Sarilyn CraftsWhen you hear hoofbeats…dream of zebras!

Sarilyn is undergoing some major changes!  For a bit you will see only our blog, but soon there will be a fully functional website with categories which encompass all aspects of home and garden.  We will have crafts, art, recipes, gardening tips, home decor, style and much more.  We will strive to make all our projects truly do it yourself and give budget guidelines for each project. You will never see a project with a budget of over $5000, with most being well under, so even your home decor projects are honestly doable for even those of us with small incomes.  Creativity will be the key to success.

Our craft projects will be unique and user friendly, with lots of pictures to help you along the way as well as show you what the finished project will look like.We will also have a newsletter you can subscribe to in order to keep up with all our new articles and projects, so keep checking back, and following our blog so you can watch us grow!

We just finished listening to a webinar on Social Network Marketing with Tim Adam. It was a wonderfully informative class and we took several pages of notes! His blog, Handmadeology.com, is filled with so much information it will take me literally weeks to get through it all! He talked about Facebook, Blogging, and Twitter specifically, and in short, the importance of using them all together in order to grow your clientele. If you are looking to do some easy and successful marketing of your handmade items and art, go and take a look at his blog - you will not be disappointed.

This is a mixed media piece that I did using, among other things tissue paper, Fantasy Film, gold leaf, copper powders, and metallic waxes.  It was a very fun piece to do, the worst part was having to wait for everything to dry in between steps.  It started as a plain lotion or soap dispenser and has been made into a mixed media art piece.  It has been permanantly sealed for use and will be for sale on www.sarilyn.etsy.com.This is a demonstration that anything can be made into something unique and special.  You just need to use your imagination and ingenuity.

I love art, all art.  I love viewing it, I love making it, most of the time.  I have no certain medium that I work in, although I do have a few I work best in.  I find my must to be the ability to move from one type of project to another, to another, and then back again when I feel I am ready to continue with the first.  There are so many different types of arts & crafts that it is impossible for me to choose just one.  This mirrors my life exactly.  I can go from wallpapering the kitchen (Sadly, still not done) to working in the garden to painting a room or tea dying curtains for the kitchen.

Most artists and crafters I have heard speak say that found their one thing by accident and knew it the minute they started working or playing around.  Some say the took a class in order to learn something different and never looked back.  I cannot say this, at least not as of yet.  I work with Jewelry Making, Ribber Art Stamping, Polymer Clay, Warm Glass, Paper Crafting and Painting, using several different mediums to name my current favorites.

They are my salvation from the everyday drudgery of my job.  I sit at my desk and from nowhere, completely unbidden, ideas start to show themselves, sometimes with such force I find it hard to stay in my seat until  5 p.m.  I carry an art journal with me so when one of those overwhelming ideas do come, I can put them on paper.  When I do get to leave, it’s home to make dinner, spend time with the family, then some laundry and housework.  Hardly any time is left for my creative side, which is screaming for attention by this time.  Right now I am working with my husband to get the websites up and running (one of which you are currently at).  The technical aspects for the store alone are mind boggling!

I plan to be up and running, able to work from home by the time school starts in the fall.  I will be able to cater to my muse and my family.  I will have studio time while I am home alone, with limited interruptions and family time where I do not feel distracted by the many things that have been left undone.  In the meantime I will keep my drawings and ideas fresh in my journal.  This way I am in no danger of forgetting them. 

Stay with us as we grow.  Rest assured there will be growing pains, although hopefully mostly behind the scenes.  In the meantime, don’t forget to stop by and say a quick “Hi” at http://www.bellaonline.com/site/rubberartstampingwhere I am the Rubber Art Stamping Editor for Bella online.  There you will find lots of techniques, how-tos, reviews, and a forum for you to join in the fun!

During this recession, a lot of different types of businesses have been forced to close or file bankruptcy - not so for most arts and crafts businesses.  As the Allstate commercial states, and I am paraphrasing here, people tend to go back to basics, and crafting is one of those basics.  Whether you are the artsy type who enjoys making things for yourself and your family, or a more business minded person, who enjoys the challenge of running your own business, these days you will win.

 In this blog, I will cover both the business and the hobby end of things.  Some projects will be beginner level, but not short on impact. Some will be a more advanced stage, but easily do-able with a little effort.  As for the business end of things, I will cover both fear and fact in the art and craft business.As for the businesses that have found it necessary to close, I say a very fond farewell to Luminarte.  If you have ever heard of or used any of their wonderful products, such as Twinkling H2O’s,  you know who they are, and most likely you are not a light crafter or artist.  I think their main problem was not overpricing their product, as it was well worth the money invested, but the lack of exposure in the common marketplace for most crafters and artists.  Other companies have similar products more readily available to the general public.  We will be losing a truly promising line of products.On the lighter side, there is a neverending line of products - both new and old and proven. 

 There are also endless possiblities from looking at things in new ways.  For instance, I love going to hardware stores!  You never know what you will find that will be useful to you - in arts and crafts.  Office supply stores are another favorite.  Then there are the millions of products available online.  Never be afraid to think outside the box.  You will be surprised what you can come up with.