Saturday, April 16, 2011

Dreams of art.

scan0002

How ironic is it that this was a Mary Englebright calendar tear off page, for the weekend of my Mom’s birthday a few years ago.

The one person who taught me since I was big enough to hold a crayon, that art is fun. She would sew, and I would sit next to her with my Sesame Street magazines, cutting out pictures of my favorite characters with my safety scissors.

I spent my life so far creating. Anything I can try I do.

My youth was crafts, popsicle sticks, glue, markers, paper, and fabric.

I took drawing classes when ever I could. And once in High School my first priority was to schedule art classes. All 4 years, with Mrs. Henize. Not always liking the lessons, still life drawing was horrible (I still have those duck drawings though) but I took the lessons, and worked with them.

I have collages, from magazines. The watercolors, metal embossing, painting, cartooning, clay, paper mache, and our weekly drawing assignments.

After high school, not sure why I didn’t take art at the Junior College I attended… but art still lived on. My mom and I had found rubber stamping when I was about 12. When I was 23 we found a company called Stampin’ Up! and for 6 years I was a independent demonstrator for them. (hosting classes on how to stamp and create cards, and scrapbook pages)

I just left Stampin’ Up! 6 months ago. And it was a great thing in my life, but now I’m enjoying the freedom of creating more for myself. Ugly Sock Monsters are a new thing. Sewing is becoming a good habit and I know my mother is elated (that it only took 32 years to get me really into sewing. Now if only my bobbin agreed with me, I would do it more often!)

Our little ‘Gack and Gigi’s’ booth, is a dabble in the fact that we have space. To first off clean out our houses, but create and possible sell a few things.

I would like to create, and have an Etsy store filled with all the fun things I make.

The big dream?

To have a store. “JCat McGack’s” where I sell scrapbook supplies, fabric, tools and supplies for all art kinds. That is the first floor. THEN the second loft floor, is for tables. BIG tables. That people can ‘rent’ by the hour, to create right there.

I would have sewing machines, die cut machines, a kiln. ALL for them to create with.  The second floor would also have a back porch for sitting. To just read, drink coffee, or visit with friends.

I would have a kids area. (I’ve learned I am good with kids and art work, I have patience there with them)

Well it’s a dream. One I hope to see come true, but that magical thing called money that doesn’t exist, is what stops me… a girl can dream right?

JCat.

Friday, April 8, 2011

A new adventure is ours!

IMG_2025

So we have officially opened a booth…

Now it’s NOT a craft booth, or an art booth. It’s a start.

A start on my Mom and I working together. To see how we do. How dedicated we are, and just how we work together.

IMG_2022

IMG_2023

(and yes I tried to picture fuse them together on Windows 7 ‘The cloud’ but it just wasn’t working)

So you ask what DO we sell?

Stuff.

Stuff from our house, stuff we buy cheap and can resell a bit higher

I consider it a permanent garage sale, a way to move the items in our house, be old or newer, toys or knick knacks.

I would LIKE to start making my UgLy SoCk MoNsTeRs, and putting a few in here. But for now this is what we’ve got.

IMG_2020

Here we have what we like to call the ‘featured rack’ which is right now our Spring/Easter/Gardening display.

After one week we had to bring in more we were selling like crazy! (mostly the little Easter chachkey stuff)

IMG_2024

It’s fun. My mom and I are really getting into rearranging the displays every week to keep it fresh, and updated.

Staging stuff is SO up our alley! So far in 6 days I made 18 dollars! Hooray!

Oh and the best part is, it’s at an old Mill house, where there are 60 booths for rent. We are on the second floor, second booth on the left.

So if your in Wilmington, IL be sure to check us out…

Milltown Market • 508 N.Kankakee • (815)476-0386 • Wilmington, Ill.

or check out their site at http://www.milltownmall.com/ (be warned they have music on their site!)

JCat McGack