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To Create small books reflecting a sense of place that share one's experiences of Greenville County.

http://minibookcollective.org/Home_Page.php

2 Main Rules

1. The book must be made from one A3 or A4 (ISO) sheet or card in equivalent US sizing and can be folded into the format you want.

2. Cuts can be made but the sheet must remain relatively whole- so not cut in half etc. clicking the link takes you to the UK site, SomethinkCollective for examples.

So, I decided last week to take a little break from working with glass to create a mini-book for a local Minibook Collective that I had read about. It sounded like it would be fun! I've put some of the information from their website above, but basically they want books that reflect the artist's personal interpretation or feelings about Greenville, SC.

After thinking about it for a couple of days, I jotted down a quick verse about what Greenville means to me. Bottom-line...Greenville is Home. It's not where I was born, but it is where I want to be. In fact, I've been here so long, that it is now more home than the place where I grew up.

I then started the process of figuring out how I wanted my book to look. The size was limited, so that was an easy decision. The only other rule was the sheet had to remain intact... I spent some time folding the page, and then sketching out the basics of my layout. I then moved my idea to the computer, using Photoshop and InDesign to combine photos I had taken with text and effects. After the design was finished, I printed out a test copy to double check fold and placement.

The next step was to have the file output to a single sheet of high quality stock. I then carefully cut out my book, scored and folded the pages. I used pastels, Prismacolor pencils, markers, pigments and findings to finish off my little book. Now, if I can just manage to get it turned in by the deadline!

Minibook dummy - basic fold and rough sketch.

Second Draft for position and fold.

Final - Cover

Final - Open to Gate Fold

Final - Opened Gate

Final - Inside Spread

Final - Back Cover

HOME

Tiny petals drifting down

the stream of hours,

Alone, apart

from garden flowers,

Swirls in a pool,

Lands on a stone,

Lifted by breezes

and carried along,

Comes to rest,

finds a home,

Falls among strangers,

soon to be friends,

Many paths to one place,

each journey ends.

 

 

Something New!

Before Thanksgiving I got an email from someone I had met at a show last year. She had worked in glass for a while several years ago, but had decided to sell some equipment and glass. She wanted to know if I was interested. I ended up buying a ring saw and some glass. 

I was in the middle of getting ready for a couple of shows, work was really busy and the holidays were coming up, so I didn't really get a chance to play with the saw until the last couple of days. It's so cool! Now I can cut curvy and more intricate shapes. When cutting the glass by hand, I was basically limited to straight lines. I could do some curves, but it wasn't easy. 

Yesterday, I cut out and created some random shapes and then tack fused them to create these whimsical flower pendants. It opens up so many possibilities. It may take quite a few more tries to get the feel for using it. It's not too difficult though. 

Holiday Fair - Day 2 Dawns

We are about to begin the second day of Holiday Fair. This is by far, the biggest show I have done. Thankfully, I had lots of help yesterday, my mom-in-law stayed with me most of the day, my mom came in and out as her work schedule allowed, my dad came in the evening and Tim came after work. 

Just like the small show I've den, this one was busy in small bursts. There seemed to always be someone coming up to the booth, even if they weren't buying, so I spent most of the day standing. For a girl with a job working at a computer all day, it wasn't easy. I truly respect anyone that has a job where they never sit down.

Today looks to be even busier than the first day.  My sister took a day off work and is coming to help us this morning. I don't know what I would do without my wonderful family and friends. There was a lady across from us who came down from Virginia. She sells these amazing old historical photos that she had tints using oils. She was by herself and really couldn't even leave her booth and go to the bathroom. I spelled her once so she could have a break.  Of course, she is a trooper. Many of these folks, travel from state to state and make a living doing this work.

Holiday Fair Begins...

The gates are open and the people are flowing in now...lots of people. I made my first sale, so that's good. I'm never sure I will sell anything until after that first sale. 

So, for the next 3 days, I will be hanging out in booth 1131. So, if your are nearby come visit me...

Gowensville, SC

When I first started creating fused glass work, I realized I needed outlets to sell it. It really started out kind of slowly. I wore my own things, people at worked liked them enough to ask about them, and I overcame my uncertainty enough to bring a basket into work. To my surprise, I sold quite a few that way. The next step brought me to a local gift shop where I rented a space for my things, and I explored the possibility of doing my first outdoor festival. This is where Gowensville comes in.

I really don't remember exactly how I found out about this festival, probably an email from MAC (Metropolitan Arts Council). But, I nervously filled out the application and sent it in with the entry fee. To my relief, I was accepted and began preparing for the show. I had nothing to work with. I borrowed a couple of tables from my dad. They weren't even folding tables, so he took them to the site in the back of his truck for me. I was so nervous about this show that I took half day off work so I could go out the afternoon before to scope things out and set up my tables.

I borrowed a set of red charger plates from my mom to use to display my pendants. I threw together some signage and scrounged up a couple of red tablecloths. Thankfully, my mom came along with me to help out as well. There were just so many details involved in doing a show, from price signs to money for change. It was all so new - kind of scary but fun too!

That first show went better than I had expected. The people there were so nice. The weather on that November day was unseasonably warm. And, I actually sold stuff!

So, this past Saturday, I went back to Gowensville for the third time. After a couple of years of doing shows, I don't get nearly as nervous these days. I don't go out the day before anymore, and I have my very own folding tables. I still rely on and enjoy help from my mom and my husband. I still have lots of details to remember, and I confess to worrying needlessly about having enough inventory...haven't sold out yet.

I enjoyed being there this year as much as the first year. It is always nice to get out and meet people. I enjoy talking to them, explaining the process of fusing and hearing their stories. It is nice to sell a few pieces too! I always feel better about making the money to support buying and fusing more glass.

The tree right above my tent - 2011

My first festival space in Gowensville in 2009.

My booth this past Saturday - 2011

Dance Around the Garden...

wings whispering through the air...

This is a recent glass piece I created. I really need about 10 more pieces for upcoming shows...I need to get in gear!

I'm learning this time of year is extremely busy for festivals and shows. I thought I was getting ahead of things this summer, but maybe not so much : )

I have a show this coming weekend, the next weekend and then the first weekend of December. I'm also open to scheduling more if opportunity arises.

So, I just have to create whenever I have a minute here or there...

I had a great time in Anderson this past weekend. I met some really nice people among the customers and the other vendors. There was an adorable older lady that did these incredible smocked dresses. She told me that the smocking alone took her 3 - 4 hours. Her prices were far too low to even cover the cost of her time. She said people wouldn't pay more...

Friday Night at Mistletoe Market

Tonight was the first night of Mistletoe Market. My mom went down to Anderson with me and helped me set up for the show. She had already taken my big box of pendants home with her this week and spent time organizing them into categories, colors, styles, etc.

This was a huge help when putting them on display...oh, she did that too! Thanks Mom for all your help! I loved having you with me.

We got to the museums about 2:15 and were finished setting up just about the time the first customers came in at 4:00. There was a pretty good crowd there tonight. The event was very well organized. I enjoyed meeting the people who had been sending me advance emails in person.

A colonnade at the entrance of the museum

A fountain outside the museum

My booth

A few new enameled copper pendants

Mistletoe Market

This weekend I will be at the Eighth Annual Mistletoe Market at the Anderson County Museum. This officially kicks off the holiday season for me as far as shows go, and I am excited to be doing a show I haven't done in the past. If you are planning on going to the MM this weekend, please stop by and visit my booth. I've been working since the summer on Christmas pendants for this and other shows coming up this month. Below is the information for the Mistletoe Market and a few photos of more holiday pendants.

The Eighth Annual Mistletoe Market hosted by the Friends of the Anderson County Museum will be held November 4 & 5, 2011 at the museum. The Mistletoe Market, a juried show, marks the start of the holiday shopping season in the upstate and features artisans and crafters from all over Upstate SC and Georgia. This year’s market is the largest to date with thirty-four vendors. The Friends will host a “Sip & Shop” with refreshments on opening night, Friday, November 5, from 4pm until 8pm. On Saturday, November 5, the Market is open from 10am until 5pm. To allow parents time to shop uninterrupted, ACM will have a program for children under eight years of age at 10 a.m. and at noon. Each program will last approximately one hour. The children will make turkey centerpieces to take home for their Thanksgiving table. For more information about the Market, you can call the Museum at 864/260-4737 or contact Catherine Luplow, Market Coordinator, at acmmarkets@hotmail.com.

Enchanting Snowflakes

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?
- J.B. Priestly

Halloween Creations

I'm posting a few pendants created for Halloween for Kristin's Share Your Creations Party. Halloween brings back such wonderful memories for me! I love this time of year.

This is my booth at a local October evening art festival.

A Booth in Progress...

It seems like My booth is perpetually changing. I am still working on the display piece in the center of the table. I junked the paint trays and s hooks because the pendants were difficult to pick up. I figured out that I could use heavy duty foam core boards with thin strip "shelves" to hold the pendants. I glued dollar store chip clips to the back to attach the boards to the curtain rod suspended between the two metal folding shelves. The angle of the boards pretty much keeps the pendants from falling.

I really liked the chandelier I used the other night at the evening festival. It just added something to the booth, but I don't often need light at these things and so I can't see dragging it along all the time. But, I happened to run across a cool faux chandelier at Hobby Lobby. I combined it with some black and white paper lanterns that I already had in my stock. I thought it added a little whimsy to my booth.

Trees for the Forest

Here are a few more Christmas Pendants. I put another large batch in the kiln last night and can't wait to see how they turn out. I experimented with some new glass, and I hope it worked, but sometimes it just doesn't do exactly what I expect.

Christmas Baking in a Very Hot Oven

When I was a child, it seemed like Christmas took forever to arrive - not so much anymore! It really doesn't seem possible that another Christmas season is almost here. It is October!

Now, don't get me wrong, I adore Christmas...everything about it. I love that we have a time each year to pause and reflect on the birth of Christ so many years ago! I am so grateful that He chose to humble himself and become a man. It hurts my brain to consider His humility and the boundless love demonstrated in His death on the cross for me.

I know some people get upset by the slowly expanding length of the Christmas season, but I don't even mind that. More time to celebrate!

I have several shows and events scheduled for this time of year, one at the beginning of November is called the Mistletoe Market and is being held at the Anderson County Museum of Art. After that I have a few other smaller events and then I am doing Holiday Fair for the very first time. It's a big 3 day show at the beginning of December.

So, this weekend, I decided that I'd better get busy and start creating some of the Christmas pendants that I started a few years back. Working on them, kind of reminds me of baking trays of decorated Christmas cookies...cutting the shapes, deciding on the right decoration, putting them in the oven and waiting for the magic to happen.

Okay, the oven is 1550 degrees and the "cookies" are completely inedible...but it's kind of the same.

Fashion on the Town

Tonight and tomorrow night The Saturday Local Art Market is participating in Fashion on the Town. I couldn't be there tonight, but will be one of the vendors tomorrow. I did make it by there a little bit later to check out the setup. I thought it looked great! Its a perfect night tonight, cool, but not cold, and perfectly clear. I thought SLAM had such a nice vibe at night. The lighted tents were beautiful. There was even a guy playing a steel kettle drum. I am looking forward to being a part of it tomorrow night!