Why, Facebook?

Why do you keep changing the format, the front page, the updates, etc, etc, etc!!! Just leave it alone already!!!

If you like the picture on my header…

I have these and others like them for sale in my Etsy store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cherylsart

I hate summer.

The worst part of the day is from about 2pm to 7pm. During that time period the apartment gets up to 88 or even 90 degrees. No AC in my place, no AC in my glass studio. About the only thing I can tolerate is just sleeping, and even that I can only do if I have a fan blowing right on me. We are supposed to have a cool down coming over the next several days so I’ll be able to get some art done. I am so ready for Fall! I fantasize about snow. The fact that I am perimenopausal and have one hot flash after another just makes it worse.

I was looking at some of the Etsy teams. I left the CCCOE Yahoo group but apparently I’m still a member of the actual team. Most of the teams are juried so you can’t just join them. I can’t guarantee that I’ll have a certain percentage of glass beads or polymer clay beads or whatever in my shop at any one time. My art is based not just on what my Muse wants to do at the time but also on environmental conditions. If it’s so hot in my apartment that the clay melts in my hands, then I don’t try to work with it. If it’s so hot in my glass studio that I feel like I’m going to pass out into my torch, then I don’t make glass beads. If I want to fire up the torch, I have to go very early in the morning and if I don’t get a good night’s sleep which is a symptom of perimenopause, then I can’t drag myself out of bed that early. I know, bitch bitch bitch. Tomorrow I’ll pack up my clay and head to TAC and work in the air conditioning with other polymer clay artists. Lampwork will wait till the weekend when it’s cooler.

Polymer clay on Etsy

I added a few items to my Etsy store. I’m going to stick with polymer clay and other non-lampwork items. I don’t expect much; I don’t belong to any of the cliques so I’m not likely to get much attention. But at least I’m giving it a try.

I got a booth at Mountain Fest!

It’s not the commercial Mountain Festival; it’s the one Mel White puts on at Tehachapi Art Center. I’m sharing a booth with someone, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to afford it. It will be a nice way to spend the weekend, and I usually make at least enough money to cover the booth fee! I’ll be with friends and fellow local artists.

I’ll have a large group of beads to list on Just Beads soon. I’m considering listing some finished jewelry in my Etsy store. At this point I’m of a mind that it doesn’t matter whether I get into any treasuries or not. If people like my work, they’ll buy it. I don’t need to be part of a clique to sell my art. I’m way too much of a rebel to play those games! It was really annoying me for a while but I’m starting to think it’s not that big a deal. I’ve had people convo me and ask why I don’t have anything listed. The polymer clay beads don’t sell well anywhere, and the lampwork does much better on Just Beads. But some finished jewelry and maybe some covered vessels, mirrors and such, would be good.

8/10/09

I didn’t make any beads today. We went to Chalk on the Walk and to lunch, then watched movies this evening. I may hit the torch tomorrow, since I have to go to the house where my studio is and water plants.

Why am I so sleepy!

I was happily torching away, experimenting with frits when I got sleepy. I finally gave up and came home. I’ll take a nap and try it again later. The weather is great for torching. Must take advantage!

I have this frit called “red violet”. It was given to me, so I don’t even know who makes it. But it works great on CIM Stoneground.

The farmer’s market is this afternoon. They have fresh figs! I love figs. Last time I only got one basket. Today I’m getting a 3-pak!

I just emptied my Etsy store

For the past few months I’ve been watching Etsy, watching who sells, who’s in the treasuries, etc, and I’ve come to the conclusion that in large part, Etsy is just a clique, or group of them. Whether or not you get into a treasury is based not on how good your work is, but rather on who you know. I’ve done far better on Just Beads in the past two months than I have on Etsy in the past two years, and it’s based on my work, not on who’s back I scratch. I thought about playing the game but I just can’t. It’s not my style.

I joined CCCOE and was a member for a few weeks. Made one post which no one responded to. Nobody knows me. I’m not part of the clique. So I left the group.

I really try to blog regularly but it’s just hard. I guess I’d rather do my art than talk about it. I do love going to LE and Facebook, though, and networking with other artists.

I just want to be what I am and have been all my life- an artist. I want to be judged on the quality of my work. Period.

New Raven Pendant

Polymer clay painted with Genesis heat set oils and pearlex tinted liquid sculpey.

Hawks in Flight

I’ve always loved to draw and paint, and many’s the time I’ve tried to combine drawing and painting with polymer clay. I made some of these painted pendants several years ago and decided to do some more. These are polymer clay painted with Genesis Heat Set oil paints. Hand-painted by yours truly.