My new hobby

For the past couple of months I've been experimenting with printmaking.  It's really fun and relaxing for me.  It's a nice change from what I usually do. 

Lino has turned out to be more fun than what I bargained for.  My goal is to eventually buy some wood carving tools so that I can make woodcuts.  I'm going to have to save up for that:-(

I also decided to close up my jewelry shop today.  It's turned out to be more work than what it's worth.  I've only had a few sales this year (in both shops), and they're really just cash cows.  Goodbye etsy!  I'll be closing the art shop before the 1st of January as well.  I may post my stuff in my 1000 Markets shop, but I don't even think I should bother.  I have a lot to think about.

I am glad about one thing though.  My mom visited my house, and found a bunch of my art that she liked.  I'm just going to give the stuff to her.  One of the paintings that she liked is a new one.  I wasn't even so sure I liked it.  I'm glad it will find a good home.  I at least have one fan for life:-)  Thank god for moms!

 

10 Things To-Do in 2009

1.)Create more artwork. It doesn't have to be for sale, but in order to improve I MUST WORK.

2.)Turn a profit from my jewelry business and art business.

3.)Learn more about "the biz."

4.)Learn to be more patient and LESS judgemental.

5.)Set more realistic goals for myself.

6.)Become better at time management.

7.)Take better care of myself, and remember to take my meds.

8.)Shut down the computer, and work instead of looking at other peoples' work.

9.)Accept the fact that my Blackberry can NOT do everything for me...Even though it does ALOT.

10.)Network and market my businesses BETTER: Reach my target market.

Back to the drawing board...err, pad

I stayed up really late last night trying to come up with ideas for my artwork, and what to do with said art. How I could/would sell it, blah, blah blah. I want to be able to make prints and greeting cards. Maybe stationary sets...But it all seems so expensive. It takes money to make money. I would have to invest even MORE money into my business, and then wait to turn a profit. I still haven't made a profit from my jewelry business!! How could I start making art prints? How do people afford this stuff without going into debt?

Meltdown....

Ok, I'm back. This is the ATC/ACEO that I came up with. I'm neutral about it.

So, then I worked 8 hours at that hell hole that I call a job. Now I am completely exhausted and tapped of all creative juices. But I did get one of my orders shipped out. Yay. Now, I just have one other package to deliver.

No new success but plenty of failures

I've been working on new designs like crazy, but none of them turn out well. I've been experimenting with different wire wrapping techniques, and I just can't do it! Everything that I make turns out crappy or stupid looking. You would think that after two weeks of experimenting I'd have figured something out. Nope. Just crap.

For example, here's a picture of a wire wrapped ring I made last Saturday. It looks OK, but not something that I would sale.
Keeping it for myself.
I think that I could try the design one more time, but make some improvements on the design. Next time, I'll plan the wrapping first, and then execute the design. I usually jump in without thinking about what I'm doing.

I made another ring as well. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It has an earthy, and organic look to it. Me and my boyfriend call it the 'borg' ring. It just looks kind of sci-fi, cyberpunk/steampunk.
I just don't know how to feel about it.


Last, there are these pearl and jade hoop earrings I made. I love them, but no one else does. I think they're so cute. I'm just going to keep them for myself.
I like the gold, white and purple together.

Cute, on me!


So, here's my list of failures. Feel free to share your own stories about failure. How did you finally get over it? I would love to hear them and get your advice!