As usual, I find myself asking silly questions like, "How is July half over already?" and "Is it really about time to sign up for holiday events?!" Apparently I blinked and missed some weeks. Of course, it was a slow blink, because it's been much too hot around here for anything speedy. While I'm whining about the weather, I just want to mention that we've lost our dry heat edge. It's a damp, gross heat, and it makes me angry. Not as angry as turbulent winds, but I'm sure those will come around soon enough. It's what we do here.

If you have been thinking of coming to visit me at a market, tomorrow (Saturday July 15) would be a great day for it. I took on a slight injury yesterday, not gruesome, but painful and inconvenient. You could help me a great deal by buying something from me, therefore not making me carry it home again. It's the decent thing to do. 

I will be in the Downtown Growers' Market on Central at 8th, just by the roundabout. My booth is on the central sidewalk, on the right / north side, nearer the roundabout than not. It should actually be a cool, pleasant morning, with the sun shining and the birds singing, just like in those movies about the time you went to the park for the local market and bought 3 heads of cabbage, a goat, and a handmade pen, which you did NOT allow the goat to eat. Also, it's not cabbage season, and there are no goats there. Life isn't always like in the movies, but you can still get a pen.

Yeah, sorry, I know that's the most clichéd 'what's new' on the planet, but it does have a nice sound to it.

There is some Big News coming down the pipeline, but that's not quite ripe yet. For today, please content yourself with some of the other newness.

Here's the scoop on my business name: It's a made-up word.

I am a longtime fan of portmanteau, which is stuffing two words together to make another exceptionally awesome word that means both. Breathalyzer (breath + analyzer), blog (web + log), spork (spoon + fork), and mockumentary (mock documentary) are some of the classics. 

Ornatelier is a portmanteau of ornate + atelier. Ornate, you know - made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns. Atelier, you might not know - a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer. 

Yeah, I named my business Fancy Studio.  :D

How You Say It: orn - ah - tea - lee - aye   If you can say my actual name, you can say my business name!  

One of the most common questions I get about items I've made is, "What is it made of?" If the item is wood, the question is what kind of wood. If it's not wood, there are several options. One of my favorites is plastic, because the range of colors and effects is amazing. This post is a quick guide to some of those materials, with examples of things I've actually made from them, and few examples of things I haven't worked with yet, but will eventually if I get my way.

Synthetic pen materials are offered by a wide variety of manufacturers, including some local folks who like to play with the chemistry and additives themselves. The core of most of these is two part mixture of liquid plastics which combine to form a super-hard block of (usually) acrylic/polyester. 

If you press me to tell you what that means, I'm going to give two answers. One is: Chicken Wire. As in, the molecules that make up these materials tend to look like this. 

The other answer is: It's much like your countertop material, or the handle of your toothbrush. Whether these are clear or opaque, sparkly or low-key, whether they have a metallic sheen, iridescent swirls, or clouds of color are decisions left entirely to the manufacturer. The chemistry and techniques of composites, plastics and polymers are incredibly well researched, since so much of modern manufacturing relies upon them. 

You know what these things look like in your day to day life, but they look a little different when they're made for pen bodies and other custom applications. For one thing, the variations are a little overwhelming. Further complicating all this is the fact that there are folks who make custom acrylics, for example if you wanted to make a specific color. It can be dialed in like mixing paint. 

There are also products which combine natural and synthetic materials to good effect. Plant materials, minerals, wood with voids and spaces in it, and even seashells are popular inclusions in the acrylics, and the resulting made items can be spectacular. 

The composites can include novelty materials (glow in the dark pieces, coffee beans, pieces of dry pasta), or memento items, such as when you find an insect encased in clear Lucite blocks. It is also possible to make objects from crushed minerals and composite resins, which means you can have a pen made of malachite without having to pay the cost of having your pen made by a lapidarist.

... but the results are well worth the pain of decision-making!

It's that special time, when the air is filled with the sneezy waft of pollen and we walk around moaning about allergies and the way our cars turned dusty yellow overnight. All that pollen is a harbinger of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and farmers' market season! 

The Ornatelier has kindly been invited to take part in two markets this season. In the case of Albuquerque, the season extends from April through November, just about seven months. For those not in Albuquerque, you can find your local markets through www.localharvest.org, but also watch for signs, adverts in local papers (especially free ones!) and by searching on FaceBook and other social media.

My two main markets this season are the Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Art Market and the Downtown Growers' Market. 

Los Ranchos Art Market is going into its 22nd season, conducted in synchrony with the Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Growers' Market. The Los Ranchos markets are held every Saturday from May 6th through November 11th, and is open for business from 7 a.m. to noon until August, and then from September onward opens at 8 a.m. and goes to noon. (Civilized!!) The Ornatelier will be at this market the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at least. [5/13, 5/27, 6/10, 6/24, 7/8, 7/22, 8/12, 8/26, 9/9, 9/15, 10/14, 10/28, 11/11)

Downtown Growers' is into the 20th season now, and runs April 17th through November 4th, from 8 a.m. to noon. I am on-call for this market, meaning that the Ornatelier will be set up there only when there is another vendor who can't make it that day, as long as that day is one of the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. 

Now that we've talked about me, let's get into what's so great about local markets.

First and foremost for those of us who eat it, the local produce is outstanding. This is where you get tomatoes that taste like a sunny day, corn that was picked this morning, eggs that might as well still be warm from the nest, fresh herbs like you've never seen. Fresh picked, fully ripe fruit is hard to beat, and the berries are worth fighting for. You won't wonder how fresh things are, how they've been handled, what they've been treated with, where it came from, or anything else. In most cases, the person selling it to you has been involved in all this from the beginning, and can answer any questions you have. They can also give you storage tips, preparation info, and other useful info that you just won't get from a supermarket. Most growers' markets have at least one baker (usually several), a butcher, a dairy, and someone selling seeds, seedlings, and plants for those who want to grow their own. 

It's not just produce, though. These markets also generally include locally produced honey, which is pretty well known to help with allergies and comes in distinct flavors generally not found in store-bought honey. Fine art, crafts, and unique gift items are to be expected, clothing and jewelry makers are pretty much required; crafts and unique gift items are to be expected. Many markets have someone who sharpens knives (like the Ginger Ninja at Downtown Grower's here), local makers of soaps, lotions and bath products, leather artisans, woodworkers, coffee roasters, as well as at least a few prepared food vendors. I was excited to meet some folks who'll be selling fresh buttermilk biscuit sandwiches at DGM this season! 

In fact, local markets aren't even just about things you can buy. There is often music, live entertainment of several kinds, kid activities, demonstrations (like dog training demos, not like protests), and it's very common to meet people who are spreading the word about local events that might not be getting much attention in your community -- social, political and infrastructure issues that you'd like to know about BEFORE it is a done deal. Often you can register to vote, talk with alternative energy representatives (and sometimes even your local utilities have a booth to talk to customers about their concerns), and public outreach efforts from any number of charities, community services, youth organizations, and other groups. Local authors, publishers, and other creative types are also going to put in appearances from time to time.

In some ways, a local market is like a shopping mall that is tailored to things specifically relevant to your immediate life. Information, human contact, food, socializing, colors and textures and experiences you will benefit from. All markets are family friendly, most are pet friendly. If you're into food trucks and your town has 'em, you will almost certainly find those here.

While an open air market is very definitely focused on interpersonal exchanges, they are rarely totally unplugged events. Many vendors take card payments, can email your receipts, have online shops and websites, can look up answers to your trickiest questions on the spot and spread news of their business via social media (so you'll know where and when to find them next, for example). Some markets have fabulous programs going to help people get more for their money. For example, folks with public assistance vouchers can get double credit on fruits and vegetables at growers' markets here in Albuquerque, which helps the folks who are really scraping by have better access to real food and nutrition, instead of having to live on ramen or ketchup sandwiches.

Most of the vendors you'll meet at markets like these are experts in their area. They are going to know a lot about tomatoes, or baking, or cheese, or whatever their thing is. They know their customers, are as a rule friendly and helpful, and will be happy to see you. If you take time to get to know them as people, they will remember you and greet you by name and get to know YOU as a person. Happiness is having someone tell you they saved the last ice cream taco specifically for you, because they knew you'd come looking for one!

These are people making their living and supporting themselves and their families through this expertise and community involvement, and frankly, none of them are getting to be wealthy moguls this way. The point is, they (we! I'm one!) are doing it because it is the thing we are passionate about, and if we weren't doing our passion, we'd be pretty lost in the world. If you've ever had a disengaged employee of an impersonal retailer treat you like poop for no reason you could spot, then you know the difference. 

I talked to a lot of people last season at the Albuquerque Rail Yards Market, and found that a market morning makes a great outing. Lots of people go to these markets as a relaxing form of entertainment. A nice stroll, interesting things to see / hear / do, lots of other folks to interact with (or not, as you prefer), maybe a snack or a hearty meal. Perfect for picking up birthday and special occasion gifts, learning about your town, and staying in touch with the seasons. The people watching is amazing at these events, and the vibe is generally mellow, happy, and enthusiastic. Sometimes there's a goose that reads tarot, too. 

This past Saturday, March 11th, I had a booth inside the rotunda at the Anderson-Abruzzo Balloon Museum. The museum itself is fabulous, and it was enhanced considerably by a full day of music, art, dance, sport, and culinary delights themed mostly around St. Patrick's Day. On top of that, the day itself was just about perfect.

In addition to my usual goodies, I decided to do a pen giveaway at this event. Up above, you can see the lovely green pen that was up for grabs, and the challenge folks had to surmount to win it. 

As you can see from the photographs, the gum balls look a little different when they're not stacked up! Thirty-seven guesses were submitted in amounts from 30 to 231, with the most common guess being 50. The closest correct answer was submitted by Nancy Kerr, who guessed 87 gum balls. The exact number of gum balls in the box was 86. Congratulations, Nancy!

I will be running other contests and giveaways in the future, and I'll have some new products and venues to announce soon, so please stick with me here on the web page, on Instagram or Twitter, or FaceBook.

January is the month I like to take inventory, literally and figuratively, and decide how I want the rest of my year to go. Goals, intentions, schemes, dreams. No doubt you've heard that success is encouraged by telling others of our plans. The idea is to create accountability -- they says things like, "Hey, did you say you were going to ...?" at which point I am compelled to admit that I talk a big game. But every now and then I actually get some of those things done, and it's actually very compelling to have someone show an interest in it. 

In that spirit, here are some of my grand schemes for the coming year. Much as it pains me to say it, I have to disclaimer this a tiny bit: Not ALL of these things are going to happen. This is where I want to go, and I know that I can't really go in all the directions at once. But I'm willing to try. The 19th Century Explorer-Savant is my spirit animal.  ;)

• Glass - More glass work, more designs, more integration of materials. This is going to require some collaboration with other businesses, but that's cool. Those collaborations are getting lined up right now. I'll also be working on a larger scale than previously.
• Wood - More furnishings and larger decorative items. Wood is the #1 thing I want to work into the glass, and I can't wait to see some of my design ideas made real!
• Pens - Custom pen hardware. Until now, I've been relying on ready-made hardware, and just making fabulous bodies for the pens. I want to actually cast my own hardware, for truly distinctive writing tools.
• Knives - The knives are an area where I really want to bring my graphic design together with the combination of metal, leather, wood, and stone to great effect. 

That's just the material-specific program. I am also revamping my website and web store to be more fun and easier to use. Also: More up to date with the latest and greatest available projects, as well as some select accessory products that go well with my made things. (Pen refills, display and collection cases, etc.) I will still be involved in some local markets and other venues and events, and have added two more galleries where my work is available. 

Is that all? Probably not. It always sounds tidy when it's rounded up in a nice list, right? But life is messy, especially in the studio! 

For the curious, here's how to NOT ask me about my projects. 

I posted briefly about this on Instagram (@ornatelier) but wanted to follow up because I think this is exciting, and worth sharing more widely.

A couple of weeks ago, I ordered about $300 worth of supplies for my business. Crochet sets, pen hardware, etc etc. Because I wanted to get a bunch of things done before my last show (Rail Yards Holiday Market) I was obsessing on the tracking. 

99% of the time that a package is delivered, either myself or Don is home. This package arrived on a 1% day, and neither of us ever saw it. A conversation with the post office delivery warehouse manager confirmed the delivery, which suggested it had been stolen after delivery.

Because the show was still coming up, I made some hasty phone calls* to reorder as much as I could. Several of the items in the original order were out of stock by then. Also, being out $300 is pretty annoying. Given how ridiculous 2016 has been in many ways, as well as how busy I've been, I didn't really have the energy to get wound up about this. It was just disappointing, mostly. 

Replacement package arrived, things got made, shows happened, life went on. I won't say I forgot about it, but it just had no real urgency once I had the stuff I needed to not-ruin Christmas for anyone I owed finished projects to.

Last night - Christmas Eve - I went out the front door to take some trash to the bin, and tripped over an unexpected object. Quick mental inventory, am I expecting any packages? No? Hey, that looks a LOT like a box I just got a couple of days ago. And then I knew, before I even opened it, what it was. 

It had been opened, and rummaged, and retaped, but it's all in there. It wasn't misdelivered -- the tape on the bottom of the box was cut, the address label was still intact. Whoever took it decided to return it. That was especially amazing to me, because trash day had come and gone in my neighborhood since the heist happened, and I was sure it was gone forever. Not like there's a huge black market for a limited number of very specific pen kits...

I actually understand the temptation to do crimes, particularly ones that seem like low risk / decent reward. And I'm sure there are lots of great things to be found in other people's mail, especially around the holidays. However, I can also believe the temptation to put stolen things back is minimal. VERY minimal. I admit, this kind of impressed me. Totally unexpected.

* maybe the worst part of this is that I had to make a LOT of phone calls because of the theft?

This past Sunday, December 11, I participated in the final Rail Yards Market of 2016: The RYM Holiday Market. The old blacksmith shop at the Yards was booming! Music, art, food, and people. SO MANY PEOPLE!!  The visitors were enthusiastic, the vendors were overflowing with goodness (at least at the beginning...), and the weather was just about perfect.

I lucked into a last minute solo booth thanks to a no-show vendor, and was so busy between relocating close to opening time, and then the tidal wave of folks as soon as the market opened, that I did not have time to share my location change on social media. If you were looking for me halfway down the lefthand / east side of the market, I am sorry to have missed you. The Ornatelier ended up way down the righthand / west side, between Ye Ole Kitchen Witch and the mongolian food (Mo Mo). If you're in town and would still like to pick up a pen or knife from me before the holidays, check the online store. I've been updating the inventory and trying to make it easier to navigate. 

Saturday December 10th was a Dovetail Community Workshop event. I helped out a bit, and ran a little pop-up shop by the entrance. Quite a few folks turned up to make holiday decoration items, most of them brought kids. Lots of fun projects got made, and Dovetail is another step closer to being a full time reality here in Albuquerque! Thank you Erin and Sonja, and many others.