Happy Valentine's Day

I have some old Valentine's cards that I bought from someone on Ebay a few years ago, so I scanned them and wanted to give them away as free graphics. But first I wanted to check the copyright. These are all from 1936. This makes them 73 years old. I guess they have to be 75 years old to be in the public domain.

However, according to Wikipedia with the exception of maps, music, and movies, the vast majority of works published in the United States before 1964 were never renewed for a second copyright term.

I don't know how true this
is and I tried to find more out
about these cards,
so I did a little research.

A woman named Esther Allen Howland, received a Valentine Card in 1847. She was so fascinated by it that she started to reproduce them herself. She ordered special papers and lace and soon found herself getting more orders than she could handle. (I only wish).

She then got some friends to help her and soon she was in business, eventually grossing $100,000 yearly. (Those Victorians loved their pretty, lacy papers and cards. They collected them and kept them in scrapbooks) Free Graphics

She retired in 1881 and sold her business to George Whitney.
His business became the biggest manufacturer
of Valentine cards. The business closed in 1942.

Doing searches on the internet, I found that ebay
is loaded with the Whitney valentines. There are traveling
valentine card shows that feature these cards.

Still, I could not find out if there was a
copyright on these from 1936. I decided to show them anyway. I guess it's not different than showing the image on ebay for an auction.

Some of these are addressed to Viola and a few are addressed
to Lucille. This cards were only exchanged with girls, no boys signed any of these.

Enjoy looking at these Valentines and enjoy your Valentine's Day.

Following your dreams

If any of you, who for a second, wished he/she could get a degree, but you don't have the time, or the money or the self confidence, you need to reconsider.

Since I was in my late 20s I yearned to go to school and get a degree in Art or Literature. I had gone to community college for a year and a half. I took secretarial classes and hated every moment of it. One day, at my wit's end, I trashed all my books in the garbage and went home crying. I didn't want to be a secretary! I wanted to be an artist.

In 1974, if a person said they wanted to be an artist, they were laughed at. Seriously. I never got one bit of support from anyone anywhere. "You can't make a living being an artist." That's all I ever heard. Unfortunately I listened and I believed. No one ever mentioned to me that money isn't everything. No one told me to follow my dream. I heard about how talented I was, but I guess people meant that in a "she is so talented, but she needs to learn shorthand"kind of a way.


When I was around 30, I went on a retreat and stayed in a dorm at Western University. It was just a weekend retreat, full of spiritual renewal and friendship, but something happened to me there that never left me. It was late in the evening, my room mate and I were talking about our dreams and aspirations, and we both confessed that we wished we would have gone to college.

Maybe it was the atmosphere of the dorms, where we imagined life as a college student. We glanced out the window down into the large square below, where we pictured students hustling to their next class or studying under an autumn covered tree. Even though the student square was dark and empty, I saw myself there, discussing Dickens or Bronte, drinking coffee or sketching.

In reality, I was a 30 year old wife and mother. My husband and three kids were back in Garden City waiting for me to come home and be mom again. Our family lived paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes I managed to take a community education art class or writing class. It filled the void. But, there was never a thought of going to college. I felt I had missed that bus.
My goal then became to try to influence my children to go to college when their time came. My oldest son went for awhile, but lost interest. My two youngest just never had any interest, and that's fine, since it's not for everyone.

But it was for me. I never stopped thinking about it. I knew I would never live in a dorm or go to football games, but I still wanted a degree. It just never was that important in the grand scheme of things, though. That is until my husband left me.

At the age of 39, I was faced with divorce and instant poverty. Something that can be pretty devastating to anyone, but there was a silver lining around it. I could get grants and go to school. So, I went back to my community college and found out that there were about 25 credits waiting for me that I could still use. Soon I had 30, then 40, then 50. I changed my mind a few times and accumulated 79 credits. By then, I knew I wanted to skip the associate degree and go right on to a Bachelors Degree. I discussed this idea for a year, debating on the affordability of it, and trying to figure out where to go. I sure didn't want to go to a big college.

The ball really started to roll in August of 2007. My friend asked me to go to Oakland University with her because she wanted to get into their Master's Degree Program. I went along for the ride since it was about an hour away. I waited outside of the adviser's office where my friend was applying for admission.

Twenty minutes later she walked out, a big smile on her face. "I'm in!" she said. She was so happy and excitedly talked about her plans all the way home. Although I heard most of what she was saying, I was having an internal conversation of my own. If she can do it, so can I.
This 25 year old friend already had her Bachelor's Degree and Teacher's certificate. I heard myself say over and over, "what the hell are you waiting for??"

That night I applied for a student loan. I chose Madonna University since it was closer to my home and it's a small private college. 76 of my credits from Schoolcraft college were transferred to Madonna. I now have 98 credits with 7 more on the way.

Going to school was probably the greatest gift I could have ever given myself. I'm 53 years old now and I have such a wonderful sense of purpose and happiness now. I have other dreams and aspirations. They might have to wait till my education is complete. But, because of that education, I may be able to obtain those dreams one day; a trip to England and a house with a library. They are next on my list.

If there is something that you've always dreamed of doing, whether it's getting a degree, climbing a mountain, or learning how to sing, do it. Don't let other things get in the way. Find a way! Don't listen to negative people (which is hard, since they are everywhere). Set little goals that will lead to your big goal. Replace "I Wish" with "I am". If this 53 year old, disorganized, scatter brained, Attention Deficit, anxiety ridden woman can do it, so can you!

Going after a dream and achieving it is the most empowering and satisfying thing you'll ever feel.

Once again, here's one of my favorite quotes...

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

Henry David Thoreau

Now go out there and follow your Dream!

My day job

I don't often talk about my real job. I work as a site director in a before and after school enrichment program. Some people call it latch key. I don't. I like to put the emphasis on ENRICHMENT because the children under my care are being enriched in my program.

I only work about 14 hours a week and I only have 7 kids in my program. This could be the cushion job of the century if I wanted it to be, as I never have any boss breathing down my neck, but I don't take advantage of it, and I make my program interesting, educational and fun.

But there are some days when I don't even know why I try and lately, it seems like that thought has been going around in my head a lot.

So, as I vent, I'd like any of you who are reading this and who use a child care provider to take notes.

In my small group of 7 children, I have comforted them, made them laugh, dealt with seizures, fixed boo boos, stopped bloody noses, calmed down hysterical behavior, reinforced good behavior, taught them manners, and listened to their problems. In the last 5 years, I've protected a child from a crazed father, steered children to the toilet before they got sick, rocked them when they have had fevers, sung to them when they were afraid, hugged them when they missed their moms, treated them with candy and prizes just "because" and entertained them when they seemed bored.

The point of this post is that I am more than a baby sitter and yet, I feel so used some days, I don't know if it is even worth it to try to enrich them. I should just throw some crayons on the table and say, "color till your parents get here".

But instead, I have great lessons planned for them daily. This is what we did today.

• Read first chapter of "Little House in the Big Woods"
• Taught them how to sew and we made little curtains and pillows for a little log house that we are decorating, just like "Little House in the Big Woods"
• Taught them about the pioneers, their struggles and daily life activities.
• Made a volcano out of salt, flour and water. We are going to erupt it on Friday.
• Made polymer clay book markers for their teachers.
• Played a game where they tried to find a candy necklace.
• Free Time where they played house and a marble game.
• I also let one little girl be my personal assistant complete with her own clipboard.

This was not a special day. This is an average day in my program. The program lasts three hours and in that time they do homework and eat a snack.

The problem that just gets to me is that the parents just don't care what is going on in my program. I have two parents that take the time to look around the room and take notice. They appreciate me and for that I'm thankful. But the rest just don't care.

They fly into the room, yapping on their cell phones. They hurry their child out, barely taking the time to let their child gather their things. I write a monthly newsletter and I can tell only two parents read it because if I ask for a cereal box or a shoe box, the same two parents follow through.

One mom is 4 weeks behind in her tuition, yet, she has beautifully done fake nails, nice hair, (today a brand new purse), she drives a decent car and her kid wears nice clothes. Her cousin usually picks up her child. Her son was in my program for two weeks before she even came in. When she did, I asked her, "How does your son like the program?" Her reply was, "I never even asked him."

OMG, her son had been with me for two weeks and she hadn't even asked him. Amazing.

Today a parent argued with me about her tuition. She wasn't happy with one of our policies. The policy is in her contract that she signed, and I assured her I couldn't do anything about it, as I'm just a simple site director. She stared at me with a stern look on her face and I wondered if she thought I would back down and change corporate policy. I finally just started talking to another parent and the mom left. It rattles me to see how quickly a parent can turn on me when it comes to tuition. It happens all of the time. I sometimes just have to pass them off to my boss. She takes care of it and I'm careful to watch my back in the parking lot.

There are also times when someone comes in to pick up a child and I have to ask to see their ID because they've never been in my site before. Maybe it's a grandpa or an Aunt. Women seem to understand this concept and will gladly go and get their ID. But, I've had fathers and step dads argue with me, embarrass me and intimidate me over the simple act of showing me their ID.
One of my bosses had a great idea. She told a parent who fussed over showing their Id that she would need a letter stating the parent didn't care who came to get their child and that their child could leave with anyone. That changed that parent's mind. Our mission is to protect the kids in our care. I don't get a power surge from asking to see ID.

I know that all jobs have negative aspects to them. I accept this and will continue to do a good job because I want to and it would be boring for me to have a dull program. I know there are a lot of bad child care providers out there, but I'm not one of them.

So, if you do have a good child care provider, let them know it. Take the time to look at the program, glance at the newsletter, admire a picture or a craft. Don't throw you child's work in the garbage can in the hallway. I personally don't care what you do with the artwork we just did, but your child is devastated. Take it home, hang it on the fridge for a day or two and let it work its way to the garbage can.

When you come into a program to pick up your child after a long day, great them with a hug and a smile. Turn the dang cell phone off unless you are a Dr. or there's an emergency. Your child misses you and wants to talk to you, share their experiences with you and hear about your day. Don't yell at them if they are cleaning up their games or dolls. They are being responsible by doing so. You are being irresponsible by having such poor time management skills that you only have 5 minutes to get to your yoga class.

When it comes to paying your tuition, pay it. You pay the rest of your bills, right. Pay your tuition.

Child care provider are a really big influence on children's lives whether their parents want to accept it or not. (Do you know how many times a day I'm called Mom?)

Luckily for my parents, I am intelligent, have good grammar, don't talk in slang, am not on a power trip and genuinely love their children. I treat my parents with respect and want them to do the same in return. I'm taking care of their children, not their pets. If it weren't for the parents out there who do care and for the children whom I care for, I would have quit this job along time ago.

On a creative note,,here's a topper I made for a customer. Kind of cute!

Trade Shows Versus Craft Shows

Lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about whether or not I should do a trade show or sign up for craft shows.

I really drive myself crazy with this.

I was going to make a list of pros and cons of doing a trade show and the same for doing craft shows, but I thought it would be better to blog about it, and maybe get some feedback.

Trade Show

Here is a site that lists all of the trade shows that I would be interested in.

This site does not even list all of the available shows out there, but it's a start for me.

Pros

• Serious buyers come to these shows to buy inventory for their shops.
• Minimum orders are $75 to $100 per customer.
• One good show can give me business for the rest of the year.
• I would be networking with other business owners and artists.
• I would be surrounded by the latest in gift shopping trends.
• I can introduce my product to 1000s of buyers in only a few days.
  
• My product looks so much better in person so it's sure to draw attention.
• Cash and carry show can generate a lot of money!
• I can take orders for my product and give my customers a time line to expect it.
  

Cons

• Doing a trade show is expensive.
• I would have to find someone to help me and possibly rely on their vehicle or rent a car.
• It's risky in these economic times (but so is everything I guess).
• I could be next to someone who has an even better product and display (meaning I might be ignored).
• If it is a successful show, I might get over my head in orders causing customers to be angry with me if their orders are late.
• Most business want 30 day net, which is costly to a home based business.
  
• The trade show days are long and I might not be able to stand all day with my knee.
  
• I have to be outgoing and personable, which I am, but I get kind of loopy after talking all day long. It's hard to stay fresh when you are busy talking up your product for 8 or 10 hours.
• Displays need to be professional looking and attractive ($$$$$).

Unforeseen circumstances can make or break a trade show. There are usually no refunds!

Now, here are the pros and cons of doing Craft Shows.

Pros

• Usually the shows are within an hour away.
• They are set up and taken down in one day.
• They are fun.
• Customers are loyal and return to buy a new item or just to chat.
• Craft shows are fairly inexpensive (however signing up for several can be more costly than doing a trade show).
• I receive cash in hand, no waiting for payments.
• I can network with other crafters.

Cons

• I live in Michigan and we are getting hit HARD with layoffs, so money is tight.
• Craft shows have been down the last few years.
• The more successful shows are outside and I'm not going back to those days when I traveled all over the state with my van and my tent. There is nothing more frightening than seeing a storm approach, hanging on to your tent in a wind storm, or sweating to death in 98 degree heat.
• Some shows are just awful. They haven't advertised and there are no customers.
• Sometimes people can be rude or ignorant, and there are times when I just don't want to hear another comment on how expensive my things are (NOT) or how they can make it at home. (go home then)..

So, as you can see I have a lot of thinking to do. Craft show applications are starting to roll in and trade shows are starting to fill.

Another choice I have is to continually build up my etsy store, my website and ebay. It takes a little work to network and market online, but I guess it's not as much work as driving to Pennsylvania to do a show. Plus, I do enjoy working from home and it doesn't cost much. (I also enjoy my lazy summers relaxing on the beach, working in the yard and taking mini vacations around Michigan.)

Just that thought alone moves me in the direction of continuing the online approach.

I love the idea of blogging about this because it makes it more concrete for me now. It's given me a chance to write it all down, share it and ponder about my choices. I started this post off by saying "I drive myself crazy", but now I feel a little more calm about it. Funny how a few little lists can help!

Getting Serious

One of my resolutions this year (and all previous years) was to get into better shape. It's part of the reinventing that I'm trying.

My goal was to do chair exercises since my knee keeps me from doing much walking and NO bike riding. Well, as good as my intentions were, I have not committed myself to bettering my health. Weeks go by, the scale stays the same, or fluctuates a few pounds one way or the other. I told myself I would join Weight Watchers or go back to tops, but here it is Feb.10 and I haven't done much.

That is until today. Today I made a huge commitment and joined Medical Weight Loss Clinic.

I didn't do it because I think they have the magic that I need. I know that there is no pill that will motivate me or melt away the pounds. I think it's because I took a good look at myself and knew that unless I did something drastic, another year would come and go and I would still be the same weight. Each year brings me closer to worsening health and possibly a shorter stay here on earth. Last year at this time I didn't need blood pressure medication. Now I do. Two years ago I could walk up 140 steps 10 times and feel great! Now a flight of stairs winds me so badly I can't talk. I'm not a diabetic yet, but that looms around the corner.

So I went to Medical Weight Loss. I listened to their scripted sales pitch and I signed on the dotted line. I signed up for 9 months of weight loss and if I do well, I'll sign up again for another 9 months. I need the accountability that I will get, knowing that the scale is waiting for me. I need the support that they say they offer. I need the motivation I'll get from looking at the before and after pictures that grace the hallways. I'll gladly be their poster child in 9 months if I'm successful. I see myself doing that.

Even though this blog is about art, clay and creativity, I'm going to keep you posted on my journey. I believe that if I can lose enough weight, it will re-ignite the fire I used to have glowing inside of me. It will give me greater self confidence which will open many doors for me. Doors that I'm afraid to knock on. It's hard to sell my self and my craft/art when I feel inferior, ugly, and dumpy. I envision a slimmer me, dressed in nice clothes, wearing stylish shoes, sporting a new hair cut selling myself and my product at trade shows, craft shows and gift shops.

There are a lot of cute skirts and dresses waiting at the back of my closet and I can't wait to start wearing them again. My eyes are on the prize; good health, longer life and some of that sassy spirit I used to have. Wish me luck!

Day of Art

Along with making some clay toppers today, I had a creative episode all afternoon. I recently purchased 64 canvases from Dick Blick and have been anxious to start painting.

Here are a few things I finished today. They are simple and fun, something for a child's room, bathroom, or studio.

I also joined a very inspirational group on flickr called The Altered Art Appreciation Society.

Check it out if you like Artists Trading Cards, Altered art, collage, shrines, etc.

Here are some things I did today.


This little angel is inside a shadow box that can be opened..(above picture)..I really enjoyed making this. I got the box at the dollar store.




This is a paper mache book. When you open it, there is an angel inside.












Here is a little painting I did. I think it's 3" by 3". It's a cute, happy picture.





This heart picture is 3 by 5. I love hearts, and the colors pink and green. ( I bet you guessed that already!)




Here's one final picture. It's the beginning of a collage. So far, I've applied paint, tissue and paper. Don't know where it's going yet. But the process is fun.




Spent the day creating art and listening to The Cure, Tears for Fears, The Smiths, and other 80's bands. Now I'm off to meet my boyfriend for dinner at a Sushi Restaurant (I'll be ordering Chicken!) It's been a perfect day!

Fairy Doors

A few years ago, I read an article about people making little fairy houses in the woods, and leaving them for others to enjoy.

Fairy Houses

I loved this idea because ever since I was a child, I loved making things in miniature and in nature. For instance, I would make the Flintstones house and all it's furniture using play dough.

When my dad cut down our cherry tree in the front yard, he showed my sister and I how to build little houses with the twigs. I don't think my sister was that interested, but I spent days making little villages with the twigs, little stones and tiny flowers.

Once, while camping with my family and friends, I introduced my children and their friends to the wonderful world of miniatures. I chose a cool, shaded area with sandy soil and moss, and we made several little houses. The houses had pebbled walkways, split rail fences and moss covered roofs. When we weren't down at the beach, we were adding final touches to the creations.

A few years ago, I was picnicking with some friends and saw a tree with a knot right at the base. I thought to myself, "that looks like a doorway leading into the tree". So, I decided to make a little pathway lined with pebbles and flowers, bushes made from moss and a little wooden fence. It all led towards the tree with the knot. I made a little sign that said, " a little fairy lives here, please don't disturb." I propped it near the front of the little fairy yard and we went home.

A few months later we returned, and just as I thought, there was no sign of the fairy "house"..It would have been too wonderful if everyone would have left it alone. I think that if I ever make another one, it will be in a more remote place, like the woods up in Wilderness State Park.



Why all of this talk about fairy houses? Well, I've been making fairy doors, which seems like the natural progression of my love of little things and nature. These doors can be placed at the bottom of a tree in a garden. They spark the imagination of young and old. It's only February, but I can't wait to set up a little fairy land in my garden. I did not originate this idea, just adding my own creative touch to it.


It's never too early to start thinking about spring!

Lithography

One of my classes that I'm taking this semester is Lithography, a method for printing using a plate or stone with a completely smooth surface.

Today I went to the printing lab and worked on my etching. It's quite a process and I was pretty tired when I was finished. The above photo is the image that I drew on the stone, using a black lithography crayon. I was going for a 1900's McGuffey's Reader image.

After the image is drawn onto the stone, it has to be etched into the stone.

After the image was drawn, I rubbed rosin and then talc on the stone. Then I brushed on nitric acid diluted in gum Arabic. The purpose is to make the image grease-receptive and make
the stone water-receptive. The image is then buffed with cheesecloth

Lithotine, ( turpentine) is then applied to the stone to "wash out" the drawing, leaving a ghost of the image in the stone that the ink will adhere to.

Finally, the stone is ready to be inked. It is dampened with a wet sponge, the stone is rolled with ink, which sticks to the oil-based ghost image and is repelled by the water around the image. A sheet of paper is laid on the stone and then its run through the press under pressure.

My stone is ready to be run through the press.

This is the studio at Madonna

Here is the press I used.




In the above photo, I've started to lay out some of my supplies. My notebook has pages and pages of information.

After starting out on newsprint, I then printed out 8 fairly nice prints on nicer art paper.

I'm happy with the results and must clean the stone. It's a three step process of grinding with carborundum grit, two times with 100, two times with 180 and finally twice with 220. I used another stone to grind against my stone.

The image is starting to fade.

Fading still.

The image gets smaller as I grind away at the stone. In the end, there is no image left and the process is complete.

Here's a link to the Tamarind Institute where you can find out more about lithography.

Tamarind Institute