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

Taking the weekend off

I have to say I'm feeling a little more relaxed this weekend than I normally do - not that I am refraining from working on orders and new work, but more that I'm not stressed about it.

See, this is the first weekend in several years that I don't have a "Monday morning" to look forward to. Friday was my last official day of work in the real world.

But I was out all last week with a broken foot.

That said, I'm feeling relaxed, and my mind is clearing a little, letting new work, sunshine, flowers, and thoughts of things to come in. Today while my husband has been reading comics (after so graciously mowing the lawn and picking up the dog poop - maybe the broken foot isn't so bad??) I've been working on some letters for the baby's room.

Everyone seems to do it these days, and I looked and looked at letters but couldn't bring myself to buy them, so I made a set. Hopefully when she's older, she'll appreciate that I made these just for her, and with any luck they'll grow with her, rather than being something she sees as a "baby" thing.

So here's a sneak-peak, in progress:



The colors are a little hard to see (the overhead lights in my studio are out at the moment... hard to work but I'm making do), but I'm really happy with the way these are turning out so far. When I can convince my husband to take me to the hardware store, I'll get some plywood to mount these on so they have nice little frames.

And yes, I'll be adding letters to the shop. How could I not?

Back to work, whatever it is I'm doing...

Moxie

Learning a New Skill

I have to admit that as I sit here and write this, I'm not entirely sure what day it is. I believe it is Tuesday, but these last few days have been somewhat of a fog. You know that feeling when you're sick, where you can't tell the difference between being awake and being asleep, and everything blends together? That's the feeling that I've had since Sunday. Except I'm not sick. Just broken.

In the last 20 years I haven't broken a bone. I've always thought how awful it would be when I see people with a broken foot - I would hate to have that be me. I love running, and even walking is pretty great if you properly appreciate it. Then on Sunday, walking with my husband in the park going to get pregnancy pictures taken (yep, that's right, 34 weeks tomorrow) I rolled my foot like I've done a thousand times before, but this time, it didn't just roll, it fractured. At first walking hurt, then standing, then any pressure whatsoever. Between poses I told my husband the first thing that we're going to do when we get into the car is type "HOSPITAL" into the navigation and we're going to the emergency room. I knew I'd broken or fractured something.

After a day (okay, maybe a little more) of feeling sorry for myself and thinking of all the things I would no longer be able to do, I'm starting to realize all the things that I can still do - and appreciate them. They may not be my normal activities. I can't run, I can't swim, I can't really garden (though that one has yet to be tested), and I certainly can't paint the nursery. But I can read, I can draw, I can sit and enjoy the garden, and springtime, and my friends and family. A bit of a rude awakening in a way, but one I'm learning to accept. Part of this acceptance is knowing that the condition of my foot is temporary - it will heal, I will get better, I will return to "normal", but for now, I'm taking the time to enjoy the quieter, more peacful side of life.

Don't worry - I'm still in the studio daily. I've learned if enough things have wheels on the bottom, you don't really need two feet to get around the studio.

I'll write more soon... and probably more than I have been, now that there are fewer distractions. And yes, items are still going up on and for sale daily in my Etsy shop. I would have included the sale item of the day in this post, but it sold before I was able to finish writing. Guess I'm moving a little slower than usual....

Off to enjoy life in a new way.

Moxie

The Smell of Leather

I was working in my studio last night when my husband came down with a friend of his, who immediately, upon poking his head into the studio, asked if I did leather branding and tooling. With leather strewn about the studio floor and tables, even hanging from the ceiling, I just said "yep" to which he responded, "it smells like it."

That familiar smell of leather, which I loved so much as a child. I remember the first time I really, really, was engulfed by the smell of leather. I was 13, and we were on a family vacation in Guatemala. I think we were at the biggest market in the city - it was underneath a plaza, so all the smells (both good and bad) were trapped below ground. There was an entire section of leather workers, and the aroma of leather was overwhelming. It is something that, every time I'm overcome with the smell of leather, I think of. There is something comforting about it.

I often get the same comment from customers - that they love how my pieces smell. It's a combination of the leather itself, the dyes, and the finish coat, but they do have what I find to be a faint and pleasant smell. Though I can imagine to anyone who isn't around it 365 days a year, it's a little more noticeable. For me, though, the faint smells of my own work are relaxing - the studio is my peaceful time. The overwhelming smells of leather like those I experienced in Guatemala, are transporting. They bring me back to my first mass exposure to handmade leather goods. To being a child, and to being in one of the most interesting and incredible countries I've ever visited.

Oh yes, and I listed my sale item today, so go check it out :)

7 days of work in the real world left, then more stories about leather, inspiration, and things of the like.

Sale continues! So do the sleepy days

As you can see... it's 10:30 and I'm just now getting around to posting the sale item of the day on my blog! It would be a good day for a nap in the sun if I could convince it to stick around for more than a few minutes. Everything, even the computer, is moving slowly here today. A little more time for resting...

Spring Cleaning Sale Continues...

Amidst the wanderings of two very tired dogs, and one very tired me, I just posted the sale item of the day to my Etsy shop. Hubby took the dogs running last night, and guaranteed they'd be tired today. He's right, though our soon to be one year old puppy, Jax, still can't sit still, even though he's too tired to play.

Me, I'm spending the day in the studio working on some new pieces. The sale item today is one of my very, very favorites. I'm hoping it finds a good home!

More soon...
Moxie