Sunday, January 17, 2010

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

Thursday, January 14, 2010

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.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

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

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.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

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.

Friday, December 25, 2009

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.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

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/