Whoa, man! It's been a long couple of days/weeks here in my little bitty apartment!
We just bought our house, which is what I posted about a little bit ago, and its definitely a fixer-upper. The house is well over 100 years old, has TONS of beautiful architectural details, wood floors and space, but there is also a lot of work that comes with all of that.
The running total right now that we have to get done before the end of the month is out of control. We still need to fix the plaster on the walls in the bedroom, kitchen and living rooms. Everything still needs to be painted. And I mean EVERYTHING. There isn't a single room in this place (of which there are 9) that doesn't need at least a coat of paint. The kitchen will need many coats of paint.
My office is well on its way to getting a stamp of approval though. I have primed (almost) all of it and I put up a swatch of my robin's egg blue paint last night. I love it on the wall, and today I will paint for a bit to start to see some forward movement in this GIGANTIC undertaking.
I've been pinning like a madwoman, and I'm starting to get a feel for what I'm going to want in my place, which will sort of be a victorian-shabby-chic. I love the old feel and details of the victorian, but I also like the worn look of the shabby-chic. If I put them together I should be pretty happy with it.
My mother is going to kill me though. I've decided to paint the trim work in the house white. I know it sounds boring, but hear me out! The wood in the house is old... like 100 years old. The stuff has not been well taken care of. There are holes all of them from where previous owners have drilled into them, and all of that will have to be cleaned, wood filled, sanded, primed and painted before it will start to look pretty at all. I will have the added bonus of the house looking bright and shiny and welcoming instead of foreboding (like it does now.)
I will post some before and after photos pretty soon. I've just found the camera again, and gotten the sucker charged. Now I can get some documentation going. :)
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Being Normal
I entitle this post "On Being Normal" because sometimes I lose track of that. I've recently watched an interview with one of my favorite artists, Emilie Autumn, who is bipolar (like me) who had some interesting things to say about being "normal."
I was on medication for a large part of last year, and have recently taken myself off of it because of budget concerns. You wouldn't believe the cost of psychiatric care in this country, even if you have insurance. During the time that I was on medication I found myself very much incapable of finding this PLACE inside my head from which I create. There is the headspace, and in that place I am able to look at a blank piece of paper or canvas (or even the margin of a brochure about plants) and know what I need to put there. I am usually able to draw quickly and execute an entire thing with little effort.
When I started on medication I wasn't able to get there anymore. I had to relearn how to create in that space again, and I wasn't sure where to start. This is when I started to draw my Greek Goddesses series, which at the time were my happy place, but I look at now, and I'm feeling a disconnect. I'm wondering if this disconnect is because I'm no longer on medication and can no longer connect to those characters that I felt so close to at the time.
Every time I pick up a pencil and think about drawing lately I'm feeling bad because I know that I've created some what of a following online for this style that I've been doing, but my change in headspace has changed my motivations, and I'm not sure where to begin. I want to draw ugly, disgusting things. I want to draw things that I feel, but don't know how to explain in words. I have a fear of showing those things to people and them saying, "Meh, not as good as your older stuff."
I want to get my hands dirty and break things. I want to get in touch with this inner goth kid that I've been squelching for the past year because I've been wanting to fit in again. I've wanted people to approve of me. I want to be in touch with me again. And I don't know where to begin with it.
Being normal is not me, and it has been hard pretending. I don't want to play anymore. I want to scream.
I was on medication for a large part of last year, and have recently taken myself off of it because of budget concerns. You wouldn't believe the cost of psychiatric care in this country, even if you have insurance. During the time that I was on medication I found myself very much incapable of finding this PLACE inside my head from which I create. There is the headspace, and in that place I am able to look at a blank piece of paper or canvas (or even the margin of a brochure about plants) and know what I need to put there. I am usually able to draw quickly and execute an entire thing with little effort.
When I started on medication I wasn't able to get there anymore. I had to relearn how to create in that space again, and I wasn't sure where to start. This is when I started to draw my Greek Goddesses series, which at the time were my happy place, but I look at now, and I'm feeling a disconnect. I'm wondering if this disconnect is because I'm no longer on medication and can no longer connect to those characters that I felt so close to at the time.
Every time I pick up a pencil and think about drawing lately I'm feeling bad because I know that I've created some what of a following online for this style that I've been doing, but my change in headspace has changed my motivations, and I'm not sure where to begin. I want to draw ugly, disgusting things. I want to draw things that I feel, but don't know how to explain in words. I have a fear of showing those things to people and them saying, "Meh, not as good as your older stuff."
I want to get my hands dirty and break things. I want to get in touch with this inner goth kid that I've been squelching for the past year because I've been wanting to fit in again. I've wanted people to approve of me. I want to be in touch with me again. And I don't know where to begin with it.
Being normal is not me, and it has been hard pretending. I don't want to play anymore. I want to scream.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
It's ours!
These past couple of weeks have gone by in a whirlwind. I have been constantly busy and constantly working my ass off. We bought a house yesterday. Then, we started working on it. I have been working on the dining room and kitchen first, since they are the most immediately accessible. I am exhausted. I'm trying to come up with something witty to say, but I haven't been able to come up with anything yet. I'm going to go take a bath. :)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
You can do it.
Once upon a time I was in my very first art show. It was terrifying and exciting and wonderful. I left the show feeling like I was on top of the clouds, flying around. My life's dream was finally coming to fruition after years of hard work honing my skills as both an artist and a business woman. Cloud 9 doesn't begin to cover it.
Once I stepped out of the show and packed up the car I stopped in my tracks and looked to my fiancee and told him, "This is what I want to do for the rest of my life." In the high of this night I went home and fervently began planning my next show. I sent the woman who had planned my first show an email. I guess I was hoping for encouragement, or even a bit of information on how to break into the business from someone who was really making it.
What I got back in response was so very different, though.
What she sent me back was that, "Artists can't make a living in Michigan." She went on to explain that no one in Michigan can possibly make a living in the art world, and that even making a go of it is borderline insanity. She said that artists are less than a dime a dozen.
A kick to the pants much? I read the email and couldn't even breathe. I'd felt like someone I barely knew had just told me that I was worthless and incapable. Besides! What did she know about me and my stubborn ability to do whatever I set my mind to?
I started planning doubly hard. I booked shows for every weekend of the summer, I got my art put up in galleries and coffee shops and everywhere else that I possibly could think of.
And I began to make it.
I'm not there yet. I'm getting there. Week by solid and sordid week I pull myself closer to making a living at what I love. Some days I feel like I can't do it. Like I must be crazy for trying, but in my heart I know that I can do this. I can make a living--a good solid living-- at what I love. I can be successful, and NO ONE has the right to tell me otherwise.
Once I stepped out of the show and packed up the car I stopped in my tracks and looked to my fiancee and told him, "This is what I want to do for the rest of my life." In the high of this night I went home and fervently began planning my next show. I sent the woman who had planned my first show an email. I guess I was hoping for encouragement, or even a bit of information on how to break into the business from someone who was really making it.
What I got back in response was so very different, though.
What she sent me back was that, "Artists can't make a living in Michigan." She went on to explain that no one in Michigan can possibly make a living in the art world, and that even making a go of it is borderline insanity. She said that artists are less than a dime a dozen.
A kick to the pants much? I read the email and couldn't even breathe. I'd felt like someone I barely knew had just told me that I was worthless and incapable. Besides! What did she know about me and my stubborn ability to do whatever I set my mind to?
I started planning doubly hard. I booked shows for every weekend of the summer, I got my art put up in galleries and coffee shops and everywhere else that I possibly could think of.
And I began to make it.
I'm not there yet. I'm getting there. Week by solid and sordid week I pull myself closer to making a living at what I love. Some days I feel like I can't do it. Like I must be crazy for trying, but in my heart I know that I can do this. I can make a living--a good solid living-- at what I love. I can be successful, and NO ONE has the right to tell me otherwise.
Friday, April 26, 2013
On being an artist in the age of the internet
I want to rant a bit right now, and I'm trying to reel it in so that I'm not too out of control on here. I won't lie to you, though, sometimes being an artist is ridiculous. I'm thinking in particular of being an artist and on the art of how much to charge.
Now, I know that most people are looking for a "hook up." They know that art doesn't always take a long time, though that's not always the case, and they know that I "just use markers" to color my pieces. What most people don't understand, however, is that each little thing adds up in cost and if I ever want to even break even on utilities, I have to charge what I do.
In this instance, each marker that I use is about $8 for the marker, plus the ink refills depending on how large the piece is. I probably use about 9-15 markers for each and every piece. I may not use an entire marker, but I probably use enough ink to justify one marker completely gone for each piece. So there's $8 spent on my end already.
Then paper. Because of the types of markers these are, I can't just use any paper I come across. I use Bristol. Not crazy expensive, and sometimes I can even get it on sale, but its still about $20 for a pad of 50. That's $.40 per page, plus a few pages in my sketch book getting it all together, and figuring out what I'm going to make the piece look like.
The ink pen is $5 each, and I probably go through 1 every other piece, so let's say $2.50.
Then I have to factor in the cost of prints, of paper for the prints, of packaging, of marketing, of table rent at shows, of gas and food for being at the shows, of making the necklaces, of bookmarks and keychains. Every single piece I make has the propensity to make a lot of money in merchandise, but each thing also comes with a cost of getting started.
When you ask me to "hook you up" it makes me feel like I'm not worth anything. It makes me feel like I don't deserve to at least break even on this endeavor of mine, and I just wanted to share that with you all.
Now, I know that most people are looking for a "hook up." They know that art doesn't always take a long time, though that's not always the case, and they know that I "just use markers" to color my pieces. What most people don't understand, however, is that each little thing adds up in cost and if I ever want to even break even on utilities, I have to charge what I do.
In this instance, each marker that I use is about $8 for the marker, plus the ink refills depending on how large the piece is. I probably use about 9-15 markers for each and every piece. I may not use an entire marker, but I probably use enough ink to justify one marker completely gone for each piece. So there's $8 spent on my end already.
Then paper. Because of the types of markers these are, I can't just use any paper I come across. I use Bristol. Not crazy expensive, and sometimes I can even get it on sale, but its still about $20 for a pad of 50. That's $.40 per page, plus a few pages in my sketch book getting it all together, and figuring out what I'm going to make the piece look like.
The ink pen is $5 each, and I probably go through 1 every other piece, so let's say $2.50.
Then I have to factor in the cost of prints, of paper for the prints, of packaging, of marketing, of table rent at shows, of gas and food for being at the shows, of making the necklaces, of bookmarks and keychains. Every single piece I make has the propensity to make a lot of money in merchandise, but each thing also comes with a cost of getting started.
When you ask me to "hook you up" it makes me feel like I'm not worth anything. It makes me feel like I don't deserve to at least break even on this endeavor of mine, and I just wanted to share that with you all.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
I found a couch!
I live in an apartment complex, for just one more month. Add to that, in the world of Ann Arbor, MI this time of year means it's Hippie Christmas. This means that all of the students at the local Universities are going home to their parents' for the summer, so they are leaving all of their furniture on the curb for everyone else to take back to their abodes. I have pretty much decorated my house on Hippie Christmas finds, and it is awesome to live in a place like this where I can find everything that I want and need on the side of the road.
Today in the finds there was a very old leather reclining chair. It was rainstorming outside, but I just couldn't pass it up. The chair was completely un-salvageable, but the leather on it was in pretty good shape. I took a knife out to the trash bin and gutted all of the leather off of it.
I'm feeling pretty good about this decision.
When I got inside I took the hair dryer to a couple of smallish pieces so I could whip up a little necklace that I'd been seeing on Pinterest a lot lately before we went out for date night. It was great! Super fast to make, and I can make it in a few different color schemes to go with different outfits.
I hope I can find another couch soon in a different color! That would open up a whole new set of things for my wardrobe!
Today in the finds there was a very old leather reclining chair. It was rainstorming outside, but I just couldn't pass it up. The chair was completely un-salvageable, but the leather on it was in pretty good shape. I took a knife out to the trash bin and gutted all of the leather off of it.
I'm feeling pretty good about this decision.
When I got inside I took the hair dryer to a couple of smallish pieces so I could whip up a little necklace that I'd been seeing on Pinterest a lot lately before we went out for date night. It was great! Super fast to make, and I can make it in a few different color schemes to go with different outfits.
I hope I can find another couch soon in a different color! That would open up a whole new set of things for my wardrobe!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Festival Season is Afoot!
For the past couple of weeks I have been completely stuck working on things that I don't want to work on. I enjoyed the shows (Anime Park and Michigan Comic Expo) but I had a lot of grunt work that I had to do in order to be ready for them.
After that, I had to focus on my exams for the end of the semester. I am at Denny's right now, I'm supposed to be studying, and I don't wanna. I'm taking a break just for a couple of minutes to give a blog post about it. Procrastination much?
Anyway, I have a bunch of shows in the works right now for the festival season. Most of them are small one day engagements in Detroit that I'd like to get done with, but I'm also looking at doing some of the big art fairs if possible.
This is a lot of hard work, but I'm hoping it will all pay off in the end!
Here's a picture of the new table layout that I was working on, pre-Anime Park.
What do you guys think? What could I add to it?
After that, I had to focus on my exams for the end of the semester. I am at Denny's right now, I'm supposed to be studying, and I don't wanna. I'm taking a break just for a couple of minutes to give a blog post about it. Procrastination much?
Anyway, I have a bunch of shows in the works right now for the festival season. Most of them are small one day engagements in Detroit that I'd like to get done with, but I'm also looking at doing some of the big art fairs if possible.
This is a lot of hard work, but I'm hoping it will all pay off in the end!
Here's a picture of the new table layout that I was working on, pre-Anime Park.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Weekend Woes
I have been a lazy bum this week. Last weekend I was insane and I did two different conventions in the same weekend, which is a new level of insanity for me. I can't believe that I thought it was a good idea, but in the end I'm glad that I did it.
The first day was April 13th, which was the day that we did Anime Park. We had a lot of fun at the show, which was held at Salem High School in Plymouth, MI. We had some really great sales, made a bit of money, and had a blast looking at all the other artists in the Artist Alley! (I will have to have a link party with them, because I got the CUTEST pikachu pillow that I have to rave about!)
I had quite a few commissions to do while I was at the show, which was super fun to do, and it kept me busy when people were off doing con stuff and it got slow.
I can't wait to go back again next year!
http://animeparkcon.webs.com/- To more information about the convention
Catstered Creations- Awesome Jewelry from a girl at the con! So CUTE!
The first day was April 13th, which was the day that we did Anime Park. We had a lot of fun at the show, which was held at Salem High School in Plymouth, MI. We had some really great sales, made a bit of money, and had a blast looking at all the other artists in the Artist Alley! (I will have to have a link party with them, because I got the CUTEST pikachu pillow that I have to rave about!)
I had quite a few commissions to do while I was at the show, which was super fun to do, and it kept me busy when people were off doing con stuff and it got slow.
I can't wait to go back again next year!
http://animeparkcon.webs.com/- To more information about the convention
Catstered Creations- Awesome Jewelry from a girl at the con! So CUTE!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Ugh
Sometimes starting a business is really, really, really hard. There are days when I wake up I just don't want to move. There are days when I am so exhausted and so worn down that I don't want to go into the studio. There are weeks where there are no sales (sometimes even months) and I get so discouraged and feel like the whole world is against me. I know intellectually that the entire world itself is not looking to destroy me, but some days my brain is not working on the same level and my heart is all that's working.
It is so discouraging to have Black Friday and Cyber Monday go past and not make a single sale. Last year we did much better. Maybe its time to change something? Maybe I need better marketing? Better products? More products? Better photography?
What do I change?
Can I go back to bed now?
It is so discouraging to have Black Friday and Cyber Monday go past and not make a single sale. Last year we did much better. Maybe its time to change something? Maybe I need better marketing? Better products? More products? Better photography?
What do I change?
Can I go back to bed now?
Monday, November 26, 2012
Working hard. But not on here. Fail.
I was supposed to be posting on here, I really was. I just suck at staying on top of things. I'm in the midst of finals right now, so my online presence is suffering, but I'm going to get this working.
Here's what I've been doing:
1. Writing a 45 page business plan to take to the bank and get my crafting business off the ground.
2. I hired a photographer to take my Etsy photos. He has taken 500 photos for me already. Best. Investment. Ever. (I really hate taking photos)
3. Putting all of those listings up on Etsy and getting as many views as possible.
4. I ran my first ad on Facebook. It was decently successful, but it was really scary, and I still don't know what I'm doing on it.
5. Attempting pinterest marketing. I'm not sure how that's going yet.
6. Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws. My mother-in-law helped me get all my packaging together. Love her!
7. Putting 100 items into 100 baggies, and getting ready for my first craft show.
So, like I said, I've been working my butt off, but I haven't been on here a whole lot. This is going to be changed because I just realized that I can use this as a to do list and to tell you guys about what I'm doing, rather than just advertise. I really, really, really don't want to become that person who just keeps on posting pics of her Etsy stuff. I want you to come visit me because you WANT to come visit me!
Here's what I've been doing:
1. Writing a 45 page business plan to take to the bank and get my crafting business off the ground.
2. I hired a photographer to take my Etsy photos. He has taken 500 photos for me already. Best. Investment. Ever. (I really hate taking photos)
3. Putting all of those listings up on Etsy and getting as many views as possible.
4. I ran my first ad on Facebook. It was decently successful, but it was really scary, and I still don't know what I'm doing on it.
5. Attempting pinterest marketing. I'm not sure how that's going yet.
6. Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws. My mother-in-law helped me get all my packaging together. Love her!
7. Putting 100 items into 100 baggies, and getting ready for my first craft show.
So, like I said, I've been working my butt off, but I haven't been on here a whole lot. This is going to be changed because I just realized that I can use this as a to do list and to tell you guys about what I'm doing, rather than just advertise. I really, really, really don't want to become that person who just keeps on posting pics of her Etsy stuff. I want you to come visit me because you WANT to come visit me!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
A year in the waiting.
Its been a very long, tiring, and strange year. I'm back. (I somehow managed an exact year after my last post!)
Here's the deal. I started another blog somewhere else to test what it was like having my own website. I hated it. The customization options were awful considering how much I paid, and I didn't understand what I had to do to get anything set up. So, I'm back here where things make sense again.
A quick run down of the last year.
Here's the deal. I started another blog somewhere else to test what it was like having my own website. I hated it. The customization options were awful considering how much I paid, and I didn't understand what I had to do to get anything set up. So, I'm back here where things make sense again.
A quick run down of the last year.
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| Tom took me to see Seether in concert at DTE. |
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| We went to the Michigan Renaissance Faire, and I bought a ridiculously expensive (but incredibly well-made) corset. |
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| I worked my last shift and Casa Dominick's! The ladies say they will miss me. |
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| This is Christmas at Aunt Dorothy's house. In the picture is Aunt Dorothy (at the piano) Jeff, Jack, Lee, Steve, Grandpa, and Brad. Here they are singing Christmas carols. It's sort of become a tradition that the men and the women sing their own separate song at least once so the other group can heckle. |
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| Here is my old car, Lady Eleanor, heading off to star in a derby. She had been rough for quite some time, and I needed to get something more reliable, but it was still really sad to see her go! We had some interesting times together. |
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| This is Valentines Day just before we headed out for our date! |
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| Emilie Autumn Concert, FLAG tour 2012. This was the second time that I'd seen her live and it was extravagant! |
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| Then my little nephew Mason came into the world. 27.5 hours my sister was in labor! |
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| Lee got a new job at Citi and got to wear pretty clothing to work! |
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| Indian Lake with Emily, Aunt Debbie, Aunt Dorothy and Grandpa! |
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| Quilt show with Aunt Dorothy, Marty, and Lee. Aunt Dorothy was even featured! |
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| Went to Mongo, IN to visit my Grandmother and brought Frances along. Went to Shipshewana. |
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| My Mom got married on August 31, 2012. |
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| Fran, Lee and I walked in the Labor Day parade again. Working hard to get Prop 2 passed! |
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| At 3:00 AM Lee and I left for our big adventure to Washington D.C. We spent four days in the city before leaving to go on the second leg of our trip. |
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| This is the second leg of the trip. We spent the night in the MOST BEAUTIFUL bed and breakfast ever, went out for a great dinner, got all gussied up, and spent the night soaking in a warm (claw foot) bathtub until the week of walking around D.C. had all but disappeared. |
Monday, October 10, 2011
Blogs are so much win.
I've decided to start blogging more frequently. Here. This is what I will do, seeing as I don't get to do something super awesome EVERY DAY I will instead start adding a blog entry for some of the crafts that I really want to either replicate or give props to.
This is one of the first ones that I want to do. http://www.haglerhappenings.com/2010/08/diy-containing-all-those-school-papers/ I was looking all over for a way to start organizing some of my papers and stuff from when I was little so that my children can see them one day if they're ever interested and it won't all be lost. I love this project. Now, since my boyfriend works at OfficeMax, I will be able to get this done fairly quickly, which is wonderful. I will post an image of the completed projects tonight!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Obama Speech at the Detroit River: September 5, 2011
So, I know its been a while since I've updated, but here is my entry that I forgot to post about Obama.
September 5, 2011:
After we finished with Arts, Beats, and Eats we went home and watched Shrek 1 & 2, then we did some homework and went to bed to be prepared for the long day ahead. Mom gave us a wake up call at 7:30 A.M. (which to a college student is unheard of) before we got up and started the morning right with scrambled eggs, toast, and granola bars. Then, sadly, when we got ready to go, Mom still ended up making us late. We parked the car and got ready for the big Labor Day Parade in downtown Detroit.
After we finished up at the parade we ran (literally) down to the river so that we could get as close as we possibly could to the area where Obama would be speaking. We got to our spots and started waiting around until Obama would speak. We had to wait for almost 2 hours before things got really going, and even then, it took almost another 2 hours before Obama spoke. There were so many speakers! James Hoffa and heads of other labor unions also spoke, then we had senators, house representatives, mayors, and all kinds of other political people who spoke. Then....Finally! The main event! Aretha Franklin took to the stage!
So, Aretha came on the stage. Her performance was fantastic. It always amazes me how a person can perform the same songs for 40 years and still have the kind of tenacity while singing the song that they had when the song first debuted. In the middle of one of the songs she has some technical difficulties, which Aretha shrugged off like a true pro. The microphone and the bass cut out, but the techie nerds got it back up and running. (Where would we be without techie nerds?) As soon as Aretha left we had to sit through a couple more speeches, which were well written and delivered at the right time for Detroit to start to get some help. Then Obama took to the stage.
He spoke wonderfully. He was encouraging and interesting. He didn't speak long, but he did preview a bit about his Jobs plan (which was to debut the following Thursday). He told us about how he wants to give the U.S. more jobs, wants to improve the infrastructure at the same time, but hiring people who are from the U.S. to start to fix up the country. By the end of it we were all going mad!
After this we rushed out of the arena before the crowds really go going. We heard the last 5 minutes of the speech while running from the area. And man, did we run! I didn't realize how much my feet were hurting until I started running on them. We made it out of the arena and called mom who was going to come find us and drive us back over to the union hall. We sat outside and waited for QUITE a while, before she found us. I can't say I didn't enjoy sitting though. My feet were done.
When we were found we went back to the hall in search of food. Remember that breakfast at 7:30 AM? Yeah, that was the last time we'd eaten. It was now around 6 PM. So, after mom got her life together, we went back to her condo and rustled up some grub. Steve ordered pizza, and Fran and I raided the fridge until the pizza arrived.
I'd have to say that this was one of my most memorable days of my life.
September 5, 2011:
After we finished with Arts, Beats, and Eats we went home and watched Shrek 1 & 2, then we did some homework and went to bed to be prepared for the long day ahead. Mom gave us a wake up call at 7:30 A.M. (which to a college student is unheard of) before we got up and started the morning right with scrambled eggs, toast, and granola bars. Then, sadly, when we got ready to go, Mom still ended up making us late. We parked the car and got ready for the big Labor Day Parade in downtown Detroit.
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| Frances at the Union Hall in Detroit |
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| This is what our signs looked like. Notice the army of union behind us. |
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| This is one of the many Teamster shirts that we had around us |
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| This is what our shirts looked like |
After we finished up at the parade we ran (literally) down to the river so that we could get as close as we possibly could to the area where Obama would be speaking. We got to our spots and started waiting around until Obama would speak. We had to wait for almost 2 hours before things got really going, and even then, it took almost another 2 hours before Obama spoke. There were so many speakers! James Hoffa and heads of other labor unions also spoke, then we had senators, house representatives, mayors, and all kinds of other political people who spoke. Then....Finally! The main event! Aretha Franklin took to the stage!
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| Aretha and her band leaving the stage |
So, Aretha came on the stage. Her performance was fantastic. It always amazes me how a person can perform the same songs for 40 years and still have the kind of tenacity while singing the song that they had when the song first debuted. In the middle of one of the songs she has some technical difficulties, which Aretha shrugged off like a true pro. The microphone and the bass cut out, but the techie nerds got it back up and running. (Where would we be without techie nerds?) As soon as Aretha left we had to sit through a couple more speeches, which were well written and delivered at the right time for Detroit to start to get some help. Then Obama took to the stage.
After this we rushed out of the arena before the crowds really go going. We heard the last 5 minutes of the speech while running from the area. And man, did we run! I didn't realize how much my feet were hurting until I started running on them. We made it out of the arena and called mom who was going to come find us and drive us back over to the union hall. We sat outside and waited for QUITE a while, before she found us. I can't say I didn't enjoy sitting though. My feet were done.
 |
| We had no maracas, so we made do with our bellies. |
When we were found we went back to the hall in search of food. Remember that breakfast at 7:30 AM? Yeah, that was the last time we'd eaten. It was now around 6 PM. So, after mom got her life together, we went back to her condo and rustled up some grub. Steve ordered pizza, and Fran and I raided the fridge until the pizza arrived.
I'd have to say that this was one of my most memorable days of my life.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Arts, Beats and Eats: Sunday September 4, 2011
This weekend was truly just too much fun!
Frances and I stayed up most of the night before and had to be up at 8:30 am the next morning. We had tons of homework to do that we wanted to get taken care of before we went on to have all of our fun.
We got up at 8:30, took our showers and packed up everything that we would need for the weekend and then waited around for mom to show up. She was late. As usual. She and her boyfriend drove us out there so we wouldn't use up a ton of gas. It was wonderful knowing that I wouldn't have to drive all weekend long! Mom and Steve finally arrived at the apartment around 10:15, they used the bathroom, and then we were off!
We got to the festival around 11:45 and split up to start looking at the street vendors and the AMAZING sidewalk sales! We got to check out Noir Leather, which was right at the entrance to the fair. I'd never been there before, and I LOVED the kitty cat that was chilling in the back. He was so sweet and let me pet him for as long as I wanted. It was a little weird going into the sex toy room with my mom and seeing her browse, so I tried to not pay attention. Mom was looking at sequined shirts and pants that were leopard print. I told her she was not allowed to buy it. They were totally ridiculous. We didn't end up buying anything, but we liked looking around at the weird stuff. Mom warned us ahead of time that the place would smell bizarre, but it really just smelled like leather and patchouli.
We walked about for a while and my feet started hurting. So, we went into a thrift store called That Girl and I got some new shoes. Fran got a shirt and some really neat pink socks. Mom said that the socks looked like pink doilies, but I thought that was part of the allure.
Not long after we went met up with my parents for lunch at Mr. B's Pub. I had a California Burger, which had guacamole, tomatoes, and onion on it. Mom got the Buffalo burger, complete with real buffalo meat. Steve got the Mexican Pizza (which was also awesome, I stole a bite!), and Fran got the Black Bean Burger (which was a vegetarian option.) The food was great, the service was good and the location was amazing. It was located right on main street outside of the fair. They had outside seating, which was really good for people watching! We saw a Barbie doll pushing a stroller which was HILARIOUS! Our server was also fun to watch. She had Barbie bright blonde hair, fake boobs, bright red lipstick, Monroe piercings, and short shorts! Her shorts were so short that all of us watched as she walked away. There was no option. We had to watch.
We went back to the fair for a while. Mom got it into her head that we all needed one of these alcoholic smoothies that were being sold at the fair. They were Baja Smoothies, which had the equivalent of one shot in them, but they sold for 12 tickets a piece. Since we had just eaten, Fran was feeling too full to have one, but because mom is mom she required that we all have one together. In the end we each got one, felt way too full and had sticky hands until we could find some hand sanitizer. But, they came garnished with pineapples, so that made it ok.
I picked up some great arm socks from a store called The Wooden Hangar. They were made by Zowee which makes upcycled clothing from castaway items. They are super steampunk and I LOVE them! They were a little on the pricey side ($45) but they are totally worth it, because they are recycled and they support local merchants and artists. I love it.
Fran and I separated from the parents and went to the carney rides. We went on the ferris wheel, which was awesome! Fran was a little nervous about it, but she warmed up quickly when we started being able to see how many people were there and see the city from above.
We returned home soon after this and watched Shrek 1 and 2 while doing homework and unwinding. We didn't get a whole lot of sleep, but it was totally worth it!
Frances and I stayed up most of the night before and had to be up at 8:30 am the next morning. We had tons of homework to do that we wanted to get taken care of before we went on to have all of our fun.
We got up at 8:30, took our showers and packed up everything that we would need for the weekend and then waited around for mom to show up. She was late. As usual. She and her boyfriend drove us out there so we wouldn't use up a ton of gas. It was wonderful knowing that I wouldn't have to drive all weekend long! Mom and Steve finally arrived at the apartment around 10:15, they used the bathroom, and then we were off!
We got to the festival around 11:45 and split up to start looking at the street vendors and the AMAZING sidewalk sales! We got to check out Noir Leather, which was right at the entrance to the fair. I'd never been there before, and I LOVED the kitty cat that was chilling in the back. He was so sweet and let me pet him for as long as I wanted. It was a little weird going into the sex toy room with my mom and seeing her browse, so I tried to not pay attention. Mom was looking at sequined shirts and pants that were leopard print. I told her she was not allowed to buy it. They were totally ridiculous. We didn't end up buying anything, but we liked looking around at the weird stuff. Mom warned us ahead of time that the place would smell bizarre, but it really just smelled like leather and patchouli.
We walked about for a while and my feet started hurting. So, we went into a thrift store called That Girl and I got some new shoes. Fran got a shirt and some really neat pink socks. Mom said that the socks looked like pink doilies, but I thought that was part of the allure.
Not long after we went met up with my parents for lunch at Mr. B's Pub. I had a California Burger, which had guacamole, tomatoes, and onion on it. Mom got the Buffalo burger, complete with real buffalo meat. Steve got the Mexican Pizza (which was also awesome, I stole a bite!), and Fran got the Black Bean Burger (which was a vegetarian option.) The food was great, the service was good and the location was amazing. It was located right on main street outside of the fair. They had outside seating, which was really good for people watching! We saw a Barbie doll pushing a stroller which was HILARIOUS! Our server was also fun to watch. She had Barbie bright blonde hair, fake boobs, bright red lipstick, Monroe piercings, and short shorts! Her shorts were so short that all of us watched as she walked away. There was no option. We had to watch.
We went back to the fair for a while. Mom got it into her head that we all needed one of these alcoholic smoothies that were being sold at the fair. They were Baja Smoothies, which had the equivalent of one shot in them, but they sold for 12 tickets a piece. Since we had just eaten, Fran was feeling too full to have one, but because mom is mom she required that we all have one together. In the end we each got one, felt way too full and had sticky hands until we could find some hand sanitizer. But, they came garnished with pineapples, so that made it ok.
I picked up some great arm socks from a store called The Wooden Hangar. They were made by Zowee which makes upcycled clothing from castaway items. They are super steampunk and I LOVE them! They were a little on the pricey side ($45) but they are totally worth it, because they are recycled and they support local merchants and artists. I love it.
Fran and I separated from the parents and went to the carney rides. We went on the ferris wheel, which was awesome! Fran was a little nervous about it, but she warmed up quickly when we started being able to see how many people were there and see the city from above.
 | |
| Fran is a little nervous |
 | |||
| Me smiling as we go up! |
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Oh My Word
I have been so unbelievably crazy busy lately! School has started for the semester, which always puts a damper on how much I can get accomplished, but I'm going to do my very best to get some new items up and ready to go within the next few days. I have a couple nice things in the works right now that might be good for it. I also think that I might have a couple of weeks off coming up in about 2 months, so I will be able to spit out a bunch of things that I've been wanting to do for quite some time now.
Alright. I have to do dishes and feed Gracie.
-Britt
Alright. I have to do dishes and feed Gracie.
-Britt
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Gracie comes home!
So, on August 27, 2011 I became a new mommy. Lee and I went to the Huron Valley Humane Society looking around to see if anyone grabbed our attention. Gracie would not accept anything less than our undivided attention from the moment we walked into the adult female cat room. She squawked and whined as we walked around the room thinking that she did that with every new visitor. We looked at other kitties who were quite sweet, but it all came down to her in the end. She wouldn't LET us look at anyone else without informing us that she was right and they were wrong.
Now, Gracie lives with us in our wonderful apartment, and whines all day long. She naps when we nap, she complains when we don't pet her, and she purs when we do. She has us trained already to come to her if she meows in a specific way!
She's incredibly intelligent and refuses to play with most of her toys. When we try to play with her with them she looks at us like we've lost our minds. She would rather be snuggling anyway. Below is a picture of Gracie snuggling with Lee on the couch. Typical afternoon at our place!
Now, Gracie lives with us in our wonderful apartment, and whines all day long. She naps when we nap, she complains when we don't pet her, and she purs when we do. She has us trained already to come to her if she meows in a specific way!
She's incredibly intelligent and refuses to play with most of her toys. When we try to play with her with them she looks at us like we've lost our minds. She would rather be snuggling anyway. Below is a picture of Gracie snuggling with Lee on the couch. Typical afternoon at our place!
Ann Arbor DIY Festival!
So this weekend was a fun firsty! I was able to (finally) do a workshop with the Ann Arbor Free School! I met a wonderful new friend (Katy) at the Flojo Circus and we connected enough that she offered me the chance to be a guest workshop runner! It was so much fun! I was originally going to do gothic lolita top hats, but the plan fell through when they asked me to cut the workshop down to being a shortish workshop that people could just walk up to without actually planning to have joined in a workshop. I redid my plans and we (Katy and I) decided that I should do DIY paper corsages for the DIY prom that was to be held on Saturday.
In the end my 1 hour workshop turned into a 3 hour success. People kept coming over to do the craft, and they were excited to use all of my found objects and my recycled paper! It went so well that Free School has asked me back to do another workshop later in August! I'm so excited! It is my dream to be able to be an adult teacher instead of having to pull a lame 9 to 5. Below is a picture of the corsages that we made.
-Britt
In the end my 1 hour workshop turned into a 3 hour success. People kept coming over to do the craft, and they were excited to use all of my found objects and my recycled paper! It went so well that Free School has asked me back to do another workshop later in August! I'm so excited! It is my dream to be able to be an adult teacher instead of having to pull a lame 9 to 5. Below is a picture of the corsages that we made.
-Britt
Thursday, December 9, 2010
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Long Time Coming
So, I know. I haven't been updating as much as I was trying to. But heck have I been doing a LOT of crafting lately!
I've recently discovered a LOVE for steampunk and neo-victorian fashion. I've always loved victorian (I mean, there are so many parallels to our society now that it is sort of scary...) but I didn't realize there was such a following about it online. I've found some like-minded folks via etsy, and have been INSPIRED. It has been wonderful.
Actually, the inspiration seems to have infected my beau as well. He has been helping me make steam victorian stuff, which is really fun, seeing as he is FORCED to hang out with me for hours at a time!
I have found it a little difficult getting metal to stick to itself, and I'm wondering how these amazing artists on etsy do it! They are fantastic! Such as this! It is truly amazing work, and I want to achieve this ability at some point.
Until then, I will be playing with my metal bits, and hoping that they end up pretty. ^.^
I've also finished some cork stuff out of recycled wine bottle corks that my boss gave me. He's been wonderful all season about keeping all of the corks that come in and out of the restaurant in a jar for me and letting me take them home and do my crafts with them. I did a couple of little Christmas trees out of them yesterday while I was listening to the Amanda Palmer/Neil Gaiman/Kevin Smith podcast to benefit the Wayne Foundation (a group to raise money to stop child abuse, named after Batman, who is my idol.) It's been a good week. A long, but good week.
On top of ALLLLL of that nonsense ;) I've been totally dying under the weight of my exams for the end of the semester. I really cannot wait for Christmas break. I want to spend time with my family!
I promise I will put some pictures up tonight in return for some love from everyone!
Later guys!
-Brittani
I've recently discovered a LOVE for steampunk and neo-victorian fashion. I've always loved victorian (I mean, there are so many parallels to our society now that it is sort of scary...) but I didn't realize there was such a following about it online. I've found some like-minded folks via etsy, and have been INSPIRED. It has been wonderful.
Actually, the inspiration seems to have infected my beau as well. He has been helping me make steam victorian stuff, which is really fun, seeing as he is FORCED to hang out with me for hours at a time!
I have found it a little difficult getting metal to stick to itself, and I'm wondering how these amazing artists on etsy do it! They are fantastic! Such as this! It is truly amazing work, and I want to achieve this ability at some point.
Until then, I will be playing with my metal bits, and hoping that they end up pretty. ^.^
I've also finished some cork stuff out of recycled wine bottle corks that my boss gave me. He's been wonderful all season about keeping all of the corks that come in and out of the restaurant in a jar for me and letting me take them home and do my crafts with them. I did a couple of little Christmas trees out of them yesterday while I was listening to the Amanda Palmer/Neil Gaiman/Kevin Smith podcast to benefit the Wayne Foundation (a group to raise money to stop child abuse, named after Batman, who is my idol.) It's been a good week. A long, but good week.
On top of ALLLLL of that nonsense ;) I've been totally dying under the weight of my exams for the end of the semester. I really cannot wait for Christmas break. I want to spend time with my family!
I promise I will put some pictures up tonight in return for some love from everyone!
Later guys!
-Brittani
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Bag Bagger
So, I started to work on a couple of scrapbooks this past week, and in about a week I've finished 1 full book, 1 bag book, and I'm working on another book right now. Sometime later this week I will put up a tutorial on how to do the bag books!
Next month I'm going to try to sell these at the craft show as well. I heard from my boyfriends mother that they were selling them for quite a bit of money, and I think I do them well enough that I might be able to make a bit of money on it.
I hope I get some of them done this week, but school is back in session, so it is going to take me a bit more time to get things done. Oh well, I'll work on it.
Next month I'm going to try to sell these at the craft show as well. I heard from my boyfriends mother that they were selling them for quite a bit of money, and I think I do them well enough that I might be able to make a bit of money on it.
I hope I get some of them done this week, but school is back in session, so it is going to take me a bit more time to get things done. Oh well, I'll work on it.
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