I'm trying hard to keep on top of all the work I have to do - and meet the various deadlines - and let me tell you: it ain't easy. I seriously feel like I need a holiday - I work until midnight or 1am most nights and my mind is on my work from the moment I wake up in the morning (usually around 8-9am, depending upon how late I've been working the night before) until I go to bed. At the moment I have zero social life, am completely stressed, and I've come to the conclusion that being self-employed is not for the faint-hearted.
Anyway, I've finished one of my projects, and the pieces I have created at the request of the people at Homes & Gardens magazine are now in the post and on the way to their offices in London, ready for the photo shoot next week.
I thought you might like to see them, so here they are!
Collection of 10 Stones with hand-painted designs.
© Natasha Newton 2011
The deputy editor specified which colours of stones she would like me to use (grey, yellow and brown tones as opposed to anything more red-toned) and chose a few of her favourite designs from the stones I'd made previously. So I kept her preferences in mind and came up with the collection above.
They also wanted one of my hand-painted sycamore plates with a Feather design, so I came up with this:
Patterned Feathers
© Natasha Newton 2011
It was fun creating pieces especially for a magazine photo shoot, and I can't wait to see how they look when they're photographed professionally and actually in the magazine! I'll have to wait a while though - they'll be included in a nature-inspired article next Spring. I'll keep you posted!
Love love love these rocks. So lovely :)
Posted by: Jenni | November 11, 2011 at 12:33 AM
They all look just wonderful. You will be inundated with interest once the article is published. Brilliant work and much deserved recognition.
Posted by: Fiona | November 11, 2011 at 07:52 AM
These are very beautiful - hard to wait until next spring to see them in print - anyway thanks for sharing now - love the stones especially!
Posted by: Jennifer | November 11, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Well, the result is beautiful, I hope you'll show us some of the photos from the magazine in the spring! Yes, I agree, being self-employed requires real passion and lots of energy:)
Posted by: Laura | November 11, 2011 at 10:08 AM
How exciting! You're going to have to employ someone to help you once your work is in the magazine. You'l be inundated with orders!
Jess x
Posted by: Jess | November 11, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Beautiful as always!
Self-employment can be tough at times but so appreciated when the rush is over! :-)
Posted by: Julie Lapointe - La Datcha | November 11, 2011 at 02:10 PM
I'm sorry to hear you're so stressed right now, but I'm sure all your hard work will pay off soon. That's so exciting that your work will be in the H&G magazine, too! Congratulations, it's a beautiful collection.
Posted by: Bree | November 11, 2011 at 07:16 PM
Oh Natasha, your work is lovely. I love both the collection of stones AND your sycamore plate .... so so so so so tempting (oh if only I was rich I would love to buy so much of your work). Best of all this work doesn't look at all stressed, so I'm imagining that when you are working and concentrating you get energy from your work, but it's afterwards when you realise how much you still have to do and that time has once again passed so quickly, that the stress comes. Self-employment definitely has both pros and cons. Do try to look after you. With love and congratulations, Dorothy
Posted by: Dorothy | November 11, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Hi, I have just popped over after reading about you on Jennifer Tetlow's blog. Your stones and paintings are so stunning, they make me feel peaceful looking at them! Belinda
Posted by: Belinda | November 12, 2011 at 05:46 PM
You'll be in deep poo if you decide you hate your boss...
You actually are one of my heroes- one of the few who make a living (even if barely) at making artwork.
My stressors are quite different. NOT making artwork. The local arts place putting out a call for entries with less then a month's notice (the subject is dragons). I don't happen to have any "dragon" art lying around, & I certainly don't have time to come up with an image, photograph it, mail it, get it framed, drive to Kentucky from Maryland for Thanksgiving, swim...but with a little more notice, I could, & with different shows, have, managed to crank work out.
I'm my own "boss" as well, but I could really use a drill sargeant.
Posted by: evan | November 12, 2011 at 07:32 PM
Just caught the images of your pebbles on Jennifer Tetlows blog, think they are lovely - now I've got pebble envy!! Hey ho, back to the fibres!!
Posted by: Ash | November 14, 2011 at 07:53 AM