My Blue Zen

I have been reinventing myself lately.

Figuring out what means the most to me and what I want to focus on.

Mostly, that's been my family, my home, and my health. I've had some issues from back pain, fatigue, skin issues, and infections that won't go away and I am on a mission to get this all straightened out. I haven't given up on making art. But, right now, there are more important things to focus on.

I have been working on our garden. I want to grow as many herbs and veggies as I can for my family. Landscaping our home and making it a retreat for us and our friends has been a focus as well. I want my home to be my sanctuary.

I've redevoted myself to yoga. It has been really helping with my back pain and energy levels.

I started studying up and found out how to make soaps and lotions that were gentle and actually healing to the skin.

I started that because I was finding no relief from the gawd-awful eczema I've been getting on my hands and feet every summer. I've figured out it's an allergy. I know I can't handle SLS (sodium laurel sulfite) which is the foaming agent in most commercial soaps. It makes a nice lather, and a nice red, itchy rash on me. And I know I am allergic to knapweed. Knapweed is a noxious weed that grows ALL OVER this lovely land called Montana. It's even all over our property. Battling it every summer has made my hands get tough, crack and bleed and scab up. It's really fun.

I really believe in my creams and soaps so I made a etsy shop for them. So far, I'm making hand balms,  lotions, soaps and lip balms, but I have a feeling I will find more fun things to make in the future.

I started a batch of goat milk soap back in the beginning of December and it’s finally ready. I know that seems like a long time to wait for soap, but believe me it’s worth it.
I use the cold process method. That means I don’t cook the soap to death to get the lye in it to neutralize right away. It takes about 3 weeks of curing time to get a good hard, neutral bar of soap.
But my secret is double processing, also known as French milling, which takes longer. (I guess it’s not a secret because I just told you) I make a plain, unscented batch, let it cure for 2 weeks, then chop it up into little pieces, and melt it back down again and add glycerin for extra gentleness, essential oils, herbs and mineral color. Then it has to set for 3 more weeks. But, the result is a fabulous soap that cleans with a soft lather, smells wonderful, and is extra gentle on my sensitive skin.

 www.bluezennaturals.etsy.com

If you would like to try some for yourself I sell sample sized jars. (above next to the lotion bottle) Like I said, I use it every day and I really believe in what I've made. 

Prints by Elizabeth Claire Rose

I have a love affair with Etsy. I am always looking for new things to make me "ooooh" and "awwww" and Etsy is a great place for finding that.

So, one day while browsing Missoula artists I found Elizabeth Claire Rose. I was so impressed by her prints and photos that I asked her if she would like to bring a few by for the gallery. She said she would (yay!). Just yesterday brought me a huge assortment of prints: photographic, block, and intaglio. She has some greeting cards and magnets made of her work as well.

I would have asked her to write a bio like some of the other artists here in the shop, but she's on her way to Eastern Europe tomorrow and just a little busy getting ready. Maybe later.

Till then, you MUST come see her work in person.

Anita Mistry–Itsamistry Design Studio

Anita Mistry is a friend, as she would say, from the other side of the pond. Anita harks from Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England and has graciously sent some of her divine handmade jewelry for sale here in the States.

Itsamistry Design Studio specializes in hand crafted jewelry, made mainly from sterling silver, combined with semi precious stones, artisan or glass beads, Swarovski or Czech crystals. Anita designs and custom makes a unique range of her own designs, where no two pieces of jewelry are the same or designs pieces incorporating client’s ideas and themes. The product range includes necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets and hairpieces and is now being diversified into cake jewelry.

Anita was also invited to submit a craft jewelry project recently for a National Craft Magazine about the Ananta Bead Necklaces (which are stocked in the Gallery!) and was subsequently asked to run a workshop in the USA and is further developing a series of workshops at her studio for adults and children from age 8 upwards.

See more of Anita’s jewelry, paintings, greeting cards and other artsy creations on her website. http://www.itsamistrydesignstudio.com/

No Maps on the Career Path

I need to move on. I need a new direction. A new horizon, a new job... but not any ol' job. I need something that will inspire me to smile or whistle while I work. Something creative. Something I can feel good about. Something that I want to do when I get up in the morning. Something that will contribute to the happiness of other people or animal's lives. I do lots and lots of things that fit these descriptions on a daily basis, but the point I am making is that I need the things I do to PAY ME!

Cleaning houses is a fine job. For someone of a heartier constitution, it may be a lifelong career. It pays well, the people are generally very happy you are there to make their lives easier, usually no one breathing down your neck so you are free to work as you please. BUT! I have been having physical issues that complicate my work. Back pain, joint pain, dizzy spells, and low blood sugar have been making work uncomfortable lately. Well, for a while actually. I just am getting fed up enough about it now that I'm whining. Audibly.

Let's brainstorm ways Melanie can make money creatively:

Etsy

My etsy store has sold a whopping nada since I opened it. But that could because I've neglected it horribly since I listed my first 18 items. I hear tell that the pictures on an etsy page will make or break a store. The pictures not taken by me are just lovely. I hired a photographer friend of mine to photograph some of my work for my etsy site on trade. (I still owe her a set of gloves) The ones I took are hideous and don't show the products in good detail. My camera gives me a case of the "goddammit"s. I just can't get the lighting right. So, I haven't listed anything else since because I have only gotten crappy photos. I think my crafty things are better appreciated when held in your hand anyway.

I think the whole etsy thing is not for me. I spent more time online than making things to put online when I started it. That's not really productive. I'll keep it up and probably will add things here or there, but it's not going to be a full time pursuit.


Craft Markets

My husband has suggested I take my creative vomitings to the local arts and crafts markets on Saturdays throughout summer. I suppose it's a start, but it's hardly a full time job. I mean we just bought a house! I need a regular income! Once a week for 20 or so weeks is not going to feed us year round. I may give it a shot next weekend... but what would I sell? There's my knitting, quilting, stuffed critters, dyed fabric, paintings, drawings... where do I focus? That's like asking an amphibian to pick land or water!

I'm not a very fast knitter, which makes keeping a full inventory difficult. Though, people do really like the things I make. I've had numerous requests for my gloves and hats. Sideline maybe? But not my main focus... I just wouldn't make enough off of it.

I've not been doing much in the way of painting or drawing lately. The "good stuff" comes in spurts of creative genius (HA!) with lots of crap in between. Not good for making me rich either. No one wants crap.

I LOVE making my little tater stuffies! They are so fun. I really just want to keep them when I make them. And set them on my bed. And talk to them. But I've yet to sell a single one... I don't know if anyone else is as crazy as I am about armless furry things. Maybe I'll push them for a while and see where it takes me. Maybe.


Art quilts are fun. They are fantabulous to make. I really enjoy the process of dyeing, printing, hand sewing, and touching all that fabric! But I don't know if there's really a market for them. I seem to have a ton of them on display around town and have sold 2 in the last year. I suppose that's better than the big fat zero etsy sales.

Something Completely New

I've recently toyed with the idea of doing something new. Daring even. Like opening a gallery/studio space for other artists ala the Ceretana. I have ideas on how to run things in a more professional way than how they were run at the Ceretana. Things there didn't run all that smoothly at times... but that's another story. There are many open store fronts downtown and a ton of artists in this community who need space to work and exhibit on the cheap. With maybe a small modest shop for selling arty/crafty things too. I think I'd focus on mixed media and sculpture since that is a niche that seems not overly full in this town.

This all takes money though. And I am not exactly rolling in it. I could share responsibility with other like minded artist types or business folk. But do I want it to be a co-op or a profit driven environment? Do I want to let other people have a full share? I'm not really sure I'm that trusting or giving. But then, if it were a co-op and it failed... it's not JUST my fault and it's not JUST me who loses. I'm not thinking failure right now though. I want to succeed!

Fact of the matter: I must start something. Soon. I can't wait forever.

Tater Stuffies!

One of the new fun things I've been working on lately is the Tater Stuffie. A tater stuffie is about 7 inches tall, has no arms or legs, but occasionally has a tail. They also sometimes eat popcorn...

Bunny Tater

This one is a Siamese Tater

This is the Devil Mouse Tater

This is FrankenTater

You can see them (or make them yours!) HERE at my etsy store!