Tammy Gilley Studios

One More Sleep...

...until Handmade Wednesday!  I am just giddy with excitement!!  This is just a little teaser...supplies for our Have-Yourself-a-Crafty-Little-Christmas-Craft-Project.  See you tomorrow!!

Handmade Wednesday...hey, that's day after tomorrow!

Busybusybusy. 

Lots of tricks up my sleeve! 

Everything at my Etsy shop is 20% off on Handmade Wednesday (get the coupon code for your discount by signing up tonight for my e-newsletter).

I'm working on a very crafty Christmas project to share.

And what would a party be without good food?!  I've got a Gilley family favorite for you.

 

I'm giving stuff away, too!  Boxed notecards, art-under-glass pendants, mini art prints, and gift certificates! 

Hope you can pop by for a visit on Wednesday.

Counting Down

 
Only 6 days until Handmade Wednesday!  I'm so excited!!  I've been busybusybusy in the studio, finalizing plans, taking photos, and sprucing the place up a bit for all of my visitors.

 

We've had such rainy weather this week, photography has been a challenge.  I recently discovered Picnik.  Savez-vous?  Why, why, WHY did I not know about this sooner??!!  It's like a little magic app for photography.  Creates sunshiney little miracles from dark and dreary images.  A.Maz.Ing.  If you haven't tried it yet, get over there and do it!  And if you have, why didn't you tell me??  :)

 

 I'm setting inventory aside for Handmade NW next weekend, and for Handmade Wednesday next week.  It's a bit of an organizational quagmire, with Kip and I stepping over totes full of boxed notes, weaving around crates with fine art prints, and remembering not to put the glue stick in the same pocket as the chapstick - very.bad.surprise.  (Well, that last one is a reminder to me.  Kip doesn't have pockets, silly.)

 

I'm working on the crafty little project for our get-together on Wednesday, and hope Picnik and I will be able to share some sneaky peaks over the weekend.  And, I've narrowed the recipes down to six...I might have to share more than one on Wednesday.  You'd be okay with that, wouldn't you?

Okay, okay.  Back to work.  Kip needs to go out.  I need some go juice.  Oh, and you need to sign up for my e-newsletter, if you haven't already.  It's shaping up to be quite a fun little issue (plus, it's got the supersecretcouponcode for Handmade Wednesday).  Chatter at you soon.

Handmade Wednesday

 
So, yes, I know it's Thursday. 

 
But I'm planning a very special event: Handmade Wednesday.

 
You see, I missed Black Friday...and Cyber Monday.  But, they're really not my gig, anyway.  Something cozier.  Something craftier.  Something more friendly.  Less crowds.  Ta da:  Handmade Wednesday!

Here's the thing:  next Wednesday, December 15th, my Etsy shop will be stocked full of my new artwork - my original paintings, fine art prints, mini-prints, art-under-glass pendants and jewelry, boxed notecards, Think Good Thoughts cards...all at 20% off!  And $5 shipping, whether you buy 1 item or 21 items.  All of it, 20% off!!  And guaranteed for Christmas delivery, when you purchase that day!  Yippee!  Have yourself a crafty little Christmas.

 
In order to get your 20% discount coupon code, you'll need to sign up for my e-newsletter (sign up button over there on my left sidebar).  The only place to get your 20% discount coupon is from my e-newsletter that I will be sending out in a few days.  So...stop reading for a moment, sign up for my e-newsletter, then come back, because there's more Handmade Wednesday goodness to come!

After you've gone shopping on my Etsy shop on Handmade Wednesday, be sure to come back here.  I'm doing a lovely little giveaway, just for you, my sweet blog readers.  I'll also have a crafty little holiday project to share, and a favorite Gilley family holiday recipe for you to try.

So, come spend some time with me on Handmade Wednesday.  Cozy in, bring a mug of cocoa, and let's spread some holiday cheer together!  See you then!

Pssst:  Be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter by Monday, December 13th at midnight PST so you'll be on the list when the coupon code email goes out over the weekend!  I'll be loading my Etsy shop over the next few days, so you'll have a sneaky peak.

It's Showtime!

 
I took Maude the Pod to my sister's house yesterday and swapped for The Iron Maiden (okay, how much do you LOVE that name for a silver grocery-getter?!).  The Maiden and I are all loaded up, and ready for the first round of holiday show goodness.  And, look at the room, would you?!  I could have loaded up a lot more stuff!!  But, the shows this weekend have very small booths, and I may be overflowing as it is.  It's all good.

I seriously can't believe how ready I am. Sooooo not typical for me.  And don't get me wrong, I was burning the midnight oil all week, and up and at 'em each morning at 5:30.  But, I'm sitting here typing a post to my blog.  Seriously.  Not.Typical.For.Me.  Usually about this time?  I'm cussing a blue streak, running around the house in a sweat, looking for car keys or a black Sharpie or something.  Not today.  I'm calm and really excited.  So, I'm off like a prom dress!  Come by and say hello if you happen to come to either show this weekend.  I'd love to see you.

One more time, here are the details for this weekend's shows:

Llewellyn Holiday Market  Doors open Friday at 2:15 and goes until 6pm.  On Saturday the show runs from 10am-4pm.  This is a fundraiser for Llewellyn Elementary School, with artists donating a portion of their sales to the school.  I love that part.  Llewellyn Elementary School is located at 3601 SE 14th Ave, Portland, 97202

Abernethy Art+Craft Fair  The show is on Sunday from 11-4.  It is also a fundraiser for Abernethy Elementary School, again with artists donating a portion of their sales to the school.  Did I mention that I love that idea?  Abernethy Elementary School is located at 2421 SE Orange Avenue, Portland, 97214

Ready. Okay!

 
It's Show Week!  The first two of six holiday art fairs begin on Friday!  I've been up since 4am.  Really, since 3:25am if you count the time from when I woke up from a dead sleep and couldn't shut my mind back down.  I have so much (so much) to do.  But I also feel really ready.  It's raw-ther odd.  I just know that what gets done for this weekend's shows is what gets done.  If I had to load up my sister's minivan today, I'd have a beautiful assortment to show.  But, I've got a lot more I'd like to add to the assortment, which is what woke me up at 3:25.

I've got my checklists, I've got my booths mapped out in my mind.  And most importantly, I've got product.  Fun, fun, cheery product!  When I see it all laid out, ready to go into boxes and totes, it really makes me smile.  I am loving the colors and the doodles and all the silly goodness that's been happening lately in my studio.  What you're seeing here are what I call "art under glass" pendants.  I've put some solo on beautiful sterling silver chain.  And others are hanging from beaded and wired necklaces that I made at the beach.  It's like wearing a little work of art around my neck.  Very fun.

 
I thought I'd give you all the details for this week's shows, if you're in the Portland area:

Llewellyn Holiday Market  Doors open Friday at 2:15 and goes until 6pm.  On Saturday the show runs from 10am-4pm.  This is a fundraiser for Llewellyn Elementary School, with artists donating a portion of their sales to the school.  I love that part.  Llewellyn Elementary School is located at 3601 SE 14th Ave, Portland, 97202

Abernethy Art+Craft Fair  The show is on Sunday from 11-4.  It is also a fundraiser for Abernethy Elementary School, again with artists donating a portion of their sales to the school.  Did I mention that I love that idea?  Abernethy Elementary School is located at 2421 SE Orange Avenue, Portland, 97214

If you're a local, I hope you'll try to come by either or both shows.  They provide such a great opportunity to give back to the community, to help our struggling schools, and to buy locally-created handmade items from a bunch of really talented peeps.  I consider myself so, so fortunate to be associated with each of these events.  If you do come to either show, please pop by my booth and say hello.  I'd love to meet you.

In the meantime, postings here may get a little sparce, but be sure to look me up on FB, because I'm hoping I'll have time for a quick snippet each day.  Have yourselves a merry week, and a Crafty Little Christmas.

Road Trip!

 
Am headed to the beach this weekend with my girlfriend Christine.  It's our annual Birthday Beach Bash.  We leave our families home and take off for two days of crafting, wine-drinking, chocolate-eating, and chit-chatting.  It's one of my favorite weekends of the year.

I'm taking along a ton of supplies to finish up a few projects for my upcoming shows - they start next weekend, can you believe it??!!  I thought it would be fun to do some jewelry...I'm calling them "art-under-glass" pendants.  Glass circle tiles over little bits of my art doodles, on a fun string of beads or distressed sterling chain.  I think they'll be very fun.  I'll post pics after I get back on Sunday.

In the meantime, since my birthday is Sunday, making me Queen of the Weekend, I hereby decree this a cake-eating weekend, and you all should get out there and get your slice!  Enjoy!!  xo

Happily Doodling

 
Well, this has become a familiar site lately, hasn't it?  A mug full of coffee, brightly painted canvas, and a messy workspace.  I promise to become more diverse after the holiday show season gets underway.  But right now?  This is my everyday existence.  I come in, I sit down, I doodle.  Hello?  How fun is that???!!!

 

Today, just to add a little more chaos, I have sprayed fixative onto my canvas.  I think I might be a wee bit high.  (I've opened the window.  No cause for alarm.)  Anyway, this whole painted canvas thing is sort of an experiment.  I drew over the paint with watercolor crayons, and I want those lines to stay put.  Hence, the fixative spray.  After it dried, I rubbed my fingers over the crayon, and didn't get any smudging, so I think that may have worked.  Brilliant.

And, since my little freak out the other night, I seem to be blissfully back to my peaceful state.  I wish I could really make you understand what an unusual thing this is for me.  Truly.  I'm sort of a drama queen.  I kind of thrive on stress.  And if there's not enough of it occurring naturally, I happily create some myself.  It's crazy, really.  And this "all is well in my world" attitude is so much more pleasant.  And I'm not positive about this, but I think I'm a little easier to live with.  Maybe.  Hey, it's not easy being me.  (And as My Beloved would tell you, "Honey, it's not easy being with you.")  I get it.

Anyway, I have my To-Do-List Majora (that's Latin for big-ass-list-of things-that-need-to-get-done).  And it's not freaking me out.  At. All.  I just go down the line, check things off, pick something else to work on, and get 'er done!  What the what?  Who are you?, and give me back my body!

 

So, the countdown is on!  Two weeks from today, I'll be packing up my sister's minivan (oh, so bad for my image!  But only so much stuff will fit into Maude the Pod when the top is up. *deep sigh*  My fantasy of vintage VW van ownership is achingly present these days.  Can't you see it?  Bright orange, white roof, moon hubcaps, and Tammy-fied into cuteness?!  But I digress.)  Packing that van I'll be, and toddling off to my first show of the season.  Excited and terrified, all at the same time!!!

Back to the "ta-dah" list.  Back to work.  Back to blissing out in the studio.  See you later! 

 
Had a little break in the rain this morning, so I skeedaddled out to the garden to take some photos.  I love the fresh feeling of a morning-after-rainy-night.  My flower pots are still lovely because we've enjoyed such nice weather this fall, and with a little kiss of moisture, and under the gray cloud cover, they just look especially beautiful this morning.  I had to share.

I've been so reisting the change of seasons from summer to fall this year, because our summer came so, so late to the Pacific Northwest.  I just wanted it to last a little (really...a lot) longer.  And, the truth is, I've been riding around town topless up until this week.  So.  I can't complain.  And, I feel sort of ready now.  Ready to cozy into wool sweaters and candlelight and apple crisp.

The hardest thing for me to let go of when the weather turns cool?  My flip flops.  Anyone else?  I know!  I live in them all summer long.  But, let me tell you something.  Hot flashes?  I pretty much loathe them, but I will say, they're keeping me in flip flops, even though the weather has turned cooler.  You've got to make lemonade out of lemons, right?  If I must have hot flashes, at least I can have them in flip flops.  hahaha

The cooler weather beckons me to the studio, too.  Which is a good thing, since at last count I have been accepted to five art fairs.  I'm giddy with excitement, tickled pink!  Truly.  So, I'm grateful for the rain this morning, because it's moved me into megacreativemode.  I took time yesterday to plan out the next three weeks before the Llewellyn HolidayMarket and Abernethy Art & Craft Fair.  I'm a planner.  Must know what needs to happen when, in order to get it all done.  I literally printed out calendars from the internet, and laid out daily goals to keep me on task.  Because.  With so much to do, I tend to become a deer-in-headlights.  There's so much, that I get a little bit paralyzed.  But not today.  No siree!  In fact, I feel pretty good about my timeline, my tasks, and how they're all fitting together.  Again...that "everything is happening just as it should be" mode.  Seriously.  It's like some benevolent alien has booted my inner critic and settled in to soothe me into the whirl of holiday art fairs.  I'm a little blown away by it.  So not my usual modus operandi.  Am riding this wave as long as I can.

In the meantime, I made fresh chocolate chip banana bread yesterday afternoon.  Am settled in to my studio chair, with a steamy mug of coffee in one hand, paint brush in the other.  Lucky, lucky girl.

Gearing Up

 
I've applied to be a vendor at numerous holiday art fairs this coming holiday season.  I'm really excited about the possibility, and of course, really nervous awaiting acceptance.  I thought I'd show you some of the work I sent with my applications.  I've been painting, painting, painting, and having so, so much fun with it.  I hope that will shine through in my applications. 

 
Two of the earliest shows of the season that I applied for have chosen me as a vendor, and I'm thrilled, thrilled, tickled pink!!  I'll be showing my work (and selling it, too!) at the Llewellyn Holiday Market and at the Abernethy Arts and Craft Fair in November.  I'll post more information as I have it, and if you're a Portland local please come by either or both shows.

 
They are both fundraisers for local elementary schools, which makes me feel really good.  As an artist, I'll be donating a portion of my profits from those events to each school.  And we all know how our schools can use every dollar they can get.  So, come, buy, visit, enjoy! 

 
I've heard really great things about both of these events, and there will be lots of art to see, so put November 12-13 on your calendar for the Llewellyn Holiday Market, and November 14 for the Abernethy Arts and Craft Fair.  And I'll keep you posted on other events as I learn about them, which should be towards the end of next week.  I'm really excited.  (And still nervous, so keep your fingers crossed and send all that good juju my way, won't you?)