March Meet the Maker Part Four

It's the last day of March and the final instalment of posts for the 'March Meet the Maker Challenge' over on instagram.
Day 26.
Self Care

I’m always thinking about my lists of ‘to do’ or new ideas and rarely switch off as I enjoy what I do. Sometimes though things can get out of balance if you don’t take breaks and recharge. Taking time out is important. Things I like to do are: spending quiet time outside in nature, looking and listening, gardening, feeding and watching the birds, lighting an outdoor fire and sitting beside it. Going for walks, visiting historic sites, day trips, listening to meditative music, writing, burning incense, and soaking in a candle lit bath with the latest book that I’m reading. How do you rebalance? Image is my ‘Be still and listen.The Earth is singing’ that I created in 2012

Day 27.

Anything goes
Today I can choose whatever I want so I thought I would share my little Robin friend who I was lucky to know for two years. For those of you that don’t know the story, he began following me around in 2014 making it clear that he wanted to be friends. I even caught him on the windowsill peeping in. Within a few days he was feeding from my hand. Then most days apart from nesting seasons he would be there waiting for treats and chasing any other robin away. He was a sweet inspiration and can often be seen in my paintings. One of the last times I saw him he let me stroke his red breast. I think he knew he didn’t have long left and was his way of saying thank you and goodbye. I will never forget him.

Day 28. 

Packaged.

When you purchase your items from Moonlight and Hares it will be packaged in a cardboard pip box or board backed envelope. Prints are protected in biodegradable cellophane sleeves that can be dIsposed of on a compost heap, or veg waste box. ( I get mine from @ecocraft ) A little reminder is added in with the print. Cards now mostly get sent naked, although sometimes if they are to go in an envelope rather than a box I will put them into the bio cello sleeves too. I don’t print receipts unless specifically asked for to save on paper and ink. All orders receive a card with a thank you note. I use paper packing tape instead of plastic which is great and soooo much less noisy! 

Day 29.

Most difficult to make. 

I suppose my ‘most difficult’ to make would be wooden hangers. Mote time consuming than difficult though, as they have to be cut out by hand and sanded before I even begin the enjoyable part of painting them. Many folks have asked when I will be making more. And yes I hope to get a batch underway soon. I do love making them but because I love painting pictures as well, it’s trying to strike a balance. I also get asked if I do commissions for them. Sadly the answer to that is no. I made the decision to stop taking commissions a few years back as found I worked so much better without any pressure, worry or commitment on a piece. 

Day 30.

Support

Working on your own can be quite hard sometimes, so I’m grateful for all online support on social media. Your comments and wonderful messages continue to support me. So thank you! Here at home I have support around me in the form of a personal furry assistant. He makes sure I tidy up and never leave anything on the floor as if I do, he will quickly sit on it. He would really like to be chief sorter of the cards on the shelf as occasionally knocks them down with his paws, mainly when I’m concentrating and have forgotten that it was his lunchtime 10 minutes ago. When I’m feeling a bit down he reminds me that it’s time to go out into the garden, to look at the flowers and clouds and to give him a cuddle. Of course I also have support from my wonderful hubby who is also my best friend. He encourages me 24/7 through all ups and downs. And if the printer or computer is playing silly games, he will be there with his tech savvy skills.

Day 31

Product in use/wild

It’s the last day of March Meet the Maker today and I can’t quite believe I’ve managed to do the whole thing!   Thanks for accompanying me along the way, it’s been fun. Here’s a picture of my print Fox Chestnut all framed up. 

 Have a great Sunday and Mother’s Day xx 

March Meet the Maker Part One.

Over on Instagram there is a month long challenge called 'March Meet the Maker' it's created by Joanne Hawker and is an opportunity for artists/ makers to tell a little about themselves and what they do etc. This year I decided to take part. I know many of my followers don't all have instagram or Facebook, so felt it might be nice to share the posts on here too.

Every day has a different prompt and we began day one on March 1st. So here are the first seven days.

Day 1. Is ‘Favourite to make’ 

I like making all items that I create really, so haven’t really a particular favourite. There is something special though playing in the sketchbook and letting ideas appear. From those first marks made, or adding magical adornments onto a hanger, or the quiet solitude of painting, I enjoy them all. My favourite time though is the completion of the work. Getting the idea out, and into the physical realm from the imagination. That’s the icing on the cake for me. ✨💫

Day 2. 

How you started.

“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” ― Wassily Kandinsky

Looking back,  it began with the colour blue. At primary school I loved using the big easel and remember being attracted to the beautiful sky blue poster paint which I would slap onto the sugar paper so thickly it would crack when dry.

As a child I was always drawing in my sketch pad or colouring in, being careful not to ‘go over the lines’ sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t cared so much about those lines my work may have turned out very different? Who knows maybe even abstract? Scribbling and painting my way through education, I ended up at Art College doing Illustration. After leaving I worked freelance and then when my children got older and I had more time again, I discovered Etsy. I opened a shop in February 2008 and after 11 years, it’s been a fantastic journey. This picture ‘Travelling circus’ was one of the first prints to sell in the shop.  

Day 3.

Flatlay
Treasures that inspire my imagination. ✨💫 Who can spot the ladybird that sneaked into the picture? He’s been hibernating in the window sill and woke up.

 Day 4 

Tools and materials

I’m quite frugal with tools and materials. I don’t have a vast amount and tend to keep the minimum paints that I need in my toolbox. I don’t have pots and pots of brushes, just the one pot and use the same ones until they wear out, then buy new when I literally haven’t got a decent one to use. The same goes for paints. I use mainly Winsor and newton paints and brushes. Sometimes I buy other brushes such as pro-arte. I paint on wood, watercolour paper or canvas. I like using all, but work much slower on canvas. 

Day 5 

Detail or close up. 

Day 6  ‘Full or part time’ 

When opening the Etsy shop back in 2008 I was working a part time evening job to sustain it. It suited because I would have the whole day to create alongside having a family and in the evenings would work solitary in the local school, cleaning and listening to music through my headphones, so my imagination could build and plan things in my mind whilst I dusted and washed the floors. A year later in 2009, it began bringing in the same amount per month as I was getting in my part time job, so this gave me the courage to leave the job and go full time. I’m happy  that it was the right decision 🙌 I’m still grateful for each and every sale, which enables me to do the work I love everyday. Sales have flown past the 12,000 mark now, so that’s a lot of happy dances.

Day 7 

Less glam side. 

 “So you just sit down and paint pretty pictures all day long”  Someone once said this to me years ago. 

I suppose ‘Artist’ does sound quite glamorous.  Seeing pictures online of perfect work and perfect studios it really is just a glimpse of a moment and a lot of the time it’s far from that captured image. 

The reality is sometimes you don’t actually get to paint. Only 50% of my time is actually spent on painting. The other half is packing, planning, photographing, listing, designing, and marketing.  Whole days are often spent just packing orders, answering messages and ordering stock. There is often not enough time to create the work and ideas. Pages of sketches never make it to finished pieces, or a whole day or week maybe spent on a design that never comes to fruition. Sometimes I eat lunch in front of the computer or realise its 4 o’clock and haven’t stopped to have any or even brushed my hair!  Like any job there are bad days too, when nothing goes right. Times when you feel like you’ve forgotten how to paint, someone’s order has not arrived or you’ve made the 3rd mistake in a row on a print job.

The last post said that I worked full time. In reality full time really means 24/7 because you never switch off. 

But I wouldn’t change it for the world and count my blessings each day that I’m doing what I love and yes ‘this’ year I WILL be more organised. 

I've never done a month long challenge, so hope to keep up? I'll be back with part two next week :-)