A Creative Idea for Sharing your Work!

Ladies be at the ready! Armed and prepared to show off your work! When asked what you do, hit them with a well presented photo flip book!

There are many companies offering coffee book photo albums, which are a fantastic way to display holiday pics. But did you know they are also am amazing way to make a visual presentation of your art work? Photo books come in many different sizes and qualities. There are hardcover books which have a wonderfully professional look. I have used these many a time to collate photographs from holidays. It's lovely to be able to share these with others, something different to sitting round the laptop! I've also used photoflips - little 9x7 (or thereabouts) cards which flip out and show my art work. They are small enough to fit into my wallet and are great ways of continuing the conversation when others mention my work.

Below are some links of great products one can use to display their own works:

Album Printer Hardcover books:http://www.albumprinter.com.au/products-albums.html

Big W Photo Books (great value)http://www.bigwphotos.com.au/html/order_digital_photo_gifts_photo_books.asp

Just download the program, arrange your photos and upload them back to the site, enter your payment details and your product will be sent to you!

Album Printer have a 7 day turnaround from uploading to you receiving the book. Big W have a 7-10 turnaround and you have the option to get it delivered to you, or pickup at your local store. They will also place a friendly call to you when it has arrived at the shop.

I'm hoping to have a small one done by Big W by the time we have our Creative Fusion gathering. Perhaps you may have enough time to collate your own work to share for the day as well?

Lin x

Upcoming Shows, Markets, exhibitions - Dates for your Diary......

With only a couple of days left till the end of summer, here are some upcoming events to get you out of the house and into the creative spirit. If you visit any shows or markets PLEASE take some pictures and upload them to the Creative Fusion group on Facebook. Share your thoughts, write a note even! We love hearing from you all.


* Shows *

Heritage Craft Fair
1 March
St. Ives Showground
Mona Vale Road, St. Ives.
Free
$5 parking (per vehicle)
website

Vintage Show
April 17-19
Canterbury Race Course
Tickets : $12 at the door
website


*Exhibitions *

Pop the Question - A collission of pop music and graphic art
27 Feb - 11 March
China Heights Gallery - NEW location 257 Crown Street Darlinghurst
Free
website

Kate Hopkinson-Pointer
24 February - 7 March
Iain Dawson Gallery
72a Windsor street Paddington
Free
website


* New and Funky *

Check out the recently opened Berkelouw Books in Newtown. Beautiful lights, exposed brick and beams. A truly beautiful building. Upstairs you will find a used and rare vintage books section as well as a coffee shop. Downstairs new books, gifts and lots of art for sale.
The shop is open Monday - Saturday 10am – 10pm and Sunday 10am – 9pm
address: 6-8 O'Connell Street Newtown
website



* Market of the Month - Glebe. *

I will visit the market this weekend and report back with whats new and whats happening there in 2009! Look out for my next blog instalment.
Website

xox
claudes

THE NEWSLETTER IS HERE! ENJOY!

Click on the image to read the newsletter.

Pebbles

The recent 'postponement' of our very first CF day has brought with it the obvious dose of sadness. However in addition, a healthy dose of expansion and growth has accompanied it. Not only are we looking forward to finding a venue we can call 'our own', we are excited at the prospect of having a haven (virtually and physically) where others can come for that Creative Refuge.

Learning to see things as a positive is always difficult, however I believe with practice, when one starts to see things in an artistic and creative light, possibilities emerge. Solutions we did not think of before are now made aware to us. Or better yet - WE are aware. For we have now taken on a new set of blinkers, applying our talents and passions to how we look at everyday life. This is why I believe in Art and Creation. It is not only the production of a work, it is a way in which we can teach our children and those around us to look at life - for when we encounter all sorts of experiences, we can choose to look at them logically, or creatively. The pebble clouds my vision when I hold it up to my eye, but when I throw it back on the ground, it takes its place amongst the others as the path I travel through my creative life.

So let's see this little hiccup as a pebble, one of the many hiccups we will encounter on our artistic journey. And let's paint those pebbles along the way ;) Lin x

PS. Newsletter coming!!!!!

Amour is in the air......

Hey Ladies,

Valentines Day, whether you celebrate it or not, is just around the corner. A day not just for florists, chocolatiers and Hallmark to celebrate but Etsy artists as well! Here are some funky, talented and unique pieces found recently that celebrate the international day of lurrrrve.

Honey the Valentines Mouse - from TheHouseOfMouse

Lovebirds Valentine Note Card from kittyanydots

LoveYou Matryoshka Art Doll from NickyBeeShop




















Check out the Valentine's Day Showcase which is updated daily for more lovelies......

Ambition to Meaning

Of late (read: last 5 years), I have been more focused on having a life which is directed by awareness. The other day a friend and I were chatting and found this movie, which is due to release on dvd this week from Hay House Australia. I'm sharing it as it is something which I fell in love with watching the trailer. So much so, I watched it about 10 times, and vowed to order the dvd (I have since done this).

http://www.ambitiontomeaning.com

I thought of you girls, and how our creative paths, sabbaticals and sojourns are all directing us to absorb and expand the meaning of our art. Perhaps some are troubled with the idea of a 'proper career', or what their heart strings pull at time and time again.

As Carl Jung says: "Thoroughly unprepared, we take the step into the afternoon of life. Worse still, we take this step with the false presupposition that our truths and our ideals will serve us as hitherto. But we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning, for what was great in the morning will be little at evening and what in the morning was true, at evening will have become a lie."

What our art will bring us, and what it wants to be expressed as will always change, there is no formula nor set rule for the next phase of your creative life. However being open to that notion will always guide one in the direction of flourishment. So enjoy this if you get the chance to watch it!

There is only one YOU....so make it count!

Today I read through the latest issue "Get Creative" Magazine. This is an Aussie magazine that comes out monthly and its philosophy is to encourage and inspire everyone to have a go at expressing themselves creatively. Whether you are a beginner or experienced artist, alone or with a group of friends - the magazine provides different projects for all skill levels. It also includes interviews with artists/crafters, provides step-by-step instructions for different projects and as well as articles on helping to market your work.

This month they have an article on different ways you can go about starting a home business for your art - which is very exciting and something that can be a goal for all of us! The article includes an interview with a fellow Etsy seller - Peta Pledger. A stay at home mum who " makes one off pieces and small runs of pretty garments & accessories influenced by the 1950's, Melbourne's Tattoo Culture and Rock n' Roll". Checkout some of her beautiful work here.

Some of the suggestions that the article mentioned include:

* Using various social networking sites (myspace, blogspot, facebook, flickr etc) to spread the good word about your work

* Selling at local and specialized craft markets. Finding your niche.

* Having an Online store without the headaches associated with traditional 'bricks and mortar' stores eg: Etsy, Madeit, Dawanda etc etc.

One of the great points of the article however was that no matter how or where you choose to market your work, it is important to realise that YOU are the most important and unique part of what you produce. People love to know about the artist, they love to interact and get to know your process or what inspires you. In an overgrowing handmade market, the way you sell yourself is as important as what you create. So in the following weeks I will do some research and look at some interesting ways that artists are doing just that - and share it will you all here via our blog. until next time...... xox claudes