I have been thinking a lot about sustainability and responsibility in making art. Since this is Earth Day weekend, it is a perfect time to reflect and write about these issues. Being responsible in material purchase and use is important to both me and Stephen so we frequently discuss ways that we can better reduce, reuse, recycle, or repurpose. That applies in our processes as well as our products.
Tech Talk: Traditional Technology
This weekend when we were puttering in the shop, Stephen and I chatted about some ongoing projects. It is a rare occasion that we are both in the woodshop at the same time because of the size and layout, combined with the fact that about 1/3 of our area is currently being used for storage and work-in-progress. In addition, when we are both in there creating, usually there are power tools that preclude much conversation. Continue reading Tech Talk: Traditional Technology
The Art of Learning, Part II
This post is written by Stephen Parsons.
In my last post, I described my learning style and I promised to blog my progress as I explore a new technique through a new artistic production. The idea is to reflect on my learning process to see how it evolves and how it impacts development of my skills as an artisan.
The artistic vision, you might recall, is of a manta ray swimming majestically – maybe along a reef or sandy seabed. But the image is more impressionistic than realistic, Continue reading The Art of Learning, Part II
The Art of Learning
This post is written by Stephen Parsons.
The Nova Scotia Community College, which currently funds my dream of a post-retirement life as full-time woodworker/ artisan, promotes a pedagogy of portfolio learning. This model places equal emphasis on student reflection on learning Continue reading The Art of Learning
Tech Talk: Machine Embroidery
The topic of today’s technology in art creation post is machine embroidery. Some people have pretty strong opinions about the look of machine embroidery and I didn’t use to be much of a fan myself. However, when I decided to invest in a new machine and started researching options, I became more interested and I purchased a quilting / embroidery machine. The embroidery offered opportunity to create patterns, customize gifts, and add simple designs for quilting on finished projects. Continue reading Tech Talk: Machine Embroidery
Random Thoughts: The Satisfied Customer
This post was written by Stephen Parsons.
Why do we do it? Why do art and craft entrepreneurs put their products and reputation out there in the marketplace? Business objectives are different for each business owner, I guess, but some would seem more important than others. But how important is profit as an objective compared to other – perhaps more altruistic – objectives?
While profit and the need to express one’s artistic creativity and passion are goals we might think at the top of the list, Continue reading Random Thoughts: The Satisfied Customer
WIP: Studio (re)Organization
This post was written by Mary Elizabeth O’Toole
Organizing a creative work space can be a challenge. Keeping it organized even more so. Even when everything has its place, there are often times when not everything is in its place. At any given time there might be projects in different stages of completion, tools that were recently used Continue reading WIP: Studio (re)Organization
Tech Tuesday: Selling Art & Crafts Online
Today’s post is written by Stephen Parsons.
As a web application developer around the start of the 21st century, I recall the beginning of the e-commerce era as being one of extremely complex and technical development. I developed and taught e-commerce/ e-marketing programs at Holland College and Nova Scotia Community College from about 1998 through 2003 when the depth of technical knowledge that both developers and business owners needed to implement e-commerce was substantial, often prohibitively so for small craft businesses like ours. Continue reading Tech Tuesday: Selling Art & Crafts Online
Take a Hike
This post was written by Mary Elizabeth O’Toole
The phrase take a hike has taken on an idiomatic sense of dismissal “Beat it. I’m tired of talking to you. Go away. Take a hike.”
I am using it in the more traditional sense of taking a walk, getting out and exploring. Sometimes it is just necessary to get away from what you are doing to shake off the stiffness and clear the cobwebs. Taking a hike is good for both physical and mental fitness. Continue reading Take a Hike
Tech Tuesday: Basic Photo Editing
This post was written by Mary Elizabeth O’Toole
Increasingly my quilting preference is realistic art quilts from photos. Photography has been a hobby since I bought my first SLR camera in high school. We don’t need to discuss how many years ago that was. I have progressed from that first camera, a well-loved and well used K-100 Pentax work horse, through a series of digital cameras Continue reading Tech Tuesday: Basic Photo Editing