Reckoning...
Well, it's the last weekend of the year and I'm doing my end of the year reckoning...one of the major reasons I started this blog was to get some idea of how much work I was actually getting done. Beadwork, especially seed bead work, is a very slow process compared with most other art mediums and I sometimes felt like I was working at the pace of a three-toed sloth.
But, I've been revisiting this blog and realizing that despite tendonitis and two carpal tunnel surgeries, I've still managed to get a lot done!
I've also got the studio rearranged a bit, the walk-in art closet re-organized and the decks cleared for next year's work.
And I have big plans. This is the year I will be taking my work to some galleries in Portland to see if I can find a fit for my, admittedly unusual, work. The "art" galleries have a hard time thinking of beadwork as "art" and the fine craft/jewelry galleries prefer artists who have some sort of production items that they can sell for a quick 30 or 40 bucks....my one-of-a-kind work is a hard fit for most of them. I do have several smaller galleries that carry my smaller pieces but the major gallery here on the coast that carried my work for many years changed hands and the new owners did not want to continue carrying my work. So, it's time to put on the marketing hat and start making the rounds.
I've also been gifted (thank you universe) with an idea for a major piece for next year, so I'm looking forward to starting work on that next week.
You'll hear more about that in the new year.
My single new years resolution is to walk every single day...rain, shine, hail, sleet, ice...keep walking until I shed some of the very unnecessary poundage I've put on the past few years! And then keep walking!
Thanks to everyone who has dropped by this year....your comments have meant a great deal to me...I hope some of mine have been what you needed to hear too!
The photos today are of my fairly clean and organized studio and art closet and some of the work I've done the past 18 months...
Oh, and one quick question....I'm considering moving over to beta blogger....any comments pro or con?
15 comments:
Your art is beautiful and thanks for sharing. The only thing I seem to be able to do is photography. Not that great but looking back I have made some headway. Once I've mastered the camera I have I will get a new one. I've enjoy building my blog from the bottom up. I enjoy tweaking it.
Take the plunge to Beta. You'll be fine. I rather enjoy some of the changes.
Feel free to ask me if you hit a snag, be glad to try and help. If I can't I know folks who can. I've met some fine friends through blogging.
Keep beading and sharing.
Beadbabe,
Your work area looks "ready" for a new year of creating, your treasure trove of finished work is awesome....I enlarged the pic to enhance my drooling, it worked! LOL. My whole bead thing is the exact opposite, work area in flux, quantities of beads increasing, but I guess I'm not good enough yet to sell anything....we'll see in '07 though. But I'm not bummed, I'm excited to have a new interest and I look at what I am doing one year into beading and I am very happy and satisfied with my progress. I have a few blogs that I diligently read, yours of course is one of them, and you inspired me to learn how to bead around a cab... I couldn't resist after seeing all your faces. Take care and I look forward to meeting soon. dmzapp
That's a very organized studio! And, you're not the only one who thinks they're working at a sloooooow pace. LOL.
And, beta blogger is great. I think they ironed out most of the bugs with it, so you should have no problem with it.
Happy beading in 2007=:)
Hallo bb,
Can you send me your postal address? You are a winner over at Secret Hill!
It has been a hectic "end of the year", but wanted to drop in and say how much I have enjoyed your blog and how much I appreciate the help you have given us all. I am looking forward to seeing your new project -- and I envy you nice neat studio. LOL.
Have a wonderful 2007.
thanks!
and thank goodness, the last two comments aren't anonymous!
that's my only gripe about beta blogger right now...not everyone shows up as who they are!
1. Happy New Year, of course. And good thoughts towards the big project AND the walking.
2. Please come to Halifax and fix my work space.
3. Your comments are always welcome and insightful.
4. Let's all hope we find production we can stand or work steadfastly towards moving upmarket so that we can actually make what we love.
5. Did I mention you should come to Halifax and fix my work space?
Love,
LJ
PS - You'd find the move to beta really easy. And there are many familiar features AND there are some nice new additions which are simple to use.
What a beautifully, organized work space! I could certainly use your touch in my office!
lj...I'd love to ome to halifax and organize your work space...unfortunately, I would probably make it perfect for *me* to work in, but maybe not so perfect for you!
and I am having no luck at all moving to beta...
I'm wondering if I'm going to have to open a new blog?
I can post to my comments page here, but I can't write any new posts, as the blog button is missing from my options!
hi, angela! It helps a lot that I love to organize space AND that I have such a small space that it MUST be organized or I'd never be able to find anything to get any work done!
Your workspace looks very organised. I shall have to come back and peruse the images when my studio is finished!
and I hope you'll post images of the studio, hhb!
Wow. I'm envious of your nice clean workspace. I guess I should go do some new years cleaning...
Your work is amazing! :)
Beta blogger is much easier than the old one. No worries. (Although I only used it for a little bit before I switched to Wordpress for other reasons.)
thanks, jo!
figured out the blogger problem is that they have added an "f" to my email addy...I kept trying to correct it and nothing worked...so I finally left it with the wrong letter and all of a sudden everything works again!
whatever....
Maybe you've already learned this, but I think Beta blogger is no more... They've added the new Beta features to the old blogger... you have access to them on your dashboard. Questions? Email me... Robin
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