new found freedom-volume 1

Lucky, the new boss
the satellite office
the studio

Well, I got laid off from my job this week. I was an art director at a "large Midwestern greeting card company" for the last 3 years but a designer before that for many more. I've worked there off and on for 17 years or and have had a chance to make some wonderful friends and learn more than they teach in any art school but the business has changed and the company is growing smaller to deal with those changes. Although I'm really sad to leave my good friends and coworkers, I know I'll see them again from time to time PLUS I have alot of orders to fill from the Philly show along with 4 shows lined up before the end of the year-so I look at this as a new beginning. Thought you all might like to see where I'll be going to work every day now-the commute is alot shorter (just down some steps), I'll have a satellite office when the weather is beautiful, and my new boss is also my running buddy. I began this first day by sprinting up two of the highest hills I could find with him, then he told me to get back to work. Here's to whatever lies ahead!

Philadelphia Photos

Just got back from the BMAC show in Philly and it went really really well! I'm going to be busier than ever filling orders now while getting ready to do the Plaza art fair at the same time-but it's a good busy.

Here's some snaps of the city, my booth at the show, a lovely boat that we had a party on one night, and some of the wonderful people I met at the show. They're eating breakfast at the Reading Street Market-what a cool place that is!

My Website is Ready!!!!

Very exciting news here on the Homemade Circus front! I now have a full and working website!!

Here's a screen capture of the homepage below--please be sure to visit and let me know how you like it-click here to go THERE!

anyone know anything about Philly?

I'm off to Philly tomorrow for the Buyer's Market of American Craft! I am going it alone however due to cost considerations, so if anyone has ANY suggestions of good but cheap restaurants, or places I just have to see, please let me know asap!

I will be taking my laptop with me and will be checking in and posting photos of my booth--thanks for all your kind and thoughtful comments on my work-you have helped up my confidence tremendously. TTFN!!

work wOrk WOrK!

I've been a bad little blogger lately but only because I've been burning the candle at both ends to get ready for the upcoming Buyer's Market of American Craft in Philadelphia, PA. I'm traveling by myself to this big show for the first time so wish me luck...it scares me a bit but is the most cost-effective way to do an out of town show. I'm excited to be seeing a new city for the first time though and meet some other artists and potential clients! Here's some of the pieces I've been cooking up for the show-the cake toppers will be available in my Etsy shop for custom orders. The small wire tents that hang from found wood are new pieces for me-I'm "branching" out-(ok sorry but I can't resist a good pun...or a bad one) and I'm selling these little guys here in KC at Latteland til late August and again in September at the Plaza Art Fair.

Inventing Weddings Blog highlights Circus Themed Weddings

I got a nice surprise today when I saw that one of my custom made wedding cake toppers was featured in a new blog called "Inventing Weddings". It features wedding themed items from Etsy sellers-check it out!

see Jane wear my tank top!

This is a pic my FB friend and Country Living editor-at-large Jane Dagmi took while wearing one of my Clown tank tops--doesn't she look great in it...of course she could look great in just about anything.

Still Life with Gary

It was such a lovely day last Sunday that I worked outside on the back porch again, this time with my sidekick Gary. He's under alot of stress, as you can tell!  He actually spends more time on his back than any other cat I've seen...must be nice huh?  Anyway, these are some more new small pieces I'm working on for a show at Latteland here in KC from June 25-Aug 23. The bottom photo shows the finished product. I may be putting them on Etsy soon also. 

New Custom Made Circus tees and tanks!

I thought it'd be fun to offer something in addition to my mixed media pieces and here they are. Choose from any of these titles and I will make your tank top or tshirt to suit just you. Each circus name is printed on 100% cotton and is handstitched with grey thread along the top edges. Homemade Circus logo is sewn vertically near the bottom right front edge.

Click on this link for more info or to buy in my Etsy shop.

Titles to choose from: Circus Freak, Clown, The Big Top, Sword Swallower, Trapeze Artist, World's Largest Man, Liontamer,Ringmaster,Bearded Lady (sizes available-S, M, L, XL) Free shipping to the U.S.

Let There Be....

Lights! I've created two new pieces that are hanging lamps. They are each approximately 16" high by 13" diameter. They are both made from wire, fabric, paperclay birds, and paint. It's easy to change the small light bulbs if needed also. Hope you enjoy these...I'd love feedback if anyone has any opinions! These will be in my booth at Art and Air this weekend in St. Louis, MO.

My First Blog Award

Okay I haven't won much in my life but today I had an award bestowed on me by the lovely and very gifted Mandy at Maygreen Fairies-- It means alot to me as I've not been blogging long and I still can't get over how cool it is to meet someone online from all parts of the world and become pals...if I'd only known Mandy before I went to the UK last year, we could have met in person...maybe next time. Now it's time for me to pass this award on to someone I highly admire-Cheryl Kuhn of Small Stories Studio. She's an inspiration to me and a great person as well. I'm sure you've heard her name or seen her work as she's getting more and more well known, but if not, please check out her blog.

Happy Dance!!!

I just found out that I was accepted into this year's Plaza Art Fair, which I've had my fingers crossed for for what seems like ages! It's held here in KCMO, it's listed as one of the top 5 Art Fairs in the nation and it's right down the hill from where I live-another big plus.

Great news on a Friday before a holiday weekend--everyone have a safe and blissful holiday!

Still Life with Stripes

Here's what I've been working on lately--some new cages in some new shapes! A before and after view. This time I've painted some found wooden squares as bases for the larger cages. Do you like the addition of the wood? I'm trying a bit more solid and substantial look. 

You can click here to purchase or get more info on Etsy.

Oh and also a short story about the found wood--my 13 year old son Murphy and I were in the car one day and drove by a house that had a pile of discarded wood laying by their driveway. I stopped to pick it up (who wouldn't) and as I'm getting the wood Murphy started laying on the horn--he was trying to rattle me, but the people who lived there looked out and saw me and just went back to what they were doing....I told him I don't get embarrassed by picking through other people's trash. He didn't understand. I think we may get embarrassed by different things.

New Orleans

We just got back from a trip to New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival. New Orleans is such a visually rich and wonderful town-here's some photos I'd like to share of an alligator in the bayou, the Mardi Gras Indians, New Orleans homes, a terrific zydeco band, and of course, the French Quarter.

Enjoy!

and the birds bear witness...

This is one of my new large pieces that I just built recently. I've been working on it for a few weeks. It tells the story of a coaster called the Serpentine that was skimmed by a twister in a small Kansas town long ago. The ticket booth and games tent are the only buildings left standing and the coaster has only three cars left, one of which is teetering on the end of the track. It measures 21" wide by 11.5" deep and 21" high. For more info or to purchase click here.

Little Birds are back on Etsy

I've been focusing on making larger pieces lately but a flock of my small clay birds will be for sale on Etsy again! Click on this link to take you there-I will be adding more tonight.

New Work:Circus/WIld West Stages

Well yesterday's Art On The Hill show was slower than I wish it had been but I still believe that this economy will turn around sometime(hopefully soon!)  Until then I'm going to just keep swimming, and making things that make me happy in hopes it will do the same for somebody else. On that note, here are 3 new pieces on found wood "stages". They can hang on the wall or sit on a flat surface. They're constructed of custom printed fabric, wire, found wood, paperclay, metal and tissue paper. They will also be in my Etsy shop-just click here for more info or to purchase.