Ode to a Dachshund

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love dachshunds. Here are some of my favorites from Etsy. Be sure to support hard-working artists and BUY HANDMADE!
Enjoy...

Be sure to check out my shop too! Monkey Junkie Goods

My Vintage Pink Kitchen

I promised myself that the next time I had my own place, I would have my vintage pink kitchen. I'm almost there! My wonderful aunt keeps sending me some adorable pink kitchen items and I have some additional things from estate sales, eBay, etc. Now, in keeping with my previous post of promoting other Etsy sellers/artists, I've finally figured out how to make a mini-gallery. You can click on each item to be linked to that seller's shop. Here are some fabulous vintage pink kitchen items that I've got my eye on!
Enjoy!

Monkey Junkie Goods

I can sorta breathe again...

Well teaching that class and working graveyard shifts really wiped me out. I'm definitely not complaining...I love being busy. However, it really took a lot of time away from my blogging and Twittering and basically promoting my shop.
I was able to drop off more of my pots and my favorite Ocean Beach coffee shop though, Jungle Java.


Jungle Java






The owner of the coffee shop has been so nice to me over the past few years letting me have some of my items for sale. It's the perfect place too. She has a beautiful garden setting and wants to promote local artists who market their crafts to the "green thumbs".
It's been a great way to get some of my pots out there until I can figure out if I want to do the local OB Farmer's Market.








I have still been painting like a crazy woman though...I will always seem to find time for that. But I've been slacking on following through with some other stuff; taking photos, posting on Etsy, etc. I'm slowly getting back into it.
I have a few new items with new designs posted this week. Check 'em out!

More blogging to come soon...stay tuned!



"Irma Basking in the Sun"

5:30 am.

I got up at 5:30am this morning.
Why?
Because I'm used to being at work at this time in the mornings lately.
The graveyard shifts, I unfortunately have to admit, are kinda kicking my ass. Plus the teaching job makes it really hard to find time to sleep as well as prepare lectures. But I really really don't want to sound like I'm complaining at all. I'm so happy to have this teaching job. Some of the students are really getting to me though. I totally embarrassed one kid during class because he was playing with hi iPhone all the way through a video clip I was showing. GRRRR! I asked him to tell me what the video was about and he stammered and finally admitted he had no idea...little shithead. I have zero tolerance for not paying attention in my class, especially when it's only a 50 minute class. I mean, come on!

Anyway, enough about that....can you tell that my fatigue is making me a grumpus?

So the other thing that is kind of a bummer is that I haven't been putting much time into my Etsy shop as much as I'd like to. I haven't listed a new item in a couple weeks....eeeek! But, I took an R&R day today from work. After this I'm going to take the dogs to the coffee shop and then to dog beach to run around for a while. After that I'm going to run some errands and have the rest of the day to play around. Well, I do have to work on the lecture for Monday but at least I won't be at work until 5pm today.

Here are a couple pictures of my goods so you guys don't forget about me!
Have a great weekend!

Where have I been???

Wow, I didn't realize that it had been so long since I blogged. I guess I've been rather busy...and tired. I started working graveyard shifts at the hospital so I'm playing catch-up with my sleep constantly. Also, I started subbing for a class at the University, Physical Anthropology 101. The professor that I used to TA for had to take a medical leave of absence for the rest of the semester and they asked me to fill in for her. Actually, it's pretty great....awesome experience for me and hopefully it'll lead to something else for the summer or next fall.

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But apart from that I'm still painting and still promoting on Etsy. This week's featured seller, I swear, could be my long lost twin. Check out her bio and shop....

Monkeys Always Look


Well I have to get back to bed soon...my days and night pretty much just consist of long naps these days for about as long as the dogs will let me sleep.

Promoting others

Mornin'...
I've been trying to figure out how to promote other Etsians in my blog. I asked around but it looks like the best way is to go the html coding route, manually. Which is fine with me....I've fairly html savvy, at least enough to produce the things I want.

I think it's important to pay it forward with your marketing strategies. I had someone email me on Etsy saying that I had been featured in her blog with some other artists. I was very flattered. Because of this, I'm going to start doing some things that I've been wanting to do in my blog...promoting other artists.

With that said, here is a favorite of mine:

I have found that I have a passion for certain types of artwork. I'm not sure if there is a name for this style but I'm very drawn to it.


This is from Yellena's Etsy Shop.

Etsy Buy Handmade Yellena's Etsy Shop

So be sure to check out my fellow artists! Also, like I said....pay it forward!

Designs

I had been looking for a way to transfer certain designs to my pots because the style was so amazing....and it's difficult for me to draw them free hand. Some of the styles I like are very symmetrical and it's nearly impossible to recreate it.
So, I found some fabric transfer paper in my sewing junk and it worked great! I was able to transfer some amazing art nouveau designs and am now painting some of them (sorry, no pics yet).
However, as I have been playing around with this technique, I have come to feel as though it's not really "mine". All my other designs have been drawn free hand and inspired by other designs or things I've found in nature. I'll finish the ones I have started but I don't think I'll continue with this technique. Still, I feel like I don't have as many creative inspirations as before. Still plugging away though!
Check out some of my favorites on Etsy!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade MonkeyJunkieGoods.etsy.com

Graveyard shifts

It was a long weekend and I'm a little pooped. However, I now have to plan my day strategically. I start working graveyard shifts this week and my first one is tonight at midnight. I'm looking forward to it but worried about how my body and brain are going to handle it.

I'm finally going to be making an appointment to get my livescan fingerprints done this week. Sheesh! Not having that has kept me from so many jobs! Now I'll be able to pick up work with Mad Science and start subbing. I've been so damn broke that I couldn't pay for the certification and fingerprint scan.

Speaking of being broke...I worked out a trade deal with Jack's acupuncture vet. I'm going to make her a few scarves for her acupuncture sessions with Jack. It's a pretty good deal actually. I already gave her one of them.



Too bad I can't do something like this to pay my rent....and the cable bill, my car insurance, electric bill, etc. Would be nice, hey?



Posted some new stuff...check 'em out!

Etsy Buy Handmade MonkeyJunkieGoods

Carpal Tunnel

I'm taking part in one of the virtual labs on Etsy this morning. It's really an amazing resource to educated yourself on the workings of Etsy. I've learned so much. However, it's getting a little difficult to do anything for an extended period because my wrist has been really hurting. I was opening a bottle of meds at work the other day and twisted it wrong and almost started to cry. For a couple hours after that I couldn't pick anything up or scruff a cat or much of anything. I wrapped an ice pack around it for a bit and it seemed to get a little better. I'm just so aggravated at having this chronic pain and being inhibited by it. I've been trying to wear my wrist guard all day but that gets annoying too. As long as I can still paint it's all good!

Graveyard

Looks like I may start working the graveyard shifts at the hospital. I wouldn't have dreamed about even picking up a shift like that but now things are a little different. Plus I'll get $2 more/hr. I'm pretty much a night owl anyway and I work at my art best in the evenings. Also, the dogs never really let me sleep for more than 4-5 hrs at a time! I just hope it doesn't screw up my system too much.



I gave Jackson his first water therapy bath tonight. I wanted to take pictures and some video but my camera batteries pooped out on me. I'm def going to do it again though. However, I don't think he liked it too much...he mostly looked nervous and shaky. Plus, my bathtub won't fill up enough to allow him to float/swim without touching the bottom. He's doing great otherwise. But his acupuncture dr. said he's too lean and needs to put on a little more weight. And here I was feeding him light meals because I didn't want him to get fat knowing he's been so sedentary.

Still looking for another job currently...and wishing and praying A LOT!

Check out some of my new stuff!
http://monkeyjunkiegoods.etsy.com (If you're one of my blog followers, shipping is free!)

Have you seen my mojo?

I don't know if I was just tired last night or seriously losing my artistic mojo. I just had nothing new in my head. I'd been searching for some new design styles and can't seem to come up with anything I like. Well, that's not entirely true...I often see a ton of cool stuff I like and could put my own stink on it, but painting it on a ceramic pot is another challenge.

I've been looking for some inspiration through google images. I look up a lot of art deco and art nouveau styles.






I absolutely love designs like this and I'm trying to come up with my own technique a la deco and nouveau. With deco, however, there are many geometric styles and lines and that's a huge challenge to transfer that type of style to a round pot. I was thinking of trying a stencil but I'm used to just drawing everything freehand on my pots. I need a new sketch book!


On the plus side, I am still working hard on my ACEOs.





On the negative side, I have to cancel a sale on Etsy because this bitch didn't pay me after ordering 2 sets of pots...grrrr! I really needed that money too.
OK, well wish me luck for today...job interview then painting.

Outside light GOOD.

Well I managed to take some great photos yesterday. Fourth time is the charm?
I just set them on my steps outside at around noon.





This means I'm going to have to coordinate my photo sessions for the same time. But that's ok....at least my pics are looking better for Etsy.
I did a ton of painting last night and also managed to come up with a few new designs (stay tuned).

Looks like I'll be doing more of that today.
Oh! Jack is walking around so much better now! The problem is deterring him from jumping up to say HI. Duchess used to do that a lot too....it's definitely a small dog thing.

Be sure to check out my fellow Etsians' shops!

Etsy Buy Handmade MonkeyJunkieGoods

Slept 7 hours last night

Well I'm hoping I got some good sleep last night. Jack actually lets me sleep in....unlike Hosmer and Irma who jump out of bed if I move a half inch!





Today I will be finishing some pots and taking pics using the natural light of the day. I have a really great camera but I'm an absolute retard in taking good photos. I need some guidance. I want to have amazing pics for my Etsy shop.
I'll have to work on it.



Also, I'm looking forward to dinner tonight. Michele is coming over to watch American Idol and we're making jalapeno cheeseburgers. I don't think she knows I'm here though...she spends most of the time talking to the dogs!

My ACEOs

I started making ACEOs a few weeks ago and now I'm totally hooked. They're so much fun to make and I've gotten some good responses from people at work whom I've showed them to. Also, since I don't really have professional business cards yet, it's kinda nice to carry them around with me and show people what I do.

I've been reading from some others that they too have a lot of fun making their ACEOs and ATCs.

For those that don't know....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_trading_cards

I've also heard that some can fetch about $30-40 on eBay! I haven't posted them on their yet but I definitely will.

I'm up very late again but I don't care.

I have a lot of things to do tomorrow too.

I'm having a "I hate Martha Stewart" party on Sunday night. Basically just a chance for me and my friends to get together and craft, play with paint and other stuff....drink wine and eat snacks.

SO....need to clean the house.

Oh, and I'm also financially fucked right now.

Day off and Dog Beach

I am going to take the "kids" to dog beach today.

I have to say, that is probably the thing I will miss THE most if I ever move back to MN. I just feel so relaxed when I'm there and nothing gives me more joy than watching dogs run around having so much fun just being dogs.

After that I will come home to paint more and maybe knit. I have been on a painting kick and can't get enough. I go in phases with my crafts. Sometimes painting seems like a daunting task and I just want to sit and sew.....not this week!

Also, I am going to try to take more pictures of some of my stuff to post on Etsy. I participated in a "virtual lab" on etsy yesterday and it was sooo informative. The admin talked about how we should be listing everyday. So, that's my plan.

Late.

It has come to my attention that if I want to market myself more, I need to start spending some time in these cyber networking places. Blogging, Twittering, etc...

With that said, I shall make a more concerted effort to blog more.

Bye for now.....

(hehe)