Lots of Updates

Hello friends! This has been quite a week! Lately I've been feeling discouraged about drawnonward--it was like I couldn't do anything right! I didn't have any craft fairs scheduled for August, and I planned to take the month to come up with some new products. That didn't go exactly as planned, and I had almost nothing to show for my month off. You know when you have those days where nothing you make is coming out the way you want it to? I had about 2 weeks full of them. Usually, I can just walk away from the frustration, but I really wanted the month to be productive. In the end, I took some time off from crafting, and tried to get back into the habit of letting my inspiration dictate the rythm of the creative process (does that sound as cheesy as I think it does?). The time away was just what I needed, and now I feel much better! I'm moving ahead cautiously, because I don't want to get that burned out again.

But enough self-pity, I have some great news! Last weekend was Picnic in Portland, and it was so much fun! It rained a lot, but there were still lots of people there. A few people remembered me from the year before, which was cool. They're planning a holiday show that I'm way excited about; I'll keep you updated on the details. Speaking of holiday shows... I got in to the Bazaar Bizarre again! This show is the best; the organizers are great and it is so so much fun. This year, it's at the Cyclorama, which should be fun. I still can't believe I got in again; I keep re-reading the acceptance email and expecting them to send me another one saying "Sorry! We sent that email to the wrong person!" Paranoid, I know. But it was totally the great news I needed to jump start my crafting. Baz biz saves the day again!

I also recently joined twitter, so you can follow me now! My user name is drawnonward_nh because drawnonward was taken (no, that's not me tweeting about D&D), so look me up! I still don't totally understand how it works, but it seems pretty cool so far! Also, and this is a little embarrassing, I just found out that I don't get status updates emailed to me when something happens on the drawnonward designs Facebook fan page. So, if you posted something on my wall or sent me a message that I never responded to, I apologize and won't let it happen again! But now you can be a fan and actually expect to get some interaction with me!

One more thing! There is a fantastic picture of J on my flickr that I can't post here because I told him I wouldn't put it anywhere but flickr... But I will leave you with some new product shots.


This is a bigger size wristlet; I photographed it in my fancy new light box. Ok, it's not that fancy, but I finally made a light box!


Group shot, also in the light box.


A purse! I know you're as excited as I am! Isn't it pretty? I can't wait to make more.


Rings--they were a super hit at Picnic! They're fabric (clearly) and are amazing.

Happy almost weekend!

Hi friends! I'm excited to report that I'll be at Picnic Music+Arts Festival in Portland, ME on Saturday, September 12! This show was so much fun last year, and it sounds like it's going to be even better this year. So if you're in the area, stop by! The first day I'll be at the Concord Arts Market this fall is Sept. 26.

I also set up a Flickr account the other day, so check out my product shots and other fun photos! It should have some new pics soon because I'm almost done some new items. I've started making fabric rings, and those should be up soon.

I hope everyone had great weekends! I went to Bread and Puppet Theater in VT and it was absolutely amazing--I highly recommend it! I'll post some pictures of that on Flickr too!!

Pictures!

Last weekend, I got the chance to get outside and take some pictures, and I'm really happy with the results!
Bags--I'm really happy with the bag progress lately; I've started making bigger clutches, and maybe someday I'll make them into purses. The original woven prototype was a bag I made for myself a few years ago, and I'd love make more of them.

Close up of one bracelet and a bunch of them.

Coral disc earrings
Flower earrings that thread through your ears the wrong way. It sounds like it'd be hard to do, but it's really not!
Three pairs on a line. They're hanging on my new display piece, held on by little tiny clothes pins. Sometimes I think I get more compliments on the clothespins than the earrings, but look how cute they are!

Christmas ornaments--or ornaments to hang anywhere you feel like!

Key chain!

So there you have the results of my photo shoot; what do you think? The Arts Market is done for the summer, and it was a great time. I feel like every post I do is about the market, but it was a wonderful experience and big time commitment for the summer. I'd never done a weekly market before, but I learned a lot from this one. I think my display got a lot better, and I met some fantastic artists. I can't wait until it starts again in the fall; I'll let you know when I've finalized the dates I'll be there!

My blog is famous!

Ok, Concord-famous! We're in the Concord Insider this week! It's a story about the Downtown Market Days, which started today. You can find me there on Saturday--you know you want to go even if it's raining! The Market Days are always way fun, so this year should be even better with the Arts Market joining it! I'm making some new mirrors (so new I don't have pictures) as well as some bags and earrings. I'll also be at the Concord Arts Market next weekend (7/25) when it's back at it's old location (33 Capitol St) for one last time!

Here's a preview of some of the goods I'll have this weekend:


So come say hi Saturday! And if you're lucky, you'll meet my mom! She's covering for me in the evening because I have a wedding to go to.

Hello dear blog readers-it's been so long! But I have pictures today! The Arts Market has been going great. The whole set up of a weekly market is new to me, but I like it, and it's really fun. I meet great people every week I'm there, and it's so close to my house, I can't complain. Some days at craft shows are great for me not because I make a ton of money, but because I get re-motivated to make stuff! Yesterday was one of those days, and now I'm excited for the upcoming 3 day weekend so I can get some serious accessory making done. At the market this week, Katy, the organizer, introduced me to someone and said, " This is Alison and she makes accessories." I feel like I've referred to myself as a jewelry maker for so long, it's time for me to start thinking of myself as an accessory maker. It doesn't sound as catchy, but it's more accurate, and just thinking of myself that was is inspiring me to expand my product lines.

Anyway! My handyman J made me a new jewelry display for the arts market, and it's working out great lately. The arts market is a great excuse to try out new displays and be creative. This one is fantastic!

Isn't it nice? And it does a much better job of not blowing over than the last display! Now that I think about it, the display with the metal pipes that kept falling over the first week also came crashing down at the Bazaar Bizarre! And that was inside!

I also had some mirrors for sale this weekend for the first time!


And, I made a sign, finally.

Yay! Thanks for listening to my ramblings; I'll leave you with some Bonnaroo pictures, because I really did go!

Here's the sign I made for the car window for the drive down

It was raining when we got there and I had a chance to take the pic, but the sign looked sweet!

And, a shot of the What Stage, when we were waiting for Snoop Dogg's performance (yeah, we were far away!)
Have a great week! Hopefully it stops raining before the 4th!

2 months?!

It's been 2 months since my last post? Man, what a slacker I am! I'm sure a lot's happened in those 2 months, but I can't remember most of it. We moved (again)! The new place is great, we're still settling, but it's fantastic so far. I also did the first Concord Arts Market yesterday, and it was an awesome day. The weather was great, and I think this season will be full of great days.

I'm working on some new products (remember my button maker?), which I will be taking pictures of and posting soon... Also in the works is a new display, because the display piece I use for most of my earrings blew over about 200 times yesterday.

So yes, that is the excitement that is my life; I promise to be back in less than 2 months!

Arts Market!

Arts market season is nearly upon us again! I'm confirmed at the Concord Arts Market for May 30, June 6 & 27, July 11,18, & 25. So come see me sometime! Also, Katy, the market organizer, just started an art studio with a few other artists in Concord, and it's real cool. Verdigris Artisans is in downtown Concord, and they have open studios that are definitely worth checking out.

In other news, I got a button maker yesterday! It wasn't new, so it doesn't look exactly like that, but it's pretty awesome. It came with tons of supplies, so now I just need to figure out what to do with it! I have wanted a button maker for so long, I don't know what to do with myself now that I have one. But if you have any special requests for buttons, let me know!

Yay spring! It's finally here--right? I don't know where this month went; I was sick and then went on vacation! J and I visited his sister in Denver, and it was a great time! I'd never been out west for that extended amount of time before, and it was really cool. We went to Red Rocks (where I've always wanted to go) and Dino Ridge (because I love dinosaurs!) This is us at Red Rocks


And when I got back, I got a new sewing machine! It's beautiful (and heavy!), and I can't wait to start using it.

Snow Day!

I have a snow day today! There is so much snow here! I wanted one more snow day before the winter ends, so now it can get warm. And next week, J and I are going to Denver to visit his sister; I'm so excited! Have a good day!

Happy Weekend!

Finally it's the weekend! I'm going to see Ryan Adams tonight (not the Summer of 69 guy, the alt country guy) with my sister; she got me a ticket for Christmas! I think it should be fun, and it's another excuse to go to Boston. Not that I need one; I'm going there three days next week for trainings for my job.

I made something with the serger! It's not really anything, but I'm excited I can actually create things with that beast! Here it is:


I told you it wasn't anything!

Also, if you're on Facebook, you can become a fan of drawnonward designs! All the cool kids are doing it.

My New Best Friend

Look what I got!
It's a serger! I'm super excited I finally have one, and I even already figured out how to thread it! It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be... I had the day off yesterday (I think I was one of the only people who did), and I learned how to thread it, but that's about it. I'm excited to try it out--that's my next step! I also got started on some new bags which should be done soon.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! J and I went to the aquarium on Saturday. Apparently we weren't the only couple that decided the aquarium was a good place to spend Valentine's Day! It was so packed; we waited over an hour just to get inside. But it was still fun, and we hadn't been since grade school, so it was worth it.

Here's a friend we saw there:
And look what J got me! There were a few more with it, but this one is my favorite.

And, after all the anticipation a few weeks ago, we got Bonnaroo tix! Woo hoo!

The wait was worth it! The Bonnaroo lineup is amazing! One of the bands that's preforming posted the lineup on their myspace before midnight, which was fine with me! There are tons of bands I'm way excited about and some, not so much (Bruce Springsteen? No thank you) I think this time will be better because I know what to expect--disgustingly hot weather, lots of awesome bands playing at the same time, a wicked long drive...

I just took some photos of my nice clean craft room, and figured I should share them before it doesn't look like that anymore. J and I are moving in May, so I might not have a craft room in the new place. I know, it's sad, but we're downsizing so we can save more money for our trip around the world. We're leaving in 95 weeks, so we'd better get saving! I know you're all wondering, didn't you just move last year? and you're right, we did. I've decided J and I are inherently nomadic, and we can't stay in once place too long (hence the trip around the world). Anyway, here's the craft room:

Before
After

It's still a little messy, but at least there's room to move in it! I didn't do any cleaning after the crazy Christmas rush, but now it looks somewhat normal.

And...my business is finally legal in NH! I sent in the paperwork in January, and now I'm official (even though they wrote the business name wrong--it should be all lower case!!) I'm glad to have finally done that; it had been on my to do list for a year!

I can't wait until midnight...

...when they announce the Bonnaroo lineup! I feel like it's New Year's again! Except I wasn't this excited for the new year. J and I are going, and we're hoping the lineup is awesome! I went in 2004 and it was a little bit of a disaster, so hopefully this will be a better experience. We'll see!

I hope everyone had good weekends! Mine was uneventful, except I got to see my favorite little sister! I went out to visit her at school for the day, and it was awesome. We went to Brattleboro for lunch and shopping. I hadn't been there in a long time, and it was great to go back. My sister is awesome, and it's so cool to see her growing into such a lovely young lady! (ok, I'm done being a grandma now!)

J helped me make some jewelry yesterday, which means I finished some earrings, and he tooled around with my scrap silver. I am (impatiently) waiting for an exciting package, and I can't wait to show it off!

New Pics

There isn't much exciting news from drawnonward, but what else is new. I've been working on my picture taking skills, and here are some new product shots--





What do you think? I think they are a nice improvement! Now I just need to post products on etsy! Also, here's a picture from the Bazaar Bizarre!




My camera battery died after this picture, which was a bummer. At least I got one nice shot! I liked the new display a lot, even though you can't see it that great in this picture.

One of my new year's resolutions is to blog more, so maybe I'll start in February :)

Happy New Year!

2009! I thought 2008 went by so fast, but when I look back, I did a lot. I got a new job (ok, that was Dec of 07, but close enough), went to Iceland, moved again, and had some great things happen with drawnonward. I hope that I stay motivated with everything in 2009, and I'm hopeful it will be a good year!

Happy New Year everyone!