maureenthomasdesigns.com blog

Today was the day for 100 artists to turn in their completed boxes to PlacerArts. Here are a few pix of my box as it progressed over the past few weeks. I have always claimed to work best under pressure, but I think that’s just an excuse for procrastination! I was touching up and removing tape that was holding the flowers together while the epoxy set a few hours before the deadline.

Every project seems to have at least one technical problem to work out and this one was no exception. I wanted the polymer flowers to look casually piled up in the basket, which required them to be attached to one another at barely-touching points with tiny dabs of epoxy…a definite test of patience as they flexed and slid around!

I’m happy with my Flower Basket, but I was blown away by a number of the other entries of which I caught a glimpse today. Can’t wait for the show to open and my fingers are crossed that all the submissions bring high auction bids. The arts are taking a beating these days and PlacerArts needs all the support we can give.

OUTSIDE THE BOX show: April 8-May 22, 2010
OUTSIDE THE BOX live auction: May 22, 2010
PlacerArts – Auburn, CA

Maureen

October 2008

Fall (my favorite season) is finally here…HURRAY! As always, there are plenty of fun things to do this time of year. Please stop by my booth and say hello if you are able to attend the following events:

~The First Annual Kobra Crush Wine and Art Festival in Roseville, CA on October 18 (5-10pm). This event offers food, wine tasting, music, and the works of fifty Placer County artists and supports Placer County Tourism. Tickets are $30 prepaid or $35 at the door.

~The Mountain Mandarin Festival in Auburn, CA on November 21-22-23. The Mandarin Festival is held at the Auburn Fairgrounds and is pretty self-explanatory. If you’re mad for mandarins as I am you should have a great time discovering all the ways to use them, plus enjoying the entertainment and getting some gift shopping done at the same time!

~The Crocker Holiday Art and Craft Festival on Thanksgiving weekend at the Scottish Rite Temple. Please check out the Clayville booth. I won’t be there this year, but about 10 of the guild’s artists are participating and there are sure to be lots of fun and fabulous items.

My pasta machine, convection oven, camera, and computer have been keeping me very busy. I’ve been working hard to keep my web and Etsy sites updated with new items: bookends, wine stoppers, perfume applicators, rings, new bracelet designs, mosaic frames, ornaments, pens, and notebooks. I’m also hoping to make it into another gallery or two in the near future (I’ve been selling through Made in Tahoe at Crystal Bay on Tahoe’s north shore). Clyde is pitching in by drilling beads and making jewelry displays for the upcoming shows. Learning about paper mache at a recent Robert Dancik class reminded me that I bought a torso on eBay a while back to mold some lightweight and (hopefully) unique necklace displays.

I’ve decided that my time right now is better spent getting inventory ready for the shows rather than posting every item online as I make it (my usual policy). If you’re looking for something in particular or have any questions, please ask!

Hope to see you soon,
Maureen
http://maureenthomasdesigns.com
http://maureenthomasdesigns.etsy.com

I found out yesterday that I juried into the Mountain Mandarin Festival, which takes place in November right here in Auburn. Artists and vendors are encouraged to incorporate mandarins into their wares, if possible. So, it’s time to look for some clip art and delve into polymer clay transfers. Wish me luck!