isn't that the cutest little nephew you ever did see?

a watched pot never boils

a couple of months ago, i was contacted by an advertising agency in NYC saying they wanted to feature me in a project. turns out Camel has or is going to have a feature on their website that shows interviews of emerging artists...and they wanted to come down and video me and my space for this project. and it is a paid gig (never a bad thing). i got all excited and now...after some communication and questions on their part...absolutely no contact from this adv. agency. i was contacted by another person there saying she was working on the project too now and to call her back...i did, and emailed and haven't heard anything. i'm kind of upset that they got my hopes all up and then just drop me like that...i have NO clue what is going on and they were saying it was going to happen in the new year once my trailer was finished. last time i talked with anyone there was in Nov. and she said they actually wanted to come out in 2-3 week from then...that is the last i heard from anyone there.

i'm kinda totally bummed out.

so, i emailed the original girl on the project and have just been waiting for contact from them. i've done all i can to let them know i'm still interested. if i do anymore, it will be harassing, so i just find myself constantly hoping to have an email in my inbox whenever i check my mail.

hurumph.

My booth at Blue Genie! Working hard.

over-stimulation

i am a very disgruntled little artist right now. and i use the term "artist" freely at this point.

{yawn}

Well, E.A.S.T. is over and quite frankly a big ole blur at this point. I spent all of last week painting the walls, sealing the seams, shop vacuuming several times, and tending to other details. It was a long week. I slept for 12 hours Saturday night. Basically the trailer is in move in condition, with other little projects still needing to be done...but I am just at a point where I'm sick of it being under construction. I will design my workspace after the holidays/Blue Genie/etc. For now, I'll work in it's haphazard-ness. It is perty though.

album art

cool...that's my work there!

world domination

haha...i'm such a dork. i have been on this secret mission to dominate the first page of the "stephanie nance" google search and i am victorious in my quest!!! there was a tennis player with my name that was in the running, but i beat her. MUAHAHAHAHA.

YAY-oh shit, I've got to get on it.

I got in!
The 7th Annual
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
A FREE 20–day Art Show & Sale featuring 80 Artists!
December 5th through December 24th, 2007
Open at 10:00am Daily
• Sunday through Thursday 10am to 10pm
• Friday through Saturday 10am to Midnight
• Sunday December 24th 10am to 6pm

Now at a New Location:
Monarch Events Center
(at Lincoln Village)
6406 North IH–35, Suite 3100
Austin, Texas

MOVED

FINALLY, got the trailer moved yesterday!!! thanks Jake for making it happen! Here's pics of my trailer's little road trip thru Austin.

ouchy mother trucker!!!!!!!

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

my sis came into town with her 10 week old bebe to visit me. i made her a nice dinner and we drank wine. i went to open the second bottle and in it's un-openess dropped it on my big toe! i fell to the ground and ended up balling it hurt so badly. we were amazed this AM to find it wasn't broken, but looks so bad. doesn't help my already growing out toenails from last springs high heel toe bruising incident...my poor toesies....

Stood Up

I was to meet the man I hired off Craigslist yesterday to move my trailer to it's new home, but he freakin' stood me up. It was a terrible inconvenience. I hope he is okay, and if he did stand me up...then gosh darn it...thanks buddy!

I did have a back up and we have scheduled to move it next Sunday. Cutting it close, but that's okay. I met with a gentleman tonight who is going to work on finishing up the inside for me!! yay again! I'm really hoping to have it finished by East Austin Studio Tour...since my future studio-mates are on the tour and I'll get spin off from that. That is in the middle of November. And my weekends are filling up, but I think we've got it figured out.

Fundraiser Success

We had a wildly successful fundraiser for my studio this weekend. I can believe how many of my old school friends came and hung out and donated! WOW. My friends are so incredible. I made enough dinero to get my trailer moved and finished on the inside. yay! I can't write about it all, because it doesn't do the amount of coolness that happened that day justice. Here are some pics to show you though...

newness

i have a confession. in the year since becoming a full time artist, i have become increasingly unhappy with making art. i thought i'd be different, one of those people who gets up smiling...making my coffee and heading straight to the studio. it wasn't as romantic as that. but have become more of a commercial artist than wanted. it took awhile to figure out exactly WHAT was making me unhappy. this past weekend, it all became clear after a heart to heart.

it's by shear luck that i've been able to explore this career for the last 3 years...owning a shop and being a full time artist were two of my dreams. being able to grow and learn as a small biz owner, meet so many wonderful people around the world (via the internet), and have the time to figure out likes and dislikes of it all has been a great experience. however, not having the store and just doing my art full time has been challenging emotionally (and financially to be quite honest). don't get me wrong, i LOVE making art...but the pressure of having to make a living at it has sucked the life out of me. i had to learn this on my own, and i'm glad i did.

i am switching gears. i've found myself in a position of possibly expanding my teaching experience with a Montessori school here in Austin. this is so thrilling, and a chance to try something else i've wanted to do. i'll know more in the next week or two. i feel drawn to this opportunity. it's a full time position, which will change my priorities and i think that is going to be a good thing for my art. it does mean, however, that i won't have as much inventory...however i believe the quality of my work will only get better.

the studio is STILL on the agenda...it's getting ready to be moved and i'm having a fundraiser to help offset costs of that. i still will be painting, but will be able to explore more techniques and new imagery without the pressure of having to sell the piece and hurrying up to finish it. i am still going to make some jewelry and pottery! i can't wait to spin some clay. i've been dying to do that for a long time now.

i can't tell you how much better i feel now...just having the stress of not having to make a living off my art is SOOO huge. i'm excited to learn more about teaching the Montessori method and helping toddlers learn. wish me luck!

Online Gallery Sale - Today {Tuesday}

bite sized art work that you can't live without!!!! here

movement

Sadly, the place where my trailer/studio has been located is going to be no longer. Happiness is having to give up their retail space as one of the owners has to move to Houston. They are however, holding onto the old Spunky Monkey Ranch behind the current space to host arts & garden events. Unfortunately, this means my studio needs to move. I am most likely moving it across the I-35 hwy to the east side. My friend Lisa Crowder & her studio mate Ryan McKerley have a nice little space over there. I think it will be a good move!

apartment therapy

leslie, the editor of SF apartment therapy, was kind enough to add me to their fabulous blog...

my power cord for my computer died and i have been patiently waiting on my new one to get here. i have missed the internet. apparently, i was on the Etsy front page again. i wish i had more inventory to keep in my store there, but i DO plan on changing that soon!!! i really want it to be the place where you can purchase prints and paperie of my work.

i finished and installed my new 15 paintings up at Kerby Lane this afternoon. i will get the images on my website over the weekend. as i will be working on my stuff for the online gallery sale on tuesday.

yay.

ROAR

my new nephew, Bennett, and the cutest boy in the world.

randomness and lockdown, once again

i have been preparing for a show I'm installing this Thursday at Kerby Lane Cafe. after coming home from Houston after my nephew's birth, i have been somewhat overwhelmed with unsatisfactory feelings in regard to my art. let me preface this with, don't be fooled..all artists go thru this..not all blog about it..we aren't always that put together and happy with our work....i have just chosen to write about it so it might give you a glimpse into my process. this last week i have all of the sudden wanted to quit it all. do something totally different...not art related. i have been so depressed by this. no inspiration, motivation, sensory overload and boredom had set in. it made me so sad, because the last 10 years i have worked to get to this point...a full time artist. and now, I'm not satisfied????? WTF? I'm an extremist sometimes and this was one of those moments when i just wanted to walk away completely.

i played the lotto.

Jean and i were at dinner, and i was talking to her about all of this. then, serendipity stepped in. as we were chatting i opened my fortune cookie and low and behold it said "your creativity takes you to great heights." HELLO! okay universe, i get it. talk about tapping you on the shoulder. anyways, we started talking about money (because that has something to do with my dissatisfaction) and decided that if there was ever a time to play the lotto with the numbers off a fortune...this was that time.

needless to say, we didn't win. poo.

BUT, i was warmed and comforted by two things during this. as i was drifting off to sleep that serendipitous night, of course i fantasized about what i would do with all that money. my thought was to have a ceramics studio....and i would give my art away. i like that thought. the other, was a discussion with my friend Dewayne that made me feel like a valued artist and that i deserve to be successful and happy. for some reason, i believe him.

i'm currently obsessed

with John Taylor. i had a dream the other night that i was in a group that won to be the photographers at a Duran Duran photoshoot. i woke up the next morning and searched for recent pics of him.

i was obsessed in middle school....i mean, posters everywhere.

but, much to my denial, he is an old man now! gasp. i mean, he's not really that old at all, but he's not the cutey pie i remember from the 80's. i keep finding pictures of him and am in total disbelief. when did this happen? oh yeah, in the last 20 years i haven't paid attention to Duran Duran. HA.

still, i am disappointed to have found time didn't stand still in order to allow my never ending love for Mr. JT to stay young.

welcome home...

well, i've been in Houston all week as my little sis had her baby!!!! i LOVE him....he is precious and sooooooooooo handsome. it was tremendously hard leaving today to come back to work.

i did arrive to find one of my paintings on the front page of etsy! hello!!!

and i was also in another treasury too...multiple times!! that was exciting too.

production

whew...it is H O T. and of course, today was lots o labor day for me. i thought i'd give you a glimpse into part of the process i go thru to make you beautiful paintings. this is the grunt work...building boxes to paint on.

a fun Lowe's trip to buy lumber (that there is 32 pieces of 1x2's to make the cradle).

i have 4'x8' sheets of 1/4" plywood cut down (to fit into my car) and then i cut it into the desired size in my garage.

then, thru the magic of not taking anymore pics of the process (going to my former workplace at a frame shop and building the actual boxes) voila there are some boxes...now i am going to sand them down so i can paint!

branding

there are several things i am proud of when it comes to running my own biz. one of the things that i have been wishy washy about is my branding. now, i realize i have a recognizable style...however i keep waivering when it comes to the small things like a "logo" or a website skin. i change my biz card design every time i order new ones. i am always criticizing my headers for blog and etsy. and fonts....oh don't get me started.

porch time & micheladas

my dear friend over at The Grackle and I spent some quality time together Wed night as we drank these really darn good micheladas at Scoot Inn and listened to the bartenders wicked cool itunes (i wanted it so bad). porch time rocks, i love it...one on one time with those you love...nothing is better.

Micheladas (wicked good altered recipe)

1 salt rimmed pint glass filled to the rim with ice
juice of one lime
some olive juice
crushed olives
mexican beer (XX)
top off with a little bloody mary mix

YUM.

i got a job

don't worry, it's super part time. i've started sub teaching at the Dougherty Arts Center, a great arts school here in Austin. pre-schooler art...it's so fun. and i'm doing it to conquer a fear i have had since graduating college 10 years ago...teaching.

and now today i think i got a job Dirty Dog, self serve doggie wash just one day out of the week. that will be the fun get me out of the studio job.

Oh My Goodness

okay, i am in awe now of the power of the internet and women run blogs!! i have been hosting my online gallery sale now for a while, and this month i decided to send out on official press release to some of my FAVE bloggers. little did i know that i would receive so much support. i believe it is thanks to these ladeez and their readers that my sale yesterday was an incredible success. i had a record amount of hits on my website too.

that is why i have to give the biggest shout outs to these blogs, because without ya'll, we all wouldn't know where to find all these exceptional designers and artists you find.

a humble thank you to:

Bloesem
Beach Bungalow
Desire to Inspire
Black Eiffel
Happy Living
Treasuring
Poppytalk

i think that's it. ya'll seriously should put these blogs on your list of daily reads!!!!!

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT. you rock!

burning the midnite oil

Studio Boot Camp

after taking yesterday off, i am going back into the studio to do some more work. i got about 25 tiny paintings done for Happiness' Cactus Show this weekend and now i am going to work on some jewelry for Parts & Labour and Moxie and the Compound. Lizelle at P&L has been harrassing me and it's high time i get them something.

then, i'll paint again all next week. i'm prepping for installing lots of paintings at Kerby Lane Cafe in late August and my Online Gallery Sale on Aug. 3rd.

i'm also working on a collaboration with Vintage Trialer Supply for some promo. that's exciting and i appreciate Steve getting in touch with me!

and then, and then, and then...i could go on, but i'll spare you...for now.

Birds of a Feather

AAAACCCCCKKKK!! i HEART this trailer plate available here. don't be surprised if you see something inspired by it!

Hitch Couture

Another innovative shop.

Hitch Couture

Very Hush Hush

Via Poppytalk:

"shhhhhh very hush hush

Oh how cute! An airstream for a little shop. And such a cute name, "Very hush hush"! Fiona Richards sent in these pictures of her good friends, Tracy Fillion and Cathy Terepocki's gorgeous little store located in a 1964 airstream trailer. Fabulously retro-fitted to display their great collection of Canadian, indie-designed clothes, jewelry and home goods! Located and open all summer and into fall in Herridge Lane, Nelson B.C., Canada! (and if you can't make it to this beautiful part of the world, they both have online shops - thank goodness!):

Cathy's site and Tracy's shop."

Lockdown

I'm back from Houston, in fact I came home 2 days earlier than expected. I am currently on lockdown in the studio preparing a ton of tiny paintings for the Cactus Show coming up this weekend at Happiness.

whew

i just got finished going thru 5 rubbermaid tubs and one trunk full of memorabilia....you know, that stuff you never think you'll see again that collects dust in your parent's attic? field day ribbons, yearbooks, class pictures, fridge art, greeting cards from 1977. it was about time i did it, and oddly enough most of it was my sister's, which she will inherit this weekend when i make the trek to Houston. i wonder where my yearbooks are??

i have been busying myself with non-art stuff. My sister is 8 months pregnant and i have yet to see her since she moved home from her and her husbands 1.5 yr stay in Scotland, but this weekend i get to spoil her and rub her belly (against her will) as my mother and i are hosting a bebe shower. i've been making these pom poms to use as a garland. i also went to my friend Sibby's, from Juniper Hills Farm, so she could help me make some lavender scones for the shower. let me tell you , they are YUMMY.

i'm going to bed now. i'll see you later.

super cool

Click Here and play along.

Yummy

We had the best dinner last night with our Crap Shoot Critics club (a group of us who each pics a new restaurant to venture too). I highly recommend the Gold Band Creole and the pistolette rolls are to die for.

acupunture & broken glasses

we're back from our trip out West. we had a blast! it was extremely chillax and fun and NOT HOT! fantastic. on our way back, i accidentally stepped on my glasses and broke them clean in half. i was okay, because i had backups at home; only to find those were broken as well (i knew this...but had forgotten)...so i had to go to the cheapy glasses place and get some new ones. they aren't bad from being chosen off the "super savings" wall.

i've been experiencing some extreme right hand pain from overuse (mainly on the darn computer laptop mouse). i finally broke down and got some acupuncture yesterday. it helped, and i will be going 2-3x next week to help more. they even gave me some Chinese herbs to take (mortar and pestaled especially for moi).

out to lunch

i am getting ready and packed to mosey on over to Marfa, TX tomorrow for a L O N G weekend (thru next Wednesday). i am in a show at a new gallery, Tillie Arts of Marfa. i am way excited to check it all out. am staying here and here on friday and saturday nites, then heading to Chinati Hot Springs to soak in some lithium water, see the Marfa Lights, car camp in the Davis Mountains, swim in Balmorhea Springs, and go to the McDonald Observatory.

Whew....can't wait. See you next week.

Happy 4th!

Have a good holiday and check out some of these vintage postcards! Somewhat creepy and somewhat cool.

Online Gallery Sale

website is updated!

Online Gallery Sale

Reminder for the online gallery sale tomorrow morning!!!! flowers abound!

twenty two things

Thanks to fellow blogger Twenty Two Things for the holla!!

screeeeeeeeeen

can you tell that i just learned how to do a screenshot...be prepared to see alot of them. muahahahaha.

thank you DIY Thing

I need to give a shout out to DIY Thingwho interviewed me for their indie crafty arty blog. I am flattered they asked me and want to say THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!!

Hey! Guess what you can do?

you can get RSS feeds (automatic updates) of my Etsy shop just by clicking the button at the bottom of my shop page. you can also do the same for my blog at the bottom of this page.

Carrie Elkin

Carrie Elkin was in town from Boston this past month recording her new album and having fun at Kerrville Folk Festival and we had a chance to get coffee. Her new website is under-construction, but you can see the image of mine she is using for it. She'll be using it for all her branding. So cool. And I can't wait to see what her web designer, Websy Daisy comes up with!!! Continued success Carrie!!

why Camp?

Camp is the new name of my product line and the name I am giving le studio. Any sundries other than original paintings will be part of the Camp collection...prints, greeting cards, etc. These definitions embody why I chose it. I love the name and am currently working on a logo.

Also, btw...I am working on a coloring book of my images for the wee ones!

[kamp]
::noun::
1a) A place where tents, huts, or other temporary shelters are set up, as by soldiers, nomads, or travelers. Any temporary structure, as a tent or cabin, used on an outing or vacation or for recreation.

2) Something that provides sophisticated, knowing amusement, as by virtue of its being artlessly mannered or stylized, self-consciously artificial and extravagant, or teasingly ingenuous and sentimental.

feeling groovy

i'm feeling better about the trailer today. i laid down the plywood subfloor today and it makes it look so much better in there with all the holes covered up. and cleaner. i bought some kiddie hard hats and made a couple of under construction signs to put up around the trailer for the party on Saturday. i was about to cancel it yesterday because it wasn't going to be as ready as i wanted it to be, but Elena made me feel better about the whole situation and it's still on. my budget is blown too. uggh..but i see the light at the end of the tunnel.

rain rain go away

come back in July. it's seriously making me run super behind on the trailer project. i was going to install my flooring today, but it got rained on and is now having to dry out. uggh. here's a couple of pics from last week. my friend Bunny helped. it was nice. i also hired a friend on Sunday who did a fabulous and fast job. best $$ i have spent!!