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Monday, October 26, 2009

We're Going On the Road

In case you haven't heard, BHR is going on the road. You can find out all about it here. Starting November 28, 2009 we will be doing a show 'Prospecting for America' at noon ET every Saturday. We will be broadcasting live from around the U.S. We hope to meet the musicians, listeners, and artisans from Blockhead Radio.

Till next time..........later taters

Friday, October 16, 2009

Stone Coyotes Marathon Today

Don't forget......at 1 pm ET today we will kick of The Stone Coyotes Marathon. We now have their entire library in rotation and we are gonna listen to it today.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Wordless Wednesday.......Artisan Style





Artisans of Arizona

a couple great artisans from the directory and showcase

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

A Stone Coyotes Marathon


Something really awesome happened this past week. I received and email from TSC. Barb asked me if I would like more of their music to play. TSC............anything you want to send. We had 8 and 9 in rotation and I was hoping for a couple more of their CD's.

The package arrived Saturday. It included the first 7 CD's by The Stone Coyotes. Yep, I got and did a dance. All the tracks are loaded and in rotation now.

This Friday, 10/16, we are gonna have a party. Starting at 1pm Et we are going to play all the tracks from the 9 CD's. That is right......gonna celebrate one of the best Indie bands out there by listening to all their recorded music. Join me in chat.


Monday, October 12, 2009

Top 10 You Said It We Played It Songs for October 12, 2009

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the Mid Day Madness request show last week.

1. These Four Walls by 7 Years Today
2. This Is My Life by 2 Sided Story
3. Place In France by Trey Green
4. Thunder on the Left by The Stone Coyotes
5. Hey Now Now by Chris Huff
6. Legs So Long It's Crazy by Della Valle
7. What If I'm Fine by Judd Starr
8. Freak by Underwhelmed
9. She Can Dance by Monk
10. Beautiful Dreamer by Citizens of Contrary Knowledge

Every week Monday through Friday we take your requests from 11 am to 1 pm ET for the Mid Day Madness. Top 10 is set by the number of requests for each song.


Saturday, October 10, 2009

Sponsorship Advertising Special !

This week if you purchase the annual BHR Sponsor Ad, you will receive a $15 Gift certificate to http://huckleberryarts.artfire.com Which can be used on any item up to a year in Huck's Shop!

The BHR Sponsor ad is a year ad on Every page of bhr, a commercial on the radio, and is also promoted on twitter,facebook, and many other social media venues. You also see the ads on BHR Blog and Huckleberry Arts Blogs !

Get your sponsor spot here http://blockheadradiolive.com/advertising

And we made it a little easier it is a $100 for the year sponsor BUT broke down to 4 payments of $25 a month! that is a little less than 28 cents a day!

Gift certificate will be emailed to you the same day you buy your 4 month subscription from Blockhead Radio, and can be used up to 1 year on any item at http://huckleberryarts.artfire.com !

Don't have a banner ad made up we will create one for you to use with purchase of sponsorship ad for free and yes you can use it elsewhere too!!!

Monday, October 5, 2009

New Music Monday

You've been hearing the music now meet the musicians

Groundsound
Jennings
HuDost
2am
7 Years Today

Swing by and read their bios, see some photos, watch a video, and check out the links. If you could retweet them and Digg 'em.

Happy Monday. Join me at 1pm ET and I play a sample of music from them.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

and in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Oh Crap We're Live.......................

As you know, we had to cut the live shows out not to long ago. Huck and I had to seek work outside the house. Well it all seems to be settling down into a schedule again. Whew. Now that we have a schedule worked out, I can go back to do what I love doing.

Starting Monday October 5, 2009 we will be back live on the air and in chat with the following shows.

Monday through Friday 9 am to 11 am ET the Morning BrewHaHa. Yep, all the all odd news, music, live guests, and antics you can handle.

Monday through Friday 11 am to 1 pm ET the Mid Day Madness. This is your chance to request your favorite songs on BHR. You can join us in chat or send them to request@blockheadradio.com. We will be keeping track and every Monday posting the top 10 requested songs for the previous week.

From 1 pm to 1:30 pm ET. We will have to see what develops.

On Friday nights at 8 pm ET, join Huck in chat for her weekly scavenger hunt. The winner will be promoted on the front page of the website the following week.

As always, the music is going 24/7. We have been adding a lot on new musicians and have over 500 submissions that we are going through now.

We upgraded the server today back to 128k. I just love how it sounds. It was done on the back end so you will not see any changes........only hear them.

Have you checked out the Blockhead Radio toolbar yet? It has a quick launch button for the player and links to popular social media sites like Twitter, Plurk, Facebook, and MySpace. We left room on the toolbar so you can customize it with the toys you would like. It works on IE and Firefox. Download our free toolbar

It looks like the second channel will be easy/world/jazz. Once we have all the music in we will be launching that channel. It looks to happen toward the end of this month.

Huck and I are brain storming ideas on some contests. Chances to win CD's, T-shirts, and more.

We want to thank all of you for your continued support of Blockhead Radio and want to welcome the new listeners from Evony. Yep, thanks ClosetCreature.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Annual Sponsorship Payment Plan

Hi There,

We know how hard times are now. We dropped our annual sponsorship to $100.00 and made it even easier by taking 4 monthly payments at $25.00 a month.

What is it? An audio (commercial ad) in rotation on air and a banner in rotation on the website, blog, player, and chat room.

Sign up today and get all the information here.

Thanks

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Mid Day Meltdown and Huck's Art Hunt

Mid Day Meltdown

Join me in chat everyday from 11 am ET to 1 pm ET (-5 GMT) to request your favorite songs. Kick back with your friends and take a break.

Huck's Art Hunt

Join Huck every Thursday night at 8 pm ET and join in on her scavenger hunt. It's a lot of fun and the winner will be promoted on the front page of BHR for a week.

Hope to see ya there.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Meet the Showcase Artisans: Mama's Little Monkeys

Artisan Biography for mamaslittlemonkeys

I have a fabric addiction along with a soap addiction and love to share my addictions with you! I am a SAHM to two boys, who loves to sew, craft, spend time online. I love to soap and try new crafts. I live in Southern Louisiana, and no I don't eat craw-fish! :) I have a variety of causes close to my heart, including, breastfeeding, Celiac Disease, sign language, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder! I love to try new things!

Monday, August 24, 2009

Meet the Musicians: Trey Green

Effortlessly cool and eternally whimsical, Trey Green embodies a series of irresolvable contradictions. He likes it that way. The Boston-based, globetrotting artist is impossible to pin down in any way, shape or form. At one moment incisive, at one moment hilarious and at other moments spouting foul humor, his inexplicably has had him create an unforgettable debut self-titled CD, a work that worms itself into the mind of the listener. You may be moved, amused or even appalled, but in a world of shrug your shoulder artists, Trey Green stands alone.

Trey Green was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but he has lived all over the world. From the mountains of Aspen, Colorado to the Bahamas, from Hawaii to Bozeman, Montana, Trey´s travels have left a man comfortable in any environment, and more importantly, with an insight into humanity that most people never even ponder. People are regional, Trey points out. I´ve been to every state and over fifty countries, and everyone has a bias favoring where they´re from against other places. It´s hilarious, he says with a mischievous grin. But it does make me able to see life from a lot of different aspects, and I am able to use that in writing songs, he states. And most importantly, I get to see the awesome humor in every day life.

Trey grew up in a musical family and has been writing songs since childhood. A concert cellist in the first grade, he became a concert pianist by third grade and has since completely forgotten both instruments. But he still plays the American made Stratocaster that he saved up for and bought at the age of twelve, with which he immediately began writing songs. I never wanted to play other people´s songs, Trey says. I always wanted to write them. That´s one thing I´m serious about.

Trey has a life-long love affair with the ocean he surfs, spear-fishes, and works in ocean conservation. It was in Fiji where he discovered his own unique appeal. He remembers, I was on Tavi surfing and hanging out with a crew of surfers and the tribe. I´m sitting there with about twenty Fijian women singing this incredible harmony, they ask me to play a song, so I played My Girlfriend. People lit up three people came up to me afterwards and told me I could get on the radio with it. One guy even offered to pay to record it, and for the first time I realized that the songs I was making up in my head could actually reach other people. So I started to go for it.

Indeed, My Girlfriend, a hilarious and irrepressibly catchy tale of a sexually and chemically out-of-control girlfriend, was the breakthrough for Trey. Recording it and then sending it out to a few friends as a Christmas gift/joke, he found the song had appeal beyond what he ever imagined. I went to see a friend´s band play in New York and they asked me to get up on stage and sing My Girlfriend. So I got up and sang it and all the girls in front knew the lyrics! I had no idea the song had spread virally to hundreds of people.

In April of 2008, Trey released his self-title debut CD, a winning collection of songs that, while infused with his unique and uproarious sense of humor, also displays a natural and diverse sense of melody and arrangements. Filled with driving and propulsive rock songs, only Trey would write something as affecting as "Tavarua," a moving ode to his surf spot in Fiji, a place he calls heaven on earth, and put it on an album with the wry and hilarious My Fantastic Ass.

For Trey, the experience of recording was an illuminating one. He recounts, I had never recorded in a studio before and walked in with the songs in my head. I didn't know the musicians and just played them everything from scratch. It was the coolest experience of my life to see what we came up with. I never sang as hard before a lot more came out.

Trey shot a hilarious video for My Girlfriend, which can be seen on MySpace and YouTube, but he´s already preparing for the next chapter of the Trey Green story. I´m starting to write songs for the second album, and I´m conceiving of what the ultimate Trey Green show is all over the place, with funny songs, loud songs, sad songs, maybe even skits. I want it to be a complete experience. Whatever I do, people should know that an experience with Trey Green will always be serious fun.

Friday, August 21, 2009

They Said What Freak by Underwhelmed Lyrics

Freak

Written by: Underwhelmed/Hazeart

Is anyone out there
anyone out there listening
just yell if you hear me
anyone out there
anyone out there listening
do i have to scream it

are you a mess like me are you a freak like me…well

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)
are you a mess like me (i think you know)

running away from
running away from everything
dont think i can take it
dont know if i can
dont know if i can stay awake
but i think i can make it

are you a mess like me
are you asleep like me ..well

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)
are you a mess like me (i think you know)

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)
are you a mess like me (i think you know)

all this talking gets us no where….
whats the difference, all this waiting
always thinking….always waiting
whats the difference if everything’s the same

is anyone out there
anyone out there listening…..are you listening

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)
are you a mess like me (i think you know)

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)

are you a mess like me (i think you know)



Learn about Underwhelmed and Listen to them on BHR

Inside the Directory Simply Smiss

Those That Help Us Rock...LaDeDa Creations


My name is Laura, I'm 38 and have recently fell in love again with making jewelry and other clay and wire crafts.

My husband Tony and I own a day spa in Catoosa, Ok. named Laura's Garden Spa. I sell my crafts there but wanted to branch out more.

If you are ever traveling historic route 66 be sure to stop in and see us. Or you can visit our website laurasgardenspa.com


Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Meet the Showcase Artisans: Popnicute


Popnicute (pop\knee\cute) is created by Kharisma (Kay) Ryantori Sommers. Popnicute provides unique, highly imaginative handcrafted jewelry for eclectic individuals like you. If you dare to be different, you will like Popnicute's jewelry designs. Made of Sterling Silver and Copper along with semi precious gemstones, Popnicute serves the best craftsmanship. Wire wrapped to the best, intricate details, they are surely made to last. Custom orders are always welcomed at Popnicute. By buying handmade, you're guaranteed to get the best customer service. Popnicute's handcrafted jewelry are perfect for every occasion and will make perfect gifts for your loved ones.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Meet the Musicians: Chrissy Coughlin

Chrissy's seasoned voice coupled with her warm personality are an unstoppable combination. She calls to mind Sheryl Crow and Natalie Merchant with tinges of Rickie Lee Jones and Lucinda Williams.

And 2008 has been a good year for this New York City based singer-songwriter. The winter was full of excitement moving to and 'officially' becoming a 'New Yorker', the spring delight of releasing her new CD, Look Ahead, and the summer and fall have been chock full of performances to support her new release.

Raised in numerous places including Detroit, Kansas City, and Washington DC, Chrissy is no stranger to moving around and making things work for her. Her ease with meeting people from all different walks of life through her travels throughout the country and the world has afforded her the ability to translate those experiences into intensely thoughtful songs.

Chrissy didn't start off a singer-songwriter. In fact, it was only after a post college career in the environmental field, when she allowed herself the time to sit down and to develop her craft. Music has always been in her blood as an accomplished flutist and singer but songwriting was new. And she was more than ready for the challenge.

Living in DC, working an intense job, playing out at night, and performing songs from her debut CD, You Never Know, confirmed everything Chrissy was feeling up to this point that it was the right time to dedicate all her attention and efforts to music full time.

Chrissy quit her job, packed her bags and moved to the cozy woods of New Hampshire. Living in a beautiful and tranquil environment she enlisted the help from some of Boston's best musicians to record and create Look Ahead. And it has paid off.

Look Ahead is full of songs deeply rich in wisdom, perception, longing, and sophistication. The songs evoke strong emotions in the listener as Chrissy beautifully describes feelings that make you grin one minute and cry the next. Her song, Back to You, a classic rock song, pleading to return to her lover as well as her hauntingly angelic ballad, Wait for You, that delicately balances patience and interpersonal strength, are two perfect examples.

With the release of Look Ahead, Chrissy has entered a new level in the music world.

And there's no (turning or looking) back.

Click Here to get all of Chrissy's links, watch a video, and more

Monday, August 17, 2009

Those That Help Us Rock...Catinalife



Artisan Biography for catinalife

I have always loved the gemstones, I am a true beadaholic/rock fossil hound, BA/RFH and have collected a vast amount of gemstone and glass. Making gemstone jewelry has become a real passion of mine. I take great pride in making a piece that is worn and well liked, I want my jewelry to be enjoyed for many years to come. I am always trying new design ideas. Nothing fancy just simple everyday jewelry that is fashionable, affordable, and unique. That is what I love to create and share.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Just Want To Clear The Air

This past week we made a format change to Blockhead Radio. It was done because a situation dictated it. We urged all the host to continue with their podcast and we would help them. We offered to one of the host to send us their podcast, we would host is on our server, send them the code for their blog, put a link to it on the front page of the website, and that they could use BHR chat to answer questions. We would do this for any host at no cost.

So it came as a great shock to me when I was called an @#%hole and told to suck somebodies #$ck in the comments of this blog post and the facts got skewed in this one. So I thought I would just clear the air.

Going 24/7 music has been on the board for some time now. This week something happened that forced me to do it. Yes it was quick, but the situation forced me into it.

The main point to be made is the fact that all hosts approached me about doing a show/podcast. They presented a concept and the show was approved or disapproved. Then a time slot was chosen and on with the show. If we would have followed industry trends we would have charged each host for bandwidth, but we didn't. No show that ever aired on BHR paid to do so.

Each host was told to use their show for promotion of their shops, blogs, sites, etc. We did offer a bounty to knock the top show out of it's slot. It was a $100.00 and was never accomplished. The only requirements that we put on the host was to promote their show online and to do a follow up blog post here. That was all.

Blockhead Radio has never laid claim to any shows with the exceptions of ones we created and produced. So I have no idea what this was about.

This quote is probably the one that left me shaking my head the most. "along with the subsequent statements made by Rod that by ridding itself of artisan shows, BHR would be a far better station certainly did not reflect that philosophy and indeed it showed a genuine lack of regard for the hosts" First off, all shows were canceled and what I actually said was "by going to a 24/7 music format we would draw another base of listeners and that would help increase the exposure to the artisans through the showcase and directory."

Many times a show didn't air cause life happened. Family first I always said, no worries.

In the end I am responsible to the advertisers, the listeners, paying the cost to operate the station, and to my family. This week I had to put my family first. If I am an !@#hole for doing that, so be it.

Friday, August 14, 2009

CD Release Party: The Stray Crows "Flyin' Blind"

Join us as we welcome Mike Burnes from The Stray Crows tonight a 8 p.m. eastern time. Find out who The Stray Crows are and listen to the debut of their latest CD 'Flyin' Blind'. Gonna be a party, so be there.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Meet the Showcase Artisans: My Magic Me

At My Magic Me Studios we understand that gift giving on those special occasions can become increasingly difficult as the years pass. Why buy another jewelery box, another sweater, another gift certificate, when you can give the unique gift of a photo manipulation. The ultimate keepsake that will be treasured for years to come. Below you will find just a few of the styles we can morph your family photo into, so browse about. Welcome to My Magic Me Studios, where fantasy is just one photo away.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Meet the Musicians: Jason Harrod


Jason Harrod draws from the best traditions of American music to create a sound all his own. His songs about lost love, found joys, and spiritual longing have garnered him a loyal following across the country.

Harrod?s latest release, Bright As You, finds him backed by a crack group of musicians featuring Phil Madeira (Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Al Green, Mavis Staples). The songs, sung in a rich, brooding tenor and underscored by inventive guitar work, range from the Beatle-esque "Bright As You" to the blues-infused Night, Fall On Me,?to the dark, ambient lament Messed Up Everywhere Blues, which will appear in the upcoming film "The Wager," starring Randy Travis.

After releasing 3 albums to critical acclaim as half of the folk-pop duo Harrod and Funck, Jason ventured out on his own. In 2000, he won first place in the bluegrass category of MerleFest?s Chris Austin Songwriting competition, an honor held by Grammy Nominees Tift Merrit and Gillian Welch. He followed that up with a first place win in the 2001 North Carolina Songwriters Co-op contest and in 2002 appeared on the Legendary Arthur Smiths Carolina Calling television show along with Alison Krauss and Union Station. In 2005, Jason performed at the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IMBA) annual gathering as part of an emerging artist showcase.

Living in Skin, Jason´s acoustic-based first album, features the award-winning songs When I Get Home and Carolina, the latter of which was included on WUNCs compilation CD, Best of Back Porch Music.

You can find Jason at his website, on Myspace, Facebook, and hear his music on BHR.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

New Advertising Rates and Limited Spots

Starting September 1, 2009 the banner/audio spots will be $50.00 per month. If you are a current subscriber at $21.00 per month you will keep that rate as long as you hold the subscription. We have reduced the number of spots available to 24 to fit with the current player and chat. There are two spots that will have 12 paid ads spots and 2 for cross promotion. The banner ads still will rotate every 15 seconds. There are currently 12 paid spots available. If you subscribe before the end of the month you will be locked at the $21.00 per month rate.

Thanks

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Outside the Frame, August 5 show recap


On Wednesday’s episode of Outside the Frame we discussed Artist Representatives and Agents: What should you look for in a rep, what you can expect from your rep and what they expect from you. We began by discussing terminology, Artist Representative or Agent … which one? Both terms are interchangeable. Although, agents do tend to be more readily associated with the publishing, entertainment, and sports worlds whereas representatives tend to be more readily associated with fine art. Representatives and Agents perform the same types of jobs it’s just that some prefer to be called “Artist Representatives” while others prefer the term “Agent”. No matter the title used, the important thing is to find the rep or agent that handles your particular industry or market.
Oh and a word of caution, don’t be confused by the term “Artist Agent” especially if you are conducting your search via the Internet as this term is used widely by agents representing singers and musicians in the music industry.

What Can I Expect From a Rep or Agent?
First, it is important to note that the Representative or Agent works for the artist. Without the Artist’s talent to sell, the Rep or Agent would not exist. On the flip side, though, the artist can sell their own works for themselves without the aid of a Rep or Agent. The rep or agent promotes the talent of a group of artists (also known as a “stable”). The rep will maintain a portfolio of the artists’ work to facilitate sales calls and/or to secure assignments for the artist/illustrator/photographer. Additionally, a rep will negotiate fees and contracts for the artist, bill clients for completed work, collect monies due the artist, and follow up on competed assignments to get samples of published work from the client in order to update artists’ portfolios. In most cases, the agent will bill the clients for work the artist has produced and will typically be writing checks to the artist. However, it is the artist who pays the rep in usually in the form of a commission which is typically anywhere from 25% to as high as 50% -- depending upon the reputation of the rep as well as the industry or market. Artist-Agent relationships are governed by contracts that work well for the parties involved. Therefore, there is no “generic” Artist-Agent contract to suit all artists’ needs but there is a certain standard of professional practices. Be sure that any contract you sign with your Representative or Agent specifies clearly what each party is responsible for in regards to advertising, promotion, portfolio samples and maintenance, as well as, ownership of samples, proportion of expenses split between artist and agent and in what percentage the profits are split.

The agent’s office expenses such as rent, phone, fax, computer and messenger services are usually considered part of the agent’s overhead and are not shared by the artist. Although, an agent may charge their artists a set rate or fee in order to have the artists’ work appear on the agent’s website. Promotion costs in the form of direct mailing efforts or directory advertisements are usually split between the artist (75%) and the agent (25%). The artist’s studio, materials, and framing supplies, as well as, office expenses are considered part of the artist’s overhead and are not shared by the agent. Any agent who wants payment up front for any of these costs is not acting professionally. Once you’ve signed with the rep or agent, likely you will need to pay for portfolio maintenance and/or promotional expenses right away in the manner that I stated earlier i.e. the 75%/25% artist-agent split. The artist should receive copies of all receipts for any and all expenditures that the agent incurs on the artist’s behalf. Make sure you have this statement in the contract.

What Should I Look for in a Rep?
The Artist-Agent relationship is much like a marriage and finding the right rep is much like finding Mr. or Ms. Right. You should sit down and make a list of the qualities you are looking for in order to find your “perfect” rep. Here are some areas to consider.
Market: Make sure the rep you approach works within the market to which you wish to sell your works. For instance, a fine art rep will not do you any good if you’re work is intended for the children’s book market nor will an agent who works primarily with major advertising.
Style: Make sure that the rep you approach handles material in your style. If you work in fashion illustration, you would not likely want a rep who deals mainly with cartoons. Your work should fit comfortably in the rep’s stable but not duplicate any current artist’s style as they will get the work, because they are a known quantity for the agent, and you will not.
Number of Artists: Unless there is more than one principle rep within the agency, stay away from reps who handle more than 15 - 20 artists. Usually what happens when you get with an agent with a large stable, the big-name artists get all the choice assignments while the lesser-name artists get the other jobs, if they get any at all.
Agent Accessibility: Does the agent try to answer my questions or ignore my concerns? Are her/his answers vague? Did the agent provide artist references? If I have a problem, can I get in touch with the agent? Be sure to ask for artists references and check them out . . . are they getting steady work through the agent, have they had trouble reaching their agent at key moments, or have they had any trouble getting their payments. When given the opportunity, I ask the agent permission to contact his oldest and his newest artists and/or the biggest name artist in his stable and the least known name in his stable. This will usually give you the clearest picture of how the agent can handle your career over several years and at various stages.
Agent Trust: Never sign with an agent you don’t trust. No matter how good the contract, how big the rep is, or how much they want to represent you; you will never feel truly comfortable with the rep if you do not trust her/him fully.

Am I Ready for a Rep?
It’s important to know whether or not you are ready for a rep before you start your search. Know exactly what you want from a rep. Ask yourself, what can a rep do for me that I cannot or am not doing for myself already? A rep will not define your style for you. A rep wants to see that you have developed a style suitable for the market(s) you intend to reach. Very few reps will take on emerging artists and are not in the business of training artists. Reps look for artists who have been in business a minimum of five (5) years and/or show a modicum of success at selling their own work. If you’re thinking about avoiding the business of selling art altogether by getting a rep, think again. The time to look for a rep is when you already have an established client base that your rep can build on by finding you new clients, new markets, and re-uses for your existing work.
Reps tend to go through cycles of taking on talent. They’ll tend to take on new talent in one period, and spend a year or possibly more developing them. Promoting talent is a very big part of their work. Any artist who is serious about wanting to sell their work would follow their lead. Artists who consistently send out promotional material to reps have a better chance of crossing the period when reps take on talent. Reps may keep images on file for years before they decide they want to approach an artist.

Where Can I Find a Rep?
There are several places to look. You can search through directories such as American Showcase, Creative Black Book, Creative Illustration, and RSVP. They all have a section for artist representatives with examples of the works by artists in their stables. You can look through these samples and see if your work would be a good fit. Communication Arts Magazine and other publications also feature advertisements by reps. Look through the publications to get a feel for which agencies handle the type of work you create and the type of markets you wish to approach. The Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market (AGDM) and Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market (CWIM) have listings for Art Reps which includes contact information, terms, guidelines for first contact, and tips for artists; although, the information provided is mainly text and not pictures. Another good way to find a rep is to ask for recommendations from art directors, clients, and other artists. And, of course, in age of the “information highway”, you can do a search on the Internet. Many reps have a website to showcase the work of their artists and to provide contact information for artists seeking representation. In my opinion, the best place to find a rep is to contact the Society of Photographers and Artists Representatives (SPAR), an organization for professional representatives whose members are required to maintain certain standards and follow a code of ethics. You can contact SPAR by mail at 60 E. 42nd Street, Suite 1166; New York, NY 10165 or by phone at (212) 779-7464. Bare in mind that this is a highly competitive business and it will take time – sometimes even years, to become the type of established art professional that art reps are seeking. Three things that can help you are: funds for promotions, patience, and a thick skin.

A Look at Sample Artist-Agent Agreements:
There are subtle differences between the Artist-Agent Agreement for the Fine Artist and the Artist-Agent Agreement for the Illustrator. Mainly in regards to the handling of samples; with the fine artist, oftentimes the samples are in the form of actual original artwork, whereas with the illustrator the samples are usually in the form of transparencies or other reproductions. Also for the illustrator, you will need to include a clause regarding promotional fees and/or specify the percentage required of each party. For this reason, I am providing a sample Artist-Agent Agreement for both the fine artist and illustrator. The first sample is the actual Agreement I signed with a fine artist representative back in 1998, however, I am no longer with this particular agent. I have not included the agent’s full name or address on the sample contract. The second sample Agreement is for illustration, again I have not included the agent’s full name or address. You can find these agreements as PDF files with notes on my My Website in the column on the left under Episode 12 Worksheets.

Over the years, I have had several reps and have yet to find Mr./Ms. Right. The adage that you will not find anyone as invested in selling your art as you are is true. Sadly, most of the reps that I had did far less for me than I did for myself and garnered a happy percentage of my income in the bargain. There are times when I wistfully wish that I had someone dedicated to the business side of things so that I could just simply create art then I realize … I’d miss it. Besides, I wouldn’t have as much material for my show and articles. Tune in to Outside the Frame next week when will discuss Exposure: Do You Feel a Draft?

Save 40c on Tough Times

Are coupons worth the trouble?


Wildwood and Skyline took a long look at coupons and came up with some basic tips: stay organized with shopping lists and coupon wallets, find coupons in print form from newspaper and mailer packets, explore online sources for manufacturer coupons, and avoid offers for products that aren't on your regular shopping list.
A few promising sites we found were FrugalFamilies CouponMom CouponMountain and Coupon101
Wildwood was able to get in a few coupon jokes, and Skyline told of a strange but wonderful story of a sample table for beer! Our chat room offered up some great tips on coupons, too: keep your coupons in the same order as your grocery store to save time and frustration.
So, whether you say coo-pons or que-pons, you are in the checkout line to SAVE:)
Do you have some baking soda in that cart? Then you probably have some amazing tips to send TOUGH TIMES! Try our tips@blockheadradio.com and we'll get your tips on our next show...

The Magic of Baking Soda
on Tuesday August 11th at 11:30 eastern time.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

"New Discoveries" for August 4, 2009

Another three fabulous shops were featured on tonight's show. The first shop was Voyage Jewelry Designs. "Handcrafted jewelry inspired by beautiful places around the world! Each piece of Jewelry I create is crafted from quality Semi-Precious Gemstones, Genuine Swarovski Crystals Beads, Czech Glass, Sterling Silver, Bali and Hill Tribe Silver, Copper, 14K Gold-filled components, durable 49-strand wire and other materials."



The second shop was Wonderlust Photography. "Photography is a passion and hobby of mine. I hope some day that it could become a career. Wonderlust came to me after repeatedly hearing a friend discuss her wanderlust. While wanderlust is applicable, I thought there is something that better describes me. Wonderlust seemed to perfectly define my constant search for knowledge, my endless stream of questions, and infinite pursuit of creative outlets.



And the third shop tonight was Taste Of Heaven Bakery. "We are a new bakery starting in Jamestown Ohio. We use only all natural ingredients, real butter, unbleached flour, Demerara cane sugar, natural peanut butter, etc. We strive to make the best tasting offerings possible. What you wont find in our offerings is margarine, vegetable shortening, or any weird chemicals with names only a chemist could pronounce. We welcome custom orders and gift boxes are available, contact us with any special requests. We offer local delivery, contact us for more info.




Tootles!!

Very Cool Contest for Gardeners by SimplyHydro

Calling all gardeners, The staff at simply hydroponics want to see how your garden grows. SO we will be having a contest.

We want you to email us your family friendly gardens. We want to know what you use from your soil/hydro medium. We want to know what food you use what pesticides you use. How old your plants are. What size your garden is. The more details you provide the better you chances of winning.

We will be having 3 levels of entry: Beginner, intermediate, Expert. All valid entries will receive a prize of our choice. The first place prize for beginner will be $25.00 gift certificate, second place will will $10.00 gift certificate, and third place will receive $5.00 gift certificate. intermediate grand prize will will $35.00 gift certificate, second place $15.00, and third place $10.00, last but not least expert level: Grand prize $50.00 gift certificate, second place wins $25.00 gift certificate, and third place wins $15.00 gift certificate.

Now for the rules:
You must email entries to gbrown@simplyhydro.com and include pictures. Remember the more detailed your entry the better your chances of winning. We will be posting the winning garden pictures on the blog (private info will not be posted).
Garden has to be kid friendly or will not be considered a valid entry. All valid entries will receive a prize.

The entries will be judged by the staff at at Simply Hydroponics and Organics.

You garden can be Hydroponic or Organics as we love both types of gardening.
All entries must be received by 10-01-09. for this contest. Winners will be picked and winning gardens will be posted the following week.

BHR Artisan Directory

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Advertising and the Showcase

Advertising is open to all. If you are an artisan, blogger, website owner. The only restriction we put in place is that is has to be a legal site and kid friendly.

If you notice right on top there are 4 150 x 150 banners in rotation. These will be on all the Blockhead Radio 'Live" pages, chat room, blog, drop down menu, any other place I can find to stick it, and the BHR Player. There are 12 banners in rotation on each one. Each banner rotates on a 15 second rotation. This keeps it in motion and attention getting. With the banner ad spot comes a one liner that is read on air. Each banner will have an ad/plug played in rotation i.e. "Check out thiswebsitename.com cause they rock" This makes a very good impact and isn't tuned out as a commercial. 3 to 4 plugs will be played in rotation every hour.

Sound good so far? Now for the cost. We are throwing the CPM out the window. It will be a flat rate of $21.00 per month. Once the 48 spots are filled we will create a waiting list.

Advertiser will be responsible for supplying a 150 x 150 pixel banner and the link to information. If you have any questions please email us at advertising@blockheadradio.com or click here to sign up.

The Artisan Showcase is now full. If you have purchased a spot please send your information to rod@blockheadradio.com with 'Showcase' in the subject line.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Artisan of the Week DeDe Sorensen

Known for her use of striking colors and expressionism within the framework of realism, artist DeDe Sorensen is drawing national and international attention for her style of art that she describes as Pragmatic Expressionism. "In true expressionism, the emphasis is on the subjective expression of the artist's inner experiences rather than on the subject itself", explains DeDe. "My work, while expressionistic, is more strongly rooted in reality because I am at heart a pragmatist.

Fine Arts Education:
I started drawing in mid-1986 and completed my first oil painting, Waterfall shortly thereafter in August. I began exhibiting my work in October 1992. My first sale of art and my first private commission came in early 1993.

Professional Overview:
Throughout the years as a full-time professional artist, I have had the opportunity to work in numerous capacities within the visual arts field such as art instructor, art workshop lecturer, art conference panelist, art competition juror, portfolio/scholarship judge, gallery board member, visual arts publicist, and arts-business author in addition to the private commissions, commercial illustration and gallery exhibitions/sales normally associated with an artist’s career. My fine art is in private collections throughout the U. S. and in corporate collection in Kentucky. Two of my works have been acquired for permanent collection by museums; in the U. S. and in England. I have exhibited in galleries in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Pennsylvania and Idaho. My illustrations have been published in the U. S. and abroad in Spain, France and Argentina. My arts-related writings have been published in various periodicals in the U. S. including The Artist’s Magazine.

Artistic Philosophy:
Striking colors and expressionism within the framework of realism are the elements that make my work hard to categorize in present artistic terminology. Thus, I describe my work as Pragmatic Expressionism. My work straddles the realms of realism and expressionism marrying the controlled documentation of everyday life alla Norman Rockwell with the emotional renderings of inner struggles alla Vincent van Gogh - two of my artistic heroes. In true expressionism, the emphasis is on the subjective expression of the artist’s inner experiences rather than on the subject itself. My work, while expressionistic, is more strongly rooted in the reality of the subject because I am at heart a pragmatist. Extensive travel throughout my adult life has played a major role in my creativity. Embracing the unique beauty of each region while finding those familiar things that can make a new place feel like “home” is the challenge of every nomad. The artist faces a similar challenge to find those things within the subject that are common to humanity while embracing that which makes each subject unique. As an artist, what I bring to the work is my own particular viewpoint expressed not only in what I choose to paint, but also in how I present the subject to the viewer – whether I wish to accentuate its unique characteristics or convey its commonality. I strongly believe that my art is a gift and, whenever possible, I should use my art to aid those who are in need -- to speak for them through my art or use my art to raise funds or both.

Primary Artistic Themes:
I tend to gravitate toward the primary themes of land, sea, sky, felines and food; although I do explore other topics when inspired to do so or the needs of a client dictates.

Personal Information:
I was born in Ashtabula OH on September 5, 1961 at high noon - four minutes prior to my twin sister and number seven of nine children. My then two-year-old brother is responsible for my nickname as when he said “Denise”, it came out “dee-dee” and I have been called DeDe ever since. My mother is responsible for the odd spelling. At the age of eighteen, I joined the Army and left Ashtabula. I was stationed at a secure installation in Augsburg, Germany where I met my husband of twenty-six years who was stationed at the same installation. We have four beautiful children, or rather, successful young adults (our youngest is seventeen). We are proud homeschoolers. Prior to settling in Hanover PA in 1995, we lived in numerous locations across the United States and in Europe.

Got Cheese?

We had a new topic on Chocolate Covered Bacon tonight, and tried a slightly different format. Please let me know what you think. Today we discussed cheese! How to store it, wrap it and handle it, you know the basics. With some great tips on how to keep it from molding.

We then follow up with some great cheese to try. Manchego is a great cheese for cheddar and parmesean lovers. It's a great sheeps milk cheese that has an amazing flavor that is sure to please. A great serving suggestion is to slice membrillo and place the membrillo on top of slices of Manchego.

We also went into the great story of how Beemster came about, both the polner and the cheese! With some great varieties such as Graskaas and Vlaskaas. I would highly suggest you try these cheese if you can find them at a local cheese shop or grocer.

I hate to let you know that next week we will not be on the air, as I will be attending parts of the American Cheese Societies event in Austin, TX. I will be back live on the air on Thursday August 13th at 7PM EST with a recap of some the great new cheese that I will get to try and the event! So be sure to check out some of the other great shows on Blockhead Radio, as well as the great indie music! I will see you in two weeks!

--James, ClosetCreature in BHR Chat, your host

Manchego on Foodista

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Musician of the Week Chris Huff

Chris Huff is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer specializing in hooky retro pop songs that combine different genres. His sound has been described as "Bob Dylan and David Bowie jamming in Jamaica"; his songs have also been favorably compared to The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Woody Guthrie, Kurt Cobain, Martin Sexton, and Dr. Dog.

His latest CD Death and Texas LP is now available at CD Baby and iTunes. The disc has begun to garner excellent reviews (Origivation, Oct 2008), as well as attention from websites like OurStage.com where "Hey Now Now" placed at #8 in the Jam Bands category for June 2008.

Chris's musical background goes something like this: started on classical piano, moved to jazz bass with a big band, strummed some folky guitar after a bike accident as therapy, sang a cappella, opera, and gospel both solo and with award-winning choirs and ensembles, studied bluegrass in Kentucky, immersed himself in the electric guitar (focusing on anything pre-Van Halen), and hit the streets singing and playing in bars, clubs, restaurants, and wherever would have him (venues including Carnegie Hall and CBGBs). Along the way he has played and sung with progressive rock bands, large soul groups, little alternapop combos, scored for independent film, and written and performed children's songs and new age Kirtan chant. So, at this time in history where mixing and matching genres to create endless subgenres is all the rage, Chris is uniquely qualified for this sort of work with his eclectic, all-encompassing musical background and multi-faceted, flexible writing and singing voices.

For some people, this kind of genre-hopping might indicate a lack of focus but for Chris it serves to highlight his core musical philosophy. "I think of what I do as musical gumbo," he says. "In the way the great jam bands pool together all of their musical influences to produce something new, my main goal with my Death and Texas LP was to create a retro pop album that pulled from a variety of sources. It would be almost like listening to a mix tape except, of course, all the songs would be performed by the same person."

The CD was recorded while Chris was traveling around the US and Canada freelancing with a Broadway tour. He produced several projects for members of the company, most notably for Broadway singer Randal Keith (Les Mis?rables, Phantom, Spamalot).

Other projects include his first CD North Cathedral Way which led to being a Finalist in the 2001 Independent Music Awards sponsored by Musician's Atlas. He also co-wrote liner notes for David Bowie's live and well CD (Chris's contribution is the first thing you see inside the cover). Bowie, who "quite liked" North Cathedral Way, sent a film crew to shoot a live performance of Chris in Central Park and featured video clips on davidbowie.com of Chris playing "Moonage Daydream" among other select Bowie songs.

Chris has opened for Hamell on Trial, Brooks Williams, Stanley Jordan, and played "The Killing Moon" live with Echo and the Bunnymen. He has also worked as a sideman with Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul, and Mary), Amanda Green (lyricist of Bway's High Fidelity), and Chuck Hammer (Lou Reed, David Bowie, TV/film composer).

Visit Chris on his website and blog.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Job Well Done

Larry let me know this morning that a local organization is going to cover a portion of the cost of the surgery. With the money raised by a group of individuals it will be enough to cover his part. Great job by everybody that worked so hard on this, donated, and bid on items.

Glasstastic is Fantastic!

Check out Glasstastic Treasures for some truly beautiful lampwork creations! From cute and whimsical to truly elegant, this shop offers a little eye candy for everyone.


Right now 50% of any purchase from her shop is being donated to the surgery that will help save Larry's life!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

"New Discoveries" July 28, 2009

This week I featured three fabulous shops. The first shop is www.NestleAndSoar.etsy.com. Here is an excerpt from her shop: "Welcome to NestleAndSoar! I create crafts that have the soft energies of nesting and gliding; I watch birds playing in my yard from my studio window. The Jewelry, Purses, Pin Cushions, and Paper Goods I create are my favorite items. I enjoy the natural world and use organic images like birds, nests, trees, and flowers in my work. My favorite day includes a walk in the forest and playing with the soft colors of blue, yellow, and green."



The second shop is www.GraphicDivine.artfire.com. A bit about Graphic Divine: "My banners include my personal photography from my travels, scanned items from my vintage postcards, stamps & nick knacks, clip art & graphics. All designs are sold only once. Only you will own this design:) With every Pre-made banner purchase you will receive a free sale avatar & sale banner. It will be created after purchase is complete & shop name is given."



And finally the third shop is www.CricketAndSix.etsy.com. "My name is Maria, and I am blessed to be able to be a stay at home mother of five children, four girls and one boy, ages 4-13. My children, along with their 15 cousins, serve as the inspirations, models, test marketers, and critics of all I do! I started sewing about eleven years ago. I saw a bedding set I wanted for our baby, but we were in college, and living off of love, so the price was a little out of reach. I decided I could make something just as beautiful, for a fraction of the cost, and my sewing addiction began!"

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Auction Not Enough? These Shops Are Donating to Larry!

If you're reading this, you KNOW about 48forLarry! Larry is our friend, buddy, and artisan! Along with the auction, there are NUMEROUS shops participating! There are 48forLarry sections, shops donating a % of their sales, and so on!

We also need CASH donations! Skip your coffee, bring lunch to work, and drink water with a meal--donate just FIVE BUCKS at www.blockheadradiolive.com and click the paypal button.

So if you have a shop and are donating a % PLEASE leave a comment and I'll edit this post as often as possible!

WE CAN DO THIS!

~~mama

Shops: (PLEASE SEE COMMENTS ALSO, I will add them in here as I can!)
Glasstastic Treasures
http://www.artfire.com/users/glasstastictreasures
50% of all purchases will be donated to Larry. From now until the end of the Silent Auction!

Fleur De Ink:
www.fleurdeink.com
100% of all sales this weekend

Mama's Little Monkeys
www.mamaslittlemonkeys.com
100% of 48forLarry section--until it's gone!

SoyScentual
www.soyscentual.artfire.com
40% of all purchases (donated to Larry)Sunday 5pm CST

LindaRoseOriginals/VintageDiva
50% of all sales until the close of the auction Sunday will be donated to Larry, from my 2 Etsy Jewelry Stores:
www.lindaroseoriginals.etsy.com
www.thevintagediva.etsy.com

ShakeYourBonBons
artfire.com/users/bonbonbabe
Proceeds from all "48ForLarry" Fudge purchases will be donated. Through end of day Sunday.

Lithos Designs
I will donate 50% of all sales in my shop from now until the end of the auction. www.LithosDesigns.artfire.com

PaintingPam:
I'll donate 100% of my sales to Larry through the 31st.
www.paintingpam.etsy.com

Butterfly Crafts
I will donate any profit made from sales until midnight UK time (24 hours from now)(7:15pm)
www.butterfly-crafts.artfire.com

Chantilly Lace
http://www.artfire.com/users/chantillylace
I will donate 50% of my sales until the end of the auction

Friday, July 24, 2009

Today is the Day

Today is the day we can make a difference. Join me tonight at 6 p.m. eastern time as we kick off the 48 for Larry Radiothon. Check out the 365 items in the silent auction........there is something there for everybody and 100% goes to Larry.

Thanks to all those who have supported this cause. Don't stop now.......go tell the world.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Chocolate Covered Larry!

What a great show tonight. I had a very special guest on tonight! Cyn Sorensen the editor of the 48 for Larry Video on youtube, was kind enough to join me on the air. Cyn and myself with the help of many other concerned people, worked together to come up with a great video to help support the 48 for Larry radiothon and silent auction that will be happening this weekend on Blockhead Radio. So we started off the show talking about the video and all those that helped out. We also got to look at some of the great items that are available on the 48 for Larry silent auction pages. I admitted that there were many that I had already bid on, and challenged many to attempt to outbid me! We shall see! With so many great items and not marking which I had already bid on, I might have to outbid myself!



Cyn and I had a great time on the air, and I would love to do more shows with her in the future. I tell you she is a radio star in the works! Thank you Cyn for coming on the air and for doing everything you are to support 48 for Larry!

Join us next week on Chocolate Covered Bacon-The best in independent food finds! Where we will bring up some delightful items to satisfy your cravings. You never know what I've got in store to dance along your taste buds!

--James, The ClosetCreature, your host

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sabbatical ~ In the Garden

Several activities converge over the coming few weeks which facilitate my need to step away from In the Garden for a bit.

This week our shared BHR focus is on our 48 hours for Larry Radiothon and silent auction. As I'm sure you know, this effort is kicking off this Friday on Blockhead Radio. This is an exciting opportunity for our extended Blockhead Radio family to help out a loved-one in need. If you do nothing else this this weekend, be sure to pop a player and listen in ... to place a bid on one (or more) of the many wonderful silent auction items ... to make a cash donation to the cause ... to spread the word in any way!

As for next week, I will be traveling tending to family obligations blended with some fun.

The week following I will be disconnected from the eWorld and be spending several days in the woods.

I will be back "Appraising" In the Garden on Thursday, August 13 at 11:30 AM, ET. In the meantime, I encourage you to keep your BHR players open to listen to all the really great indie music, the fun and informative shows ... and to catch up on any episodes of In the Garden you may have missed on Podcast on Demand!

Until then ~ be well and be inspired by Nature!


Tuesday, July 21, 2009

So Last Night at the SKAT Show...

The wonderful redneck Canadian, Lillet (pronounced LIL-AY) called in and gave us a hard time and we loved every minute of it. We did learn a little something amidst the chatter and laughter though: there are swamps in Canada. Eh?

Of course we touched on quite a few scholarly topics as well in between all the brain farts and um... bomb dropping. Which I'm sad to report will be remembered far more than our genius plan to balance the national deficit.

Honestly it doesn't even matter right now what it is that happened last night. What matters right now is that we all focus our attention on a very important event starting this Friday.

The 48 for Larry Radiothon kicks off at 6pm. If you've managed to miss all the hoopla leading up to and surrounding this special event we urge you to read more about it HERE.

So spread the word, pop those players, and gear up for 48 for Larry!

on a gravy train with biscuit wheels



That's right folks... this gravy train is taking us all the way to our goal of $20K for

48forLarry and all the passengers will have a great trip on this ride!











Our TOUGH TIMES show today was dedicated to Larry and the special Radiothon this weekend. Wildwood and Skyline were honored to support 48forLarry and share the plans with our listeners. Hundreds of beautiful handmade items have been donated by the artisan community; and you can make your plans to bid. While you're here be sure to join the chat room and say "Hello!"




"It is not the mountain we conquer....but ourselves"


-Edmund Hillary, born 1919
(first person to climb Mt. Everest)



Next week, TOUGH TIMES will be back to our regular topics for frugal living and household smarts...you can send in your tips, too!




peace, wildwood


Monday, July 20, 2009

No "New Discoveries" This Week!

The single most important thing happening on BHR this week is the 48ForLarry! Over 240 items have been donated for the Silent Auctions. You can help save Larry's life for only $5!

"New Discoveries" will return next week, July 28th @ 7:00pm EST.

Thank you all so very much!

~Chain~

Gearing up for 48 for Larry

48 for Larry kicks off this weekend there is over 240 items donated for the Silent Auction this coming weekend (thanks to all who donated )

The auction pages are being built today.

So you can start viewing them, Bidding does not Start till Friday evening

Any help spreading the word is much appreciated, It can help save a mans life and Sons Father, A wife's husband

If Tweeting please put #48forlarry in Tweets

We also have retweet Buttons on the website

http://blockheadradiolive.com/ 48forlarry

Any spreading of the word is so very much appreciated

If you have a Social Network with any of Social networks use them.

Other Forums, blogs, News forums

DeDe has sent out many press Releases throughout the country YEA!!

Also feel free to use any of my blog post that I have done for Larry



http://huckleberryarts.blogspot. com


"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us." Flora Edwards

Printable Flyers

http://huckleberryarts.com/48forlarry/48forlarryflyerpage.zip



Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuqC8utc048


Lets try to take over the internet with the spreading of the word

Thanks so Very much

~huck


You click Launch player at http://blockheadradiolive.com to listen

There is VERY limited shows this week so we can gear up the weekend

Inspiration Time Cancelled for Monday July 20th

Hi everyone!
In a effort to get ready for the big 48forLarry radiothon happening this coming weekend- we are going to cancel this weeks show! However, I will be manning the station, along with the other BHR host for a small period of time- to give Rod a break!

During my shift, I will happily do live readings on the air- As soon as I know my time slot- I will post it here.

I do hope that you will all get involved this weekend- we have so many wonderful things up for action- we will have great music and lots of cool surprises- join us for 48forLarry and help us support this great cause. If you are in a position that you cannot help financially- then, please help spread the word.

The items that are up for auction are on the blockhead home page- check them out! Til next week- xoxox Paula

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Email I Sent to Gov. Bev Perdue of N.C. #48forlarry

Hi,
I am writing in regards to the cancellation on medicaid for Larry Hamm. After finding out he needed a surgery or have 18 months to live, your state all of a sudden realized that his family had to much income for medicaid. ($380 a week for a family of 3) So your state has sentence him to death in 18 months (that's what his doctors give him) for what reason? A few bucks.

Sincerely,
Blockhead Rod

http://blockheadradiolive.com/48forlarry
Your state may not care but we do.

Feel free to contact Gov Bev Perdue yourself.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Herbal-Infused Oils - In the Garden

Today, In the Garden, we explored making our own handcrafted herbal-infused oils.

I realized after the show that I need to add some clarity to the definition of what "infused oils" are and how they are used in comparison to other botanical oils - like essential oils, for they are very different.

As one who makes and uses infused oils in my daily living, I sometimes forget that not everyone is as familiar with them as I am. Silly me! So I will be circling back to this topic in an upcoming show. But to address what seems to be a key point of clarity ... herbal-infused oils are used for their nourishing, conditioning, soothing, healing (AKA medicinal) qualities, not their fragrance. While some of the volatile plant oils will come through and add fragrance, it is usually so subtle that it goes unnoticed. These are oils that are often used in bath and
body care formulas for their actions, not their fragrance.

I love infused oil of calendula flowers for its healing properties. I love infused oil of violet leaf for its skin softening qualities. I love infused oils of plantain leaf (Plantago species) and chickweed for their cooling, soothing, calming actions on the skin. These are
all excellent used as is, for massage and general skin applications. They all make lovely balms on their own, or mixed with other oils. They are excellent additions to creams and lotions and soaps.

Of course, you want to ensure that the plant you are using is safe
for general use on the skin and that you don't have any sensitivities or allergies to it. When in doubt, consult with a local herbalist!

As for the infused oils, they are so simple to make, as you know if you joined us today In the Garden! Simply ... I harvest my desired herb, discard any compromised plant matter, and dry dust any dirt off. I chop the plant matter and pack it loosely in a glass jar (like a canning jar). I poke mine with a chop stick, to ensure that the plant matter and the oil are completely mixed and that any air bubbles are released. If any plant matter is sticking up through the oil and into the air, I cover it with additional oil and cap it. Don't forger to label it with the herb, oil and date! And, you'll recall that my oil of choice is olive oil, for it is a good all-purpose skin oil, a good keeper and in all my years using olive oil, I've encountered only one person who's claimed sensitivities to it - unlike nut oils!

So, I let the oil and herb macerate for 1-4 weeks (sometimes using low heat, in my dehydrator). I watch it closely during this time, to address potential mold before it becomes a problem and ruins your oil. When its ready I gently strain it, to separate the pant matter from the oil. I do not push or squeeze the plant matter, for water is often trapped in the plant and we don't want to release that into the oil, for it would encourage mold and spoilage. I let mine sit for a few days, covered with cheese cloth or muslin to allow any residual water to evaporate or sink to the bottom. Then I bottle the clear oil, label it and place it in my dispensary until I'm ready to use it in balms, soaps, lotions and the like.

By the way, I rarely keep infused oils for more than a a year. Frankly, I rarely make enough to keep on hand for that long!

So there it is. If you missed today's show, you can listen to it at Podcast on Demand, and you'll get even more information! In any event, I hope you will try making your own herbal-infused oils, and I hope you love them as much as I do!

I hope too that you'll join us again in two weeks - after our 48 for Larry week - In the Garden at 11:30 AM, ET on Blockhead Radio. And remember, be inspired by Nature!

Outside the Frame, July 15 show recap


On Wednesday’s episode of Outside the Frame we discussed the business aspects of donating art to charities. Throughout my career, I have supported numerous organizations with my art, my services or my time. For me, such contributions are a way of giving back to those who are less fortunate than myself or to support a cause that will make the world a better place for my children and their children to inhabit. The key for me is that I never donate art to a cause that I would not support monetarily and I only donate to causes that I care deeply about.

Giving of your time. There are so many ways in which you can donate your time to support your favorite charity or cause. For instance, you can donate your time working behind the scenes such as stuffing envelopes, printing and distributing flyers, or volunteer to staff the office. These sorts of jobs are tremendously important and sadly the most overlooked. Another way that you can give of your time is to serve on committees or the board of directors for your favorite charity or cause … help to organize a fund-raiser or volunteer for community outreach efforts to benefit your charity or cause. Do you support Arts in Education? If so, volunteer to teach art at your local school, library, or youth organization.

Donating services. Aside from the obvious services I listed above such as staffing and stuffing, take a look at your unique skill-set. Perhaps you are a gifted promoter or publicist, you can use your skills to publicize and promote your cause or charity’s fund-raiser. Perhaps you are an HTML code wizard, you can use your skill to build or maintain your cause or charity’s website. Perhaps you are great with graphic design, you can use your skills to create flyers, logos, banners, and other graphics for use by your cause or charity.

Donating your art. Aside from using your art to beautify and support your cause or charity’s business stationery and promotional materials, you can also donate your art to be used on products for the charity such a t-shirts, mousepads and buttons. Another way you can donate your art is to actually create the art as part of the fund-raising event. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a few of these types of events and found them to be quite fun. Here’s what happens … I set up my painting station and begin painting at the start of the event. As the event progresses, guests can watch me work and ask questions, make comments, etc. As the close of the event draws near, I finish the painting and it is put up for auction right on the spot. This particular type of donating art has proven to be most successful in terms of exposure as such events always draw the media and the interaction with guests is extremely beneficial. If you happen to be participating in an event such as this, make sure to have your promotional materials available to guests so they can take them home as you may get calls from bidders who lost out on the painting that was auctioned at the event.

Another way to donate your art is to contribute a piece to an auction … this can be either in the form of a live auction or a silent auction. What is the difference between a live auction and a silent auction? A live auction is held with an auctioneer (or some other personality) describing the work and prompting bidders on to spend more money. A silent auction is held without an auctioneer and bids are submitted via write-in or some other process such as an electronic input form. Original art tends to sell for much higher amounts during a live auction as compared to a silent auction; prints do well at either. You don’t have to limit yourself to donating a particular piece in support of your favorite cause or charity. You can submit a gift certificate to put toward a piece of work in your studio or gallery. You can also donate a gift certificate to create custom work for the highest bidder if you prefer.

Over the years, I have developed several rules regarding donating my art to auctions. My first rule I stated at the beginning of the show is I never donate art to a cause that I would not support monetarily and I only donate to causes that I care deeply about.

My second rule is to only donate fine art to auctions where the auction coordinator is art savvy. As an artist, for me it’s most important that the cause or charity to which I make my donation understands the value of the gift I am giving. By that, I mean that the auctioneer or on-air reader can appropriately describe the piece in its best light in order to appeal to the fine art bidder. This gives both the charity and myself the best mileage – the charity will get a higher return on my donation and I will reap the benefits of appropriate exposure from the event. An unfamiliar person selling your work to an equally unfamiliar audience is a recipe for disaster.

My third rule is to only contribute work I can afford to let go. By this, I mean that I’m pragmatic and keep my most important pieces for other, paying venues. That is not to say that I contribute less-than-perfect works. A professional should always try to make a good impression and giving work that does not represent your basic standards for quality will work against you. You maximize the impact of your auction participation by donating high quality works.

My fourth rule is that I will not contribute work to any auction where they do not post a minimum opening bid of 10% of the retail price of the work (at the very least) and honor that minimum bid. It’s an added bonus if the auction establishes a reserve bid option on high-ticket items … typically 40% - 80% of retail … whereby if the bids received do not equal 40% - 80% of the retail value of the art, then this work is returned to the artist as unsold.

My fifth rule is that I will not contribute work to any auction where a record of the final bid and contact information of the highest bidder is not provided to the artist after the auction. And for the contact information, I want full information; name, address, email, etc. not just a name and town. These records of the donation are important for tax purposes, as well as, artist documentation.

My sixth rule is that I only donate to auctions where they have clearly stated what portion of the proceeds from direct sale of auction items goes to the charity. Is it 20%, 40%, 50% or as in the case with 48 for Larry 100%. The higher the percentage of funds going directly to support the charity or cause that I am donating to, the greater my confidence in contributing to that organization.

My seventh rule is that my preference is for organizations that provide a pre-auction preview as this helps to build excitement for certain auction items and whets the public’s appetite for bidding.

My eighth rule is that the organization should have adequate insurance to cover the loss, damage or theft of my work throughout the time that the artwork is in their possession. If the artwork is to be sent to a different location for sorting and tagging before being sent to the final auction location, this process of the receiving and transporting of the work should also be covered by their insurance – so should the shipping to the final bidder.

Following these rules and developing your own policies toward donations will enable you to joyfully and with peace of mind give freely of your art to help those causes and charities you support. Once you’ve decided to donate art to a fund-raising auction, there are certain things that you can do to maximize the impact of your donation, which benefits both you and the organization.

1. Donate a good example of your current work. Never donate work that is old, shop worn, dated, seconds or that does not represent you current artistic style. Remember these people will only see this one piece so make sure it says the right thing about you. Keep in mind the audience that will be bidding and have your donated piece be appropriate to the audience.

2. State a realistic value for your work. Do not overinflate the price.

3. Think about how to make your donation a hit so that everyone covets your work. You can give work that might be thematic to the particular time of year. For instance, if the auction is in February, usually anything that includes a heart, is red, or has a theme of love will sell better than other items.

4. Prepare appropriate materials to submit with your donation.
An accurate description of your work is important, as this is the basis for the read-sheets used to introduce your items at the auction. Be sure to fill out all sections on your donation form and avoid acronyms or abbreviations that may be obscure to readers.
Make sure that you provide high-quality photographs showing your work at its best. These photographs will be used for the auction catalog and/or promotional materials.
A short artist statement included with the work enhances your donation.
A resume detailing your career highlights also enhances your donation as it provides bidders with background information about the artist.
Note: if the organizers do not ask for these items, provide your URL with your donation. Make sure that your website is up-to-date and contains all the important information about you, your work, and your career highlights.
Publicize the event … let your friends know, include it on your flyers and website. Spread the word and reap the benefits for both you (in exposure) and the organization (in bidders).

Finally, when organizations sponsoring or benefiting from fund-raising auctions act responsibly during planning, both artist and organization win. Artwork needs to be handled and displayed with care and respect. Every effort should be made to obtain the highest price for donated work, which is done by establishing (and honoring) minimum opening bids and all information regarding the purchaser should be forwarded to the donating artist after the auction.

Don’t forget about 48forLarry. Please read, retweet, tell your friends, donate if you can. Just $5 from 4000 people can save Larry’s life – won’t you give just $5? To send in your auction items, contact me at 48forlarry@blockheadradio.com the deadline for submissions is July 22.