Lady Artisan Flask Funnels

Today I worked on a silicone mold that needed to be repaired for the third time! I now know why the mold is tearing so this time the repair should last.






Lady Artisan Flask Funnels are quite popular. They are a visually pleasing way to be certain not to lose your good spirits as you fill your flask. These Flask Funnels are designed so that you can hold the flask and funnel in one hand as you pour with the other.

The Dragon Flask Funnel has an imperfection in the narrow tube section of the funnel that rips the mold as the cast metal is removed from the mold. This happens after about 20 castings. To fix this permanently took several steps.

1. I worked on a cast Dragon Funnel, not the original sculpture, using wax to fill in a tiny hole that catches on the silicone when the sculpture is removed from the mold.
2. I put the cast Dragon Funnel back into the mold.
3. New silicon was poured into the damaged area of the mold.

If this repair works the mold will provide castings for years to come. If it does not prove resilient then I plan to replace the problematic part of the silicone mold with steel.

Lady Artisan Preparing For New Shows.

Today I spent most of the day preparing to apply to several excellent Renaissance Festivals.

• The paperwork is filled out.
• The photographs are developed.
• Hard bound presentation binders are purchased.

Now I have to put the presentations together.

Lady Artisan may join:

• http://www.coloradorenaissance.com/
• http://www.renfair.com/bristol/
• http://www.texrenfest.com/

The process to join a Renaissance Festival can take years.

1. The festival must determine that your work is a good fit for this venue.
2. A need for your media is essential. Too many artists of any one media are not allowed.
3. Someone needs to leave the festival so there is room for a new artist.
4. The location that is available needs to be the right one for your shop. Festivals do not put artists of similar media, style, or product close to one another.

I will keep you informed as I find out which shows have a place for Lady Artisan Sculpture.

May the pursuit of your dreams be all that you wish it to be!

With Love,

Lady Artisan

Lady Artisan Travels

It has been a few months since I have posted a blog. Major changes in the life of this artist have been in process. Many of you are aware of how I have been altering my life to that of a full time traveling artist.

Currently I am in Texas, at Scarborough Faire. It is a lovely faire and I hope that all of my Texas Patrons will stop by and say hello, and those from other states are able to travel down to this festival. It has been a delight to visit with you who have already stopped by! Remember that I keep ice on hand for your bodice cooler and flask. They really are heaven in a bottle!

Traveling across the country, living away from home, and learning to work on the road is a huge transition. I am still adjusting but love the change of lifestyle. As I have always said, the Festival is a fantastic venue because I am able to meet you my patrons and spend time with you. Now I will be able to do that year round.

From Scarborough expect to see Lady Artisan in Colorado. A place in Colorado is pending. After Colorado I will be back in Minnesota for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Then the plan is to return to Texas for TRF. A place at TRF is pending. Hopefully this year Arizona can find a place for my booth. Other state festivals are in the plans and I will let you know where I will be as contracts are finalized.

Today I prepared photographs and applications to new shows across the country. One of the adjustments to being on the road is that the vendor I need may not be in the area. Many photographs of my art are not cropped to standard dimensions. They are cropped to display the art at its best. Many photo finishing outlets cannot print a photograph that is not a standard size without cropping out vital parts of the photograph. Tomorrow I will resume my search for a lab that can do the job. A trip to Dallas may be required.

May all of your dreams be just what you wished for!

With Love,

Lady Artisan

Tilttoo Shop for Crafting Fun

This blog topic is for my friends who love to create using fabric. Some of you sew, others scrapbook. And a few of you create all manner of fun things.

I have found a shop on Etsy that has fabric for sale.

The shop is run by Theresa of Tilt Creations.

Check it out. These fabrics can be a great gift for someone you know who would love to use them!

Theresa also sells patterns for those who love to sew their own clothing,. You know who you are and you are not me. (Lady Artisan Cannot Sew!)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tilttoo

Theresa does her own sewing. She designs hand bags! You can find the hand bags at another of her etsy shops. http://www.etsy.com/shop/tiltcreations. Hand crafted bags are the perfect solution for those of you who would like a unique bag that screams YOU!

Lady Artisan would like to thank all who have sewing talents. Without those talents Lady Artisan would not have anything to wear!

A Lady Artisan Favorite

Today I would like to introduce you to Dora Themelis.



Dora is a watercolor painter. Her use of color is not only mature and skillful, but full of joy, light, and intensity. This is the kind or art that brings a positive energy into the place where it is hung.



What Dora says about her work:

"When painting in watercolor, I really find myself playing with the way the colors merge on the paper, finding places to travel and mix together, Sometimes I have a scene in mind and other times I just like to play in an imaginary landscape. "

Like most artists Dora also likes to create other types of items. Visit Dora's shop to find her wearable creations, as well as her cheerful watercolors.

Here is where you can find Dora Themelis and her art:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/doraartdesignstudio

http://twitter.com/DorasPaintDrips
http://coffeeandpaintdrips.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Art.DesignStudioByDora?ref=sgm

Lady Artisan Discussion 1 on Staying in Shape

Those of us who work sedentary jobs, especially if the job requires a lot of brain energy, have our work cut out for us to stay in shape.

What Lady Artisan Has Learned

There is a physiological reason why those who do intellectual yet sedentary work tend to gain weight. It has to do with brain energy. Sitting in a chair and working does not burn many calories. Yet the brain uses glucose as if you were working a physically demanding job. Low glucose leads to hunger. To refuel, you need to eat more calories than your body has burned.

What Lady Artisan Does To Keep In Shape

Taking care of your health and weight takes planning when you work a sedentary job. There are a number of ways to manage weight and fitness when your job compels you to eat more calories than you burn. This blog post talks about the standing work station.

Lady Artisan Uses Standing Work Stations

For Your Computer

Standing work stations allow you to burn calories as you work. Lady Artisan first read about these standing work stations online. The Mayo clinic has created a treadmill that allows you to work on the computer as you slowly walk. Over the course of a day about 900 calories beyond what would be burned by sitting and working are burned on this treadmill.

The treadmills are expensive. You might want to try what Lady Artisan has done. Office stores have keyboard and laptop adjustable stands that allow you to adjust the working height of your equipment. Try moving your monitor to a shelf or wall that puts it at face level. Put your keyboard on the adjustable stand so that you can stand while you work with your body in an ergonomically correct position. If you have back problems the standing work station can eliminate the pain that results from a sitting work station.

This is the mayo clinic link on the treadmill work station.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/treadmill-desk/MM00706

When using your standing work station at the computer shift your feet or walk in place. You can do this by keeping your feet on the ground and gently lift your heals, alternating feet, as if you are walking. Use those short periods when you are waiting for a page to load or program to open to jog in place or stretch your body.

For Your Art

Set up your easel, sculpture stand, or drawing table so that you can stand while you work. Standing has the benefit not only of helping you to keep your body at a healthy weight, but reduces the strain on muscles and joints that result in pain or overuse injuries.

This page provides information on how to set up a standing work station based on the type of activity you do. http://www.scif.com/safety/ergomatters/StandingGuidelines.html

Working on creative projects like a drawing requires precision that body movement will prevent. Stop frequently to stretch, change position, or do a minute of running in place. This will not only help you to stay fit, but can prevent the overuse injuries that are common to artists.

Next Lady Artisan Discussion

Next Lady Artisan will discuss how to fit tiny fat burning workouts into your work routine.

Your Work Station

Share with the readers of this blog how using a standing work station has worked for you, or if you would like to try one for the first time. If there are any obstacles to your use of a standing work station tell us what those are. Lady Artisan or one of her blog followers might have an idea to help you out.

Lady Artisan 2010

Lady Artisan has exciting plans for this new year.

Many of you in Texas have asked Lady Artisan to visit your fine state. You have asked Lady Artisan to travel south for many years now. This is the year you have been waiting for. Lady Artisan plans to go Texas!

There are two Renaissance Festivals in Texas where you may find Lady Artisan in 2010.

Lady Artisan at Scarborough

http://www.scarboroughrenfest.com/
Applications will soon be reviewed for new Artisans at Scarborough. If Scarborough has room for a sculptor and a place for her shop then you will find Lady Artisan here.

Lady Artisan at Texas

http://www.texrenfest.com/

You can find many of Lady Artisan's friends demonstrating their craft and selling their wares at this festival. Although not until October Lady Artisan will apply to this Renaissance Festival soon.

Lady Artisan at Minnesota

You will find Lady Artisan at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival as always. 2010 will be a year of festivity for Lady Artisan and her patrons.

Lady Artisan introduces Nico Designs

This month Lady Artisan and the Etsy Bloggers are profiling a gal with both creative and teaching skills. Her blog is full of tutorials that range in topic from running an art or craft business to step-by-step creative projects.

Erica of Nico Designs is the Etsy Blogger of the month. http://etsybloggers.com/

Check out her blog to learn how to create an Upcycled Sweater Hat. Lady Artisan is now racking her brain to figure out if she has a sweater to turn into a hat. http://designsbynico.blogspot.com/

At Nico Designs Etsy store you will find a variety of fashion clothing and bags. http://www.etsy.com/shop/NicoDesigns

The stylish diaper bag pictured above is designed to look like a purse! Excellent work Erica! Lady Artisan knows a new mother that would love to have this diaper bag.

Creative New Year's Plans

What are your creative plans and resolutions for this coming year?

Are you planning to start painting or sculpting again?

Is there a home improvement project you will complete?

Do you have plans to grow your business, or to turn your passion into a business?

Have you been waiting to work on an artistic creation, and this is your year to do that project?

What creative enterprise are you going to follow through on this year? What do you long to accomplish? What one creation will, once completed, help you feel complete?

Maybe this is the year that you schedule regular appointments with yourself to work on your art.

Maybe this year you try a new hobby, craft, or media you have always wanted to experiment with.

Share with us what you will do this year to grow creatively.

Riverdale Kiwanis Medieval Faire

The next Renaissance Festival that Lady Artisan is aware of is the Riverdale Kiwanis Medieval Faire. The dates are January 16th, 17th, 23erd, 24th. This two weekend festival is in Florida. Florida is, in the opinion of Lady Artisan, a good place to be in January!

http://www.medieval-faire.com/

Lady Artisan wonders if any of her blog readers have been to this festival? It appears to be a very nice festival, with entertainment, artisans who create their own wares, good food, and a festive atmosphere.

Please contact Lady Artisan with your information if you have been to this festival and would like post your pictures on this blog. Post comments telling us how you enjoyed this festival.

December Etsy Blogger

This month the featured Etsy Blogger is Calkat - Kathy and Carrie. They create an number of creative works featured in unique shops. These busy gals have four shops to keep up with!

Their jewelry is lovely, often using natural stone and beautiful metalwork. Their use of color and texture is eye catching. You can find their jewelry at http://www.etsy.com/shop/calkat

Kathy and Carrie have a shop named Ametista. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ametista You will discover wonderful items like apothecary bottles, that are not only useful, but also works of art.

At The Clay Shoppe you can purchase molds with which to do your own casting. http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheClayShoppe

At http://yogafairies.etsy.com/ you will find fairies in yoga poses. I love the bright colors!

Their blog offers a lot! Don't miss their monthly giveaways. Winning is always fun! http://calkatthejewelryjunkie.blogspot.com/

Lady Artisan wishes you a Merry Christmas!

Lady Artisan wishes all of you a very merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!

Those of you who have stopped by know about the curious merge of holiday celebration and art gallery that occurs in the home of Lady Artisan during the holiday season. The living room of Lady Artisan becomes a show room. Holiday themed Lady Artisan creations and dressed up sculpture fill the room with holiday color and cheer.



Lady of the Leaves (a bronze sculpture) dons her Santa hat. Every lady should have a collection of hats. Perhaps Lady of the leaves will find that Lady Artisan has a few hats wrapped and ready for her under the Christmas Tree.

Patrons who live in the area stop by to select items they have planned for gifts, or to give a gift to themselves! A festive showroom and gallery is perfect for the season. Today Lady Artisan had the delight to visit with patrons who stopped by for last minute shopping.



Several of these ornaments moved from the Tree of Lady Artisan to those of Patrons in the Twin Cities area.

Decorating a room to be both a Lady Artisan gallery and holiday display is natural when many Lady Artisan designs are created for this holiday season.

Stop by next Holiday Season to enjoy the creative holiday atmosphere at Lady Artisan. E-mail invitations go out for an open house held every holiday season. Sign up for my newsletter by sending your name and e-mail address if you would like to be informed of open house dates and times.

Care for the Artist's Tools

The most important tool an artist has is his or her body! Any other tool used by an artist is dependant on artistic senses, as well as coordinated bones, tendons, and muscles. Almost any object can become an artistic tool used to communicate the artist's message.

Lose a brush, then use a pencil. Lose the pencil then use an interesting wood fragment. Lose everything you have then use the mud you are left wallowing in.

No body though, no art.

Today Lady Artisan took care of her body. Bending over this week's project resulted in knotted back muscles and pain. So off for a massage Lady Artisan went. Then, before bed, a long soak in a hot tub finished the healing process.

Prevention though would have been wise. Lady Artisan asks you to please take care of your artist back and set up projects so that your back is aligned correctly. It is better to redo one's set up or to purchase/find the right tables and chairs so that you can work without bringing injury into your life. Lady Artisan's back testifies that this is true. A project that was believed would take a day took a week. It is a wise artist that never assumes the poor body posture tolerated for creative purpose will be short lived. Lady Artisan is a wiser artist now. Until the next project comes along that she assumes will take only an hour or a day. It is so easy to be in a hurry and decide that this project will not do that much harm. Try not be like Lady Artisan and treat your back with contempt. Your back will not be silent if you mistreat it as Lady Artisan did hers.

Photographing Small Shiny Objects

The last three days Lady Artisan has been learning how to photograph small shiny objects. Lady Artisan Christmas ornaments require professional quality photographs. The plan is to replace all photographs previously taken with professional quality images.

The photograph of the Star Ornament was taken against a black background. The crystal reflects its black surroundings.

It was a rude awakening. Overly optimistic Lady Artisan did not realize that taking quality photographs of small shiny objects that have a crystal accent is not at all the same as photographing bronze, or even most pewter sculpture.

The ornament taken against a white background, white balance corrected. The background looked brown in previous photographs. Although Lady Artisan preferred a white background, this ornament could become lost against a white background.

The professional light box that gives astounding results for most Lady Artisan creations did not provide quality results for this project.

A return to a black background with the addition of greenery for background interest and setting. Depth of field is set to blur out the background detail while keeping the ornament in sharp focus. The crystal again picks up black from its background, yet by using two lights to flash the crystal compensates. Elimination of the black reflections can be worked on, or left as is - that is the next question.

Here are a few highlights on the learning curve. Facts that might help you with your small shiny object photography.

• Crystals pick up background color. Surround the object with a lovely black backdrop and the crystal will shine black.



• White backdrops require learning to set the color balance on one's camera. Otherwise the white can come out any number of colors. Humans see white - digital cameras see what they want to see.



• White backgrounds can be blah when the object is flat, shiny, and rather light colored.



• Diffused lighting does not light up a crystal. Shine light directly onto the crystal. Lady Artisan found that two lights shining from different directions worked best to light up the crystal. Hold one of your lights in one hand and move it around while viewing the object through your camera. When you have the light held to light up the crystal take the picture.



• Research backgrounds that others use online. Look for the background that works for your art.



• Learn to use manual settings on your digital camera. If you do not have manual control over the aperture, shutter speed, and focal depth then borrow or purchase a camera that gives you these controls.

Tomorrow, after three days of research, practice, trial and error, Lady Artisan should be able to take her photographs. That is if she can decide on the best background for her ornaments.

Contest Link

My apologies if you tried to enter the Name the Dragon contest and had trouble due to following my copy and paste directions. Copy and paste works fine for web sites. But not on blogs, facebook, twitter, myspace, etc. So I have modified the linking directions to make it more flexible. YAY!

Dragon Lovers everywhere are needed!



Win this dragon by finding the dragon's true name!

How to name the dragon directions can be found at http://www.ladyartisanltd.com.

No one should be without a name. Help me find this dragon's name!

Lady Artisan's Favorite Holiday Tradition

Thinking about the holidays, contemplating beyond new Lady Artisan ornaments for collectors and commissions that are gifts and under deadline, what is it that Lady Artisan would like for this year's holiday?

What holiday tradition is one that will most cheer the soul this year's season? Traditions run the gammet from foods that are served, holidays productions one attends, and rituals that one enjoys in the home.

My sister has a tradition that her husband's family passed down that is quite fun. I do not know its origin, but the ongoing playfulness is one that any family with children through teenagers should have delight incorporating. College dorms and other community living situations can find this tradition to be an easy and free source of entertainment. Free once you have an elf.

Lady Artisan traditionally has created a new ornament every holiday season. http://www.ladyartisanltd.com/ Maybe this year Lady Artisan should create a Christmas elf!

It starts with the elf. Make an elf, buy an elf doll or sculpture. An elf is required.


Elf Hiding on Deer Ornament

Hide the elf in your home. Whoever finds the elf has the fun of finding a new hiding place for the elf. The elf must be hidden in plain view. Even if only a hand, foot, or a face peeks out from a branch on the Christmas Tree the elf must be placed so that it can be spotted. That is spotted by those not blinded with business, worry, frantic activity, or preoccupation with the tasks they must do!


Elf hiding on wall art.

This tradition is fun, brings a lot of joy and laughter. It helps young ones to learn to pay attention to their environment. It is ongoing fun that helps prevent bordom. Guests that stop over can join in on the elf game. Finding creative ways to hide the elf in plain view is educational for the young and just plain fun for everyone.

Perhaps best of all, busy mothers and fathers will find that this holiday tradition does not take a lot of time.


Elf reveals hand from within stocking.

Lady Artisan may have to sculpt a Lady Artisan original elf to use in her home!

Inspiration In The Dark.

Creative inspiration, so often thought to be a lucky thought that happens into one's consciousness, seems in my life to more often be motivated by need. The opportunity to solve a problem, be it how to fix a broken toy or what sculptural shape will satisfy a patron stimulates the creative thought process.

I am often surprised by the string of events and thoughts that lead to a new artistic creation.

Tonight lying in bed, in the dark, wishing my creative brain to sleep, I was inspired to do - well - nothing. Time to stop frantic work and just be. Just be an artist. After hours of wishing my tired brain to sleep a deep resolution took over to be the artist I was created to be. Not to settle for less. Not to worry about those who make money but will never see their work inside of an art museum or historical book. More importantly, to never create a work of art that is capable of stirring the soul.

It is very nice to stir the soul through the excellence of a work of art. A rewarding more compelling than any other.

The creative energy motivated by sleeplessness in the dark has led to contentment. I can spend my day with my hands not working on my art and all is well. The challenge of fitting artistic creation into a busy life is itself an exciting creative possibility. What unexpected art will I create as I use stolen moments for artistic expression? How delightful this path might be!

For a great artist the masterful work happens inside. The work of the hands is often the smallest portion of the creative process. I often create art in the dark of a sleepless night, during a walk, while preparing a meal, and finally show the world what I created with my hands, putting it all in a visible form. It is more satisfying to my soul to create a few profound works of art, than a lot of drivel.

I am creating a masterful fountain. I think you will like it.

Lady Artisan Open House

I love to have an open house displaying not only my artwork, but that of other talented artists. Lady Artisan's day is usually spent working in her studio. Creative work is solitary. Yes the cat will try to help me with my work. And the dog will beg for interruptions. Yet my days that are filled with the delight of creative process can be lonely. And once my creative energy is working Lady Artisan can find it difficult to stop and visit with people, or even to go to bed on time!

An open house is focused on the people who come. Food, music, restful chairs by a warm fire in the fire place. It is a chance to visit rather than work. I love Lady Artisan open houses for this reason. It is all about the people who come.

Laura Mundschau at Lady Artisan

My sister Laura, a very talented painter, is at the Lady Artisan Open House. Her cards, book marks, and magnets are themed after her forest fighting years.







You can purchase Laura's firefighting theme paintings at www.etsy.com/shop/dreikatzen.

Lady Artisan Guest Artist

A very talented artist, Nikita Woltersen will join Lady Artisan at her open house.

http://www.dragonrosedesigns.com/

Nikita "Dragonrose" Woltersen of Dragonrose Designs is an artist that specializes in whimsical. Her art ranges from Print media, illustration and design to sculpture and jewelry.

Her dragons are fabulous. Dragon buddies with personality and charm.