Art and Craft etiquette part 1

Tags

Arts and crafts, etiquette

Let me start this post with a very long sigh – actually – I recommend you take a deep breath too.  It’s time to talk about manners.  Art and Craft social media manners.  I’ve seen more than a few peers have to inform well intentioned people online with links to their “rip offs” that they are in fact – ripping someone off.

There is about to be a whole lot of tutorials and trends out there for making crafts for the holidays. And I love a good tutorial (even if I almost never make it) with lots of images that an artist gracefully shares with us, for our own personal use.  The thing I don’t love about it?  When I see people posting about “rip-offs”, to sell which are blatant reproductions of another artists’ work.  It makes my skin crawl.

Listen.  They say that there are no original ideas, that there is no way to “copy” anyone anymore…and I might agree with that to a certain extent.  However.  Let’s have some manners please?  If I see a certain work that has a certain style and flair and I see a tutorial on how to make it for $10 less, I can’t help but think – why not SUPPORT that artist and go ahead and buy it from them?  Just a thought.  Try promoting an artist rather than spending the time and energy duplicating their work.

Images.  Oh geez.  I can’t believe the things I see online that people do on Facebook and on blogs.  Taking images from others sites is NOT okay without their permission.  It is even doubly bad form to take an image and imply it’s your work.  Tsk tsk and a big ole’ slap on the wrist for those of you that do this.  It is flatly stealing, so stop doing it.

Music.  Another sigh.  Well, I can see why someone might want to use a popular song to promote their items, it’s catchy and fun and maybe it feels really YOU, ….but it is not legal my friend, to take that music and use it for your promotion.  I know the big stars are rolling in dough and all but c’mon – it’s not okay to take their music and outright use it to promote yourself.

There are trends in the design and art and craft world.  Everyone has seen the cupcake everything, the felt food toy trend, the sweater remake (I never get enough of that), the fantastic party idea or great recipe and it’s amazing that we all can share.  There is a line between trending cool crafts and stealing original ideas, it’s not a clear line, but it’s there.

Here’s the deal.   It makes you look unprofessional and the people who make a living doing these amazing things sort of resent you for doing it.  If you love someone’s work, share a link, tweet about it and buy it.  Don’t run out to the craft store, make a great tutorial on how to “rip it off”, you are only ripping off good will when you do that.

Wordless Wednesday

Tags

chickens, farming, kids

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Wordless Wednesday

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Wordless Wednesday

Have a lucky day!

Wordless Wednesday

Not a “Real Artist”

Ever have a moment, or rather, have a moment slap you across the face?  When it hits you the ego-deflating powers sting more than bees do.

In the spirit of being more, open, I’m going to share this moment with you.

Most of the time I’m a SAHM.  I have 3 little girls and they are absolutely my first priority – this is true of all mothers, right? Regardless of whether we wear yoga pants to the playground, get all dressed up to co-mingle with other older humans who don’t drool, or whatever we all need to do to get by fiscally and emotionally. My problem is that I also work from home, at night, making artwork, or commissions, or public projects and sometimes I even write.  There is never a clear line of what I do versus what I don’t do. And there are times when I don’t feel like a “real” anything other than a chauffer, cook, diaper changer, therapist, half-assed laundress and grocery shopper.  There are days when I kick myself for even caring a little about how clean my house is – I mean really, is this how I want to measure myself?  By how I managed to keep the crumbs off of the floor today?  Or if my stove has nothing sticky on it? (that last part is Adam’s job and he’s awesome at it, oh and he’s also really good at crunching numbers and creating systems but I never question what he “does” and no one else does either)

So every once in a while I need to talk myself down from my own little ledge with reassuring thoughts, to keep things in perspective.

My inner pep-talk goes something like this;

“You have more work than have actual time to make it, just the way you like it!”  This is sick, but true.  I love to have several projects going on at once.

“You make things that people love, that’s fullfilling and has received recognition beyond the scope of your family and close friends”  This is true as well, but I hate to talk about it, because it feels self-serving…yet…..it feels so good to be recognized for making good work, too.

“You have a blog (or two, who’s counting anyway?), which people actually willingly read.”  Honestly I really like blogging and I also write for The Patch.  It’s fun.  I like it.  So did I mention it’s fun?

Phew.  All better.  Oh wait.  No.  Someone wants to know what I “do” as I’m pushing my 2 year old in the swing and keeping a loose eye on my monkeys swinging perilously close to other children…I’m keeping my phone handy for the impending crash…

“I’m an artist”  This is my standard answer.  I make all kinds of work – painting, sculpture, collaborative, and that changes, frequently, so this is just the easiest thing to say.  Plus, honestly?  I busted my butt to go back to art school only to graduate just shy of 30, I’ve struggled to make art through 2 miscarriages, 3 children and countless moves (one of such moves was under pretty horrendous circumstances, but I’ll save that tidbit for later).  It’s pretty much my sacred “thing” and I love it and I have no problem calling myself that.  I’ve earned it.  But then someone says “Oh. I thought was just, like, your “hobby”, what you do for “fun”.

Me. “Um. no. that’s my career.”  But honestly, it is fun.

Them “Oh, so what do you do?”

Me, on the inside “I’m pretty sure I just said what I did but okay.  I’M AN ARTIST, SORRY IF THAT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.”

Me, on the outside.  ”I do lots of things, people send me items, I remake them, I try to be in one or two shows a year, I may be in a show next month at suchandsuch and maybe you know of it?  I make stuff from wallpaper, or fabric, remake things….Yes.  I make art.”

In case you don’t feel it from my dialogue, I’m torn. Because I know saying “Artist” makes people want to understand it.  Or they want to question it.  But honestly, folks, people go to art school, they become all kinds of artists – architects, graphic designers, printmakers, textile designers, crafters and not all of us are rock stars but please please please.

DONT call an artist a hobbyist.

Off to dust the lamps now…….my new “hobby”.

Fab Find Friday

Tags

Dog, Etsy, pet carriers

This is a roundup for you peeples in pet relationships.

One of my dearest friends is getting a dog.  She is not getting just any dog, this dog is a teeny, tiny, white fluff of baby replacement called a “Maltese”.  She emailed me recently to share some links to dog carriers, since she will need one for the new addition for when she takes him to Target, you can’t leave a dog this little in the car, that’s like leaving a baby in the car and we all know you should never do that!!!  Here are some of the cute carries via Etsy, check it out, peeps.

Doggie slings!  Hold your dog like you do your babies!  You WILL see me making one of these in the future!

Here’s a couple by Frou Frou Fido - let’s face it, this chick knows how to work the dog carrier!

Grey polka dots by Cuddle Bugg

They also make DOG LEGWARMERS.  How freaking cute is this???

YES.  This image is awesome, amiright?  Front pet carrier by Bow Wow Pet

Skull and wing design by Vintagebox1, cool print and also a bag I would use anyhow, perfect.

Wordless Wednesday

peepers.

Oh Noonan!!!! What now?

I’m moving all my crafty ventures on here to Oh Noonan.  I’ll still have the liznoonan.com site, but I’ll be using that for my community and art related projects.

Why am I changing things?

For one, I needed a little space from myself.  It’s too “in my face” to be constantly confronted with my real name.  I’m sick of seeing my name all the time.  I will post more when I care less.  This makes no sense but I don’t care about sense, I care about writing about crafty crazy cool things.  I want a sense of not being me so I can write what I want and not feel totally married to it and fear you might hate me if you know me in real life.  This way, you can just blame Oh Noonan.  This works for both of us.

Two, I like the sound of Oh Noonan. Oh Noonan could be the Irish O’Noonan sounding kind, or the “Newman!” but “Oh Noonan!” or the sweet, endearing, kitten with a bow in a basket sound, “oh, Noonan”.  There’s lots of room for dramatic pause or emphasis in anger, right in line with my mood swings.

Three, sometimes I make actual art that has nothing to do with crafts, recipes, kids or crazy craiglist scores.  Sometimes I actually make and sell things that are, dare I say, of a more serious nature.  My focus on cat reindeer hats is not going to help me in this venture, so we need to have a seperation.  Sorry Liz.

Four, I like to try new things, new products and I’d like to write about them and share my opinions with you.  No, I’m not getting paid to do it.  If you ask where I got this thingamajig or how do I make a whosawhatsit, I’ll be sharing that here and not live in fear that I’m endorsing something personally.  Non commitment is key, I might hate whosawhatsit tomorrow and I don’t want to feel badly about it.

Five. I like to write about other peeps and their work.  I want to share their stories, tutorials and awesome posts. I’m going to do that here, with their permission.  Some of the things I’m going to post will be re-posts.  You know how much I love to recycle and I’m certainly not going to let any perfectly good posts go to waste just because they are old.  That’s just crazy talk.

Six, I need more reasons????  Seriously! Just follow the blog and get more roundups of crazy cat hats, craigslist scores and rants.  You won’t regret it. Or maybe you will but at least my name will be left out of it.

Pretty please come back and I’ll entertain you, or I’m not “Oh Noonan”!