GOING BACK TO WHERE IT BEGAN

A very happy new year to you all and I truly hope 2023 will bring us all peace and prosperity.

As I look back 2022 was a year of reflection for me. I spent a large part of the year either trying to work out where I was going or longing to create something wonderful but not quite knowing what. I think this must be a result of calling myself a mixed-media artist. I want to use everything all of the time and procrastination is my worst enemy.

At the beginning of last year I challenged myself to create at least one large canvas painting which I’d be proud to hang on a wall as well as to fill a sketchbook with drawings I could use in future paintings. However halfway through the year it became obvious that I had neither the urge or the time to create a daily sketch, or even a weekly one and the canvas project was looking less and less likely too. As time passed it became harder to get back into a creative habit. The sketchbook is half way filled and I hope to fill the other half this year.

I’ve decided to scale things down quite a bit as a result and so the shop has gone. This cuts down on the admin side of things and leaves me free to get back to the thing I love which is making art. I’ve opened an Etsy shop again so I can still sell my creations as well as a few supplies. I do hope you’ll visit me there as I start to fill it over the next few days. It’s called simply BASEMENT STUDIO LUXEMBOURG – to the point.

Etsy is where I started my journey all those years ago so it’s appropriate I should go back to where I began. I’ve learned a lot since those days, gained confidence and a bit more self belief. The next few months will be exciting as I explore the possibility of new ideas so I hope you’ll join me from time to time and we’ll see where this path leads.

Jaine xx

MIXED MEDIA ART BOXES

If you’ve ever thought about having a go at mixed media but were daunted by the choice of products out there, I’ve put together a few boxes as part of my big sale.

These boxes contain 35 quality branded items and have a value of 156.49€.

Inside you’ll get:

17 Dylusions ink sprays

A mini VersaFine ink pad

3 Posca paint pens

3 Prima texture stamps

8 Dutch Doobadoo A5 stencils

3 Stencil sponges

At an amazing 62.60€ you really don’t want to miss out.

Visit the shop to discover this and more https://shop.basementstudio.lu/

Have a good weekend

Jaine xx

BIG CLEARANCE SALE

You may have noticed that I’ve been pretty quiet here over the past few months as I’ve been spending more time with my family and less on my little business. I’ve decided to slim things down a bit and simplify Basement Studio. This slimmed down version of Basement Studio will allow me to dedicate my time to the family while spending a couple of days a week in the studio creating without pressure. I love doing what I do so I won’t be going anywhere in a hurry.

This means I am having a big clearance sale of many craft items, some from past workshops but most of it is craft materials which I have left on the shelves.

SALE LASTS UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH

To make things easier I’ve bundled lots of items together in art boxes and packages. These offer amazing value with at least half price savings on many craft products.

I’ve also decided to include a few mystery boxes. For only 20€ these boxes will give you amazing value for money as well as a fantastic surprise on the doorstep. You can’t choose a box or its contents but if you’re willing to take the chance I guarantee you’ll be getting at least 50% off most items. In fact by the time I’ve finished putting things in the box its value will be even more!

Everything has to go so don’t miss out on a fantastic bargain!

The clearance will last until December so not long really.

Jaine xx

GETTING OVER A CREATIVE BLOCK

We all experience them at one time or another. It’s like a wall of fatigue which stands in the way of anything creative allowing self doubt to creep in along with a general can’t be bothered attitude. I know because I’m in the middle of one right now. I want to sit on the sofa in pj’s and stare out of the window, the place which usually gives me so much inspiration, and eat crisps. I haven’t sketched anything for ages or made anything either, I’ve no inclination to go into my basement and do anything yet in a strange way my hands and my brain are itching to do something creative. The question is what?

Over the past few months I’ve spent quite a bit of money on online courses from urban sketching and watercolour to digital painting in the hope it’ll kick-start some crafty cogs into working again, and while I’ve learned a lot I just don’t seem to be happy with anything I’ve done.

I suppose at this time of year I’d be spending much more time outside in the garden dead heading and weeding which keeps me busy but with the intense dryness this year my garden is looking more like scrubland with a few crispy plant stalks sticking out to add emphasis to its sorry state. This is my haven, my inspiration, place of joy. I know it’ll come back next year, hopefully, but right now it’s not helping my mood.

I did have a sort out and got rid of a few things which I didn’t use. This made me feel better for a while. It was quite satisfying to clear out hoarded papers and old neglected stamps. I moved other things around to fill the spaces so I wouldn’t be tempted to just buy more. It’s much less chaotic now helping me to move forward and hopefully I’ve made someone’s day with the bits I’ve taken to the recycling shop.

I’ve asked around and it seems that focussing on something completely different is the key. Where I would normally be gardening, I’ve taken out the crochet again and I think it’s working. It’s giving my hands something creative to do and while I’m concentrating I’m not thinking about anything else. This morning I picked up one of those on-line courses again to finish it off and decided to give it another go.

Happy day – the fog is lifting all be it slowly. Maybe I just need to wait it out.

Jaine xx