Size Matters

Or maybe I should say length matters.

I am a new teacher on SkillShare.com, and my first course,  Beginner Glass Mosaics is live on the SkillShare website. Since I'm new at this teaching business, I had no idea what I was doing. Don't get me wrong, I know how to mosaic, but filming, voiceover, editing, and posting it all online in a captivating course is a totally different thing.

As it turns out, no one wants to watch someone grout for 20 minutes. My course was long and boring. Fortunately, SkillShare will let you edit a course after it's published. I was able to ask for some tough love feedback from friends and other teachers, and I took my class from 44 minutes down to 24 minutes!

My videos are much shorter and concise. They have less pauses and repetitive information, and the course is overall a faster pace. Yay for me! Thanks to some great feedback and honesty. Sometimes you have to take the bitter pill.

Yes, size does matter. In this case, shorter is better!

Learn Something New!

I recently discovered a website called SkillShare.com where you can learn all kinds of things in encapsulated online courses taught by people like you and me. People who are literally sharing their skills. How cool is that? And that's not all! Anyone can be a teacher and earn royalties when people take their classes. I said, "sign me up!"

If you know me at all, you know I do all kinds of things. I draw, sew, mosaic, make jewelry, and there's more, but I'm not going to list it all here. What should I teach? I decided to search through the SkillShare courses to see what was out there. I didn't find anyone teaching mosaics. BINGO!

I joined SkillShare with a free 2 month premium membership. I then joined one of their new teacher challenges, which was fantastic! They offer tons of support and resources. They give you deadlines to keep you on track, and award prizes for various things. I won a $20 Amazon gift card for leaving helpful comments for other teachers. You can also win a lot of other cool prizes, like microphones.

I filmed my course using my iPad. I did voice overs on my videos using my Apple headphones and edited using iMovie. I uploaded all of my videos, seven in all, and was finished! They give you templates to created a project and a lesson plan to help you plan your course, and give you tips for marketing your course.

My course is called "Beginner Glass Mosaics: Create a Picture Frame"

Not only was it fun and easy to do, but I'm excited to make more courses. My next course will be about glass cutting tools. Then I plan to do an intermediate course, and an advanced course.

Check out my course, and try out a free trial of SkillShare.com like I did. You might find so many courses you love, you'll want to sign up, and maybe even teach some courses yourself!


One other thing - because I published my course within the teacher challenge one month deadline, I won a free one year Premium SkillShare membership valued at $99. Pretty sweet!

If People Were Like Cats

Everyone in my family has cats. We all love dogs too, but we have cats. Cats are easier. Recently, my oldest daughter and I were having a conversation about cats, as we often do. If you are a pet person, you know that your pets are often the topic of conversation. Our pets are considered family members, just like kids. They are cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters. You might think
this is odd, but it's who we are and how we were raised.

I was telling my daughter a story about my three cats and how one of them is always spooking the others. I have one, Rocky, who is a "Rag Doll" which means she has long hair and looks a lot like a raccoon. She tends to be a bit flighty and is always looking for trouble. One day she caused a crash in my bedroom while I was in the bathroom getting ready for work. The other two cats were in the hallway looking in my bedroom door with alarm. They had that "you're in big trouble" look on their faces. When I went in my room, I couldn't find anything amiss. I have no idea what the crash was.


I had taken a shower, so I had gotten dressed in the bathroom and brought my nightgown back in the bedroom with me. When I tossed my nightgown on my bed, this spooked Rocky who took off like a shot out of my room, which spooked the other two, and all three scrambled down the stairs like a herd of horses running from a wolf. This kind of thing happens at my house several times a day.

My daughter said, "Wouldn't it be funny if people were like cats and got spooked at every little thing?" The thought of this started us giggling.

I work at a university, so I immediately started to imagine students quietly studying in classrooms until someone dropped a book, and then all kinds of chaos would ensue. Desks toppling, papers flying, students scattering, which would then startle other students and professors in the hallway, who would then scatter and run. If people were like cats, this would only be a momentary outburst, because everyone would quickly realize they were not in danger and stand, panting, looking around at each other accusingly before going back to business as usual.  Imagine this kind of thing happening everywhere! Grocery stores, office buildings, banks, I don't even want to think about driving along the freeway!

By the time my daughter and I were finished imagining various scenarios, we were laughing so hard we were crying. Now, every time my cats spook one another, I giggle a little to myself as I imagine them as people on the job somewhere, getting absolutely nothing done, because if people were like cats, let's face it. We would get a lot more sleep, have a lot more fun, but would accomplish absolutely nothing.

My City

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on my blog. I decided maybe I should start blogging again; my three loyal followers deserve it.

Just over a year ago, I bought a house. It's an old house. In fact, it will be 100 years old in 2016. Not only is my house old, but it's in Flint, Michigan. Recently, I went to a conference and was asked, "where are you from?" When my response was Flint, I was met with, "I'm sorry" and a mournful expression as if I'd just told him my puppy died. My response to this was, "I'm not. I love Flint." and I do.

Our lives here are not defined by the auto industry anymore. Yes, it left us in a devastated, shocked, and unprepared state of confusion. There was a time when graduating from high school and getting a job at General Motors or Buick meant a person was "set for life." Life was good, and the money flowed. There was no need for a college degree, or any life skills beyond what it took to work on the line or run a machine. Career goals meant following in the footsteps of fathers and grandfathers who were shop rats. It was a false sense of security that ended, and took with it the livelihood of the city - but not anymore.

Flint is becoming a college town.

You may scoff at the idea, but look around. New businesses are popping up all along Saginaw St. There are new housing opportunities from studio apartments to luxury lofts. Business is spreading outward from downtown as well, and students are still flowing into the still reasonably new student housing options at the University of Michigan-Flint. UM-Flint was once a commuter university, but has turned into a multifaceted residence oriented university with more and more international students, bringing business into Downtown Flint.

Flint is home to the University of Michigan-Flint, Mott Community College, Kettering University, Baker College, and now Michigan State University, as well as satellite locations for other colleges and universities. At any given time, faculty, staff, and students can be seen downtown at restaurants, coffee shops, eateries, bars, and the famous Flint Farmer's Market. The streets that were once a ghost town when devastation and disbelief hit, are now becoming, have become, lively, colorful, and a destination once again.

Yes, I live in Flint. We still have our problems; water is the latest issue, but we will overcome it. Yes, we have crime, but so does every city. I live in Flint, and I love my old house with it's original hardwood floors, French doors, and grand woodwork. I have wonderful neighbors too. In fact, I am now the Vice President of my neighborhood council.

When I sit in my favorite spot, my screened front porch, and look down my street at all the other old houses, the mature trees, and all the activity in my neighborhood, I know I'm truly home. This home in Flint is the first home in my adult life that has truly been right.

Buckle Up!

My mom was rummaging around one day and came up with some old, or shall I say "vintage" belt buckles. She didn't think much of them at first, but then thought about me. She brought them over and said, "can you do something with these?" Of course I said, "YES! These are GREAT!" I had no idea yet what I would do with them, but I kept picking them up and looking at them. It wasn't long before I starting thinking about bracelets. I came up with some ribbon and beads and well... there you go. Vintage Belt Buckle Bracelets. A little weird, kind of fun, definitely "Accidental Tourist." Keep that stuff comin' mom!

After the Spring Market

Okay, so I have my first real live craft show under my belt. I debated on whether or not I should discuss my lack of success here. However, I decided since this blog is all about my journey I need to disclose all. I sold absolutely nothing in the six hour-long show. Zip, zilch, zero.

I spent hours making jewelry and beading three wooden boxes for this show. I paid $10 for a half table space, I photographed everything, I put all of my items up on my Web site, I redesigned and printed my business cards, purchased shopping bags and stamped them with "Thank You". I cut squares of multicolored tissue paper to wrap shoppers' purchases. I designed a display that was unique and creative and truly unlike others at the show.

I worked hard.

Shoppers came to my table. Shoppers oooohed and they aaaahed. Shoppers picked up items and exclaimed about their loveliness and creativity to their companions. Shoppers asked questions about my items and they told me how fun they are, how pretty, how creative, how innovative, how....
Shoppers put my items back on my table with loving care and they walked away.

Want to know the best part of the whole day? This is the real kicker! There was a small step in the building. It was a step that was long and low and nondescript. It went around the entire lobby area and shoppers were tripping on it all day despite the valiant attempt of the organizers to mark it and constantly warn people. My 80 year old mom fell down the step and landed on her knees. She didn't break anything, but she did get scraped up pretty bad, and as he day wore on her ankle became quite sore. We kept it elevated and iced, and she thought she was fine. However, when it was time to leave, it was extremely difficult for her to walk on it. The last four hours of our day were spent in the ER.

My mom's blood pressure had sky rocketed, she has a deep tissue bruise on her right ankle, she won't be able to drive for at least a few days, and will need to get around her house with a walker. A good time was had by all.

Spring Craft Market

(First posted on 1000Markets blog on April 20, 2010)

I am pretty excited! I’ve been making things, art, stuff, my whole life. I’ve sold a few things here and there, but for the most part it’s all been for my own pleasure or I’ve given it away as gifts.

Last year I opened an Etsy shop and then moved my shop here, to 1000Markets. Now, for the first time EVER I’m going to have a table at a craft market! Well, half a table. I couldn’t bring myself to take the plunge and get a whole table. I didn’t have anything to sell until about a week ago.

You see, I’ve been busy with grad school. I also got a bit discourage with this Web site selling business. I’ve sold a few things, but not many. My career highlight was when I sold my mosaic jewelry box!! That was a big sale. Anyway, I started giving my stuff away as gifts – my old fall back. When I saw this spring market opportunity and the fact that I could get a HALF table! Well, I did a crazy thing and filled out the application, a month late even, and here I am frantically making jewelry!

1000Markets had revoked my selling privileges because I had been so lax in my duties as a vendor. I had to not only get busy making stuff to sell, but I felt I needed to get it all up on my Web site too! How can I be a credible vendor at a craft market with no Web site?? I have to have a business card with a URL!

With just under a month’s notice, here I am, back on the Web, back in business, and in my first spring craft market. If you're in the area, stop by:

Hosted by Flint Handmade ~ Downtown Flint, Michigan ~ May 1, 2010 ~ 10:00-3:00 ~ It's gonna be pretty darn cool! It always is!

One man's trash....

I know it's been a while since I posted to my blog. I also know that if you want to gain followers, and keep them, you have to post often. However, I don't see the point in posting when I have nothing new to say. I now have something to share!

Much to the embarrassment of my 15 year old daughter, I am not above picking something out of someone's garbage if I think I can make use of it. The window in the picture is an example. Behind each of the panes, I have created a collage of my own photography. Photos of vacations and items I find interesting. The shelf under the window my mom purchased for me. It makes a perfect window sill! I started this project some time ago and finally got around to finishing it and hanging it yesterday. I like the fact that the paint is chipped and pealing. It's exactly the way I found it, sitting out by the road in someone's trash.... only cleaner.

I once picked up an antique chair from the side of the road. I feel as though I rescued it. Much to the shock of my roommate at the time who only saw a filthy, worn, dust ridden old piece of junk in the middle of the kitchen. I was in the process of ripping the old tattered upholstery off when he came in. I was covered in dirt and sneezing from the dust. His exclamation was, "What the HELL is that??" It is definitely very old. I'll save the story for another post.

Recently I picked up two perfectly good wooden serving trays from someone's trash. They are the kind with folding legs, so that if you are fortunate, you might have someone bring you breakfast in bed. Apparently the person who threw them away didn't contemplate any breakfasts in bed any time soon. I plan to mosaic these trays and turn them into something beautiful.

So, my question is, why do people throw perfectly good items out in the trash?? Granted, I have been fortunate enough to come across some cool stuff and do something creative with it. However, I simply don't understand why people throw good things away. There is a Goodwill drop off right here in my town. There are churches and homeless shelters that take donations. Why throw it away when you can give it to someone?

Have your cake and bake it too

The past few days I've been helping out with a university event where staff donate cakes for a "cake race" and the people that run or walk in the race all get their choice of a cake at the end of the race. I've never worked the event before, and did it this time because my friend that usually does it had an accident and needed surgery; I took over her duties at the last minute.

I know people are busy these days, but I was surprised at how many people bought the cakes, or other baked goods, they donated. I'm not complaining mind you, we appreciated ALL of the donations, I simply thought more people would bake for an event like this. Since most of the participants on the race are students, and most of the donations come from faculty and staff, it seems as though students would appreciate home baked items rather than store bought. Just say'n.

On the other hand, students will eat anything. I have learned during my eight years of working at a university that if you want students to come to an event, all you have to do is use the words "FREE FOOD" and they will come in droves. Just say'n.

Economics

I started class Tuesday night. It looks as though this will be a good class! What a relief! Economics is actually an interesting subject if you have a good instructor. My current instructor is funny, has good taste in books - even though he chose seven of them - and doesn't make math a part of his class. These are all important factors for me when I make a judgment on a faculty member.

Someone once told me that math and art are very similar. Since I hate math and love art - I disagree. That's an understatement. Since I am good at art, and break into a sweat, develop a rash, and hyperventilate when I have to do math, I disagree.

Economics is interesting because everyone wants money. How we go about getting it, losing it, and the fact that we dream about having it, runs our lives! I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it simply is. We share it, we steal it (that's bad), we spend it, we save it, we move it around. We think about it more than we think about sex. Think about it! It's true! When we don't have it we're ruined, when we get it, it ruins us.

Economics... good class.

Top of the Box - Top of the Weekend!

I did it! I have completed my jewelry box project by the end of the holiday weekend!
This is a photo of the box before grout. Notice that I left what is called "grout lines" - the curved lines in the piece. This is simply another way of directing the eye.


The next photo is the piece grouted and cleaned. I'm very pleased to have finished this project this weekend!! Off to class tomorrow!

The Top of the Box cont...

It's 11:30 pm again, and I've been working on this piece all day. I get an idea in my head and I can't let it go. I'm also under a time crunch because I start class on Tuesday and I have no idea how much homework I'll have. I won't be able to get this grouted before class starts, but grouting is the easy part. It's also a lot of fun!













Grouting is less thinking and more like playing in mud. It's like when you were a kid at the beach making sand castles. You get to mush your hands around in the grittiness and smear it all over working it down between the pieces of glass. It feels good, and it's also the moment of truth. It's when you know if your piece actually works or not.













The color you choose for the grout is extremely important! It can make or break your piece. You also have to make sure you mix enough grout if you mix a custom color. I use plain grout, un-tinted, and mix it with acrylic paint. I'm new at all of this, and what I know I've learned from my Californian friend - hopefully he won't be upset that I am giving away trade secrets...

The Top of the Box...

Stage One...

Yesterday, after opening an early Christmas/birthday gift from my dear friend in California - see the tools pictured in the background of the photo? He bought me my own nippers, a glass cutter, and some running pliers. (I was using borrowed nippers). Also a GREAT ceramic coffee mug so I can drink coffee from a creative mug while I work . :0}

After my mom and I listened and watched the same friend play the Warsaw Concerto (From the movie Dangerous Moonlight, 1941) over iChat - the Warsaw Concerto is my mom's favorite piece of music and my friend has been learning it for her for months. He is an amazing pianist and brought my mom to tears.

And, after visiting with my daughter and granddaughter for a bit, picking up my 15 year old daughter and her friend, and making a run to the store to buy oil for my glass cutter, and some Titebond glue, I was finally ready to begin my jewelry box project.

As I said I would, I took the top off of the box, covered the mirror side with newspaper, and taped off the edges. I also used a light sandpaper to ruff up the surface so it would be easier for the glue to grab hold.

I was just going to type the words "Stage Two" when I realized I probably should have taken a photo of my drawing. What I was about to call Stage Two is actually more like Stage Three.

Stage Two...
I drew my design on a piece of drawing paper, and since I don't have any transfer paper right now... which would be a great idea by the way, I cut my drawing into sections and traced the sections onto the lid of the box.

Stage Three...

I then started cutting my glass and gluing the pieces in place. I was a bit frustrated with myself because it has been tough to get the hang of my new glass cutter (the tool at the top left of the photo). Like everything, I have to jump into doing something complicated like cutting curved flower petals. It's not easy!!

To use the glass cutter, you have to hold the cutter straight up, or perpendicular to the table, apply firm pressure, run the carbide blade on the glass in the shape you want, and then snap the glass with the running pliers (yellow handled tool). Let me tell you, it takes some practice! One nice thing about mosaics is that you can always use the scrap pieces of glass for another project!

Another difficult task is keeping my cat Shady from sitting right in the middle of my project. He has to have his nose in EVERYTHING! I had trouble even taking these photos. I would have posted a photo with him in it except that he is black, and it's tough to get a shot of him that doesn't look like a black blob. Especially at night - I took these pictures at 11:30 pm.

I'll be working on this project all day today - stay tuned!

Moving on..

My last project, small but fun, was a complete set - necklace, earrings, and bracelet. I love the large hook shaped clasp. Big, long, and clunky is in!

My next project is going to be a mosaic on the top of this jewelry box! I'm excited about this one! I think I will log my progress on my blog. I'll let you know when I am frustrated, things are going
well, and of course when it's finished!









My first task will be to draw a design. I will also take the top right off of the box. It has small screws which I can carefully take out. This will protect the rest of the box from damage - especially from grout! I'll cover the bottom of the lid - mirror side - with newspaper and tape to protect it while I'm working.

This will be my Labor Day Weekend project since I start class on September 8. My fall semester class will be Economics and I had to purchase seven, yes "7" books for this class!! I may not be making much art during the fall semester... or at least large projects like this jewelry box!

Oh to SELL on Etsy!

Yes my friends, I sold the jar I was so concerned about. The piece I fretted over. The one I thought was going to be a disaster, and thought the band around the bottom of the jar wasn't going to cut it, was my first "real" sale. I say my first real sale only because the first person to purchase something from my site was one of my best friends. She didn't have to do that. I would have given her anything she wanted. The person who purchased the Cobalt Jar was a complete stranger from PA (THANK YOU!). I love that jar...

Broken Compass

Now that I've started this new journey back into the world of making art, I find myself not knowing what project to begin next. I've always been a bit eclectic in my work - I like too many different kinds of art. Photography, drawing, painting, collage, now mosaic and jewelry making. I've done needle crafts such as quilting, cross stitching, needlepoint, and embroidery. You name it and I've probably tried it, and most likely mastered it to an acceptable skill level.

Acceptable. Yes, that's what I said. Acceptable. It has always seemed to me that I should probably pick something and stick to it in order to go beyond acceptable and possibly become an expert. The idea scares me. Maybe it's like the groom fretting over the idea of having to sleep with only one partner for the rest of his life. Do I have a problem with commitment?

I'm usually the one that jumps in with both feet. I'm the one that always says, "Let's make a decision and go with it." Why is it that I can't pick one medium, one art form, and stick with it until it's perfect?

I've always been jealous of artists who have a style. You look at their work and you know. You simply know whose work it is without seeing the signature. I've always wanted that...

Pretty Sneaky...

I have always loved a good scare. I love scaring people, and I love it when someone is actually able to scare me. Especially since I don't scare easily. However, this new found addiction I have - Etsy - has lead me to discover a new way of sneaking up on someone! It's called the "Sneak Attack" and it's so darn cool I can't stand it!

Here's how it works. There is a guy, Michael Phipps, who got a bunch of other Etsy sellers together one day and they all bought a bunch of stuff from another Etsy seller who wasn't expecting it! In other words, one day this seller had lots of stuff for sale but had barely sold anything, and the next day they checked their email and all of a sudden BAM! their inbox was full of sales! How cool is that??? Now they hold Sneak Attacks on a regular basis. I'm going to go broke because I feel I need to purchase something during each one! I can't keep doing that.

If you want to join the fun, go to: http://www.handmademovement.com/

Mini Art!

I've discovered something amazing! ATC - or Artist Trading Cards! Also called ACEO, or Art Cards, Editions, and Originals. I think they are the coolest thing since Panera Bread with free Wi Fi.

ATCs are 2.5" x 3.5" size pieces of original artwork for trading. Most of them are quite inexpensive, under $10, which means anyone can buy and collect pieces of fine art. That's right!! Even YOU can have a mini art gallery in your own home! Some of them are amazing! Truly.

As you know, I have just begun my journey back into making art. I've just finished my first three ATCs and they are okay... they don't live up to some of the others I've seen, but they are a start. I had a great time creating them, and since I believe with all of my heart that art is about the process, not the finished product, they are a success!

I've purchased my first two ATCs from other artists on Etsy, and I am anxiously awaiting their arrival! I can't wait to have my own little art gallery in my studio! Especially since I have, for the first time ever, a room in my house that is my own art studio (also a guestroom w/futon but what the heck).

Tick Tock

This is a pretty unusual piece. My 15-year-old daughter hates it. My 19-year-old daughter thinks it’s cool. It was fun to make! I took apart an old broken clock… well, I don’t think you can even call it a clock; it was the guts of a clock that was my uncle’s. He’s now in a nursing home and rambles about the Canadian Government (we live in the USA) and the nurses that work for the CIA. He seems happy in his world of secrecy and espionage… he gave me permission to take his clock before his stroke.

When I was pulling apart the old clock, trying to get all of the gears out, and looking for interesting parts I could use in my art, there was an old spring wound up tight. My mom was sitting there looking on. She said, “be careful that doesn’t spring and hit you.” It wasn’t two minutes later and that thing made a shrill “shriinggg” sound and sprung! It didn’t hit me, in fact it didn’t come all the way unsprung (if that’s a word), but it threw dust everywhere! The old clock was dusty, greasy, and covered with many year’s worth of time keeping collected in all its parts. A good soaking in WD40 cleaned everything up nicely.

I have two more clocks – one that was still ticking when my cousins brought it down from my uncle’s room even after he’s been in the nursing home for over a year – and another that is broken. I plan to use the parts for more jewelry, mosaics, and other artwork. I don’t know why my uncle had all of those clocks. My mom says my grandfather would be happy I’m using them. He used to repair clocks. I never met my grandfather, but I’ve always had a fascination for clocks and clock parts… I wonder if it’s genetic?

In Case You're Curious...

I was working on this piece when I wrote the “Falling off the Edges” post. It was a birthday gift for a friend, so I couldn’t post a picture until I gave it to her. Fortunately, she likes it… “LOVES” it, which makes everything worthwhile. :0}