mountain magic arts

As I am on the road this past week and will be for a while, I am going to work on designs and plans for my projects. I am still waiting to hear back on the bids from the places to decide where to hold the retreat next june in Park City. I am also working on getting my website going. With all the travel and design work I am doing I will not actually put anything up for sale until some time mid November. A review of idea for projects will be coming your way the next few weeks, hopefully some picture of layouts and set up for the Dickens festival. Also I had a problem with my photo editing program and have to bring everything up from the backup, edit it again, and sort them out, (as there are about 10,000 photos, it will be quite a project,so that is also keeping me busy. I will be able to let you know when the website goes live. Thanks for bearing with me.

I mean this in the best way. I am planning a retreat for June 19-22, 2014 in Park City, Ut. The theme of it is Summer Magic and I am in the process of lining up the place. I am hoping to get the bids back any day now, so I can decide and get thing officially started. The preplan for this retreat is that it will have at least 4-6 craft sessions (one jewelry, one leather working,  something with greeting cards, the rest are still in the finalization process). We retreat will include a welcome party and a little shopping experience from some of our teachers and others on thursday night with some edible treats! Classes friday and Saturday during the day time. Lunch will be provided on those days. Swaps are in the process of being planned for friday night as well as  make and take project(s). These are just some of the fun and exciting events that are planned for the retreat. Once plans and teachers are finalized up, I will let you know about registering and locking in ...

I have decided to do the Dickens Festival in Salt Lake City this December. I did it last year. It was eight day and that was just too long for me. This year they are only holding it for 4 days so I am going to be trying it again. Since the space prices for vendors has gone up about 30%, I have decided to try a cart space this year. I am in the process of designing it and figuring out my 6x8 space arrangement. I am also working on what kind of things I will have for sale there It will be held at the Southtown Expo Center on December 11-14 from 10am to 9pm. Here are a few shot from my "store" last year Will keep you updated on how things are going!

Another fun thing I have been doing is creating feather barrettes and hair pins. These are some of my first inspirations. Many of the bobby pins were feathers and feather flowers with small crystals  Others had cloth flowers at the end I used a lot of peacock feathers as the are colorful and look exotic I placed a small  antique gold finished rode on this pin This one is far more rounded in shape and has an accent piece of a stamped brass leaf Another rounded pin with a rose colored rose center I used some flower zippers in the above and below barrettes This one has a cluster of small metal balls with fluffy ostrich feathers and black and white turkey feathers  Guinea feathers and a tan silk flower make up this small hair piece This one is a much more two dimensional design with a tighter looks and less fluff This colorful one has dyed ostrich in bright colors to go with the peacock feather and zipper flowe...

One of the things that I sold out of at Anime Expo were my mini hat that I made. This is a picture of the hats I decorated and brought with me to anime expo. This hat was a full size hat so it did not have and barrettes attached. All of the others were mini hats and had hair clips to help hold them in place. This one was dapper with feathers in black and white. This one was the first sold. It was quite jaunty with the fabric rose and peacock feathers. For the brown geared person With the black spider with crystal in it body and red feathers to accent it, this one made a bold statement. This one with fluffy brown/ white feathers and a crystal center set a soft accent to the mini black top hat. This one is the only one I took that did not have feathers on it. The hat was accented with fabric petals and a black and silver brooch center. This black and crystal flower had "leaves" of black ostrich feather Spiky white feathers and...

As I am taking a afternoon break at one of my happy places, Disneyland, I thought I would do a recap of my time at anime expo. It was a good time and I enjoyed myself a lot. Sales were good enough that I have reserved my space for next year. I also meet a lot of fun people. Both other artist and the attendees, and am think I may need a little bit more costuming for next year. As I develop those ideas I will post updates. I found that even though I did not have fan art, I was still well received and sold most of what I had with me. The "name your own price" section was a big hit. When I get home I will have to see if I broke even on it or not. Most people tried to pay a fair price. I did have some that paid $1 for the things they choose, which was below material cost, but in general most people were fair and did not try to cheat me. I only had one group I had to refuse to sell stuff to as they wanted 20 things at $1 each and most of the things were sterling silver. I just ...

Anime expo 2013 It is here again! Anime Expo. I am again in the Artist Alley. I am enjoying this year more than last year, as I have tried to talk to more of my fellow artist and the participants. I was shy last year. The outside of the LA convention center. This picture was taken yesterday as I was going to my table, before it opened. Once it opened I would have never gotten a clean shot through the huge crowds of people. This replica tank is sitting out front of the convention center. Pig Patrol, I guess. This big guys is actually in the exhibit hall. Quite a guy! This year at my selling table, in Artist alley, I have tried a new sales approach. Half of my table is prices and half of it is "pay what it is worth to you". It has been fun to watch the different reactions to it. I do not know how it will work out on a cost/profit basis, but when I get home I will have to figure that out and see. I am having a good time talking to people and seeing ...