Book Review: I Just Like To Make Things

Every time I see a Quarry Books Publication I get excited and not just because they are my own publisher, their quality of topics, authors and book design are really outstanding with rich content. With that being said, I just had the excitement of reading a new publication printed by them called; "I Just Like To Make Things" by Lilla Rogers.

Before even opening this book you read the captions; "A Top Artists' Agent Tells All" and the luring; " Learn The Secrets To Making Money While Staying Passionate About Your Art and Craft" which instantly grabs your attention and lures you into grabbing a cup of coffee and opening the book, which I did.

The Paper Goods Market, The Gift Market, What is Licensing and the Tips for one trying to break into it, Finding the Market and previews of Lilla's line w/ Ruby Violet and Ruby Violet w/Prima, were some of my favorite topics discussed in the book. While you won't become an agent or be an instant success after reading the book, you will however become better educated about the design and parallel industries which can lead to better preparation before shows, events and sending in your submissions. It will act as a good guide to refer to if getting started or a good refresher for those looking to advance themselves.

I've been in this industry for over 21 years before online social media, before blogs, websites and ebay, when artists/authors had to write letters to professionals via word processors or type writers, recognition came through mailers, print publication and shows. On the climb to social media explosion, I took advantage of the technology and joined every start up web company which promoted works such as Flickr, My Space, Blogger and Ebay, setting up groups within these sites to promote other artists and creating magazines to help them get noticed, today my own recognition has come from my presence in the industry and the technological advances I took advantage of all these years.

After reading this book, I became re-acquainted with my own works, and began to self critique myself, to see where I was lagging, where I was excelling and how I could fix my own business issues. I'm at a new level in my own career with the advancement of product lines and new books, which are taking me on new adventures.

To conclude, I'd recommend this book for all levels as a guide, a reference and a refresher on how to advance in your field, narrow in on your signature style, how to promote it and excel with it.

xoxo
Lisa

Altered Art Circus Week, Contest and More!
We are running a contest called the 100 mile. Every autographed altered art circus book that is bought through me will be entered to win a $100 gift card, plus other surprises, exclusively for the book buyers. Once you buy a book at the link below, you will automatically be entered to win. I will randomly be choosing winners for small gifts and surprises. Contest starts now!

	Altered Art Circus, Quarry Books, Lisa Kettell, 2009-2011 Autographed copies now available, Quantities limited.... Please inform me if your want a personal message written out inside the book! Lisa! Price: $24.95 plus 4.95 shipping total $29.90

http://www.artoperanj.com/category_37/Altered-Art-Circus-Lisa-Kettell-Autographed.htm
Here are some sneak peaks of techniques and projects in the book:




All fans of my book are encouraged to send photos of projects they made from the book or projects inspired by projects and images in the book. You can email me photos or send your completed projects to me to be displayed in the Altered Art Circus Vignette currently being created at Piddlestixs!

Reach out to me for details on sending your work for the Altered Art Circus Display, all artists who send in their works will get a special surprise and certificate of display.

Good Luck!
Contest ends on or before April 5, 2011 or when we sell out of the last book in the shipment, book quantities are limited!

Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

Altered Art Circus Projects, Sneak Peak!
Altered Art Circus By Lisa Kettell, Quarry Books is a book filled with artful magic. Its not your A-typical art and crafts book, there is a lot more to it. Each project inside the book tells an actual fact or is accompanied by a story, a story of magic, whimsy, a story which takes you on a journey into your imagination.

The projects are simple and easy to complete, try them out with your children, your friends, family or make some of these projects for yourself, each one can be made simple or elaborate, there are no rules. I choose these projects as a way to spark your imagination and creativity, I didn't want projects that you would be afraid to try or had to go out and buy expensive materials for, you can recycle items around your home or pieces from left over projects to make these.


I include simple age and distress techniques/recipes using coffee, cocoa and tea, all items that can be found around your house including liquid starch and bleach.
Even old or recycled books, piano papers, newspaper and scrapbook papers, all inexpensive and easy to find. Recycling is good for the environment, perfect to teach children and costs nothing, I am a huge advocate of recycling and do everything I can to recycle.

Some of Lisa's Recycle Checklist include: Bottles, Jars, perfume bottles, Garden paper cups (peet pots), cigar boxes, books, ephemera and doll parts. The jars are used for captured glass fairies and scenes. The bottles for dolls and decorate, books for altered books, assemblages and for scrap.

To the experienced artist my book is perfect for inspiration, applies great techniques and brings you back to a not so serious world, a place we found in our childhood but might have lost as an adult, like trying to re-locate wonderland again.

Some of my favorite projects are the circus toys, the circus carts and the glass scenes. I'd love to know what your favorite projects in the book are? How have you used one of my projects or ideas in your work? I'm currently working on new project variations from the book. Example, replacing the paper doll in the Princess and the Pea Project with one of my handmade clay dolls and parts.

I'm creating other circus animal toys using hippos, birds and elephants, incorporating wizard and fairy themes to them, I'm creating newer circus cart assemblage examples, one is Ollie The Wizard which I blogged about a few days ago. For Ollie, if I wanted to turn him into a circus cart, I'd just add wheels and some ephemera.

The Jar projects are perfect projects to incorporate into party and favor ideas for weddings, showers and birthdays. Replace images with ones of your loved one(s) and personalize it, so many ideas.

I hope you enjoyed a sneak peak into some of the projects from my book and the new variations of them that I continue to create.


Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

CHA Day 4 and 5: Highlights, Final Highlights!
Starting the second part of Day 4 with Plaid, Here are Steve, Cathie and Me!
Followed by my wonderful walk and day with Patricia, which we were on our way to the fabulous Stanislaus Imports, their products are one of the best I have found when it comes to parts and pieces, look for some good things coming your way with Stanislaus and Me!After awhile of fun and fabulous conversation, I had to leave to go film at Beacon Adhesives, here is a sneak peak from the filming, lol!After filming I headed out to visit my friends at Ranger, here is Jackie and Me!Terry and Jackie!The Crew!The Ranger Designer Challenge:The VIP Conference Dinner!Its Ruby Rocket Fun!After Dinner, we all headed to our hotels and places to stay, gearing up for the final day of CHA. Here are Some highlights from the final day! Here I am at Quarry with Catherine!Here I am with Debby Shuh and Donna Salazar! Then Me at Ruby Rocket to say my farewell to my friends and sign my book for them!Then it was off to Graphic 45's raffle, I won a large circus paper pack, which I love love love, of course, its the circus, lol!After the raffle I headed out to see Studio Calico, who was more then generous giving out supplies at the end of the day, super nice company!Then over to see Simply Renee's Fabulous Booth with amazing solutions and design for your studio, home, etc. I love their decor!Finally a farewell goodbye to my Beacon Family and Canvas Corp. Here are Mark and Mike! Don't you love the luggage? lol..Here is the Jersey Craft Mob: Lisa and Karen, I'm trying to come up with a Jersey Shore name for Karen, I already got one:
"l'Ement", lol!After this I headed over to say goodbye to Stanislaus and other friends at the show, then Julie, Mike and I left and took a drive out of LA to Pasadena to the Fabulous store: Zinnia. I'll be blogging that tonight or tomorrow! See you then!
xoxo
Lisa!