Shopping Day

Today I got a rare shopping day to replace supplies. Art supplies are getting more and more expensive, yet people seem more and more unwilling to buy art for prices that create a living wage for artists like me.

I got some Bristol paper for calligraphy and illumination. And since I lost my pens when I moved, I bought new calligraphy pens and ink.  I also got paper for mixed media, so I won't use up all my calligraphy paper on paintings. None of the supplies were on sale, but luckily I looked on the web first and managed to get a 40% off any one item coupon for Joanne's that Michael's honored. I also got a Michael's ad good for $10 off if you spent $50.  So between the two coupons I saved $15.

I want to crochet some fingerless gloves and I found some thin yarn on clearance for $1.99 a skein. Did you know each skein has a code telling you the weight of the yarn? Look for the glyph that says 1 for fine yarn, etc. and you'll find it easier to be sure your yarn is matching your pattern.

I wish I'd had more money, because I had a  30% off your total purchase coupon for Joanne's. I could have really stocked up on quilting fabric, but it was expensive enough getting the calligraphy supplies and the glove supplies.

McCalls has a new steampunk pattern out.  And also a summer blouse pattern I want. But I will wait for a .99 sale for those items.

It's expensive being multi-talented. I think Michael's overcharged me for the calligraphy ink. The locking cabinet at the back of the store said either $3.99 or $4.99, but when I checked my receipt in the car it was $5.50. But by then I was too hot and tired to care, so I started my 45 minute drive home.

Copyright Photos and Calligraphy and Illumination

Tonight I am gathering all my art supplies relevant to calligraphy and illumination hoping to do some painting at an SCA event tomorrow. And I just realized it is not the acrylic paints that I need, but the gouache, in my art studio out back, in complete darkness. I hope I have time to grab it in the morning because I've been in a painting mood all week and haven't gotten around to it yet.

In order to protect my livelihood, I've decided to only post small photos with my copyright on them. But since those extra steps take extra time, I am going to be posting less photos. It's too bad it's come to this, but I have had some issues, and keep reading about other bloggers with the same issues. Now I don't mind being put on Pinterest or places that link back to here, as long as no one is making money off of my labor. But I did get miffed when some of my archery photos showed up on archery sites that sell things, and they are not even real companies, but ad farms. So yeah, now, I have to do this and it irks me. And it makes my blog less interesting to you guys. And it is not even the photos you'd expect, like a nice shot of a rose. It's always strange photos that might be used to illustrate an article, like the photo of a cresting jig for archery showing up on a vendors page. One of them even has my boyfriend's face in it and was stolen off of Flickr. Not everyone in this world wants to play fair. Now some legitimate businesses have asked to use my photos for things like their monthly newsletter, and up until now I've said yes. But my friend, who is also a photographer tells them not only no but hell no, unless he gets some sort of payment. I think he is right. From now on I'm going to charge a flat fee of  $20 per use. All they can say is no, right? But they might say yes and I can then put food on my table or pay an electric bill.

Sketchbook 1986

Today I found an old sketchbook of mine from 1986 in the garage. It's so interesting to compare drawings from my past to those in my present. And most dear of all was the art my children drew in there. I know the ones marked H were from my daughter Heather.  But some of the art was when she was 4 1/2 and some from when she was 8.  So the scribbled pages may have been by her of by her younger sister, but I have no way to know without the name on the page.  So if your kids are doing art, don't forget to get them to sign it or sign it for them.

Interesting to note was it had a lot of my calligraphy practice in it. That means I've been doing calligraphy for over 25 years. But not consistently. I was also doing art like Zentangles back them. Maybe that's why I don't give Zentangles any credit.  Drawing patterns on things is nothing new. I owe more credit for learning to do such things to Mark Kistler and his book Draw Squad that I bought about 30 years ago. His course covers overlapping, shading, perspective, details, contouring, proportion, well, in short, the same things that are covered in Zentangles.

Some of my drawings from the sketch book are worth me doing a final version to sell on cards on Zazzle or on T-shirts on Cafe Press or to make rubber stamps of. It's like a walk down memory lane.

Recovering from a fun filled and hectic weekend

I had an awesome time at the SCA Collegium. I'll post some of the photos. I learned a lot. I took 3 performing arts classes, and 2 illumination classes and a class on Japanese cord braiding. There are literally thousands of designs you can do with the cord braiding. I'm pretty tired today and have family driving down tonight, so like it or not I better get some unpacking and uncluttering done or my daughter won't fit in the door. Plus we are unpacking from the archery tournament my boyfriend just got back from. He had an awesome time too but I think what we both need is a very long nap.

Lot sharing bardic tips.

The two bardic arts teachers.

Cat taught spinning.

Me with the Japanese braiding contraption

Me on Sunday before the classes begin.

Maeb Renata teaching the diapering class. Is there anything this woman cannot do? She also juggles and knits.

Other students in the scroll diapering class

This was my practice diapering.

Mine is on the left. The designs I got from the teacher are on the right.