What I'd like to create...

My main problem these days is not enough free time. I feel on some level I can learn to do anything if I just have the time to do it - not the mastery of 10,000 hours (which I think I am getting close to in leather) but just enough to be passable.

One of the things high on my priority list when I do get the time to do it is to create a large gate. When we bought the house six years ago, my husband, stepfather and I put in a brick wall. It took ten times as long as we thought it would because none of had any masonry experience and really couldn't estimate it, but we got it done and it looks fantastic. And remarkably, is still standing. I can't help but think it would look all the more incredible with a unique gate in the front, keeping the neighborhood riffraff out!

I go back and forth about the design, but it would definitely be some sort of cut out steel (I don't think that leather would be very durable for this particular project). There is a place locally that does laser cutting, so I was thinking I would design the gate on whatever that Adobe program is, that I don't know how to use, and then have it made, then weld it into a frame, which I don't know how to build.

But this is why we artists have artist friends in other mediums, right? So, does anyone know how to use that Adobe program? I think it is called Illustrator? It hasn't had much of a place in leather work over the years, but as soon as it does, I will learn, and will have one less thing on my "things I wish I knew how to do, but don't" list.

Then I will just need to learn how to weld... which I'd love to know how to do anyway!

Happy weekend all, I hope you are feeling better than I am!

xo,
C




This post is part of a blo(r)g(y) for the Handmade Division group of fantastic artists. Check out some of the other posts by clicking on the links below:

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
NEDbeads: http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/
Purified http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
nova of sweden http://nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Pink Crow Studio: http://www.pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/

All good things must come to an end

In late June, we welcomed our baby daughter in the world. Now as she approaches two months old, and my entire life has changed, I feel the need to make a few more changes.

I used to say that doing custom orders was my favorite part of my business. I love working with customers to create a piece of their dreams, and over the years I have been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful people, and create incredibly unique pieces for them. Where I love it no less now than I did before, my time has been severely limited. I barely have time to work on new piece, and spend much of my time either creating custom pieces or made to order items.

So, since the reason I became an artist in the first place was to exercise my own creativity, I feel that right now I need to return to that. I haven't decided when yet, but soon (before the end of the month) I will be removing all made-to-order items from all of my shops (1000markets, etsy and artfire) and I will be discontinuing custom ordering. I will offer my Smokey pattern wallets and guitar straps for the holidays, but that is it. Other than the few Smokey pieces, my shop will be entirely limited to stock on hand.

I have already begun to work on new pieces, including an entirely new line for AlereModern.com. I am sure you will all love the new pieces being added to my shop - just remember that they will all be one of a kind, so if you see something you like, don't pass it up.

Cheers,
Caitlin