2023 Year Wind-up

It's the last day of 2023...  Hello 2024!

I made this Up-cycled Ornament Wreath!

I had goals for 2023.  In the beginning of 2023 I made the goal of posting a blog post at least once a month. Truly a modest goal, but something I hadn't done since 2009. I made this goal! As an additional "stretch" goal, I thought I should try to meet or exceed 15 posts. This will be my 16th post in 2023, which means I made more posts in 2023 than I have since 2011.  

[Notes:  1.  I love the blog archive gadget on computer viewed blogs (you don't see the gadget with cell phone viewing.)  2. There were multiple months where I needed to "post soon, just to get the post in before the end of the month."  I only posted because of my goal.]

Conclusion: My stated, intentional goals worked!  And these goals kept me more in touch with the blogging world, and my nascent writing skills.

Last year, I said 2022 was probably my most creative year to date, and yet in 2023 I feel I explored, expanded and created more than in 2022, especially when including writing as a creative skill. (Which it is...)

In 2023 I traveled a lot, and still did a fair amount of creative projects.  For me 2023 was a good year, even though I recognize that it wasn't a good year for many people, and I reflect on this a lot.  

I went on multiple vacations this year: Arizona in February; California in March-April; Paducah's quilt show in April; a Down South road trip in July to Charleston, Savannah and more; two camping trips, one a Canoeing Overnight on the Wisconsin River, and the other to a dark sky sight to see the Perseid Meteor shower, (which was just awesome); a trip to Canada and a wedding in Minnesota.

Now I am setting goals for 2024: 

• My daughter decided to set the goal of seeing all the National Parks, so I copied her and added that goal to my long-term goals.  (I saw 7 US National Parks in 2023*).
• I am again planning on a blog post a month.
• A new "stretch" goal is now more than 16 posts in 2024.
  
• I want to post more (short) travel photography posts, reviewing and using the incredible library of photography I have amassed.  (Photography is definitely a creative effort, as is writing.)
• I want to enter and exhibit at least one of my artwork's in an art show (and I have two framed pieces ready to go!)
  
• Creating more in 2024:  Mosaics, needlework, printmaking, calligraphy, iron-work, writing and more.
• More travel!
  

I hope that 2024 be a blessed year for you, and the world if possible. 

Happy New Year!

May 2024 be a blessed year 

for you and the world.  

Sending wishes for a 

Great 2024!

 

* National Parks seen in 2023: Saguaro National Park, Grand Canyon NP; Yosemite and Pinnacles NP; Mammoth Cave NP, Smoky Mountain NP, and Congaree NP, and Canadian National Parks Banff, Jasper and Kootenay NP. 
 

 I find Goal setting fun and motivating.  Is that your experience? Feel free to share your thoughts, (and links!) in the comments if you have time...  :)

If you want to see some of my top posts from 2023 you might like:

Glass Flowers

Mosaics

Hutches

Autumn Wreath

Oak Leaf Print

Glass Leaf

Mosaic Chair

Lilies of Valley

Spring Nest

Flowers

Grand Canyon

Vintage Linen

I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon 356 (Entry 16x of 52x)
My Random: Anything Goes 401 (Entry 61)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 14 of 22.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 18x of 25x.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 508 Mon 1p (l Entry 19 of 59.)
Keeping it Real: Party 395 (Entry 16 of 22.)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 302 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 15 of 33.)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me 711 Mon 3p (l Entry 15 of 119.)
Fifth Sparrow: Whimsy Home 63 Wed (Entry 11r of 74r.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up 406 Tues (m Entry 4 of 85.)
Master pieces of my life: Home Imagined 34 Tue 6a (Entry 37)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 19 of 20.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 558 (l Entry 4 of 26.)
Eclectic Red Barn: You're the star (l Entry 30 of 62.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 570 5p Tues (l Entry 1x of 89x)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 12r of 50)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 3 of 62)
Ridgehaven: Homestead 478 Blog Hop Wed (Entry 6 of 41.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 420 Wed (m Entry 7 of 36.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 381 Wed 4p (m Entry 22 of 59.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 25 of 99.)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 71 of 152.)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 470 8p (i Entry 32 of 104.)
Also Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 413 Th 4p (Entry 32 of 104.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 599 Fr 8a (L Entry 63)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters Fri 461 (s Entry 4r of 116r.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 3 of 48.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 13)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry 4)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 172 (L Entry 17 of 73)
Shabby art boutique: Create-gather 604 (L Entry 16x of 109x.)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 31)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Party 19 (Entry 27 of 37.)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 329 (Entry 10 of 105.)
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry )
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best (l Entry )
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 179 7a (Entry 88)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry 87)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 234 3p (l Entry 92)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 602 even (l Entry 54)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry 17)
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 512 Sun a (Entry 87)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop Mon 4a (Entry )
Create with Joy: Mir Inspired me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 62)

595235

Top10 DH    Photo mosaic   Top10 MP

Calypso

2022 - A good year!

The last day of 2022 - it's here so fast!  I am going to quickly send out this short post, which will increase my posts this year by 50%.  (From 2 to 3!)  I haven't given up on blogging, but 2022 was a year of returning to travel, and 2022 was probably my most creative year yet.  

I went on 7 vacations (some small - weekend weddings, Trips to nearby Door County, WI), and one incredible trip to Italy - Milan, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre and Lake Garda. I created more mosaics, worked on printmaking, improved my calligraphy (and attended IAMPETH's conference in Atlanta, Georgia), dabbled in ceramics (I wasn't planning on that, but...) and even learned how to use a forge. Quilting got a boost when I attended my first ever AQS Paducah Quilt show.  

I hope to post more in 2023 - or travel more, create more, and hopefully I'll manage to do both!

Happy New Year

I'm sending wishes for a 

Fantastic 2023!

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you enjoy traveling, you might also enjoy these posts...

Italian Garden

Japan Memories

Canada Autumn

German Castle

NYC Christmas

Yellowstone

Canadian Lake

Chicago Xmas

NYC Windows 3

NYC Easter

El Capitan

Paris Reflections

Wash DC

Autumn Color

Gr Canyon intro

Running Rapids

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Snowmen

Here are two snowman images I am thinking of turning into simple cards. I remember taking the photos and thinking - wow, these will be great for cards. I even 'styled' the snowman with the shovel and sprinkler. But now my snowmen look kind of, well, lumpy. (snicker...) I think I must have some other snowman shots somewhere... This year (or in 2010), I am going to create really great snowman... (A Goal) and get really great pictures. Let me know what you think... P.S. We have no snow here by me yet, but also no more great fall colors. So, I'm looking for some Outdoor Wednesday shots from other seasons. I took these photos last winter. Learn more about Outdoor Wednesday by clicking here: http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

April Project

Well, April is more then half gone, and spring flowers are beginning to bloom. Today the children were back in school after a long spring break.

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I dug into a project that has been beckoning me for a while. Over one year ago (or at least in 2008) I purchased an hand bound antique "book" that seems to be compilation of a "The Cottage Hearth" subscription for the year 1882. I think Country Hearth was a monthly periodical, a magazine of sorts from over 130 years ago (?). The inch and a half thick volume is crumbling, and I probably paid to much for it, but the illustrations were beautiful to me - from the height of the Victorian era, in my opinion. The "April" banner above is an example of the illustrations in this delicate volume.

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I am inspired by the illustrations and am going to try to recreate some of the bouquets, flower arrangements, and embellishments with actual flowers and photography, interpreted, of course. I hope to have an example of my interpretation in this blog before the month is out. (Uh oh, a goal)

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I also decided to feature some of my favorite illustrations as cards in my etsy store, under vintage. It will be quite different then my photography, of course, but if I can't play with my shop, who can? My interests are varied and I guess my shop will reflect that sooner or later. (I play with mosaics, and my shop has had three mosaic products for months now. So the shop is kind of varied already.)

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The dragonfly above is the first image I am considering using for a card.

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Bye for now!

Time is flying by!

Well, April has come and time is flying by. In my Feb 28 blog entry, I said my goal for March was to post an item on my on-line store every day. I made my goal, missing only one day, the day I did my first craft show. I now have over 130 items in my store.

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I submitted an artwork to the 62nd annual Ozaukee County Art Fair (Artists are limited to 1 artwork in this fair), and my photograph "Evolution" won a ribbon. :) Notice - It is not a typo, the show has been held for 62 years! I also have 4 new pieces of art displayed in the Cedarburg Artist Guild's Main Street Gallery at the Cedarburg Cultural Center.

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In March I also did my 2nd show - selling photography at Mama Mayborne's open house ) On April 4, 2009 I participated in my first booth fee paying event, the MS Vendor Craft fair which had over 50 vendors located in a middle school - in the halls, gym and cafeteria.

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I guess my vision for my blog was to write about each of these events, and perhaps someday I will be able to achieve that vision. In the meanwhile I got a lot done - I just didn't find the time to blog about each event. We'll see what happens in the future.

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P.S. I plan on posting an item a day in my on-line store in April also. I don't plan on doing this particular goal in May. I won't be posting anything while on my scheduled vacation with my soon to be 10 year old daughter. We are supposed to pack light for our 180 mile raft trip through the grand canyon. No PC, no electricity, no buildings, just a lot of running water... I am taking some cameras though, so I hope I'll be bringing back some good photos...

Adding a mini Etsy on your blog

I finally learned how to add a mini Etsy to blogspot.
You can see it on the right side below my profile,
and click on it to go to my on-line stop.

The rest of this blog is a brief how-to for Etsy people:

Go to Etsy. Sign in. Go to my Etsy.
(This would actually be your Etsy, don't hack into MY Etsy. :)
In the lower left corner click on mini Etsy.
Select your configuration of columns and rows.
I used 2 columns by x 75 pixel thumbnails.
(You might have to click a submit button here...)
The code is generated for you to copy.
Select the code, copy it.
Go to your blog.
Sign in.
Go to Customize.
Select the Page Elements tab.
Click Add a gadget.
Select HTML/Javascript
A dialog box appears:
My on-line shop is the title I used.
Paste the content you copied from Etsy into the content box.
Press Save in the dialog box.
Position your gadget where you want it.
Press Save in the Page Elements page.
View your new blog with a mini Etsy.

First Art Fair Experience

I had a wonderful time at the Alliance Bible Church's women's retreat this past weekend in Brown Deer Wisconsin. It was spiritually uplifting and relaxing, and the company and the food was great. The guest speaker Elizabeth Murphy was inspirational. There is nothing like uninterrupted bible study with knowledgeable historical facts and clear interpretations to make you enjoy familiar bible passages. (Uninterrupted for me is more then 5 minutes!)


My booth and two of my children checking it out
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The retreat had a mini mart where I was selling products, and the whole set-up, art fair experience and take down went more smoothly then I could have hoped for. I can plan, coordinate, setup, sell and take down a really nice looking booth, if I say so myself! A good friend Gretchen happened to be able to help me set-up, and Jean, a friend I've known for a decade plus, attended the retreat and helped me pack up. (Thank You if you ever read this!)
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I think I was the only vendor who attended the retreat. (well, why not?) I am not sure I have figured out how you manage a all day long sale where you can't leave the booth and might have to worry about breaks and food details - but that adventure is for another day. At this retreat, sales were in small blocks of time, and I could take breaks, eat lunch, attend sessions and small group discussions and never worry about leaving my booth unattended.
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Many people want to know how sales were. My husband asked about sales when I got home. Sales happened : True! I made more then I expected : Not. I won't quit my day job - wait, I really don't exactly have one... I am self employed... This is my job?



My 4 children and Carl, and me in the middle.
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The weather was continuous cold rain outside with gray skies all over. The economy is what it is. I was happy with the feedback and sales I made. It is so encouraging to see people who don't know you enjoying the art you have created. Not to forget the wonderful retreat experience. I would happily do many such events on the weekend. (Eventually my husband might catch on that the children's college fund isn't growing, and he is stuck running the children to birthday parties and whatnot :)
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So, I look forward to future opportunities to sell my art, but in the meanwhile, I have a wonderful first art fair/mini mart experience.

Getting ready for my first art show....

On display at the Cedarburg Cultural Center

There are so many things happening so fast this month. I have lots of projects in the works and going, and on many days I feel like I am juggling. Today I dropped off 4 artworks to the Cedarburg Artist's Guild's Main Street Gallery for an Exhibit called "Bye Bye Blues". This was after a last minute run to the framers, of course.

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Most of the rest of the day I was preparing for my first art/craft mini mart. I am selling cards and photography at a church's women's retreat this Friday and Saturday. I will also be attending the retreat myself. I should be spiritually renewed if I'm not too stressed out!
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I've never before needed a cash box, receipt pads, cash for the cash box, and packaging (bags?) for sales. I've never really needed significant display stands for my products. And of course I have been creating those products - running to the photo lab for prints, making cards and packaging them. It is only a small retreat, of 50-60 women, but the craft fair experience - planning, transporting, setting up, selling product, and taking down the booth at a art fair type of setting will be a good experience. And if not, the religious retreat experience should be renewing.
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I purchased 3-4 card racks from a local business that is (unfortunately) going out of business. I spent enough on the card displays that I might not make enough sales to cover even the cost of the stands. See how small businesses are investing in the economy? I am hoping my sales will pay for the card displays. Cross your fingers for me!
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I have the potential for doing 2-3 more art or in-home shows in the next two months. I am going to decide whether or not to put money down for booth fees after this weekend - I'll keep updating my blog as the month progresses. Now I'm going to frame a couple of more prints.
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P.S. So far this month, I have posted at least one item a day in my on-line store.

Goals for March

One of the products in my shop.

Well, I have now had an Etsy shop for 2 months, and my son Anthony commented, Mom you sure do spend a lot of time on the internet now.

Since I have a shop, I have to check for sales everyday. (OK, sometimes I check more often.) It is always fun to see a sale. My daughter gets almost as excited as me.

I have been trying to add products to my store. An Etsy (Etsian) expert suggested I list an item everyday, so starting around Feb 15, 2009, I had made that my goal. I missed a day or 2 in Feb, but now for March I am making it a goal to add an item a day, at least 90% of the time. (This is an example of a measurable goal :)

I found Etsy treasuries, places where Etsy users can create or "curate" "exhibits" or groups of items from whatever artists they want to. I have already been "Featured" in two treasuries, created by people I didn't know but who found and liked my products.

And I found Etsy chat rooms, where I have spent a little bit too much time. ;) There you get to see a variety of products produced by the 20 or so people in the room, and "listen" to their type written conversations going on all at once. I'm still learning the ropes of the chat rooms, but it is a fun way to burn up time. (OPPS!)

Another goal I have decided on is at least two blog entries a month, for the rest of 2009. This blog entry is probably a little lame, but I hope future ones will be more inspirational. I think it is good for me to write down my goals, it seems to make me try harder to accomplish them.

Good Bye for now!

All that Pizzazz is now selling my cards

All That Pizzazz! is now carrying over 50 of my cards for sale. Located at W63 N698 Washington Ave, in historic downtown Cedarburg, WI, All That Pizzazz is committed to promoting and supporting Made in America products and other handmade works. The store is bursting with whimsical and beautiful glassware, ceramics & pottery, and unique home decor items you don't see everywhere else.



I hope you will stop in to see my cards if you are in the area. I am very excited that I have cards for sale in stores like All that Pizzazz and Elliot's Partyland. I change out the seasonal ones, (Both stores carried some of my Valentine designs). After Valentines Day, I remove the unsold cards and replace them with different designs.

Of course, I have these designs and more for sale at www.jselep.etsy.com. Meanwhile, it is snowing here in Wisconsin. AGAIN! So here is a final image of spring I want to leave you with - Spring Will Come!

Valentine's Day Cards released!

Back on January 15 I was trying to design and create some Valentine's Day Cards. Then the children were off Thursday Jan 15, Friday Jan 16, Monday Jan 19, and and Friday 23. (I don't get much work done when the kids are home, go figure.) I also had a lot of other (real life) work to cram into the remaining days. This did result in a delay in my progress.


Eventually I created the original designs, photographed them, improved them, photographed them, printed the photos, assembled them as cards (finished product), photographed the finished product looking like a card, and then repeated the process with more designs. It's a lot of work for a $3.50 card but I had fun doing it. Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays.















I took the finished product to Elliot's Partyland on Port Washington Road in Mequon, WI, and they bought 6 of the designs! They are trying them out, since mine are handcrafted by a local artist, they are different then the commercial cards they normally carry. Some of the cards (3 different designs) already sold!

Elliot's Partyland selected a representative variety of the cards, so the ones pictured here are the designs being sold at Elliot's. I have these designs and more for sale at www.jselep.etsy.com, and at Studio 6, next to Tomaso's Pizza in Cedarburg.















I hope you enjoy the cards, and remember loved ones and relatives - Make them smile by sending a card today!

On-line Store updated

Hello.
Today I added about 20 products to my on-line store at www.jselep.etsy.com. Check it out! It took nearly all day to add the items though. First you have to create a good photograph, crop and modify it to 1000 pixels wide, write a description and select a ton of options. But I'm learning how to do it! I added bunches of cards, some photographs, and 2 mosaics.

New Artwork on Display!

On Tuesday, I entered two photographic works of art into the Cedarburg Cultural Center's Main Street Gallery's January show. One of my new year's resolutions is to enter artwork in each of the Cedarburg Artists Guild's five shows in 2009. Each Guild member can display 1-3 pieces of art for sale and display in each of the Guild's shows. The current show runs until March 4, 2009. Artworks displayed in the Guild shows can not be displayed again in future guild shows, (i.e. no repeats), so viewers get to see constantly changing work.

When I woke up on Tuesday, I didn't know exactly what artwork I was going to display. (I had ideas, options, and frames.) I got the children off to school and then went to pick up my photographic prints from 2 different locations. I raced to the framers to get a mat cut for one of the new prints. As I was unloading the prints, the glass from one of the frames shattered in the car. Great. The drop-off time for the show was between 10:00am and 1:00pm. I was still at the framers after 12:30.

I got to Cedarburg in time, and at least one other artist dropped off art after me, but I am wondering why do I procrastinate? Why didn't I have the works ready days ago? Actually, I always have works available since I sell artwork at Studio 6, an artist coop in Cedarburg, and I could go "pull something off the wall", but I wanted to present a new work. Hence the last minute pressure. I've an artist friend who said she does her best work under pressure, but I'm thinking I could do with a little less pressure, and a little more planning. Do other artist "cram" before shows and exhibits?

Either way, my goal was reached. Art displayed! I'll try to get photos up soon. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I won't try to describe the pieces I am exhibiting.
Good Bye for now!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! Early January is the time for New Year's Resolutions. Yes, I actually try to make some. My resolutions usually fall in the goal category...

On January 6, 2009 I'll be taking 2-3 pieces of art to the Cedarburg Artist's Guild's mini gallery. One of my goals is to be displaying new artwork in each of the Gallery's shows. It's a benefit of being a member of the CAG (Cedarburg Artist's Guild), which I joined in 2008. I had 3 framed photographs in the CAG's December 2008 show "Blizzard of Art".

Another goal for 2009 is to fill my online store at https://www.jselep.etsy.com/ and of course, get some sales! I also need to update my website at www.selepimaging.com

Make some goals of your own and list them here - I'll check up with you and encourage you to meet your goals! Have a great 2009.

My Etsy Store grand opening

Wow. For me this was a busy day. Today I opened my store on the internet: https://www.jselep.etsy.com/. So far I have 5 items listed for sale. (OK, it's not a big store yet) Etsy.com is website for buying and selling all things handmade. Only artists can list there, and the sales are made directly to them. It took me all day (well, the children and husband were home...) to create the photos for the site and load 5 items (note cards so far) , etc. It was surprisingly easy. I hope you will visit my site.


 
I wonder if I'll have a sale in 2008! I now want to add more items, E-Mail friends about the site once I am happy with it, etc. Let me know what you think. I also have a website that I've had for my photography company for years: www.selepimaging.com

My first blog entry...

So, I had a New Years Resolution in 2008 to improve professionally as an artist and photographer. This was a multifaceted plan, and I am happy with my progress in 2008. More later. This plan included improving my website, www.selepimaging.com and maybe blogging. So today I am creating my first real blog entry. For 2009, my New Years Resolution will be to actually blog about some of my projects as I work on them... and maybe my first several blog entries will bring my friends and relatives up to date on my previous projects and future plans. But now I have to post this blog entry see what it looks like...