Artists Business Software

I have been thinking about the fact that I don't have my artwork saved in any sort of data base.  I have no idea what shows I have entered certain pieces in (don't tell anyone), and every time I enter a piece into a show I have to remeasure it because I don't have that information saved anywhere.

Then in the most recent Art Calender there was an article about things that all artist should have saved on hand and one of those things was to have a working list of artwork, where it is, where it has been, and shows you have entered it in.  

So,  I decided that it was time.  I didn't want to just make a spread sheet because I wanted to have a picture that I could see of each piece with each list.   I spent a few days searching for programs, reading blog posts, asking around, and even posting questions on Facebook.  I didn't want to spend too much on a program so I picked Flick! .  

It is not hard use and it has a pretty interface.   It has some quirky things but I only played $29.95 for it.  My only real complaint is that I cannot list what shows a piece has been entered into on the same page as all of the other information.    

It makes great lists and I think that I does everything that I needed it too.  I am very happy with this program.  

The only problem now is that I have too go through 5 years of artwork and put it all in the database.  That is going to be torture!  

I'm going to try it again

Ok, so I have not been posting much.  I am going to try it again.  I participated in an awesome webinar about blogging given by Melanie Testa earlier this week.   So, to catch up I will just give you a photo montage of a few of the things that I should have been posting about.      

This photo was taken in an amazing fabric shop is the strip district in Pittsburgh.  

Alum Chapel & I cannot sew

NEW CLUTCH! 

Ok so this purse is only sorta done.  

I have to add an address to the front something romantic or funny.  

I am really excited about this idea.  I think it is super cute.  

The only problem is that in my rush to finish I put the liner in upside down.  So....

That is right I cannot open it because the bottom of the pocket is the top.  

I also did Alumni chapel today for the Art Department at Malone University.  I really enjoyed hanging out with my professors.  I was very honored by the things that they said about me.  AND Brittany Steigert and I are going pursue a show together somewhere, it is going to be AMAZING!   get ready world! 

I HATE YOU SNOW

Ok, I normally am all about the snow.  I like to play in it, it is very pretty and I don't even mind shoveling.  However this is enough!  

IF I HAVE TO SHOVEL AGAIN I'M GOING TO PUKE! 

I want to go outside and run but cannot for fear of twisting my ankle again, it is still not better from the last time.  YUCK YUCK YUCK

Ok, rant about snow over.  I should have invested in cross country skies this winter but now i'm sure it is too late to get much use of them before the thaw starts.  Does anyone out their want to sell me your slightly used cross country skies?!  Speacking of the thaw I really am excited about the summer.  I cannot wait to feel the sun on my shoulders while I sit outside and sip my morning coffee.  

In other news I guess I will be starting a new quilt today.  I was hoping to start my new line of clutches but spoonflower.com just shipped my fabric.  I am very excited about the new clutches, here is a sneak peak:

 

I have been listening to Chris Garneau: Hands on the Radio

Mellow just like I feel with all of this snow

Creative Cabin Fever

I have realized recently that my blog would be more interesting to read if I were a better writer.  O well I have been greatly gifted in other ways.

I have been crazy creative lately.  I have been very effectively channeling my cabin fever to quilting.  I have finished a large quilt, it might be my largest quilt I have ever created.  I'm not sure of the name yet, however it is not going to be what my mom wants me to name it "Growing Friendship."  YUCK! She must have seen those words carved into a wooden plaque that was painted red and hanging on a wall next to rooster paintings and a cooper tin shaped like a pig.    

This quilt is also the first quilt that I have quilted with heavy machine quilting.  I have traditionally been a hand quilter.  Machine quilting creates a whole host of problems that I did not account for like puckering, and pushing.  I decided to try my had at it while I was talking to my new friend Luke Haynes.  He said that some quilting gets so complicated that only other quilters can appreciate it.  I thought about it and he was totally right.   There is a place for hand quilting but machine quilting is WAY faster.  I like hand quilting better but I think I will work on perfecting machine quilting because of the difference in time.

On a different note I recently decided that I hate my purse and that I needed to make a new one.  I didn't want to make this bag out of canvas or upholstery fabric because they don't break in well.   So I decided to "upcycle" an old leather bag from the thrift store.  I should have taken a before picture because the change has been very dramatic.  This purse had a panel of leather on the front with embossed tropical leaf shapes, it had a short shoulder strap, and there was no flap on it.  I like this bag better.   I am very happy with the way it turned out.   However, I don't think that my machine was made to push through leather.  My stitch lengths are now all crazy on regular fabric, and I just got a tune up 6 months ago.  Blurg.

I have been listening to Vampire Weekend none stop. 

Oxford Comma :This video is crazy: one continual shot  

Warning some cussing so little cousins don't watch! 

Baby Blanket for Elijah

I am trying to update my blog on a semi-regular basis this year.  I think that if I update more it will help me to work more often.  I cannot make studio updates about not doing anything.

I started the background painting on my next art quilt.  I have every flat surface in my studio covered in painted fabric (my studio is very small and doesn't have tons of space).  I am fairly excited about this quilt.  There is tons of process involved in the surface design which I LOVE!  It will probably take me about 2 weeks of diligent work to get the surface just right.  I am a little worried though because this quilt is a new color scheme for me, maroon and a deep purply-blue.  I am having trouble keeping my colors within the right range.  I am very good with brown and teals: however, life is not just about those two colors.

Also today I started my first, of many, baby blankets.  I am moving from the going to weddings stage of my life to the baby shower stage.  I am making with a fleece quilt top, backing it with a really soft chenille and edging it with that silk blanket edging.  It is going to be the softest baby blanket ever! I'm concerned that it is going to be hard to quilt because that chenille is tricky stuff.  It might not be an art quilt, but it is a quilt and that is good enough for right now.





If you are looking for something to listen too today I would recommend Grizzly Bear   While You Wait for the Others The music video is WEIRD but the song is amazing.

Spoon Flower & January is Going well

 I am excited because I just my paper doll  fabric in the mail today.  I ordered it from http://www.spoonflower.com/ .    I uploaded the image and then they printed it in full color (I know it is black and white but it is the same price for full color)  I use this image all of the time as a background for my fabric, now I don’t have to make it myself.  

    It was relatively inexpensive $11 for a flat quarter.   I am very happy with the detail of the images and It came 7 days after  I ordered it!  That is amazing!   

    Not only have I discovered spoon flower but I am also working on a new quilt.  It is one of the biggest quilts I have ever constructed it will be roughly  37” W x 58”H  This is going to be hard because I don’t have any tables that are that big... I guess I will be basting it on the floor of the kitchen. Which works for now.  

    January is looking great!  I have already signed up for one half-marathon, I have been silkscreening like a crazy person, I have artwork in 4 galleries this month & I got this really great sticker for my mac!  This year is going to be even more successful then Last year!