Why do you like Facebook?

Why is this the new cool thing? I have never used a site that was so obnoxious. All I tried to do was set up a site for dewindesigns and I had to create it and cancel it about 5 times, wasting two and a half hours of my life when I should be packing for my trip. I am so over computers, and I don't want to spend half my day checking all my sites (I already have 3 emails and 5 sites. Is this really necessary?). So, I am standing up against facebook. They suck, and that is my educated opinion.

etsy Pick o the Week!

Ok, I know my pick is late this week, but I'm going to do a double pick for this week and next week since I'm about to go out of town. So, here it is. I hope it is enough to hold you over until I return!!

This (two) week's etsy pick is mixbaby design!! I have to give her mad props because I just ordered a headband from her and I love it!! She offers a wide variety of headbands for women at reasonable prices, and the quality is great! Please check out her shop and pick up something today!!!

mixbaby.etsy.com

All is Art II Wrap-up

Well, last night's All is Art II show turned out to be quite an interesting event! I and my faithful assistant Bree arrived early to set up, and got a prime spot- an entire wall right by the bar!!! Well, one of them. Apparently, the Ocean Club is made up of 3 different bars, and we were in the middle one, which is the largest. I put almost all of my photo boxes on display, including a couple new larger sized ones which were completely experimental. So I got to kind of test them out and luckily they received a great response!

It was fun taking a look at some of the other local artists' work. There were three other photographers, several painters, a stuffed animal creator, and some mixed media artists, in addition to the beautiful acoustic guitar players/ singers that we heard.

The night started out a bit slow going, though some of my biggest fans- my parents, Bree of course, and Faith and Kyle- turned out early to show their support! As the night went on, the crowd picked up, and though the music was too loud to talk to many people, I did overhear some great compliments and spoke with a UNF student who is minoring in Photography and said my photos were great!!

Although hopes were high, my expectations were correct that this show is more of a mingling scene than a buyer's market. So, other than the handful of business cards people picked up and the exposure, no profits were made. But, exposure is definitely the goal this early in the game, and that was definitely accomplished! Thanks to all of you who came out, especially Shawn who took charge of dismantling my whole display for me so I could get home and get some sleep!!!

All is Art II Show TOMORROW!!!

My first real art show- All is Art II- is tomorrow!!!! Please everyone come out, it's going to be a great time! Lots of music and different artists to check out. And make sure you stop by and say hi!!! All the info is below...

All is Art II
Saturday, January 24th
The Ocean Club, Jax Beach
8pm to 2am
$5 for 21+
$10 for 18-20
Thanks in advance for everyone's support!!!

etsy Pick o' The Week!!

This week's etsy pick is a fellow Jacksonvillian! Hendywood is the name of the store, and it provides a wide variety of wood pendants, bowls, and other items. My favorite piece that drew me to the shop was the Maplewood Pendant.

I have been wanting to experiment with woodwork for a long time. It has always fascinated me. So this is just more inspiration. Check it out and let it inspire you to buy something!!!


Hendywood.etsy.com

etsy Pick O' the Week!

Ok, all I can say about this week's shop is wow. It is amazing. It is called Susanna Anna, and if I didn't already have all my walls spoken for, I'd totally buy an entire wall full of her awesome wood blocks. She has a huge variety to choose from so you can customize the design to your liking. She has funky ones; she has natural ones; she has beautiful ones; she has rock n' roll ones. Although I am in love with the retro prints and stripes, I would have to say my favorite is the Imagine All the People Living Life in Peace Collection. Beautiful. The Beatles and Elton John groupings are also brilliant. Please check her stuff out, it is by far my favorite of all the picks so far!!

suzannaanna.etsy.com

All is Art II

So... the gentleman that I referred to in my last post who asked me to be a part of his art show actually followed up with me! So I am now doing my first real professional Art Show, where people actually pay to get in to see my work (well, and about 40 other artists!)!!! I am SOOOO extremely excited! So, please everyone come out and support the local artists of Jacksonville!!!

It is entitled, All is Art II, and will be held on Saturday, January 24th at the Ocean Club here at the beach from 8pm to 2am. It's just a $5 charge at the door if you're over 21, $10 if you're over 18. There's going to be lots of different music and tons of artists, as I said above, so it should be a really fun time. Please everyone stop by and say hi!!!

My first Downtown Art Walk!!!

Wow, what a night! Tonight I participated for the first time in the Downtown Art Walk, held in Hemming Plaza the first Wednesday of every month. After my experience with the Beaches Art Walk, I knew a little more of what I wanted out of my display. First off, I wanted to have more material to show, so I worked all week on putting together matted prints (but pooped out before getting to make more photo boxes, unfortunately). And, I definitely knew that I wouldn't be able to trek through the streets of downtown carrying the 200lb. door I used as a display last time. So I had to come up with a new idea. But what?

I'd been thinking on it and asking friends for ideas for weeks when my good friend Jess pointed out a rad display at the Slave Market in Charleston when we were there for New Years. This man had attached segments of fence all around the sides of this table with clamps. Love it. So I went to Home Depot to investigate. In fact, I went to Home Depot a total of five times in two days, including once right at closing. Running through the aisles trying to fetch one last item (which you guessed it, was at the very end of the very last aisle) was just about as tiring as all the stressing I did trying to put my version of a fence display together.
Luckily, just as I was about to go back to HD to buy some new wood panels, my friend Shawn offered up his old broken fence. Sweet, already weathered and distressed FREE recycled wood, perfect! So I ran to his house, gathered up about 15 planks, and took them home to get to work. After pulling out tons of nails and staples and cutting them all to size, I tried to figure out how to best attach them. I didn't want to use the backing boards I'd planned to because it would make it too heavy and cumbersome. So, just as I was drifting off to clear mindedness from a massage later that day, it came to me! I attached chicken wire to the back of all the panels, so that they still resemble a fence from the front, but I can roll them up for easy transport! I was thrilled when it actually worked! Imagine that- an idea of mine that works.

So, anyway, I get to the Walk with my assistant Faith in tow and get all set up. There were a few flaws this time as with last time, and I was super nervous again, but all got set up fairly quickly and I was ready to sell! Right away, even as we set up, several people stopped by and started thumbing through my prints. In fact, I probably saw more people in the first half hour of this Walk than I did the entire Beaches Walk. The lady in charge even said this was a slow night for them!

By about the last hour, I had passed out several business cards, met a few rad artists, and gotten a slew of compliments- "attractive" (the artwork, not me), "unique", "great eye" (me, not the artwork), and "awesome". I got a few on my display as well, but happily more on the work this time.

I was beginning to be proud just to have received so much positive feedback when lo and behold, this guy who had said he wanted to buy one but had no cash (you know how that goes), actually came back!! He had walked all the way down the street to find an ATM so he could purchase one of my Mexico photo boxes!! And, in talking to him, turns out he actually went to art school, so he knows what he's talking about!!! I was thrilled!

Wow. I sold something. And not just $8 like last time, but a whole $40 (he told me to keep the change- said it was well worth $40!)!!! I could hardly wipe the smile from my face when another chap came by and wanted to buy one of my other Mexico photo boxes!!! Wow! What a night. I haven't even mentioned that a man stopped by at one point and told me he was doing an art event at the Ocean Club later in the month, and wants to include my work!! So exciting.

So, all in all, it was an amazing night. And, I didn't even talk about what a rad scene it was. Hemming Plaza is beautiful at night with the trees all full of lights and the music and the people- all kinds of people. It's a really great event, and makes me proud to be from Jacksonville. If you haven't checked it out, please do. You won't regret it!

etsy Pick o' the Week!

It's that time again, time for the etsy shop that has caught my fancy for this week! The name of the shop is Renee Anne and she creates beautiful watercolor paintings which she sells not only as small paintings, but also on recycled greeting cards- some of which bear inspiring quotes and Bible verses. I love her Yellow Light in Blue-green abstract, but then I also love her The Love Between Us, but then you know I love trees, so maybe my favorite is Tree. I just can't pick. Check out her site and try to pick your favorite. And while you're there, pick up a set of cards or two...

reneeanne.etsy.com