Leap Taking

Whenever I decide I'm going to get involved in something new I get really excited about it. I find myself talking about it to everyone I know for a little while, thinking about it all the time, and finally just leaping right in! This isn't the best approach all of the time. I've stuck my feet right into the hornet's nest doing this before. I've also found great success from it before, so it's clearly a two sided coin. In the last several months I've come to learn that the best approach for me personally is to combine taking it slow and considering with the excitement of immediacy and take a carefully measured leap.


What better day to announce leaps than Leap Day?



This month has seen two changes in my life and business. For my business, I've launched my new website, TuckooandMooCow.com --YAY! You should definitely check it out when you get a chance. I've been working on this for a long time and am excited to be launching it.

Woohoo! Website!

 I've also started a new blog that hasn't got anything to do with my business. I found that I was going to want to write more and more about my life experiences during the big changes to come as my husband joins the Air Force and we move across the country. This doesn't mean I won't write about those big changes here, but I'll probably do more picture sharing from my travels and talking about daily adventures there rather than here. You can follow along now at "Color Me Redhead."



What do you find is the best approach to new endeavors? Weighing all of the options, costs, and benefits before taking a carefully measured step, or just leaping in head first? Is the best approach a healthy combination of both?

Judged by the Cover

I've been thinking recently about body shape, image, weight, and generally all of those stupid things that can cause us anxiety with the mere tick up of the arrow on the scale. Maybe it started when I was 14 and realized that this hips were here to stay whether I was in ridiculously good shape or not, or maybe it was when my sister made a passing remark about bra sizes as a joke while we were shopping once, but at any rate, I can find myself easily obsessing over my shape.

I'm pretty average weight, but that doesn't really mean healthy.

 Which isn't really to say I do a damn thing about it. I stand there in front of a mirror or on the scale for a minute getting anxious and then I pull my pants on (which still fit the same) and go about my day.

I've mentioned my body image concerns to people before who will say things like, "You look healthy!" This is so funny because I know how incredibly untrue it is. I love doughnuts, revel in potatoes, delight in bacon, and wash it all down with sugary sweet tea. Until recently, I hadn't considered my diet much while I munched away on cheetos. I just ate what I liked and called it good lucky that my bounciness kept me from hitting the overweight mark.

A few days ago, someone I know through an Etsy team (tiny groups of craftiness often gathered to commit nefarious deeds in knitting--not) pinned an item of hers to pinterest. Immediately, a couple of snarky nerds jumped and posted rude comments about how unhealthy and skinny the model looked in the pose she was in and how she (and I quote) "makes the clothes look bad!!" Trouble is, the seller is also the model, so here she was being criticized for her weight and staring right at it.

What struck me wasn't the rudeness--that happens all over the place--it struck me how interesting it is that people are quick to dismiss slender women as being unhealthy.

Healthy is trendy right now. Shouldn't it have always been? Well, it wasn't--it's pretty new to embrace the body you have. But those good-natured Dove ads with average sized women fail to remark on the more slender of our sex. Not all of us are the same shape. Yeah, many of us have curves and we should be proud of that, but some women are naturally very petite and slender. Shouldn't they be proud too?

What's the funniest thing is people saying, "She doesn't look healthy," or "That skinny isn't healthy." Well, neither is my kind of shape. People can be ALL kinds of shapes and be healthy or unhealthy. How they look really doesn't say as much as we like to think. I see slender women running with smiles on their faces listening to their music in the mornings. I also see larger women with the same attitude going. All of this happens while I walk along thinking about when I am next going to have some hotwings. Who's the unhealthy one here?

Really, it's not our place to judge how others arrive at the body types they are in. Everyone gets here a different way.

In recent months I've made a much more concerted effort to eat healthy and exercise more. I'll be honest, I don't feel any different, but I know that inside things are better than before.

Music Sensation or Rossetti Model?

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine is one incredibly gorgeous woman with loads of musical talent and style, but every time I look at her I am reminded of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, pre-Raphaelite artist and poet. His work is marked in my mind by the striking women he used as models. The crazy thing is how uncanny the resemblance Florence Welch has to his work.

Beata Beatrix, Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Florence Welch

 This certainly isn't the first time the singer has been said to have a "Pre-Raphaelite" quality. Her boho style and her willowy way of moving in billowing garments really accentuate that ethereal quality she has.

Florence and the Machine's latest album "Ceremonials"

With the release of her latest album "Ceremonials" she told Rolling Stone that she was trying to get away from the Pre-Raphaelite look of the last album, but it doesn't seem like the cover designer got the memo--she couldn't look more like she's posing for Rossetti!

Fanny Cornforth, Rossetti's lover, posed against a mirror

Lady Lilith, Dante Gabriel Rossetti

...Or maybe I'm just letting myself draw the resemblance because of the red hair. What do you think?

What's in a Name?

Back when I first started on Etsy there used to be Critique forums (ah, the good old forums). Those have gone the way of the Dodo now and been replaced by a shift into teams. Before they made this shift, it was easy to pop into the forum and ask people to give you an opinion on your shop or work. Naive and looking for some advice, I popped in and asked to be reviewed.

Hedgy the Hedgehog

Amongst the many "Oh, your shop looks PERFECT to me!" throw-away comments were a few genuinely helpful ones. Several people at the time suggested the same thing: to drop the quirky titles in favor of literal ones. "Hedgy the Hedgehog" would have become "Hedgehog in the Grass" or something boring.

For the Benefit of Mr. K

Of course, I ignored them and thought, "Nope...stupid," to myself. But why do I title my pieces?

Well, to me they aren't so much jewelry as little pieces of artwork. I've always thought of myself as an artist since I was very small. Whatever I was doing I was doing it as an artist. Right now, I see myself as an artist who happens to make jewelry, I don't see myself as a jewelry seller really at all-- a viewpoint I am working to change a little bit. I title my pieces the way I do because I am titling the paintings inside them. For me, a big part of the fun is choosing that title. I think it says a lot about the work and adds an extra dimension to them especially since once you're wearing it, only you will know the title. That's what makes them fun conversational pieces, in my opinion.

Do you see yourself as an artist in whatever you are doing?

Thoughtful Thursdays

I made this blog as a way to escape while online--a place to write without feeling compelled to write about my work. Yet it is art and my work that I feel pretty compelled to write about all the time.

Is it possible to separate the art from the artist? 


I'd love to see what you think!

Brave

The bear, the bow, and a tangle of bright red hair!

 I love Scottish folk music and history, so when I first heard a couple of years ago that Pixar would be making a movie about a Scottish princess I was pretty excited (what fun!). Back then the working title was "The Bear and the Bow," but they've since changed it simply to "Brave." I loved the sound of the original title, but from what I understand there was some feeling that it was giving away too much of the story (in only 5 words).

"Brave" is about a Scottish princess, Merida, who wants to defy tradition and pursue a less princess-like way of life with adventure. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Merida defies an age old custom in an effort to strike out on her own and in doing so unleashes chaos on the kingdom.

Yeah, it sounds like a story we've heard before, but at their hearts all of Pixar's stories have been that. What sets them apart is the way in which they tell them and the skill with which they convey the emotion of their tale (think the montage in "Up").

I am so excited to see "Brave" in June! If you haven't seen the trailer, you should check it out at the official website for "Brave." disney.go.com/Brave.



All of the images used are from the "Brave" image gallery on the offical iTunesTrailers page for the movie. You can find these and more there.  

Stepping Out

Yesterday I busted out my cream tights for the second time since owning them and I have to share one of my biggest fashion weaknesses with you: Shoes.

Because I'd already been wearing my boots a lot lately (more on boots later), I thought I'd give some of my cute little pumps a try. The question was, which pair to choose?

My two favorite pairs are my brown leather pumps and my gray leather ones (which are fairly new having just got them as an anniversary gift in December). 

These gals are so fabulous! I found them at Target for $28.00 back in 2006 and I am just as in love with them now as I was then. I've never seen Target sell their like again or I would snatch them up in a hurry. I'm glad I got these while I had the chance.

These gorgeous gray leather shoes were my anniversary present as we celebrated being married for 2 years. I just adore the buckle! 

In the end, I decided to go with my gray Mary Janes. My husband bought them for me at a cute little vintage-inspired boutique here in Asheville called "Hip Replacements." Their stuff is really cute and I'm a huge fan of the dresses and shoes they carry. 

Want to see more awesome shoes? Check out my pinboard devoted to them, To Walk A Mile In.

For the Love of Pinning, Don't DIY

I never go on bitter diatribes here, and I certainly hope this will be the only one.

The site Pinterest.com which is growing crazy fast in popularity is awesome. I love it. I love using it for inspiration, to get good recipes, and even for showing people my work through it occasionally. What I hate--HATE--is seeing a friend's work or my own work being pinned on DIY (Do It Yourself) boards.


Why this is ridiculously insulting: 

Let's be clear, if I knit a really basic scarf and someone pins it to a DIY board saying "knitting ideas" well, that's kind of one thing.  It's a basic knit and maybe you're just looking around for knitting inspiration. Fine. (Note how the board title uses the word "inspiration" rather than DIY?)

It is totally different to pin someone's unique idea/item with all of YOUR ideas about how to best make a knock-off.

I make tiny paintings and set them into necklaces. Yeah, it's not rocket science, but that doesn't mean everyone who looks at them automatically knows how I do it and do it well. Heck, it took me a long time to get everything about the pieces to a point I feel they are high quality--I'm still looking for ways to improve! So it really stinks when someone pins or repins something of mine with instructions about how to make it. Although I have only personally had this happen to one or two of my items, I have seen it happen to DOZENS of my friends.

-You insult the artist's creativity by doing this and acting like this knowledge is free.

-You insult the artist's skill by making the assumption through a comment or tag that this is an easy thing to make.

-You insult the effort and investment the artist has made in their work by implying that this is something that would be more financially viable for you to make than to buy.


I'm not saying you should never pin a finished item to a DIY board, but what I AM saying is to think carefully before you do. Look at the source (easy enough--it's at the bottom of every pin). Is it from Etsy? Then chances are it was handmade with care by someone who is running a small business not a charity or DIY blog. Think about the artist or artisan behind the item you're about to pin before you share with the world how you think you could Do It Yourself.


Rant over.


Agree? Disagree? Please, say so! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Dischord in the Valley

Dischord in the Valley

We moved a lot when I was a kid, not necessarily from town to town, but definitely from house to house. I feel like any town I lived in for more than 2 years I lived in multiple houses. I was born in Virginia and spent the first 10 years of my life living in or near a small town called Bridgewater.

I've always felt like Virginia--even if not Bridgewater--was my home. I sometimes call Sterling, Kansas where I lived all through junior high and high school my "home town," but I never thought of it that way until I married my husband for whom that is home. It still feels funny whenever I say it. Like it belongs to someone else... my husband, my younger sisters, people I knew there, but never really me.

Buildings and Mountains

We moved to Asheville, North Carolina almost a year ago. I love living here. The town is vibrant and beautiful with so much to do and eat and see. The above painting, "Buildings and Mountains," was heavily inspired by the Asheville cityscape which is an interesting juxtaposition of architecture and nature with the Appalachians as much a part of the view as the buildings. I'm so glad we've had this opportunity! I've loved the apartment we've lived in more than any place I've ever lived--including the house I really think of as "home" from Bridgewater, which is saying a lot for me.

Since my husband decided he was joining the Air Force last summer it's been hard to capture that feeling of belonging here. In some ways, it's like being a tourist whose stayed too long in one place. I painted the piece pictured at the top of this post and titled it "Dischord in the Valley" in early fall with exactly these feelings in mind. I have them so often where ever I've lived. Like being an outsider who can't quite find her place. I know deep down that no matter how much I love the place I'm in, I won't be staying there.

Man of the Hour

I tend to be a pretty nostalgic person. The painting above was originally going to be about a man taking his final bow on his life--and it is in a way--but it is also about my life. Each of the images he's bowing before are images from my own brief life of 24 years.

Right now, I'm spending a bit of time looking back, but it's just to be ready to look forward soon. I'm excited for where my husband's job will take us. I'm excited for the new places to see and new people to meet! But memories, friendships and that awkward feeling of not belonging tend to linger...

What does your Bookshelf Look Like?

 A few months back I started offering custom bookshelf necklaces. I paint bookends and then add the titles supplied to me by the customer to make the teeny bookshelf fully personalized. They were a huge hit over Christmas which I wrote about (and showed them in progress) during December.

Custom Book necklaces

Working on all of these custom book shelves got me thinking about how much one's top 7 list says about their tastes. It was so fascinating to see! Above are pictures of two example. The picture on the left is a generic one I made to use as an example and sold as a bookshelf of classics. The necklace on the right was a custom one from Christmas time.

These kind of lists are ever evolving as one reads more and as you grow and change in your own life. This made me think about what my top 7 are, so I've compiled a list for you below of my top 7 books right now listed in no particular order (series are considered one):

1. Man's Search for Meaning -- this classic by Viktor Frankl will probably be amongst my favorites forever. It's meant the most to me of almost any book I've ever read and I highly recommend it to anyone. 

2. The Bronze Horseman trilogy -- I really enjoyed these books! The 2nd which focused more on the male character was my favorite, but I enjoyed these for some fun and interesting reading.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird -- Wonderful book. Atticus Finch has to be one of the best characters ever written.

4. Jamaica Inn -- Daphne Du Maurier is an undeniably excellent author. Although I've read several books she wrote this is definitely my favorite.

5. Cold Comfort Farm -- The movie adaptation is hilarious as well!

6. All Quiet On the Western Front -- If you only ever read one book about war, let this be it. This book will really stick with you.

7. Here Be Dragons -- Superb historical fiction about Llewelyn the Great, Prince of North Wales, and his wife, Joanna, the only daughter of King John. Sharon Kay Penman at her best.

Honorable mentions for how I feel right now:
The Outlander Series, Harry Potter Series, Longitude, I Capture the Castle, Brothers Karamazov, A Hero of Our Time, Persuasion, Tao of Pooh, Sunne in Splendor, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Rebecca, Henry V (play), The Screwtape Letters, The Unbearable Lightness of Being

These lists are bound to change...probably next week when I finish the two books I've been working on lately. I completely recommend any of these titles.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Life's About to Get Exciting

Hello, reader. Just as I am getting started with this blog I am getting ready to embark on a new chapter of my life.

To understand the new, you're going to have to get a tiny glimpse of the old...

I sell art online for a living primarily using that most crafty of sites, Etsy, under the business name "TuckooandMooCow." I'm not in love with Etsy by a long shot and will probably go on brief diatribes about them from time to time, but I'll work hard to keep those to a minimum. If you'd like to read more about my work and my shop, you'll have to jet over to where I write about that stuff.

Hey, look, there I am working on my tiny paintings...

I've also moved a lot--especially recently--with my latest home being in Asheville, NC where I live in my favorite apartment I've ever lived in with gorgeous views of the mountains.

From my balcony after rain during the summer. Yeah, it's gorgeous.

I used to live in Kansas where I met my husband, Jordan, and my dog, George, who is a cairn terrier by birth and a honey badger by attitude (no, he's not vicious, but he "doesn't give a shit, he just takes what he wants") .

My husband is now joining the Air Force and in 2 weeks we will be leaving this beautiful place.

I'm excited and also anxious, but most of all I am really thrilled for the adventure that lies ahead. For the next 3 months I'll live with family and travel a lot which I hope to write about and share with you.

I started this blog as an outlet. I'm bursting with ideas, snide remarks and interesting tidbits but until now have had no place to really share them. I hope you'll stick around and enjoy the ride with me.

Sarah-Lambert Cook

Gearing up for Adventure

My husband is joining the Air Force and getting ready for him to leave has been a scramble, but an exciting one! I'll be living with family while he's at basic training, so part of the challenge has been how to get everything together for me to run TuckooandMooCow from a box. With a little organizing it is definitely doable! I'm pretty excited for this big adventure--especially for my husband. I can't wait to see what all is in store for him and for us!

With these last couple of weeks  I've also been working on retaking my photos. Above is a portion of my tiny stash for taking pictures. Previously, I'd been using a lightbox, but just recently I've been setting up some more elaborate staging which worked a bit better with natural light. Below are two examples of listings with updated photos! What do you think?

Velveteen Rabbit necklace

Penny Farthing Bicycle copper necklace

Upon The Rock

When my husband and I got married, we went back and forth for a while about how we wanted to say our vows. It wasn't just about what we wanted to say, but how we wanted to communicate physically and visually what we were saying. There are a lot of options out there and we couldn't get passed the humor of any of them.

There was the unity candle. Two lights are now one. It's a touching and poignant moment in many weddings. Of course, all our stupid little minds could think was, "Yeah, but then, *Puff* it blows out." Not an option.

Next there was the blending of two sands. After messes made making childhood sand art, this was just beyond taking seriously for the two of us. We also kept coming back to the phrase stratified layers. When you pour two colors of sand together they don't really blend, they make layers much like the layers of the earth. Always together, but never the same. Nope. Out.


Can you tell how into metaphors we are? 

Finally, we came across the practice--and an ancient one at that-- of using an Oathing Stone. The Oathing Stone is an old Scottish tradition where the bride and groom place their hands upon a stone while saying their wedding vows. It was thought to be the best way to express your solemn promise in physical form as it casts your vow in stone. Taken from the ancient Celtic custom of setting an oath in stone it was very clear to us that this was right for our wedding.

For us, this had a two fold meaning. As Christians, we related the stone to God who is called the Rock many times throughout the Bible. Reference is often made to God as the Rock, Jacob lays his head upon the Rock when he dreams of wrestling with the angel, Moses strikes the Rock in anger which brings forth water, and in the new testament Jesus tells of the wise man building his house upon the Rock. Yes, a rock is firm foundation, but because God is referred to as the Rock, this foundation is the firmest--it is God.

The other important meaning it held to us was that of unchanging, firm, permanence. To each have our hands resting on the rock as we said our vows, we showed in as permanent a way as we could, how firmly we promised our devotion to one another.

Moses was angry at the rock and struck it. In our marriage, we do get angry, not only at one another, but at God and our own beliefs. Still, our union is a firm one in which forgiveness is an integral part. We have built our lives upon each other and a firm foundation.

Happy Valentine's Day!

**What did I write last year for Valentine's Day? I wrote about John Donne here.

Using a Model

I've recently been working on my product shots, taking pictures on various textures and with props. Part of this has meant adding some pictures with a model. I was lucky enough to meet Sumner of SpottedDogFarm jewelry here in Asheville who has graciously stepped in as a model for me. Really, she couldn't be better! Her gorgeous red curls keep the cute redhead look going for my work and her excellent personality shines in each picture.

The photo shoot was a great success and I have been so happy with everything we got! I wanted to share with you one of the before and after pictures from the day to show what a difference editing photos can be for products.

 Sumner has a fantastic personality and is incredibly beautiful, but shadows can make you look a lot more care-worn in a picture than you appear in person and I wanted her to look as fresh as possible while also giving my pieces that extra oomph to really pop and be eye-catching. Above is the before and after of a shot for my Sherlock Holmes Bookmark. Most of what I did was lighten and soften the image, but I did do some airbrushing on her face to bring out her eyes a bit more.

I think these simple edits make a huge difference in how click-able the image is which is exactly what is needed for product shots.It's important to really see the potential in the photograph when taking shots for products rather than just focusing on how good the shot is while it's rough.

I feel extremely fortunate to have been blessed with such a gorgeous model! 

Wondering what photo editing software I use? I use GIMP which you can download for free for your own use.  

Interested in reading more about product shots with models? Artisans Gallery is writing about them this month.