I really love binding books like this. It’s my newest obsession. It’s like I can get a new sketch book for nothing now. And it’s filled with my favorite combo of paper – graph and copy paper!

Codex style bound books = mat board, copy paper, graph paper, card stock, waxed linen thread.

This coffee mug may look skewed, but seriously, it was the mug itself. you see I made it on the wheel my last semester at university and the brim and handle are a little, well, smooched. I love it all the same.

I need some serious practice drawing people from life. It didn’t help that instead of doing small sketches of facial expressions as I should, I just kept drawing on the same face when angles changed. I should know better. I do know better. Practice makes perfect – not just theory alone.

Loads of writing out and thinking out how to define our art discussion/reading group.

Hopefully we will get a discussion/drawing group going that centers around this book. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards is something every artist, aspiring artist should at least take a look at.

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Christina and I (the friend who I’ve been painting with on Tuesdays) nailed down how we want to frame our art discussion group at the library:

“Learn about art history, contemporary art, art theory and practice in this informal discussion group. Each month we will focus on a particular artist, art group, or art movement. Readings from articles and book excerpts provided. This group is a great way to develop your own visual vocabulary! Sharing of works inspired by readings is highly encouraged, but not required.

Meets every 4th Thursday of the month from 7-8pm.

Our first meeting will be on Picasso and Braques: Brothers in Cubism” I found this really interesting article on their dynamic during that 6 year period before Braques went off to fight in WWI that was published in the NY Times. I’m also going to go to the university library and find some more articles and books to use for the group. It will be a good mix of opinions and facts and pictures.

I just need to set up the meeting time with the Library facilities coordinator and we will be all set for that. I figure I’ll send her an email later today so I can hopefully get it set up by Tuesday.

We had our first ames c.art sponsored event on Friday, the hula hoop workshop, and that was really fun. We had 10 people there and made a ton of hula hoops.

I also set up a few new events for ames c.art:

1. Discussion Group on Community Art – first introductory meeting on the 9th

2. Codex book binding workshop – also on the 9th, right after the discussion group.

3. Charity knitting group – ames c.art is sponsoring this group by helping to promote it on meetup.com

4. DIY recycled sweater workshop at the ames public library – not specifically an ames c.art event, but I’ll be teaching it and it is free and open to the public, so I’m promoting it through the ames c.art calendar, meetup.com, and website.

You can see information about all the events as well as rsvp to them here on meetup.com.

I’m doing a load of knitting for that top secret project and am down to the last of it. It’s pretty mindless at this point so I’ve been reading a lot. Right now I’m reading Starting and Building a Nonprofit and it’s actually really helpful. It is a quick start kind of guide, but it’s giving me a good foundation of base knowledge.

I’m excited about making it official. I might have to raise some money with some fundraising activities to make it happen, but it will be worth it. I think ames c.art will fall into the 501(c)4 tax exempt status and then we could set up a fund for our educational activities as a 501(c)3 so donations could be tax deductable for the people who make donations to it. And our educational activites are the ones that are the most expense out of pocket since we aren’t looking to really make money on them so that would be nice to have a fund for it. Then we could pay for visiting lectures and instructors, materials, supplies. Then it would really be free to participants.

In other news I’m having a big sale in the Green Prairie Fibers and Craft Leftovers Shop starting tomorrow. I’m going to be working on that for the next fews hours. Then I’ve also been working on updating all the Craft Leftovers pattern in the archive and raverly. It’s a lot of grunt work that no one initially sees the benefit too, but makes things better overall. That’s actually what I was doing instead of a post on Friday evening. It’s worth it.

I am going to carve out some time to draw for a bit later today, but for now, I better hop to it.

See you soon!
Kristin

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Country Living recently released a collection of profiles featuring women who have chosen to follow their passion to success. This collection of inspiring stories is called Country Living Crafting a Business: Make Money Doing What You Love by author Kathie Fitzgerald.

The book starts with a wonderful introduction about how the book came together; which leads nicely into the profiles. Each profile talks about where the artist is now, where they hope to be soon, and what led them to realizing their dreams. I really enjoyed that in each profile there is a list of the goals that each woman is currently working towards; whether it is getting a studio outside of their home or raising compassionate children.

It features profiles of:
Amy Butler, owner of Amy Butler Design
Anna Corba, owner of Found Cat Studio (home accessories)
Michelle Joy, owner of Primrose, a floral design and vintage shop
Marilyn Lysohir, owner of Cowgirl Chocolates
Lisa Norris, owner of Made by One Girl (handmade books)
Kate Shifrin Style Consultants Inc., Come Flea with Me
Jane Zaccaria, owner of Tiddlywinks and Scallywags, a child’s clothing store
And many more too.

Each section of the book is followed up with a summary of the different tips that the woman offered up; what they had learned on their journey. There is a nice intro to different aspects of running your own business and a helpful summary of resources bring this inspiring read to a close.

My favorite part of the book was the profile of Kaari Meng of French General. I really liked the way that even though she was successful with the one business, she made the decision to change it to more closely reflect what was important to her. It’s nice to know that just because other’s like what you do and think it’s ‘right’, it doesn’t mean it actually is the ‘right’ thing for you.

Overall it was very encouraging to read and had a nice overview on the technical aspects of running a business.

I think that if you are just getting your feet wet and starting to think about opening shop, this book is just what you need. That’s why I want to pass it on to someone who is thinking about starting their own business! Just leave a comment and email me at kristinmroach@gmail.com. Include in your comment as well as your email the answer to the following question:

-If you could craft your own business, what would you do?

-If you already have your own business, what goals are you working towards?

-If your idea is just so cool and is still top secret, just let me know that you would like this book for some extra encouragement to get you on your way.

Make sure to comment as well as email me your response. Please include your full name and address in your email. You can enter the drawing until 02/16/08 (next saturday) And I’ll announce the winners that same day.

I’m officially on spring break, so I’m going to be taking it “easy” the next few days at least. Well not really easy, more like working on taxes and some other stuff, catching up on things that need to get done.

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Here is the first one all finished up:

And here is the starting of the next one:

I am really loving it and once I get it all down, I’m hoping to write out a few charts for Craft Leftovers. This would be such a great project for it. I’ve already blazed through a ton of yarn that was just laying in my stash. I love it! And there is something wonderfully calming and meditative about wrapping a ball in thread.

I’ve also been sewing a whole lot. Since doing this past week’s midweek post for craft leftovers I’ve been making bags like I don’t know what. I can’t show the christmas present ones, but I’ll show some of the stuff I was working on tonight.

This is the fabric that my friend Carolyn picked out for her bag:

And her little lady was with her when we were talking about it and so I told her she could pick out some fabric for a little reusable shopping bag that she could use when she goes to the grocery store with her mom. We had been out all day with her and she only got a case of the cranky pants once, and it only lasted for like 5 mins and was really her just not saying bye to anyone, which I think is amazing. Having worked in retail/coffee houses for the past 8 years, I am truly amazed at how well behaved Carolyn’s kids are. Even at their worst, they are better than most kids I come across on a daily basis.

Anyway, since it was pretty quick to whip together, I have it pretty much done, just one more crack at it with the sewing machine and it will be all set to go:

Speaking of Carolyn, check out this sweet Christmas present she got me off etsy:

Oh and somehow these remind me of another thing. This past fall I did a large series of drawings, 36 in fact, and I want to offer them up to you all and get them some homes. I’ll only being selling a selection of them as limited ed prints of 25. And a couple of the originals. I have added a “shop” link in the side bar under “about”. It will be here on the blog and each drawing will have its own “buy it now” button. I will also offer handmade note cards, hand bound sketchbooks and journals, and bookmarks. Those will come incrementally as I make them. Be looking for the first drawings and prints to show up in the first week of the new year.

I think that’s it. I’m off for more sewing! Goodnight!

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