When Your Stress Level Goes Through The Roof

Faux Boulder Turquoise

It is always aa trying time for me when I write a new tutorial.  It seems old Karma picks that time to kick me in the butt, every time.  Stupid stuff goes wrong, the accidents keep piling up, and my stress level goes through the roof.  

Naturally, when a tutorial is now almost 4 months past the original date I had hoped to have it published, well, you can just imagine how stressed I am.  

Unfortunately, the new faux tutorial is still not finished.  In the past three weeks, I lost hundreds of photos, my camera died on me, my printer died on me, and my beloved Nesco oven died on me.  Ask me which is worse.  At this point, I couldn't tell you.  

Having no steady income means that sometimes, new supplies have to wait for the income to catch up to the need, but when three absolute necessities such as a camera, printer and oven go kaput, frustration quickly turns to despair.  I learned that when you work for yourself, a business loan is much harder to get.  The banker actually laughed at me.  I was so embarrassed.  Good credit will only take you so far.  They actually want to know that you can repay the loan.  Imagine that.  

I looked at some of the online lenders, like Kiva and others, but they would take longer than I have to get the new equipment and get the tutorial published. 

Faux Purple turquoise with genuine purple Howlite beads

I had to resort to selling some things I had hoped never to have to part with, more so because they were my insurance against something happening that I couldn't pay for in the future... oh, wait, something did happen that I couldn't pay for, so then depression set in when I realized, what will I do if something really bad happens in the future?  

All this put me in a bad place for the last two weeks, and I don't mind telling you, I was scared. Very scared.  I suddenly didn't like this full time artist business.  My creativity level has sunk to an all-time low.  I think my muse is even terrified of me.  

Luckily, all the basic technique photos were shot before the camera died.  I was able to find the same model of camera, my beloved Canon Powershot SX110is, on ebay, for a fraction of its original cost.  It arrived yesterday, and so far it works just fine.  

Faux Yellow Turquoise andAutumn Jasper

Before I found the Canon, I dug out my old Sony Mavica to use, then realized I had never used an SD card with it, only a floppy disc.   I took about a hundred pictures on it, then tried to stick the floppy into my laptop.  Guess what? It ain't got no stinkin' floppy drive!

This is the kind of stupid thing I do when in the throes of tutorial meltdown.  I don't think logically. I went and bought an SD card, with my increasingly small stash of emergency money, only to discover I bought a "Pro" SD card, not a "non Pro" SD card, which of course, an old Sony Mavica uses instead of a "Pro." Naturally.  I wasted a quarter of a tank of gas and 25 bucks figuring out that one.  

Do you ever have days you feel like nothing you do is right?   Yep, that's me, on day 23 of this pity party for one.  All this negativity isn't helping, I know, but for now, that's just where I am.  So, pardon my blue funk for a bit longer while you wait on the new tutorial.  

Faux Dalmation Jasper with Pink Rhodocrhosite and Blue Turquoise

The good news, and there is good news, is that I got the new camera out today and recreated some of the recipes in the new faux tutorial just to get my mind in the right mood to create.  So far, so good.

Here are a few more of the photos I took before the camera debacle, some Boulder Turquoise, Purple Turquoise, Yellow Turquoise with Autumn Jasper, Dalmation Jasper with Pink Rhodochrosite. and Blue Turquoise, and a mosaic mishmash of Lapis and various Turquoises.  

I can't bring myself to put out a tutorial that is nothing less than my best, and it just isn't quite there yet.  Good things come to those who wait, right?  

Someone should have told me when I started creating stuff that people with OCD shouldn't be artists.  That, paired with being a left-handed, Type A personality perfectionist... I was doomed from the start! 

  

A Big, Bad Boo Boo, and I Don't Mean Honey

I just wanted to let everyone know the new tutorial will be delayed a few days.  I had intended to publish it by August 1st, but I did a really boneheaded thing last night which will cause a delay. I accidentally deleted the photos for three of the projects.  I am just sick about it, but it means I have to order new clay and start again with those projects, so I ask for your patience for just a little while longer.   THANK YOU! 

The good news is, while I wait on the new clay, I have time to read Cynthia Tinapple's new book, Polymer Clay Global Perspectives:  Emerging Ideas and Techniques from 125 International Artists, which was published last night.  I bought a copy at 12:47 a.m. for my Nook HD+, and ordered a hard copy this morning to show my friends and family.   I stayed awake until 2:15 looking at every page, absorbing all the beautiful artwork.  

I am so thrilled and deeply honored to be included in this important and incredible book.  It is as beautiful as I expected, Cynthia!   Thank you again for the honor of being included.  I am so excited, I can hardly breathe, and I am still pinching myself.  

I hope you will check it out and let me know what you think.  You can find me in the Texture Chapter, on page 66, right beneath Helen Breil.  Helen Breil, for goodness sakes!  If I'm dreaming, don't wake me, okay? 

Congratulations to Cynthia and to all the featured artists!  

The Joint is REALLY Jumpin' Now!

Thanks to my faux turquoise pendant being featured today at Polymer Clay Daily!   Yowzer!  

I am so excited, especially as the feature is about the new tutorial, which I haven't even published yet.   I am so touched by the wonderful response and support!   Thank you, Cynthia Tinapple!  I can't say enough that you are the polymer clay world's best ambassador.  

I share the spotlight with you, all my friends and customers who make it possible for me to be able to create full-time.  

Thank you again, everyone.  Now come on, join me and Mr. Bowie and Let's Dance!  We'll really shake these old walls!

The Joint Is Jumpin'

Lots of activity in the Diva studio in the past month.  I think I am finally in the home stretch with the new tutorial.  All the random ideas I have taken from the keyboard to the work table are finally gelling together in a cohesive collection of instructions and projects.  It won't be long now before the new "Fabulous Faux Master Collection" will be published.

What I had originally planned as a faux turquoise tutorial has morphed into a range of faux finishes using the same technique.  I want to try a few more really unusual and beautiful finishes before I call it done, but I believe that by the end of July, this baby will get birthed!

These are some of the faux turquoise finishes which will be included in the tutorial.  I wanted to give everyone a variety of colors.

These bracelets, created using my some of my fabulous faux turquoise polymer slides and Regaliz, a/k/a Licorice Leather, are a new direction for me.  I haven't made bracelets on this scale before, but I absolutely love them.  I decided to include a lesson in the new tutorial on how to create them.

These beautiful little beads are a joy to create.  They will be included in the tutorial, too, along with a special project that I hope to include which will really showcase their gorgeous matrix.   They are an "all over" design, pattern on the front and back and around the edge.  LOTS of beady goodness!

Okay, that's my update.  Now it's back to work to create some more!

The Death of Please and Thank You

I am going to have to break the news to my Momma that she raised me wrong, because those free manners she beat into me from the age of two aren't supposed to be practiced on Flickr or at Etsy.  

Yes, I was actually chastised earlier this week by a "well meaning" colleague who thought she needed to instruct me on when to say thank you.  I am from the South, and we're a little slow, you know.  she wanted me to know that I don't have to post a thank you for every nice comment someone leaves under your photos on Flickr.  I kid you not.  

What's worse, I discovered after that enlightening email that she is not the only one who thinks that way.

I check in on the discussions at the forums on Etsy once a week to be sure I'm not missing news about the implementation of the next, great Seller's tool. The powers that be don't often tell you what's coming down the pike before they send it hurtling toward you.  

Well, a question was asked to the effect of whether or not Sellers should leave feedback for their customers.  Huh?  You mean someone actually thinks you shouldn't do that?  Yes, indeed.

Judging by the response to the question, there are many sellers at Etsy who either a) don't care about feedback; b) can't afford to take the time to leave feedback; c) don't think it is necessary in order to maintain good relations with customers; or d) don't think it affects whether said customers come back and buy from them again.  

Criminy, some people are stupid.  

I was amazed at how many sellers actually said they couldn't take the time to leave positive feedback on a transaction.  Many are also of the opinion that feedback should be withheld until the buyer leaves it for the seller first.  Some sellers think the buyer's side of the transaction isn't completed until the buyer receives the item and is satisfied with it. WRONG!   The buyer's side of the transaction is completed as soon as they pay for the item.  

I've come across this before, this holding hostage the buyer's feedback until they give you feedback.  Several people I know have that position.  It is not very professional, in my opinion.  If you are an ethical Seller who puts your best work out there, you should have no reservations at all about leaving positive feedback for the buyer immediately upon completion of payment.  Period.  If you don't, it makes me think you knew the work was not the best before you listed and sent it out, and you're holding your breath waiting to see whether or not the buyer agrees. 

After thinking on this situation for a couple of days, I have come to a conclusion.  Manners must be a generational thing, or perhaps a cultural thing.

In the South, if you are over the age of 40,  you were raised to be respectful, which meant saying "please," "thank you," and "yes, ma'am or sir."

But, even this Southern 20-something generation doesn't have the manners my generation has.  They seem to be a bunch of whiny, inconsiderate, selfish brats.  This generation is all about "me."  Please and thank you are hard to come by in this day and age, and that's a damn shame.   My niece and nephews still say it, thank goodness... within my hearing, that is. 

Since 20-somethings are now running the world, I should not be surprised that a hip, young, internet seller has such a blase attitude about taking 15 seconds to thank a person who spent their hard-earned money for something in the seller's shop.  

One girl (if her photo is any indication, not a day over 25) stated she averages 1500 sales a week, which I could not confirm by looking at her sales; and that she only posts feedback once every six months, if then.  With all those sales, she just doesn't have the time.  She has plenty of time to stalk the forums and post on many different topics at all hours of the day and night, however.  I guess she has her priorities.  Posting... high on the list... thanking the people who pay her bills... bottom of the list.  

Frankly, if a seller waits 6 months to leave me feedback for something I purchased, I don't remember what I brought from her in the first place.   It annoys me to get a feedback 6 months after the fact, and I have been known to email the seller and tell them so, and that I won't be troubling them with any future purchases for which they need to bother leaving feedback.

If you are a customer of mine and you don't receive feedback from me within 24 hours of your purchase, you will know I am dead.  

And, if you leave a nice comment for me at Flickr or anywhere else I post stuff on the internet, you'll get a timely thank you for that, too.

That is just how my Momma raised me, and as she has always said, manners are free and it doesn't cost you a dime to use them.

Jeez, is it really any wonder this world is going to hell in a hand basket?  

A Tremendous Honor

Cynthia Tinapple's new book, Polymer Clay Global Perspectives: Emerging Ideas and Techniques From 125 International Artists, will be published on July 30th.

Cynthia posted the news this morning on her site, Polymer Clay Daily, that she has created a sister site, Polymer Clay Global, which promotes the new book and lists the names of the artists included.  The site includes links to their websites or blogs so you can get to know them better.


And now, I can tell the secret I have been keeping for months...  I am one of the 125 artists included in the book!  I am thrilled beyond words for this tremendous honor.

Honestly, I haven't posted about it on the blog until now because I was afraid my photos wouldn't pass muster.  Cynthia asked for a format I wasn't able to deliver, so I sent in jpeg files and kept my fingers crossed they would work.  I guess they did!  When I saw my name in the lists of artist, I finally let out a breath I've been holding since last August.  

I am so excited to be a part of this important book.  I don't think I will actually believe it until I see it in person.  Many of the artists included are pioneers in the polymer clay world.  Many have worked for years to elevate polymer to a legitimate artistic medium.  I did not even pick up a piece of polymer clay until 6 years ago.  I feel I am still at the very beginning of my journey with it, so it is unbelievable to me that my name is among those included.

Cynthia Tinapple is the best polymer clay ambassador the polymer community could hope for.  She works  tirelessly to promote polymer artists and their work.  She not only created Polymer Clay Daily and Polymer Clay Global, which promises to delve even deeper into the inspiration behind the works of our best polymer artists; she also curates a video newsletter, Studio Mojo, devoted to in-depth interviews with some of the world's best polymer artists.   She always has her finger on the pulse of polymer trends and news and generously shares it all with us.

I cannot imagine the time and effort it takes to keep up with all this, but Cynthia does it, delivering our daily dose of inspiration at Polymer Clay Daily so that I and thousands of others can peruse it with our morning coffee.  I always start my day during the week with it, and lately, I have been going back through the archived posts, discovering even more artists and inspiration.

For my gallery spot, I submitted photos of these Faux Jade Kanji Character focal beads I created using Pardo Translucent Clay and alcohol inks.  I cannot wait to see what everyone else submitted.

Several of my friends are also included, another little thrill.  I am so happy for them.  Many of my polymer mentors and heroes who inspire me every day to push myself to do better work are also in the book.

I hope you will check out each and every link in the list of artists included.  You might want to pace yourself, though.  The quality of the polymer art is going to be mind-boggling.  

Mere words could never convey how appreciative I am of the honor, Cynthia, but thank you so very much.  I am permanently installed on Cloud 9 from this day forward; and I invite all my friends to climb on up and celebrate with me!

June ABS Entry

I wasn't going to enter the challenge at Art Bead Scene this month, but after I saw the art which is the inspiration for this month's challenge, though, I decided to enter these earrings.  I didn't make them for the challenge, but they incorporate almost all of the colors in the painting, the wavy pattern echoes the waves of the water; and the mosaic squares also echo the little house shapes.  

The challenge artwork for June is "Jackknife Village" by Franklin Carmichael, a "modern" Art Nouveau  styled painting created by him in 1926.