Journey to the First Craft Show

It's been a very long couple of months, yet it went by so very quickly.

In early May, I'd applied to do a craft show. It'd be my first one. It was for a fundraiser held by Montezuma Winery for the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. About one week into May, illness hit our home, and it hit very hard. Hubby got the flu (another first) and I got... something. We're still not sure, but I think it was a combination of a sinus infection and whooping cough (there is an "epidemic" of it in our area). Needless to say, nothing got accomplished for at least 4 weeks.

Which left-yipes!- 3 weeks to prepare for the show. That included building that inventory I was supposed to create this past year and designing and making displays for the tent.

Eventually, there was not a single, clear flat surface in our entire house. But by this past Sunday morning, we had a full truck and were on the road to our first show.

We had to contend with detours, wind with a primarily paper product, and exhaustion.

Sales were negligible, but the whole experience was great. It was a beautiful day and the other vendors were so warm and helpful. We also observed a few things that will be changed for the next show...in less than 2 weeks!

Wearily, once home, we unloaded the truck on Sunday night, collapsed and have not even cast an eye in the direction of all the items and displays from the show. We've missed our lives these last few weeks and we're trying to catch up a bit.

But, by next week, we should be ready to start again and get the excitement going for the July 4th show.

In the meantime, we're just taking lots of naps!

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A special thanks to all our supporters: the mentor, the muse, the cheerleader, the critic, the everyone who has sent nothing but positive energy our way!

And the Winner Is....

You've caught me in an incredibly indecisive mood, ladies! I cannot decide who wins the Sweetheart Love in a Small Container Giveaway!

So, that being said, ALL 3 of you- Joanne, Chris and Carol, have won! 

Contact me at my email, bronsonhillarts@gmail.com, with information on where to send your prizes and if you prefer grapes or flowers, bud vases or candle holders! But, first to contact me gets first choice!

Thank you so much for participating in the giveaway. It's been wonderful reading about your love for your sweethearts and for life, too.

Have a fantastic Valentine's Day, ladies!

IF Forward

Koi
6x9 Water Color Paint, Acrylic Interference Paint & Water Soluble Pencil on 140# Watercolor Paper
©2012 BEDeuel/Bronson Hill Arts

The Illustration Friday topic this week is "Forward". This painting depicts so many moves forward it couldn't not be used for this week.

Late last year, I was "refreshing" the decor in my house; changing wall hangings, curtains, table dressings, knicknacks, etc. One of the things I had in mind for my bath was to find a round wallhanging of Koi to offset the larger, rectangular print I already had. Do you think I could find a Koi image that would work? No. Of course not. Next year, I'll be tripping over them in every store into which I walk. That's how it always works for me. You, too, probably!

In the meantime, though, I guess that means it's time to learn how to paint Koi. So here is the first step. Painting fish. Not really my area of interest, but, it's time to go, as the cliche says, outside my comfort zone. Moving forward.

Unfortunately, the second indication of moving forward doesn't translate with the image you're viewing here.

A while ago, a beautiful, dear friend of mine was cleaning out her overstock of painting supplies and was good enough to send me some acrylic interference paints. I'd never even heard of them, much less used them. The paints add gloss and sparkle over an image. The picture becomes almost reflective. Sadly, you'll just have to take my word for it, that it looks fantastic on this piece. A gold interference paint on the fish, red violet on the lily pads, and blue over the water.

A new media was incorporated over a familar one. Now I just need to figure how to get a  photographic shot that shows it!

And, lastly, the movement forward has nothing to do with me: it's just the Koi moving, well, forward!

Waiting for the Zen? Here it is: like Koi, we have to keep moving forward, my friends, or else, what's the point? You can stand still, but the view can become stagnant. You can look backwards and enjoy the memory, but you can't live your life with your head buried in the past. Yep. Forward is good.

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A reminder! Leave me a comment describing what you love about your sweetheart by tomorrow night! The best love song, if you will, wins! And, again, if you don't have a sweetheart, just let us know what you know love about Life!

The winner gets their choice of a handpainted bud vase or hurricane-style candle holder! See my previous post for the pictures of the bud vases!

Giveaway Time: Some Romance in a Small Container

These are small (about 2 1/2 " high) handpainted glass bud vases that I had a lot of fun making yesterday.

The thought hit me today that Valentine's Day is only a couple of weeks away. These really would make a lovely holder for a small, lovingly selected flower for your sweetheart!

Tomorrow I want to try to do some small hurricane glasses. Are you thinking a favorite scented candle, too?

I'd like to give one of these to one of my Fellow Fans of Life. Drop me a note that tells me what makes your loved one so wonderful by Sunday night, January 29th.

I'll start: the love of my life, my husband, has a heart as true as can be true. He's sincere in everything he does, be it work or love, family or friends!

I'm excited to hear what you have to say about your sweetheart! Let's have as much fun with this as I did in making these pieces!

'Tis A Season...

As always, life moves forward one day and backwards the next. It often feels as if we're on an escalator that never quite makes it to the next floor.

Whenever it seems as if I've figured out how to manage- or juggle might be a more appropiate word- my many interests, responsibilities and limited time, something always sidelines me. The best laid plans of mice and men, and all that jazz.

On the positive side of things, I've stumbled into another outlet for my painted wine glasses, another way of  creating some unique, perhaps even quirky artwork.

A newly revamped gift shop (and, now, florist) in town, Robbins' Nest, was looking for someone to create some painted glass pieces. After struggling for a bit, trying to do it the "right" or traditional way, I went, "Duh!". Why? Why not do it the way that I do it on paper? And, truthfully, I really liked the results. It also makes it more fun to do!



Floral Hurricane Glass









Practicing Making Roses



Wine Grapes Glass

            




Wine Grapes Glass Detail





















Time will tell if anyone else likes the work enough to buy the pieces. In the meantime, I'll keep playing with designs and colors, trying to find the right combination. Trying to find the time to keep creating new pieces and ideas while balancing everything else life throws our way!