Weekly update. . .Next!

I'm feeling pretty good about this past week, I have accomplished several things. Ok, so technically I ordered the banner before this week, but it arrived this week.  I am thrilled with how it turned out and I think it looks great hanging up, even over the window when backlit it still looks cool and is readable. 😁 This is a huge yay! and was its' own important test because I have been thinking of all the ways I can use it and one of them was as a partial backwall in the tent, which means it may at times have sun shining through it. So, the fact that it is a good sunblock while looking virtually lit-up is pretty cool, I had not anticipated that but it's working for me. 😎 

There are only 2 weeks before my upcoming event, which will be outdoors at a park using the pop-up tent and my new banner. It is a local event and mostly unrestricted, so I can take all my stuff and my husband's 3-D printed stuff too. 😇 I have been working on making "stuff and things", including the new wire trees I made for the #goimagine maker challenge and some other stuff I am still not publishing, yet. I plan to have a full re-stock of the rubber bracelets and hopefully will be back to full pages in the "Book of  mini Trees".  

While I am glad this thing is finished, I have to admit I'm not really happy with it. I struggled making it, it was as if the wire was fighting me every inch. I'm not thrilled with the leaf placements, the nest is not where I wanted it, it is a disappointment to me. I'm sure other people will like it fine it's just not what I envisioned. 😏 I do love the blue butterfly version, although, I seriously doubt I have any chance in the maker challenge contest because, well crappy photos. 😒 

Part of me is just happy I managed to finish both in time to get them entered. 😅 It was a cloudy day when I shot the photos, I'm not sure when judging is happening, maybe I can shoot new photos and update the listings before then. Lucky for me the next maker challenge prompt is something I already had, so I have already submitted an entry for "Gradients & Grids" 

Weekly update. . .postponed

As much as I plan and plan, sometimes things just don't go according to the plan. 😏 I haven't been feeling 100% a couple of days this week, so the second wire tree for the #makerchallenge is still not finished. I know I'm not alone in this, everyone has issues sometimes that is why I got an email notifying me the June event has lost the date with the venue and is being moved, postponed.  😐 It's ok, the May event is still happening, and I'll just have to look for other options for June, July, August. Ideally, I'd like to have one event a month, but I'm not sure that is going to work out.  😅 

I am going to work on this today.  I really need to finish it so I can have that end of the bench cleared to set up and shoot the photos of both trees so I can create the listings and submit them. 

However, I am currently delayed from working on that tree because I had an order come thru one of the online shops last night, and of course they ordered a color that I don't have already made. 😅 I keep meaning to re-stock the rubber bracelets, but it seems no matter which colors I make they always order one I don't have ready.  It's ok, it is just a small rubber helms bracelet I can whip it up today and ship it out tomorrow, but that is a couple hours of not working on the wire tree. 😏 

 

The other box with the rest of the frames arrived the other day and looking at the dented and ripped box I was initially very concerned, but thanks to the foam and bubble wrap packaging inside the frames themselves are undamaged. 😌 

So now I get to go through the process of selecting which of the 150+ paintings actually get one of the 22 frames. 😶 But right now I have to go get busy on a bracelet. 😉

Weekly update. . .big plans

I have multiple events on the schedule now, nice and spaced out so far.  I ordered a Big fancy professional banner and it should be here before my next event next month. 😉 Technically, the next event is just under a month away, but it is a "hometown" event so no travel, low stress event, it is literally a day at the park.  😎

I am still working on the restocking. . . making more rubber bracelets, making more small trees, making more fidget blocks. 😅 Ok so my husband prints the fidget blocks and I'm kinda focused on my #makerchallenge entries first, but I have weeks to prepare. As long as the kitten isn't too distracting or destructive I should be able to get plenty of new stuff done, of course he is yowling his way around the house being rotten right now so. . . 😂 The good news is I have 1 of my 2 #makerchallenge entries finished already I just need to photograph and list it so I can officially submit it.

I know, not the best photo, they never really look good laying on the banged-up bench 😏 but trust me with 5 colors of wire, 3 sizes of Swarovski crystal beads and 8 butterflies it is very pretty 😇

The next one will be very different, not just birds instead of butterflies, not just green instead of blue wire, but with the bird's nest and dangly leaves a completely different look. Also, because I am crazy and easily distracted a whole new idea hijacked my brain yesterday and is in mid test on my bench. 😅 Probably not the best timing or wisest idea but if it works it will be amazing, no photos yet.  I am taking "work in progress" photos but I will not post about this until it is complete and then only if it turns out the way I want and looks super cool. 

The cases of frames I ordered should start arriving this week, so be prepared for some A/B polls to help me decide which pieces to put in which color of frame. 😎 

I have distributed multiple versions of the beads & rings bracelet design for wear-testing, now is the boring waiting, for possibly months, for one of them to break. One of them I made with a matching keychain for my Momma's birthday. 😇 If they all make it past the 6 month wear mark without breaking, I might consider selling the design. 

 

Happy Birthday Mom! 💖😇

Weekly update. . . it's Spring

The weather is changing, the eclipse is coming and I'm scheduling events. I don't have a full calendar yet and I am focusing on local events so it may not be too many. 😎 Then again, events take a week to prepare & pack and a week after to unpack & recover so having them spaced out and not doing too many is a good thing for me. 😉

I think my next event will be Saturday May 11 for the Antique car rally, since I didn't get into the Rose Fest. However, in amazing news I did get accepted for the Elevate Artisan Market in October. 😲 Now I have to rethink my entire booth and display because Elevate is a step up and I am going as an "Artist" so no jewelry just art. I'm thinking less tables, use all 3 wire shelf units, maybe get the right feet and make them flat walls instead of corner shelves. I am looking at buying another batch of frames and some tabletop easels, I need it to look pretty and let's face it booth decoration is not my strongest area. 😏 It's 6 months away and I'm nervous already. 😅 

In the meantime, I have a lot to get done before the next show next month, so I'll have to think about Elevate later. 😇 I am still playing with and testing the beaded bracelet design, I still need to restock the rubber bracelets, I need to finish the crate painting, I need to clean off this messy bench and finish this month's maker challenge trees. 😏 Like I said I have a lot to get done, but in the months before Elevate I have an even longer list, paintings to seal, paintings to frame, large trees to make, I want to try to epoxy the blue and white series.  I feel like I am setting myself up for failure because I'm not sure I can get everything done, and that is before the insecurity and imposter syndrome starts kickin' in. 😕

I know I want to frame these, and I think I'm going to use matching frames for all 3 but then I'm torn on if they should sell as a pair with an optional coordinating 3rd or if it should just be a set of 3 all together. 😐 Maybe I'll price them out both ways.  Maybe I'll make myself completely crazy overthinking things. 😅