BBlonski Designs: August 2010

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Featured Artist - Moonsong Ranch

This weeks Featured Artisan is MoonSong Ranch! Beautiful Creations by a very talented Artisan!

Moonsong Ranch Handmade Alpaca Fashion products include felt nuno scarves, western style hats, purses, cases, knitted scarves and many other unique gift items

You can Find MoonSong Ranch at:

Shops:
: http://www.MoonsongRanch.Etsy.com
http://www.CreationsbyMoonlight.Etsy.com
Facebook Page:
: http://www.facebook.com/MoonsongRanch

Friday, August 20, 2010

Time Flies

I don't know if you've noticed...but it's already nearing the end of August. Yup, take a look at your calendar. It'll show I speak the truth. Here it is, almost 8 months complete in 2010, 4 months to go.

But where did the time go? I'm pretty sure I must have missed most of the year, because I haven't accomplished nearly as much as I had planned. I wanted to finish my kitchen, but well that doesn't seem to be working out. Though we did replace the floor and get it painted...I doubt we're going to get the counter top replaced by the end of the year, cause let's face it...by the end of the week, after working like crazy, me and the hubby don't feel like working on the house (which btw, we bought a fixer upper...that was probably a bad idea). We'd rather be laying around with the cats watching tv...or stuffing our faces. yeah we like to eat...no...we LOVE to eat.

(my new kitchen floor)

I also wanted to have my christmas shopping started...that has also not worked out so well. I'm still working on buying all of the presents for my family members who were born in August. Seriously, we have one huge party to cover everybody who was born in August so we don't have to go party hopping all month long.

I had thought by now I'd have lost more weight (i'm down 13.5 lbs though), but with it being a rough year, I'm now surprised I lost anything. I just can't seem to fit in as much exercise as I probably should be getting.

So what have I done this year, you ask. I have done a lot of soul searching, and I think I'm finally figuring out what I WANT. yay! it's been really difficult these past few years walking around with no clue of what i want to do with myself. it's still a bit of a ways away yet, but i at least have an idea.....

xoxo,
bb

Monday, August 16, 2010

Artist Feature - Julia Hutchins

This weeks featured artisan is Julia Hutchins Designs

You can find Julia at:

Shop URL:
http://www.juliahutchins.com

2nd Shop URL:
http://www.artfire.com/users/juhutch

Website URL:
http://www.juliahutchins.com

Twitter Page:
http://www.twitter.com/juliahutchins

Facebook :
http://www.facebook.com/juliahutchinsdesigns

Blog:
http://www.juliahutchins.com/blog1/

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Behind the Camera

{Kyra}

It seems as I get older, there are more and more things to do, and less and less time left in the day (or in this case, weekend) for anything fun or relaxing. With my grammy having been sick for months and going between the hospital and rehab, my family and I had even less time to go out and have a good time. But since her passing a month ago (today), I can say I have finally gotten a chance to go out and have a lil fun.

Tessie (my gram) always did tell me to stop working so hard and make sure to take some time out for fun. I can remember her telling me when I was younger to make sure to take a few minutes out of the day and just sit outside in the fresh air. Well, since her stroke in April, I've actually consciously been making the effort to do just that. I take one evening a week (usually whatever day I choose to come home from the office early) and sit outside waiting for my hubby to get home from work. I sit and think, possibly meditating, and breathe in the fresh air. I don't do anything else, until the hubby gets home and it's time for us to make dinner. :)

This past (okay, it's sunday, so i'll say current) weekend, my niece (technically my second cousin, but she calls me "aunt beth") stayed with my aunt for the whole weekend. Kyra, her sister Danielle (my god baby) and their parents live in south jersey, while the rest of us live in central jersey, so we don't see them very often. So since she was having this sleepover at my aunt's, we all got together for a fun day of Kyra time...and boy, did we have a blast. We had a nice little cook out then the whole crew went over to Keansburg (an amusement park on the shore) to play games, ride the rides, walk the beach, etc. I can honestly say, I thought I grew out of going to Keansburg as, Darryl and I haven't been there since 2002, but having a kid with us made all the difference in the world. I have not smiled so much or laughed so hard in I don't know how long. And if Tessie were still here, she would have been there with us having a ball (and probably having more energy than any of us) and showing us what fun you can have at any age. I know she was there in spirit with us...looking down...loving how much fun we were having together as a family....family means everything to her. :)

RIP my beautiful Tessbabe, I miss you every day.

xoxo,
bb

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Trials and Tribulations of an "Artist"

Sorry to those who feel like I'm a whiner... but I'm having an issue that I'm hoping putting down on "paper" will finally go away (well, at the very least will leave my head).

I recently started signing up for some local events, to sell my photography, stationery, invitations, and clothing made from my graphic designs. I got in contact with an art gallery in South Jersey who was thrilled to have me at one of their events, as they had mostly jewelers contact them, so my work was completely different for them. My mom then suggested, why not trying to get a table at our home town's special community day. Though I don't still live there, she does, and she goes to the event every year. So I thought, what the heck, let's do it. Maybe I'll see some people I know.

I got in contact with the director of the event. I explained that I'm originally from the town, am trying to really get my art career off the ground, yada yada, and would love to participate in the event, if she could possibly guide me in the right direction as to how to become involved, it'd be wonderful. The director emailed over an application along with due dates for the application, payment, etc. A few hours later, she sends me a one line email, "Oh, and by the way, you do not count as an artist or crafter," meaning I had to pay $60 for a corporate table if I wanted to participate, rather than the $25 they charge artists/crafters.

So I inquire, why is my photography and hand crafted stationery not considered an art/craft. The reply, "it's not handmade." So I reiterate...though I do not make the actual paper or ink used to create my pieces, I do design everything myself, I hand cut each card as most are custom sizes, I hand print everything myself, as well as package everything myself (yes, this includes photography and stationery), so I don't understand why I'm being considered corporate, when it's little ol me doing everything by hand. (isn't that the definition of handmade?) Her response...."sorry, you just don't qualify."

So I'm confused here. Isn't my purchasing paper and ink the same as a crocheter, knitter, or needleworker, purchasing the yarn/wool/floss to make their products? And since when is photography considered to NOT be an art? Am I wrong here? Did I just miss something? My personal feeling is that she wants to charge me more since I'm not a resident of the town. And if she had said that non-residents pay a higher fee, I could live with that, as I've done other events where that was a stipulation.

In some ways I'd like to write her a nice little letter (maybe on my "not" handmade stationery) telling her where she can put that space where my table would be...yup, right up her keester. Or that the next time her town comes to me in desperate need of work to be done...but on a budget, that they will no longer be receiving a discount for me having grown up in that town, being as they could not return the favor.

I don't know...any thoughts out there?

Monday, August 9, 2010

Featured Artist - NaLa

This weeks Featured Artisan is Jewelry by NaLa!

Unique, handmade fashion jewelry featuring Czech glass, Swarovski crystals, semiprecious stones, freshwater pearls, antiqued metals, sterling silver and other fine materials. Enjoy browsing, and stop by her Etsy Shop often ... new designs are being added all the time.

You can Find Jewelry by NaLa @:

Shop URL:
http://jewelrybyNaLa.etsy.com

2nd Shop URL:
http://jewelrybyNaLa.artfire.com

Website URL:
http://NaLa.goods.officelive.com

Twitter Page:
http://www.twitter.com/jewelrybyNaLa

Facebook :
http://www.facebook.com/jewelrybyNaLa

Blog:
http://jewelrybyNaLa.blogspot.com