Soaring Sun Studio

My New Blog...Find It Here!

2010-11-07T16:20:00.001-08:00

Hello to my five or six steady readers! I was talking on the phone last night with a friend who knows a LOT about marketing, and she suggested that I start a new blog about my RV adventures, rather than tell the unfolding story here in the blog I started about my artwork.

So here goes. My new blog is called "The eBay/RV Life," and you can find it at http://ebayrv.blogspot.com/

I'll probably keep this current blog going, too, to address art. I'm so excited about how much art I'll see and the artists I'll meet once I hit the road!

I hope you'll follow both blogs, and thanks for reading what I have to say.

Sue Soaring Sun, the soon to be intrepid eBay seller!

YouTube to the Rescue!

2010-11-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

Until today, my main use for YouTube was just entertainment...you know, watching fun stuff like Lady Gaga covers sung by a choreographed men's chorus, for example.

But somehow today I ran across a treasure trove of YouTube films on how to do all the stuff I don't know how to do with my RV! How to empty the graywater (dish water, sink and shower water, etc.) and blackwater (the toilet), how to maintain a generator, how to drive safely, etc. It's all there! I never had any idea that there were such educational things on YouTube.

Now when I want to start learning something, I'm not going to just use a search engine. I'll flesh out my search by seeing whether anyone has put a primer type film on YouTube. This is a great way to learn, especially for someone like me who is a visual learner. I have such a hard time reading dense texts about technical stuff, but show me what to do and I've got it!

Here's an entertaining film made by a young man who's very expressive about blackwater:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPTFzyaItoc&feature=related

Fitting the Pieces Into the Puzzle

2010-11-03T10:45:00.001-07:00

Wow, I sure have to learn before I become a full-time RVer. I'm grateful I have time to figure stuff out before it's absolutely necessary.

Here are some of the things I'm learning about these days:

...Where to camp for free or at very reasonable prices...campground host jobs, government land, stores that allow you to camp in their parking lots overnight, stealth camping, etc.

...How to handle ordinary business from the road, such as banking, mail, phone, Internet access, etc.

...How to have electricity in my RV when I don't have access to fancy-schmantzy hookups...solar panels, batteries, generators, etc.

...What choices there are for RV bike racks and whether I can put a motor on my current bike or whether I want to buy something else

...How to run the various stuff inside the RV, such as the heat and stove (both on propane) and other appliances (electric...but which source of electricity do I use and when and how?)

I feel like I do when I'm starting a jigsaw puzzle. I try to look for the outside or frame pieces because then I can get an idea of how big the puzzle is and how it's organized, making it easier to eventually fit the inner pieces into place. But, right now, there are so many pieces and it's pretty confusing!

I've decided that my first motorhome field trip is going to be to Camping World in Junction City, a few miles from Eugene. They have lots of stuff that I need, and it's okay to camp in their parking lot overnight! So I'll plan on spending a night or two there, gearing up and trying out my new gear.

P.S. My attempts to avoid multitasking over the past few days have been really helpful in delineating what the questions and answers are in designing my new life as a gallivanting full-time RVer. I recommend doing things one at a time.

Monotasking

2010-11-01T12:40:00.001-07:00

I'm usually the kind of person who is juggling two or three balls in the air at once. Cooking while listing auctions on eBay, watching TV while doing artwork, etc.

I've begun to realize, however, that to get ready to become a full-time RVer, sometimes I'm going to need to slow down and just do just one thing at a time. Otherwise I will get overwhelmed by the decisions that need to be made and the number of tasks that need to be accomplished!

What made me realize this today was noticing the photos of family and friends that are sitting on my dresser. That reminded me that I have two largish boxes of photos that I brought with me when I moved here to Eugene, and I haven't done anything with them except continue to store them. That's fine in a small rental house, but it won't work when I'm living in my motorhome. So, one of many decisions that I need to make is what to do with my pics...digitize, scrapbook, or what?

Normally I am somewhat freaked out by the prospect of yet another time-consuming task, such as dealing with these photos. But, when I don't multitask and I just concentrate on what I'm doing, thinking and feeling in this moment, it's all okay. Then I remember that the decision to become a nomad is a conscious one--it's following my heart and my dreams. So everything that needs to be done in order for me to hit the road is good.

In truth, I've always wanted to be the kind of person who lives such a simple life that she'd have time to take lots of photos and make nice scrapbooks. That's the kind of person I want to be when I'm traveling...enjoying and savoring the journey. Dealing with the photos effectively and creatively will be one more step toward becoming the person I really want to be. So will all the other tasks that I encounter and face as I work towards becoming a vagabond.

So today I am practicing monotasking. I did a bunch of clean-up work on my computer and in my kitchen this morning. This afternoon I'm going to make stuff disappear from my home office. Maybe later this afternoon, I'll indulge in a little multitasking while "Oprah" is on, dinner is cooking, and some of my friends are available to play a game online...but until then I'm doing things one task at a time.

Bonding With the Beast

2010-10-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

Today I spent several hours in my new (to me) motorhome, cleaning and dreaming and scheming and trying things out.

I figured out a few things today. I'm definitely going to need some strong people to remove the charming but useless (to me) built-in bucket chairs and teeny game table.

Then I'll need someone to help me build more practical seating and a table (booth style, with storage benches and convertible to an extra bed), plus a worktable/storage unit to replace the couch. This arrangement seems (to me) like it would be pretty simple to build--almost all straight lines--and it will give me adequate storage and workspace to continue making my living as a self-employed eBay seller and artist while I travel. That's the theory, anyway! I won't be the first to give this a try, and I'm sure I won't be the last. I just hope I am one of the folks who makes it work.

I also found out today that I'll need big strong people to remove the carpet, if I decide to have that done. It's really glued down. I tried taking a utility knife to it and pulling it away from the plywood with little success. I wanted a blowtorch to loosen up the old glue, but that's probably not the best approach to solving this problem.

I may decide to just use throw rugs, Gypsy style, over the carpet. I'll probably be giving the interior of my rig a pretty eclectic look, anyway. I'll definitely be doing away with the brown plaidness. There will be blues and greens (my favorite colors) and I'm thinking that a Toyota Dolphin oughta have a dolphin/surf/beach type decor. Am I right?

Of course, the most important part of this remodel is to get a good workable space for full-time RVing...but scheming on interior decor in a tiny space is like playing house and I love it!

A New Direction...Life in a Dolphin

2010-10-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

I started this blog a couple of years ago when I was just beginning to experience some success as a professional mosaic artist in Edmonds, Washington.

Since then, I've moved to Eugene, Oregon. I've been doing quite a bit of artwork, as well as selling vintage textiles on eBay and antiques at several antique malls. I've gotten separated and my divorce will be final at the end of this year. I'm about to receive a property settlement...not as big as it might have been had the economy not tanked...but enough to make some meaningful decisions about what to do next.

I've considered several possibilities. One that looks particularly good is to buy a manufactured home or mobile home in a local 55+ community here in Eugene where several of my friends live. It would be nice to have an affordable place where I would already know some of the neighbors.

But, upon consideration, I've decided I'm just not ready to settle down in one place yet. I have a wanderlust that I've never been able to satisfy by just taking vacations. I've had a lifetime dream of living on the road. And now I have the time and opportunity to live that dream.

So I've been on the look-out for several months for a good RV that would serve my purposes, and last week I found it, a 1982 Toyota Dolphin Class C (mini) motorhome. It needs some work, and I need to prepare.

I'm going to need to downsize AGAIN! I've already done that twice in the past year, first moving from a 3400 sf suburban home to a 700 sf rental cottage, and then downsizing within the rental house when my kid later moved in with me. But now it's time to become a true minimalist.

I don't know when I'll be hitting the road...probably sometime in the late winter or spring of 2011. My plan is to live very frugally by camping in free or low cost campgrounds and combining camping with housesitting, park host volunteer work, and visiting friends and family. It will be quite an adventure!

Going to M.E.C.C.A.

2010-04-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Since I moved to Eugene, Oregon, several months ago, I've joined an organization called Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts (M.E.C.C.A.). It's a nonprofit that has a great little old historical building next to the train station that is used as a studio, classroom, gallery and store.

M.E.C.C.A.'s mission is to divert usable materials from landfills and get them into the hands of artists, teachers, kids and other people who will use them. They provide low cost art education to adults, kids, and schools.

As a contributing artist (I paid a small membership fee), I get to use the M.E.C.C.A. studio space several times a week when they have open studio time. This is a real boon for me, because the mosaic studio I have in my small rental house is a little mud room off the kitchen, which is nearly impossible to keep warm in the winter. I imagine it will also be difficult to keep cool in the summer! So it's nice to have a place to go, where I can spread out and do my work in the company of other artists.

I also get to make use of the store. Materials are donated from business, industry, and individuals. You just never know what's going to be in the store! It's really fun to watch the volunteers open up boxes of contributed materials while I'm working in the studio. There is almost always something that I can immediately put to use in a mosaic.

That, of course, is one of the fun things about mosaic. I can have a plan of what I'm going to do, but new materials can spark new ideas. The other day I was mosaiking a birdhouse with blue and white Delft pottery, but the coins, buttons, belt buckles and other shiny little things that I found at M.E.C.C.A. gave it a little more interest.

M.E.C.C.A. has a drop-in studio for families with kids each Saturday, with a different simple project taught by one of its members or volunteers. I'm currently figuring out a quick mosaic project that could be done in less than an hour--maybe a coaster for Fathers Day.

We've Moved!

2010-04-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

Soaring Sun Studio has moved to Eugene, Oregon, following the demise of Sue Soaring Sun's marriage, following her quitting her day job to follow her bliss.

The First Month of Not Having a Day Job

2009-10-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't added anything to my blog for weeks because I've been scurrying pretty hard to make sure I had some income. I promised my husband I'd come up with some money to contribute to our household expenses on the 10th and 25th of each month, which were my paydays back when I had a job. September 25th was my first payday without a paycheck, and I did manage to contribute about the same as I normally would. Phew! It was challenging, but doable.

Now that I know I can do this, my next goal is to do it with less stress and more joy. I'm going to direct my thoughts to the purpose of my work and spend less time thinking about the money. Both of my ways of making a living (selling on eBay and doing mosaic artwork) bring pleasure and satisfaction to both my buyers and myself, and both allow me to be creative, flexible and independent--that is, my authentic self.

I'm also going to dwell on gratitude rather than suffering, struggle, losses, deprivation, etc. I have so much to be grateful for about my work, besides the money I bring in! I'm going to infuse gratitude (not anxiety) into all of the little daily acts that are involved in making a living. In this instant, for example, I'm grateful that I can share my thoughts about my work openly, something that wasn't always possible when I worked for other people, and I'm also grateful to be entertained by our ridiculous kitten while working.

Home from My Camping Trip

2009-09-13T10:22:00.001-07:00

I got home a couple of days ago from spending nearly a week in Oregon. I spent several nights at Silver Falls State Park in Sublimity, Oregon. It's a lovely 9000+ acre park that I've wanted to visit for years. I used to have mobility problems, but I had a total knee replacement just about two years ago, and I am so grateful to be able to go enjoy myself, hiking around a beautiful park like this.

I met my friend Susan who I went to school with in Eugene, Oregon, many years ago. She and I have done lots of walking together whenever we visit with each other, so I figured she would be up for some hiking. However, now she is the one having knee problems, so we were a little limited in how much trail we could eat up. But that's okay--the park was so beautiful, I'll definitely want to go back and try it again sometime, perhaps with my husband, who would have no problem with a 9-mile hike to see all 10 waterfalls at the park.

It was great having a few days in the woods before plunging into the next phase of my life. It's been a little over two weeks since I had my last day at the job I worked for 10 years, and now I'm completely self-employed as an artist and eBay seller.

On the way home from the state park, I shopped at thrift stores along I-5 and spent one night with friends in Portland.

I listed a lot of stuff on eBay before I left on my trip, so a lot has sold and I've been busy packing and shipping since I got home.

I also got a lot of inspiration for my artwork on this trip. I probably won't be trying to create a mosaic version of a waterfall, but the juxtaposition of water, rock, and foliage made me think of new ways to combine mosaic materials.

More Pink Schwinn Mornings to Come!

2009-08-26T11:17:00.001-07:00

My pink Schwinn cruiser on the back of my PT Cruiser--ready for cruisin'

I'm still really busy wrapping up the loose ends of my "day job" at the university...but the end is near! I've trained my replacements and tomorrow I am having a final meeting with them to look over their work and make sure they're on the right track. Then the reins will be firmly in their grasp and out of mine! I am so looking forward to that moment. I'm ready to let go.

Walnut Street Coffee, 410 Walnut St., Edmonds, WA

I started my day on Monday morning by going downtown and riding my pink Schwinn Windwood cruiser along the waterfront, then stopping for coffee at one of my favorite cafes, Walnut Street Coffee.

Sometimes Walnut Street can be pretty noisy, because it's so popular, but this time it was quiet enough for me to sit and ponder life and write in my journal, which is my favorite thing to do while I have my daily cuppa Joe. Since I gave up drinking coffee when I first get up in the morning, I've made a ritual of having a cup later in the day, and it's a very special experience. Taking that time to sit and relish life and think about what's important is a large part of why I'm able to walk away from my job.

When the job is completely behind me, I'm planning to talk about lots more coffee shops in this blog! I'd love to get a following of people like me, who love the experience of taking a real coffee break.

Getting Unstuck

2009-08-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

I was terribly busy for a while. My "day job," which will be coming to an end by about Labor Day, is at its busiest right now, so I'm working more hours than usual. I've also been trying to up my game as an eBay PowerSeller so that when I'm no longer working a job with a wage, there will be no significant loss of income. And I've been giving my all--all that's left, that is--to volunteer work with my favorite nonprofit.

I looked back over my calendar for the past couple of weeks and saw that, although I'd written in blocks of studio time, I rarely made art. Consequently, life was beginning to feel as mundane and meaningless as it did before I threw myself back into being an artist about a year ago.

So one day last week, I had a couple of cups of strong coffee in the late afternoon and then gave my mosaic studio a good cleaning. I got all of the projects that are in progress on one work bench and cleared the other for new work. I had "parked" materials for new projects all over the studio, so I spent an hour sorting materials by type and color.

A day or two later, I added some things I noticed that I needed while cleaning up--some better task lighting over my main bench and a bigger, heavy duty garbage can. I also prepped my next project, a lamp, by covering the lampshade with a beautiful botanical fabric that will serve as inspiration for the mosaic on the lamp itself.

The pay off came last night. My family was all out doing other things and I had the evening alone at home. I hit the ground running in my studio! I was able to easily gather up materials for the new lamp project--broken pottery, glass marbles, brown beach glass, and red stones--and begin work.

It really helped that I'd spent those several hours this past week preparing the space for creative work. Once I finally got started again, the creative juices were really flowing. What I had intended to be a solid diagonal green line somehow morphed into a stem that blossomed in pink at both ends, setting the tone for a much more organic piece than I had originally envisioned. Ahhh...back in business.

Fremont Market

2009-08-09T19:02:00.001-07:00

Today I had to drop off some work in Seattle and decided to visit the Fremont Market, which happens every Sunday year-round. It's a diverse market that includes farmers, food and flea market vendors. I was looking forward to finding some things cheap that I could resell on eBay, but I found that the prices were more in line with what I'd expect to pay at an antique store rather than at a flea market. So that was a little disappointing, but now I know! Also, I found one vendor who offers a treasure trove of items I can use in my mosaics--watch parts, Scrabble tiles, and more. The prices were more than what I wanted to spend today, but I can go back some other time when I'm feeling more flush.

Since I've only had time to start doing mosaic art in the past year or so, I haven't yet ventured into selling at any markets or art fairs. I'm starting to think about it for next summer, though, when my "day job" is completely behind me and I've had time to build up some inventory. In the meantime, I'm ready to start trying to sell some of my mosaics online. I know I'm definitely going to need several different streams of income once my job is over, which will probably be around the beginning of September.

Carol is Up on the Roof

2009-08-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's taken me this long to blog about my friend Carol Schillios who is living in a tent on the roof of her Free Trade boutique in Edmonds, Washington, until one million people each send her a dollar and tell her what they are doing to make the world a better place!

Carol is the head of a nonprofit called Fabric of Life that gives microloans to tiny businesses in Third World countries and runs a craft trade school to get young women beggars off the street in Africa. The one-dollar-for-change contributions will go to her foundation's good works. But the main point of Carol's camp-out is to heighten awareness of what we as individuals can do to improve our own lives and the lives of others.

Throughout her rooftop stay, Carol is working on improving her health physically, mentally and spiritually. She has a trainer coming to visit her several times a week. Families and groups are bringing her healthy food to eat, with an emphasis on learning about the cuisines of other countries and on keeping portions and expenses in line with what people eat in developing countries. She's also taking time to journal, blog, and talk with the folks who bring her food.

A week ago, on Carol's first full day on the roof, I brought her some meals from my garden and from doing a bit of foraging on the University of Washington campus. She blogged about the experience. http://www.upontheroofwithcarol.org/category/food-glorious-food/

To participate in Carol's one-person-one-dollar campaign, visit her Website at http://www.upontheroofwithcarol.org

Life Coaching

2009-08-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

I've been considering doing some life coaching for other artists or artist wannabes...people who are still sitting in a cubicle, wondering how to get out. I'm not sure if that's a direction I want to go. I have considered it mostly because various friends and coworkers have said, "Wow, you have the life I want!"

In my exploration as to whether I'd like to coach other people towards living a more empowered life, I've explored (1) getting some training and (2) experiencing what it's like to be the client of a life coach.

There's a training program in my own home town of Edmonds, Washington, called Invite Change, and I'll be going to an information session later this month. The full-year course is very expensive--over $8000 if you take it in person and about half that if you take it online. So I would need to be very sure whether this is the path I'm interested in before committing.

I've also been following various life coaches' blogs and today I had a free introductory session with Steve Martile, a Canadian life direction coach with a website called Freedom Education. Steve asked me a little about myself, and I told him I'm currently in transition from my day job, which I've quit but haven't quite left behind yet, to being a full-time eBayer and mosaic artist. After a few minutes of talking, Steve told me I basically didn't need his services! He said he usually works with people who have resistance to doing the things that will make them happier, but I'm doing all the right stuff. I appreciated his honesty--he could have tried to make some money from coaching me, and he didn't. Good for you, Steve!

I'm fairly certain that life coaching really isn't for me. I like using my time and energy to explore my own life. I do some volunteer work that seems to fill that part of me that wants to give to others. When I'm able to stop putting in the hours at my soon-to-be-old job, I plan to do more writing about art besides this blog and I'm hoping that will help inspire other people like me who want to live their passion.

But I can't really see myself sitting down with someone who is stuck and helping them work through what the sticking points are. I'm pretty much a "Just Do It" kind of person and I'm pretty sure I would lack compassion for people who want to nitter about every doubt and anxiety they may have about their future. I understand that the training to become a professional life coach involves learning to listen deeply, but I think I probably lack the underlying personal interest and attentiveness that would be required to be a really helpful coach.

The Art of Living

2009-08-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

Ropes course in use at Cottage Lake Park in Woodinville, WA

Between working at a part-time job, running my eBay business, establishing myself as a mosaic artist, and doing volunteer work, I've been incredibly busy lately. (I fit a trip in there to visit family back home in Minnesota, too!) Today is Sunday and I made it a day of rest.

Not that I sat around...but I had a lovely day, connecting with my daughter and my best friend. We met up at Cottage Lake Park in Woodinville, Washington, for a picnic brunch. After enjoying tart kefir and sweet almond poppyseed muffins, we headed into downtown Woodinville to see a matinee showing of "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs." It was a completely silly movie and a great way to stay cool on a very hot day.

I came home, cranked up the fan in my home office and gave it a good cleaning and reorganization. I've only had this office a few months--it used to be my stepson's bedroom, but I repurposed it once it became clear that he's happily succeeding on his own in another city. About once a month, I assess how well the space is working and tweak it. Today I rearranged things so I can completely separate my eBay photography and packing areas. No overlap in these functions is more efficient. Being this organized in my home office is a new behavior for me, and I really, really like it!

Tonight my husband made beer brats on the barbecue, so supper was easy. Now that our youngest child is nearly grown up, we are all taking equal responsibility for kitchen tasks, and that has made my life much simpler.

PowerSelling on eBay

2009-07-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I feel confident about "quitting my day job" in order to pursue my mosaic art is that I have had an eBay business on the side for the past 10 years.

I started selling on eBay when I was working a very flexible part-time job from home while homeschooling my youngest child. I needed more income and eBay was something that I could fit into an already busy schedule. Besides, I've always delighted in finding good deals on vintage and antique stuff at thrift shops and garage sales, and I have a good eye for such things.

For a while, I also dabbled in having spaces in antique malls, but I found that the overhead is a lot more affordable on eBay. So I stopped trying to sell large items such as furniture and stuck to "smalls," as they are called in the antique biz, that I could ship to my customers. Eventually I decided to specialize in really small items-- things that can be shipped in an envelope--such as scarves, neckties, letter openers, swizzle sticks, etc.

Vintage designer silk scarves are my favorite thing to sell. It is very much like dealing in artwork. The designs are beautiful, the fabrics are lovely to handle, and it's fun to write up the descriptions.

Selling a lot of similar items, such as a batch of scarves, makes it easier and quicker to write up eBay listings. Since I found my niche, I've been able to boost my sales and become an eBay PowerSeller--that's someone who sells at least $1000 per month and maintains a very high feedback score from satisfied customers.

I waited a long time while raising my children to finally have time to do mosaic artwork. Now I'm finding that eBay and mosaic are a great combination! When I browse thrift shops and garage sales, I'm looking for both stuff to sell on eBay and stuff to include in my mosaics. Sometimes my purchases could go either way--for instance, today I purchased a complete set of Royal Doulton Fireglow dishes (see the cup and saucer above), not knowing how much they were worth. I figured if they were not worth selling, I could break 'em and use 'em in my mosaics! They have a nice retro floral design in bright colors and they're high-fired and will break into nice even tessera. Fortunately it turns out they will be worth my while to try selling them (I should about quintuple my investment)...but a few pieces may still end up in my artwork, if they don't sell.

I have yet to try selling any of my completed mosaic pieces on eBay, but that is definitely coming. Another thing I will try selling is some of the pottery tiles that I make. I made some beautiful oak leaf and acorn shaped tiles in a range of fall colors for a mirror, and I will try selling some of the leftover tiles on eBay. I've seen other artists' small handmade tiles sell for a lot, and I can see why. It's hard for most people who do mosaic to find unusually shaped tiles. Not everyone who does mosaic also has access to a pottery studio with kilns like I do.

Preparing to Show at a Local Coffee House

2009-07-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

One of the seating options at Espresso Buono, 5106 196th St., Lynnwood, WA

Espresso Buono, a "European garden cafe" in Lynnwood, Washington, is the next place I'll be showing and selling my mosaic art. This coffee shop is a hidden gem. It's on 196th Street, a busy thoroughfare. Once you order your coffee and take it out back to the garden, it's as if you've been transported to a completely different time and place. There are ponds and trails, garden sculptures, and a variety of indoor and outdoor seating options. Check out the photo tour here: http://espressobuono.com/

Penny, enjoying a granita and a good book

The proprietor, Penny Wight, is an energetic person with great enthusiasm for the arts. Art work and books are sold at the cafe, and there are frequent concerts. In Penny's latest Tweet, she muses about hosting a music festival on the Espresso Buono grounds in 2010. She includes information about the artists currently selling at the shop in her website: http://espressobuono.com/our-local-artists.htm

I am still doing my part-time "day job" as an editor for a local university until my replacement is hired and trained, but today I am working from home. So it will be a great day to take a coffee break at Espresso Buono and wrap up the details of when I should begin bringing my work over. This venue is going to be perfect for my mosaics. People who love to sit in a garden setting to drink coffee will also like my birdhouses, I'm sure!

Next Steps

2009-07-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my trip to visit family in Minneapolis, and now it's time to take some new steps in establishing myself as a mosaic artist.

First, I have some of my work on display at The Rose House, a beautiful Victorian house in downtown Edmonds, Washington, which a group of us are trying to save for use as a community center for the arts, wellness, sustainability and global understanding. I was the featured artist at this venue for the July monthly Art Walk, so my mosaic pieces are displayed at the front of the parlor, just as you walk into the house.

People have seen the outside of this gorgeous home for their entire lives, but often, now that we're open as a community center, this is the first time they've seen the interior. I've observed folks as they come in the door, and they are "oohing" and "ahhing" and looking at the wood floors, the beautiful windows, the staircase, the ceilings, etc. They are looking UP at the house, not DOWN or ACROSS at the artwork.

So one of the things I'll be doing this week is re-displaying some of my artwork at The Rose House in a different part of the house. Ideally I will use a little alcove upstairs off one of the bedrooms. It's almost like a little secret room. But everyone who is exploring the house for the first time will eventually come around the corner and see this little cubbyhole, and they will be charmed by discovering my mosaic work there.

Second, it's time to move into some new venues. I have one sewn up for sure and need to work on another one. More on this tomorrow!

Field Trips in Minneapolis

2009-07-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Handmade bas relief tile I made--envisioning what it would have looked like when my Grandpa Sorensen was a traveling salesman in southern Minnesota in the early part of the 1900s

I'm visiting my sister in Burnsville, Minnesota, a little south of Minneapolis, for several days. I'll also be going to see my 91-year-old mom, who lives in a memory care assisted home, several times while I'm here.

I always enjoy how rich the arts culture is here in the Twin Cities. My visit is a short one this time, so I won't get out to see and do much, but I am going to Clay Squared to Infinity tomorrow. It's a handmade tile store/studio/gallery in the Historic Art District that's been established in Northeast Minneapolis. Currently there is an exhibit there by members of an organization I belong to, Artisan Tile Northwest, plus the gallery also features work by about 15 Minneapolis tilemakers. I'm really looking forward to seeing this place! I'm excited about a studio that's dedicated mostly to tile. You can get information about what they're currently exhibiting at http://www.claysquared.com/gallery.htm

Speaking of tile, it looks as if my own studio, Edmonds Sculptors Workshop, may make tile the focus of our next yearly show! We vote each summer on the theme for the next summer's show, and the last time I checked, tile was getting a lot of votes.

Photo Album Completed!

2009-07-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

I got my little photo album done that contains pictures of some of my best mosaic and handmade tile work. It is small enough to carry in my purse, so I can show it to people who are interested in what I do. It will be handy when talking to people at prospective venues. Also, I got it done before leaving today for a little trip to visit my family, and that pleases me a lot! I can hardly wait to show them what I've been up to lately.

It's only been the past year or so that I've had much time to devote to art. It has brought such richness and peace into my life to do art regularly. Yesterday, I was feeling too busy to go to my studio because I'm leaving on this trip today, but I went anyway, just for a little while. That hour-and-a-half spent making tiles for a new project made me feel calm and more ready to face the rest of the day. Afterward I came home and got everything done that I needed to.

I'll be visiting my sister, a successful painter who specializes in pet portraits. I'm looking forward to talking with her about how art fits into her life and what it does for her. As I spend more of my professional life in a studio rather than an office, I'm becoming very interested in how other artists make it work. I don't just mean financially--I'm interested in the place of art in individual lives. I've really come to realize that it's important to do art, regardless of whether it pays the bills. But I wouldn't mind at all learning how to take the "starving" out of "artist"!

Today's Project

2009-07-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

I have to go spend the majority of my day at my day job, doing some proofreading. But when I get home this afternoon/evening, my art-related project of the day will be to print out small photos of my mosaic work so I can put together a small photo album that I can carry with me in my purse. This way I can share what I do with people wherever and whenever.

I'm taking a trip to visit family in Minneapolis later this week and it will be great to be able to bring my photos with me to show friends and relatives what I'm up to these days. My small photo album will also be a handy way of introducing my work to store owners before I bring the actual mosaic pieces in to show them.

My Day of "Rest"!

2009-07-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

Last week I was so busy getting ready for the Edmonds Art Walk, followed closely by the charity garage sale I managed yesterday, that I had very little down time. Today it was great to get back out into my vegetable garden and do some much-needed weeding.

I simply cannot seem to go a day without throwing myself into some sort of project, though. Today I visited a lady who is having a moving sale. I had met her a few days ago when I stopped to shop at her sale. She is moving out of state later this week and absolutely must get rid of the last of her stuff before she goes. She won't be moving back here any time soon, and the expense of renting storage just isn't reasonable for her situation.

So...I asked her if she'd be willing to donate the things that don't sell in her moving sale to my beloved nonprofit, The Rose House, where we are holding a charity garage sale each Saturday. And she was delighted to say yes! She was resigned to giving away the last of her stuff, anyway. And she has some lovely things that will have some good resale value.

Today I went back to visit her and make sure she was still on board with this, and we made arrangements for me to come back with my husband's pickup truck at 6 pm, when her sale ends. I came home and made some phone calls and I've managed to round up a few more pickup trucks and some helpers.

I'm going to cherry-pick some of the best stuff to sell on eBay rather than at our garage sale. Our nonprofit might as well get full value for some of the more collectible type items.

A few weeks ago, I gave my notice at my part-time editing job so that soon, I will have more time for this sort of procuring and reselling, as well as my mosaic art work. I'm currently working a little over 20 hours per week at my "day job," but soon I'll have this time available for my own self-employment. The editing work I do is pretty complex (it's a legal research publication), so I've promised to stay on the job until a replacement is hired and fully trained. This could be in a month or several months.

In the meantime, now that the Art Walk is behind me, I'm going to start positioning my mosaic pieces in some other venues. A wonderful espresso shop next to a plant nursery has committed to taking some of my pieces, and I'm going to visit a local interior decor store to see about selling there, too. I think my bird houses, planters, mirrors and so on will be a very good fit in these stores!

Charity Garage Sale Day

2009-07-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

Today I ran a charity garage sale to raise funds for The Rose House, a lovely Victorian house in my town (Edmonds, Washington) that we're trying to save and make into a community center. The house is currently owned by a corporation and is up for sale, so we hope we can buy it before someone else comes along and scoops it up.

Garage sales aren't going to generate enough money to buy this beautiful building, but they will help us pay the monthly rent so we can continue using the house until we find major donors, secure grants, etc. I've run garage sales at The Rose House for the past two Saturdays and have made $253 for the house so far, just from donated stuff and just working alone.

It's hard work, though! Thank goodness, we recently (as in a few days ago) got a Volunteer Coordinator. So I hope to soon have a team of people working with me on the weekly garage sales.

At the same time as the garage sale, we're also running an Arts & Wellness Fair at the house each Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm. Any Seattle-area artists or healers who would like to participate, leave me a comment, and I'll get you in touch with our Art Coordinator. The booth fee is just $30 per Saturday, and we don't take a percentage of your sales, so it's very reasonable. Getting in does require an application and pictures of your work. The house is just one block from the Edmonds Farmers Market, so the exposure is really good.

Successful Art Show!

2009-07-17T15:45:00.001-07:00

Last night's Art Walk was a great success. I sold a couple of pieces of mosaic artwork and, best of all, I got to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the company of some great people. I'd been working hard lately to get a bunch of work done in time for the Art Walk, so having some time to just hang out was a great change of pace.

I especially enjoyed talking with one of the other volunteers at The Rose House who is a life coach and energy worker. I have a lot of great stuff to learn from her, and I'm looking forward to seeing her at future events.

The pieces that sold were some of the simpler, less expensive ones. I remember from my first art sale (at the Edmonds Sculptors Studio during Mother's Day Weekend 2009), this was also the case. People really seem to like things like a mosaic shaped like a cat or a fish. Usually I just apply mosaic to things that I randomly find at thrift stores, garage sales and the like--but I think I may start cutting out some fun shapes with my scroll saw.

I also took a few minutes during last night's Art Walk to drop in at the Francis Anderson Center where I had some handmade tiles on exhibit as part of the Edmonds Sculptors Studio transportation-themed show. I've been too busy grouting my mosaics lately to have much time to be at the studio, so it was great to see everybody! I made a series of tiles for that show that I called "Heritage." Each tile shows a form of transportation used either by me or by my ancestors.

2009-07-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Refrigerator Composition:
The Law of Attraction

Tonight is the Edmonds Art Walk, and my first real show as a featured artist at a gallery. My mosaics will be on display (and for sale!) at The Rose House, 555 Main Street, Edmonds, WA. The Art Walk runs from 5 to 8 pm tonight.

The Rose House is also open to the public on Saturdays from 9 am to 3 pm, when a weekly Arts & Wellness Fair is held. This beautiful Victorian home is just one block from the Edmonds Farmers Market. The works of about 15 artists are on display inside the house, and there will be other artists selling their work in the yard. There's also a weekly charity garage sale, with lots of fun stuff!

I have a few more pieces to install this afternoon, and I'll be glad to have a little break from getting ready for this show. I've been gluin' and groutin' till the cows come home every night. (As one of my children pointed out, this could be quite an expanse of time, since we don't actually have any cows...) My garden and other aspects of my life need some attention.

The Rose House, Edmonds, Washington

2009-07-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

THE ROSE HOUSE, 555 Main Street, Edmonds, WA

Here's an email I wrote to my cousin Patti this morning. I wanted to share the same information here on my blog.

Hi Patti,

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. It has been a very busy time for me. I'm the featured artist at The Rose House, 555 Main Street, in the Edmonds Art Walk on Thursday night between 5 and 8 pm. Now that Betsy is nearly grown up and is so much more independent, I have found some time to start making my own pottery tiles and incorporate them into mosaic works. I still have a couple of pieces to get grouted for tomorrow night's Art Walk, though!

You are probably out of town now, but if you get a chance, stop by The Rose House any Saturday between 9 am and 3 pm. This is the big Victorian home at 6th & Main that used to be pink and then was repainted white about 10 years ago. There are Art & Wellness Fairs happening there each Saturday, and you can go into the house and enjoy the artwork of about 14 different artists. There will also be a few more artists selling their work outside and a garage sale going on in the back yard each Saturday.

There is a story that goes with the house. It is owned by a local company that was planning to tear it down or give it away so they could build a corporate headquarters on the lot. One of the blessings of the recession is that this isn't going to happen. The house is back on the market, and a nonprofit has been formed to try to buy the house before somebody else does and make it into a community center for the arts, wellness, sustainability and global understanding. I'm very involved in this effort. For the time being, the house is being rented month-to-month by Susan Blalock, the president of the nonprofit. She's working with major donors to try to come up with a down payment, as well as raising awareness and small donations so we can keep paying the rent until something bigger comes through.

I hope you'll get a chance to stop by the house...I'll be there this Thursday night and all day each Saturday for the foreseeable future (I'm in charge of the charity garage sale!). It's an elegant place that will be a perfect venue for lots of other nonprofits to use for their fundraising as well, plus it's a great space for all sorts of classes, lectures, cooking demonstrations, etc. Upstairs there are beautiful bedroom suites that could be used for artists in residence or to offer respite for health caretakers.

When I first heard about the multiplicity of goals that the nonprofit has for The Rose House, it all sounded kind of "whoo-whoo" to me. But once I stepped inside the house for the first time, I got it. It's just too nice of a place for Edmonds to lose. So many people have told me that they wish they could buy the house, but it's too expensive (currently priced at $1.1 million, I think). So the idea is to buy the house and make it a place that everyone in the community can use and enjoy. Oh my gosh! Did I mention the gardens, the green house, the gazebo, and the decks? Gorgeous!

So, anyway, I would love to get together with you when you're back home. You know where to find me on Saturdays so stop by, or give me a call and we'll meet some other day.

Love,

Sue

Grouting Day

2009-07-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

Today my most pressing task is to get some pieces grouted in time for Thursday's Edmonds Art Walk. I already have a half-dozen pieces at The Rose House, but I have probably another half-dozen that are glued and only need to be grouted. Whether I get them all done in time is up in the air at this time, so I'm concentrating on the biggest and best pieces.

Normally I go to the Edmonds Sculptors Workshop on Tuesday afternoons to make more tiles, but I have not been able to do that for the past few weeks while getting ready for the Art Walk.

This lack of time for art should resolve soon. I have had a half-time editing job for the past 10 years that was a perfect fit for me while I was raising my youngest child. I needed to spend lots of time at home with her because public school was not a good fit and we homeschooled for a number of years. My editing job was flexible and portable, so I worked from home. But now that my youngest is 17 and can drive and exercise a lot more independence, I'm freer, too, and I've given my notice! I have to keep working for a couple of months while my replacement learns the job, which is very technical. But by sometime this coming fall, I'll have a lot more time to make tiles, assemble and grout my mosaics, and go out to market my work.

I also sell on eBay and have even achieved PowerSeller status. Most of my sales over the years have been collectibles and vintage items that I found at thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales and the like. My most successful niche has been vintage designer silk scarves. I will continue to sell found items on eBay, but I'm also looking forward to starting to list some of my own artwork when I've built up a good inventory. I'll probably use both eBay and Etsy.

My Studio Needs a Blog!

2009-07-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

I've been a busy working mom for many years. All this time, I was doing mosaic in my head. Now the kids are nearly grown, so in the past year I've finally had time to actually begin throwing it down. Or perhaps I should say gluing and grouting it down.

I've emptied out a bedroom vacated by one of the kids and created a mosaic studio. I make my own tiles at a local sculptors studio where I can use a slab roller, kilns and so on. I also break plates to make pottery and china tiles, and I incorporate found items. In fact, most of the items I choose to cover with mosaic are found objects. I browse thrift shops, garage sales, estate sales, and antique stores for furniture and other items with good bones that I can mosaic. I particularly like to do clocks.

I'm beginning to have some success with selling my mosaics. I am in two galleries this month and am the featured artist at one of them for our town's monthly Art Walk. You can see my work at The Rose House, 555 Main Street, Edmonds, Washington, all this month and particularly this Thursday night from 5 to 8 pm during the Art Walk. I also have some handmade tiles on display at the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main Street, Edmonds, Washington.

Sue Soaring Sun