iCraft.ca

Craft? Yes, yes, I do. Art, craft, fashion, decor. They all seem to be on iCraft.ca. I heard of this latest online selling community, on Create-A-Day, and then again on an Etsy forum. What peaked my interest is that this site is based out of Toronto, Ontario, CANADA! Yippee!! Although the tag line "Creativity Without Borders" indicates that everyone is welcome. And being Canadian based certainly doesn't seem to be stopping artist, crafters, and designers from all over the world from signing up. I see many familiar Etsy faces. I did join. Who can say no, when all uploads are free for one year. Traffic seems slow, and there isn't really that connected feel I get on Etsy, knowing there are tons of people on at any one time. However, if it catches on in the real world the way word has spread on Etsy, then the sky is the limit.

PS The image above is from the front page of the iCraft.ca site. It was not taken by me.

Art O Mat

What a cool concept! Taking something that is bad for people, and could be bad for the landfills now that people have wised up, and turning into something that dispenses art and happiness? Brilliant! What on earth an I babbling about? ART O MAT! Check out the link... go... now.... it is really a wonderful thing. And I plan to become one of their artists. No, it doesn't pay big bucks but most of my favorite projects don't pay anything at all. I want to thank Robayre, one my fellow Create-A-Dayers, for telling me about this wonderful organization. She is not only one of their artists but she has met the owner because her art group and her collage bought one of these machine in the honor of a favorite art teacher who was retiring. So cool! I have many friends who will want to submit work as much as I do! Thanks, Robin!

This weekend I did do a lot of creative things. Or many things that aid in my creativity, such as trying to organize my studio, finally matting and framing a bunch of personal, family photos (you know what they say about the cobbler's kids having no shoes, it is the same for a photographer...), and mulling some current projects over in my brain. I also made banana peanut butter chocolate chip bread. A favorite in this house.

Tomorrow, new transfers.... I need to get some sleep!

Night Owls, Create-a-day!, & Sale to Aus

Sheesh, 12:36 AM ALREADY?! How come this always happens to me? I do love being a night owl. I would NEVER switch it for being a morning person. EVER. My daughter and husband are sleeping peacefully, it is dark, and quiet, and I am getting so much done. I am lucky that even when I was pregnant I went to bed after midnight, because Quin learned in utero the sleep in and stay up late. She goes to bed about 10 PM and gets up about 9:30 AM. She has always been like this. I LOVE it. I get to work after she goes to bed and get up when she does. Yeah, I know, all the morning people tell me how someday she will have to go to school, ya da ya da, but that is SOMEDAY. For now she is 20 months old and its all good. I am a professional artist/photographer, I chose this life. I don't have to get up at 6 AM. If I have a commercial shoot it is always after 10 AM. And anything else I do can be done whenever it works. I hate to break it to all those people who told me I would HAVE to get up at 6 AM "when you have a baby" because honestly, babies adapt to their situation, and she fits into ours perfectly.

Guess what?! I joined another blog (this is the third including this one, I will talk about the Etsy Mini Blog tomorrow), it is called Create-a-Day. I saw Sheila, or Sheasy, in a forum on Etsy. She was talking about Create-a-Day. I checked it out an wanted to join RIGHT AWAY. It is just what I have been looking for. I have been wanting to create on thing a day for about a year now, so this will give me the push I need. I am excited to be surrounded by more Etsy talent. The blog has good energy. I have already been welcomed by Lady Arwen of the Silver Rose (who has a daughter named Tiffany, who is a photographer!) and Robayre (who was kind enough to heart my Etsy shop, thanks!). Let the creative games begin!

In the wee hours of the morning, yesterday, I received a convo and order from G in Sydney, Australia! This is my first "international" Etsy order that is not to the US (I am in Banff, Canada). It is a Polaroid transfer of Pemaquid Light in Bristol, Maine, my favorite lighthouse (I am getting nostalgic just thinking about it, I lived in Maine for almost 10 years). Thanks for being my "first", G! I hope to make it to Sydney again someday...