Making Progress

The list!

I’m at about the halfway point on my September/October goals.  I ordered some supplies for my new designs.  I’m still waiting on the mail; UPS misdirected my package to San Marcos, CA, between Los Angeles and San Diego.  Whoops!  So I’m not “making” anything yet.  I might have bitten off a little more than I can chew with blogging 3 times a week.  Soon I will start teaching two after school art classes, making me extra tired when I return home.  I also find that writing is a slow process for me.  If I blog in the evening I don’t have time to work on anything else.  Still, I’m going to stick with it for as long as I can. Twice a week might be a little more doable.  I have been carrying around my little notebook for a couple weeks and only wrote in it once.  Either I forget I have it, or I’m too busy to jot things down.  I think it will take some practice and discipline to make good use of my new “tool”.

Setting Goals

  

If I’m serious about selling jewelry on-line, then I need to set some goals.  My first big goal is to get an Etsy shop up and running in January.  I’m giving myself three months.  Today, I made a list of 9 things I think I can accomplish by the end of October, and I already crossed one off.  I bought a small notebook like the one I mentioned a couple entries ago.  I’ll carry it with me to take notes (design ideas, blog entries, etc) and do small sketches.  I also did some research on finding good prices for jewelry supplies, and tested out one of my designs. It’s going to be really striking, but I can’t show you just yet.  ;-)  

Points of Light

Image, lit from the front

I love Mendocino, California!  Last February I was there for a short weekend trip and saw a few pieces by a fantastic artist exhibiting at the Mendocino Art Center.  Now, I’m kicking myself for not writing down her name.  (I need to find a very small, groovy notebook that I can carry everywhere I go.)  Anyway, the artist had two very fine, detailed, organic drawings that I found unique and inspiring.  The shapes looked like microscopic creatures.  But what I really loved was a large tree created by tiny pinholes!  The holes were so evenly spaced, it must have taken a long time to create.  The image was a delicate, perforated leafless tree, white on white. 

After thinking about this technique for months, and with my husband’s birthday a few days away, I decided to give it a go.  I created a small birthday card by drawing with a tack.  It wasn’t easy.  I sketched the mushroom first, taped the sketch to the good paper, and commenced punching (with a cardboard backing).  I started with a sewing needle and after a minute, my hand cramped up.  I tried other pins with the same results.  Finally, I tried using a large pushpin, which was much easier to hold.  It worked for the most part.  In some places my holes were too close together and the paper is very delicate.  Overall I like the effect. 

My next attempts will include paper that is colored on the back, so the holes will have a little hue to them.  I’m also going to try using Styrofoam as a backing so I don’t have to put so much force into the punch.  What does this mean in relation to my other work?  I don’t know yet, maybe nothing.  I love experimenting with new ideas.  Perhaps I’ll do this lesson with my students one day, if I can invent a punch that doesn’t cramp the hand so badly.

"Every moment of light and dark is a miracle." - Walt Whitman

Image, lit from behind

Until then, may the muse be with you!