Author: blogmanager

GETTING OVER A CREATIVE BLOCK

We all experience them at one time or another. It’s like a wall of fatigue which stands in the way of anything creative allowing self doubt to creep in along with a general can’t be bothered attitude. I know because I’m in the middle of one right now. I want to sit on the sofa in pj’s and stare out of the window, the place which usually gives me so much inspiration, and eat crisps. I haven’t sketched anything for ages or made anything either, I’ve no inclination to go into my basement and do anything yet in a strange way my hands and my brain are itching to do something creative. The question is what?

Over the past few months I’ve spent quite a bit of money on online courses from urban sketching and watercolour to digital painting in the hope it’ll kick-start some crafty cogs into working again, and while I’ve learned a lot I just don’t seem to be happy with anything I’ve done.

I suppose at this time of year I’d be spending much more time outside in the garden dead heading and weeding which keeps me busy but with the intense dryness this year my garden is looking more like scrubland with a few crispy plant stalks sticking out to add emphasis to its sorry state. This is my haven, my inspiration, place of joy. I know it’ll come back next year, hopefully, but right now it’s not helping my mood.

I did have a sort out and got rid of a few things which I didn’t use. This made me feel better for a while. It was quite satisfying to clear out hoarded papers and old neglected stamps. I moved other things around to fill the spaces so I wouldn’t be tempted to just buy more. It’s much less chaotic now helping me to move forward and hopefully I’ve made someone’s day with the bits I’ve taken to the recycling shop.

I’ve asked around and it seems that focussing on something completely different is the key. Where I would normally be gardening, I’ve taken out the crochet again and I think it’s working. It’s giving my hands something creative to do and while I’m concentrating I’m not thinking about anything else. This morning I picked up one of those on-line courses again to finish it off and decided to give it another go.

Happy day – the fog is lifting all be it slowly. Maybe I just need to wait it out.

Jaine xx

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blogmanager

webadmin@basementstudio.lu

TAKING STOCK

I don’t usually write here on a Monday but I thought I’d just say a big thank you to all those people who came to KUKI and visited my stand. Whether you bought something or not the support was welcome.

Weather wise it was a mixed bag. It ranged from warm and sunny to absolutely freezing cold with my body shaking at one point. A massive storm right at the end managed to blow past us which was a huge relief to me and the stalls around me and the only rain was felt as we were packing up, so I think we were very lucky on the whole.

It’s been a few years since the last fair so the anticipation was high. I had a great spot right at the top where everything was going on. The years before I’ve been way down the side street and missed the opening ceremony.

The ribbon was almost cut in my tent. Good for publicity and even better for official photos.

There were all kinds of wonderful things to see and hear from bands and theatre to Viennese costumes. The art on display was amazing too.

Today I’m unpacking and sorting my stock for the next one which is on Sunday in Bushdorf. I have a spot on the main street, number 38 if you want to come over and visit.

I’ll be back later in the week but for now I’ll get on with sorting the stock out.

Have a good one

Jaine xx

About Post Author

blogmanager

webadmin@basementstudio.lu

PACKED AND READY

I’ve put together some stamping kits for my stand at KUKI which include one of my Town House stamps. I decided I’d better make a few samples to go with the card kits so that’s what I spent this morning doing. It was quite nice actually to simply do a bit bit of colouring in, I can’t remember the last time I did that.

This is what the front of the instruction sheet looks like.

I laid everything out yesterday and mocked up my table. It doesn’t look much here but I’m hoping on the day I can make it look better.

I have a couple of ideas to make it look better on Sunday as I’m very aware it has to look good from outside the tent to entice people in.

Anyway, once I’d taken a few photos I packed it all up again ready.

I’ll tell you next week how it went. I think the only thing worrying me at the moment is the weather.

Have a good weekend

Jaine xx

About Post Author

blogmanager

webadmin@basementstudio.lu

GOING INTO ART FAIR OVERDRIVE

I know one thing you really shouldn’t do is start a blog post with, ‘it’s been a while since I blogged’ but really…it’s been a while!! Truth is I’m juggling with getting ready for the Summer art fairs, being with the family and as the weather is now perfect – gardening like a mad woman. The warm weather makes me, a) want to rush outside with my sketchbook and draw everything in sight, b) keep on top of the weeding and c), yes there’s a c, just keep the back door open to let the warm sunshine in as I cut a few more books to put on my stand. What a whirl!

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve done all of the above and more so I think I’m in a happy place right now. I think my stand at KUKI will look pretty good, not bursting at the seams but who wants that any how? I want it to look cohesive, bright and smart. I keep forgetting that the next one is only a week later so I need to keep creating books and cards whenever I can.

One of the things I’ve been working on recently was a bunch of scrapbooks. Honestly, when I rediscovered them I was prepared to pull them to pieces and start all over again. Actually I should rewind a bit here. I made these books a few years ago for one of the last art fairs I attended before ‘Rona’ and as they were the last few which hadn’t sold they sat on the shelf doing nothing. Fast forward a couple of years and the way I make these type of books has changed so they were bugging the heck out of me. I mentioned this to a friend who told me basically I was totally over thinking the whole thing (which I tend to do) and suggested a small but fairly obvious change which made all the difference. So much so that I added a couple more scrapbooks to the pile and now love them. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before.

I think it’s easy to over think things and as I had been looking at these books so often and for so long I had become far too critical and would spot small niggling things which no one else would even notice. That’s why it’s good to step away occasionally, take some time out then come back with a fresh eye or better still get a good friend to give you some advice. They’ll see things you can’t!

It’s now the last week until KUKI and I’m getting down my to-do list so it’s all good. This week will be table mock-up, labels and packaging. At this point I’m not stressed but then maybe I should be? Oh now I’m stressed about not being stressed!! Just kidding, it’s all good.

I’ll post a picture of my table mock-up when I’ve done it and I’ll compare it with the actual table later on just for a laugh!

Have a good week

Jaine x

About Post Author

blogmanager

webadmin@basementstudio.lu