New Art Reality Show in the Works?

I was thinking about Project Runway today,that garment designing show, not that I can sew.I enjoyed watching contestants respond to design problems and how they carried it out. I don't know if it is going to return, and I am missing Tim Gunn (that's his name isn't it) and his iconic phrase: Make it work. We can all relate to that.

Now I read (NY TIMES June 30) that a new show is in the works featuring artists who compete in a similar vein for cash, gallery show and a museum tour. Casting calls are on now in major cities.(not Nerk) The series will feature 13 aspiring artists competing in sculpture, painting, photography and other disciplines. Who knows if it will sink or float, but it is something to look forward to.

Just added my usual gratuituous photo, and you should too. This is my latest Etsy addition to my shop. Good Luck Houses.

Back to work, arteests. Make it work.

Name that Soak Contest

It's time to put on your creativity hat on! I am about to debut a new bath soak, but it needs a name. This is where you come in, help me please! Visit http://uniquegardenessences.blogspot.com/ for more information about the soak and the contest, then leave your ideas in the comment section. If your idea is chosen you will win some of the soak, as well as a surprise gift! The contest ends July 2, 2009, so hurry!

My 10 Things

After just reading an article about Barack Obama wanting to give the Federal Reserve even MORE power, I feel I should mention this first. I am a HUGE supporter of the Campaign for Liberty. It is a Libertarian-based, grassroots organization whose mission is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a noninterventionist foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity.

I’m still kind of scared of the basement. The cardboard cutouts of Will Ferrell and Mrs. Doubtfire do not help.

My long-term goal is to get my masters in middle childhood education and move to New Hampshire

I love being outdoors and hiking around. Daytrips are where it’s at. Anything longer and I get nervous that there is a tent in my future.

I’m about to give up on Etsy. People view my stuff a lot, say they like it, but don’t buy. It is what it is- I guess.

Someday, I will have a darkroom in my house. When I get that I will be forced to use film more. Sometimes I feel like digital is cheating (even though I know it’s not).

Though I’ve always wanted to be an elementary school teacher, I have never wanted children of my own…at all.

The park near the intersection of Jones and Milner is one of my favorite places of all time.

I have trouble being touched by strangers, mostly when they accidently brush me. Subsequently, I always try to know where the closest bottle of Purell is. I also live on Vitamin C. I don’t know which one does the most good, but I’m not about to experiment to find out.

I have a VERY low tolerance for heat. Ridiculously low. Honestly, I don’t know how I would live without air-conditioning. I’ve started buying all my clothes based on the “breeziness factor”. However, I do not wear shorts out of the house. I just cannot make myself do it.

This was much harder to do than anticipated. That is why most of them are about the things around me.

Chrissie, Want to give it a go?

Okay, to get us off the stall, how about .............I tag Craig! Let's find out about the other guy in the group! YOU ARE IT!
While I can't help you interpret the Admin. speak, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that they can open a free selling account on several other sites. Etsy is not the only venue available. Try Artfire, Silkfair, or one of several others. They really aren't that difficult to keep up, and since they have less members you aren't buried as quickly as you are on Etsy. Not to mention that some actually import your etsy listings if you want, and I feel that all of the others have a better listing protocol, so they are faster than my etsy listings. Since it won't cost you if you don't sell, why not try some? Get those eggs out of the one basket!

Relevant/Schmelevant

I have been reading the forums again. This time about the 'new and improved' Etsified enhancements of the tagging/searching/listing/whatever system. One forum, initiated by the admin is worth grabbing a coffee and comfy chair for a long read.
Apparently they are trying to make it easier for our artsy products to show up when searched. However, I can't make heads or tails of of just how to do this. I need your collective wisdom. See this:

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6157700&page=1 (I tried to make that link live, but oh well. Please visit it if you can.)

I know some of you sell jewelry, photos, aromatics, magnets,etc. and I sell complete impracticalities. We all have different problems getting our preciousness to 'show up.!" But we would like our items to have some facetime. It's a battle being 'buried' almost immediately, let alone competing with the painting factories in my case.

I am very sincerely saying this: If you can figure out the new search techniques, please list it here. Please explain it. My head hurts enough already.

(Btw. Our Ten Random Things about Ourselves is kind of stalled. Last I heard Tammy tagged Cory, but maybe, Tammy, think about tagging someone else and see if we can get it moving again. I know lots of times I have to ignore 'games' like this, so no problem. We're just playing It may have burned itself out.)

I think I will insert a completely gratuitous photo now, as a recent item from my shop

Are you creating?

Spring is finally here in Ohio.  I am so glad.  Finally it is warming up and I am looking forward to the Ice Cream Festival.  I am also taking the time to look at what I have done so far with my Photo a Day project.  How are you doing on your current project?  I like to take time to reflect.  How can I improve?  Do I like my collection thus far?  Leave a comment on how your current project is going.

10 Unique Things about Unique Garden's Tammy

Okay, my ten things.....hmmm

1. I was born in Columbus, Ohio, but I lived in 8 different states, and in 22 cities before I turned 21. I graduated hs in California and attended college in Oklahoma and Texas. I have lived in Ohio now since 1993 (except for 1 yr. break when I moved to Minnesota...for the 3rd time in my life).

2. I was a thespian in hs and college, earned many awards, was student director, and even made the state finals in dramatic speech competition, earning "superior" ratings. Most people who know me are not really surprised that I also competed on the debate team, and was the 1st freshman to earn a major role in a play at my college.

3. I returned to college after I was a Mother of two to get my Nursing degree from OU. I drove from the Lake to Zanesville, Lancaster and to Athens for classes for years, but skipped my graduation ceremony because I didn't want to drive that far! lol

4. Because I moved so much in my youth, I absolutely HATE moving now. I lived in 3 houses in Millersport, but made sure that I stayed in the same area so my youngest could attend one school. Even when we moved to Minnesota for a year, we returned to the beach and he picked up like we'd never left.We then bought a house and stayed in there until he went off to college.

5. I like people, but I also like peace and quiet too. While I like dramtic roles in plays, I don't like a life with a ton of drama! After being faced with those energy "sucking" types, I find that I really need alone time to re-energize and calm myself.

6. I use to be a yeller. Seriously, I was all calm and happy, then I met my ex and quickly turned into a "yeller". I hated it, hated myself for being that way, but found it difficult to control. That man could push my buttons like no other! lol. I am Irish (and Indian) and he is Italian, so you can imagine... I think!

7. I moved west of Chilicothe after my youngest left for college because I couldn't take care of my home by myself (I got injured at work a few years back). I loved my town (Millersport), my home (on the beach) and my gardens, and I really miss it all. I miss not being able to see the little branches that are now 5ft tall bushes.

8. I use to say that you'd never catch me on a computer, that I couldn't see how people wasted all their time on one. I went so far as to say that they should go out and get a life. Uhmmmmmm, let's just say that I have been eating humble pie for quite some time now!

9. Aside from making things and spending time on the computer, I love to read. I like true stories, mysteries, some sci-fi, some classics, a bit of everything really, except for romance novels. I hate those! I can read very fast and if I dont't have a new book to begin, I try very hard to make myself s l o w down so I can have something to read before bed.

10. I co-host a radio show on blog talk radio, called Creative Animal Relief, CAR for short. When I was first asked to do it I almost said no, but now that I am doing it (began last September), I really enjoy it! We are Artisans who use our talents to support animal charities. I have become very invested in this group and am proud that we help save animals. We air Wednesdays at 7pm est. and appreciate call ins, so join us! http://blogtalkradio.com/creatieanimalrelief

oops, I forgot to tag.....so let me see.......hmmmm........I think I will tag Cory, Your it!