Tammy Gilley Studios

Happy Handmade Wednesday!

How fun!  Thanks for sharing part of your day with me!  Hope you've got your fuzzy pink slippers on and have made yourself a cup of cocoa.  Cozy in, and let's make something together.

 

Are these fun, or what??!!  Kissing Balls!!  I know!!  Sort of a funky and modern take on a traditional holiday decoration.  I'm going to show you how to do it...and here's my secret...you know all of those skinny little strips you get after you've rotary cut stacks of fabrics for quilt blocks?  These are the leftovers!  The step-by-step project is on the left sidebar, under "Toot-toot-tutorials". 

Since I work during the day, and I made my samples up at night earlier this week, I took my Kissing Balls to the gallery where I work, so I could photograph them in the daylight.  This is our window there...we get such great light that I might have to schedule more photo shoots for the gallery.  Even on a rainy day, the shots turned out well.

 
I don't know about you, but the holidays rev up my sweet tooth into a high-pitched warble!  What is it about this time of year that makes me say, "oh, just one more...it's the holidays, after all." And before I know it, another chin is sneaking it's way in.  Egads.

Well, these Egg Nog Sugar Cookies are a Gilley Family Favorite.  I promised you a recipe for Handmade Wednesday, and this is the one.  Super easy to whip up, super tasty going down. 

Egg Nog Sugar Cookies

Makes 4 dozen (which is never enough, btw)

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix butter, salt, lemon zest, nutmeg, sugar, eggs, and milk together with electric mixer.  Add dry ingredients and mix thouroughly.  Drop by teaspoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

While cookies are cooling, mix together:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

Beat until fluffy.  When cookies are cool, frost with buttercream frosting and sprinkle with festive holiday cookie sprinkles.  Pop one in your mouth...you know, to make sure they're okay for everyone else to eat.  If uncertain, try a few more until you're satisfied.  Have a glass of milk.

 
I've uploaded all of my new products to my Etsy shop.  You'll find not only my original paintings, but fine art prints in two sizes, my Think Good Thoughts cards, boxed notecards, and Art Under Glass pendants.  Anything purchased from my Etsy shop today is guaranteed to arrive at your doorstep in time for Christmas.  You have my word.  Oh, and something new for me: gift certificates.  Not sure what to buy?  A gift certificate is the perfect gift...let them select their favorite artwork from my shop.  Easy peasy.

 
And, to give those gift certificates the right send off, I think I'll give one of them away.  That's right, some lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to my Etsy shop.  Stay tuned, I'm going to tell you how you can win.

 
(Please use your best Oprah voice here)  I'm also going to give away a box of notecards!  Yes!!  You will be championing the art of the handwritten note.  No texting.  No emailing.  Actual pen to the paper, baby! 

 
But that's not all!  One more of you will each win a mini-print of one of my paintings!  I know!!

So, how do you win all these fabulous prizes?  All you need to do is this:  leave a comment here today, and tell us one of your favorite Christmas memories, or share a holiday anecdote, or tell us your favorite part of Handmade Wednesday and why you're here.  Tomorrow I will randomly select the winners.  And, it will be so much fun to read everyone's comments today!  I know, right?  I like to think of us all in one big room, eating Egg Nog Sugar Cookies and crafting little Kissing Balls, while listening to Andy Williams belt out "Happy Holidays".  Happy, happy, holiday bliss.

 
Thanks so much for taking time out of your crazy holiday schedule to be here today.  Can't think of a nicer way to spend a few minutes.  Hope you'll find a little time to whip up some cookies and catch someone under the kissing ball.  The merriest of merry and the happiest of happy to you!  xo

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.

Back in the Studio Saddle Again

 
I was able to squeeze in some studio tonight, between Handmade NW shows up at OHSU.  It's been nice to be in here, re-acquainting myself with my art journal and some markers.  Simple doodles, but blissfully satisfying.

I've begun to list items on my Etsy shop for sale.  Boy...it's been awhile since I've done that...they've made some awesome improvements to the whole procedure.  Much more efficient, I think.  Now, if I could just get the sunshine to make an appearance for a day of photography.  These drizzly, cloudy days SUCK for product photos! 

I'm officially through half of my holiday show schedule.  The economy is definitely having an impact, but I have to say, it is so much fun to talk to people about my new work, and to see and hear their reaction to it.  Heaven, baby.  Sheer heaven.

Have a good night, y'all.  Sweet dreams. xo

My Dog and Pony Show

 

 I thought you might like to see my little set up at these holiday art fairs.  After two in one weekend, I've sort of got this down to a science now.  And I'm really having fun!  I love talking to people about my art, and hearing what they have to say about it.  (I've even jotted some of the sweeter compliments down in my journal, so that I can go back to them when that niggling starts to tickle at the back of my mind, telling me I'm not good enough.)  Mostly people say things like, "You can't help but smile when you see this booth", and "Your art is so happy", and "Oh, fabulous colors!"  Makes.Me.Smile. 

 

 I have also loved meeting and visiting with other artists.  We have so much in common!  I know, seems obvious, but still.  Sometimes I think I spend so much time in my studio that I get a little tunnel-visioned.  It's somehow comforting to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with things like where to find packaging for notecards that won't increase the cost of said notecards by ten-fold, what company offers the most reasonable credit card processing services, how to get the word out about your art.  You know how big companies have sales meetings for their sales and marketing people?  I think there should be a big Art Meeting for artists on how to run their creative business.  We all know how to create our art, but the other part, the business part feels harder, trickier.  And I love the idea of artists getting together to collaborate and share.  If there is one of these out there, will someone kindly direct me?

 

I was very happy with the response to my fine art prints.  They really did come out beautifully.  Managing an art gallery has its benefits.  I took my original paintings to a professional archiving service in the same building as the gallery, to have them digitally archived.  When I had those in hand (or, more accurately, in-thumb drive) I took them to our fine art printer.  They do beautiful work, and we recommend them to all of our gallery artists for fine art prints, giclees, etc.  When I picked up my prints, and she showed them to me, I almost started crying.  (Such a sap.)  They're on a heavy, heavy artist paper that feels like velvet.  I bought ready-made mats that are archival, and the prints really look lovely in them.  (When I got the first one put together, I ran downstairs with it and said to My Beloved, "Look!  I look like a real artist now!"  I know.  Silly.)  One woman who bought my "Breathe" print said that she was going to put it in her "very grey cubicle" at work.  Made my heart happy. 

 

 This Sunday is the GIVE Handmade sale.  It's a big one, and I'm really excited about it!  The first 100 people in the door get a box chockfull of goodies from artists (like me) who have donated little treats (like collaged pins from me) to put inside.  I feel really fortunate to be a part of this one.  Artists are donating a portion of their sales to the Oregon Food Bank, which I love.  If you do come, be sure to bring a few canned goods to donate.  It'll do your heart good.  There's a link on my sidebar where you can get all of the details.

 
I'll be loading my Etsy shop with goodies very soon for those of you who are not local.  It's been on my list for three weeks!  (Note to self: Must figure out how to add more hours to the day.)  In the meantime, if you haven't already, be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter (there's a little "sign me up!" box in my sidebar).  My e-newsletter subscribers will be the first to hear about new goodies in my Etsy shop, upcoming classes and events, AND will get coupon codes to use for savings, savings, savings!  And who can't save a few bucks here and there.  So, what are you waiting for?  Get over there and sign up!

Hope to see you at GIVE Handmade this weekend.  If you're at the show, be sure to stop by and say hello.  I'd love to see you!

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.

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! 

The "Ta-Dah" List

 
Preparing for five shows (possibly six, jury is still out), has created the most ridiculous to-do list.  It's in one of my journals, and takes up three pages.  Three pages!!  And it sort of freaked me out the other night.  The freak-out went something like this:

"What was I thinking?!!  Five, possibly six, holiday art fairs?!  In a five-week time-frame?  Starting in less than three weeks?!  I'll never get it all done!  No one will buy my art anyway!  Why am I doing this??!!"

All of which was met with a head-cocked-to-one-side, ball-in-mouth, tail-wagging Kip.  Literally looking at me, unimpressed, as if to say, "Yeah, but here's my green ball!"

And that's when it happened.  A paradigm shift.  My a-ha moment.

I can freak out and slog through the next eight weeks.  Or.  I can take a deep breath, enjoy the process.  Love.It.Up.

I chose to do these art fairs.  I love what I'm creating right now, and I do believe other people will, too.  Yes, it's a lot of work, but it's all fun stuff!  And that's when my to-do list became my ta-dah! list.  Instead of feeling panicky about all the preparation, I've decided to focus on the process of creating the prettiest booth, the most joyful art, the cutest outfit (you know it always comes down to the outfit!).  So, rather than simply checking off a box upon completing a task on the to-do list, I throw my arms up in the air and squeal "ta dah!!" 

Then I throw the ball for Kip.

Everybody wins. 

 
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.