Wrapping up winter 2012

We've had an another interesting winter at the Hart-Thomson house. Johnathan's arrival has enriched my life and kept me moving, although I still need more exercise. Surprisingly, being at home has given me time to write and to do a little crafting. So aside from feeding and soothing and changing diapers, here's what I've been up to:

In Irina's Cards

That's the working title for my next novel. I'm thrilled to be working on a trilogy now, for a new-adult audience (readers in their early- to mid-twenties). These novels fall under the category of science fiction and I'm aiming for longer adult-length books. If you've been chatting with me on Facebook, you might remember that I was complaining about a word count setback a few weeks ago. But I'm back on track now and this manuscript will be ready to send out soon. Keep your fingers crossed that I find a home for it!

Johnathan is always encouraging

Crafty Partners

My Etsy shops have both been growing this year. Sleepless Storyteller's Bits & Baubles have been restocked at Savvy on First in Florida. Unfortunately, Flaming Angels here in Vancouver is closing, so I'll be hunting for a new local home for my Baubles.

I've been fortunate to join The Back Stage Divas this year and I'll be participating in their musician gift program. Beyond Junk has also scored new partnerships, with eDebris and Rad Juli, adding computer parts and scrap leather respectively to the shop's inventory.


Custom Creations

I've shared custom projects several times before, from sister butterfly pendants and vintage silver butterfly charms to edgy pocket watch plates and mechanical swallows. Below I've got my latest designs, based on two bullet casings supplied by the customer.

Latest custom designs with bullet casing caps

Also from Rad Juli's fabulous leather stash, I've created leather pea pod pendants (and I'm still working away on miniature steampunk-inspired leather purses). Look out for these to pop up at Sleepless Storyteller soon.

New family-inspired pea pod pendants

Happy Holidays!

Rather than give you another excuse for my lack of posting here in the last few months (well, the last year if I'm being honest) I thought I'd share a photo of my reason. I mentioned back in June that I was expecting. Naturally, my baby finally arrived and since October 22, Johnathan Christian has been keeping me on my toes. Now we're looking forward to his first Christmas. Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

The Monkey Suit

Sitting with Santa @ Metrotown

Teaching writing to clients

I read an article this afternoon titled, "3 Steps to Finding Your True Writing Voice". The author is a copywriter who has been asked multiple times, "teach me to write like you". I've read many, many other blog posts on the subject of learning to write, but this one made more of an impact.

Brushing aside the gut reaction of "why would I teach myself out of a job?" I know that writers consent to (on the surface, at least) tutor themselves out of work for the purpose of getting their names out there. In enough cases, potential clients will be convinced of the writer's talent, but not motivated to take on their own copywriting as a DIY project. I agree with the strategy, from a marketing point of view.

What I don't agree with is the impression the practice creates. Writing is easy. Here, try these tips and you too will create amazing content. Like many professional writers, I have a writing degree which took a host of instructors and over four years of my life to complete. Added to that is the introspective assessment that I didn't develop truly effective writing skills until I had several years of workplace experience to back up my education.

So with the above context in mind, my question to other writers is, can we genuinely assist self-motivated clients with a few pointers? Or in the end, are we devaluing our industry as a whole if we give the impression that the ability to make meaningful connections with readers can be acquired through a little light reading?

I'm not taking the stance that writers are experts and other businesspeople are not. It is certainly possible to develop advanced skills through self-guided study. But you have to be starting from a place of inherent talent. Almost all of us can write, just as it doesn't break any laws of physics for most of us to sing, dance, paint, take photographs, or craft a sculpture. Will it be any good is the real question.

In creative endeavours, 'good' is always relative. But for the same reason I lift an eyebrow at writers that make our craft seem like neurosurgery (instilling fear in their readers to even attempt as much as a memo), I'm wary of writers that offer to dole out admission to the wordsmithing theme park where you only need to be "this tall" to get on the roller coaster.

Custom silver steampunk swallow

I always enjoy custom work, so I wanted to share this photo of my latest made-to-order design. This is a miniature and pure silver (including several ruby chips) version of my brass steampunk swallows (recent version shown in the 2nd photo).

These swallows are always one-of-a-kind, but making a tiny copy with real silver was new. It was a pleasure to make this piece and I hope its new owner wears it well.

Silver Steampunk Swallow

Brass and Silver Steampunk Swallows

The allure of the market (and my Top 10)

My Top 10 Real & Fictional Markets:

Creative Chaos, Vernon, BC

Faerie Market in Wall (Stardust)

Floating Market (Neverwhere)

Fan Tan Alley, Victoria, BC

Granville Island, Vancouver, BC

Market Square, Victoria, BC

Moss Street Market, Victoria, BC

Space Port/Station (Firefly)

Troll Market (Hellboy: The Golden Army)

Vancouver Flea Market, Vancouver, BC

After attending the public market at Vancouver's Folk Festival this past weekend, I'm still wondering, what specifically do we love about markets? The atmosphere of chaotic commerce? The feeling of doing business 'off the grid' or at least independently? Or just a magic combination of bizarre knickknacks, trinkets, treasures?

So tell me, why do you love markets?

Art Attire and nesting syndrome

I've finally got some pictures to share from the Art Attire fashion show on June 11 and I know this woefully neglected blog needs some love right now. It's taken me a few weeks to retrieve these photos from my sister's camera and to collect my thoughts a bit.

It was an amazing event, but more generally, I always enjoy attending literary and visual arts events for the chance they offer to see what other like-minded artists are creating. Even just spending a day in your own unique element is always fun.

For example, I reveled in the Victorian splendor that was the Antique Corset Exhibition & Historic Fashion Show at Hycroft Manor here in Vancouver, the weekend right after Art Attire. And I'm looking forward to Word On The Street again this fall.

Art Attire: Celebrating Wearable Art

Gears and Flowers Necklace

Emerald Contraption Pendant

Steampunk Letterpress Pendant

But looking at the photos from Art Attire, I think I'm ready to mention here on my blog that I'm expecting a baby this fall. Now that I've mentioned it, take another look at the photo of me standing next to the case.

Yep, that's a bump. It's not my style to do a bump-watch marathon on my Facebook page, but I wouldn't want anyone to mistake that for a lack of excitement on my part. My enthusiasm is always a bit subdued; it's just the nature of my personality.

Rather than write a lengthy introspection (or series of updates) on my bump, baby, and their joint progress, I wanted to share another artist's work, Amy Joy Dyck. Her work spoke to me as soon as I saw it and the prints below now reside on the wall in my workshop.

I highly recommend checking out the rest of her collection on her web site or at her Etsy shop. Her work is funny, provocative, and honest as well as visually engaging. The prints I chose communicated something I haven't been able to put into words, but Amy has been gracious enough to let me share these images here. Thank you Amy!

I Wonder, Will It Fit?

Nesting

Don't Mess With the Pregnant Lady

Summer in Burnaby and new projects

It's summertime here in Burnaby and there are lots of exciting projects in my workshop. I'm halfway through my next novel - the first of what should be a trilogy. I'm heading back to Victoria next weekend for Art Attire, which should be an impressive show.

And I've started working with a new medium, courtesy of the awesome staff at the DVC Indoor Shooting Centre. These are my first few pendants that I'm sure will spark some discussion for anyone who wears them.

Steampunk with a Bang Pendant



Brass Gear & Bullet Pendant



Bullet & Blossoms - Gunmetal




Bullet & Blossoms - Brass