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March, 2011

  1. Zentangle Dangles – Update

    March 25, 2011 by Administrator

    http://creatingthehive.com/signup/celestinehart

    Category Art, Arts and Crafts Business, Crafts, Zentangle Inspired | Tags: | No Comments

  2. Looking for Advice – Time is running out!

    March 23, 2011 by Administrator

    I’ve been planning my transition for about a year. My plan is coming together slowly but time is running out.
    I have the opportunity to retire early. Now that retirement time is here my plan is to become a fulltime small business person. I have prepared a business plan and have done many other activities to plan for this transition. I do not have unlimited time to make a go of this.

    I have described many of my business planning activites here in my blog. My goal is to teach One-Stroke painting, face paint, paint murals and organize painting parties for children and adults.

    Now I am looking for advice. How can I jump start my crative business? My question is how do I best jump start this new career? I have done some low cost promotion. I know there are craft designers, arts and craft business owners and others making a living with their creativity. What do you recommend as the next step in my search to earn money doing what I love creating arts and crafts?

    I have a few ideas which include:
    Working part-time at a big box craft store
    Giving free lessons at the local library and/or community center to promote my business
    Give my mural and face painting services at a rate that only covers costs to community organization and churches to promote my business
    Pay for a traditional advertising campaign. (EXPENSIVE!)
    Submit original projects and articles to crafting magazines and websites

    Please respond with your ideas. What worked for you and what didn’t.

    Category Arts and Crafts Business, CelestinePaints.com, Decorative Painting, General Information, One- Stroke Painting, Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  3. Zentangle Crazy!

    March 12, 2011 by Administrator

    My Zentangle inspired images ……

    Category Art, CelestinePaints.com, Crafts, Decorative Painting, General Information, Zentangle Inspired | Tags: | No Comments

  4. I Heart Patternless Sewing

    March 10, 2011 by Administrator

    I just finished reading Miss Scarlet’s School of Patternless Sewing. I pre-ordered this book months ago because I enjoyed Kathy Cano-Murillo’s first novel Waking Up in the Land of Glitter. I was so excited when Patternless Sewing arrived last week- hot off the presses. But I was even more excited when I finished reading the first 50 pages. I have spent every free moment over the last few days with Scarlet and her students. The book was wonderful. The charactor’s actions and words played in my head as I read like a wonderful feature film! I miss these dressmakers already, so I am sure I will reread the book soon.

    Patternless Sewing is the best “crafty lit.” book I have read.

    Congratulations to Kathy Cano-Murillo. Crafty Chica, please keep writing! I wonder If Amazon will let me preorder your next novel now.

    Category Art, Arts and Crafts Business, CelestinePaints.com, Crafts, General Information, Uncategorized | Tags: | 1 Comment

  5. Updating Decorative Painting

    March 6, 2011 by Administrator

    I love decorative painting and painting in general. I really want to see an update to the decorative painting artform. Painting is something that needs to be passed along to future generations as not just a childrens activity or an activity for the gifted artistic professional but a hobby, pastime and means of expression/ communication for all that are interested.

    Decorative painting introduces people to painting in a wonderful way. Decorative painting books and classes offer a introduction into painting that allows the learner to enjoy the process and results while they learn.
    The instruction on color, shapes and brush strokes allows the new artist to learn while they create a useful product..

    But the traditional themes of decorative painting need an update. How can you mix graphic art, indie art, urban art and other forms that are today with decorative painting to invite a new audience? I love graffiti, hip hop art, african art, latin and island art. The colors, patterns and shapes are wonderful. Also the message expressed in art and self more expression would add new life to decorative decorative painting.

    What do you think? How can decorative painting reach a new audience?

    Category Art, Arts and Crafts Business, CelestinePaints.com, Crafts, Decorative Painting, General Information, One- Stroke Painting | Tags: | No Comments