New Photos

I have been on an Etsy break as of late as I just wasn't getting any creating done. On a recent trip to Hot Springs though I took lots and lots of pictures. Some of these will end up for sale!

Here are a couple I've already listed.
This one is a statue that is right in the middle of the road and for a good reason. It is in remembrance of a great flood that leveled most of the town. The statue is of a Mother Earth figure and two deer.

The thing that's always struck me about it is why on earth someone shot it. Yes, the discoloration on the deer seeps from a rust wound in it's antler where someone shot it. I'm really not sure why... But it's always caught my eye. It's creepy factor is amped by the fact that right across the street from it is the Wax Museum.

Next you have a little nut that I found resting on a park bench. The two were so colorful I could not help but snap a picture.

You all know how much I love contrast ^-~

The last picture of the day is of a window in my favorite hotel. Teal is my favorite color and I've always loved old peeling windows so how could I resist?
These photos are listed in my etsy shop for sale and soon there will be several more from this trip!

*Legal Stuff.....All images shown here are Copyright Brandy Davis of EkioArt 2009, do not reproduce, reuse, distribute or otherwise claim these images as yours or I will have my legal beagles hunt you down. Seriously, art theft is a dumb and rude thing to do. Don't do it!

ArEtsy is having a Christmas in July sale! The sale varies from shop to shop, but there are great deals in every shop and some wonderful items though out the group!

I've marked all my prices down in my shop for the duration of the sale. The sale begins in the morning (the 6th) and runs for the next two weeks. So do head over and check out all the goodies on sale in the ArEtsy group!

How NOT to run an art festival.

Especially one thats brand spankin new!

Ok, so Every year we have a great big festival that's held downtown on the river. Aptly named RiverFest it draws a good number of people and for a time showcased local talent. Now as most of these things go corp buys in as vendor spots are open to interpretation and the festival needs the money. Understood. Np. (I'd love for it not to happen but ya know)

Now, there have always been spots open for artists specifically to purchase to show their wares and sell them. Great. Fantastic. A venue where people are spending festival paper money and still have cash burning a hole in their pockets. Hey! Its RiverFest! I can't tell you for sure what the fees for spots were in the past, but I can tell you they are a bit pricey now. Not to mention you have to have insurace for the thing too. Yeahhhhhh, I'm so explaining that over the phone to my rep who's going to see dollar signs. Kaaaching$-$.

Now were I able to plop down said cash for a spot, and I knew I could buffer a very decent ammount of product for said show....I might just do it. I am talking state fair size people count here folks and more as this isn't a cattle showing, bull riding, stuff your face and ride rides kind of thing. It's a walk around and enjoy the fun thing. (Not that I don't LOVE the fair, don't get me wrong, it's just a different kind of event. Sort of. There are still the crazies that come out at night and half naked people. )

But I digress.

The main issue I have this week kids is that said festival has decided to start a juried art show. Asuming that they are trying to bring the art back into the festival as they have run many an artist off with their tactics for business.

Whoot, great. all that.

Ok, the logo useage is close, the show is advertised on the festivals website, the application fee is normal. Looks like a great new portion of RiverFest. Theeeen theres the date.

One week before the main festival. WAaaaaait a minute? Whaaaa? say that again? One Week Before the Festival. You know the same weekend as that other festival that draws a good crowd on the OTHER side of town. The one that has hummus and gyros and makes people want to go.

(Do belive me I've seen this happen before. Another art show I found out about it's very first year and every year since has done it.....)

Oh yeah, and by the way, booth fee. Thats going to be $500. Oh you have a friend who's an artist interested in the show as well? Oh well you can share a spot, np! For $600. And if she/he flakes on your or happens to not get selected to be in the show, You can cover that right? Sure you can.

Folks, this is will be the first year for this show. (next year, they are starting apps now)

Now heres where I can see their side. (*sigh* yes I said I could see their side of it)

A. The show doesn't need to be run over by people selling mass produced or cheaply made things so let's charge a large ammount for the booths! (Ummm...isn't that kind of why you have a juried show?...selected individuals only.)

B. Well it's part of RiverFest and so since were charging other artists that fee to set up a square.. we'll make it the same for this show. (WAAAAAAit......it's not really part of the festival, it's a whole diferent type of fish and it's so not at the same time.)

So yeah, while I see their way of "thinking" I don't appreciate it.

The other show I've seen do this has done some things differently and didn't charge a large ammount for their first show. And you know what? There weren't any mass produced booths. There were a bunch of local artists and a few from out of state who were very kind. The show was unfortunatly timed wrong and is every year. There is usually at least one other big thing going on in town if not three. I had been an artist at that show from the first year until two years ago when they went another wrong route and hired a musician. It killed the atmosphere of the show and drove one of the few other long time artists at the show out.

Oh and while they raise their booth fee every year....they get more and more mass produced and businesses. Too soon they will be realizing that they are A. running themselves into the ground as an art show and B. running out of room at their location.


So theres my rant. There are several other things that the second show I mentioned has done wrong, but we'll leave promotions, advertising, and deciding what exactly your show/fair/festival is for a later date.

One where I don't have a kid falling asleep on my arm.

Monsters V Aliens....the movie...not in my living room.

Ah movies. ^-^
I love creative movies, and the fact that lots of the new kids stuff is in 3d. I mean yes, it hurts my head a bit..and I probably sit too close.....but thats the fun of it!

We saw MvA's tonight It was really fun. So many things thrown in there for the adults and again, nothing I didn't want the kiddos to see. I love cheesy B horror movies and used to stay up nights watching them when I could catch them. .........................So many sleepless nights in front of the tube. *chuckles* ..........................

Oh...and I want to be "Susan" for halloween now.


Speaking of invasions.. Have you all seen the sonic toys this week? Too cute. Little tater tot animals have invaded my house.

Wire Wrapped Goodies.

They almost look like little bits of rock sugar and I wanna eat them. *chuckles*

Now I just gotta decide if they are all going to be part of one big necklace...or If I'm splitting them up to use in several necklaces.

Other than that I've had a custom order for a robot that was a good bit more detail than my normal ones, though that didn't bother me a bit ^-^ The boys now want one of their own...

And now I'm playing with rocks, magniscope slides, and wire again!

But tonight I'm off to enjoy another night with the boys and Hubb before he flys off again ^-^

Haircuts and Holidays

Busy Busy Busy, thats what it always seems like around here.

Works kept me on my toes and while I've had days off, I've kept them full by looking for a new job. I'm hunting down something that is 9-5 or 7-3 ish, you know, that sort of shift. Of course that's kind of tough to find right now, but I know its out there somewhere ^-^

The boys really enjoyed the holidays, they got all sorts of fun things and just like every year we say "We won't buy them toys, we'll leave that part to the rest of the family and we'll just get them some fun new outfits or something we can all use together as a family" Yeah....right.....*laughs*

That so didn't happen.

Madd's hair was getting long so he got to pick out a new hairdo. He was too funny at the salon. The picture of the kid in the book who's haircut he picked had his thumbs in his ears and hands spread making a silly face. So when Madd got up there to the girl cutting his hair, he said "I want this." matter of factly and stuck his thumbs in his ears and wiggled his fingers. The girl laughed and said "oh yeah?" It was a good first haircut at a salon for him and I was glad ^-^ You hear about kids being scared but he wasn't at all. I was very proud of him.

Little Man did not want his hair cut. Every time I ask, he puts his hands on the top of his head and says in a pitiful voice "Don't cut my hair" *chuckles* I've got to talk him into one soon enough, its getting unruly.

As for on the crafting front,
I've been working on some projects and I keep trying to come up with fun new inspirations. I haven't had the time really though to sit down with tools and work on some of the harder ones I've got in mind. I'm hoping a steady hours job will help with that and the fact that spring is right around the corner will as well. If I'm to do any shows...I'll have to create something! *chuckles*