Wee little burnt dudes...

hello., originally uploaded by tangerined.

So I had the grand plan of finishing these little guys up for stART and eventually moving them to their own shop (maybe maybe!).

Yet, I made the mistake of failing to shelter them in the oven with tinfoil (as they're pretty large, for my toaster oven at least).

So they burnt, quite epically.

Oops.

stART in the PARK June 1, 2008

stART in the PARK June 1, 2008, originally uploaded by ctomt.

Art in the Park was a good time. I've developed a new kind of sunburn---FISHNETS! The waffle/baked ham effect on my arms is pretty cool. (yes, I used sunscreen.. just not quite enough) Folks really enjoyed the hoops too.

I managed to score a LOVELY blue volvo 240 wagon this week too, so moving has commenced. Or, er, is commencing today. In truth, I really suck as packing. It's a disaster. I've only moved 8+ times in the past few years...

I might have a little moving sale in the etsy shop, just to make my load a tiny bit lighter. The less to move, the better, especially as I'm a horrible pack rat.

Vertical Stepthroughs! (aka, coolest hula hoop trick)

Learned a new trick! Works a lot better once you watch the video and realize...

-cheat your hips and body TOWARDS the hoop

-hoop on your hand, not on your arm!

-that whole leg/hand motion thing...

The continuous stepthroughs are doing me in, partially because I'm using new hoops that I just made an hour ago and haven't taped yet... so there's not much to actually hold on to. It's pretty intense on my knee, as I'm not used to lifting, bending and balancing like that. I think it's perfectly manageable though, just need a little practice. :)

Wanna learn?

Up and coming...

This coming Sunday is Worcester's StART in the Park. (PaRk not PAHK) Not to be confused with StART on the Street, our annual shut down, art up festival. This time it's in the park, not on the street... see? Huge difference!

Anyways, I have a table/booth, whathaveyou. I plan to bring hula hoops, some horns, ART and a smattering of not quite so blatant jewelry. Most of the oddments on etsy will be along for the day as well. Maybe even some surprises? ;)

I will be instituting a not so fun policy though. My hula hoops are handmade, I bring them to festivals for folks to have fun and enjoy. These are usually my personal hoops (that I use for practice, fun and performance). Most kids and adults have a lot of fun, but occasionally things get a little crazy. Playing tug of war with, yanking on, and otherwise doing things that obviously bends and kinks the hoops isn't cool, it's akin to messing with/breaking someone's art. It does actually warp and kink them, at which point they're rather useless for me or anyone else to use. This year if I happen to see anyone who seems old enough to understand a nice warning going about and actually breaking the hoops, I will be asking them to leave and for their parents to recoup my supply costs. I think kids are awesome and I WANT to provide a fun and interesting table... but I'm not a babysitter, or at least not when I'm at a show. I've paid for my space just like everyone else.

As assumed...

So, of course... my shop updates have been rather infrequent. It'll be much easier in a few weeks after I move (and no longer get home and go to sleep an hour later). I spent most of the past three days asleep trying to attune to this new, early schedule.

Before I move though, I need to find a car! A nice, wonderful eco-friendly (hopefully) vehicle to get me from place to place. Right now I'm considering purchasing a diesel to convert into a grease car, much more cost effective and somewhat better for the environment at least! I'll keep this blog updated in regards to what happens...

I just learned that my favorite craft store down the road is closing. All my life I've been blessed to live a short car-ride away from Wright's factory outlet. Seriously BEST DISCOUNT CRAFT STORE EVER. I've found ribbon as cheap at 10 cents a yard, knitting needles and crochet hooks for 33 cents... It's always limited to what's on hand, but still, awesome. I'm seriously going to miss this place. Apparently even though the store is doing well, the company is uprooting them and moving it to TN. You lucky folks, hope you enjoy it!

New Job, or why my etsy shop hasn't been updated all week...

So, after over a month of looking I found a job.

Somehow I managed to find something that actually utilizes my experience (bookselling) with my skills (internets!). I'm working for an online book distributor. The main job is entering the books into the system (at a rapid pace!), but my specialty is the wild-goose chases for the mysterious books and creating listings for books that don't exist in the system (gee.. kinda like what I do with my etsy shop!).

It's a little dangerous for me, because I can purchase the books we're listing directly from my employer. OMG BOOKS. I've seen so many that I want already, but I can't buy them all.

I'm hoping that my etsy shop doesn't suffer too much with this new schedule. Right now I'm just trying to adjust to waking up at 5:30 every morning to drive 45 minutes. Soon I'll be moving to an art-friendly location with a much shorter commute. Things will adjust soon. In the meantime, my etsy shop is business as usual, just with fewer listings.

Once in a while I make something without a uterus...

I've been wanting to make something like this for a looong time, but never could figure out *how*.

Until yesterday.



You like?

New Painting!

Well, it's very much like some older paintings, but only inspired by the same idea. :)



8 by 10, acrylic on board.

Man, I miss painting! I'm hoping to get back into it soon.

<3
tangerined

Sales or "temporary price adjustments"

So every once in a while something expires on etsy. It happens, listings are only up there for 4 months (renewing aside).

I just noticed that a handful of really cool things expired. So they're back, but cheaper!

It seemed like a good idea or something.

I feel like overstock.com, but with hemp necklaces. I love making them and buy the best quality hemp around in bulk. Every once in a while I sell them wholesale to the Hemporium in Keene, NH, but usually they just hang around until craft fair season.

Therefore, this one is now cheep. For you, little chickadees.


My cat and I just spent some time in the bitter outdoors. She sniffed things and meowed at me. I practiced ultra-cold hula hooping with a sweater.

A sleepy day for all...

Today was just one of those days I guess. Sure, some wonderful, weight-lifting things happened, but the majority of the day was so tiring. It seemed like very few people were having a *good* day.

Perhaps that's what happens when spring gets off to such a miserable, cold start? The wind has been destroying everything in it's path and most of us are hiding indoors from the bitter cold.

Still, there are great things to look forward to! My life should change dramatically within the next few weeks/month. (don't even start thinking that I'm pregnant or something, nothing like that)

I'm holding a tiny promotion in my etsy shop at the moment... well the next 5 moments or sales to be precise. I visited hbml last week and purchased a small handful of really awesome handmade 1 inch pins. I'm not going to tell you what's on them, as that's part of the surprise! I kept one for myself though, it's pea-green and says "candy inspector". (I love it because I hate most candy... just give me dark chocolate or espresso beans wrapped in dark chocolate and I'm happy. Or pure maple sugar candy... Plus the pin is an amazing color)

So the deal is, free special, secret pin with the next 5 outgoing orders from my shop! The reason? I like supporting hbml! You should come to worcester and check them out!

Also, a artist-friend of mine might be stealing some shipping envelopes to decorate. I already decorate every single package that goes out, but these would be extra-special one of a kind original pieces. I'll be sure to update when I have more information regarding when this might happen!

Happy bitterly-cold spring time everyone.

<3

Sharkweek/Wet feet

V-day was fun, thanks to everyone who came out! Too bad it was pouring in providence, RI that day. I'd never really been to providence and was so excited to walk around, check out the local shops and eat some delicious sandwiches. (I love delicious sandwiches)

Unfortunately providence seems to lack storm drains, and one thing I absolutely HATE is cold, wet, sneakered feet. The roads were flooded up to 6 inches deep in parts, specifically the parts between me and the car. :( It was a sad, wet-footed day.

I'm hoping to return to providence soon on a dry day, because I got the impression it was an interesting place.

Since then I've been adding new things to etsy, crazy amounts of new things. Something like 20 new items? I'm not even finished yet.

My favorites are the new red uterus earrings and pendant.

I'm calling them "Sharkweek Red".





Yeah, definitely have to make more of these.

An Event! How Exciting!

Just a heads up, I'll be sporting my wares at the vagina monologues in providence (RI) tomorrow. Scroll down for more info...

Don't worry if you can't make it. I'll have plenty of CRAZY-NEW (the best kind of new) creations for my etsy shop early next week! Folks attending the Vagina Monologues get first dibs, but there's still a few etsy-exclusives. ;)

Show Info:

The Vagina Monologues
march 8 saturday Time: 1:00 pm

Join 15 Rhode Island women as they raise their voices and the roof at the Biltmore, in Eve Ensler’s ground breaking play about everything female. Gather the girlfriends for an afternoon out – and the guy friends too! Includes a yummy dessert buffet and cash bar, with lots of “vagina friendly” vendors and information tables.
Location

The Biltmore Hotel
Details

Fundraiser for RI Crisis Assistance Center
Ticket Info

$35.00 general admission ticket includes open seating beginning at 12:15PM and dessert buffet and cash bar.

$100.00 VIP ticket includes reserved seating in front of venue beginning at 11:30AM, dessert buffet and cash bar, plus a special gift

http://www.peaceprovidence.com/events2.html#march8


<3

(tired, gonna eat now)

I have too many blogs!

So I'm at work right now and loving it... which probably means I shouldn't be sitting here, relaxing, drinking coffee. (I work at a coffee shop, through next week at least) I'll continue sweeping the floor in a few minutes.

I've realized that i have too many blogs for any one person. I consider this my *professional* art one. Then there's livejournal, most of which is private/friends only. I also tend to update BOTH of the myspace blogs (personal + tangerined...). So I'm thinking.. why not just bring some of that over here? Some consolidation couldn't hurt!

The reason I'm sitting instead of busily tending to customers is due to this awful weather in worcester today. No one should be out in this. It's a decent snow overnight that changed to ice and now rain, causing a huge icy mess and mjor flooding. In 3 hours I've had two customers and the local dairy milk delivery. (It doesn't help that I rely on tips for income!) I was also 10 minutes late because there were lakes to ford on the way! The water had to be 6+ inches deep, if not 8... I didn't realise how deep it actually was until I was mid-way through this whole block's length of length. My only option was to speed up (less damage to the car hopefull) and cross my fingers.

Last night I was stranded due to the initial snow. Fortunately, "stranded" really means "awesome fun time in the snow!". We snow-skated and tramped through inches of powdery fluff until some ass came by and actually plowed. Seriously, the nerve of some people.

I am the greatest of mythical beasts!

Or, at least the weirdest...

My new carrot unicorn horn, first in the line of soon-to-come ultimate ridiculousness for my etsy shop.

Why do I only update when sick?

See... I'm really not sick that often. I just tend to forget to update things when I'm not sick. That whole period between november 21st and the early part of last week? Not sick. Since then? OMG teh flu!

The flu is an awful, horrible thing and should die a miserable death.

Ok, maybe it's partially my fault. I *did* just start a new job where I ended up working 11 hours one day, 9 the next with very little food and sleep. Ooops.

Why am I writing this? Oh yes. I wanted to let it be known that I'm sick and currently working a job away from my delicious little computer and studio. My new listings may be sparse for a small amount of time, my responses might take a little longer than normal. My apologies.

<3

Oh! That explains it...

For the past two weeks I've been scurrying around trying to get more uteri earrings and boob magnets finished (along with many other creations!). Unfortunately I haven't been feeling too well. Not *sick* persay, but definitely not well. Well, today it was too much and I went to the doctor. I'm going to file this under GOOD IDEAS because it turns out that I have strep! I've had it for weeks, without a fever. No dying Jim Henson style for me! (I always think of him when I hear of strep...)

So, I hope that explains why my shop is a little less peppy that you'd normally expect to find it. The good news is I have many, many uteri and itty bitty titty magnets ready for the (clay only) oven! Tomorrow they get the heat, and soon after the shop gets new shiny things!

I've also decided to start accepting some custom orders again. Time is limited to get them in if you desire anything for the holiday-time. I'm currently thinking December 5th, but the date isn't set in stone. Probably December 17th deadline for all purchases desiring guaranteed arrival by the 25th of December too.

Sorry, no pictures today!

<3

Yar!

Things are going well... Last week my doctor approved dropping down to only one crutch and the physical therapist said I could walk without it in my house! Whee! It's already so much easier to get around, to cook food... to do everything. Still not allowed to run or jump or really do anything much, but it's definite progress!

So now that I'm feeling better, I'm trying to conquer this world of making things again. I don't have a setup yet for my polymerclay oven, so I'm not sure how or where I can cure things. Hmm... I'll figure it out soon enough. Currently in the process of trying to clean this tiny room I'm living in, with drawers full of craft supplies everywhere and a broken floor lamp that won't stay together. :( the top broke off the lamp, so it just falls over. I've fixed it with duct tape and chopsticks quite a few times already.

Here's some of my pretties that joined etsy this week:






<3

The kinds of things that can keep a girl from her blog...

So that tumor I mentioned a few months ago? I finally had it removed late september, on talk like a pirate day in fact! To prepare for the surgery and significant downtime following for recovery I've done quite a few things... Quit my job, moved temporarily, and given away my precious volvo, because you can't drive a manual with a busted leg.

So I'm 1 month into recovery now, and it's going OK. They removed all the hardware from my leg (it was full of plates and screws!) so maybe I'll be able to bend it like a normal human again, woo! I spend my days doing physical therapy, occasionally visiting friends and crafting when I have the chance! It's difficult to get new work listed promptly when you have to hop around on crutches... Also, most custom orders are on hiatus for the moment for the same reason. Another few weeks and hopefully the getting around will become easier. :)

Here's the sweet new shrooms that I made before the surgery:



More soon, I promise. :)

So I told you I was making things....

So I'm trying to keep the creative juices flowing (eww...) by creating something every day. I haven't figured out yet if creating a listing on etsy for something made the previous day counts as a something or not yet... but leaning towards not.

Here's a handful of my recent creations...



I taught myself how to make peyote stitch beads last night... man those first few rows are complicated. So much fun once you get going though. This one's in "classic" tangerined citrus colors.



I need more non-boob earrings in my shop. ;) These are based on a design I created years ago, and unfortunately have only one of the old earrings left. At least now I can create more...



These weren't actually made yesterday, but still very recently. I was so sad when they came out of the oven in less-than-perfect condition... (but what can you do?) They're still awesome and make beautiful horns though.




Don't tempt the art yo! Don't do it!!! I'll make MORE!

I just finished another wicked-sweet peyote stitch dread bead... this one's much longer and incorporates my two favorite non-orange colors, chartreusey green and brown. Pictures soon, I should have it up on etsy in a few days at the most.

Hopefully soon I'll stop making jewelry long enough to get in a painting or two??? ;)

<3

So busy making things...

too busy to update my blog. Oops.

I found out a few months ago that the evil tumor in my femur has returned, so I've been trying to utilize my mobility to work and have fun in my free time. (FYI: It isn't cancerous, but a bone tumor known as giant cell. I already have a beautiful 9 inch scar and a leg full of metal plates and screws from my first bought with it two years ago) I've been waiting to hear from my doctor for weeks to determine the date of surgery.

So, as you can imagine... that kind of stuff keeps me very busy. Lately the pain has been getting worse though so I've been spending more time inside making things. I'm trying to make something, ANYTHING every day.

Here's some of the new pretties, a few new takes on my old favorites.





More to come soon!

Oh, before I forget. I plan to try and keep the shop open even while I'm in the hospital. Some good people may be acting as caretakers for a week or two.

<3 <3 <3