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Yummy Yellows Great Finds
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
A new look is coming for Soul Shine Arts
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| New upcycled items |
I feel like I've been on a roller coaster the last five years, becoming a Mom to three fantastic children and trying to start and maintain this business. Along with trying to do a vintage site with my Dad. I don't talk about that much, but you can go check it out here.
So, here is my plan, tentative as always! Ah, the life of a stay at home mom, or any mom for that matter.
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| Fabric Banners and Childrens Decor |
* Organize my shops so Craftcafe has all the random crafts, things I don't plan on making anymore, older pottery, mismatched or pieces that are the one left of a set. All buttons, pendants, rings, and pins. Etsy will be for my new lines of pottery, which I have not started to work on yet. Also for my new upcycled pillows and possibly buntings and other sewn items.
*To get to the end goal, I need to first clean up the shops (DONE). Then I need to go through, box by box, all my pottery. When I list it, I need to inventory it, including which box it is in, so I know where it is, easily. I also need to keep the boxes organized for what I like to bring to craft fairs. Keeping track of items will allow me to put my mind at ease when doing a show.
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| Bright Colors Collection |
*Pinterest - keep a pinning category of my items so others may easily pin my items.
*Twitter - I would like to tweet specific items in my shop weekly, but concentrate on the things I'm doing to go vegan and just about living a vegan lifestyle.
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| Natural Garden Collection |
*Stay Calm, don't freak out about not being in the studio for so long.
That's all! For now...
Monday, March 18, 2013
Starting Fresh
I have started a new blog to help me maintain my new improved lifestyle (going vegan). You can see it here. I will be keeping this blog as well, but posts will be focused on my pottery, my process, my lines of work and my inspirations.
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| The new direction |
I am trying to do the whole out with the old, in with the new thing! I have been working hard to inventory all my wares, pottery and felt item, and listing them on craftcafe. I am having a sale until the end of March. The coupon code is SPRINGFEVER for 25% at either craftcafe or on etsy.
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| My kiddos |
My goal is to eventually be creating a few different lines of pottery which I work on at specific times of the year. Throughout the year, I also plan to continue to create fabric and felt items as I feel like. I will not be taking custom orders, as its just too stressful with trying to care for my kids and maintain a somewhat clean house.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Starting the day with homemade vegan muffins
Well, I've decide that for the new year I really am going to be vegan. I have been a vegetarian for 17 years now, so it's time!
So this morning I decided to make some vegan muffins and they came out fantastic! I'm always trying new recipes and making up my own with not always the greatest outcome. But today I'm happy with them and better yet so are my kids!
If you want to try them, here's my modified recipe!
1 3/4 c unbleached white flour
Half of 1/3 c agave syrup (I know this is very technical stuff)
2 t baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/4 c applesauce (homemade)
3/4 c soy milk
1/4 c veggie oil
Mix ingredients in bowl then add
Some raisins and chopped apple (one)
The batter is thick and lumpy. Bake in preheated oven at 400 for 18 mins or in convection oven on 375 for 15 mins.
Hope you like it!
So this morning I decided to make some vegan muffins and they came out fantastic! I'm always trying new recipes and making up my own with not always the greatest outcome. But today I'm happy with them and better yet so are my kids!
If you want to try them, here's my modified recipe!
1 3/4 c unbleached white flour
Half of 1/3 c agave syrup (I know this is very technical stuff)
2 t baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/4 c applesauce (homemade)
3/4 c soy milk
1/4 c veggie oil
Mix ingredients in bowl then add
Some raisins and chopped apple (one)
The batter is thick and lumpy. Bake in preheated oven at 400 for 18 mins or in convection oven on 375 for 15 mins.
Hope you like it!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
In Memory of my beloved Clay Kitty, Athena
One of my cats, Athena, has no been missing for just about 2 weeks. Anyone who knows me, also knows I have a huge place in my heart for my cats. I am sure that she will not be coming back, as I think she was taken by a fox. She is the second cat on the street to have gone missing this summer and multiple neighbors have seen a fox about, due to the nearby chicken coop.
I needed a place to show how near and dear to my heart she was and will always be. She indeed was the best clay kitty ever. You'll know what I mean as you see the pictures! She loved clay and could always be found sleeping on my clay tables. I will miss her...
I needed a place to show how near and dear to my heart she was and will always be. She indeed was the best clay kitty ever. You'll know what I mean as you see the pictures! She loved clay and could always be found sleeping on my clay tables. I will miss her...
Update on Craft Fairs
Here it is. I have sent in for all these and should be confirmed shortly for all.
Upcoming Shows
Sat. October 15, 2011 (rain date Oc. 22nd) - 11am to 6pm (Crafters set up after parade, so stick around!)
Saco Spirit Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Main Street, Saco, ME
Sat. Oct. 22nd - 9am to 3pm
Kennebunk Harvest Fest
Main Street Lot between Sunoco & Kennebunk Inn
Sat. Oct. 29th - 9am to 3pm
17th Annual Harvest Craft Fair
Somersworth High School, Somersworth, NH
Sun. Oct. 30th - 9am to 3pm
Thornton Hockey Boosters Harvest Fair
Thornton Academy, Saco, ME
Sat. Nov. 5th - 9am to 2pm
York County Retired Teachers Craft Fair
Kennebunk High School, Kennebunk, ME
Sat Nov. 12 - 10 am to 4pm
& Sun Nov. 13 - 10 am to 3pm
USM Gorham Arts & Crafts Fair
Costello Sports Complex - Gym
Sat. Nov. 25th - 9am to 4pm
& Sun. Nov. 26th - 9am to 3pm
Christmas in the Country
Bonney Eagle High School
Standish, ME
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Upcoming Craft Fairs
This one is definite
This one is definite
Mildred L. Day School Craft Fair
Arundel, Me
9am to 3pm
Sent application in to the Following/Waiting for Confirmation, but I should be in them!
Saco Spirit Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Main Street
Sat. October 15, 2011 (rain date Oc. 22nd)
Kennebunk Harvest Fest
Main Street Lot between Sunoco & Kennebunk Inn
Sat. Oct. 22nd 9am to 3pm
USM Gorham Arts & Crafts Fair
Costello Sports Complex - Gym
Sat Nov. 12 10 am to 4pm
& Sun Nov. 13 10 am to 3pm
Still Looking into or waiting for funds to apply to them
October 29 - Thornton Hockey Boosters Harvest Fair Thornton Academy, Saco, ME
November 5 - York County Retired Teachers Craft Fair Kennebunk High School from 9am to 2pm
November 19 - Many options, I have not decided yet
November 25 9am to 4pm & Nov. 26 - Christmas in the Country Bonney Eagle 9am to 3pm
December 3 - Cape Porpus, ME
Monday, September 26, 2011
Summer Craft Fairs
This past weekend I took part in a great little craft fair which was part of the Shaker Hill Apple Festival in Alfred, Maine. It was fairly well attended. This was my booth set up, which was my best yet I think. I was disappointed a bit in the turn out, but more so in the customers willingness to buy. I had many many people say how beautiful my work was and how great the colors were, but very few sales. I think I had 6 sales in two days! Now, I made my money back and then some, but it's still not enough. I should be doing better. So, my question is why? Why did I not sell more?
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| New, Candy Apple dish ware, well received |
Did people not really like what I was selling?
No, I think they did. I had so many genuine comments, that it would be really hard to believe they were not telling the truth. Okay, that's not it.
Did I offer too many different types of items?
Maybe. I have never been an artist who settles on doing the same thing over and over. I am trying to create for myself different lines of work that I can split up for different shows and different seasons. I'm not quite there yet.
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| New, Spring Lizard Collection |
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| New, Lizard Earth Collection, well received |
Things I make: Bird baths and feeders, mirrors, plaques, bowls of all sizes, vases, jars, mugs, incense burners, platters, pendants, magnets, pins, and rings. I think that is it.
I did hear that more than 7 types of items can be distracting to a buyer. So, it's possible this drove some people off.
Does not running credit cards hurt my sales?
Yes, definitely. I lost a $30 sale because of this. I was very disappointed and a little upset, since I spent 10 minutes talking with this woman, who did not ask upfront.
Although, I still do not understand those who go to a craft fair without cash or their checkbook. I never have gone to a craft fair without cash in my pocket. But I suppose it is the new way to do business.
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| New b |
The Economy Sucks
Yes. Yes, I know... It does. No one needs to tell me, after loosing two teaching jobs due to budget cuts.
Oh, and my favorite one! People don't think I make it all!
Yeah, for real. I had one woman ask me if I made ANY of it? Really? I guess some people just do not understand the concept of JURIED CRAFT FAIR! (For those of you that don't know, it is not your fault. I blame the government for underfunding the arts and the local schools that cut art programs so our children grow up with no concept of what goes into creating an artwork or piece of pottery. And with all the pick and paint pottery places....Well, people probably think I buy it and paint it... Oh wait, some people actually do that and call it handmade! Okay, that's enough)
HANDMADE = in my case, means that I take all my dry clay pieces, reconstitute them in a bucket of water, dry it on a slab of plaster, cut it and shape it into weighed pieces, throw/form it on my pottery wheel, let it dry to leather hard, turn it over and trim the bottom, let it dry out completely, check it one more time, sanding if need be, fire it (for about 8 hours), (let it cool down about 24 hours), glaze it, let it dry for another 24 hours, then fire it a second time... Price it, pack it and travel to bring it to a show or set it up to take pictures and put it one etsy.
This is NOT and easy thing I do or any other crafter does. It costs money. It takes a lot of time. We put our heart and soul into this. I do not take any opinion, comment or look lightly when I am at a show. Please respect what we do.
Anyway.... one other thing I am going to try to do is to create a slide show on my digital frame and bring it with me to shows. That way people can see my process and that I do, in fact, create everything they see.
Friday, May 6, 2011
In the final four!
My treasury that I made for Team Undiscovered has made the final four. Voting is underway! I got the most views out of the treasuries that were up, so I'm hopeful. I get featured on the blog if I win, so get out and vote and get your friends to! Go here to vote Thank you!
Have you the wing? - Team Undiscovered Challenge
- $100.00 USD
- $35.00 USD
- $35.00 USD
- $165.00 USD
- $7.50 USD
- $12.00 USD
- $37.00 USD
- $55.00 USD
- $10.00 USD
- $35.00 USD
- $9.00 USD
- $62.00 USD
- $68.00 USD
- $22.00 USD
- $40.00 USD
- $12.00 USD
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