Painting the Shop

This past week the Lady Artisan has been busy painting the Minnesota Renaissance shop. It is looking lovely. A few friends came out to help Lady Artisan with this rather large project.



We enjoyed the peace and quiet that permeates the festival grounds and Lady Artisan shop before opening day. Once cannon goes off to start the festival, jovial loud fun is the flavor of our days.



Some helpers prefer to enjoy the labor of those around them!



The wood is stained, the walls painted. We are almost ready for Lady Artisan patrons.

A Fireman Helped Lady Artisan Down A Ladder.

I am busy painting my Lady Artisan shop. I will post pics of the painting project tomorrow.

The Lady Artisan shop is two stories high, and I have recently developed a fear of heights! Today I decided to conquer that fear and paint the second story side of the shop that has a decorative but false balcony. I say false because there is not a door from inside Lady Artisan's shop to the balcony. I would have to climb a very high ladder to the balcony and climb over the railing. Yes, step off of the ladder, suspend myself on the railing, then scoot over the side onto the balcony. Then I could paint the upper areas of the Lady Artisan shop from there.

The balcony is sturdy, but narrow. Think of a high cliff with a path on the cliff's side that happens to have a railing. I am so thankful for the railing.

I climbed the ladder. Almost high enough to climb over the railing and into Lady Artisan's balcony and I was hit by vertigo. Honestly vertigo is annoying. So I waited for it to pass. I even tried to dislodge the ladder to assure myself that as I stepped off of it to the side that it would not suddenly fall in the other direction. Once the vertigo ended and I felt brave and ready, I took the last step up and climbed onto the balcony. Quickly enough so that I did not have time to become overwhelmed by fear again.

There were bees up there. The yellow jacket or wasp kind that sting in groups and keep on stinging. The bees have taken up residence in the roof of the Lady Artisan shop. I know that we at Lady Artisan are all very hospitable, but these unwelcome guests would peek out of their hole in the roof and watch me. Watch to see if I brought the paint or stain close to them and therefore they should defend their squatters rights. It took me a long time to get up the ladder and onto the balcony. Fear of falling made a 30 second climb into one that took about 30 minutes. I was not going to get down for bee spray and then have to climb back up again. That was too scary. Climbing over the balcony onto the ladder to go down, and then to come back up the same route was more scary than the prospect of a 100 bees stinging in unison. So when they buzzed or watched me I moved slow, and waited until they decided I was not going to cover their precious home with Lady Artisan paint. We kept up our truce.

I started to paint trim. The red paint was a bright horrid pink! My only thought was this better dry red because I do not want to make this journey to the balcony again! The paint dried red. Whew! And I finished the job.

Then I had to get down. I had to climb and slide over the balcony railing onto the ladder, remove the paint supplies, and get safely to the ground. I stood there thinking about the best way to do this. And then I saw them. I saw a group of men, men with firemen shirts on. Men with firemen boots and clothing on. I smiled at them and asked, from my balcony, if they were firemen. They asked if I needed help. Sheepishly I said, well yes, Once I get down I need help getting the ladder down. The ladder was too heavy for me to take down by myself. Then I admitted that I was quite fearful of going over the balcony railing and down that ladder. So up the ladder sprang one of the firemen. He offered to help me paint! LOL. The painting was done, I just appreciated the help getting down. No vertigo this time. No fear. I had a trained man right there to help!

I have now had the privilege of being helped down a ladder by a fireman. And I did not need a fire for it to happen! Just a lot of fear!!!!!!!!!! And a smile.

Lady Artisan Bats and Black Cats and White Dogs

The Lady Artisan Bats are completed. Lady Artisan's cat helped with the bats. It is fitting that Lady's cat is black, when it was bats she was sculpting. It has occured to Lady Artisan that she is quite ready for fall. Black cat, and bats. Perfect for fall seasonal activities.

Of course by fall the bats will reside with patrons. The cat shall stay with Lady Artisan who loves her cat very much. Lady Artisan also has a dog, a white dog. Kinda funny - black and white pets. It was not planned it that way, it just happened. Often when pets come into our lives it is as if fate or the pets choose us. And that is how Lady Artisan came to have a black cat and a white dog. As for the bats, the white and black pets would prefer that Lady Artisan played with them, not work on art a good part of the day. The black cat and white dog are very happy that the bats are completed. Little do they know that another art project awaits Lady Artisan's time the next day.

Do not be alarmed. Lady Artisan took her white dog Trick or Treating. The pumpkin was filled with doggie treats for the dog, and candy for Lady Artisan. Lady Artisan was careful to keep the treats separated. If you like candy, and do not have kids, then Lady Artisan suggests to take your dog trick or treating. You both will feast well and get to know your neighbors better!

Black cat has a name, Lady Artisan adopted him and kept his name: Samuel.

White dog has a name. Lady Artisan adopted him and kept his name : Jester.

Both pets has too many nicknames to mention today. (Lady Artisan smiles)

Lady Artisan Bats

This year's Lady Artisan bats are just about ready for their trip to the foundry. I started to create bats for the garden. Why would Lady Artisan create garden bats? The bats were a natural result of my study of garden sculpture. There are places in Europe in which placing sculptural bats in the garden is common place. I was intrigued.

In the USA there are people who value the bat because they are a natural way to reduce insects. People put houses out to attract bats. Sculptured bats are collected. There are even bat conventions. So I decided to create bats, Lady Artisan bats. I started by studying various species of bat, then creating my own bat using the bat face and wings that I liked best. You may recognize in Lady Artisan bats species that exist in nature. The whole package though is a unique Lady Artisan creation. Unlike the bats flying about your garden, Lady Artisan bats won't jump into your hair!

The new bats are flying bats. My patrons who have been collecting Lady Artisan hanging bats have asked for flying bats. So flying bats it is this year.

Lady Artisan Facebook Fan Club

Last night this Lady Artisan could not sleep. Anticipating a less than productive day due to fatigue this Lady Artisan created a Facebook Fan Club page. A Fan page is an excellent way to let patrons know where I am showing Lady Artisan Art, as well as what new designs are ready to be presented. The Lady Artisan Fan Club is the perfect venue for showing pictures of art shows, art, and anything at all that might interest Lady Artisan fans. Visit the fan club to view pictures of the shop at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. At this moment Lady Artisan is tired, but very happy and content with the results of her work.

The link to the fan club has been added to the list of Lady Artisan links listed with this blog.

Lady Artisan Bronze Mold Making

Today I posted a page on a new Lady Artisan website. The page shows how to make a Lady Artisan mold to create a wax that will be cast into bronze. I am excited about this website. It is intructional. A teaching website. Those who would like to learn how to create bronze or pewter sculptures will love this website. As I create new sculptures I will post pictures and instructions on how to create the kind of work of art depicted.

Visit www.lady-artisan.com/mold-making.htm to see the latest.

Lady Artisan has created a lovely new bat bell and flying bat sculpture for those of you who love bats in the home or garden. The steps to create this new work of art are being posted as I do the work. I think the subject fits. I must be a bit batty to be an artist, correct? So bats fit the bill!

Lady Artisan loves her Patrons! Huzzah!

Lady Artisan Molds

Today this Lady Artisan finished one half of her molds. The molds are to cast waxes of new bells and sculpture for her shows over the next year. The waxes that are cast from these Lady Artisan molds should be at the foundry next week and soon after, cast into bronze.

Lady Artisan also worked on earing cuffs. I know you like them. (Lady Artisan smiles). I have 11 designs for the ear cuffs, all of which will be ready for you this August.