Hi friends, in today’s video we will discuss outgrowing a hobby.
Some questions you might want to ask yourself are:
Do you still like crafting?
When was the last time you crafted?
Are you shopping for a hobby you haven’t practiced in a while?
Is your hobby aspirational, nostalgic or does it serve the person you are now?
These questions can help you determine if that hobby is still for you. We grow and change and have different seasons of life so it is normal that our interests change. Let’s dig deep and make sure we are serving our current selves. You get a finite amount of time, spend it wisely.
What do you think? Has this happened to you? Did you move on or come back to it later? There are some great comments under the video over on YouTube if you want to check them out. Happy crafting!
Hi friends! Today for Sat Chat I thought it would be fun to look at some supplies I kind of wish I didn’t buy. No shade to any of these companies, you don’t know until you try right? Please share your art and craft supply regrets in the comments below or ideas on how I might better use these products.
Stuff I mentioned:
Teresa Collins Stampmaker by Imagepac: The results were good when I got it to work but it was fiddly and expensive to maintain and there seemed to be inconsistencies in the stamp packet refills.
Distress oxide sprays: I loved the ink pads and re-inkers so I thought I’d love the sprays but I didn’t like them as well and the warning on the bottle made me nervous
Glitter Duster: very messy but it does make me laugh when I use it so is it really a regret?
Distress crayons: I don’t like them nearly as much as other products in my stash. The doily die: I didn’t know anything about intricate dies when I bought this, it’s beautiful but still fiddly so I only use it on special occasions when I have a look of patience. This taught me not to buy intricate dies, and also I don’t love the process of die cutting, I like the results tho.
The 600-page sketchbook: This was an optimistic purchase, I wanted to be the person who fills such a huge sketchbook, and oh what a value! In reality, it is too big and heavy to lug around and the paper isn’t that great.
Letterpress stuff: This is an odd one, I like the process and the look but it really lacks the WOW factor once the project is made. Ironically I can make custom letterpress plates with the Stampmaker but as we know that is way too fiddly for me. I really like all forms of printmaking and stamping so I think I will return to this someday.
Glass rods for bead-making: This craft is fiddly but also meditative and I really enjoyed it but I got freaked out by warnings from viewers and I didn’t know ow what safety equipment I needed as the instructions in the Diamond Tech kit I had didn’t say I needed anything. Before I was worried about that I but a bunch of low-quality rods and they were hard to use as they would crack and snap when heated. I knew this when I bought them but thought I could make it work because they were so much cheaper, lesson learned.
So what are your art and craft supply regret purchases? Let me know in the comments below and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends, today we are going to talk about using social media as an artist. I often get asked from other artists online and in real life about how to grow a following online. The truth is I have been building an audience online for 13 years and what works today might not work tomorrow. I have seen strategies work well and then fail, I see a lot of guesses about what to do and rumors about the ever mysterious “algorithm.” Since things are always changing I have been hesitant to give advice. That said, most artists and crafters are sharing their work online now so I thought I would share what I know, or think, or think I now (LOL) on today’s video!
I think the key to using social media and building a following online is to accept what you can and can’t control. As I said in the video this is a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t want to share 10 paintings today and then disappear for a month. Figure out a realistic schedule and be consistent. That might be once a week, daily, by weekly or monthly. Keep the quality of your work and the frequency you post consistent. This forms habits and makes it sustainable. When I wanted to get my work published in magazines I told myself I would submit 3 pieces each month for one year and if I didn’t have any takers at the end of 12 months then I would decide if I wanted to continue or not. I got my first project accepted on the 11th month. I made a plan with built in consistency and set a timeline. I can control that. Could I control and editor choosing my project, no, heck I couldn’t guarantee that an editor would open my email but I knew the law of averages and this would give me a pretty decent shot of something being accepted. After a year I could consider it a fools errand and move on. Good thing I didn’t quit at 6 months, huh? Basically you can control what you put out into the world, you can control where you put it and how often. You can build your skills and put out the best work that you can. You can’t control who sees your art or if the social media platforms you share it on will promote it or not so try not to get down if you are not getting the results you are looking for. (Full disclosure I am saying this to myself just as much as all of you!)
Lastly, set up a home base like a blog or website. I like blogs because you will often update them and search engines love blogs. If you search a how-to topic on Google or Pinterst it will usually bring you to a blog post or a YouTube video. You can embed YouTube videos in your blog posts and add extra photos and text to make it a more valuable experience for your reader. You can send people from your social media accounts to your blog for more info. I love reading blogs too! Best of all if something happens to one of the social media platforms you have all of your content backed up and people can find you. I have heard too many scary stories from DIY youtubers who have had their accounts taken down over a mistake. In all of the cases they were able to get them back but it’s scary and you need to protect what you are building. Also, most social media is ephemeral. Things you post go away quickly to be replaced with a constant rush of new content so it’s nice to have a curated space that you control.
Is my strategy perfect? No. There is always more you can do and a more optimal way to do it (sadly the optimal way changes from month to month) but I have found a way that I can sustain that works for me. If you still want to hop on this crazy hamster wheel too then figure out what you are willing to commit to and be consistent. I’m rooting for you! Happy crafting!
Hi friends! Isn’t the week between Christmas kind of like being in a time warp? Actually I have kinda felt time-warpy all year. Here’s to 2021, am I right? Here is the last Sat Chat of the year!
Stuff I mentioned:
OMG! I just ordered the Derwent lightfast 72 set, the price went way down on Amazon so I snagged one but now the price went up so I recommend Blick because they currently have the best price if you want to try a set.
I mentioned elaborating on my thought of the craft/cardmaking industry but you know, I don’t think my stance has changed from this video 2 years ago. However that video really didn’t talk much about being on design teams and many viewers were curious about that aspect so I made a new video on that and you can watch that video here.
The tutorial for my watercolor/colored pencil portrait is up in Critique Club *This is a 2 hour narrated lesson. You also have access to 48 long, intermediate/advanced real-time painting projects when you join. Critique club is $5/month and you can cancel anytime. You can even upload up to 2 projects per month for an in-depth critique from me if you wish:) The timelapse was posted on my blog the other day for all to enjoy:)
Well that’s all for today! I’ll be back with another sat chat in 2021 (as long as people are still interested in them) and other crafty goodness until then. Happy crafting!
Hi friends! I teamed up with a few of my artsy friends from YouTube and we decided to share out biggest mistakes we have made in our art. Here is my #1 watercolor mistake:
Hi friends! As I write this it’s snowing and already we have about 6 new inches of snow atop what we already had. It’s pretty, I’ll give it that but come March I am pretty stick of cold weather and being stuck inside. Short day and cold temps can have you feeling tired and unmotivated. In today’s video I’ll try to help you overcome it!
It occurred to me that many times when I was lazing on the couch watching TV that I would much rather be creating. Instead I might scroll through my phone hoping to be inspired or start the next episode of a show I am watching. Why am I spending my doing these passive activities when I really want to go make something. The reason is simple. These actions are frictionless.
To start a new project I need to leave the room, think of an idea of what to make, gather supplies, clear a space to work, make the thing and then clean up afterward. It can seem much more appealing to stay put and keep scrolling but you can engineer your crafty time to be more frictionless. Companies like Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and yes, even YouTube have engineered their platforms to be easy to use and consume more and more. The good news is that you can apply this trick to your crafting!
Overcoming our own blahs…
Complaint: I’m too tired to get off the couch and start a project.
Solution: Keep a portable project kit next to the couch. It can be a knit/crochet project, stamped images and coloring tools, a small set of watercolors or watercolor pencils and a waterbrush and sketchbook or even a subscription box if you have any. That what you can create and not miss an episode of Friends!
Complaint: I don’t know what to make!
Solution: The next time you are scrolling Instagram and a project looks fun stop and go to your supply closet and see if you have the stuff to make it, pull those supplies and save the inspiration photo for reference. Then your workspace will be set up when you have the time to create.
Tip: A great time to pull materials is when you have a 15 minute gap of time like you are preheating an oven or waiting to put laundry in the dryer. Use those “too small to do anything” scraps of time.
Complaint: I hate looking at the white canvas, I don’t know where to start.
Solution: Find a photo of something you want to paint and draw (or trace) it on your canvas. It will be more fun when you return to it if the drawing is done and your materials are laid out.
Basically you are removing as much friction between you and starting that project. You can do it! Think about how easy it is to go on amazon and order craft supplies. It’s frictionless. *Tip, I remove my payment info from my account so if I want to order I have to go find my credit card, see it works both ways LOL! I hope this video inspires you to create today and til next time happy crafting!
What I appreciate the most about going through this process was the mental clarity, reduction of anxiety and increased self-confidence it gave me. I now have more time because I have less stuff to manage. I have more creativity because the supplies I kept fueled my creativity where as before the excess dampened it. I learned to let go of “fantasy Lindsay” and just be me. I got to admit that just because I wished I liked something didn’t mean I had to like it and just because someone else likes something it doesn’t mean I will. The fact that we are all different is what makes life fun!
The decluttering of my stuff (and my schedule) helped me clarify personal rules which guide how I live my daily life. There is nothing profound here but often it is the small things you do everyday (and not the big things you do once in a while) that have the most impact on your life. As they say how you do anything is how you do everything.
Lindsay’s Rules:
1. Wear shoes (this rule comes from my dad who would often tell his lazy child to “get your feet dressed!” LOL I never feel ready for the day without proper shoes on. The FlyLady echos this rule)
2. Put first things first (This is credited to Stephen Covey from his book the 7 habits of highly effective people. You need to set your priority and focus on it before you get bogged down or distracted by non important tasks)
3. If it’s not a “heck yes!” it’s a no. (I have said yes to projects out of obligation or fear that I would miss out on opportunities if I declined anything but now I say “no” unless I am super excited about another person’s project.)
4. Don’t leave a room empty-handed. (Whenever I leave a room or an area I scan the room to see if anything there belongs where I am going…there is always something LOL!)
5. If it takes less than 5 minutes do it now. (Reply to that email, write that check, mail a birthday card, return a quick phone call. If it needs to be done and takes less than 5 minutes I just do it. This is for actually important things, not for checking Pinterest real quick:)
6. Begin with the end in mind. (Another Stephen Covey gem, before beginning any project visualise the outcome to stay focused and also to determine if the juice is worth the squeeze.)
7. Do something creative each day. (Nuff said.)
8.Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. (Lack of sleep will leave anyone irritable, sad and not at their best plus people who get more sleep live longer.)
9. Sharpen the saw. (S. Covey again here:) Spend some time each week challenging yourself to improve a skill)
1o. Be Lindsay. (This advice come from Gretchen Rubin. Don’t compare yourself to others, you don’t have to like what other people do, you don’t have to do what other people do and you don’t have to want what other people want.)
Here are the books I referenced in the video. I really found value in them and they are popular enough you can probably check them out from your library. In case you want to purchase them I have included amazon affiliate links.
Hi friends! When I did my live painting class Friday of a seascape I brought out some colors that I don’t typically use and I enjoyed the freshness of adding those unique hues to my palette. One color I thought I hated but I had a tube of it because it came in a set: Naples Yellow but it was the perfect shade for the beach as well as adding some subtle luminosity to my waves. I started to think of all of the other colors I had turned my nose up at. Do I have treasures collecting dust in a drawer waiting to be unleashed on paper? Then one of my regulars to the live stream who always has tons of valuable info to add Dr Rich Boden (a genuine scientist!) challenged me to make a painting using 3-6 colors that I rarely use. I thought it was a heck of an idea and here are my forgotten favorites:
My colors are:
Winsor & Newton Opera
DaVinci Vermillion
Winsor & Newton Aureolin
MaimeriBlu Hookers Green
Mission Gold Peacock Blue
M Graham Van Dyke Brown
You can read more about his challenge here. Now, his challenge has rules and I’m gonna try but I’m not big on rules and art so I was supposed to tag someone but I can’t pick favorites so I decided to challenge ALL OF YOU who want to play along! I think that it would be easiest to hop on the Frugalcrafter Facebook page and post on this thread either a link to your video or blog post (so you can get a little love on your site) this will also serve friends who don’t have a blog or YouTube because they can easily post photos of their palette and finished paintings right there in the comments. I want to make it so anyone can play along with or without a website. Let’s have fun and encourage each other! So according to Rich’s rules I have 24 hours to create a 30 minute or less painting. There might be a spontaneous live show sometime in the next 24 hours just to give you a heads up:)
Speaking of paint, I recorded this vlog about lightfastness a few months ago. Good thing because I have been slacking off big time this weekend so otherwise there would not be a video! BTW there might be a couple of days with no posts this week as I am putting the finishing touches on my class for Wanderlust 2016 and that is this weeks priority. I probably could have got that done today but I had some important napping in the sun to do;)
I hope you enjoyed this odd, eclectic blog post and I hope you will dust off those unloved tubes of paint (and it does not need to be watercolor) and give them some love. If you are posting on social media use the hashtag #paintFFchal and people can search it (don’t ask me how it works, I’m clueless, it’s not my circus, I’m just the monkey LOL!) Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! I just received the most awesome photo from a school teacher in California. As an after testing treat she let her students paint using the glass bottle tutorial from a couple of weeks ago. I have to say that Ms. Gulledge and the kids at Avocado Elementary School did a fantastic job! Wouldn’t you agree?
I love that she used art as a treat! Growing up in a small town we did not have a school art teacher, it was part of the job of our homeroom teachers to provide art class. Honestly, there was something nice about that because they would let us have a certain freedom with supplies because they were not caught up in the “right way” to do art. Don’t get me wrong, I am so thankful that my kids have an art teacher in school but wouldn’t it be lovely if any teacher could say, “Great job kids! We have some extra time, let’s dig out the cray-pas!” Rewarding kids with art-making is so beneficial and empowering and I hope more teachers and parents give it a try!
Since Happiness is the theme of tonight’s post, and I get asked everyday how I stay so happy and positive all the time, I thought I would share a vlog on the subject.
Video!
Disclaimer: Please note that my opinions come from my experiences and from what I know to be true. I am not perfect, I am lazy sometimes and I am not always happy but this is what I have found keeps me positive and accountable. Also, I am not a therapist nor would I ever suggest that watching a 4 minute (or any length) video on you tube to be substitute for seeking professional help if you are feeling truly depressed or mentally unwell. I received a bit of anger and criticism from a couple viewers on YouTube from this vlog and I want to make it clear that I am NOT trying to dole out psychiatric advise, rather I am trying to inspire you to make the best of your day using a method that works for me: being grateful for what I have and taking responsibility for the choices I make. Polite discussion is welcome in the comments:) For all of you who have the day off Monday (Memorial Day in the US and many bank holidays elsewhere in the world) have a great one, be safe and til next time happy crafting!
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