Loss

I haven't been on in such a long time - life goes through changes; some that are great, such as my last post, and some that pull you into the darkness and won't seem to let go.

I lost my husband in August last year.  It has been a downward spiral since.  Not only did I lose my "life" partner but two weeks later I also lost my father. 

I have been trying to pull myself up and out of the depressions and stress that has followed and it has been a real struggle.  But, just today, I had a sweet note from a lady wishing me a beautiful Spring and wondering if I had posted anything lately!  I needed this.  She does not really even know me but here she is thinking of me and letting me know!  Thank you, Diane, from Lavender Dreams.

So I am going to post in my Marberry Willower Brae blog some new additions.

Just something to think about......

I do get on Pinterest - rather often - it gives me something to do to keep my mind occupied when I am home alone.  (Eventually I will get back into my art to stay busy but for now I just need my time to grieve.) 

Today I found a pin that provided information about pricing your hand made crafts or art.  I went to the website and I liked this blogger's assessment of how to $$$  mark your handmade goods.  I have many students who ask me how to price their artwork if they decided to sell it.  This was an interesting formula.  I have even thought of opening my own Etsy and this gave me something to think about when I determine my own prices.

But then, as I continued reading, the language I found at the bottom of the post I would never even repeat it was so bad.  This person felt the need to knock people who wouldn't be willing to pay your price.  This included fellow artists and craftsmen for looking at things and thinking they could make the same thing and, also, badmouthing Walmart for their low prices and some other negative comments. It kind of followed the "say something bad about someone else so you can feel good about yourself (your prices)" analogy.

I guess I see it this way - yes, I am an artist and a craft person and  I am one of those people who quite often see something and decide if I really like it, I would make it myself.  Why wouldn't I?  I'm not suggesting they aren't worth the asking price, but first, I love doing it, and second, it would make it my own.  I could make little changes to be exactly what I want.

I also happen to fall into the category of someone who could not really afford to pay the high prices of the great things I see on Pinterest or Etsy.  There are many, many low income families in our country and they couldn't even begin to pay the prices crafters and artists should get for their work. I think it's great they have somewhere they can go to buy something "similar" at a much lower price to enjoy in their lives.   Aside from that, I even see many crafters who buy that "cheap" crap (as she called it) at Walmart and make it into something they then sell on Etsy!

For those who read this through this post, please don't think I must have an interest in Walmart - I don't.  I don't work for them, I don't have any family members who work for them, etc.  I would make the same comment about all of the supercenters or "big box" stores, Dollar Trees, etc.   There is a place for all of us in our society.

I can't say that I have never fallen into the category of doing this very thing - I'm a sinner just like everyone else.  But after reading and thinking about this, I hope I will now stop and think. . . . 

Throwing from a Hump

I really enjoy throwing on the potter's wheel and one of my favorite things is to throw several pieces from a large hump of clay.  Here are some pics of many of my little pots - most made this past year.

These are just a few places in my very eclectic kitchen!  I have such a hard time deciding what to keep and what to change sometimes - particularly, of course, when I have found something lovely at a sale!!   Probably most of what you see in these pictures came from a sale at one time or another.

New Blog

My previous post was about my great garage sale finds! I decided to begin a new blog that will be all about my eclectic lifestyle which will include garage sales, antiques, vintage, cottage, country, Victorian, decorating, and more!

I always wanted to open a little shop somewhere - one that had all kinds of art, books, antiques, etc., as well as a coffee spot, a reading nook, a class space for arts and crafts - well, I guess it would have to be more than just a "little" shop for everything I wanted in it! It has never happened. I continue to teach art and work some on my own works but the shop is still just a dream.

SO - my new blog is my dream shop of sorts. Marberry Willower Brae. Come and visit sometime!

http://marberrywillowerbrae.blogspot.com

Garage Sales

I have to admit, I love garage sales, especially when I can find all kinds of fun things for decorating or doing crafts. I went with my daughter and two of my grandkids today and I found a lot of fun stuff!!

I love lace doilies.

 

The little glass bottles back behind are for a project I have in mind.

Graphic Design

Oh my gosh - I have not been on here for so long. I have been so busy with school so I haven't had much time to do any of my own art work but I decided to post an older Graphic painting from a previous year and the painting I finished with my class this year.

Quick pastel.

Just a fun little quick drawing I did during my Studio Art class. These students are very talented and are each creating a body of work that follows a theme and a particular medium. It leaves me with a little bit of extra time that I use for making examples of different types of art - thus, a blended soft (chalk) pastel.

Music

I love music. It was actually my first love before fine art. I still love to sing and I listen to music all of the time.

After hearing so many other blogs play music, I have decided to add it to my own blog. It does take a little time to load, though. Let me know what you think. Is it too slow or does it add to my blog?

I did decide not to have it automatically play on this page. You have to scroll down to the bottom and turn it on if you would like to listen. I do have it play automatically on another blog page, though.

Painted Rocks

I just finished painting 180 little rocks for a couple getting married at my church. They are the sweetest young couple and it was a joy to be able to do something for them.

New stuff....

I've been wasting a day playing around with new stuff here on blogger. Well, I don't really consider it a waste but I'm sure I probably should have been cleaning or something.

I did add a slideshow of my work as you can see. I'm not sure I like it that much but it's something new and different. I also added a "Follow" button on each of my pages for those of you who would like to know when I post something new. I have also gone in and edited some of the html to do things like open links in a new tab or window rather than moving away from my original page; center information; add space between the sidebar and the main body, etc.

I am still looking for the html to add a "Gallery" style page to Blogger. No luck so far. I can make one of my own on CS2 but I have no idea how to place it on a blog page. I tried inserting it on a page but it didn't work. I guess I just don't know enough about html to know where to place something to make it work. If anyone would like to help me out, I use a Mac and my original template was a classic Scribe although I have made several changes to it. If I can figure out how to use my own that would be GREAT!!

Fun - went fishing this weekend!

My Grandbabies Have Been Here - You can tell!

Living Room Footstool Toybox

Bedroom floor.

Bedroom "toy cupboard".

Bath time toys.

I just had to join in with the latest blog "Because kids live here" on Lynnette Kraft's blog: http://lynnettekraft.blogspot.com/2009/06/because-kids-live-here-link-up-your.html.
Even though I am a grandma and they aren't here all the time, there are always the reminders. :) Isn't it terrific! God has so blessed me with such a wonderful gift of my little grandbabies!

Calligraphy/Pastel

copyright by Barbara J Kluver

Drawings

I really do love to draw. I have actually completed three small drawings in the past few days (outside of school even). I will post them on my Drawing page. I feel so very blessed that God has given me this talent to enjoy and teach.

Trust

I just had the sweetest time these past few hours watching my littlest grandson, Bradyn. He is only 15 months old and so adorable.

We first watched a little of Ice Age 2: The Meltdown but not really because he was more interested in getting into the "toybox" footstool to find his favorite musical box and his plastic Sponge Bob whose eyes turn when you push the button on the back. His little hands can hardly even reach around to push it but he knows how it works and he tries hard to make it work like it does when grandma pushes it. He can say Sponge Bob but he doesn't say much else, accept of course mama and dada and all of those other baby words that make sense to them but being grown-up we lose the translation.

I think it's sometimes like that when we listen to God. He tells us in so many ways how we can have a wonderful life; we can be free to love and live but we are so grown-up in the world that we lose the translation when He speaks. We think we know everything but in truth we really need to become like children - accept what He says as truth and have faith that we will be taken care of as promised.

I know that was how Bradyn felt today with me. He laid back in my arms and fell fast asleep, knowing that he was loved and protected and that I would still be here with him when he woke up. And I was! He slept for almost 90 minutes and woke with a smile when he saw my face looking down on him.

I long to live my life like that daily with my Father and my Savior. I can wake up every morning with a smile knowing that He is always with me and trust in His faithfulness and truth.

God is Faithful

This is a calligraphic verse I did for a very special person who is getting married. This is before it is matted and framed.

Long, lost blogger.

It has been such a long time since I have been on my blog.
I have finished all of my chemo and my bone marrow biopsy came back clear - still in complete remission. I am quite elated and I praise God for His mercy and healing. Now I am in the midst of planning my return to school for the last quarter. I have missed my students and fellow teachers and I am certain it will be very good for me to be working again. I will probably get a little tired at first since I have been, what I consider, quite lazy these past few months, but that can only get better.
I have finished a few pieces of art during this time but I have not scanned or taken pictures of any of it so I don't have anything to post. Once I am back in school working on things with my classes I may have more art posts.
I am so thankful for everyone who has been praying for me for so many years (over 4 now with this last cancer) and I know I have been blessed by all of you.
God bless.

Not a very clear image - my daughter took a picture of it with her cell phone. But you can still see my little frog! I drew this and hung it on my hospital door here at the Nebraska Medical Center. I get lots of comments most every day.

Elizabeth and I decided to do a craft on my last Saturday home before heading to Omaha to the Medical Center. It was fun creating art with my very talented daughter!
Yes, my cancer has returned and I will be going through all of the chemo once again starting this coming Tuesday. I am so thankful that I have a loving Father and Savior with me for comfort and strength! His plans for me are for His glory and I am looking forward to whatever comes.
I will see my art students one last time tomorrow, then head out.

I scanned this in and it was slightly too long but you can see most of it!

Faux Stained Glass Window

This is a faux stained glass.

I designed the overall image and had the help of a delightful young lady from my church, Kylie Steiner, with the leading and painting - three days work total; one to draw up the actual size pattern and two to do the leading and paint, and add trim. It was great fun and we feel it turned out quite nice - those in our church thought so, too! :)

Figure Drawing

Yes - I know it's a drawing but I really wanted to post it on my home page.
I am very excited - we have a local group now getting together with a model to do some figure drawing. I have always loved to sketch figures and I went for the first time last night. This is one of my 20 minute drawings - we did three in all with a few very quick gesture drawings.

My Seniors

I must have thrown, turned the foot, pulled handles and carved at least 50 of these. I make all of my seniors in art a mug for graduation. They do seem to appreciate it. These are just a few that haven't been picked up yet.

Drawspace Artists' Cards

This was such a fun card exchange! I have never created Artist Cards before and had a great time doing it. It ended up I couldn't stop; kept right on making more after the first 6 I needed to make. Anyway, I guess I have extras I can send to others. : )