Thursday, July 5, 2012

Quiet Before the Storm














As much as I have loved all the planning I've been doing for this year's Party in the Park Marketplace over the past several weeks...yesterday I needed a wee bit of a break. At around 5:30 last night I made a cup of tea, put on my headphones and put my feet up for about an hour and listened to my meditation tapes.

I wish I had thought of doing it sooner. Within minutes of sitting still just breathing...trying not to think about all the last minute details that still needed tending a calm feeling slowly washed over me. Afterwards I felt refreshed...rejuvenated. Ready to tackle what had seemed next to impossible just an hour earlier.

When I first began this job I experienced what I later described as culture shock. I am used to spending a lot of time alone working away peacefully in my studio with only my dog Baer, and my cat Tavareesh as companions. My role as Marketplace Coordinator forced me into a completely different world than the one I'd become accustom to. I found myself in a situation where I spent several hours a day communicating with others either on the phone, in person, or via email. Just out of curiosity I counted how many different people I have communicated with recently. Ninety one, and still counting.

Seriously, it took me over a week to get used to the idea that my life was going to be filled with committee meetings, and phone calls, and emails, and going 'out into the world' to meet with people to discuss the marketplace. Oh yes, and paperwork. Must not forget to mention my new enemy...paperwork. Once I got used to what my life was becoming I actually began to really enjoy it. All this activity has been very exciting. I have met with and spoken to some very amazing people that I would not have had the pleasure of meeting were it not for this job. And when the market actually opens tomorrow I'm excited that I finally get to meet all the wonderful vendors I haven't met yet.

Sitting here in reflection.....I wouldn't trade one minute of this incredible opportunity I've been given to learn things about myself I didn't know before this all began. I have developed skills that I'll be able to bring forward with me into future endeavours. I've met people that I now think of as friends. I've shed a fear tears, but I also laughed a lot. And, as much as I've loved all of it and I will miss it when it's over...a part of me can hardly wait to get back into my peaceful studio where I can get my fingers covered in paint and ink, and where I can once again play with my tools & clay to make more jewelry. I have so many new ideas brewing! I really...really miss my paint and tools. *sniff*

It's now 5:00am on Thursday July 5th, and the Party in the Park starts tomorrow afternoon. I will be onsite at 2:00am in the dark with my Timmy's coffee, a flashlight, a measuring tape, and many cans of spray paint marking out the vendor booths. Then I will be back onsite at 1:00pm to start site set-up and directing vendors into the marketplace.

I hope everyone in Chilliwack is ready to partay!

(about the character portrait at the beginning of this post: I do custom stylized character portraits. Hair style, hair color, eye color, color theme, and sentiment of your choice. These portraits make lovely gifts for someone you know who will really appreciate the thought behind it. If you are interested in discussing a custom character portrait please contact me either through email by clicking on the little crow image to the right with an envelope in his mouth. Or you can call me locally at 604.792.3098)


Ronnie is a mixed-media artist, instructor and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Atelier

Friday, June 8, 2012

'Change' Canvas Trio Class














For my next class held at Classic on Alexander we will be finger painting with eco-green craft paints and gesso. We will also be using stencils, dies, punches and ink to create these 3 inspiration 4"x4" mini canvases. The bonus project will be the lovely card created in a coordinating color palette.

(oops....the center canvas is positioned on it's side. The green should be on the bottom like the other two canvases)

Ronnie is a mixed-media artist, art instructor and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Atelier

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Exciting Changes at RadianTrace Atelier



I've been working on making several changes for my business. One of the things that I've always wanted to do was teach mixed-media art classes both online and offline. Well, one of those dreams has come true. I am teaching classes at my local scrapbooking store Classic on Alexander. MoreScrapbooking.com  Yay! My first class was on May 23rd. Eight wonderful ladies and I made beautiful purple and pink inspirational butterfly canvases using Eco Green paint, gesso, and stamps.

My next class is on Thursday June 14th from 6:30 to 9:00pm. The 'Beyond the Page ~ Canvas Trio Set' class consists of 3 small 4" X 4" canvases and a matching card. We will be finger painting! You can see the finished example listed under classes on Classic's website.

As for teaching online workshops I needed funds to purchase the equipment and software I need to achieve my goals so I applied for and got the contract to be the marketplace coordinator/manager for this years Chilliwack's Party in the Park. Yay! This is an amazing community event organized by our downtown BIA. Thousands and thousands of people attend every Friday evening throughout the summer. I am super excited for the community to meet the incredible group of vendors who've signed up to sell their wares at our new marketplace. We have a really great bunch of local merchants, food vendors, artisans, and independant consultants this year.

Very exciting stuff has been going on offline for the past few months. I'm ramping up a new product line for my Whimsy Within business which up until now has been sitting on the back burner. I've had the domain name for a few years now and I've never been 100% sure what was the right type of product for the name. After letting ideas simmer for a very long time I've decided to create embellishments for mixed-media artists, scrapbookers, and card makers. My first products ready to be packaged and sold in stores, and via my Whimsy Within website are beaded decorative pins (like stick pins) and polymer clay buttons. I'm also working on a stamp line of inspirational words done in my own handwriting. Yikes!

Updates will be posted as everything unfolds. Thanks for your patience while I buried my nose in the grindstone offline.

Many Blessings and Much Love . . . Ronnie

Ronnie is a mixed-media artist and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...