Are you thinking about Valentines?
Do you need to make a few but don't have a clue how to begin?
Lost yer MoJo?
Go to Flickr and do a search on collage art or Vintage Ephemera.
Or maybe Vintage Children's Books...
Or search the Groups- There are thousands!
This morning I spent an hour wandering through Collage Art. I saved to my favorites images of Victorian splendor and Valentines and paper doll torsos!!
Heaven for a pack rat such as me!!
That's the beauty part- apparently Favorites is a bottomless pool of everything you see that you want to save! I fav without fear!!! I don't always say thank you but I hope they understand...as I click....click....click......
I can look through my favorites and catch glimpses of themes and ideas brewing or remember crafts I was working on- or blog posts I needed art for.
It is a wondrous age that we live in!
I love the ability to find an image so quickly! Years ago if I was doing collage I had to actually own the book or borrow a book from a friend and go to the place with the copiers and stand in line..blah, blah, blah...Now it's instant!
There used to be only one kind of brad- you know the small metal thingie that you can put through paper to hold it together? Now there are so many different sizes, shapes, colors!!! How exciting that a trip to the local craft store yields all the necessary equipment to create anything you can imagine!! I try not to take this all for granted- I appreciate the overproduction of goods and products to the point of so many choices that I almost can't decide what to make! Do you know what I mean?
So many possible projects that now I start to think: which ones do I really want to make?
The faerie wings are delightful but time consuming and sort of difficult- not easy but then that just means everyone else won't be making them!
As I search for items that I want to put in a product line they all must meet the required criteria:
1. Not take too long because you never get paid for your time.
2. Not be overly expensive in material costs because this means that you could be over pricing your item and is your customer really going to pay that (not if they can find it somewhere else cheaper?)
3. Am I still going to love making this item after the 10th one? How many can I make that still look unique and fresh?
4. Is it my own idea?
5. Is it a fad?
6. Will it be collectible?
7. Is it Art? Is it Craft?
8. Is it functional? Can it be washed?
9. Where will I sell it and who will buy it?
10. Will customers fall in love with it?
Each time I make something I run through these questions in my mind. I used to weave baskets and did Art & Craft Shows with my Guild. Customers fell in love with my baskets and bought them eagerly.
I often sold out or nearly so at the shows.
When I made bears the shop owner started on consignment and then bought them out right after I began to have a following. I couldn't believe that people loved my bears as much as I did!! I was so happy but stressed because I had to make the bears and sell so many each week in order to pay the bills. Then it becomes forced and you loose a certain amount of joy in creating! For me that is the thing- The Creating! That's all I really care about. After I make it I don't care. I could give it away...
Now, after menopause I seem to be scattered to the winds! I can't stay focused on any one thing long enough to have a product line! I do a little of this and a bit of that, then I'm off, on the wind sailing to the next glorious idea!
Whims!
Calamity Kim's Current Whims!
That should be the name of my shop- once I get focused enough to start one!
The people who love me are often upset by my lack of consistency and responsibility. I can only hang my head in shame and suffer the scorn of disparaging remarks and silent phones.
I wear my artistic frivolity like a sweater sewn from patches of different categories. Quilting, Doll-making, Bear-making, Collage, Crafts, Beading, Weaving, Felting, Book-binding, Purse-making.
A Coat of Many Crafts.
An Artist Wearing Many Hats...berets?
I need to make a profit.
I need to sell some products in order to contribute to the household and feel successful like I used to!
I need some Clarity and Focus!
I need to feel Centered and not scattered to the winds!
Maybe I need a List.
That often helps to get me motivated.
If I made a list for today it would be:
1. Take a shower and get dressed. Make bed.
2. Fold clothes in chair, dryer and couch.
3. Do dishes from last night.
4. Take out garbage.
5. Vacuum house.
6. Take boxes to post office.
7. Return movies to Blockbuster.
8. Go pay water bill.
9. Get oil changed in Durango.(now 200 miles overdue)
10. Get gas
11. Might as well go through car wash- it hasn't been washed since Dec.2nd
12. After it warms up Sadie is overdue by 4 days for her bath. She also needs a vet appointment for yearly visit.
13. Bills need to be paid.
14. Start dinner- oh drink lunch (slimfast, not pina colada!!)
15. Fred comes home- dinner and then a little computer time with blog? peeps before sitting down to a New Heroes!!
16. No time for Crafting Genius today.
So it's put off for another day and so it goes. Should I just get a real job and then do this in my "free" time?
It helps to use this as a sounding board.
I wish I could get down to brass tacks and stick to the plan!
I know, if wishes were dishes we'd all.....
So Happy Monday!
If you have time go wander Flickr in all it's glory and Fav you some goodness to keep for someday when you get a minute...even if it's just to revisit the images and dream....