Rejuvenated; Sunshine and Owl Pellets

Just back from a recent trip to sunny California, I am feeling rejuvenated. Driving down with our two kids, took a little patience, but is also so rewarding. It brings me back to doing the same trip when I was a kid to see family in the Bay Area. To look at the same landscape I have passed so many time, but with fresh eyes,  the eyes of my kids. We soaked up lots of sun, family and had some great nature moments, including finding a rattlesnake, watching strange digging bees and dissecting a found owl pellet. (I brought home a beautiful little vole scapula we found in the pellet to cast.) Of course I am always on the lookout for something new to cast or incorporate into my work, so my first thought upon finding the rattlesnake was,  "oohhhh, I'd love to get my hands on his rattle to make a mold of." I found some fun seeds from a tree I couldn't identify and hope to find in one of my books, but these little cones are going to make some fabulous earrings! More than anything, we just enjoyed getting away from the daily grind. For me there is nothing like removing yourself from your daily life to get inspired and excited about what to do when you get home. 

Back and (better?) than before...

So far 2011 has been about as good as I had hoped. Health is back on track, family is good, letting go of managing the studio, and most excitingly, I will be joining a wonderful group of vendors at the Bellingham Farmer's Market!!! I am so excited to have been excepted by this great group of artists, farmers, crafters and food processors. It's been a wild ride to apply, get my booth ready, and of course to create enough product! Having just attended the annual BFM meeting I got a real sense of the pride and excitement this group has for their businesses as well as everyone involved.

Recently I have been getting compliments on my work from some unexpected sources. This gives me of course the lovely warm and fuzzy feeling we all love, but more importantly I get the feeling that if these unexpected sources can see and appreciate what my work is all about, maybe my more unusual work is not too far out for the masses to adorn themselves with. Plus, getting out from behind the desk and back behind the bench more has really given my creativity the boost it needs for 2011! And I have a feeling that if I am going to keep up the market I am really going to need it! 

Recouping and Refocusing

Well, I have to say that one of my best business moves for Umbilicus Designs has been to buy a laptop before my surgery two weeks ago. I have successfully gotten many updates complete and finally started my  Artfire site, which is a bit lean, but up and running! I am excited to see how the numbers compare to Etsy and to get to meet more customers, at least on the cyber web. I have really loved all the interactions I have had with my Etsy customers, and I hope to have many interactions on Artfire as well. There is nothing that can quite compete with meeting the customer in person and watching their expression as I describe the processes I use, or explain what materials, but I do have some great transactions. Now I just can't wait to feel up to getting back in the studio, 2011 here I come! Check it out at http://umbilicusdesigns.artfire.com

Why Bones?

One of my favorite things about selling at holiday or other markets is getting to talk directly to the customer, answer questions etc. This year due to my recent surgery, I only had a couple of days to interact as I worked my "shift" in the group shop at Pacific Arts Holiday Market. One of the many questions I get is why I use bones, what inspired me to start casting and incorporating them in my creations. I love this question as the answer really sums up the way I see the world in many aspects. I love working with bones, these strong pieces of us that take so many different forms and curves to connect to one another and hold us up. They are not seen, but hidden until we pass and then, many years later they are all that remain of a body that once walked, flew, crawled or slithered on the earth. These skeletal remains remind me of the inner strength we all have, and so I find them beautiful.

Community Connections

One of the things I love about doing the holiday markets or any type of booth venue is all the connections you make in the community. Last year I had a full booth at the Pacific Arts Holiday Market and I was overwhelmed by the great feedback and connections I made. For example, an old neighbor of mine and I started to talk and we did a trade for some earrings and I ended up with an amazing old watch makers drawer set and many old metalworking tools. This year as I am recovering from surgery I am not able to do a full booth, but even with my small display I am having many people contact me regarding trades and making community connections for further business. I love being a part of the arts and crafts scene here in the Pacific Northwest, we have some great artists and I hope you all will get a chance to go see the Pacific Arts Holiday Market on the last weekend coming up! www.pacificartsholidaymarket.com

PAHM HERE I COME!

I can't wait for tomorrow as it is the first day (and Art Walk!) of Pacific Arts Holiday Market. I'm so excited to be included with so many awesome local artist, some of my favs will be there, Christian Smith, Moth and Squirrel and Red Boots Design just to name a few. It's been a long crazy road getting ready for this holiday season, but here it comes! www.pacificartsholidaymarket.com

math, origami and metal

I just finished watching the great documentary, Between the Folds with my family. I was so totally fascinated by how many shapes and forms were similar to formfolding and anticlastic raising techniques.  I love when art and science/math converge in such a way. You could see in the creases the lines along the form where you would hammer to create shapes similar to the finished origami paper form. Anyone interested in these metalworking techniques should really check it out! A few months ago I took a fabulous two day anticlastic forming workshop with the amazing Bill Dawson from Olympia here at Pouncing Rain and it got me all excited to incorporate new shapes and forms in my work. Now off to the drawing board to work up some designs! Pictures to come soon!