What's Happening Now?

I have a new website which is online at www.hodgepodgestudio.com.  This blog is linked directly off the main menu of the new website. There is also a store that will be live by the middle of April. It has to be--I have a virtual sales table for the NAME Online Houseparty from April 22 - 27 and my sales link is my store on the website.

But, before that happens, I will be in Chicago April 10-12 as one of the miniature dealers at the 3 Blind Mice Miniature Show.  I am partnering with Phyllis Brown of Zealousarts and we will have a nice selection of miniature accessories for your dollhouses, roomboxes and mini scenes in one-inch and quarter scale.  I, of course, will have one-inch scale fine silver accessories and inch and quarter scale miniature books.  Phyllis's line of accessories includes a variety of ceramic wares--including cannister and bowl set for the kitchen, wooden shelves and bookcases, toys and jewelry.

I am also offering a bookmaking class on Thursday before the show opens. All of the information is on the 3 Blind Mice website HERE.

So, if you are in the Chicago area April 10 - 12, please stop by and visit us.

My Prints on Display at the Irvington Branch Library

One of my main goals for next year is to improve my photography skills.  I admit that I took these with my phone which accounts for some of the problems, but even with my camera I don't really take good photos. Of course, I have also never taken the time to really learn how to use my camera.  It is just a point and shoot, but it has a lot of features that I know will improve my photos if I use them.  So, hopefully over the course of the next few months that will change.

Anyway, here are a few photos from the exhibit of my prints--IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TREES--at the Irvington branch of the Indianapolis Public Library.  The library conference room is a wonderful exhibition space for 2D work and the library's hanging system can handle small prints like mine (5 x 7s and 8 x 10s) as well as very large paintings.

Here are a couple of closer shots of some of the prints--etchings, woodcuts, and monotypes--that I hung.

It's Thanksgiving and Miniature-Making Time

Well, the Autumn Art Fair at Garfield Park was last Saturday and Sunday.  A bit cold, but still had good traffic and sales. And, I am still working on packing away everything from the show and getting reorganized for lots of miniature-making.

So, what is next on my agenda? On Tuesday, December 10 (6:30 - 8:30), I am teaching a Holiday Book class at the Garfield Park Art Center.  In this class we will be making a tiny holiday book (picture coming soon) with a short story inside.  (I will be providing the pre-printed stories for the students to assemble.)  These are great as a tiny gift, a necklace, or a holiday decoration. Call (317) 327-7135 to register, or sign up online.  To see more of the classes and events offered at Garfield, visit their website at www.gpacarts.org

I also have several miniature book projects that I need to get busy on.  And, I have lots of miniatures to make--I will be selling miniature books and fine silver accessories for the well-appointed dollhouse at the Three Blind Mice Miniature Show in Chicago April 10 - 12.  I just got signed up, so I am not yet listed as a dealer on their web page, but I am really excited about being a dealer at this show.  And, if you are in Chicago for the miniature shows in April, I do hope you will stop by and see me.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Marti

Autumn Art Fair at Garfield Park Art Center

What are you doing the weekend before Thanksgiving?  Come join us at the 6th annual Autumn Art Fair at the The Garfield Park Arts Center (GPAC) at 2432 Conservatory Drive on Indy's near southside.  I will be there again this year with my bright and shiny fused glass jewelry as well as some of my small prints.
  
The Autumn Art Fair provides convenient shopping from local artists in a beautiful location right before the holidays!  With a focus on exquisitely hand-created, family-friendly and affordable items ($0.50 -$500) from over 45 Hoosier artists you will be sure to find something you love. 

Free entry!  Free parking!!  And door prizes.  Visitors can sign up for the Autumn Art Fair mailing list and be entered to win door prizes crafted by the artists.  (You need not be present to win.)  

Participating Artists include--John Jarvis, Gene Cooper, Earlynn Collier, Lisa Anderson, Bob and Moon Stumpp, Rick Greiner, Sean Gray,  Pam O’Rourke, Anne Kominowski, Jeanne Scheuring, Duane King, Len Bibeau, Larry Myers, Smashing Designs Mosaics, the Calligraphy Guild of Indiana, the Indiana Gourd Society, Marti Icenogle, Christine Heisler, Jerry Barnett, Emily Dillard,  Mac McCrary, Barbara Mangus-Hopkins, Mary Ann Habeeb, Marilyn Scott, Lynne Medsker, Dottie Hawk, Debbie Heidelberger, Teresa Webb, Steven Keller, Steve "The Bird Man of London" Donnella and Leo Ware.

Saturday there will be live music and dance demonstrations.  Food available from Citizen Hash Food Truck both days from 11-3pm.  

Is It Really November?

I had really good intentions about posting regularly on my blog, but time has really just raced by this summer and fall.  My daughter had some very serious health problems and things were pretty tense for a couple of months, but she is really doing well now.  And, I am once again focusing on my artsy endeavors with renewed enthusiasm.  Have lots of things on the schedule and lots of projects I want to complete.

Last weekend (April 26th), I was a dealer at the Louisville Miniature Club Show with my miniature books and fine silver accessories. The Club put on a very well-organized show and they really made the dealers feel welcome.  I had a great time and am pleased to say that I sold some miniatures.  And, I will be going back to Louisville next spring to teach a silver clay miniature class for the Club.  After looking at the club members' miniature exhibits on display at the show, I know it will be a class that is filled with lots of creative energy.  The  two photos are of the booth that Phyllis Brown and I shared.  (My books and silver are in the photo on the left.)  Phyllis (in the photo on the right) does lots of miniature ceramics and laser-cut wooden pieces.  (Her laser work is fabulous!!)

As the Sales Room Chair for the 2014 Online Houseparty, I have also been busy recruiting dealers for the houseparty which will take place next April.  This is something new for NAME, but I think it is going to a really great event.  It is a great opportunity to attend a miniature convention without hotel and transportation expenses.  And, you can attend the online events in your PJs if you want and shop 24/7.

This week, I am hanging my prints at the Irvington branch of the Indianapolis Public Library.  They will be up for the rest of November and December.  I love hanging my work there--the staff are great and the hanging system is really wonderful.  Once I get them hung I will post some photos.  Then the following week I will be back at the library to install some of my miniatures in one of the display cases in the entry hall.  I will  post photos of that exhibit also.

And, then the weekend before Thanksgiving (November 23-24) I will be very busy at the Autumn Art Fair at the Garfield Park Art Center in Indy.  I will be there selling my fused glass jewelery and some prints.  See my next post--probably Tuesday for more details about the show.

Very Busy Spring!

It has been months since I posted anything on my blog.  I always have good intentions about keeping it up, but I get involved in things and the blog goes to the bottom of the list.  So, I have decided that for the remainder of 2013, I will make two posts a month--even if they are really short posts.  Hopefully this will get me back in the habit of posting regularly.

So, what have I been up to?  Well, I am still working on organizing my studio.  That probably won't be done till the end of September now since summer slipped up on me and I am now spending time working in the garden.  I have tilled up one area and I am putting in a cottage garden.  As soon as the basics for that are completed, I will start on my fairy garden.  I am really excited about the fairy garden--I want to get as much done on that as I can this summer, but it is probably a two year project.  And, yes, I am getting up early to garden before it gets too hot.

In April, I attended the big miniature show in Chicago ( Tom Bishop Chicago International Show)

and took a few classes.  And then in May I attended the NAME (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts) regional convention (a "houseparty" in miniature-speak) in Lexington, KY.  I had a great time; took several classes there also.  Now I have more unfinished projects.


At Lexington, I also taught a miniature silver clay class.  Had great students and everyone finished their projects--a fine silver picture frame and a lidded trinket bowl.  I was really excited about how well everyone's projects turned out.  Miniaturists are great students!!  If you would like to see more pictures of my fine silver miniatures, please visit my Miniature Gallery page.

And, coming up on July 13, I will be teaching a two miniature bookmaking workshops at the Museum of Miniature Houses in Carmel, Indiana.  The morning class will be focused on faux books and the afternoon will be spent making an "open" book and a book with readable text.

Make a single book to lay on a table or make a bookshelf full.
We will age the pages to make our opened book look ancient	And tiny books can be readable!

For more information and to register for one or both of my bookmaking classes visit the Museum website

Hope you have a great weekend!!

Organizing is Hard Work

Well, I am working hard on getting my studio organized. However, re-organizing the studio is leading to re-organizing the library, the enclosed porch, the basement, and most of the house. And, since my house is small that leads to chaos like this--

   

I have the tables stacked as I try to sort out tools, books, notebooks, etc.  And, there is more to come--there just isn't any more room on the tables.  And, I am convinced once I get everything organized it will all fit.  And, more importantly, I will once again be able to work efficiently without spending time looking for tools or beads or wood strips or ...

And, now back to sorting, labeling and arranging.