What I'm Working on Wednesday

It is already June?

This month I am playing catch up. Last month was spent taking care of family, so I didn't get much time to post here. Again. Family first though, you know?

I am signed up to be in two large art shows this fall. One in October, and one in November. I was a vendor at War Eagle Fair, in October last year, but this will be my first time at the show in November. The November show is a big local Boutique show.

This summer will be filled with creating lots of items to sell at each show!

Houses on a Hill

War Eagle Fair
October 15-18, 2015

NWA Boutique Show
November 6-7, 2015

I am also creating new houses and sculptures for my etsy shop and working on custom orders.

Custom Made House

Between the two shows and keeping my Etsy shop stocked, I am/will be very busy for the next several months.


Happy Wednesday!



What are you working on?



Beth♥

Hands in Clay

Its been awhile since I've had time to work with clay, so it was nice to get back into it.  If I didn't have a full time job, I would probably have to schedule a day each week to work in each of my favorite media...clay, colored pencils, pen and ink, and acrylic paints...Because I love working with them all! I could probably get involved with other media as well, but there are only so many hours in a day.  And, for now, 8 hours a day (plus planning, meetings, etc) goes to my day job.  Fortunately, since I am an art teacher, I get to work with all of them some.  My dream job would be to have my own art studio/gallery and work to my hearts content with whatever materials I want to.
Shown here is an Art Studio HeartHome that I recently created.  I've had a few requests for Custom Clay houses with Business Signs on them. So I decided to create an Art Studio. This will be listed in my Etsy Shop soon.


Beth♥ 

Blog or Website?

HeartHomes

...or both?  If I want to market my art, what is the most effective use of my time and money? I have been blogging for several years now.  Before I discovered the blogging world, I was journaling about my art on my computer, which no one saw except me. Then I found blogs and it took me awhile to get the courage to actually start my own.  I really didn't think I had anything to say, much less anyone would want to read about it. Well, along the way I did pick up some readers and met some very nice artists.  I have no idea how much this blog is actually read, but for me its still more about journaling about what I'm doing with my art.  I'm not sure that it has any effect on marketing my art, but I guess it gets my work seen by some people, at least.  Being from a small town, there are no art galleries or local places that sell original art. (That's the subject for another blog post.)  I do have online shops where I sell my artwork and I have links on the sidebar of this blog, set up to both of my Etsy shops, Hearthomes, where I sell my little clay houses, and BMacre, which I sell my pen and ink drawings and other drawings and paintings.  I also set up a page on Facebook to display my artwork, which has brought in some business from local people, which is great!  It has always been hard for me to talk about myself and show what I do either because (1) I feel like no one is interested, or (2) it feels a little like showing off.   But I can't sell my work if I don't show it to people, right?   ...This is why I did not go into sales, but I'm learning.

Custom Pen and Ink
House Portrait

So my dilemma is, should I have a website? Do people actually go look at websites that stay the same for long periods of time? How often do websites get changed?  So far, having the blog and facebook page has worked for me.  I can very easily add pictures of what I am working on currently. But would a website make a difference? I have a free website with WIX, but it is very limited on what I can add to it. And it needs updating if I keep it. But I think that if I have a website, I will be using my domain name. Problem is, I just don't know how to set up a website, or the time to learn anything very difficult.

If you have any thoughts on this subject, I would like to hear your comments.

Beth♥ 

It Makes a Village...

...well, if I put together all of the little houses that I have made over the last 2 years, I would have a pretty good size village!   I haven't had much time to make many new houses lately, but I did manage to get a few done this month.  Two of these are now listed in my Etsy shop.  The third was a custom order.  I will be working on more new ones very soon.  I am also working on some new accessories to add to the collection.

Miniature Clay Heart Home

Miniature Clay Heart Home

The last one shown here, is a custom ordered Heart Home.  The customer showed me one that she wanted hers to look like, but she wanted it personalized.  I have a custom order listing in my Etsy shop for larger houses or I can create a custom listing for my customers who want to order special details to a smaller heart home or add some extra accessories that I do not have listed.

Custom Order that is Personalized on the side.

Beth♥

Countdown until School is Out for the Summer!

Letter Heart Magnets

...11 more days with students (I'm not counting the weekends!), plus 3 days after that for teacher in-service and wrapping up the school year.  Seniors finished up their tests earlier this week, so it has been a little quieter around the school.  So I am ready for summer break to get here so I can get started on my 'to do' list.  Each year I make a list of things to do. Some get done, some don't, because the break goes by so fast! And next year we will be starting back to school a week earlier, so the break will go by even faster!  But, I plan to use a lot of my time working on art projects and getting my studio re-organized.  It looks like a hurricane went through it. Maybe I will post before and after photos! We'll see.  I have several things to list in my Etsy shop. Mostly little houses and little heart magnets. I paint letters on the little hearts and put a magnet on the back.  I'm going to list these in my Etsy shop as soon as I can.  I will be taking special orders for these as well.  So if you see a color or design that you like, but need a different letter, just send me a 'convo' through my Etsy shop or my Facebook page. I will be happy to make you one or several!


Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!
Beth♥

Latest Hearthomes from the Kiln

Just thought I would share photos of the houses that came out of the kiln this morning. 

I need to get busy making more houses. My stock is getting low!

I will be listing all of these houses in my Etsy shop over the next few days.

Thanks for looking!
Beth♥

I've been featured!

I've been featured in a blog called "The Redheads Homestead'.  Susan is a fellow artist on Etsy and has featured my blog on her blog.  She sent me some questions to answer, so if there is anything that you ever wanted to know about my Etsy shop and my inspiration, well you can find it here. 

You can visit Susan's Etsy Shop here, Susan Williams Designs, where she sells her beautiful jewelry designs, so go take a look!


Thanks, Susan, for the feature!
Beth

'It takes a Village'...

Row Houses
On Etsy

Create a Village
with HeartHomes

Lime Green HeartHome
On Etsy

...well I can make a village! I love to create these little houses and never run out of ideas to add little details.  Shown above are a set of Row Houses that I recently added to my Etsy shop.  Also shown are several houses and other buildings that I've created. I've even created some trees to go with the houses or village, if you decide to collect some houses.  I've sold most of the trees that I made, so as soon as school is out next week, I'm going to start making some new accessories like the trees.   I have plenty of houses to list, but need more accessory pieces and other town buildings.  I've made churches, a school, and downtown buildings that I will be listing soon too.
     One more week of school and I will be finished until August.  I'm looking forward to getting into my studio and painting, drawings, and creating more village items.  Check back often to see what I'm working on!   For now, I'm looking forward to a 3 day weekend.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
~Beth

New layout and new listings...

Purple Cottage Heart Home Clay Tile
5 x 5 inches
My Etsy

Blue Cottage Heart Home Clay Tile
4 3/4" x 4 3/4"
My Etsy

 I am slowly getting back to listing my clay items in my Etsy shop. I listed these two tiles today.  They are the most recent tiles that I've created.  I love the cottage feel of these two houses. If I could build a house anywhere and anyhow I wanted, it would be a mix of these two houses.  And I would build it beside a lake, with a little workshop/studio in the backyard, right beside the pool!  Yes, I'm dreaming, but its okay to dream. 

Also, I've been playing around with different ideas for the layout of this blog.  Its difficult for me to just leave it black.  I feel like it needs 'decorating'.  So I've added this background from Shabbyblogs.com. 

I just love how rough and soft it looks at the same time.    So what do you think? Does it work? Is it easy to read and look at? 

Where would you go? What is your dream?

~Beth

What's New?

New hanging HeartHomes that I will be listing on Etsy

The Birdhouse and the Small brown Doghouse are already listed on Etsy. I hope that you will check them out.  I started making beads with clay because I wanted to make these ornament houses, but they just didn't look finished hanging by themselves.  So I added the little mini dog bones and paw prints for the dog houses.  And little birds and eggs to the bird houses.  I really like making beads. I think I will be doing more of those.

Have a great week!
~Beth

Slowing down a little...

Hanging Birdhouse Hearthome

My Etsy

After the Dunwoody Art Festival last weekend, I had hoped to get some rest this week.  But this week my 'day job'...was very busy! As always, the graduating Seniors finished up earlier than the rest of the high school students.  Graduation is next Friday, so they had to take their finals last week.  Which means the senior grades were also turned in...so between testing the seniors, turning in their grades and doing my usual lesson plans, class instructions, meetings, etc...etc...it was a busy, busy week.  I'm very ready for the last week of school to get here!  Fortunately we only have 14 more days, including finals! So it will be here soon. 

For now, I will be listing several new houses,like the one above, in my Etsy store over the next couple of weeks.  I hope to squeeze in some time to work on some new project ideas too.  I get very cranky when I'm not able to work on some art projects, whether its clay, painting, or colored pencils.   So I will definitely work it in somehow.

On a personal note...my daughter came home to visit this weekend.  She seemed upset that I was out of town last weekend, on Mother's Day, so she decided to come home this weekend!  Today we had some Mother/Daughter time that was very nice.  She took me to to get a manicure and pedicure.  She cannot believe that I have never had either before now!  I've never really cared about having one before, but I really, really, REALLY enjoyed it!  One thing that made it even more enjoyable was the massaging chair that we got to sit in during the pedicure!  The whole proces of getting my feet and hands massaged and pampered was JUST what I needed!  So this is definitely something that I will try to do again!

How do you pamper yourself? or pamper someone that you love? Hope you are having a blessed weekend!

~Beth

Etsy Seller Spotlight!

Papercut Kitchen

on Etsy

If you are looking for some cute, cute pre-made scrapbooks, scrapbook covers, mini albums, or even a custom silhouette, then this shop is one you should check out! She also makes some very cute and stylish bracelets that are made of recycled paper. She also sells a variety of boxes, tags, and other paper craft items. I ordered some Christmas gift tags from her and they are sooo cute! I can't wait to use them next Christmas. I was also the lucky winner of the recipe box shown above in a recent give away that she held to celebrate the grand opening of her new shop on Etsy, PapercutKitchen.

Sunny is also an amazing Arkansas Artist! Please check out her blog Papercut Kitchen...custom scrapbooks & unique paper crafts. You can follow her on her blog, on Facebook, on Twitter! She has a great sense of humor, so go check her out! And buy some cute stuff!

Enjoy browsing through Papercut Kitchen!

~Beth

Tree House Tile

Well I sound like a broken record, but again I have been very busy! I have been creating custom home tiles for several people. So when I get home from school, I tried to get busy working on tiles and glazing mini hearthomes. I am excited to create some custom tiles, but they are more difficult to create. Having customers that give you a few photos and say...do what you want!! That is pressure! But it is fun. I just wish that time was not so short right now. Christmas is coming quickly! I have to finish my shopping and finish these tiles.

Christmas in July?

Well, not really but I am participating in the Christmas in July Sale on Etsy, along with many AREtsy Team (Arkansas Artists on Etsy) members. I'm sure many people are wishing for some of those cooler temperatures, but then summer vacation wouldn't be the same, now would it?

In both of my Etsy shops, I am offering FREE SHIPPING on purchases of $20 or more. With $50 or more, you also get a free gift! So, if you are interested in anything that you have seen me post here, then hop on over to my shops to see if it is still available!

HeartHomes.etsy.com is all clay items featuring the Home is where the heart is!

bmacre.etsy.com is mostly paintings, drawings, and a few prints, and a few clay items.

SALE ITEMS

Check out the Sale section as well! I have a few items that have been marked to down to clear out things to make room for more items! My studio is getting crowded! Please help me clear out some items!

Check out the Arkansas Artists on Etsy blog for information about some of the other sales.

Its already July?

Where has June gone? It went by soooo quickly! I have a feeling that July will go by even more quickly. I will be going on a couple of trips this month and have plenty to do around the house, so time does fly...when you are very busy!

We will not be traveling for the fourth of July, but we will be having company, so I am looking forward to the holiday. Hope you have nice holiday plans.

I created a patriotic flag heart a few weeks ago and just listed it in my Etsy shop. Here is the link and a photo to celebrate the arrival of July!

What do you plan to do on the Fourth of July?
~Beth

Lost in the shuffle...

Yellow Cottage Heart Home Tile

5" x 5"

♥Beth S. Macre © 2009♥

This tile was finished a couple of weeks ago, but in the process of opening my second Etsy shop, listing many new things, blogging about the new things, I forgot to blog about this tile. The excitement of being out of school usually sends me on a whirlwind of activity trying to get as much accomplished in 8 or 9 weeks as possible! This years it no exception, but this week I've haven't been feeling so well. I am nursing a severe sunburn that I got last weekend on a trip to the lake...which was very enjoyable, but...I'm paying for it this week!

Home Tweet Home!

This is one of my newest Hearthome Tiles.

Of course birds have homes too! This lucky bird already has a home. It was made especially for a member of the AREtsy Team (Arkansas Artists on Etsy). The team had a swap for the members that wanted to participate in the swap. We were to make something to go with the theme SpringTweets. So I created this Hearthome for this little birdie.

The second photo is the tile before it was glazed and fired the second time. After it is bisque fired (the first firing), I then glaze it with a thinned black glaze. After it is dry, I wipe off the excess black glaze from the raised surfaces of the tile. Then I add the other glaze colors. Once I get all of the colors added, I glaze the entire tile with a clear glaze. When that is dry, it is ready for its' final firing.

What do you think should live in a Heart Home?  ~Beth

It was so fun painting with texture...

...that I did another one! Earlier I painted a larger painting with 5 red flowers for our guest (my daughter's when she's home) bedroom. I liked it so much that I decided to do a smaller version of it with 3 flowers. I had fun painting it also. I plan to do some other things using this texturing medium. It is a heavy gel medium that you mix with the paint to make the acrylic paint thicker and hold its texture. You can use a pallette knife to smear it onto the canvas like icing on a cake.
This one is finished and listed in my Etsy Shop.

New Clay Tile...

'Evening at Home'

Heart Home Clay Tile

4" x 4"

See here on Etsy

...is finished and listed on Etsy. This is the tile that I blogged about here: Textured Tile. I thought I might not get to fire it because earlier this week I went to fire some things in my kiln, but it wouldn't turn on! So I had to get an electrician to look at it. He was able to fix it up for me, so I fired it up yesterday. I had another tile in the kiln that I will post later. It was made for a trade with another Arkansas artist on Etsy.

I am featured!

...in an Etsy Treasury...

Etsy Treasury

Set of 3 Heart Home Clay Houses

A big thanks to Oakleafhollow , a fellow Arkansan on Etsy!

AND....

...as I mentioned earlier, in At Home in Arkansas June issue.

A sweet friend of mine found a copy of the magazine in another town and brought it to me! Here is a picture of front cover and my hearthomes! I'm pretty excited to be in print! You can probably tell by the goofy grin!