Inspiration is shared knowledge

I sit on my day bed in the nook of my bedroom looking at the sunny hillside and I reflect on what to post for my blog. I usually tell it like it is, straight up, unedited and real. So I shall continue to do so and what's up is everything. I feel extremely grateful, inspired and stimulated by art. Funny. I am FINALLY giving my artist her due. I mean I was just telling my friend Terin how even when I was an art major in college I wouldn't consider myself an artist. I "liked" art, and I would admire others art and consider them "the real artists", while I struggled along. When it came time to graduate and have a 'show' of your work or a critique I choose critique not valuing my work enough to show it. Now 16 years later I can say I am an artist. I don't have to have shows in N.Y. or galleries to claim being an artist. Now being an artist to me means I love to make and create art. It's the rawness of exposing what we do that means so much. It's the feeling behind the work that lasts for the artist. We always remember the feeling.. when I made that piece I was feeling good, or when I made this piece I was frustrated, or this piece just made itself. The product isn't necessarily the most important part. I want to be impressed by what I make I admit it. I think that's natural. That's why so many people don't even try because they don't know how, and it will look bad. What if that's the same for an 'artist' one who claims to be good at this thing? Yowsa, that can't be so...and yet it is.
So in all this musing I have discovered this is just part of the process, that is the complex nature of art, it isn't always good, it isn't always fun, it isn't aways flowing. But it is always rewarding. Even when it's bad it's still good. Cause you tried. There is a famous quote about, "it is better to have tried and failed then never to have tried at all"...so true. Not always easy to remember but always true. This last week I have been obsessed with you tube videos about mixed media and collage. I have all kinds of fun new materials, I even signed up for Pam Carriker's journal 365 class. And I want a masterpiece damn it. I won't settle for anything less. I want to be as good as Pam or I am pissed. Well, obviously I'm not. As good as Pam, and I'm over being pissed. I get to practice, hmmmm, what an interesting concept...PRACTICE how to use these new tools and get better and better over time..like any professional when they do something it looks so easy, and when it comes time to do it yourself it's shocking how much more challenging it really is. Like skiing, or tennis or running or any sport, you don't just start and then you're awesome. It takes practice, and time and then you get better, not excellent, just better....
so I guess I have to write and post this as a reminder to ease up for me as well as you too. You whoever you are that are reading this. I do hope you can relate and that you are laughing to yourself thinking how familiar this perfectionist notion is...if you're not and you are one of those uber mellow types that don't pressure yourself, congratulations! I hate you. NO, I was only kidding, I admire you actually, because I get in my way ALL the time. In fact I am going to make an art piece on just that very notion. Both on how I get in my way and how I can't keep up. What can I say it's just how I roll! Before I go I want to give you a good reason for reading all this jargon. I want to give credit where credit is due. I am going to list all the recent outlet's that have inspired me, excited me, make me want to run out and buy everything they do and more...
http://milliande.ning.com/ this is a community of women artist from all over the world organized by Millande. She graciously shares her videos of her art process FREE for all to see and I love the playfulness she brings to her work.

another talented artist I admire and spend time emulating is Pam Carriker. She is an art journal champion and has many videos as well, here's just one to give you a taste....

I was so inspired by her work I signed up for her 365 journal workshop and I'm learning so much. I am also connecting with other artists which is another benefit to finding these sites. Another super sweetie is Gary Reef, an Aussie artist who has his own following, deservadely so.. Here is one of Gary's videos to check out.

he has LOADS, and he is deliciously fun. His mixed media site is another great resource and it's at
http://www.lovingmixedmedia.com/
The reason I'm sharing all this is as my topic says, "Inspiration is shared knowledge". We all need inspiration and I want to share mine with you, my blog friends. Hopefully one day I can be like these guys, making videos and communities for people to join, but for now, today, I'm grateful to learn from them. I'm happy to try these new techniques and have fun. If you have any tips and sites to share I welcome them. I always appreciate comments....thanks for checking my blog, happy creating!

Art journaling is ON!

here are my first art journal pages...hooray! I started watching you tube videos and got hooked immediately on Pam Carriker's style. She's very talented, very sweet and has a large body of work. It wasn't long before I was hooked line and sinker and on board. I joined the creative workshop site, signed up for her class Journal 365 and started, all in a couple days. One thing I am good at is "taking action". I drove on over to Blick art supplies and got some pencils, paint pens, and watercolor pencils. Then I watched the first video and I was ready for action. I can tell this is my new path, I love mixed media collage so much more than traditional painting. It's just more fun. More free. Before it was paint on canvas. Now its paint, it's pencil, it's stamps, it's paper, it's anything goes baby! That's what I'm talking about.....I like the journal aspect as a playground for ideas, too often I pressured myself by starting on canvas. Now I play on paper, if I have a potential masterpiece on my hands, then I can take it to the next level. If it's just nice and that's that then I can have it in my journal, just for me. GENIUS! I promise to share for those who care, hey that's a rhyme....thanks for checking in

artistic slumps

first of all let me say how I LOVE this sunshine we are having lately. Today I got to go to the beach and the flea market in Santa Cruz and it was like summer. I wore a tank top, flip flops and I was sweating at times....heaven..it is a breath of fresh air after the dreary rain and fog and cold. I will really miss it when it goes away. So on Saturday I had a breakthrough, which happens often actually. It wasn't a huge, earthshaking breakthrough but it felt significant at the time. I had a rough art day the day before, hating my attempts at my new pursuit, 'art journaling'. I was so inspired by all the videos I have been watching and I was fired up to create something fabulous. NOT even close. Funny how that works. Looks so easy and yet its not. So I had to get down on myself about how I suck as an artist etc. cause that's my M.O. and then the next day I had a chat with my godmother Kae about it. I told her I really don't want to do that anymore, beat myself up for not creating perfectly. haha. what an oxymoron, creating is supposed to be all organic and spiritual and zen right? I am in my way, or rather my critic is. So I did something different yesterday that I haven't done before and it was really positive. I stayed late, I closed the shop and locked the doors, and I cranked the tunes and I created. In the studio with no one around and it was awesome. I had medium flying and paper and wax and paint and it was heaven. I danced. I sang. I had fun, creating. and that's the whole point. I didn't care what I was making, and I ended up liking it when I was through. Of course. That is soooo the way of things isn't it? Lesson learned here, stay and play when you can. Big difference having the studio all alone vs. when I'm open and people are coming in and out all day. Lesson 2, when I am listening to my critic, I am too focused on the finished product. Stop and wait til I can make it playful and then it will flow and be better....this is real basic stuff here but to me it felt like a breakthrough. here are a couple of pictures of the things I made in the playtime of Saturday night...

thank you for taking time to check on my happenings and I appreciate your support!

One year celebration at Hip Chick Designs

First of all I want to thank each and every one of you who came to help celebrate my one year in business on Saturday. What a day..what a joy jar day! The weather DID NOT cooperate and was foggy and cold, unlike it's forecast of sun, but all the good spirits of the people there helped to bring our own sunshine to the table as the pictures show. The theme seemed to be tutus. They sure liven up a party with their color and flair. I happened to be fully stocked and it was simply delicious seeing everyone running around in them all day. We even had some brave men don them and later reflected how they had no idea they would get MORE attention by wearing women's clothes then not...there is a message here I think.

Highlights of the day were Jessica singing the "Tutu song" in Daisy, this is on video and will be posted soon, just not sure how yet...That girl can sing and she belted out how her pink tutu would help her not feel blue and we all clapped and sang along...classic!

I predict great things for Miss Jessica...then there was plenty of dancing,in Daisy (my truck) in the parking lot, wherever we would fit really. We did the electric slide, sort of, the macerena, and many more
then Alex busted out "All the single ladies" and wow, he knew every step! He out danced Abby who is an incredible dancer and brought the house down... proud...sniff, sniff....
so the party was off the hook, and when all was said and done a huge success. I was thrilled to celebrate with my favorite people in my favorite place, doing my favorite thing. Doesn't get much better than that does it?

Now we go forward in the second year, and we will see where this leads us. I know there will be fun, there will be art, there will be friends and family and of course tutus..but what next?? stay tuned and we will find out together! Thank you for joining me on this journey and I appreciate every bit of support.

countdown 3 days til PARTY!!!

Only 3 more days and we will be celebrating at the shop. I am tagging and fluffing, and thrilled with our forecast. It looks like a nice day is on the horizon, I was a bit worried. Today we received heart chalkboards, French messenger bags and vintage crowns. Just yummy...as I was unpacking my friend Sharon came by and took my picture...She is the bomb. We are going to start having classes at both our studios, we have the exact same taste in rusty vintage everything.

There is going to be a tutu dance party filmed at 2, 2 for tutus and hopefully it'll be SO fab we will post it on you tube and go viral-tastic. Even if it doesn't we will have a blast making it and dancing around in our colorful skirts. Daisy will be there, she's been gone for 7 months and I miss her. John will start playing music at 1:00 and we will have yummy food , drinks and my famous cupcakes to nosh on.I am truly grateful I have ridden the storm of my first year, it's been challenging at times. There were times I was questioning my endeavor and doubtful, I had many days of no sales and no customers and this is difficult to not take personally. I rode it out and kept the faith, although I will admit I considered relocation. I'm happy to say I am staying put. I love the arsenal. I love the artists, the water, the FUNK, the architecture and actually the calm. I think if I were in a busy location I might burn out, I like time to do my art and have the place to myself. It is fun though when it's busy and of course it's ideal to make a couple bucks. This helps my morale a lot! Basically it's validation. So hope to keep on dancing, making art and seeing where this ride will take me, it's been an adventure and I'm so happy you are taking it with me!

Chalkboard paint and tutus are a good combo

Today was a fun and productive day at Hip Chick Designs.  My hubbie Ben came to help, he is the muscle and the handy man, and thankfully he eagerly helps me when I need it.  Thanks Ben!  So being as Ben is careful and slow, unlike me, as we all know, he painted the back wall with chalkboard paint.  I LOVE this stuff!! It's the best, you just slap it on anything and "Shazamm" it's a chalkboard!  So the pictures show what a dramatic look it makes and I didn't even write on it yet...I had to exhibit 'patience' that starnge thing people are always talking about that I understand every once in a blue moon...so suffice it to say I can't wait to get in to the shop tomorrow and have fun with my new art wall...




In addition to this wonferful transformation we added tutus, that's right, tutu's to the ceiling!!  Woo hoo!!  It's a party at Hip Chick's and YOU"RE invited!  My dream is truly taking shape, the tutu's hanging from the ceiling just about completes it.  It's got the best vibe inside, such a happy energizing feeling with goodies galore.  I am simply tickled to see it evolve daily and get better and better all the time.  I took pictures of some of the fun merchandise I am adding to the vintage vibe, cuffs made by Jodi Douglass, worn by American Idol contestants apparently...all I know is TO DIE FOR...there are necklaces by rustyclover that simply shine with delight, as well as spoon jewels made by junkgirls.  Which one do I choose?? ALL.  That was what I thought too, I will see if you all agree, these will all be available to purchase at the shop naturally AND online soon, very soon.....in case you are too far and MUST have.  I want you to have one too!




There are yummy smells all about the shop from the tokyomilk products, perfumes, candles and soaps, packaged oh so cute with the earthy funky flair I adore, I honestly like all the fragances.  The fun of having a shop is I get to buy what I like, naturally and that way it's a win win.  It doesn't sell then at least I like it and it's MINE!  haha.  The shop truly is 100% all my favorite things which is ever changing and always fun, old and charming.  Like me.  haha.





So hope you had fun checking out the new look and new stuff, I am adding more and more all the time, truly..  Wait til you see the vintage messenger bags and the zinc chalkboards, the crowns and flowers, the sachets and cards...the list goes on and on...stay tuned as I promise to share...






as always thank you for your support, I couldn't do it with you!

Bye bye Christmas, Hello New Year!

Today is the last day of the year 2010, and tomorrow we greet 2011. We had a great Christmas in the Clayden family, Hip Chick got a zoom lens and photoshop so she can get even more tutu pictures next year! I had no idea photoshop was SO complicated so I will have to take a deep breath, say "Ommmmm" and learn patience and persistence to understand it. My friend Molly came over to give me a lesson and her son was a programmer for photoshop and even he said it's a lot to learn. Note to self, it's ok to not try and get this in 5 mins. or less. haha. So as the Christmas season leaves I happily put away all the decorations, tree and signs of clutter at home while everyone in the family is gone. For those of you who know me my favorite saying is 'when it's time to change you gotta re-arrange'....sha na na na na na na na na, sha na na na na.......Partridge famiy, good times...so Christmas is GONE at home and now it's GONE at the shop as of yesterday. BA-BYE...there was much to pack up and put away, as we all know. Much more fun to put it out then to take down for sure.
Now I have a clear palette for the new year and for my par-tay January 15th. For those of you who don't know, I turn one year old Jan 16th and I thought we better celebrate this occasion with a party. We are having John Richmond play his sweet sounds as he was our maestro last year and we throughly enjoyed it. We will have food, drinks, dancing in Daisy and tutu performances by my lovely daughter and friends. A fun day will be had, so I am stocking the store in the hopes of much support and activity.
Yesterday as my friend Annie and I were taking down Christmas we had some customers come in who made my day. Nick and Michelle with their daughter Olive drove all the way from Fremont to visit Hip Chick Designs! I was so honored! Nick had come by about a month previous and purchased a tin storage bin for his lovely wife, just because. What a guy! He told his wife about the shop and she wanted to come see what was going on, sadly she came on a Tuesday and I wasn't there. So sorry Michelle!! But she perservered and came back and boy am I glad they did! They purchased my metal locker so Michelle can display her collection of Pyrex bowls. Wonderful! I know how fun it is to collect things, being a Fiesta collector for years, and being able to display our collections is half the fun. Hopefully Michelle will share her treasure with a picture and I will post it, it's such fun to know what people do with the things they buy after they leave the shop. It's always bittersweet to part with things, I mean of course that's the point and yet you can't help but get a bit attached to some of the things you love. I do get pleasure knowing things are moving on and giving others pleasure, that's so much why I love having the shop. I love to meet people who are vintage treasure hunters and see their joy at acquiring a new purchase and hopefully see them again and again...that makes my 'job' satisfying. So thanks Michelle for making me feel so good yesterday, it's customers like you that make me feel purposeful.
This weekend is the Alameda antique fair, my playground and paradise. What to get? I'll know it when I see it. I bring wads of cash and never leave with a dollar in my pocket. They also have the best kettle corn on the planet. I can hardly stand it it's so good. So I say good bye to 2010, it was a good year. I started my dream business and had amazing adventures. I look forward to much more fun in 2011 and I hope you will join me January 15th to celebrate this fabulous ride. If not I want to thank you for taking time to read my blog, to cheer me on and to support the journey. Let's kick ass in 2011 together!