In one month (yikes!) I'll be exhibiting at the Boston Gift Show, my first official wholesale show, and over the past few months I've been figuring out my game plan so: A. my head doesn't explode, and B. the show goes smoothly... as well as the days and months following the show! To my delight, an item of mine was selected for inclusion in the 15-page brochure and I've already received a few calls as a result. yay!
I'm exhibiting in the handmade section (versus one of the other larger sections: Made in New England, Souvenirs, etc) and it'll be interesting to see what other exhibitors are defining as handmade product. I'm noticing that "handmade" is a term that's thrown around a lot. For the record, handmade is defined as something made by hand rather than by a machine, and in the context of Art/Craft, I believe the handmade label is even more specific and should be applied to an item only if an artist both designs and creates his/her items. In other words, the individual artist actually had his/her hand involved in the process from start to finish. Those with assistants or helpers, yes, you fall into this category too as long as the artist is present and involved. Where I have the problem is when a particular item is designed by an artist and then manufactured in bulk by someone else entirely, possibly in another country on the cheap. Handmade? Really? That's just a big bag of BS. (Oh, and I have nothing against the process I just mentioned... please just don't call it handmade by artist so and so.)
On a painterly note, I visited my friend and fellow artist Sean Flood in his awesome studio in Abington yesterday. He's working on several large scale, what I'll call 'urban landscape' paintings and I gave him some pointers...just kidding! Sean is super talented and needs no help from me! Anyway I hear that his building which is filling up quickly with a variety of talented artists will be having a group show in a few months. Go Abington! I'll keep you posted with the dates.
Over the holidays, I got to do something I haven’t done in many months… paint! Below is a painting I just started (of my nieces). About 6 months ago, I actually took the photograph I'm working from and something about this particular photo grabbed my attention and made me take a second and third look. That’s when I know an image is one I’d like to explore in a painterly manner. I thought the contrasting body language of the two figures was interesting and I love all the patterns on the couch and the dresses. Hopefully I’ll be able to continue painting with more consistency throughout the coming year. But in the meantime, I'm scheduled for a painting exhibit at the end of January so the fire is under my behind to make some new work. 
Another important item that I actually completed last month was setting up an office. I now have a desk (and yes, I'm aware that it’s just a table I use at craft shows) but that’s not the point. I’m just dizzy with excitement to say that I have a flat surface free of paint, glass, metal, junk or chemicals where I can sit and do paperwork. Of course, it’s not neat or organized or free of clutter but in good time that too will come… 
In assessing my space usage in other areas of the domicile, I decided to create an official painting studio. Now all of the paints, stretcher bars, canvas, completed work, and requisite accessories are all in one space. There's even room for another painter AND it’s only steps from the kitchen and a million other distractions (insert deep sigh)
It was a small group of vendors at the Chestnut Hill show including Trish from 
Sue from 
Christine from 
and my new bff, Hilary Crane-Stern of 
On Saturday, I did a show on Harrison Avenue in Boston and, fortunately, when I pulled into the parking lot I spotted my pal 
and Cadence of 
All in all, a fantabulous year! Thank you to everyone for your support and I look forward to creating new and fresh things in 2010. Wishing all a happy, healthy holiday season!
Mary Draper Murray, 
Former model and dancer Dina Canducci, 
Lisa DeMio, 
Fun and funny Liz Ballard of 
Keyse Angelo, 
and Rob Charlton, 
Ok, so there was an eclectic mix of vendors at the Harvard Square show including my neighbor Mary Risley, 
Anyway, the next 3 weeks will be INSANE. Between the full-time job, the evening studio hours, the online shop and the 6 shows in 3 weeks, I hope to keep my sh*t together. So far, so good and that's the plan… but I'll likely fall apart on December 20th which actually works out fine since I have a week off between Christmas and New Years.
On Saturday even though I was a last minute addition (hey, I'll take it!), I participated in the 33rd annual 
Plus there were many fantastic, talented vendors including Cathy Cahill, 
Oh! and for those of you on Facebook AND Etsy, I just discovered a new application that lets you set up a "My Etsy" tab on your facebook profile. Click 
