The Waayyaaiting is the Hardest Part...

Nothing like a little Tom Petty to:
A. Date me
B. Send me back to the 80's
C. Get me dancing around the kitchen

Sooooo, it's been a week since my second interview.  As if I wasn't already having trouble sleeping, last night I was filled with anxiety about getting an answer or not getting an answer.  Or not getting a job, etc, etc... I was hoping to hear back Wednesday afternoon after they had finished their other second interviews.  At this point all I can assume is that I did not get the job. But then I hear Felix Ungers voice in my head "When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me."  Awe, the Odd Couple.  Now that was a sitcom!  :)

5 pm 1.29.2011 update - received an email that they are still deciding.  I will hear back by the end of next week! I'm looking at this as a positive sign!

Sadly I forgot to take photos of the good ones!

In other news, found another print exchange to enter but the due date is January 31st. Sooo Tuesday I designed, cut and printed another 15 prints.  I mirrored the image I had made for Leftovers and removed the birds and added some clouds.  The ocean changed a bit too. I used black paper and silver ink.  Mailed them off yesterday!  For future reference here's the info! Cascade Print Exchange V  I'm pretty sad I didn't get any good photos.  I didn't think to photograph until they were in the mail!

I just finished painting my bathroom, second coat today.  Tearing paper AND now I will work on a new reduction method multi color print I started last night.  It's my first attempt at this method! I'll post pics when I'm finished!

Happy Friday!  I hope your weekends are filled with creativity and friends! Mine will be!

Leftovers!

Amy at Wingtip Press came up with a great idea last year for all her leftover paper! A print exchange called Leftovers!  I heard about it from Anniepod Press. 

It's pretty simple.  I make 14 prints from my leftover paper, mail them to Amy and she sends me back a random mix of 12 prints. One set will be used to raise money for a charity and the other will be used for shows.  Pretty dang exciting if you ask me!

So today I rounded up my leftover paper.  Sketched out my design, redrew on to my linoleum and started carving!  

I cut out my original design to trace - Is this cheating? :)

I usually draw on a scrap piece of paper and then decide which way the design will look best. The way I drew it or flipped.  It still happens once in a while that I forget my design will be a mirror image once I print it!

Thanks for the press Nancy!

This is my first time using unbacked lino.  I wanted to get a more even ink transference by using the press I'm borrowing from my dear and fabulous artist friend Nancy.  I can't use a backed block in this mini press.  It is much easier for me to carve a backed piece, but I'm sure I'll get use to the unruly unbacked lino! 

Leftovers 2011

I'm pretty happy with the results and I'm really excited to see what I get back!  I'd love to be able to see the entire collection at a show too.  The deadline is March 15th and the cost is $12.  Please see Leftovers for more information!

Happy Tuesday and Happy Printing!

An Update -

Unfinished Owls

I just wanted to thank everyone again for all the support over the last couple of weeks after the break-in!

Plywood Art Window

I'm still not sleeping very well, but it's getting better.  I finally have all the insurance crapola sorted out.

Thanks to my family, friends and a couple of strangers too, I was able to sell enough to cover my deductible!  I'm amazed at the all the kindness. Thank you, thank you, thank you!  My Mom, aka my biggest fan, wins the award for most generous!  :)  It made me feel so much better to provide art to the people who helped! 

The downside of the event. Besides not sleeping well, "Fred's" computer was NOT covered under my homeowners insurance policy.  So that was $1800 out the window, literally.  Since he is considered a renter in my home his items are not covered.  He took it much better than I did.  I almost puked when the adjuster told me.  

I've ordered my replacement laptop, "Fred" was given a 10 year old crazy computer from his work's recycle bin to use until he can get a new one.  It sounds like a jet!  My replacement window is also on it's way.  The flooring and furniture are next on my list to have repaired and replaced.  

Thank you Diane!! aka AnniePod

Today I received this in the mail!  Talk about making my day! :)   

Things like this make it much easier to move on!  I can't wait to put this all behind me!

Thanks again everyone!

The Idealist and the Snare

I woke up this morning wondering, I'm an idealist?  I looked it up.  "Idealism sometimes refers to a tradition in thought that represents things of a perfect form, as in the fields of ethics, morality, aesthetics, and value. In this way, it represents a human perfect being or circumstance." Thanks Wikipedia!  (Side Note:  I can't remember what it was like before the ablitliy to look up anything you'd ever want to know in seconds!)

Work friends took me to lunch, even when I was out of town!

Maybe I have become an Idealist along the way.  Yesterday in my interview the question was posed "What does your perfect work day look like?"  "In a perfect world" I said, "I'd be making art all day.  In the real world I'd work for a company that I like with people I like, feeling that said company was making some difference in the world."  Reasonable answer.  And true. 

I love beets!

Where is this post going?  Good question.  I think my point is, that maybe due to this idealism, I've been missing the obvious solution to my financial woes.  A part time job at a company I like!  Duhhhh, as I would have said in this 80's photo of me.  I think I was sooooo fixated about not working at a job I hated again, that I forgot the obvious.  There are companies I would like to work for.  For instance, when I was loaned to SERA Architects, I worked a bazillion hours but loved every second of it! I will spare the details of why I really liked it, and why they really liked me.  Just know it's true.

Why didn't I think of this as an viable option sooner?  Idealism? The current economic crisis? The lack of jobs in my field? Blinded by art?  But, aren't I still an artist even with a day job?  And as an up and coming artist, in my humble opinion, wouldn't it be nice to pay the bills and eat!  Starving artist really isn't a misnomer.

So, to whose the benefit did I write this?  The aforementioned potential employer who may or may not be reading this? The kitties? My Mom? Nah, I think for myself.  Though I'm sure the kitties will be happy that I'm looking for ways to put food in their bowls!  

Some times work friends are the best friends!

Happy weekend everyone! Now get outside if there's sun!  If not, make something!  Even if it's just a happy mess!  :)

The Hold Out.

I've been holding out on you.  I know, I promised to be open and honest.  To discuss the toils and turmoil or unemployment as well as the handmade struggle.  The big secret?  I had a job interview two weeks ago.  The morning of the break in.  I honestly wasn't sure how it went, but now, I'm preparing for my second interview in a couple of hours.  I'm torn.  Conflicted.  Nervous. Excited.

On one hand, I need money and health insurance would be nice.  On the other hand, I feel like I'm cheating myself and my art by going back to working a "day job".  And I'm not willing (yet) to take just any job. I need it to be a good fit for me.  I need the culture of the place to be thriving and uplifting.  I'm not afraid of hard work as long as it's not in a stifling negative environment.  In my first interview I asked a lot of questions about the company and culture.  The answers sounded good.  That coupled with the information on their website seems positive.  They have two positions available. One full time and one part time.  I would love the part time position if the pay etc. works out.

I've worked a lot of years at jobs that made me miserable a lot of the time.  I feel like this is my chance to finally do what I want, when I want.  But is this realistic. Am I really willing to live in a van if it means not working at a job I dislike?  I want art to be only second to my loved ones and pets.  Not a job that isn't fulfilling.  Life is too short to continue to do things that make us miserable.

Am I crazy to post this info on a public blog, where any potential employers can see? Maybe. But they should know who I am. What I stand for and why.  If I take a job I will do it to my best ability.  And if I'm not happy there I will look at why and do all I can to change it.   All I'm asking for a is a good fit.  For me and the company.

do i look smart? :)

And now I'm off to finish preparing for the interview.  Clothes, notebook, maybe my reading glasses. I hear wearing glasses to an interview increases your chances as you are perceived as being smarter!  :)

Sorry for the rushed writing!  Hope for the best and wish me luck!
Thanks!


ps. Writing this post made me break out into a sweat!

pss. The interview is with at least 5 people, that's almost like public speaking!

January Print of the Month Revealed!

My Print of the Month for January has been released.  Because in this digital world who doesn't need some real mail?  And a surprise! I'm already excited to work on February's! More info at Almost Monday's Etsy store.  It's not too late to sign up, but January won't be a surprise. :)

Intentions

Intention.  What a loaded word. 
–noun

1.  an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.

2.  the end or object intended; purpose.

Today a couple of lovelies joined me for a little cutting and pasting in the form of intention boards.  Well, in our case, intention mason jars. That may or may not have lights added later.  

Armed with scissors we began flipping through catalogs and magazines looking for images that represented things we wanted to see happen in 2011.  Cut out our images, words, and symbols with which we decoupaged into our jars.  We discussed some of these intentions aloud, or tired to.  Reinforcing our dreams and hopes. Others remained personal and silent. 

Scoop Full of Comfort!

Now I'm not the most woo woo person you'll meet.  In fact I'm at the other end of the scale, but I do believe that before we can work toward betterment we must know what that betterment is.  This could be physical items such as better shoes, or a fancy house, or a better state of mind.  As depicted in this photo of a spoon instructing "a scoop full of comfort", a pie server stating "a slice of happiness" and a cheese knife with the words "a dab of decadence".  Pretty fitting given my current state. And love of cheese.  Yesterday I mentioned to one of my new internet friends that I didn't want to waste a bunch of time being depressed.  But last week was a battle for sure. 

Traveling for Art!

I'm intending to make this week/year much better! Also on my Jar of Intention I places flowers, tomatoes, travel, and of course cheese.  A kitty, camera, Italy and France.  Birds and bikes. Simplicity, peace, love and joy.  Last but now least, art.  My intention is to survive via art. Making art, selling art, and teaching art.  And why not?  Isn't that what I was made/intended/born to do?  It sure feels that way to me.  I do struggle with the expectations of the "norms".  Such as having a bigger house, health insurance, a new fangled car, designer clothes, and the worst offender, a day job.  And I might succumb to one or two of them. But they aren't what matter to me.  Those things aren't want make me who I am.  Loved ones (not just the humans), my freedom, and the feeling that I'm making a difference to someone, make me who I am.

"Blind Date" by AnniePod Press

Art has the ability to heal, give hope, provide entertainment and of course joy.  To some this might look like a crazy print of a tom cat knocking on the door for a blind date. To me it's instant pure happiness!