13 Year Old Girls and Pintrest!! What?!

So I've been hitting the books...HARD...for the first time since finishing my undergrad 14 years ago. I just started a fast paced graduate program in Social Work that meets every Saturday for the next 4 years.  It's been rough but I'm doing ok so far.  My first class is especially accelerated because it's only 8 weeks so in 5 weeks I've already written a paper and had a midterm yesterday which also corresponded with my only child's 13th birthday.  So, after a test and another 4 hours of class, I went home to clean the house, threw the child a skating party then had a house full of teens for a sleep over.

Ugh...I'm glad that's over.  So proud of my sweet baby girl who is becoming an amazing young woman though.

Needless to say, I have not at all been active in creating, promoting or selling any jewelry...what so ever.  I even missed promoting the RAW Artist of the Year voting which happened earlier this month.

I'm hoping to get some things going before the holidays though.  I've been using a mini-mall on Pintrest to post some of my items and do a little searching for my own shopping needs.  Never used Pintrest to shop before but I'm really liking this board.

http://www.pinterest.com/renaechristine/pinterest-mini-mall-viral-board/

RAW Artists Showcase Part II

I realize I should have written this a LONG time ago since the showcase was more than 2 months ago but it's better late than never.  If you've been keeping track you would have seen that I was excited and a little nervous about this showcase which featured a ton of amazing artists and I was worried I would look like a newbie putz but I did just fine.

There was hoop dancing, rapping, popping, pun rock and little ole me at the RAW Artists Showcase in Madison WI on June 20th - http://www.rawartists.org/madison   I picked a spot for my display near the stage so that I would be sure to see all of the amazing stage performers and I was glad I did.  Some of my favorite artists included:

Mr Popper: http://www.rawartists.org/http-www-youtube-com-user-84batson
Pincushion Doll: http://www.rawartists.org/pincushiondoll

Dana Perry: http://www.rawartists.org/musicbydana


It was kind of fun to get all dressed up in cocktail attire.

I made a fun set of jewelry to match my dress.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/153493413

Then had a crazy day of setting up, doing a film interview and having my picture taken before the show started at 6 pm.

Here is the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlVPGRo0L9E&list=PLpIUe_p9ff5My1HX8_wm8zcKUJrNwVUgL

Watching the performance artists and meeting a ton of people was a blast but when the show ended at midnight I was exhausted!

I packed up as fast as possible then went to a friends house for the night.  The show was in Madison and I work in Madison but live 45 minutes away.  We were having a team building day at a ropes course the next day so I didn't want to take the day off so I stayed with a friend in Madison so I wouldn't have to drive.

The next day I got up to POURING rain. I went to the ropes course and we played a few team building games but weren't able to climb the ropes course because of thunder and lightning.  So I went home and slept the afternoon away instead.

Sweet Corn!!! & My So Called Life :)

It sure has been a LONG summer!  I think I over booked myself just a tad.  Full-time job has gotten too stressful for words and then I started a part-time job facilitating groups for men on probation and parole. It's something I've done before and REALLY enjoy it.  However, 12 hour days just aren't for me. 

Got some great news though, I got into graduate school so I'm actually going down to part-time at the one job and switching from working with women who are homeless to families who are homeless The families are not yet in the shelter because we have a long waiting list. I'm sure no one really thinks to get put on a waiting list before they become homeless!  So, it will be nice to go down to part-time but I'm not looking forward to seeing kids who are sleeping in cars or on the floors of other people's homes.  But working with single women gets difficult too because there is so much mental illness that makes everything so difficult.  NO ONE would deny a person housing solely because they have cancer or heart disease but a person with severe mental health issues really struggles to obtain and maintain housing sometimes.  It bothers me tremendously that people seem to think that mental illness is some sort of choice or a consequence for poor choices or something.  Mental illness is biological and develops by no fault of the person.  

Check out blogs from this insightful and amazing woman who was homeless if you want to learn more: http://www.squidoo.com/Homeless-Experiences

I really do have a passion for helping people with mental illness and I could probably go on all day about the injustices but I am BURNT OUT.  I very much plan to return to mental health related work but if I don't take a break I may end up quitting forever.  So, I'm going to work with families for awhile and see how it goes.

As far as AlyxAndrea Design goes you may have noticed that I've been a little absent.  I've been doing a few art fairs but my on-line presence has been nearly non-existent. Just too busy but as I switch to part-time soon I'm hoping I will be back in full force.  I also only have one more craft fair of the season which is the: 

Sweet Corn Festival 

Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18

Sun Prairie WI

http://www.sunprairiechamber.com/Sweet-Corn-Festival.68.0.html

This will be my first 2 day show and I'm a little nervous that my fibromyalgia body won't be able to handle it.  But, I am excited because it is a really large festival and I'm hoping for some good traffic.  Many of the other fairs I did this summer have been really slow.  But since this was my first year I'm treating it as a learning experience.  I rather expensive learning experience but I'm hoping I will do better to choose shows that will work for me next year.

Coming soon....I need to finally share my experience at the RAW Artists Showcase.  I need to tweek a few things and get that up because it has been 2 months.  I'm excited to share how it  went but just haven't had time to write it all down.

I wish had some new products to share today but I haven't made much time for creating.  The only thing I've been doing is getting products for a $10 and $5 table for craft fairs.  My daughter made a ton of kids jewelry to be sold at $5 and I made some really simple adult jewelry for $10.  I'm not planning to put any of the kids jewelry on Etsy but maybe whatever is left of the adult stuff after my last fair.

I've listed this one sad pair of earrings recently:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/158362036

RAW Artists Showcase

Sometimes I feel like this whole jewelry business thing is moving a little too quickly for my little brain.  I've had so many amazing opportunities in such a short amount of time.  It's hard to believe I just came up with my design 7 months ago!

So here I am with yet another first. I added a profile onto the RAW Artists website and expected it to sit and die there. Less than a month later I was asked to participate in Madison's biggest showcase yet.

http://www.rawartists.org/madison/kaleidoscope

Check out the website and you will see why I might be a tad bit scared out of my mind.  First of all there are REAL artists attending, people who have been performing and creating art their entire lives.  I feel like a total amateur.

It is a HUGE opportunity though and I am thrilled. Part of the event is to have professional photography of my display and products as well as a video interview at the event.  All for me to keep for future promotion.  From what I've heard it is also a great place to network and make connections in the local art scene.

I am a little worried about the whole "cocktail attire" thing.  I work at a homeless shelter and wear jeans to work. I've never worn a cocktail dress in my life!  Hopefully I can find something nice at a thrift store.  But again, the excitement outweighs the scary stuff.  I may be a tad neurotic and full of self doubt at times but I'm sure I will do just fine and will probably have a lot of fun.  I hope I will be in a good spot to watch the music and fashion shows.

If you are in the Madison WI area and would like to attend please chose "AlyxAndrea Design" as the artist you would like to support when purchasing your ticket.  A mere $10 gets you 5 hours of entertainment and visual art displays.  There are a total of 30 artists being featured at the event so there is sure to be something for everyone.

Check back to see the dress I find and the jewelry I design to go with it.