Stop the Presses! "Epic Fail Fridays" Announced

An unfortunate but hilarious fact of trying anything is that failure will inevitably follow – at least sometimes. This is not to be lamented but celebrated.

Failure, on its own, is decidedly unfunny. But the ‘epic fail’ on the other hand, this is humor on a pedestal, absurdity made perfect. And on what better day of the week could one choose to worship at the Altar of Oops but Friday – the Holy Day of Pay and Play? Henceforth, each Friday post will highlight an episode of personal and professional malfunction, embarrassment or other disaster related to the wonderful world of the creative endeavor. And, of course, no homage to the epic fail would be complete sans your personal stories of woe and dismay, so please share.

To break it down, what constitutes an ‘epic fail’? According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘epic’ can be defined as “heroic or grand in scale or character.” While the word ‘fail’…isn’t ‘fail’ just self-explanatory? Perhaps an example would serve best here?

When my brother’s first daughter turned one, a brilliant idea came to me out of nowhere. I could make Sophia a teddy bear. It would be just like going to one of those stores in the suburban malls where people pay upwards of $100 for a custom-made bear, except that it would cost me about $25 dollars, contain no toxic products, and create a warm and loving memory for my niece that would last her a lifetime.

Only one obstacle stood between me and the dream I dared to dream; I did not know how to sew.

“No problem,” I thought, “They make Simplicity patterns, right?” Right, a Simplicity pattern did exist. Alas, it was not quite simple enough to avert disaster.

Imagine (if you will) a novice, sewing for the first time, using extremely furry material. After sewing the legs on backwards – not once but twice, I managed to remove the stitches without damaging the cloth and got the legs pinned in place and sewn on correctly. This was progress. When I sewed the body together, however, I realized too late that I had unwittingly closed off the stuffing opening without having actually stuffed the legs. And, oh yes, I had sewn them inside of the bear’s stomach.

The result was a mutant, headless, zombie teddy bear that had ingested his own poorly constructed legs.

Nevertheless, in the end, all turned out quite well. The teddy bear was adorable, and Sophia really did love him – after I removed his head, gave it another quarter turn so that he no longer looked like a paranoid freak always looking over his shoulder, and sewed his head back on facing forward.

And that is an ‘epic fail’.

Tricks of the Trade: Expert Tips and Tools

The ambitious artisan can find an overwhelming variety of educational resources at his or her disposal. This post, however, is for less ambitious artisans who prefer to have other people find the best resources for them. Fortunately, a number of these are not only useful but also free.

In recent years, jewelry design has become a particularly hot trend. There is good reason for this. Anyone – man, woman, or child – can make a decent piece of jewelry. Those with particular artistic abilities can easily design personal and unique gifts for a friend or family member. Likewise, even the utterly clueless can create wonderful projects with little or no special skills. Cost is also relatively easy to control; depending on the size of the project and the types of materials used, costs can range from under one dollar to upwards of several hundred dollars for fine stones and metals.

Art Jewelry Magazine’s companion Web site is one of the most-trusted resources for novices and expert designers alike. As with the magazine, professional artists and experienced enthusiasts contribute to the Web site’s articles and resources. These seasoned-experts provide not only useful instruction but also ample inspiration to help get those creative juices flowing.

The Web site houses practical information on just about anything related to jewelry, including step-by-step projects, tools and suppliers, tips, and techniques. Free educational videos identifying the types of materials and tools needed and demonstrating proper safety and construction methods - from very basic steps to advanced processes - are accessible to the public. (Some items require the creation of a free user-account.) For more in-depth instruction, on-demand videos are also available for around twenty dollars or less. For quick reference, the how-to section demystifies many of the terms that are routinely used in jewelry making. And when all else fails, the site offers an excellent community forum and list of classes by zip code.

These excellent resources from the Art Jewelry Magazine Web site provide the impetus to quell your qualms and put you back on the road to creative bliss.

Triumph Over Chaos: Bringing Inner Beauty to Light

The act of creating something might be painless for those few really fortunate souls, but I have rarely known the pleasure of a fully-conceived, brilliant notion that simply needs to be put down on paper as it were.

More often, there is some elusory idea at the back of my brain that casts a nebulous haze over my eyes the more that I want to visualize it. My vague thoughts, my desires to force a design out of myself, my vain wishes to construct an expressive representation of this mental imagery – all these internal pressures seem to harden against my intention and threaten to render me utterly incapable of bringing it to fruition.

It’s thoroughly annoying actually. Still, I take heart in the belief that there are more of us out in the world than there are of those in the inhumanly-gifted, naturally-ingenious lot.

This image reminds me that those of our creations that do see the light of day are each miracles in a way. They are ultimately the means by which we conquer over the aspects of life that make us feel inhibited, allowing something of ourselves to shine outward into a world that can appear at times to be unforgiving and cold. And perhaps it suggests that we first have to let go of the constant pressure we put on ourselves before we can be free to truly create.

Ultimately, I find this a reassuring image. It offers us the hope that our works, though they may seem insignificant to us, are nonetheless beautiful and important contributions to the world.

Image credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinkmoose/ / CC BY 2.0

About This Blog...

Admit it. (That's the first step.) Many of us are bad gift givers, restricted by budget, time, and - let's face it - interest. Uncomfortable admission #2: most of us are frustrated - perhaps even misguided - artists. Somewhere there's an insane part of us that believes we can paint, write, sculpt, etc. (We don't know why.) Well, I have embraced my pseudo-artist and vowed (to at least attempt) to design and make all of my gifts. Oh, yes. I have descended into madness, and this blog tells the story.

One day, I realized that I could channel my varied interests and hobbies by creating personalized gifts for my friends and family. These would be gifts that really meant something because each project would be designed with the recipient in mind. Over the last couple of years, I have made everything from ridiculously psychedelic Cheshire Cat pillows to mosaic photographs to sibling bracelets; you name it. I love to learn and use new art forms and techniques.

Over time, word of mouth has led some people to commission customized gifts from me, which is flattering and fulfilling. Still, I get the most pleasure in knowing that I will no longer be subjecting my loved ones to pre-packaged, impersonal gifts.

Instead, each piece I create becomes a unique expression of the relationship between the giver and the receiver. Each gift bears an emotional imprint - a physical manifestation of the act of creation - of both joy and pain intertwined.

All that being said, mi blog es su blog. As I share my tips, ideas, and experiences, please feel free to leave your mark and share your stories, anecdotes, and opinions as well.

The 3 Best Blogs, According to an Extensive Survey of People My Age Who Are Me

1. Neil Gaiman’s Journal. Though I don’t consider myself an avid fan of many contemporary writers, Neil Gaiman is the great exception. He is a wonderfully mad writer, creating vivid and disturbing worlds that most people would only otherwise enter by way of that vague moment of dreaming just before waking. Gaiman’s relentless creativity and extensive use of allusion make his work particularly entertaining and rich. This blog, now just one part of his Web site, began as a blog about his writing process for American Gods. In it, he talks about the various projects that he’s working on and offers random thoughts and observations.
2. Etsy is a Web site for showcasing and selling handmade products. They feature all kinds of art, clothing, jewelry, etc. It is also a great how-to and supply resource. Their blog features stories on artists, trends, and tips for marketing your own products.
3. Flight Tracker. The Flight of the Conchords is a comedy-musical duo from New Zealand, comprised of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. They have a highly successful comedy series on HBO that gives a fictional account of their lives as aspiring musicians in New York. One of the quirkiest and most beloved fictional characters on the show is their only fan, the disturbingly obsessed Mel. This is Mel’s blog about Bret and Jemaine. It is as funny as it is surreal.