I'm so inspired by what is out there on the internet. I especially love going to other artists/designers/quilters sites and seeing their beautiful studio setups. I love seeing the nicely lit workspaces, tidy and attractivel storage solutions, and all that good stuff. For example, Rebekah of don't call me becky, just redid her sewing room, and it looks beautiful. Also, Heather Bailey's studio looks just they way your would think it should. And this studio; the colour alone, not to mention the beautiful organization, leaves me at a loss for words. Its just so inspiring. Especially since currently, this is what it looks like where I make things.
Honestly, I disappoint myself sometimes. I'm a creative person, for pete's sake, and I know how to dress myself, and I like to think I have some sense of style, but THIS is the way I live. Sigh.
Anyhow, I should not be too hard on myself, because there is a reason that my living room/studio/work area looks like it was hit by a fabric bomb. Its because I'm working towards a deadline. A deadline that is looming on the disconcertingly close horizon.
This holiday season I've finally decided to bite the bullet and get on the Toronto Craft Show/Sale scene. I'm taking it relatively easy on myself and am just doing two shows. The Speakeasy Holiday Sale on the 2nd of December from 7-11 pm, and the Snowday Holiday Market on December 5th from 12 noon to 5pm. Both of them take place at the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West in Toronto, but at different times (ovbviously) and in different parts of the hotel (upstairs for the Speakeasy Sale, in the Ballroom for the Snowday Holiday Market.
The Gladstone for those of you who don't know Toronto, is a quirky, art-centric 'unique' hotel. Go to their site and browse around to get an idea of what I mean. I'm really looking forward to doing the sales there, as I've also shown art there in the past, and I love the space.
But in the meantime, I'm in crunch mode around here. Which the Little Dude is not exactly loving. Don't get me wrong, he's a dream as far as toddlers go, in terms of being able to play by himself. He'll happily hunker down with his trucks and little people and town set-up on the living room table, and brummmm away... for about 45 minutes. And then he comes over to my at my sewing machine about every three minutes to say "Mommy come play wif me for a couple few minutes?" followed up by "Please, Mommy come ova here and play for a little couple minutes?" followed by "Moooooooooommmmmmeeeeeeeeeey! couple few minutes Pleeeeeeeeeassssseeeee?!?" Sigh. At least he's polite about it. Though at times he's more insistent than others, and commands somewhat sternly. "Mama, turn dat iron off!" or "Mama no do dat sewing now!" Humph. Either way, its really my first experience of feeling that work vs. mom balance thing. I try to find a good ratio of taking breaks to play with him (which is probably good for my poor back too) and sticking to my guns, as in: "I'm sorry Bub, but I have to do some work now."
Also, my new favourite thing? He's started calling me "Mama Mia". But with very clear pronounciation, and like he knows its funny, like this: "Mum-Ma Meeeeeeee-aaaaah". It makes me smile every time.
Anyhow, maybe tomorrow or the next day I'll show you what I'm working on for these sales more specifically, depending if I can remember to take some good pictures. But either way, if you are in Toronto on the 2nd or the 5th of December, come on by the Gladstone and see me.
Your first craft shows - that's exciting! Definitely worth the mess. Hope they go well!
Posted by: Laura | 11/29/2010 at 06:47 AM
Best of luck! Methinks I spy a pile of smurf bibs there... go girl! If you've got any left over and think of shipping those (what I'd do for a Snuffie!), I'm in the market for a larger toddler size ...
Posted by: Hannah | 11/29/2010 at 10:07 AM