New workspaces...

So I do a ton of shit. I also have a full time job on top of everything. So when do I find the time to make all of my wonderful things? Well I have to admit, I freaking hate housework. And I mean Hate with a capitol 'H' and everything. Sure I manage to get my dishes done, and I sweep on a regular basis, but I tend to neglect things like door jambs and other bits that everyone says you have to clean like every 2 weeks.

I am still like a month behind on folding laundry. And I totally suck at organizing my many piles of things. I can make dents in the piles, but they never seem to really disappear. I am hoping to be able to clean up the studio a little and make some more room. Mainly cause I finally broke down and bought an actual jewelers bench.


I was using a 3"x 6" white plastic table. You know the kind I mean. They get pulled out at banquets and other events. Doesn't work too terribly well when you need a solid surface. They kinda bounce when you hit your finger with a hammer. And trying to make sure that they don't melt when using a torch is kind of a pain in the ass too. So my pretty bench will be in tomorrow, but I doubt that I will get it put together before the end of the month.

Oh yeah, I am also starting a new job and putting in hours gardening and working on a food bank. So yeah, my house work is shit. I keep thinking that if I only had more ways to organize things, then I could get rid of some of the piles of random that occupy my dining room and coffee tables. But every time I get more things to organize things with, all I end up with are empty things.

And I bet you thought this was gonna be some motivational shit about 'how to clear your space and keep it clean when crafting'.


Nope.

But I did get my bench put together.

Why do I do this shit?

So here is the thing for me when I start crafting things. I don't really think about what I am doing. It just kinda goes, and goes, and goes. Shit some days it will go so long that I become obsessed with it. Especially if it is new and shiny.

One of the most difficult things for me, is to stick to one type of thing at a time. I will bounce between jewelry, and leather and feathers, and glass etching. I can't fucking stay still. For me to stay still is to die an unfulfilled life.

For me, I think that constantly moving and changing and learning is what it is all about. I love to challenge myself and see if I can fabricate an item or many. I like to figure ways around making totally unrelated components fit together like they were never meant to be apart. And yes, sometimes this takes tons of frustration and blood and tears and throwing shit across the room. It's okay.

I actually have a 'I'll work on this when I am no longer pissed' pile. This tends to save several of my otherwise scrapped projects. I suggest that you start one too.

It'll really help. Promise.

Feathers and fucked up priorities...

I hate feathers. I hate them with the flaming passion of a thousand fiery suns. I hate them so much that I can't wait to play with them again! I know that it doesn't make any sense, but I love the colors, and the way they flow and the different textures.

And these colorful bastards are the reason I had to go and get a hot glue gun. I haven't used one of those in like 15 years. I even have a gnarly scar on my hand from a glue gun mishap in the 5th grade. Now you may ask yourself, 'Why was a 5th grader playing with a hot glue gun?'

 Well I was in Catholic School, and things got a little crazy there.  

So I am trying my best to keep ahead of my busy festival season, and hopefully churn out some pretty cool shit that you guys will love. I started with feather barrettes and then moved onto the kick-ass burner style headdresses. Yes, the pink and black one even has lights! So I set up at a craft show a few weeks ago, and it was a total shit show. I think there were like a total of 300 people all weekend including the staff of the venue and the vendors. So it sucked. I made $10. And not in that 'Hey, at least I covered my expenses' way. $10 not even enough to cover gas to get back and forth to the event. So I haven't had a chance to get too much feedback on the feathers yet.

One of the worst thing about working with feathers, is that little bits of them get everywhere! Yep even in your underwear. I don't know how they managed it, but I am still cleaning feathery bits out of places better not mentioned.  I know my husband will be happy as a pig in shit when I get done with these. But jokes on him...I am never going to be done with these! Ha!

So now it's back to the bench/table/clean spot on the floor to get these pretties all ready to wear!

So here it is. I have a home now where I can share my shit about crafting. The stupid things I do and the lessons that I learned, and then had to re-learn again along the way. Why? Because the hot glue gun is hot, Stupid!

I'll try to keep things interesting, and show off some of the things I am attempting to make. Let me back up just a little bit. I have tons of hobbies, and I like to make tons of crap. And I even sell some of the stuff I make which allows me to go and buy more stuff to make more crap. Now don't get me wrong, I do not think that the things I make are shitty, but I use the term 'crap' to define the random and sometimes huge piles of supplies that anyone who has crafted anything tends to accrue. I am terribly proud of my art and of the trials and tribulations of making it out of random and sometimes unrelated things.

Hell, I may even toss in a tutorial or 2 when I can remember to take pictures of the process...