Another Boutique/Craft show

I checked my email last night and was amazed to find an invitation to another Boutique! I felt completely honored to get this invite! It really does something for the confidence level for someone to seek you out and request your presence because they like your product! I've taken a few days off from painting to recover from the last show; however tonight I will begin working on more pieces.

On a side note, it seems my eyesight is getting a bit worse. I'm hoping that things will get better with that soon! I love painting so much and I would be devastated if I wasn't able to paint anymore!

First Boutique = SUCCESS!

It's been a long time since I've posted here! Wow!

I had my first experience with a Holiday Boutique/Craft show today. It was in a local church and it was a success! I was really concerned that I wouldn't have enough product available, but I was fine. I learned that some things need to be priced a tad lower next time. I also learned that I need to brush up on my sales skills. My daughter was a life saver...she has the gift of gab! She was drawing people to my table in droves! She received so many complements for her sales skills...and I got them for my painting skills! What a rewarding day!

Next time I will have more Southwest items available. The few I had went the first day. I also plan to reserve 2 tables next time. One for the ceramics and one for the purses. I think I'm going to stick to 2 styles of purses just for simplicity sake. Oh...and I'll have some small items available for $1.00 each. The vendor across the walkway from me had a basket of $1.00 items and they went like hotcakes (snack size Ziploc baggies with tea bag "cozies"). I think people just like to feel they got a good deal!! :) I figure if they cost very little and take little time to put together, then why not!!

I'm looking forward to next year. I plan to do more than just one show!

Shifting Gears...Sort of

I've shifted gears a little lately and have hit the sewing "craze". I've made 2 really cute purses and some hair curlers for my daughters. I need to try to split my time between sewing and painting!

Here's a few pictures of my sewing projects. I ended up sewing on an apple button for the pink piggy purse.

My youngest daughter learned how to sew on buttons with the curlers! She did a really good job and she was thrilled with how her hair turned out.

New Greenware

My favorite ceramic shop is having a wonderful Christmas in July sale! They have their Christmas greenware 40% off, so I picked up several pieces. It looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me! Cleaning greenware isn't my favorite task, but it leads to painting, so it's a necessary evil! :)

Look for the new stuff at my website: http://santasnmore.googlepages.com!

Web site is up and running!

My new website is up and running!! You can find it at http://santasnmore.googlepages.com. I have more pictures of things there. There still isn't a shopping cart system set up. I'm hoping to get that going soon! Let me know what you think!!

Toy Soldier Trials

I'm learning that the heat isn't a ceramic mold pourer's friend. It has been over 100 degrees here lately and it hasn't made pouring easy. I've started pouring small things in my laundry room and am still having to manipulate a bit. I have this Toy Soldier mold that refuses to cooperate with me! My kids are thrilled because the less than perfect pieces will be cleaned, fired and given to them to paint! My last Toy Soldier looks like he's attempting to bow!

I haven't tried the large snowman that caused me so much grief last week. I've been using some of my energy to get some things painted. I hope to have a few more pictures posted here soon of completed items.

I've also decided to work more on a regular web page...with pricing and hopefully a shopping cart! I'll post the address for it here as soon as it is published.

Snowman disaster!

So, I'm pretty new at pouring molds...today I decided to try a larger item...a cute Snowman holding a shovel. I belt this mold up and start pouring from my Arizona Iced Tea jugs (nice and sturdy jugs...easy to handle!). I noticed some of the slip was a bit lumpy...I knew this wasn't going to be good...I asked my daughter to hand me another jug...it was extra watery...grrrr. I poured anyway...all of a sudden the slip level in the mold starts to go down. It's hot here, but not hot enough to make a mold suck up THAT much slip!!! Well, the slip was all over my work bench...and the garage floor! UGH! The mess is almost cleaned up!

I figure I either didn't have the belt on tight enough or the slip was just too lumpy. I will try again tomorrow...if I'm successful I'll post a picture of the greenware Snowman! :)

My Workspace

Here's my messy work area...at least a close-up of it. It gives you an idea of what I'm working on at the moment. You can tell I jump around from piece to piece...I guess this is so I don't get too bored! :)

The two snowmen in the back are still greenware. I plan to clean them and fire them this weekend...I'm excited to start painting this set! They are dressed up as Pilgrims....CUTE!!