Handmade Holiday Market

Is it actually possible I haven't been on here since February?

It must be so because I believe that was the date I saw on the last post.. If that's the case I'm probably like a tree in the forest.. I'll fall and no one will hear me.. Help I've fallen and I can't get up..

But just in case someone is out there, and because I feel ready to start writing and not censoring myself anymore.. I am going to start up again..

First up, my new markets.. going well.. I must admit off and on I've wanted to abandon ship, it's a lot of work! But it's getting easier and easier and I really would be stupid to walk away from all this work and time..and I actually enjoy the actual markets.

The vendors are nice people.. everyone of them..

So.. the weekend after Thanksgiving I'm putting on a big 2 day show here in Dripping Springs. I have
lots of really cool vendors, all handmade! I have Art, Jewelry, Games, Body Products, Home Decor, just lots of neat stuff for Christmas shopping..

I want to say, when you buy from the maker , you just feel good, that old Buyer Remorse thing.. it doesn't happen.. really it doesn't ..

So come out, shop and feel good about it!

Indigo Dyeing

 I'm a real procrastinator.. I hate to admit it.. but I am..
Last summer I purchased a package of indigo dye to try out...
but I never used it..

 A couple of weekends ago I actually decided I had to try it  .... the process takes a whole afternoon for one thing so  you need to plan for it... and  the weather needs to be warm and sunny...
Fortunately it's been down right hot/warm around here, which actually is not so good for humanity or nature, but good for the dyeing..  you gotta look on the sunny side of life.

I'm gonna share my experience with you.. forgive the lack of photos of process, I could really use a 3rd arm sometimes..

 First thing to do... acquire your indigo dye. I love Jacquard brand paints and dyes, so I knew I wanted this brand.. I ordered this little box which actually produced quite a bit of dye..

  I wanted to work with towels to start with... so I purchased some flour sack towels from Walmart. They were only a dollar each! Can't beat that!
I had read a bit about folding techniques, I found some old tie dye ideas and also used some shibori folding ideas..

 The tools for the job were:
A five gallon bucket with a lid...
rubber gloves....

 Water for wetting towels before the dye bath

and a long stick for stirring... I don't have a photo.. but trust me on this, you need one..

  I mixed my dye according to the directions, which I think were not very clear.., I let it sit for about an hour, it was supposed to get a foam top, mine never did, but it turned the right color... a slimy, greasy looking gross green...

When I decided my dye bath was ready I put my towels in the water to soak, then I put each towel in the dye bucket very gently, and kind of massaged the dye into the folded layers, but just one at a time..

You have to be calm when you do this, the more the dye is agitated the more the indigo becomes oxidized and you don't want that...you want it to oxidize after the fabric comes out and is exposed to the air..





Can you see the towel I'm putting in the holding bucket is green?
When the fabric comes out of the dye it's green and turns blue as the dye is exposed to the air..













Behold the results, on some towels I used resist method, I painted and image with soy wax just to see how it would look..




A  fish...

 you can probably tell...








An owl...
















and some of the folded towels..

I was pleased and I'm going to do more. I learned a lot doing it,
for one thing it is not color fast, not by a long shot.. takes a lot of hot water and soap to rinse the dye out, I also think I have found some cool techniques I want to try using needle and thread....

I'm excited to find this! I've been thinking of all kinds of things I want to dye!

Give it a try!

My Store.

The obstacle anyone who makes things faces is what to do with the
stuff?

You want to create, but at some point you really have to justify
the craft with mula..

Craft shows and art markets are the most common avenue, and I've done a few, as you know.. But it's incredibly exhausting.. you have to pack every thing up, drive to the location, unload everything, move the
stuff to your "space", sent up your tent,  attach weights, set up your display, and then arrange your merchandise, make sure every thing looks
appealing, is priced and then you wait..

You have to deal with weather, money, customers, tax... it's everything except the art!

Some times a show can be good, you feel like "wow" I did great.. but
it's always a lot of work... and honestly it's hard to figure how much time you spent making the art, and then of course you had to pay for the show, and your gas.. and you sat there for at least one or more days..

Then at the end of the show.... you get to do the whole thing in reverse.

Now don't get me wrong, I like shows, but most of them are anywhere from 50 to over a 100... which is a gamble..so I decided to take a gamble on putting my work at a little place called the Austin Gift Co.
It's a gift shop in south Austin, and I don't know really how I'm going to do, but I wanted to try it.

Each vendor rents a spot and then the store takes care of the other stuff, of course they get a cut, but it's very fair.. The down side is I think mainly tourist go there and they like the really TEXAS kind of stuff.. and I find I'm thinking of painting cowboy boots, and hats and such... and I really don't want to ...
But we do what we must!

I will have my "store" there for at least 6 months..  wish me well..

Dripping Springs Market Days (again)

This has been a really busy time for me.

I teamed up with a gal last year to start the Dripping Springs Market Days, but we decided to go our separate ways... I kept the name and am planning shows to start in the Spring.

Have you been to any of the small towns around the hill country when they have their market days? Lots of them have monthly markets and now Dripping Springs will have one too!

The location is right at 290 and RR 12 , at the main intersection in town, very visible,

Please, please try to come to support the artists and other vendors who will be selling and showing their stuff.  It means so much!

The Dripping Springs Market Days will be most first Saturdays of each month, except for August and Sept. which are just too hot! I'll be posting dates and hope to see some of you there!

If anyone is interested in being a vendor they can contact me at drippingmarketdays@gmail.com
and please visit and "like" my new FB page,
 https://www.facebook.com/Dripping-Springs-Market-Days-1170074003078135/

Year of the Rooster.

2017 the Year of the Rooster! I read about it and am excited.. One piece of advice is to take pride in ones appearance.... 

 Hmm... I used to, but it seems for years I've been too busy. But it seems for prosperity's sake I'll have to.. I guess I'll 

 need to learn to strut my stuff..

And I guess  I'll need to start crowing about it too! Get ready!

I hope to have a lot to brag about this year, and I'm hoping you will too!

Happy Rooster Year.

Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I  have so much to be grateful for... and I have been feeling all day as though I'm about to enter into the best time of my life..

Sure, there're set backs, but also there are lots of good times. We are the living, celebrate your life, remember those less fortunate, those who have gone before you and honor them by living life to the fullest..

Hope I don't eat too much... 

After it's all said and done, I'll be at the final Dripping Springs Market Days of the year... and of all time.. my partner and I have decided to part ways and each do our own thing.. 

So join us if you can! but  even if you can't .... do have a wonderful holiday!

The Start of a New Season

I got this nice text last night.. 

Every once in a while I'll get a message on my phone from someone telling me they have a piece of my art and how much they love it. I've had photos sent showing me the pieces in their new home...

I can't begin to express how it makes me feel, it's mixture of amazement, joy, fear, but mainly I feel  honored to think something I created is actually in someones' home touching them daily..

This wonderful person, Michael, took the time to reach out to me and he made me feel so good! He saw my art  in Austin at Thai Fresh, where the remainder of my pieces will be on display until Monday morning when I come to pick them up and make room for the next show Jam has scheduled at the restaurant.

 My next show will be at the
 Dripping Springs Market Days, 
September 17th & 18th
This is a  new market I've started with Kathy Hill another artist who lives out here in Dripping Springs.
We have so many wonderful artists signed up!
Please come see us if you can, and give support to local artist!

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