Art on the TRail, Travelers Rest, SC

Craft Fair This Weekend!!

One thing about gearing up for a craft fair is that the fear of the unknown is always in the back of your mind. If you were selling items that you didn't make yourself I feel like you would be less attached and there for only worry about making money to cover expenses. Selling things you have worked hard on opens up a new level of worry.

It doesn't matter if it is nerves or excitement each fair is an experience. I am gearing up for the 25th Annual Sourwood Festival in Black Mountain, NC. This will be my first festival of the year and I always worry I don't have enough stock. I have been coming close to making two hats a day for the last two weeks and I still feel that I will run short. I wish I could say that I believe I will sell out, but the fear is actually that I will not have enough for people to look at. I have also been working on displays. My display last year was cute and whimsical, but it had three flaws. It only held three hats, it was large and it was heavy.  This year's display has all new possibilities.

I have two more days of pricing, making, sorting, and organizing everything that I have made. I unfortunately also need to clean and pack. Life it seems is never short on stuff to do.

Ta Ta for now.
B

Mediums and Lots of Them

I've been a little scattered with my crafting lately. Trying to produce for craft fairs is a little tedious at times, but at the end you feel as if you created something and the individuals buying them are giving them a lovely home.

A friend of mine gave me some rather disturbing new the other day. She is a fellow craft artist like myself with a few less mediums but the are increasing rapidly. Last year she was my partner in multiple craft fairs. We spent a year producing crochet hats. Our fairs started off slow, but picked up. Anywho. We were speaking about prices and how you never get what you think you will out of art and she stated that she had seen a couple of people wearing her hats around town. Now, this is usually a treat. To have someone buy your art and where it with pride is better times over than the monetary gain. Problem was the hat was dirty, tattered, and torn. I felt for her immediately while wondering, why would someone purchase art and then commence to destroy it?. With this being said my want to make hats have been a little less lately.

What I have been working on has ranged from clothing to toys to paintings to drawings. I am dying to get outside and paint in the yard. Today is the first day in a long while that it has been absolutely gorgeous. Much to my dislike I have spent it inside working but without working I would not be able to afford to craft and that would be a shame.

I am currently working on what was a hush hush project, but I can't keep secrets for long. I call it project Logan. A couple I know have a 18 month old. She is beautiful and unique. With this in mind and the fact that east Tennessee has an entire lack of beaches I have been working on a take along play place. There is a mat that has sand, water, and dirt areas. I am at this point creating one by one little creatures, people, boats and play things to bring the beach to a park near her. My goal is to have this ready for a park adventure in the spring.

That's all for now.
B

Crafting...or Just Art in General

I fell like I should starting this blog as if I am responding to a letter requesting advice. "Dear intrigued and suffering,". Not sure why but it seemed fitting.

For the last two semesters I have taken night classes and taken all of my time. I remember thinking "oh great winter break is here and I should be able to do some new and exciting crafts". PFFFFFFFFT. After setting up my Etsy shop and focusing on crochet I realized this was an impossible goal. I was flushed with orders from Etsy and friends and this was amazing, but I think my creativity is now a little starved. I am still placing items on Etsy and still filling orders, but I would like to start painting/drawing/creating again. Something new. My head is flushed with ideas. I would like people to see that Land of Bor3d is more than just cute hats, scarfs, and fingerless mittens.

After all winter doesn't last forever.

~B

Omnomnom...Zombies

Today's topic, Zombie Apocalypse. What would you have in your Z-Day protection kit? When first aid and food are a given, what else should come into play?

A special place has remained in my heart for zombies since childhood. I have always had a fascination with Halloween and zombies seem to the the only creatures (except evil people) that extend past the "day of dead." I have been working on zombie disguises, hats, shoes and the like, for sometime. I have mainly focused on adult wear. These are zombie disguises act as a kind of camouflage in case you feel the need to hunt. As silly as it may seem this among other forms of art are a focus to release my creative energy.

Last night I began building a baby zombie hat. I know some of the adults out there are too "grown up" to placed this kind of thing on their child, but I must say people surprise me with their need for individuality. I have had requests for multiple interesting hats from zombie, Yoda, and The Punisher to Deadmau5 and the list keeps coming. I love the creative ideas and will continue to support all.

Now back to your reguarly scheduled program,
~B

Etsy and Me

Land of Bor3d is new to Etsy and results are still questionable. When asked to describe my items I draw a blank. Of course I know that hat, cap, beanie, scarf should come into play, but I am at a loss for what consumers are going to type in. I am reading all the blogs and trying to get my views up, but I still feel like I am missing something. I take joy in everything I make and I still am constantly in amazement when people look at what I consider art and think "what is the point?."

One of the things I struggle with is trying to explain the differences between knitting and crochet. When questioned about the difference between knit and crochet I find myself "dumbing down" for people. I explain that the difference between the two is two needles vs. one, when truly there is more to it than that. Answer me this, do people really want to know the difference?.

It also seems that the masses think that store bought, factory made, cheap items are of the same quality or better than handmade items. On one side it seems that people are becoming more interested in unique, handmade gifts, but on the other side I don't see anyone dawning these items or placing them in their homes. I constantly debate on the idea of buying a $200 print from Pier One that are no where near "one of a kind" or searching for local art that is unique and refreshing. Reprints feel so impersonal, but every house I go to I see them hanging on the wall. Does anyone else feel this way?

Lost in Thought,
~B

Cowls, Cowls and More Cowls

The weather is turning cold, the leaves are falling, and the air smells of fall. The winter clothes will come out of the closet soon and everywhere I turn I see lovely shiny ladies and handsome men in cowls. Cowls are completely in this year and I am in cowl land this week. I am currently working on my third cowl, forth scarf of the week and I can't help but be overly excited/inspired by the lovely colors of fall. As I see these brilliant scarfs I feel the urge to make/own them all. In so many colors these cowls dance upon the necks of lucky individuals and I want to be a part of it.

I will be adding more items to my Etsy account this weekend and among the items will be some lovely cowls, fantastic hats, and probably a fingerless glove or two.

The craft fair madness is in a lull. I am new to this and am fumbling my way through finding appropriate fairs to display my items. I attended two this fall and they were both equally amazing. I have always loved seeing individuals interested in my art.

Thanks again to all that came to the fair.
~B