Rochester Museum and Science Center Women's Council Holiday Bazaar

I just got back from a weekend in Rochester, NY. I had been invited to do the Holiday Bazaar at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. I had never heard of this show before, so after I had been invited to participate, I went home and researched it some online. I found out it was a quality show with approximately 175 fine artists and craftspeople. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I got there. The work was exceptional! I immediately called my husband to tell him about it. He asked me if I was flattered or intimidated. I said a little of both. If I had not been invited to this show, and had gone to it first, I'm pretty sure I would have thought I wasn't good enough to participate in it.

All my doubts went away when I heard all the wonderful comments about my work from all the people! The feed back was incredible! I met alot of awesome people, made some great friends, talked to alot of interesting people and made some money, too! I must say, this was by far the friendliest show I have ever done. I want to thank Christine DeTurck for inviting me to do this show!

As promised, I have included some (poor) pictures of my display. I had an odd space. It was 14 ft. long by 3 ft. wide in an entrance hall. It was just enough room for 2 6 ft. tables and my desk. There wasn't even enough room for me to sit in my space! Luckily, the woman next to me let me sit with her in her space. We became fast friends. Hi Kim!

There were some advantages to the space. Being in the entrance hall, everyone had to walk by. We were also located directly across from the restrooms, so all the vendors had to walk by too! It was also convenient, since I was basically by myself, I didn't have to leave my space too long when nature called!

All in all, I had a great show! I was a little nervous doing this show out of town with extra expenses to cover, but it all worked out fanastically and I would definitely do it again!

Getting ready

Well, this is it! This weekend is what I've been working so hard for. Everything is done and packed up. I set up both displays in my foyer, split and packed my inventory and pulled out some hair. Who in their right mind would ever do 2 Holiday Bazaars in the same weekend???? I am obviously NOT in my right mind. (and I have a feeling, if all goes well this year, I'll be doing it again next year.) Thankfully, the one at my church can be handled by my Mom (and kids) while I'm in Rochacha at the Museum and Science Center for 3 days doing the Bazaar there.

Thanks, Mom, for all your help! Thanks, kids, for all your help! (note the hard hats worn in the construction area) Thanks, hubby, for all your help! And thanks, Christmas (my kitty), for your help in rubbing your kittiness on my vintage button flowers!

I'll post pics of my handcrafted wares and display when I get back. This is my second show/sale since I've gotten back in the game and I just need it to be super successful, like the first one was. I have extra expenses with this show being 80 miles away. This is the first one I've done that wasn't local AND 3 days, instead of 2. I'm excited! More when I get back....

Sinister Sisters

The Sinister Sisters... inspired by the Halloween season, I suppose. Or maybe my dark side has just poked its eerie head out for a look. I don't know. The girls are kinda creepy, don't you think? There's no hidden (intentional) meaning here, it was just fun to create these two.

When I was little, my Mom used to make me cakes for my birthdays with dolls in them. The doll would be stuck in the middle of the cake and the cake would be the skirt. I hated them. She knows this now. She thinks that may be why I take them apart and do this to them now. (She didn't have an explanation for the pile of skulls in the corner.)

My kids love them! My 8 yr. old son asked if the one with the baby in the cage was at a daycare keeping the baby safe. And my 9 yr. old daughter wants me to give her a doll head because she needs to make something...

Littlest Angel

Christmas is coming and so is holiday bazaar season! This is my newest addition to my doll family. My littlest angel to hang on the tree!

If anyone reading this is going to be in the Rochester, NY area Nov. 19th- Nov. 21, come visit me at the 40th annual 2010 Holiday Bazaar arts and craft sale at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. This bazaar is presented by the RMSC Women's Council and runs Nov. 19th 5-9pm, Nov. 20th 9:30am-5pm and Nov.21 11am-4pm. Admission $5 or $7 for a 2 day pass. I'll be in bldg.2.

If you'll be in the Buffalo area, my mom will be manning my spot at my church bazaar! (Oops! I double booked and - guess who's co-chair...) Churchill Memorial United Methodist Church's 3rd Holiday Craft Bazaar in Boston, NY on Nov. 20th 9am-4pm.

Hope to see you there!

Thank you, Carla Trujillo!

Back in June of this year, Carla Trujillo commented on my GameBoy on MixedMediaArt.com.That day I began following Carla's Indian Doll Art Works blog. I was in awe of her work. She inspired me to continue working on my dolls. You can see her influence, now in my work. And Although they'll never be as wonderful as Carla's, I love them just the same. Thank you, Carla, for your kind words and the inspiration you brought me. By the way, the one mounted on the blue yardstick is called Carla- just to say thanks-again.

You can find most of these art dolls in my etsy shop, RustyButton at RustyButton.etsy.com.

Wow! What a busy and amazing summer! I created lots of art. I had a great time doing it and was amazed at how much I was able to get done with the kids at home. They were fantastic! They're getting so much more independent and they're so good!

Early in the summer, I took the kids down to the creek that I grew up near. It was hot and we didn't have a pool up for them yet. So they swam and I searched for heart shaped rocks. I didn't find any, but I did find lots of pottery shards!

I cleaned them up and used one so far in a collage. I can't post the pic of the collage yet, because its stuck on my camera right now. Long story short, the usp (usb?) port is no longer working on my computer, so I have to figure out how to download the pics from the camera card. Hubby will have to show me later.

This summer, I got my feet wet with doing Craft Shows and Sales again. I hadn't done them in about 8 years. I started small, at my church. ( a pic of my booth with my kids frolicing in the background) I sold a couple of items. I didn't get discouraged, I just kept going and applied (late) to a local Arts Festival. I got in and had the best show I ever had!!

As soon as I can download my pics, I'll post what I've been creating and what my booth display looked like for the Quaker Ats Festival. (What a difference!)

Oranges Poranges

This is my latest abstract painting of a collage I made. Oranges poranges, oh yeah!~Witchy Poo of HR Puff-n-Stuff fame...
So, Lisa made a good point in her comment regarding housework, etc having to be creative. Maybe those of us who find it difficult to do the not so creative stuff in life should go about this in a different way. Maybe we need to see it in a more creative way...as an example of our creativity. For example, decorating a home is creative expression, therefore why couldn't cleaning also be creative expression? Like brushing paint onto the canvas is to a painting so should house cleaning be to the home? Too deep? I'm not sure if I've even sold myself on this. I need to think on it some more...

My Creative Life

I still haven't gotten the chance to weed my garden, but the flowers appear to be thriving despite my neglect. I only just recently started "living the creative life" full time, and with the onset of that came the disorganization of my home life. I often wondered why people used to make such a big deal about women, primarily mothers, balancing work with home. I get it now.

Creating art everyday has become somewhat of an obsession of mine. I worry about two things when it comes to my art. 1). That I've started "this" too late in life and I don't have enough time to produce and /or make it productive and 2). that this creative "frenzy" I feel will end (like it has before when real life interfered) and it'll all be over. I hate when its over. I just want to create and create and create. Therein lies the problem. Nothing creative about vacuuming or doing the dishes. Or weeding the garden, although planting my garden had been an expression of me...

I just need to learn how to balance my home life with my creative life. Or maybe just realize that if I just devote an hour in the morning to the housework, I CAN have it all...

Ok. Enough about all that. While I was neglecting everything except my children this week, I created the Niagara Falls collage and finished "Art Comes From Your Heart". The Niagara Falls collage (better name yet to come) needs a really gaudy, by that I mean ornate, gold frame around it. I need to shop the flea market tomorrow...

But wait! There's more!

Oh, and did I forget the new septic system being installed??? The pic is sideways.

I almost forgot this one!

Busy, busy, busy

June is typically a busy month with everyone in my family having a birthday, except for me. And don't forget Father's day! And then I recieved more calls than usual for work. Through it all, I was able to work a little in my studio. A little....

So here are some pics of what pays the bills and what I hope will pay the bills. Oh, and another intruder spying through my windows.

Found Objects

Since these pics were taken a few days ago, the babies have grown a bit. They've been named Peter and Mr. McStubborn. Peter is the one NOT wrapped up like a bunny burrito for feeding time. Baby formula for now (maybe another week or so) then timothy hay then back to my garden, I suppose...

Coming soon to www.RustyButton.etsy.com

Charlotte's House

Love Art

Devil's Purse

Finally! Just puttin' it out there...

This is a sample of the many projects I've been working on. Except for the picture of the spy peeping in the window of my studio. So if you see any work out there that looks eerily similar to mine, and its being presented by a bird...