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!

I 

Please Come to My Art Opening!

 This is good... I have my art hanging at Thai Fresh in Austin..

Which ironically is on the same block as where we used to live..

 The owner, Jam is so sweet, she always has an opening for the artists to invite their friends and family.. (that's where you come in)
Please come!!

It's scheduled for this Sunday at Noon... it's a little brunch..
Soooo... if youre around and would like to stop by.. it would be really great to see your pretty faces...

Lots of stuff has sold,  I will be hanging more,
come by, look around, have a cup of joe and say hi!

Weekend Show/ Where to Find Me.

I will be selling art at the Dripping Springs Market Days
this Saturday, June 18 from 10 -5.

The Market takes place at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park, off RR12 right across from the elementary school, there's a traffic light! Its air conditioned and lots of fun.

We had our first Market in April, and it was a wonderful success, please plan on stopping by if you are able to look around and support local artists and musicians.

Myself, I have lots of wonderful new art that I've been working on and there are some really exciting artists scheduled to exhibit that you won't want to miss...


Hope to see you there!

Dripping Springs Market Days, First Ever!

I honestly don't know where the times goes!

Seems like I'm always racing to get something done, is it that
way for you too?

I had a great show at the Boerne Market Days this month, I sold
quite a bit, so I'm busily working to make more product for 
my very own, ( with my partner, Kathy Hill)  Dripping Springs Market Days. Which is on April 02, this Saturday!

It's gonna be good!

I was asked to be in the Boerne Handmade Market in May,
and I have decided to give it a go... along with the shows I want to get a really good webpage set up...

 I'm thinking of just working with thisNovellas page since it's what I have and all....also, there are so many Amy's Art.... on the web but very few Novellas Farm Art...( well actually none)... and I honestly see myself getting back into a bit of the agriculture at some point...

So, be looking for a few changes.... and please plan on coming out to the the Dripping Springs Ranch Park this
Saturday for our Market. It's from 10 to 6, I think it'll be fun for all... it's indoors so no matter the weather we'll be happy and dry..

Hope to see you there!
and in the practice of being grateful... which I honestly am all the time I want to publicly give gratitude for my energy and health... how wonderful it is to be in a healthy body!

Update

 Last month I took a screen printing class.

There's this really neat place in south Austin called the Stitch Lab.
They offer short, fun classes all dealing with creative fabric art techniques.

I signed up for a month long Sundays screen printing class.

Before I get any further I have to give a big 2 thumbs up for my teacher, Kat.  She was  great. Very patient, fun, funny, very knowledgeable and made the classes worthwhile.Ok, so why go to all the  trouble of driving into Austin every Sunday morning for a month....you might ask? Well, I've been hand painting on dish towels, but when hand painting each item is different...  and thats good for some markets, but it prevents me from offering them to say a store..So even though I still plan on hand painting.. I also want to design my own kitchen art towels that can be consistently produced..Behold what I made! 
I learned how to make my own screens, and then made several more! and I learned 3 different techniques for printing.. 

After taking the class I feel I can do these at home! Really I do.

If you have the desire and the time I would recommend the Stitch Lab, and they had some classes I plan on taking with my daughter..


This weekend I will be selling at the Boerne market days, and it's been raining like crazy all week. Should be muddy and a drag and there's always the possibility of being electrocuted from someones' extension cord in the wet grass... but as they say it's a" rain or shine" event... and I already paid..

It makes me all the more grateful about the Dripping Springs Market Days my friend and I are putting together. All indoors!
Live music.. 50 artists!!

We hope it'll be so successful we can have them on a regular basis, we both want indoor venues and they just don't exist! So
we had to start our own!

The Dripping Springs Market Days first event is April 02,
at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park from 10-6.
Please come if you are able! It's going to be really fun!
We have a FB page with photos of some of the participants..
 https://www.facebook.com/Dripping-Springs-Market-Days-1537234236590109/

Hope to see you there..
I'm grateful for the opportunity to start this new venture..

The Wonderful Doctor

Yesterday, after voting... yes, I did vote, and as usual instead of actually voting for a candidate I voted for the least disturbing candidate...

Grateful for Love

Valentines' Day is nearly upon us!

Of all the holidays, this is the one that I believe puts
the most pressure on relationships..... Woe be the boyfriend who messes up this day.

I recall when I was in high school, some girls would actually have flowers delivered and put on display in the office window on Valentines day. Kind of a smear in the rest of our faces.... I 'm sure the boyfriends were also rewarded for their good deed....  ((cough) ...sluts)

When my husband and I first got married I used to get hurt if he didn't remember Valentines day. I mean it was ridiculous... he was out working for me to stay home with our kids and I didn't see his sacrifice as one huge token of love.. Real love is someone really caring if you're happy...
I think back to those times with shame.
 I was immature and society makes a big deal out of "getting" something.

Happily now... as a seasoned woman, I recognize the day for the both of us... I cook, which I know means a lot to him, and usually bake something for the whole family.  I know I am loved.. Even without a dozen roses... I have the rose bush he planted for me... it's  expressed in so many way..
It's corny, but really, every day is Valentines Day!

I'm so grateful to be loved! and to love in return.

In case you're interested in the history of the day here is a link.. it's actually pretty interesting
http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day

Tired of School

Yesterday I received this text from my daughter.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, she was home schooled up until this year. Seems like forever she's been saying she wanted to go to high school.. So.. this year she went in as a freshman.

Academically she has done just fine.. I mean I really didn't know what to expect since quite honestly we were more the type to not worry about academics too very much..

As I say academically she is doing fine, good even... yet I received this message from her yesterday.

I asked her about it when she got home.. "I'm just so tired" tired of what? or just plain tired?... Both it seems...

Frankly I think most of our society is just plain tired... we try to do and be too much, too much of the time. Have a real career, a family, fix wholesome meals, keep the house up, and on and on....

I'm not sure what she will decide to do, go back to home schooling or keep on the path of the public school system. I'm being careful to just listen and not influence her, because really neither is perfect and there is not a right or wrong answer...

That said, I feel very fortunate to live in a location where we have the luxury of these basic choices...and I feel grateful to be able to offer both choices to my child, I hope she'll come to realize this dilemma she is facing is in itself part of her education..

Feeling gratitude for living in this great country full of personal freedoms.

Dripping Springs Market Days

 I've been busy! So busy I didn't get to writing on this blog for a few days, here's a bit of what I've been up to..

As you know I had to sell my  cows and stop having Farm Days. That was pretty devastating for me, but  I started painting as a way to heal from the loss..
and I've written about selling art at farmers markets and what a pain in the ass they can be.. ...

Sooo a friend and I decided to put together a new market. We're calling it Dripping Springs Market Days, and it's indoors!!!
You'll notice the days is plural... we plan on having these market days at least once each season..
Getting this going has been taking my attention away from other matters.

I've still been working on art, not as much as I would like, but  some...
I've been painting small pictures.. see the photo...
these range in size from 2 to 4 inches...and I have lots more little pieces of wood left over from some of Jerry's carpentry projects...

To be honest I've always rather liked tiny pictures...there's always room.


 Today I feel gratitude for the talent the universe has given me, and all the ideas that flow into my head.. I used to view it as a curse ( I think it might be ADD)
but I choose to view this as a gift, cultivate it  and let's just see where  it takes me..

PS Dripping Springs Market Days is hoping you'll check out the facebook page and "Like" it!  If youre interested in being a vendor please message us!

My Weekend

This weekend was great.For startersiIt was, as we all know, a 3 dayer... which in itself is a bonus..
then...
My daughter and I went to Fredericksburg to shop. Whilie we were there a cold front blew in.. It was cold as a "witchs' t--" . now, while the shopping was enjoyable the best part was thinking how great it was not to be set and trying to sell outside somewhere in the cold wind... I had actually considered signing up for a show this weekend, but my daughter suggested I wait for Spring.. .. I'm sooo glad I listened to her!


Afterwards we went to my sisters house in town and stayed the night. She's something of a hospitality expert... she always makes an outstanding meal(I owe her about 100 in return)... we had shrimp, salad, potatoes, corn and wine.. excellent end to a wonderful day... good food, and good company.

Then on Sunday on our way home we dropped by to visit Sunny and Mattie, who now live nearby.

They are lazy, fat and happy... and that was really wonderful to see....

 Just to be clear, there were a few not so great things that happened this weekend, like my husband almost cutting off his finger and it costing us over a 1000.00... but the upside to that is we had the money... and he has his thumb!

It's all in the way you look at things and the way I see it... things are pretty good.

Glad It's a Long Weekend!

This year my daughter went to school.

That sounds unremarkable to most people, but it was huge for us. She had been home schooled up until this year.

She wanted to try high school, and we decided to let her....

Originally she tried a small charter school in Wimberley which I shall not name. It was the strangest experience we could have imagined...she ended up  being bullied by a transgender girl who wished she were a boy, and I think she/he... I don't know what to refer to this child as, was very angry and took it out on my daughter. So... we left.

We left a month before the end of the fall semester so my daughter had to really scramble to get caught up for the impending midterms at the new school, since apparently each school may cover the same material but not in the same order...and she was thrown into a sea of confusion...but she worked really hard and did it!

Now my daughter goes to our local public high school... and she isn't really having a great time...she's having
the "traditional school experience."  The experience of no choice, no time, exhaustion and boredom... she told me her vocabulary has gone down because she has no time to read!

More than anything she is experiencing what "mandatory attendance" really means.. and it's hard for us both to accept.. but, like I told her initially, we have to go by the rules, it's their game..

All that being said, this is a 3 day weekend! and we are both so looking forward to it. We havent scheduled anything, so we have the glorious freedom to choose what to do without any obligation....and the weather looks to be beautiful.
Today I'm so grateful to have a healthy beautiful daughter who is going to be home with me all the weekend!

Going to the Dogs

Nemo

 Today I show gratitude for the canine members of
my family.

We have 3 dogs, Nemo, Thor and Jasmine. I'm sure everyone who reads this and has a dog can relate to what I'm going to say here....

When I come home, no matter what , and I mean no matter what these 3 dogs act like I'm the messiah..

Thor

It's
kind of a heavy load but they don't have any expectation of me at all... they're just delighted to have me back at home.. I'm not any where as popular with anyone else..

They like to hang out with me no matter what I'm doing..
 If I'm not feeling well, they follow me into my bedroom and lie down with me..just for moral support.

I know if I were ever in danger all three of them would do their best to protect me, not just me but any of the family.

They ask for so little... food, shelter and companionship and they give back so much. When I'm down they listen and believe me  they've heard it all, complaining, worrying, crying and never once have they not listened quietly with understanding in their eyes..I always feel better after our talks.

Jerry and Jasmine

Yes, they are dirty, loud and tear up my house and yard... but I can get new furniture, clean the yard and handle some barking..
No one's perfect, and friends accept each other as they are...

It's been a long time since I was dogless and I hope it's a long time if ever, that I'm dogless again..
Life is meant to be fun, and it's so much more fun with these guys in it.

Seeing the Good in the Bad

This coming February will mark 2 years that my family was sued by our POA otherwise known as our "Phony HOA.".

I'll never forget the feeling of being served those papers. A rush of despair  flooded through me, I couldn't sleep, I cried, I worried, I lashed out, I spent hours and hours on the computer pouring over
possible loopholes to get ourselves out of the mess we seemed to have landed in...

Fast forward to today. We were blessed with a
an angel of an attorney, we have new wonderful neighbors and I have started a new venture....do I miss my cows? Yes of course, do I miss kids out here?
You bet... but things change. Change is a part of life, it's part of the journey, the path so to speak.

I honestly have to say that I am grateful for everything that has happened.. it sounds crazy but if my
journey had to include this lawsuit and this is what it took to bring me to where I am now... I guess I feel
gratitude for the experience...

I have learned a great deal from this whole ordeal. It's made me much, much stronger than I was before, it's caused me to meet neighbors I hadn't met before, and funny to say it's made this neighborhood more like an
actual neighborhood.. We have had to reach out and that's had a sort of ripple effect.

More than anything it's shown me how much my family, my husband, my kids, my friends love me. Everyone has been so supportive.

Lastly I/we met Bill Davis, our attorney. Just the greatest guy you could want to meet... I probably wouldn't have met him otherwise.

Reading this probably makes you think I'll  be sorry to have this whole thing end... yeah well .... not quite..
but it helps to look at the good if you can.. it's always there.

Wonderful Warmth

Today it hit me how nice it is to have this wood
burning stove.

Its a little old fashioned, but it really warms the place up.. and there's just something about the glow of a fire...just kind of makes me feel like the house is a home..

I'm so lucky to have this wonderful thing in my house...one of the best things about winter!

 

I express gratitude for this humble little stove!