Left some work, continuing with others

At the end of last year I decided to give up creating custom home ornaments. I wasn’t sure if the fumes from baking the clay were bothering me or not. And I was still having a challenging time of getting the work out on time. I don’t like being late on orders. My PO only ships mail out 4xs a week. Pretty sad. Often doesnt include Saturday.

Even though I really enjoyed making the home ornaments, it had been about 15 years since I started. Working the clay was wearing down my hands. And I wanted to do something different.

I had a lot of return customers over the years. That was nice.

I’m almost finished with my first children’s book. I was delayed due to various health issues over the winter.

Occasionally I take digital art classes. Takes me just as long doing these as it does for traditional work. And I try my hand at graphic design-still a little tough. Probably over thinking it.

The garden is in full swing. I have a lot homegrown basil and tomatoes this year. Coleus, too. There of course is more!

Sometimes life is tougher than I’d like and I start drawing my “warrior women” again. I guess they are always in the background. Warrior Men, too!

….am going to draw. 😊

Working away on children’s book

Well, I have also been picking strawberries from my yard. Marie de Bois variety they over wintered from last year.

And here is an excerpt from the children’s book I’m working on.

It’s raining so much here that it provides my more time to work on the book.

Enjoy !!

New company promo

Put advertising on my car today. One on each side of the car. My fingers are still frozen! I was tricked by the temperature of 42 degrees. Felt way colder than that!!

Back to the logo and layout of the decal. It was designed by Nick Edlund. I met Nick back in my Boston, MA days.

He took the moon from one of my illustrations. There were a few different versions and I asked several friends which designs they preferred. Then I combined what they liked with what I liked.

The new website is in progress. So for now, people can come to this website to view my work.

i didn’t know about a student exhibition at the Woodstock School of Art where

I could enter one of my figure drawings. Must have been posted right after I looked on their website. Deadline is this Saturday to enter and need to have it framed under a week’s time. I don’t have enough time to do this mostly because I’m dealing with a lack of heat at home. Oil furnace stopped working almost a week ago. Too cold in here. Brrr!!!

Reworking home in children's book

I decided to change the look of the home in my book. .I think :the characters will love it as well.

A short getaway…new direction

Last year around this time I toyed with the idea of not creating the custom house ornaments, but ultimately did create about a dozen. This year is different. While the home life is still disruptive, I have also developed carpal tunnel in both hands. I also feel overwhelmingly that it is time to shift my creative focus elsewhere.

I have drawn over 120 coloring pages for my mom so far. Various themes. Now, I am going to self publish coloring books through Amazon. There are several platforms to do this online. Also, I have lined up an editor for my children’s book stories. Two written so far. I would like to publish one in time for Christmas of this year. The 2nd written piece is a Christmas story that will be published next year. I saw the new Kindle Vella platform on Amazon and thought that would make a good spring board for prequels of the children’s book series: short books introducing the main characters. Maybe in black and white; the books being in color will bring those characters to life.

Setting up a passive income stream would be great for me at this time. I am still being pulled in many directions, but now I hired people to help me and my mom. I let go 2 aides in the last few months. The recent one that I let go was a bully to both of us. For over 6 months! I thought she was good for my mom so I put up with it. Apparently, not so much. The aide underestimated me….that happens often. Well, things are looking up.

The renovation on the rental is almost done. I enjoyed reworking that space. Picking out the new light fixtures, laminate countertops for the kitchen with new champagne bronze hardware for the dark brown cabinets. New light oak vinyl flooring. It looks really nice with breaking the bank.

I thought about putting in a gas fireplace insert at the rental, but what most likely will happen is that I will shelve that idea for now. More $ for tree cutting occurring on both properties went up and I feel I need to curtail the spending all around.

Yes, I am going back to what I enjoy the most: drawing and painting. And a new found interest in sewing-mostly with the machine.

A getaway? Yes, I finally was able to go on a mini vacation of 2 nights away in Germantown, NY. Right across the Hudson River. Farmland, horse farms. Very nice. Great rolling hills. Views of the Catskill Mountains and the river, too It was there I was able to rest, read, and think about ending one art form and starting another adventure. To learn new things.

A Change for the Season

After much thought and reflection, I decided not to sell and create Custom House Ornaments this holiday season. There are several reasons and one of them is because I don’t get to enjoy one of my favorite holidays. It’s been like this for more than a few years. The last two years customers were purchasing the listings on Etsy in November and December. Just too much stress creating the ornaments and watching the packages stall in shipment throughout the USA.

I’ve decided to turn back to illustrating. Continue the work on my children’s book and other things.

I miss sewing, too. There are a few things I want to make for myself and others

And paint.

Time to dream. ☺️

Summer Solstice already

Yes, its been a long time. From last November to just about this week it has been somewhat stressful for me. This past June I have been checking things off my list to do and may finally get a break.

Family situations, alot of paperwork, so many hours of lost sleep. Just this past month, I've started to exercise and tweaking my diet. Taking care of myself for a change. Started taking walks again. And planted seeds inside. I really needed that-watching things grow. :). I bought several dahlia bulbs on sale. Gladiolus, too.

I upgraded my iPad to a pro and have been using it a lot from drawing to writing stories. Signed up for a studio subscription to learn how to create pattern and many other things. Now I have the time to catch up on all the lessons.

I've been tired for several months. Just worn down, you know? Had to refund some orders. Am changing directions.

I went to a public hearing tonight, but had to leave after 2 hrs because that's all I could really give. It was a long day and I was thinking of my younger sister. So, I left. Took a walk with my mom when I got back. :)

I have been drawing more and I love it!

Happy Summer Solstice 😊

Ongoing Clay Shortages.....

As time wears on, I am unable to purchase certain colors of Sculpey clay. A friend of mine offered to buy the colors I was having a hard time getting. That was so nice of her! It was great to receive an package full of forest green and hazelnut brown clay shipped from Arizona! Love being able to pay her right away with Paypal. :)

I may have rubbed another friend the wrong way when I asked if she had purchased licensing rights to her craft product. Turns out this particular character does not have a licensing agreement available. Some of these product companies are cutthroat in terms of protecting their product copyrights.

I did point out that I would not be too happy with another person copying my work. That did not seem to matter, unfortunately. Nor did any of her friends seem to think it mattered either.

I suppose I am more sensitive about this subject since another artist has developed “her own” illustrations that bear a strong similarity to my own. And because of this development, I am more cautious of what I share on social media platforms.

Other than that, I am still working a few custom house ornament orders and miniatures, too. And on another creative endeavor that is very different from other things I have done. Learning new things!

I am still working on the children’s book. There needs to be more thought put into the additional illustrations and more of them. Layout considerations, as well.

And I am getting closer to whittling down the items I moved to NY state with. Such a long process and one that I am tired of doing. Throwing out more stuff in the studio space to make room for the sewing machine.

A lot of changes…….

Some Changes

I am working on my first children's book. Both written and illustrated by me. It will take awhile. It's very satisfying.

When I was getting my latest art supply order together recently, I noticed that I can't get all the sculpey-polymer clay colors that I need to work on the custom house ornaments. If this continues, I will have to scale back my usual output.

This new development may be signaling my time to pursue other endeavors. We will have to see how this all pans out.

I've been too busy on the home front to start seeds this year. A little disheartening, but I will make due.

I started venturing out more and seeing more of Kingston. Okay, what I really mean is that I am get lost driving around! Lol. It's all good. As long as there are no bullets flying by me.

I did participate in a live painting event a couple of weeks ago. And was one of three winners! My painting will eventually be donated to a non-profit. A bonus of a gift card came my way, too! Totally unexpected.

Ive been drawing where I can. Getting my designs printed on fabrics and took up sewing during the pandemic. I hope to get additional fabric designs printed from the upcoming children's book.

I am doing a lot of things, though sometimes it doesn't seem like it.

Long time....it's winter now

A lot of snow and cold temperatures these past few weeks. Am getting tired to shoveling snow, that’s for sure.

Yesterday in the late afternoon, I shoveled snow as the sun set. Beautiful colors in the sky. Golden edged white clouds against a blue sky. Then light blues and purples. There was a nice glow as dusk was setting in, me walking through snow that was not yet plowed.

I am working on a few personal projects along with a custom house ornament here and there.

Also, my sewing skills are getting better. Who knew!

Short note. Enjoy the winter and look forward to spring. :)

Businesses are opening, but still cautious

Hey, it’s summer out there! Hot, hot, for sure. Maybe too hot. lol !

I have been working on the veggie garden and keeping up with the rest of the landscape. Seems daunting sometimes, but worth it.

There is a lot of bear activity in the area, now. Not too happy about that. Came back with my groceries last week and was greeted by a young bear peering around the garage. It seemed to be interested in my groceries in the opened back end of the car. Surprisingly I stood my ground and yelled NO! at the bear several times until it went away. It was a yr old bear. Unfortunately, the bear was seen in the neighborhood last week practically every day.. Not good. There is also an adult bear that is canvasing the hood a few times a week, as well.

There seems to be a lot of bear activity in many towns and cities in the area. A time to be cautious.

I am working on a chlldren’s book. Am currently on the illustration end of it. That will take awhile.

All for now. Happy Summer!

Keep safe and healthy out there!

It's been a long, long time....

I am in my 2nd month of “stay at home” in NY state. Most of it has been the same for me since I work from home. But it is impossible to forget about all those who have lost their lives in this critical time. I remember the tv commercial that urges people to stay at home in order to save others in case you are in fact infected with the virus and don’t know it.

I have been staying at home for most of the time. Just trips to the grocery, PO, and rare trips to the dump or pharmacy.

Today I noticed that there were many cars parked by the Ashokan resorvoir. I hope they are social distancing.

Last Saturday, was my first trip back to the grocery store after an older woman was yelling at me two weeks prior. I was a little stunned. I made a small error in regards to the new rules. Luckily, she was not there last Saturday.

During this time, I have been working on a children’s book. Story and illustrations. The characters were born from drawings I worked on near the end of January when the winter blues were setting in. Then, a story started to emerge. I am now working on the illustrations. Changing some. I hope to publish it through the B&N press this year.

The Etsy world of sales has been really slow this year. Just now, I am starting to get a sale here and there. I have a rush order to work on this week.

For the gardens this year, I ordered 25 strawberry plants and may be ordering blueberry bushes, as well. Am ramping up the other veggies, too. Hopefully I can construct a raised garden bed with found rocks that were unearthed from a property project last fall. Hard work!

The daffodils are all in bloom. The forsythia are on their way out and the lilacs are budding.

Happy Spring!

Fall into Winter, new things

I was able to fit in a trip to the newly opened Ashokan Rail Trail at the Woodstock Trail head off of Rte 28 in West Hurley, NY. It is only about a 4 minute drive from my house. Most excellent!

The trail opened just 1 week ago and it seems to have drawn a lot of interest. I heard that 20,000 people visited in the first weekend. There may have been more dogs on leashes than people yesterday!

The trail is quite nice. I walked to the first vista and had a lovely view of the mountain ranges, water and autumn colors. This view was different than the one I am used to when driving back and forth to the transfer station. I can see more levels of mountain ranges from my usual view.

I could see how the path would have made an excellent train ride, though I don’t see how both a rail and trail could co-exist in the given space as I read in a recent newspaper article. It would be quite tight with people on foot or bike would be rather close to the rock facings.

All in all, it was a nice jaunt of 1 1/2 miles. I had other things to do that day, so I could not dawdle. :)

The custom house ornament market heated up in September and then there was a quiet period of 3 weeks until yesterday, when it blew wide open! Yesterday was so busy for me!

I had other meetings in town, as well. More on that later on. In a few months.

So today, I will be working on a custom house ornament and then work outside.

Sunday I am going to the “READ650” presentation in Poughkeepsie, at Vassar College. I entered the contest myself, but did not make the final cut. Though, I believe I did fairly well for my first time. I am pleased with that. :)

Have a great weekend! Try new things and keep creating!

new project-so many drawings!

I am currently working on a new project which I plan to expand. It will be a learning experience, but one I’ve been wanting to explore for some time.

Not very informative I know, but I just want to keep it to myself until it launches.

Update 7/24/19

I just went through a stack of saved drawings and now I believe there will be more books-oops! I spilled the beans a little!!!

The drawings certainly bring me back. Such good memories. And wishful ones, too.

The overall message: be kind to one another. 🙂

till later…..happy creating!

Finally spring is here!

Happy spring to you!

I saw a robin a few days ago along with a few other types of birds. Last week I heard the geese honking up in the sky as they come back to the north.

This past month, i started participating in more events around the Hudson Valley. Am looking for more!

There are an awful lot of sticks to pick up in the yard after all the snow is gone. Can’t wait!

And I am creating art work in between my activities. :)

all for now……

January Cold

trying to adapt to the cold temps and a major snowstorm may be on its way this weekend. I see a lot of shoveling in my future. :0 I have to rest before that happens. Have a lot going on at the moment. Sleepless nights.

Daily meditations. Yay. :)

i am working on a custom house ornament. Drawing here and there.

Saw some snowflakes this afternoon. :)

Happy New Year!

Busy with Holiday orders

I am almost done with house and dog ornaments. And a house illustration, too.

It was good to move back here to the Hudson Valley. Love the mountains.

short note this time around.

Other than that, Merry Christmas!

Halloween Time

it is often windy and rainy around Halloween in the northeast. Today it is the same weather as it has been for the last few months. So much rain. Too much for there to be a good fall foliage season. But, there are abundance of yellow leaves that are more than welcome to hang out for awhile. I like the light green lichen showing up against the soaked and darkened trees.

The chipmunks seem to be gone for the season. It is strange not to see them scampering about. There were so many, but now I suppose hibernation for the winter has started.

I have been working on Etsy orders. Catching up and starting to go faster for the holiday season. I will have to speed up to keep up! I am also making ornaments to sell at a fair that is coming up in a couple of weeks. More of my penguins, bears and other assorted characters along with introducing custom house ornaments to the area.

I am still unpacking. This goes in spurts. Trips to the dump usually include 15-25 flattened boxes at a time.

The mountain views here are quite wonderful. ;)

Settling back into the Hudson Valley

This past week I met a couple of friends from my school days for separate lunches.  One I have seen every now and then.  The other, not since high school.    It was good for me to socialize since this past year has been difficult.  I had a great time, yet it is still hard to make the initial step to set up a social engagement.    Step by step!   :)

 I started to tend to the landscaping, again.  So much to do.....

Orders for custom house ornaments for Christmas are atarting to roll in.  From new and repeat customers.  

Today, a trip to the dump was warranted.  The first set of moving boxes was recycled.  It did not  seem like much when I was taking then out of the car, but a start is a start.  20+ boxes.

Halloween ornament designs are mulling in my head.   Hmmmm.  I better get crack'in!

Well, off to do some work.  Enjoy the rest of the summer🚣🎡⛱!!