meh, by the numbers.

Along with my crazy work schedule (two separate practices, sort-of adjunct faculty at one college and various temp jobs within a 20 mile radius) I've been attempting to get back a little to my arts and crafts roots. Whenever I have moments to spare, I've been making wine bags and tie purses. And kind of experimenting with headbands, but that's a whole 'nother story. In a couple of short months, I've amassed quite the collection: 62 wine bags and 7 tie purses. But while working on all these bags, I literally had no goals in mind. I was like "I'll upload them all to Etsy and see what happens!" Well....

Nothing happened. Which I was expecting... I guess. It's nice to have no expectations, and then when those non-expectations are shattered when someone buys something, you're super happy. But I guess I was expecting that too, and I was disappointed when no one purchased anything. Therefore crushing my expectations. Does that make sense?

So I started to embark on looking for craft fairs! Nothing is better than some solid one-on-one connections! The first one I participated in was more of a flea market than a craft fair. To be honest, most people were there looking for deals, not handmade items. But remarkably, I sold two wine bags! Then again, three people also asked me where the ties were that I was selling (which I don't sell individual ties). Then, on two separate occasions, people called my stuff decent.  Fucking decent. What the hell is that supposed to mean?  Here's my interpretation of decent.

I was supposed to participate in another fair today. It was cancelled because of the rain, and I can't make the rain date (poo). But, since that one was cancelled, it gave me the opportunity to sign up for the TRENTON PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET! The spaces sold out in like, less than 10 minutes, so I'm jazzed that I am going to be participating!

I'm trying to go in with no expectations, but you can already guess that that's going to the shitter pretty fast. So during now and then, I'd love to be able to really really work on my table display. Maybe go to the Salvation Army and get an old fashioned coat rack to hang up some of my purses! You know, make that shit look professional! Cause honestly, if I don't sell much, EVERYONE IS GETTING SOMETHING MADE OF TIES FOR CHRISTMAS AGAIN.

bears, squares, monty python reference.

So everyone knows I'm relentless artsy nutcase, and that I'm forever up for an artsy challenge. Harcum, my alma mater, is having a yearlong Centennial Art Celebration that encourages students, faculty, and staff to contribute art that can be auctioned off for their Centennial Scholarship Fund. I did three projects for the cause. Why THREE? Because THREE shall be the number thou shall count, and the number of the counting shall be THREE. Four, thou shall not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to THREE.

... That really wasn't the reason why, I just happened to have enough momentum to do THREE. The first project I did was for Bears and Squares. Basically, you get a 10x10" canvas and center your creation around the theme possibilities. Naturally, I started cutting out skeletons and brains from anatomy texts. WHY? I DON'T KNOW. I think my final creation came out pretty sweet. In typical Jill-fashion, I cut out text from magazines like a serial stalker to emphasize my message, The Possibilities Are Endless.

Next, I obtained a 12" solid plaster bear to paint. Again... I started cutting out s*** from the anatomy
text again. What's my deal, anyway? I'm noticing that this is a little creepy... yes? Anywho, I started looking for dental terms, and decided to paste them over the left side of the bear... the analytical side. The right side I gussied up in an artsy way. The right holds paint brushes, the left, dental instruments. WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT IT'S LIKE A SELF PORTRAIT OF ME IN SCHOOL. The picture on the left is before the funk is added. The right... you got it. FUNK. ADDED.

The school still had some plaster bears left over, so I decided to take another one home. It's for scholarships, after all. I just completed it today.... to be honest, I also just started it today. I really couldn't think of anything original to do to be honest. So I thought HEY. Why not paint, you know, a famous painting on it? So I chose Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night. Because it's awesome sauce. I'm pretty proud with how it came out, yes? It's not 100% like the original. You know.. because it's painted on a bear. But hopefully my creations will help someone attend the college in the future!

how bazaar!

No, I didn't spell bazaar wrong. I meant bazaar, not bizarre. How bizarre! See? OK enough.

A little over a week ago, I was completing my random Google searches for the day when I decided to type in phildelphia craft show. To be honest, I wanted to see if Philadelphia had a similar event that was comparable to the show in Baltimore that I attended back in February. One result caught my eye: The Art Star Craft Bazaar that will be held at Penn's Landing here in Philadelphia on May 12th-13th. I checked out the site and was intrigued... local handmade crafts? Live music? Tasty treats?! The opportunity to sell my bags and get m'name out there? Check, check, checkity-check-CHECK. I had to make a decision quickly about whether or not I would try to participate, because the application deadline was looming.
But let's face it. If I sit and contemplate a decision too long, I end up not making a decision. But, by not making a decision, I'm making the decision against whatever I'm contemplating. OH SWEET JEBUS, I'VE GONE AND CONFUSED THE S*** OUTTA MYSELF. I decided to throw caution to the wind and have my impulses make the choice: I completed and submitted my application, and now... I wait for word to see if I'm accepted.

Do I want to participate? Absolutely. And not quite. I'm thrilled to think that I could be one of 140 artists to be chosen. I'm also terrified to think that I could be one of 140 artists to be chosen. I would need to sew bags, literally every other waking moment of my day until May 12th. I would need to get my act together FAST and figure out business logistics. It would be a ton of work. But, it will all be TOTALLY WORTH IT. More importantly, I'm comfortable with whatever decision they come to. Either way, I tried! I can't be disappointed in that!

SO. It all boils down to this.  Did the Art Star Craft Bazaar accept me as a vendor in their 2012 show?
The answer is: Nope.

But that's OK. I'm a little sad.... a little relived. Maybe next year will be different!

badasssssssssssss.

My legs are literally covered in gross looking bruises.  Not the cool kinds where someone is like "Hey look at that hardcore chick and her awesome leg bruises.  She must be super awesome.".  It's more like "Ew, she should cover up those legs, yo." My pale skin is no match for purple, yellow and red markings.  Especially the ones with the scratches imbedded in them.  What was I doing, you ask?  Boyfriend and I rode at Nox on Friday.  I did great for awhile (minus my triumphant falls off the bike), launching myself down hills and pedaling my tush off on the uphills... but I'm pretty sure I was crying around 2.5 miles. Thank goodness for hot showers and bottles of wine. They're like security blankets for adults.

Saturday we all (and by we, I mean 10 adults and 5 chillins) went on a death march 10 mile bike ride through Lehigh Gorge State Park. I was super surprised when I realized where we were: The same exact place we went whitewater rafting earlier in the summer!  (Dang, I sound pretty bad ass in this post. Did I mention I got two nosebleeds this weekend too?  BADASSSSSS.)  It was pretty chilly in the shade that day, a far cry from the sweltering temperature there in the summer.  Here in Philadelphia the leaves are just starting to fall to the ground.  The colors radiant and bold.  Up in the Poconos, most of the leaves were gone: Already dead on the ground.  The only colors left were in the rhododendron forests and coniferous trees.

Sunday we went on two death marches hikes, which probably all totaled about 8 miles.Yes, I am physically whooped from the weekend. So why this long post that has nothing to do with art?  I don't know.  I felt like writing, and this is all I got for now.  Here's a picture of some leaves from a plant on my desk.  Tonight I'll be working on more quilting so I'll have more to post tomorrow about art and life and ... art. My mind is still like mush from so much physical exertion.  Let's never speak of this again.

Plus, a small animation coming called Brownies or Death.

fall is in the air. art is all around.

So it's true, I've temporarily fallen off of the crafting wagon.  Although I'm not going through withdraw.  Other exciting things have been happening, all of which have been breathing new life into my soul.  Gawd, that sounded cliché. Let's start with Friday, shall we?  

HomeSkooled Gallery hosted a remarkable show at PhilaMOCA.  The Art Anti-Gallery exhibit allowed visitors to participate in the exhibit, which is a far cry from "the usual" art exhibit which can sometimes come across as stuffy and strict.  I posed as a Greek Frisbee sculpture, helped sculpt another figure out of clay, played with sounds, created my own rules, made my own art to hang in frames, ate chocolate covered doodles, and made my own gallery sandwich.  It was a fantastic night, and I think everyone would agree that we're all looking forward to whatever HomeSkooled Gallery does next!

Here's some pics from the night.

I spent Saturday and Sunday outside, and it was desperately needed!  The air was chilly and crisp, the sky was dotted with clouds and starts, and the sound of a crackling fire was barely audible though everyone's laughing.  Sleeping was amazing.  I woke up refreshed... and cold!  The day was spent hiking, biking, and watching downhill mountain bikers speed through a custom course.  Kudos to the past couple of days.  Even though they were not filled with me making my own pieces of art work, it was filled with art of a different kind: LIFE!