day 26 ~ make art every day

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Just a wee art project today ~ made another pair of 'Blue Winter' eco-earrings for an order purchased via my online eco-jewellery store. Pauline, I hope your friend loves her Eco-Christmas present!

Love, C x

day 25 ~ make art everyday

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Yaaaaayy! I finally got all of the final touches done on my new range of eco-brooches this morning, and they are now for sale in my online eco-jewellery store in time for Christmas!!

I made some cute hand-made buttons this morning and found some old button bits I'd bought from the op-shop ages ago, which now adorn the brooches perfectly. I love serendipity!

If you've already visited my store, you'll know that very brooch and pair of eco-earrings have their very own name, Like 'Tina Terrific', 'Dreamy Denise' or 'Jungle Jane'. Don't ask me where the names come from, they are not named after people I know, I just think it 'suits' the brooch's personality (yes, I am a little bit crazy)!
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I haven't posted the finished products here on my blog 'cause I'd like to lure you over to my website for a squiz! If you'd like to check them out yourself and maybe shop for some unique Christmas prezzies for that someone special who's got everything, go to my www.chrissyforemanc.com website or click here!

Oh, and of course, you can order your own in whatever colours you'd like and I can invent something new and unique especially for you!

Love, C x

day 24 ~ make art every day

Okay, I admit I've taken a bit of time-out from the art every day month challenge. This is due to a combination of allowing myself time to rest, family commitments, and also working on a new series of artworks that I want to savour for myself for a change rather than sharing.

I have, however, really been enjoying making my eco-brooches out of fabric offcuts (pictured above).

I'm really happy with the grungy-ness (I made that word up!) and the adaptability of my brooches ~ They range from about 2-3 inches in diameter and you can wear them pinned on a shirt or skirt as brooches, bobby pin them in your hair or even loop a ribbon/chain through the brooch hook on the back and turn it into a necklace. Pretty cool huh? And of course, other than the new clip on the back, they are made from 100% salvaged/recycled materials!

I've still got a few final touches to add to them this week before I post them on my online store ready for Christmas. I'll keep you posted!
Love C x

day 19 ~ make art every day

Today I nurtured my inner artist by attending an ABAF (Australian Business Arts Foundation)course. It may sound dry initially, yet I found the workshop on Dealing with the media to be an interesting and totally applicable topic for artists in business and/or selling their work.

I realised that within my art business, which predominantly consists of selling artworks and developing community art projects, I have been spending a shed-load of time marketing my work through various avenues, rather than really stopping to think about creating strong relationships with specific target audiences and existing clients.

I learnt today that approximately 80% of a business' clientele comes from 20% of marketing efforts, and of that 20%, most work comes from repeat clients ~ so it makes sense to hone in on the 20% that count! Realistically, this means I'll be spending less time slaving to uninterested clients, having more time in the studio actually making art, and therefore more quality information to update with my existing networks. Makes sense huh?

So my art for today was to create my first written media release and media strategy ~ it don't look so pretty so no pics today! I also updated my website and had lunch with an artist friend, so I'm feeling creatively 'full' as a result! It feels kinda like cleaning out the closet and filling it with a bunch of new outfits that 'work' for me much better!

day 18 ~ make art every day

I've been very busy today happily creating and refining my eco-jewellery necklaces and brooches. I had a few creative breakthroughs today (this every day creative thing is working!!) and I made 6 new pieces of jewellery that I TOTALLY LOVE ~ but I won't post them all because I want to unveil some surprises on my website once I've got enough to officially launch the range!
Here's a couple below from today's creative time:
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'Peaches and Dust' eco-brooch: made from 100% salvaged materials
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'Fuchsia Freezer' eco-necklace: made from 100% salvaged materials.
{ If you check out yesterday's post you'll see that Fuchsia Freezer used to be called 'Tetris'! I've added a frame etc which I think works much better. }
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Above and below are a couple of pictures I forgot to add from my creative time in Sydney recently. I created this design on the back of a second hand jacket. Cool huh?!
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day 12 to 17 ~ make art every day

Wow ~ loads of stuff to share with you from the last 5 days in this post!
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Above: My very first market stall, selling my Do Your Bit jewellery and my lovely friend Marnee's Betty Fox fashion label creations, at Newtown markets. My market stall went well, I sold a few pieces and got some great ideas and clarity for future.

I learnt how importnt it is to listen to customers ~ they give great ideas about what people want!
Also, I learnt that it's important to select a market that 'fits' with my work ~ the Newtown markets had a great vibe, but many of the stalls were selling their second hand clothes dirt cheap, which meant that 1 pair of my earrings was equivalent to a few whole items of clothing! So I think a market that is both eco-minded and where there are more hand-made items, will be a better way for me to go in future in terms of selling my work in the public.

So during quiet times I had a chance to make a few new pairs of eco-earrings ...
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'Eucalypt Plight' eco-earrings
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RB Twister eco-earings
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'Twisted Sister' eco-earrings
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And since the market I've been inspired to finally create a necklace range!!
I've pretty much only been doing eco-earrings til now, but due to popular suggestions @ the Sydney market; and finding some fabulous salvaged red leather chord from Reverse Garbage in Sydney which is perfect for necklaces; I have now begun delving into making eco-necklaces!
Talk about fulfilling ~ it feels wonderful to have a play with new ideas and materials!
Here's a few I've made so far ...

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'Fleur's Sister' eco-necklace

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'Tetris' eco-necklace
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'Sally' eco-necklace
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'Lena' eco-necklace
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So that's it in terms of completed visual artworks from the last 5 days, although I must say that being away from the computer for an extended period of time has been wonderful for my creative energy in other ways! Bush walking, writing, buying lots of hand made items, chatting to lots of creative people, getting feedback about my jewellery at the market and just generally taking time to smell flowers, hug trees (literally!) and breathing in fresh air at the beach have all been a beautiful gift to my creative self!

day 12 ~ make art every day

Woohoo! My eco-jewellery display is finished and ready for Newtown markets this Sat! I've made the whole display out of salvaged materials (except for the pins) and I'm thinking it turned out pretty great!!
I plan to take along my tools and materials and make some more earrings on the day as well. Nothin' like a bit of live action and something to keep my hands busy for a few hours!
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As you can see I got my hands on this really cool black shiny holey plastic from Reverse Garbage and it's been really lovely to work with ~ loads of possibilities! You can see it in my displays above and my latest earrings further down.

And look below ~ the whole displays fit snugly into my suitcase! Yay! So now I don't even have to bubble wrap them or worry about them getting wrecked in transit. I think I'll just pack them between my clothes. Sweet!
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Since last night I've made 10 new pairs of earrings to add to my DO YOUR BIT eco-jewellery range. I haven't uploaded them into my shop yet so here's a sneak peak just for you! (below)
All of the earrings are priced between $14 and $24 Aussie dollars and the brooches are $34. Pretty reasonable don't you think? I hope they sell well!
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Anyhoo, as I'll be off to Sydney tomorrow I don't think I'll get a change to upload my art from days 13 ~ 15 until I get home on Monday. So I guess I'll see you then!
Happy creating everyone!!!
Love, C xx

day 11 ~ make art every day and THANK YOU!

Here is my art for today: It's a story called The Wee Bald Frog. I've never had any of my kids' stories published before so here goes! It's infused with loads of creative activism so I hope you like it! Luv C x

The Wee Bald Frog

The Wee Bald Frog was once a sad, sad creature. He lived in Lilypad Lane, where all the other frogs were ridiculously rich and had lustrous long hair that they would curl and twist to make the most FABULOUS hair do's. They also had all the latest gadgets which they would purchase from the shop shelves religiously, to be sure that they were seen as the finest frog in Lilypad Lane with the most handsome hair and the greatest gadgets.

The Wee Bald Frog didn’t have much to compare ~ not money in his pockets nor hair on his head.

But, the Wee Bald Frog had one thing everyone else didn't ~ an inventive, resourceful mind; a kind, caring nature; a great sense of justice; and a connection with the naturally beautiful lands surrounding Lilypad Lane.

So one day, while all the other frogs were busy looking in the mirror, playing with their lustrous hair and brand new gadgets, the Wee Bald Frog went for a hop through town, determined to find a sense of place in the land he called home.

He hopped by the massive mansion at Rolling Meadows Ranch, passed the tadpoles in Ping Pong Pond and descended down towards Rubbish Ridge where he reached the growing Dumper’s Dream Garbage Tip.

He’d been there before, Wee Bald Frog, pondering over the growing waste problem at Dumper’s Dream and wishing there was something he could do to help protect and nurture the nearby Ping Pong Pond. At Dumper’s Dream, he found mound upon mound of waste, created by all the rich frogs who would throw away perfectly good gadgets to replace them with new ones.

It wasn’t long before Wee Bald Frog had an idea. He searched and scrounged through the mountains of waste; selecting and sticking; weaving and warping; cutting and creating … UNTIL ~ he'd done it! His elaborate invention was complete!

Wee Bald Frog proudly picked up his latest creation, placed it on his head and hurriedly hopped the whole way back to Lilypad Lane, eager to share his imaginative invention with the fine frogs in town.

The frogs from Lilypad Lane gathered around, astounded. They had never seen anything like this before! “How did you do it, Wee Bald Frog?”,
“That is AMAZING Wee Bald Frog!”,
“Where did you get your new hair, Wee Bald Frog ~ I must have myself one!?”

Beautiful, long lustrous locks made from previously discarded printer cartridges, eclectically elegant electrical wire, colourfully contoured plastic pieces and finely frayed fabric off cuts were intricately interlaced all over the headpiece, which now framed Wee Bald Frog’s fabulous face. The finest frogs in Lilypad Lane could not understand how he had made such beauty, let alone where he got the materials from and how he had now hair where there was previously none!

Wee Bald Frog raised up his hand and the Lilypad Lane folk ceased their chatter.


I, Wee Bald Frog may not have much hair, nor money to spare,
nor a great deal of gadgets, I’m sure you’re aware.
But what I do have is a kind, clever heart,
and I’ve cared for our homeland right from the start.
So to help you all see there’s another way to be …
The luscious new locks adorning my head
Are made from no other than waste once seen as dead!

The fine frogs of Lilypad Lane looked surprised and confused, unsure of the riddle Wee Bald Frog had bestowed upon them.

Wee Bald Frog smiled. “You think that your gadgets will bring your heart pleasure. Yet I’m showing you here your junk is my treasure! My luscious locks are not what they seem; they’re straight from the tip at Dumper’s Dream!”

The fine froggy crowd gasped, shocked by the news!
“W…w…w…what?!”, they exclaimed in disbelief. “You’re wearing … J..J…J…JUNK?!”
Wee Bald Frog nodded, his luscious locks swirling, swaying and shimmering with each bob of his head.
“We…We…WE LOVE IT!!”

The crowd cheered and Wee Bald Frog grinned graciously, grateful in his heart that he’d found a way to both care for his homeland and to teach the town frogs of their wasteful ways.
In the months that followed, Wee Bald Frog developed a beautiful workshop at Dumper’s Dream, where he created intricate headpieces with luscious locks, and facilitated junk jewellery classes for the fine froggy folk of Lilypad Lane. The fine frogs of town soon learned that they could fill their fine hearts with the treasures of creativity and resourcefulness, and pretty soon, they too ceased to stock up on the greatest gadgets. Instead, they worked together to reduce their consumption, reuse their existing garbage where possible and recycle their waste in Wee Bald Frog’s workshop!


You too can be like Wee Bald Frog …


Avoid being wasteful and reduce your consumption
Reuse your modern gadgets and recycle with gumption!
With a kind, clever heart, be resourceful and smart
For you are the key, so let’s make a fresh start!
Look after our planet, be mindful of waste,
And remember to fix instead of replace!  
Written by Chrissy Foreman C ©
   
I'd like to end my post today by extending a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the new and old visitors who have popped into my blog over the last couple of weeks during Make Art Every Day Month.

I've really appreciated all of your inspirational words of encouragement, fabulous feedback and exciting extension ideas on my work, and, of course, for sharing your own stories and allowing me to get to know you!

I feel so blessed to be part of this online community and to have a chance to meet so many amazing, creative people from all over the world! Yay for blogland!

Also, HUGE thank you to Leah from Creative Every Day for sharing her fabulous brainchild with the world!

day 8, 9 & 10 ~ make art every day

Day 8 ~ Community globe project: made from re-used foam core and salvaged signwriter's sticky contact

Day 9 ~ Framed box displays for my jewellery (below): made from salvaged materials.

I've made these 2 boxes (below) to display my eco-jewellery at the upcoming Newtown markets in Sydney. I'm still fiddling with how to display the jewellery on them ~ Do you think the boxes would be better standing up at a market stand? Or lying flat/slightly propped on an angle on the table?
I've also put some eyelet screws in the insides of the box so I could also possibly pull string through them and hang the earrings on that ... what do you think? Any ideas?

Day 10 ~ My business cards (below): made from salvaged cardboard packaging.
If there's one thing I love, it's making stuff out of junk. So I figured that the best business cards I could possibly make would also be made from junk! I keep all my empty cereal and tissue boxes, as well as any cardboard packaging with a plain coloured backing. Then it's as simple as stamping on my details and Bob's Your Uncle!
I know that recycling is all the rage at the moment, but it still uses loads of energy to churn the old materials into something new. So why not make stuff by reusing and reappropriating materials?!
Have you made anything cool lately by reappropriating existing materials?

day 7 ~ make art every day

'Tangine' brooch: made from salvaged fabric and computer wire

day 6 ~ make art every day

Edgar the peacock tattoo: Ok so I know it's kinda cheating to upload my fresh new tattoo ( he's only 2 hours old!) as my art for day 6 but I figure I can get away with it. My excuses are as follows ...

1) I'm supporting another artist to make art

2) It's on my body so I'm inadvertantly involved by providing the 'canvas' and colour choices etc

3) It's on my art-making arm and now it's too sore and puffy to make anything today! (I'm even typing with my left hand ... albeit slowly)

How'd I go ... get you convinced?

So for those of you who hadn't met him when I first had him outlined a few weeks ago, this is Edgar the peacock, named after my great great grandfather, Edgar Peacock. For more info on my tattooist check out my other Edgar link here. I'll be getting more added to Edgar down the track so I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Ok, now I'm off to put him up for a rest!

day 5 ~ make art every day

Public art project preparation: This weekend I'll be working at the Green Heart Fair running a community art workshop around the theme of 'Reduce Re-use Recycle'. The box of stuff you see above is a whole heap of salvaged signwriter's contact in blues and greens ~ the colours of our planet. The circular thingy at the top will represent our globe (which is made from salvaged foam core) and on the day, people will be writing reduce re-use recycle messages onto the contact pieces or cutting up their own shapes to make images ~ and then sticking them onto the 'globe'. This will be the third time I've run one of my globe projects, each time has been a little different.

day 4 ~ make art every day

'Ode to Self ~ Come Home': I went to a guided meditation class this evening and had a wonderful vision of a beautiful bird. He's carrying the banner as a reminder of when Clive, the facilitator, suggested a nice way of connecting with self during meditation by saying "I Love You ~ Come home".

It really resonated with me and I found it a powerful way of, well, coming home to myself and reclaiming my sense of self acceptance and peace.

Aaaahhhhh ...

So there ~ just got my daily artwork in ~ now I'm off to bed!

day 3 ~ make art every day

Today I made couple more connection cards to add to my pile and also threw together a few more pairs of eco-earrings (made from recycled materials) to add to my DO YOUR BIT range. These newbies will go towards my upcoming market stint at the Newtown Markets in Sydney.

I'm really having fun making art every day ~ it feels like a really meaningful part of my day!
For those of you who are new to my blog you might also like to check out my art website here.
See you tomorrow!

day 2 ~ make art every day

Connection Cards: I made these connection cards to use like tarot/angel cards (an idea I adapted from an awesome Arts & Healing Network podcast interview with rev Tristy Taylor). I'll keep adding more over the next month or so until I've got my very own personalised deck of cards full of messages that are meaningful to me. I think sometimes we all need little reminders that 'All Is Well'!

day 1 ~ make art every day

Eco-brooches~ made from recycled fabric and computer wire with salvaged beads

make art every day challenge

I'm taking up the challenge ~ to make art every day for the next month. Even if it's something small and/or far from being a masterpiece, I'll be uploading my little creative tid bits here on my blog.
The make art every day challenge is the brainchild of http://creativeeveryday.com/
If you'd like to get involved go to the site and sign yourself up ~ there's over 100 of us participating online so far! Anyway, I'd better get cracking!