Armstrong Industry Journal

Life Changes

It has been a crazy few weeks with travel and people moving in and then suddenly out of my life.  It has caused me to rethink how we hope things will be and how they turn out in the end.  Similar to creative work,  you have a picture in your head and it changes as the process starts and continues though the completed piece of art work.  I seem to have a problem with the finish details, I think it comes from a fear that it will never be good enough.  That "never good enough" image has really come to light, lately in dealing with my  personal life and traveling to my past.  I now know this less ordinary path I am on is the correct one and this direction is right for me and my family.  Now on to new and creative adventures.

                                 

Photo Credit: Glen Fa more here. 

Production

I have just finished a large project for a women's group. 30 silk scarves, dyed in a similar color way and printed with their logo.  I have not worked with large orders in a while.  It has helped me focus on my direction to go in working with wholesale accounts in the future.  I really like working on a wholesale line, the planning give you the direction and helps stay focused.  This is so important to me since I teach one day a week and run the gallery.  The studio is in the gallery but you are always interrupted with a variety of things throughout the day.

Art Action Obamaware

I just found out about a great art auction, Obama/Biden fund raiser. Jessica'sblog is always full of great information.  We have an Obama office right across form the galleryand it is so exciting to see the energy and work on some of the activities in a campaign this big.  Ayumi Horie is the originator of the sale and they have some lovely work form 27 ceramic artisans.  You can go the the live auctionnow and it will end Wednesday, so hurry and Go Obama.

Update:  This is a beautiful post and very touching thoughts on parenting, and mothers.(Via Atrios)

Local Poverty

Poverty is different today, but much is the same.  Rural areas have different challenges than urban areas, and less resources.  I grew up in Appalachian Kentucky in poverty, I see much of it today, but is seem more hidden, the pundits and politicians see to think if yo have a TV you can not be poor.  (We still have people without indoor plumbing).  I bought my studio in a redevelopment area in Southern Virginia.  Empty buildings are still a large part of the town.  I have always had these grand ideas of helping to make things better through art and local culture.  It is hard to express these things to people when we have tough economic times.  People are locked into the low cost of the "big box stores" and now with money so tight they have no choice, financially.  But I think this Catch 22 type situation has lead to many of the problems that lead to poverty in the United States, and once a couple of generations are locked in to this lifestyle and lack the education to get out the circle moves through whole communities. Local small business get a lot of mouth time with the politicians, but not much in actual policy and if you look a real statistics having local made and sold products only make sense to sustain the town.  So I will keep plugging along a try to make people aware, and hopefully this huge change in our country will make people take a look at what has been happening a start to support local independent business.

Blog Action Day

Collaborations

Since I have moved all my studio to the Red Thread it has brought a lot of new opportunities to expand my creative work.  I am an very independent and usually have trouble asking for help from or working with other people.  But I have decided it may be inspiring to collaborate with other artisans.  I am working on a new product line with a quilter friend.  The process has been interesting and productive.  We have different strengths and somewhat different styles, but have found a way to showcase our own creativity and still offer a cohesive set of products for next spring.  The financial aspect should be helpful, we can combine purchasing to save money in these tricky times. The marketing is the next part, I hope it will be a similar experience, and will write more as things develop.

Guest Blogging

I am guest blogging with the Design and Style Guide Team.  Their focus is on using and promoting hand made for interior design. A lot of great artisans getting invloved with the team, and many interesting people on theTeam, make sure to check it out.

A Single Piece of Paper

While researching and geometric paper folding project for my building and design students, I found this wonderful artist, Peter Callesen.  He does the most unbelievable paper cuts. Each one is made using and single sheet of paper.  I use blocks and Legos and other items for the class (middle school), but I love showing them how to create in three dimensions with simple items, such as paper.  The images speak for themselves, more here. 

 

Pottery

I am always on the look out for pottery to showcase at the Red Thread.  It is my weakness, the lovely shapes and colors are so inspiring.  I found this this artisan from Erin over at Design for Mankind.  The work is from Little Flower Designs and I just love the sweet blue bird peaking out of the bowl.  Great shapes of the vases as well.                                                                                                      

  Ceramic Designer, Linda Johnson