Blogging 2014

I mentioned my resolutions for 2014 in this post and so I wanted to share with you some of the changes that I wanted to implement in regards to blogging this year. Last year, I realized that it was easier to blog when I had recurring themes each week. This took off some of the pressure having to come up with new topics about which to blog. Also, I still want to keep this a unique blog with original posts rather than some of the other blogs that simply collect other topics and articles and re-blog them.

Not that I am adverse to sharing with you some of the projects that other people are doing (which I will continue to do), the goal of my blog has always been showing you what I am creating. This year, I want to continue to blog but more importantly, I want to create more and blog less. Although, it won't seem to be so after you see all of the blog entries accumulate over the year.

First, I want to continue to create and post one envelope front each day. I will simply post them to the blog (many times without any narration unless there was something interesting about that particular entry) here, on Pinterest and Flikr.

Second, I will be continuing with Iron Craft 2014 and will post every two weeks on the Reveal Tuesday  when that a project is due.

Third, I hope to create one project per week to share with you (during the Iron Craft reveal week, this will be the same project). During this posting, I hope to share with you a step-by-step description of the project for that week. I anticipate that this will be the only extensive posting for that week.

Other times, I hope to share with you (in a somewhat random fashion), other topics of interest--in process projects, completed projects, the From My Stash segments, and Book Reviews.

By limiting the scope of the blogging, I hope to get many of my resolutions accomplished this year.

Resolutions for 2014

I am sorry for the delay in making this post but I had to do some deep soul searching before I wanted to put this out to the world. Here are my resolutions--in no particular order (and with some explanation):

1. Similar to doing the 31 days of Halloween, this year I want to do a 31 Days of Christmas. I don't quite know how I will organize it but will work out those logistics later.
2. Several years ago, I designed a Advent project for Kat's Advent project. Of course, life and commissions got in the way. This year, I would like to complete that project.
3. I would like to continue to post craft entries Monday through Friday, without fail.
4. I would like to complete a craft a day project and share it with people. I have chosen to complete a decorated envelope per day and to post it to my Flikr account (DrRuss2011) and my blog. Here is the summary of challenge that I completed last year. This year, I will continue the challenge but only decorate the front side of the envelope.
5. I have chosen to participate in Iron Craft 2014. I postponed my decision to participate because for the 2013 Challenge, I was able to complete all 26 challenges. I just don't want to feel like a failure if I don't complete all of the challenges for 2014. There is no pressure other than the pressure that I put on myself. I have really enjoyed getting to know the people that have participated and that was the factor that tipped the balance to continue in 2014.
6. Take more art classes. I enjoy taking classes at The Center for Book Arts in NYC and will try and save up some money to add a couple of weekend classes.
7. Take a dance class. I never really took dance classes when I was growing up and felt too awkward to take them when I was an adult. This year, I finally realized my reticence--I could not stand to look in the mirror at myself. I might actually take a HipHop class at the Broadway Dance Center.
8. Print more. I want to use my Print Gocco more this year or at least screen printing or letterpress.
9. I want to make more postcards this year. These could be doodle cards like the envelopes or printed postcards. I have always loved sending a quick postcard to people.
10. I want to write more letters/postcards. I want to be primarily responsible for the recover of the USPS financial woes by sending out more mail. 
11. I want to take steps this year to becoming proficient in a foreign language. I have languished too much regarding this matter. I have always romanticized about learning Japanese but didn't want to take the steps to do so because I would have too few people to practice conversation. I might just learn Spanish because I have a basic understanding of how the language works and there are plenty of people to help me learn in NYC.
12. I want to be a little more selfish and take time off for myself.
13. I also want to take more road trips. Just rent a car and go.
14. I want to start and make larger projects--probably mixed media projects involving paint, transfers, paper and collage.
15. I want to continue making my paper tissue flowers and transform them in shadow box art.
16. I also want to continue my tissue paper painting.
17. I want to sell more items in my Etsy shop but first I must populate it.
18. I want to dedicate 2014 to making boxes. I get such enjoyment out of making them. Maybe this will correspond with resolutions # 2 and #17. I would like to average two boxes per month.
19. I want to collaborate with other artists.
20. I would like to make one book per month.
21. I want to attend Penland/PBI or a craft vacation this year.
22. I want to get to 10% Body Fat
23. I want to get my sewing machine serviced and sew more. Maybe even take a sewing class.
24. I want to watch less porn--there, I said it--OUT LOUD.
25. I want to watch less TV.
26. I want to save more money--maybe participate in the 52 week challenge that has been on the internet.
27. I want to purchase fewer materials and use the materials that I have before buying anything new or duplicated. I want to use up my stash materials.
28. I want to better organize my studio.
29. I want to donate more unused materials
30. I want to sell/donate cutoffs of paper and card stock.

Now that I have put these out in the universe, I will see just how successful I am at the beginning of 2015.

New Year's Resolution #5

This year, I hope to be better organized with my materials. As I have been designing products for sale in my Etsy store, I have been deficient in labeling the materials being used. In the product descriptions on my items, I would like to be able to say the type of book cloth, or the type/weight of the paper that I am using, etc.

The problem that I have is that I get so excited about the creating, I just move forward and make things. Once I have the prototype/example, I file the details regarding the making of the item. In other words, I notate the dimensions etc. but never annotate the materials themselves.

Another problem that I have is that I have loads of materials that simply aren't marked. I have rolls of book cloth that I have no idea (1) where I bought it, (2) how much it cost, or (3) its name. I got so excited and folded hundreds of sheets of paper so I could put it in the book press but then forgot to label it so that I could remember the name/weight of the paper. I can still use the paper but I only feel comfortable selling those journals in person because I can't fill out the details in my online store.

Oh well, this is the way one learns the ins and outs of owning your own business.

New Year's Resolution #3 & #4

My third New Year's resolution is to keep my Etsy store open and stocked. I want to average 10 items available for sale every week. Right now, I have only been using my Etsy store for custom orders and credit card payments. This year, I will change that. I guess what has been hindering me from selling on etsy is the fear of putting myself out there for every to see. People who see my products seem to like them but dealing with complete strangers buying your work online is a little bit daunting.


My fourth New Year's resolution is to keep better records for my online and greeting card business. Every year around tax time, I am stumbling alone looking for receipts, and checks, and invoices, etc. for my business. Being the procrastinator that I am, I usually start dealing with all of this in December. My resolution this year is to stay on top of it all and enter everything on a monthly basis.

New Year's Resolution #2

As promised, I wanted to share another of my New Year's resolutions. My first resolution was mentioned here. My second resolution is linked to the first--Don't buy art supplies in bulk.

I don't know from where it stems but if I need double-sided tape, for instance, why do I buy 10 rolls when two or three are sufficient. The rationalization that I use is "I don't want to stop a project because I don't have the supplies" or "I don't want to have to go into Manhattan" or "I don't know if I will have money when I need to get the supplies that I need." I think part of the problem can be attributed to not having money for a good portion of my life--not that I am living in the lap of luxury right now. I remember living from paycheck to paycheck and not having a lot of extra money for non-essentials.

The problem with all of the excess is (1) storage, (2) shelf life and (3) boredom. My studio is lined with rubbermaid containers that have my supplies. Sometime the containers are labeled--usually, they are not. The problem is when I need to find the replacement supplies sometimes I can't find them as fast as I think that I need them. Therefore, I go to the store and buy more rather than taking the time out to find where they are. I don't know why I am so insistent on getting the project finished NOW. Secondly, some of the items that I have probably have a shelf life that expires while they are on my shelf. Most of them don't--thank goodness glitter lasts forever and that stamp pads won't dry out (if you keep them tightly sealed). Finally, I have found out that I get bored with my current supplies. Right now, I don't think that I will be using glitter for quite a while. Mainly, because it gets everywhere--no matter how careful you are. I found red glitter in my underwear while I was changing at the gym--Try explaining that to the other guys in the dressing room. "Hey Mr. Sparkly, how many reps did YOU do today?"

So, in closing, my New Year's resolution is to survey my supplies before starting any new project. Should some essential item be needed, buy only the item needed and no more than ONE extra.

A confession & New Year's Resolution #1

When I watch television, I get into such a reflective mood. Some shows inspire more than others and since my television time is limited to when I work at the theater, I don't watch a lot of the popular shows that others gossip or talk about.

Recently, I have been hooked on a show called Art Race; it appears on the Ovation channel. Two artists must cross the US by only selling their art. The artists start in NYC and LA respectively and must travel to the opposite cost by selling or bartering art that they make while they are out. While the premise of the situations seemed staged, the creativity of the artists is inspiring.

Another show that I have been watching via the computer and television is Hoarders. I am afraid to say that I am addicted to the show. While the psychological trauma associated with hoarding is heartbreaking, the realization that many people can easily become hoarders is rather frightening. Every time that I watch, there is a little voice inside my head that keeps on shouting--Russ, are you really a hoarder?

I do collect stuff. Not the tschotkes that other people do. But I do collect crafts and craft materials. When I see a craft technique displayed or explained, I buy all of the materials needed to replicate it. Not only do I buy all of the materials, I buy them in all colors and sizes available. For example, I have 32 vials of ultrafine glitter in 26 different colors because I saw a glitter demonstration on the Carol Duvall show. I have every color inkpad (in two different sizes) that Stampin Up! makes. I could go on but I don't want to depress myself any further. Don't even get me started on paper and bookbinding supplies.

So, one of my New Year's resolutions is this: When starting a new project--even when dealing with a commissioned work--go through all of my supplies before purchasing any new materials. I seem to have the habit of going to the stores to get motivation and inspiration when starting a new project. Unfortunately, I also seem to be drawn to the same materials and patterns. On my last shopping trip before the new year, I went to one of my favorite paper stores and returned home with five sheets of beautiful decorative paper. When I got home to put the papers in their respective flat file drawers, I realized that I already had three of the five patterns that I had just bought. After doing an inventory of the books in my craft library, I realized that I had 7 books that were duplicates. I now carry an Excel spreadsheet on my smart phone that has all of my books listed.

I am very happy to say that I have so far kept up with this resolution. I was asked to make coordinating journals for a bride and groom. I went to my stash of papers and took samples of the papers that I wanted to use when I had the consultation with the purchaser. I am happy to report that he accepted my recommendations (from my already purchased papers).