Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Sunny Wednesday


Hump day and even better, Jim should be coming home tonight. He will get to stay until Sunday afternoon, has to be back to work bright and early Monday morning. So things will be good for a few days, get more things done. We are supposed to get snow tomorrow afternoon, the amounts vary according to who you listen too. Glad Jim will be here to help me shovel.
OK, I give up. I scanned this picture and thought I had rotated it, then when it uploaded it is sideways. I can not seem to remove it, or turn it, so here it is. I mentioned before that I used to do hand painted tee shirts. I was going through some photos and found this one, so thought I would share. I made a series of these, each one different. The people came back to me and had me sign them and number them. One lady even put hers into a shadow box and only wore it on special occasions. People like that made me feel proud of what I was doing. I stopped making them after getting burned out by all the negative comments, why does it take so long, what do you charge so much, etc. It is hard to get across to people that being able to paint does not have an off/on switch. Sometimes I can paint for hours and it all works, other times nothing works. I usually spent two to three days on each shirt, sometimes more. The amount I was charging did not even come close to paying for the amount of time I spent on them. Another thing that would annoy me, people will go to a store and pay 3 times what I was charging for a shirt that there are thousands of, mine were one of a kind. Then they would come to me and complain about the price. I just never have been able to develop that thick skin that lets these type of things slide by. I guess part of this post is about my being proud of what I do. The other part is to say, please appreciate the time and effort that people put into things. If you go to a craft or art show, be kind in your comments. Maybe you could do the same things they are offering for sale, but would you?? These people have taken the time and money and created something, hoping it would catch your eye and that they could make a profit. As in every aspect of our lives, there are those who do wonderfully and others who struggle, things come easily to some and not to others. We all have talents and skills, so maybe you are better at some things then I am, but maybe I am better at other things.
Just appreciate what some do well, and help them if you can with what they struggle with. In that process I believe we can all learn.
Ok, Mama is done now. Enjoy your day, thank you for stopping by.


7 comments:

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Amen Mama! Everything you say is true! I have had some nice feedback about my signs which makes me feel really good. But artistic work is something you have to be entuned to when the artist in you is ready. The shirt in your post is AWESOME Barb!!
May I ask how much you charge for a special order tshirt? Like if I would order one with our doxies on it for Wes. I would probably have to save up for it but it would make a great Christmas gift for him.
Let me know...

hugs, sherry

Carole Burant said...

Omigosh, your painting on that t-shirt is just gorgeous! So much talent you have my friend. I know what you mean about some people complaining about the price and yet would spend so much more buying one in a store that were made by machines by the thousands. I guess they figure since it's hand made they should be paying less...what they don't realize is that it's a one of a kind, it's been done by hand, it's taken hours of time and labour, etc.

So glad to hear that Jim is coming home and will be with you for the rest of the week. Hopefully you won't get much snow. We have tons of it here and expected to get another storm on Friday. Ugh!!

Stay warm...love ya:-) xoxo

Joanne said...

I don't think most people realize the vast amount of work that goes into art or writing or painting or crafting. Your tee shirt looks beautiful, but I can imagine that the picture didn't happen in just an hour. Hope you have some of those tees left for yourself!

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Barbara,

We had a sunny Wednesday as well, and 65 degrees, and tomorrow will get to 70, before a storm tomorrow night takes out the warm and ushers in the cooler weather. Hope you don't get too much snow, so you and Jim can have more enjoyable time together instead of shoveling snow! :-) But I know you're just happy to be together, whatever you're doing.

Love the T-shirt. I would never say unkind things to creators! I admire talent, in whatever medium. And I would buy one of your beautiful T-shirts!

Have a great rest of the week.

Hugs,

Renie

Nancy said...

You are a very talented lady!!! Your t-shirt is beautiful!!! You do beautiful work!!! People can be so cruel at times with their remarks...I know. I have been asked to knit sweaters for people, as I do the graph sweaters with the designs in them, and people just don't realize their worth. So I only knit for my kids when I do knit. Best just to keep it in the family...no complaints that way. LOL

((( HUGS )))

violetlady said...

You are so fortunate to have that talent. In my opinion, artists are right up there with scientists and other more acknowledged vocations. Of course, my daughter is an art teacher!
I love that elephant t-shirt. I have been very interested in the welfare of elephants in captivity ever since I read Water for Elephants and then learned of the elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. If you ever decide to paint anymore shirts like that, I will definitely buy one - or if you have an extra one that you want to sell - let me know.

Nancy said...

Drop over and check out the snow we got in SC! The entire area was shut down yesterday!

((( HUGS )))