So today, this happened:
I won the HOI 19/CEFCU One Class At A Time grant for 1,000 dollars to spend on the art program! I’m SO excited about all the possibilities for things I can do with this money!
After winning the Container Store Organized Teacher contest this past summer for $1000 of Container Store products to organize the art room, winning this second grant this year is MORE than a dream come true. I still can’t believe it!
Thank you HOI 19!
2012 has come to a close, and it has been a great year for my business. I started a new line of books to include leather and suede covers, tested the waters more at art shows and events, and finished out the year with a great Christmas season.
I wanted to take a look and see where I’ve sold to since the inception of selling online, just for fun. It seems I’m always sending a package to a new state. So I found a map, went through my sales history, and here we are!
26 states, and three countries outside the US (Australia, Denmark, and France) all occupy owners of my books or artwork. Obviously there are lots of repeat states, but it was still fun to see. Maybe one day I’ll have customers in all 50 states!
One of my books is featured on http://glassroofbooks.blogspot.co.uk/ in a post about long stitch bindings. Check it out!
Also, I’ve been working on some books in bison leather and suede. Coming soon to my etsy shop, so keep checking back!
Hello! I’m going to be at a show coming up here soon taking place in Delavan, IL!
Touches of Autumn Craft and Country Fair will be Saturday Sept 29th from 9-3, with a rain date of Sunday the 30th. The location is on C Street in Delavan (close to the Lutheran Church)
You will find my handbound books and ceramics along with many other kinds of items, including Scentsy, 31 bags, handmade jewelry, cards, hairbows, yard ornaments, wreaths, scarves, crochet childrens hats, felted wool items, and more– even pumpkins straight off a Delavan farm!
I saw this on Pinterest and I couldn’t resist posting it.
Since getting the ball rolling with the leather for the business, I’ve been focusing on making all kind of leather bound goodies. Small, large, vintage buttons, leather tie wraps. There was a lot of great reaction at the market to the leather books, which was encouraging. That market is a lot of work though! I’ve been very on the fence about continuing the market/craft vendor avenue…part of me says dive all in and get a tent and start hitting the circuit a little harder, part of me says it’s crazy and I’ll be way too busy once the school year starts back up again. Anywho, heres a peek at some new product- alot of it is all up in the etsy shop. =)
I hope to get back into painting ( a pair of shoes, actually…but more on that later perhaps) but lately things have been busy working the summer school classes at Illinois Central College. I now have a few days off before an out of town trip, and I look forward to spending it in the studio. I’ve started to forget what it feels like to loose myself in an art project that is just for me.
Summertime is always busier than I anticipate. School may be out, and I may be on break but I’m still working a summer job and running a business. Don’t even get me started on how many lesson ideas I’ve been collecting through pinterest and teacher blogs. An artist/ teachers work is never done…
As the school year starts winding down, I am getting geared up again with my own work. I have been adding new items to the etsy shop, and been working hard to create my new series of leather bound books.
This summer I will be selling at the Riverfront Market, here in Peoria, which runs every Saturday from 8am-noon. The market is a mix of local artists and farmers market combined. Click here for more information on the market.
My market debut will be June 9th, and I plan to attend most Saturdays for the rest of the season. I will selling a limited selection of pottery and watercolors, along with all my hand -bound books, including the new leather series. Hope to see you there!
