A New Direction

I was on a big learning curve for over a year and learning how to blog was part of it. Unfortunately, I became confused over what I was doing and ended up with three other blogs, which made the situation even worse as I realized that I didn't know what I was doing or how to correct that which I had already done. Walking away from all of it for a while was probably the best thing I could have done and hopefully, I'm starting where I left off last year.

Anyway, welcome to the continuation of my blog and follow along as I continue to make new discoveries.

Tulips

Interpretation...........the good, the bad and the ugly. My first attempt at a Dutch shoe was a good one that turned out ugly so it was trashed. My second turned out more like a moccasin but isn't as ugly as the first one.

My first attempt at tulips didn't turn out too badly so this is the arrangement that will be entered in the Guild Challenge along with a second entry, a floral cake topper which isn't finished yet.

Challenge

I am entering a Guild Challenge next month in which we are all supposed to design somethng that celebrates Henry Hudson's Quadricentennial trip up the Hudson River! I didn't know what to do with flowers so someone suggested that I create an arrangement of tulips and put them in a Dutch Shoe. Dutch Shoe???? Where in Dutchess County would I find a Dutch Shoe? I started by doing a Google Search and sure enough, you can order original wooden Dutch Shoes but the size I would need would cost about $35.

Did I want to start my creation with an investment of that size not knowing how cold porcelain tulips would turn out? No! Especially since I've never even tried to create a tulip.

Forget the tulips.....what could I do about a Dutch shoe? Well, create one, of course! An old sneaker, some modeling compound, trial and error, a bit of patience, time and redesign and I finally had my Dutch shoe. It's not a thing of beauty so I added a few flowers here and there to dress it up a bit and plan on spraying it with a gloss sealer. Here's what it looks like before the tulips are created! Check out that sexy point in front!!!

Surprise, Surprise

I consign some of my work in a local craft store run by members of a craft guild that I belong to. My sales last year were rather lackluster until December when they really took off which helped me to make the decision to stay in for another year.

Two weeks ago, a customer requested a necklace and earrings to match a bracelet that had been on display for quite a while and yesterday, I received a call telling me that one of my large 11 x 14 framed pieces had sold. Surprise, surprise..........that particular piece had hung in the store since last February!

When I'm not "out there" doing shows and engaging with the public, I start to question what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. Getting sales through shops, Etsy and Artfire is great but it's not quite the same as being at a show, talking to people, explaining and demonstrating the durability of my bread dough and cold porcelain. I usually bang a rose on my tabletop to show how durable they are which always surprises the customer standing in front of me. It's the only way that I can show that they aren't as fragile as they look. Years ago, I was in a craft co-op and my friends who worked in the store had to stop demonstrating their durability because the roses were creating dents in the top of the counter!

I guess I'm raising this issue because it seems whenever I start to question the reason why I'm still creating, something wonderful happens to help me to realize how much I really do love the entire process of creating and selling my work and I know that I'd feel lost without it. My show activity is not what it was and I'm not traveling around the Northeast like a gypsy any longer but I can still have a local presence and stay active...............how lucky is that at 70????

Cake Toppers

Over the years, I've had so many people ask me if I decorate cakes with my bread dough and cold porcelain flowers. I never have............until now. I have no desire to get into cake baking, frosting, and all that might entail if I wanted to go into that end of business. I don't, but there's no reason why I can't create and sell cake toppers.

It's interesting how one idea can lead to another and my main thought was how I would display these cake toppers without a cake. "Well", I thought, "I just have to build an artificial cake". Ha! Easier said than done! My first idea flopped badly as did my second. The third seemed to work until I realized that I needed to add some special effects. Three hours later it was done and I don't know what I like the most.............the cake or the flowers on top! Your opinion please?

New Directions

My hubby doesn't want to do craft shows any longer and after 27 years of his helping me to schlep to shows, I really do understand although it's been difficult for me to accept the fact that situations do change in life and business and that I have to adapt along with those changes.

I've done a lot of adapting in my 27 years as a crafter. Starting my career as a dollmaker, I switched to creating salt dough ornaments when Cabbage Patch (and her birth certificate) took the country by storm. Two years later I discovered a recipe and instructions for making bread dough roses which would air dry to become very hard and durable and spent the next 20+ years creating with them.

I was sent a recipe for cold porcelain which is very much like bread dough but air dries to be even a bit harder and more durable than bread dough. I tried it, liked it, and have been doing cold porcelain floral jewelry for the past year. I will continue to do a few local shows but my emphasis for this year is to be involved with a few local shops and shops on the internet.

My work can be found at:
www.doughroses.etsy.com
www.rosepetals.artfire.com
www.shophandmade.com
www.handmadecatalog.com

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!!!!

Cold Porcelain Floral Jewelry

After working with bread dough for over 22 years, I found that I really enjoyed creating floral jewelry with cold porcelain during the past year. It's light, durable, and can be formed into many shapes and is soooooooooo easy to pack up for a show!!!!