A Call for a New Home with Studio Space

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An artist friend once told me when growing your business, try to work out of your home as long as you can possibly stand it. That was back in the 90s. I followed that advise until I couldn’t anymore, then rented a warehouse. It seemed to be perfect timing and everything fell into place. I had a separate work place with room to grow. I had employees, a production area, a shipping department. Do I want all that again? Not really. Fast forward to today….business strategies have changed and I have been able to work out of my tiny townhome…

Adjust, Flow and Grow

Categories: Art and Health · art business · Botanical pottery · Butterfly · Canister and Vases · Custom Art · Flowers · handmade · installations · mosaics · mothers dayTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Leave a comment

I am so excited about new things happening this year.  I’m still adjusting to how business practices are changing….many are shopping on line.   My beloved Stein Mart is no more.  Gosh, I just loved that store.  Such cute things for ladies my age.   But Alas… no more.   I am old school. I like to shop in person, I like to talk on the phone.  I prefer meeting in person. With the exception of a doctor appt.  I love video chat for dr. appointments.  But I’m not crazy about zoom.   I’m still making art the way I have always been making…

Peace (be still)

Categories: 2020 · Arizona · Art and Health · art business · Canister and Vases · ceramics · UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 4 Comments

Strange are these days.  I have been self quarantining but that is normal for me because I am an introvert by nature.  No big deal.  But I actually feel bad for those whose lives are abruptly edited.  I do not like that at all because it’s not fair.  But fair or not,  it’s not forever.  It’s difficult to stay put when someone tells you to stay put.  I want to do the opposite,  (It’s the rebel in me). Now it feels weird when I go out,  like I’m going to be questioned at the grocery store or the post office. …

Drawing From The Desert

Categories: Arizona · Botanical pottery · Canister and Vases · Clay · Custom Art · Flowers · Gardening · handmade · September · Shadow box · Southwest Art · UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Leave a comment

I never tire of the desert life.  Sometimes I think about living in some other part of the country but I always follow it up with …”but I will miss the desert”. How blessed I am to be living in a place that has amazing weather,  the best sunsets, exotic cactus, dramatic monsoons, easy winters, wide open blue, orange or pink skies, purple majestic mountains, wild lightning shows, starry starry nights that go on forever. Among all that are desert critters that have adapted to the scorching summers; groups of javalina seem to startle the family dog, the coyote party…

Perfection…isms

Categories: art business · Botanical pottery · Butterfly · Canister and Vases · ceramics · handmade · sculpture · UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Leave a comment

  Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? Do others think you’re a profectionist?   Or do you proudly proclaim you are not one at all?  I am talking about as an artist…not a brain surgeon. Is it bad to be a perfectionist?  That label kinda gets a bad rap. During one of my classes recently,  a student nonchalantly said she was not a perfectionist.  It got me thinking.  First of all,  I don’t expect any of my students to do things perfectly or hold themselves to the standards I hold myself as a professional artist.  I typically expect my students come…

Gently gliding into summer

Categories: Arizona · art business · Canister and Vases · Classes · clay stamps · Flowers · Gardening · June, July and August classed · mosaics · Pop up Show · sculpture · Shadow box · Southwest Art · UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1 Comment

I know it is still spring but Tucson is an exception.  However, the wicked triple digits have been staying off for a longer pleasant spring. I have been thoroughly enjoying the gardening/ wild flowering/ cactus blooming season in my tiny back yard.  I am surrounding myself with nature while I work on mosaic tile projects… (to be shown soon.  Bees, hummers, butterflies, families of Finches and Verdins  have a safe haven right here.  The littlest joys bring inspiration to my art creations. And I just have to say, Congratulations to my daughter, Shauna and her partner, Ryan, for giving birth…

Prepare to be Wowed.

Categories: Arizona · Butterfly · Canister and Vases · ceramics · Chris Bubany Holiday Artisans Marketplace · Classes · Southwest Art · UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Leave a comment

Next weekend is the Chris Bubany Holiday Marketplace held at Harlow Gardens.   NOvember 3 & 4 I am proud to be a part of this show every year because it premieres the best artisans in the Tucson area  and it is held at one of the prettiest nurserys in town.  I mean Harlow Gardens is a gorgeous setting.  For me, it begins my season for offering new work I have been working on all summer. So many people come back to this show year after year to grab up beautiful gifts, art and lovely plants as well. I love seeing fellow artists and…

Teacups and Butterflies

Categories: Butterfly · Canister and Vases · ceramics · UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 2 Comments

Whenever I see a dead butterfly with wings intact I feel sad for him but I save the wings like little treasures…

A New Thing

Categories: April Clay Class · Canister and Vases · ceramics · Classes · Clay · Custom Art · Flowers · Gardening · handmade · mosaics · pomegranate · Shadow box · Spring Decor · UncategorizedTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · Leave a comment

“He is doing a new thing”  (in me) That is my inspiration for this season.  Isaiah 43:19. The other day a friend mentioned on Facebook that she was selling her house and had to put away all her art supplies for a while.  I shutter at the thought.  But it got me thinking about how we get used to having many things at our fingertips but then there is a shift and we have limited resources. We can get frustrated, stomp our feet, curse the air, and ask ‘why me, ‘why now?’.   But eventually the disrupt  forces us to think…

Make a Canister or Vase class

Categories: April Clay Class · Botanical pottery · Canister and Vases · ceramics · sculpture · Spring DecorTags: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1 Comment

Make a canister or Vase! Pottery hand building class, beginning Thursday, April 5th from 5-8.  thru April 19th. Join me at the Blue Raven Art School for a fun class in pottery.  I will teach you to make a functional container with a lid or a simple vase for utensils or flowers. Learn how to work with clay slab, hand build miniature critters, glaze techniques and surface decoration. No experience required.  A fun class with no pressure. Everything is included, clay, glazes, tools, firing for one low price, $155.00 Email me to reserve your space.  Groups of 6 or more receive…