I started out the morning having enough submissions to run the Daily Artisan Spotlight (DAS)through July 27. As of reading my email this morning, I have enough submissions to run the Spotlight through July 24. Why did I lose a few days? I didn’t. I deleted three for rudeness and an overwhelming sense of self-entitlement!

I build all of the DAS posts by hand. When I do, I schedule them by hand. Because I work a 40 hour week, am a single father who has his girls half the time and actually tries to follow his own creative pursuits as well, I DO NOT devote every minute to DAS submissions. Thus I tend to schedule a week at a time until I build an automated system to help me (see my earlier post). Every time I need to stop and send a personalised email, it adds time and right now, scheduling a week takes about an hour and I would like to keep the excess time to a minimum. Thus, you are only going to be notified of the week during which your Spotlight is scheduled, not the exact day. Sending me a self-important email (or in the case of one person, FOUR) demanding to know the exact day to fit your schedule results in your submission entering the electronic netherworld. Being featured on any blogger’s site is a privilege, not a right. Capiche?!?

Now, for those who have not yet been notified of the week in which they will appear, I have only scheduled through May 31st at this point. I am trying to get as many scheduled this weekend as I can and hopefully get completely caught up. Next weekend I am going to work on the automated system and am planning to get that up and running by the end of the month. For now, be patient. Thanks!

Last night, for about 10 seconds, I could have made the most jaded sailor blush but after that, it opened up some guilt-free possibilities for me. What happened was pretty simple: I had two new canvases sitting next to me in my work area and put very noticeable holes through both of them when I accidentally dropped the scissors I was using to cut open a package I received yesterday. The first reaction, being a struggling artist with not a lot of money for supplies, was to immediately curse my luck and be mad about the loss of money. After that initial “I’m glad my daughters were asleep and didn’t hear that” moment, I felt liberated. Why?

Because I now had a guilt-free ability to practice some techniques on canvas! Because my supplies budget is so low, I am unwilling to practice my techniques on canvas and instead use heavy watercolor stock (which I DO gesso when I practice oils) but it’s not the same. My easel does not hold paper in any stable way so I have to practice with it lying flat on a table. Needless to say, it’s not the best solution. But with these two damaged canvases, I now have free license to practice on them and know that I am practicing on the surface I will put a final product on. It’s a nice, refreshing feeling to know I can do that. The lesson? Always find the golden opportunity in bad events. They’re almost always there, and can open new avenues for you!

The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work! If you would like to be considered for the Spotlight, click on the ‘Free Press’ link above!

What is your shop? 
Handmade by…Rowena Allen (http://rowenaallen.etsy.com)

What is your art/craft? I design/make homewares and jewellery from vintage and recycled materials sourced from jumble sales, charity shops and flea markets.

I strongly believe in re-using what we already have, rather than constantly manufacturing something new. It is my aim to create beautiful new products out of items that have fallen out of favour with people and have been discarded. Turning unloved items into something new to treasure. 

Describe your style in 2 words: Vintage, Recycled

What is your favorite piece and why?
My favourite piece in my collection is one of my necklaces created from a vintage man’s neck tie! I love it because they’re very unique and very versatile as they can be worn in lots of different ways.

This is the link to it:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11261251

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
To keep going with what I do in times when I had doubts.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Create what you love not what you think might sell, that way you’ll put much more effort into it and ultimatley create a lovel piece.