Author: susanmwb

Multi-passionate artist living each day as creatively as possible!!

The Virus Chronicles

Or stories from quarantine…or pandemic play by play…or tales from behind the maskā€¦

It seems like I’ve disappeared. I really haven’t. I just have been hiding from some forms of life since February. I don’t think I’m the only one. Let me go back and fill you in on what’s been going on.

Back in January and February I was finishing up a business plan for a brick and mortar creative store. Almost ready to commit to commercial space I found out my parents were having some health issues….and there was a deadly pandemic on the horizon. My dad turned 90 in February and that was the marker for his health decline. Numerous hospital visits and my Mother, in trying to take care of him, fell and broke her hip. They both went into rehab but my Dad never came out. All of this went on 3000 miles away from where I live.

Stay at home orders were in place when my Dad passed away. There are more things going on around his passing that effected me emotionally but mixed with the virus threat it put me into retreat. We stayed home. We only visited with each other. We did all the quarantine things. Creativity took a hike.

All of the spring and summer shows cancelled. Not surprising. I felt like my creative brain was cancelled. Don’t get me wrong spending time with family was pretty wonderful. We had lots and lots of quality time to chat, connect, cook, and bond. We dove headlong into a bunch of home DIY projects …like 20 different projects all at the same time. (no they’re not all finished)

My creative retreat took me back into lots of sewing. I dug out patterns, made some of my own, and spent hours alone at the machine. I made myself almost an entirely new wardrobe…that I have no where to wear. But it was meditative and allowed me to take my mind off all the other things going on in the world.

That pretty much brings me up to date. This is my first public and/or social media post since February.

Surprisingly there are a couple artisan shows that are going to go as planned this fall. This news has plucked me out of my funk a bit although I feel a little off course. Grieving different aspects of life takes you off course. But I’m finding my way back through creativity…and looking forward to doing a few normal activities.

See you soon,
Susan

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Trying to keep it all together…

the real me as a clown
Clowning around.

With all the things going on in the world I try to keep my home life on an even keel. We keep routines, stick together as a family, and check on each other every day for things going on.

So when I decide to take on a big dream and disrupt the status quo things get interesting.

No details yet on what this project may be. I’ll fill you in at a later date. Let’s just say I’ve been dealing with a thick layer of fear around the whole thing and trying new ways to work through it…step into it…try to get by it. It’s a big thing so I’m in no hurry to get to it without due diligence but I’m finding fear to be a big stumbling block.

A few random things wandered into my field of vision to make me realize I wasn’t just procrastinating but stuck. The first was a line from a FB post…if your dreams don’t scare you, you aren’t dreaming big enough. Ummm okay! Think about that for a minute. If you’re comfortable, and possibly bored a bit, with your life maybe it’s time for a change. Made my brain start firing…

Secondly I saw a post from another self esteem guru that I love which reaffirmed that the universe was screaming at me…and I better listen! All the things I want to achieve are on the other side of that fear…

Here’s a little video I put together about fear…and, also, sticking your face in front of the camera is scary too! So I’m going to practice doing some more of these videos…stay tuned!

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Busy Times

Burnt raisin toast

Ever feel like burnt toast? Well…I have and do from time to time.
Took this last weekend off for a mental break.

So what’s going on…

My blonde daughter at her first art show in front of her booth

My daughter participated in her first art show with RAW artists in Costa Mesa, California. It was a raucous night with about 50 artists, a beauty booth, fashion show, and a huge nightclub backdrop. She visited with throngs of people and collected, as well as gave away, a deck of cards.

cartoon portrait of my son

My son is on the fast track to graduation. First he’ll turn 18 then less than a month later he walks down the path in cap and gown. Where does the time go?

colorful hula dancing girls made into earrings

Last week brought to life a gaggle of these. Dancing Hula girls for your ears.

…and a couple of gals similar to this…

blonde gals with crowns and signs that say i am what i am made into earrings

Many other things took shape this past week or so. As did a complete inventory of my jewelry selection. I have so many things. Some fabulous and new but lots that I’ve been looking at for awhile. Three or four trays of stuff were taken apart and I still have lots for a sale table at my next show.

Which is over Mothers Day weekend, May 11 & 12, at the Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo, California. Mark the calendar and come say hello. My booth is in the back parking lot space #5.
Also my booth will be out next to Heritage Lake at the Irvine Fine Arts Center on Saturday June 1st. Come mark the day with music, ceramic bowls of ice cream, and lots of great artisan work.

Just for the record the shop is still empty. I’m still having trouble finding the time between shows to refill it and keep creating. So please come follow me on Instagram (@susanmwb) and if you see anything you like please message me and we’ll work something out. You can also find me on Facebook or Pinterest at Susan’s Charming Trinkets.

See you soon!

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oops

Me peek a boo!

Now you see it…now you don’t.

Yesterday I took down all my jewelry listings. A friend had tried to buy something and the site wouldn’t let her pay. A funny way to do business, isn’t it?
So I think I fixed it but I’m still working on it. In the process I made a few decisions on how to move forward in a better way…as well as let folks pay for things they want to buy. šŸ™‚

Over the next few weeks I’ll be putting back all the items that I make over and over again. Many things I design use traditional charms or unusual things I find in my travels. I buy those in more quantity and can make multiples. Those things will be listed until they are gone.

With my graphic designs I need another way to keep those straight. Most all of those are one of a kind pieces. Either the drawings that make up the jewelry piece are only done once or the beading for the graphic piece is available once. Then the beads are gone. Attempting to leave those on the site all the time is a logistical nightmare.

So…I’ve decided to do some special releases Moving forward I will pick some dates and list all of the new one of a kind things I have available. Listings will be up for maybe a week or until those items go off to good homes. Then I’ll start over.

Please make sure you are on my newsletter list so you get notification of the releases before they happen. Or join my Facebook group (I haven’t posted there in a few months but am about to change that) or follow me on Instagram. I also have a snail mail, for those that like something other than bills in their mailbox, for show notices that I send 2 to 3 times a year.
(we also have a family podcast and that has been sorely overlooked for awhile but will be back revamped with better format and topics…stay tuned)

And that’s my news this week…if you need me I’ll be locked in my studio working. Glitterfest is in two weeks…yikes!! March 31 in Fullerton, CA at the Springfield Banquet Center. I’ll be on the second floor!!

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(Artist+Geek)^2=Family Episode #1

 

Artist+Geek Podcast

 

Introducing our new podcast! Yes…we did it! Here’s the description…

Our recipe for family is most times sprinkled with comedy, sometimes serious, and always keeps it real.Ā 
Join artist Susan, of Susan’s Art Circus, and geek husband Wendell, of Slog Belly Studios, as we chat through the the benefits of being best friends in marriage, 24/7 living and working under the same roof,Ā  the constant yin yang of the artist and the geek, and keeping open relationships with our two teens, AdaLee and Paul.
Episode #1:Ā Teenagers hijack the show and how the introductory outline goes right out the window…our first episode was supposed to be an introduction but quickly evolved into topics our teens wanted to chat about. From phone aggravation to LGBTQIAP to marriage they both definitely have opinions! Add some funny experiences, some wine talk, childbirth, a couple “f” bombs, a random list of topics, andĀ  there you have it! More to come…
Links for things mentioned throughout the podcast:
Susan’s Website: www.susansartcircus.com
Wendell’s Website: www.slogbellystudios.com
To see the movie trailer for Extinction
follow the artist on Instagram: @susanmwb
follow the geek on Instagram: @slogbelly
follow the teen artist on Instagram: @tera.toma
follow the teen geek on Instagram: @the_es_muy_litster
subscribe to our podcast on Itunes: waiting for the link
music attribute:Ā  ā™« Music By Bass Rebels https://www.youtube.com/c/BassRebels ā™«
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