Stressing Out With Buttons to the Rescue

So,  stressing over getting ready for my craft show, I just couldn't seem to be creative. So many things to do,  then I hit a wall.  I couldn't create anything!

Then, I thought I'd start playing around with something new,  actually, something I used to make years ago,  buttons!

Years ago,  I used to sew little tooth fairy pillows and added a covered button. They were adorable. But since I don't drag my sewing machine out very often, and u love to work with paper,  I thought,  let's give it a try!

So,  I grabbed my mod podge, my buttons and graphics,  and voila! Another sweet addition to my craft show inventory!

Hope you like!

Getting Ready For The End Of Summer

Summer is nearly over but I'm not willing to let go.  The older I get the less and less I like winter. It's not that I mind the cold,  it's the short gray days and and the early nights. I need sunshine in order to survive!

I've been working on some displays for craft shows this fall. It's been about 20 years since I did one, so I really want to do this right.

Some things about fall that I do like are the acorns, color leaves and pine cones.  So, I collected some acorns and I'm painting them to scatter on my table display. Just using nail polish! 

I'm eager to try another idea for winter... bleaching pine cones! I think they will be very pretty as table scatter for a Christmas show. I'll post how they turn out.

Flattery is a Crafter's Best Friend (after sales of course!)

How exciting! I've been posting a lot of my work on Instagram and Flickr,  just trying to get some exposure, joining groups and following other Etsy people.

What I didn't expect was to be noticed by two really impressive people. One is a photographer, who is actually a psychiatrist.  I commented on a self portrait of his and he checked out my Flickr and complimented me on my work! This guy has over 2000 followers. Flattery is wonderful!

The other is a total surprise! One that I really hope will take me somewhere.  He is the communications director for Shopify. This is a marketing tool on Facebook. It's a shop you can put on Facebook,  I suppose like Etsy. I've read reviews,  and they are good,  but I  haven't looked into it for myself yet.

My goal is to get my Etsy going,  promote my Rose Colored Glasses Facebook page,  do some area craft shows and keep exploring other possibilities. Then,  maybe I can start a Shopify! Building blocks, that's what will build my dream,  a solid foundation.

I know it seems sort of trivial. But right now, to me it's a big deal! Any type of recognition is wonderful! This give me the motivation I need to keep going!

Mapping It Out

So, I love making these Itty-bitty Books, and I posted a pic of a few of them on my Facebook page.  A friend of mine asked me if I made larger journals and my daughter asked me to make her one with maps.

So I got to work in it right away. I love using maps in my work,  something I guess I didn't realize was so marketable.

I did a couple of books,  and now I'm going to incorporate maps into my other projects. Here's my new books and a pic of hair clips that will soon be made out of maps!

Getting Crafty

So I went the library this week and cleared the shelf of books that help you start your craft business.  Yes,  I know,  the Internet has all the information I could ever want, but there is something special about holding the printed word in your hands.

I am inspired.  These people who write these books are so dedicated to what they do! They have lived the craft show,  Etsy circuit.

I have been adding things to my shop and trying to generate some traffic by posting on Pinterest and my Facebook page "Rose Colored Glasses". It'll take time. I don't think I have anyone looking at my FB page,  but it's exciting to see people pinning my things on Pinterest!

Here's what I worked on tonight

The lighting is poor because I took the picture at night,  but I think you can get the gist.  My daughter Emily is going to help me pick out some more contemporary patterns and I'll be on my way! 

My Etsy Shop

https://www.etsy.com/shop/KathleensRoses
Link is below. .. click to check it out!

A long time ago when my shop was open I opened an Etsy shop. I never sold anything from it.  But, I never maintained it either!

So,  I thought I would give it a another go!

Now that I'm working on my blog and videos, I thought I'd try to sell my crafts.  I love making things,  and they accumulate in my house.  Free Art Friday is my saving grace,  I put my crafts out for that,  and that gives me pleasure.  But many people tell me how much they like things I make,  so why not try to introduce them to a new audience?

I'm never sure what I'm doing when I start something. I love to Google my questions,  to learn what others are doing,  but usually that just leads to more questions! I'm learning patience,  which is the best way to learn!

Taking a jump,  learning from others, observing others and being patient.  I'm not looking for success,  not in a 'I can retire' kind of way,  just successful enough where I can continue doing what I'm doing and getting the positive response to keep me motivated!

So. . Blog,  videos,  Facebook page, Etsy, Free Art Friday, I'm lovin it!

My Etsy Shop: Kathleen's Roses

Rose Colored Glasses A Resale Shop For Girls Of All Ages

                       Rose Colored Glasses

About four years ago I opened a little shop called Rose Colored Glasses. It was a ladies resale shop. 

I had a little prior retail experience, and my career path was originally early childhood development.  

The niche of resale shops was strong and fast growing. Faster than I had imagined. I chose a part if my city that is very dear to my heart.

Two things that were not helpful in growing my business. But.  There is always a but, you know. 

I discovered something about myself. I really like to help people. Helping them find themselves or helping them explore, promote and develop themselves. 

I loved my customers and neighbors. I had such an eclectic clientele. I had artists, city officials, psychologists,  librarians, web designers, producers, home makers, publishers, cross dressers. Just to name a few. 

When these wonderful people walked through my door,  I wasn't preoccupied with a sale (whoa to any business sense I should have had), I was determined to make their experience pleasant. An experience that would lift their spirit. And one that they could take with them and share. 

My business lasted 14 months. But that's OK! I would have loved to have it thriving today, but the experiences and people I met are so precious that I feel fulfilled in a way.

My love to be creative was an important part of my business. My love to be creative was a big part of my ECD career. My love to be creative was apparent in my Girl Scout leader days. And my kids will tell you I've pushed creativity on them all their lives!

Welcome my blog. Welcome to my life. Thanks for tagging along on this journey. Who knows where creativity will take me next.

Keep Creating

Wow, life can get you down.  Work everyday,  family drama, societal issues. It seems like a constant grind of one thing after another. 

But, then the moment arrives when a creative impulse consumes you. All the dust of the day and the worries of the night get washed away. 

Keep things around you that inspire you.  It can be a simple quote, a favorite postcard,  a photo of someone.  Inspiration is all around us,  but sometimes, we need a little kick start,  especially when the days have been hard. 

Remember that creativity is in us all.  We just need to reach deeply inside and pull it out. Feel free to express your artistic side.  

Keep creating,  keep loving, keep exploring! 

Life Is Wonderful

                     

You have to write this down when you feel it.  Because so many times,  more often than not,  life is a struggle.  The question "Why?" is always most prominent. So,  when I wake up in the morning,  hear an owl in the woods, birds chirping,  see the sun just starting to peek over the trees in the pale grey morning sky, I have to write,  life is wonderful.

I've been trying to be more active this week by walking at our nearby park, Millenium. It's a work in progress, both the walking and the park. The best I can describe it would be a future Central Park, as in NYC. Beautiful trails, quaint beach, kayak rentals, playground, and now they're building a music venue.  Very exciting! And is all within walking distance from my house! I really love where I love.

I don't have any videos to post today.  But here are some pictures from my walks. Hopefully they will inspire you to get out and explore your area.  Sometimes just looking through the eye of the camera can take you to other places!

Love, love, love reusing stuff

As you might have guessed,  I love using things that I find, to make new things. Upcycling, recycling, just taking junk and making it fun and pretty.

You can pretty much turn anything you find into something new.  Sometimes I find something really cool and I have no idea what I'm going to use it for.  But,  eventually there comes an idea!  Sometimes it's as simple as inspiration,  other times it's a full out project!

The world has so much to offer.  Everything can have a second use. It just takes imagination and creativity!

Here are a couple of videos showing you how I've taken some things that a person wouldn't think twice of discarding and making something fun. It's always great to create!

                           Box in a Box

TP Mini Album

Itty-bitty Book

                                       link:

                  Kathleen's Idea Mini Book

I just love making books.  Especially little ones! Check out my link for the tutorial on how to make this one.

This book could be used as a little journal or memory book of  baby faces!  Talk about a cute brag book! It would also make an adorable alphabet book for tiny fingers. Let your mind soar and see what you come up with!

When you put your imagination cap on,  the possibilities are endless! Mix up the papers to make it whimsical or dramatic. Select a ribbon and button or go for lace and a metal finding.

Oh!! It gets me so excited thinking about the endless possibilities that I want to run and make more right now! Have fun with this project!

Beautiful Afternoon For Free Art Friday

Beautiful Afternoon For Free Art Friday

Check out the new video! Spreading love and joy can be done in the simplest fashion. Random acts of kindness can occur everyday,  holding doors open for people, picking up a tab, even a simple smile.

Free Art Friday is a random act of kindness done by artists.... or just creative people, like me!

A gentleman in England coined the phrase and it has gone global.  This wonderful man is a street artist (former elementary school teacher), who gives his art away for free. He has inspired people all around the world to participate. I have met artists in Australia and all over the states just by getting involved with FAF.

He maintains his privacy by simply going by his artist street name... My Dog Sighs

We had the pleasure of meeting him at a gallery in Chicago.

I started our own chapter in Grand Rapids. I call it Free Art Friday Grand Rapids Style.

I hope this inspires you to "drop" art in your community to make someone smile and to just spread the love.

Happy Free Art Friday!

More Fun on YouTube!

I've been busy! I am really loving making YouTube videos!  It's great reference for me so I can see step by step the things I like to create.  Sometimes creative block happens and this will provide inspiration for me. I hope it does you as well!

              Kathleen's Idea Bi-fold ATC

       Kathleen's Idea Surprise Gift Box

My New YouTube Videos

I'm so excited to share with you my two new videos on you tube! Along with this blog I've always wanted to make a tutorial video.  So here we go!

Kathleen's Idea Happy Banner

Kathleen's Idea Little Dress Banner

Leave me some feedback! It's always welcome!

Free Art Friday Madness

Have you ever been to The Outlet? Oh my gosh, if not... get there! The deals are there! It's located on Cottage Grove off Madison SE. They're open Wednesday thru Saturday. Crafts, sewing, floral, scrapbooking... all at way below retail prices plus sales every week and a secret word that gets you an additional 50% off one non sale item!
We dropped out first piece off there!

Another piece we dropped was at the river. We braved the flies at the fish cleaning station. Hope a real sportsman finds it!

Love Bogey and Bacall! So this piece had to go to a very classy area. The 616 Lofts seemed to fit the bill! Nice busy area and the piece was snatched up in 5 minutes! Love giving away free art!

This last piece was a favorite of mine and I love the way the framing turned out! It's made with a collage of vintage magazine illustrations and lovely text printed on tissue paper, then affixed to dominoes! So a neat mixed media piece that will make a woman at the YWCA feel empowered!

Old School Writing Desk

For my first post I'd like to share my most recent project.  This is an old handmade writing desk.  See below for the before pics. I'm happy with the way it turned out that I had to show you the final project first! 

I used spray paint for the three layers of color. I started out with an old school house color green, then am old schoolhouse blue. To finish it off its coated with bisque. 

I then went back and sanded the edges, legs, seat and back spindles to create a worn look. 

Here is what it looked like originally. 

 

I'm Here!

This is an exciting journey for me.  I have always wanted to share my love and enthusiasm for art and craft with others!

Way back in the day,  I was a Girl Scout leader and I loved showing the girls new ways of looking at the world. Now is my chance to share with people closer to my age who may actually see the world differently as I do.

Come along on my journey with me. I will show you projects and ideas and observations of my world.