the drawing board!

For the first time ever, with this new year I have a new focus for my art.  I have 6 weeks to build up an inventory for UpStage Artisan Alley.  Come visit me on Saturday, February 13th from 9:00am-4:00pm at the Slovenian Workmen's Home (15335 Waterloo Road) in Cleveland!  I'm also working on a 2D submission for Mail Me Art Two, which is due no later than January 31, 2010.  That deadline was pushed up from the end of March so I'm feeling a bit of pressure there!

As always, I'll keep you posted on new developments, and post pics when I can.  For now, I'm wishing a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all!

Addendum to the TH Craft Fair

Seems while I didn't sell that many ornaments at the TH Craft Fair itself, I've made an impression and requests are trickling in for purchases of the stock I have left.  YAY!  In addition to several sales from my posts and blogs, I now have to recreate 2 copies of the gingerbread globes, as well as the one with all the presents.  

I was supposed to have the new ornaments finished this weekend but I spent so much time preparing for and making holiday cookies with the family, there simply wasn't time.  I love our family Cookie Day, where we pull out the recipes our Grandmother used to make, but it is a LONG day and we were all very tired by the time we packed up and headed home.  (I can't lie - I went out singing Saturday night, too!)  No matter.  I will have the requested ornaments by Tuesday, and I'm certain no one will mind.

Normally when I finish with the TH Craft Fair I have enough ornaments left over to gift my family and friends, calling Christmas done and putting my clay away for another year.  Last year I had so many orders in addition to what I prepared, I was making ornaments for my family Christmas day!  This year has been a little different.  I could give my family and friends ornaments, but while I have plenty in stock I really want to do something different.  I'm experiencing what my sister Julie calls Ghosts, which are new ideas haunting me.  I go to bed knowing what I'm going to do for someone, then wake up the next morning with either a variation or an entirely new concept that simply won't leave me alone.  I have changed my mind several times, and am starting to feel the press of time which might make the new ideas impossible to carry out.  It's one thing to create a variation on something I've already worked out the process for.  It's an entirely different thing to come up with both process and technique, all on short notice.  Some members of my family might just get the pieces parts wrapped, with the promise of a completed project some time in January!

It's also fun to work on new, non-Christmas related ideas for the UpStage Artisan Alley I will have a table at on February 13th.  I understand this will be a wonderful show with at least 18-20 artists and crafters participating.  I can't wait to see what type of work others are doing!  I ultimately hope to find a show a month to participate in so if you hear of any in your area please let me know.

2009 Thompson Hine Craft Fair

The Thompson Hine 2009 Craft Fair has come and gone.  It was fun getting everything together and there were some really neat items for sale.  Yummy treats, beautiful jewelry and some beautiful holiday gift ideas.  It was not, however, my best year.


I'd planned to display my ornaments hanging from spring loaded curtain rods in the windows.  Turns out the windows in the conference room where the Craft Fair was held are smaller than the windows outside the conference room.  The rods I brought didn't fit, so I had to display on the table.  This reduced visibility both because they were packaged in plastic bags (for protection and a place to put price tags) and because they were easily lost in the padding.

I raised my prices this year as well, since my designs were more involved and varied.  With the economy the way it is, I guess that may not have been my best option.  The end result is I have a full inventory for anyone who might still be interested, but couldn't purchase before payday, and I have a full inventory for next year's craft fairs as well.  


One positive was the reaction to the candy bowl I donated as a raffle prize.  I have a potential order to create a duplicate bowl, and was told I should be making those for sale.  Next year will probably see a few.


I am looking for new craft fairs and sales to carry me through the year.  My next focus (after Christmas) is UpStage Artisan Alley February 23rd.  I was wavering over participating and am leaning more and more toward committing.  I will have to come up with a non-holiday inventory (which will also show up in next year's TH craft fair), so look for new images and ideas coming soon! 

Thompson Hine Craft Fair

I've been focusing for the past few weeks on creating ornaments for the annual craft fair at work.  I try to make them different every year, so people (and I!) don't get bored.  This year has been exciting because I can tell how much my work has improved, both visually and in how quickly I can put things together.  I've already more ornaments made than I had in the entire show last year, and I've another full week to play.  I had to come up with a new way to display them, since the trees I hung them on last year aren't large enough to hold this year's inventory!

I'm also excited for the new forms I'm playing with this year.  My faces have improved dramatically.  I have the proportions where I want them.  Now I need to work on improving the eyes and making the expressions I WANT instead of what just happens to come across.  I've ideas for figurines and "Shelflings" that will rely heavily on these new skills.  

The best part of this year's work is I finally feel it's of a quality to take to the general public.  I'm hoping my excitement will carry past the holiday season and into the new year, where I can start building an inventory and actually work toward selling at craft shows (and possibly on-line).  I'll keep you posted as to where I'll be and what I'm working on, as I go.

The adventure begins!