Thursday, March 18, 2010

Artfest Trades Do Pencil Me In


I've been thinking and thinking about what I wanted to take with me to Port Townsend, WA for Artfest to use as trades.

I wanted something useful.
But also fun.
Something different.
Colorful and distinctive.
Something unusual but with a purpose.

Why put all these rules on it? Well, add to it that I wanted it to be inexpensive for the materials, not terribly time consuming to create, and still something that someone else would want to trade for - not too much to ask, right?

No wonder it took me so long to come up with something.

Do you ever have that feeling that you've thought of something important and needed, but all of a sudden it's gone out of your head and the harder you try to bring it back the further it recedes?

That's what happened to me this week. And I need to finish my trades because I'm packing for Artfest and I need to put them in the suitcase. And I don't have them. Um-Hum, that's an issue.

Yesterday it came back to me. I decided to create little colored pencils, like the short kind you see for golfers and at the library for taking notes. Except these would be covered in beautiful papers, and have a hanging wire for a charm.

Not so long that you worry about spearing yourself on it, but long enough to actually use. For journaling or just coloring on a napkin, if you get the inclination.


This is the first batch. Of course after I started putting wire on them for the hangers I thought - hey, these need some beads. They need to be a little funky and fun. These are covered with an old map paper, but I have lots of other papers I'm going to use.

So what do you think - would you trade with me for one of these little colored pencil charms?


Question though, you can help here, do you think I should put big jump rings on them, so folks can hang them right away, or just let people put a silk cord through the hole at the top.

Do you like them - are they funky and fun, or just silly and funny-looking? Be honest....

16 comments:

mairedodd said...

definitely funky and fun - what a great idea!
could you do some with jump rings and some without? people might want to connect them to zippers on jackets, purses, backpacks right away... that is probably what i would do as i would want to have it with me and have it visible...

Katie said...

I think they're super cute...I would definitely trade you something for one :o)

I agree that it would be cool to do some with jump rings and some without...

romantic decay said...

these are great!

Riki Schumacher said...

These are great Lynn! People will love them. Have a ball at Artfest, you lucky dogs that are going. Look forward to pics afterwards. What classes are you taking, and are you teaching? Big hug, Riki

EmandaJ said...

OOoo -- these are funky funa dn I would definitely trade you something for one or two. What a great idea.

Emanda

Karen Burns said...

I like them! Very clever. Big jump rings (sorry to make more work for you). If I had one, I'd wanna put it on right away :-)

Karen

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Well, sounds like big jump rings it is - I'll make them myself out of copper 20 gauge wire and have some extras just in case - thanks so much, all, for the feedback. Creating can be a solitary thing but not when I have you all to be my soundingboards, it's fantastic!

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Riki! So good to see you on the blog, hope your Adorn Me! in Houston was fantastic!

This time I'm going as a student, but if you can keep it under your hat, I've requested the teaching proposal packet for 2011 and if I get accepted maybe next year I will be going as a teacher. What about that?

Kym Hunter Designs said...

I like them! They are fun, funky and very creative.

Jenny said...

These are fabulous, mom! Excellent idea!!

Unknown said...

they are so fun, I'd trade you twice! I'm betting you won't have one left,(so save one for yourself, too!) have fun :)

heartartz said...

LOVE your trades....beautifully creative.
I'll be wanting to trade with you!!!
See you soon at Artfest...so excited to be there again.

Gaea said...

LOVE THEM! They are adorable! Perfect for spring!

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Hi, HeartArtz, I remember your trades from last year, I still have them.

I made a huge convention badge holder with handpainted details, I'll be hanging my trades again this time off the wire rack I added to the bottom.

Fun times - hope I run into you!

LLYYNN - Lynn Davis said...

Gaea, thanks! always good to see you on the blog. I love what you're working on right now, very cool!

Numinosity said...

They're adorable and original. I would trade a lampwork bead or an ATC. ( I realize that these might be gone by now but I had to comment)


Kim