Sunday 7 July 2013

First Summer Post of 2013

Well, I'm back.....again. 
I keep saying things are going to get organized enough for me to pop on here easily once a week to write something, but life doesn't always go along with your plans....

I've gotten it down to a pretty good system. Or at least I think it's a good system. I work Tuesday to Saturday downtown Halifax at an art supply store. I love my job, and wouldn't change a thing. There is something totally inspiring about helping others figure out their art challenges. I love talking about art and craft supplies almost as much as I love using them. Oh, and the discount doesn't hurt either!!

The fun part starts when I get home. 
I basically walk through the door after a 45 minute bus commute, eat supper (or go to the gym for an hour, then eat supper), then start the art. By this point it is probably around 8:30 or 9 pm. 
I usually work until about 11:30-12, then crash. 

This basically repeats itself all week long. 

Things are a little bit different on my two days off. I do all of my running around, squeezing in errands that just didn't happen throughout the week. There is usually a family supper on Sunday (the only time I see my parents and siblings) and sometimes in the mornings I get adventurous and Kanis and I go out hunting for some sweet yard sales (obviously a summer activity..although I'd be up for winter bargaining!!) On Mondays I do crafternoons with one of my closest friends, Crystal. We basically spend hours talking about life and making fun things. We used to do these organized craft meetings in the evenings, but schedules changed, and we finally found a way to reintroduce these much needed social gatherings (thank goodness!!). 

So.....things are a little bit hectic..... 

......and things get a tad worse when I enter.............HOLIDAY CRAFT SEASON...!!

This is the one time of year where all organization kind of gets thrown out the window..My house becomes a war zone. When friends visit they usually get the "Oh, careful, there's an Xacto blade on the couch. Let me move that for you. Wait, I'll just shift this pile of paper to the floor.....There, have a seat. Hey, do you guys want to stay for supper? I'll just need about an hour to clear off the kitchen table. Or would you prefer to sit on the floor?" speech. 

Sad and crazy times. A giant inspiration tornado comes knocking at my door, and my poor boyfriend always seems to answer. It rips past him, and wrecks complete artistic devastation (but kind of in a good way....I'm sure....). After years of this type of chaos, Kanis has come to expect it. He knows that I'll be locked away somewhere cutting out ornaments, or creating some kind of new bobble, or busy in the kitchen baking a million and one shrink plastic earrings. He gets it, and I'm so lucky he understands. 

What am I building up to? 

Well, I've started my Holiday warm up. I've tip toed into this phenomena a tad early this year (I thought I could get a head start you know....and potentially retain a bit of my human composure....). But doing this, I've quickly noticed that my usually systematic way of time organization has vanished. I'm eating supper at weird times, I'm running errands in the evenings after work (WHAT?) and somewhere I lost Kanis in a pile of scrapbooking papers (nah, I'm kidding. He's over there). 

And so, I pose this question to my fellow crafters and artists who work full time jobs: how do you do it??

I think I'm going to have to rethink my battle plan. I'd like to include more blogging time, more Etsy time (which, lets be honest, hasn't happened for two months now....), and maybe some time to see friends? As I've mentioned, I feel like I've successfully found a balance of work and work. The trick is just being able to introduce a few extras into the mix......

SO! Hopefully after I've written this, a little pea sized spot in my brain has been inspired enough to push the rest of my brain into remembering about this blog. 

More blogging. 

More time spent blogging. 

I can do this. 

Now, where did Kanis go? 

:)

Wednesday 2 January 2013

Happy New Year!!!
 
Hard to believe 2013 has snuck up on me so quickly...I feel like it was only yesterday that Kanis and I were decorating our new house for our first New Years bash. Fast forward, and here we are, doing it a second time!
 
Well, at least I can say I'm starting off the new year on a good foot. I did a complete studio clean up, which was no small challenge, considering I did 6 shows this Fall/Winter (!!!). My room was past messy....it was to the point of having become a full on nightmare! And a frustrating one at that. I couldn't stand to be in my room for more than 5 minutes before that little wave of anger would start to creep in. Instead of cleaning, I'd leave and close the door (DO NOT DO THIS! I realize now it was a bad way to go about things....) So what was the first thing I did on my days off for Christmas vacation? I cleaned it all up. And there is still a little bit of work left to do. Kanis and I are planning on installing shelves in my closet, to give me more storage. Once that is done, it'll be putting up some art I've collected, and then VOILA!
 
I've decided to take January and make it an Isa art month. I know I know, I always make Isa art, but this time I mean to make art for me, and for my house. I've gathered all kinds of cool ideas for work to decorate these empty walls in our house, but have yet to have the time to make it all. But this month I am attacking these projects (and a few more....like painting my kitchen!), and I am super pumped!
 
But first up, making a few art pieces for my favorite art show of the year......PRESHRUNK!
 
I will post some works in progess of my creations for this amazing show. As always, I am past excited to get these little gems made! I always have so much fun making tiny art, and the challenge of working tiny in collage is sometimes mind boggling, but always welcome. Keep your eyes peeled for lots of updates!
 
Well, back to the grind I guess!
 
Once again, happy 2013 to everyone! This year is going to be a doozy! Lots of art, fun, and challenges.
 
But it's always worth it right? :)