Out on a Limb

At the
Moon Dancer
you can find my new creation
Out on a Limb!

As the weather turns to fall I am inspired to set aside my

colorful palette (temporarily of course)
and go
"Out on a Limb"
and enjoy a more
subdued sophisticated ageless
color scheme and theme.

Once again I am frustrated with myself that I didn't take before
pictures of this children's dresser
that had stickers of lambs and flowers stuck to
mismatched paint
before I recreated it.
I love how this dresser inside and out!
The edges have a beautiful old world gold gild as do the knobs.
I love the combination of taupe base with the soft gray drawers and insets
against the soft black check and dot pattern.
I hand drew and cut the tree and bird stencil on temporary paper
that I could just kick myself for now!
The tree took forever to cut every little delicate branch
and now after seeing how it all came out
I would have loved to do a whole series of bird themed things
in this style,
but this one is going
to truly be an original.
The final touch was to add wheels
so you can move it from your sun porch
to your hall way with the change of seasons!
It would also be awesome in a children's room
for a boy or a girl!

The dresser has a hard varnish covered by a waxed finish
so it's durable but still has the softness of an old loved
piece.
Let me know what you think of this new color choice and if you still
recognize me in this work even without pink or purple!
I wanna hear your comments.

Donations

I could paint full time just giving away donations for fundraisers and benefits.
I lecture myself over and over again about sticking to a dollar amount a year or the number of donations or the time I'll take to do donations... and I just don't listen.
I could justify my choices by creating scenarios for possible financial gain through the advertising of my work and that it's a tax write off but the truth is...
It just feels good to help someone out.
Maybe because I've been a special events coordinator for years and I've been they one begging for donations I'm more sympathetic or maybe it's that I am so glad it's NOT ME with those big woes.
Actually, I think if we would all just give a little bit more
we would all be better off and what goes around comes around.

On the subject of collaboration and cooperation,
this wooden crate was donated by Julie Vonachen of Moon Dancer,
where I sell most of my work right now.
It was a very old Cutty Sark crate with the prohibition stamp
label on the bottom of the box.
After a little discussion, Julie (of course)
decided to donate this crate to the
Peoria Art Guild Auction
for their Sept. Art Show held on Peoria's Riverfront.
We plan to fill it with beautiful hand crafted items
from the Moon Dancer to give to the Art Guild next week.
My assignment was to paint it to reflect the vibe of the store.
I just couldn't paint over the stamp!


But I am OVER THE MOON about my
Mr. Moon Man!
I'm hoping women swoon over his
metallic copper and silver features.
I tried to create a relaxed enchanting expression
that will render them helpless...
to not bid a billion bucks that is!!!
This is a treasure no matter which way you look at it!
I cut the moon and stars from Chinese pine used in
board breaking demonstrations
so they are full of good positive energy!
The box is painted on all sides
so it will look good no matter
where you display it!
I'd love for one of you to adopt
this magical piece and keep
the art world rolling!
The message here is live from your heart!
Reach for the moon and fall among the stars!
Live Inspired!

Check out my next post to see what
I've been working on for SALE!
Check out my brass jewelry here.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/susbyme

I'm here, I'm there, I'm everywhere!

So, where am I? What am I doing?
I've gotten that question a lot lately.
The answer is, I'm everywhere.

The Adventures of Amy
and Her Army of Artists

This blog post is to catch you (and maybe me too)
up to date on what has been happening to my life
and business, Something Unique Studios,
since I gave up my glorious art palace in Bartonville.

~Introduction~

Right now my studio is at my home again...mostly...kind of....
Due to a wild series of events, the kind they
write soap operas and adventure films about
my studio has changed locations several times recently.

I'll try to stick to the Cliff's notes when possible
but let me warn you...
This is a novel not a short story.

~Chapter 1~
To the big city.
I'm in my quiet studio behind the
Old State Hospital Building in Bartonville.

A friend asks me to do an art show for her
out at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie,
because she has to be gone.
Thanks Leslie Schenkel of the Twisted Chicken.
(It's not like you drop everything every time
I call and ....oh...wait...never mind).

~Chapter 2~
Just for the day.
I go to fill an obligation just for the day.

Two hours into it I'm telling the owner
of Simply Everything Boutique,
Jennifer Slater,
with Scentsy Wickless Candles,
how she needs to change her whole life
because this beautiful space she is renting
is going to waste!
In no time I am
covering boxes with fabric table cloths
and making displays out of beach balls and
flower pots. People stream in!
Little did I know at the time that
Jennifer may be the only person on the planet
that takes on more projects than I do and she
makes me seem sedate!
I call a few friends and we put up art and in
a flash Jennifer changes her life to
sell retail while I push...I mean...uhhhh...
encourage Peoria to embrace the arts!
Things are beginning to really fly when-
eeer-r-r-r...... things hit a gigantic bump
in the road.

~Chapter 3~
Oh God
Seems Jennifer's son is allergic to the
midwest and they instantly have to move
to Florida
unless they enjoy the color blue on their kid's
face most of the time.
Just as I get ready to pack my paintbrushes
God answers my prayers and the phone rings.
God? I say?
No, Julie- the phone answers.
She's calling to say that Moon Dancer has to
move instantly and she is soon to be homeless!
Yyiiipppiiiieee I say.
OH, I mean, that's terrible....
Let me see what I can do to help you....I say.
(visualize me dancing the hallelujah jig singing
Oh, thank you Jesus, oh, thank you Jesus...)

~Chapter 4~
Under the Moon

Well, Bon Voyage Jennifer.
Welcome Julie Vonachen owner of Moon Dancer.
Simply Everything Under the Moon is created.
Finally. I'll be settled.

The store is coming together while
Julie masterfully mixes art with her magical retail.
The place looks magnificent.
Just as we settle in we find that
we HAVE to move again!
UGH!
Never fear! It works out for the best...sort of...

Our NEW location 205 across from Old Navy
at The Shoppes At Grand Prairie
is beautiful, with rows of great windows
allowing light to pour through the whole store!
It's glorious! Fantastic!
It....has no room for my studio...
sigh....

~Chapter 5~
One World

Well, it just so happens
that I needed to paint an 8' square canvas
and I had asked Bob from One World,
if I could use the Lagron Miller store next door, to paint it
since it's been empty for so long.
He says, there's no lights or water, floors, ceilings or walls...
I say- no problem. I just need space.
Space he has!!!
In I go! I move my studio in and paint my name on the doors.
He asks- do you think other artists
would be interested in space here?
I say sure! Things are taking off!

Now the space is under construction
and will have walls, water and more
when they are done...but in the meantime...

Yep. Can't paint during demolition.

~Chapter 6~
The Corner Stone

As I haul my displays yet again, off to a corner,
and stack my furniture to the top of my garage,
I get a call from my friends,
The Dentinos who own,
The Corner Stone Building,
downtown Peoria, Illinois.
What a magnificently beautiful building.
The Grand Hall is amazing but there
is also room after room of wonderful enchanting
space in this historical building.

They say- I'm hoping you can help us.
Do you know people who may need space, they ask?
Well, as a matter of fact....

The Dentinos LOVE this building and
the arts and music too!
They want to rent their facility out
to as many local artists and musicians
and healers and teachers as they can
as well as weddings, receptions, birthdays, etc!
I'm working with them to do just that!


~Chapter 7~
Lucky 7?

Now, some of you who know me have heard me
say on more than one occasion-
When I take over the world....
(with the appropriate accompanying hand motion).
This is just one more step
in my
world domination through art plan.
I want to remind people that I am taking over the WHOLE world...
So, the answer is-
YES- I am still working with Julie at Moon Dancer.
YES- I AM STILL selling my art there and special orders can go through Moon Dancer
or you can call me directly.

YES-I am still working with Bob at One World to see if we can get artists to rent space and consign their work there.

YES- I am working with the Dentinos at The Corner Stone Building to try to build their events business and bring arts and music and learning to that space in a creative way.

YES-I'm going out of town almost every month to visit my grandchildren!

~Book 2~
will be about my plans to work as a designer for DecoArt
http://www.decoart.com/,
my ESTY shops and plans to get my {SIC} greeting card line ON LINE!

I'd love to hear from you!

For now follow me:
Amy Boettcher
Something Unique Studios
http://www.etsy.com/shop/susbyme
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php
http://twitter.com/momboe
http://www.myspace.com/somethinguniquestudios