It's been so long since I have posted anything . I feel terribly guilty!   Oh well I do the best I can with the time I have.  I fear daily posting  to blogs, Facebook, etc can't possibly make the top of my "to do" list.   I just wanted to let everyone know I am stil alive and kicking though there has been way too many busy days weeks and months for me.  I have been trying to select the proper merchandise for our store and in between pricing and stocking and working I have precious little time for what I love to do- CREATE!.     I am sure you all have experienced that and been as frustrated as I have been.   I hope to add some of my latest work here soon- so watch for it.    Promise!!!

I'm Published!

Wow, so exciting.  Connie Porcher was kind enough to inlcude my two art deco lamps in the newest Celebrate365  magaine. It is a fabulous publication with tons of wonderful pics of ornaments and other super pieces by well known artists. Great articles as well. You won't find it on a magazine rack. But look it up and subscribe. Its well worth it.  Thank you Connie.

I have a large Halloween double armed lamp on Ebay now. A very time consuming project but it turned out great, if I do say so myself.  I am pleased with the intense colors and the black spooky silhouettes.  Take a look.

This summer's 7 day a week, 8 hour a day schedule is finally over but it paid offf in the long run. Our gift store is now a highline liqour plus gifts and art. Quite an interesting combination but it seems to work.  I sold quite a bit of my arty items this summer and also a few orginal paintings as well as prints etc.  I loved "staging" the gift items and found it a worthwhile challenge to my sense of space and style. 
I have added some liqour related pieces and included some of my handpainted glassware which is  becoming a very fun thing for me to do.  When I get a minute I will show some of it here.    I hope to be adding to my blog soon.

Work work work

I have been working seven days a week, eight hours a day.  Yes I am tired.
I am running a gift shop which includes all of my art as well as small ticket gift items. It is very enlightening to say the least. Since I live in a small artsy  town on the Oregon coast, most of our business  is tourist oriented and lasts from June till September usually. So with such a short time to create any income it is essential to sell merchandise that will be if interets to the summer people.  Surpriselying enough, I have sold many of my Christmas handpainted sanddollar ornaments. Who would have known? I hjave also sold a couple of Halloween lamps and some fine art prints of mine.  The economy has  dictated where the average tourist will spend his hard earned dollar. Items of most interest have been crystal jellyfish with rotating colored light bases. They range from 15 to 36 $   They ARE quite pretty I must admit and a great buy.  Another big seller are the "vintage" looking tin signs that express everyday feelings and situations.
such as, "today's menu, take it or leave it" or "what happens in the gargage stays in the gargage" ( a hot item for men).  I learn something new about human nature every day.

The only good thing about all of these hours spent at ETC ( the name of our shop) is that I can paint while I am there. However it is very hard to concentrate  and be congenial and same time .  I have had most luck painting sanddollars as they take less time and it is easier to stop in the middle of the painting.  
In September when the liquor commission gives us our  license for a satellite liquor store I will be able to get back to my old routine at home of painting painting  and painting.  We will maintain some of space in the store  for gift items so I will still have an outlet for some of work and a few jellyfish (lol).  In the meantime, its keep on keepin' on.