what i learned at All-Con 2011

• there are people who are really serious about their costumes, for the sake of costuming...
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• people seem more willing to buy prints or posters of work, than actual original work even if the original is the same price or cheaper.
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• i like the steam punk apparel- especially bloomers and bustles
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• i can knit better than i thought i could
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• i would like to give a presentation or hands-on creativity workshop at a conference
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• I would like to see how things are done, like juggling, hoola hooping, etc...but i DO NOT WANT TO BE THROWN INTO PARTICIPATING....
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I have to say, that All-Con Dallas was my first con to ever go to like this...i have been to art teacher conferences, and other teacher workshops...but this was my first con to go to simply for the joy of it and not out of state CPE credit obligations....

I did manage to display my artwork! I took 16 original pieces...mostly mermaids, fairies, and then some of my lotuses....

I did not sell a single thing...that's a bit disappointing....

But, i went into this resigned to it being a learning experience.

There were some great perks to this. 1.It was fairly inexpensive to display my work. 2. I didn't have to man a booth or a table all day...(which if you have ever done that...you know how tiring it can be...) 3. I got to enjoy several panels/workshops...

Here is what i enjoyed :

beaded headdresses: this panel was three gals who showed us how they painstakingly make their own hats and headdresses. And by painstaking, i mean, they count beads, keep records of what beads they need to acquire, and then once they finally accomplish their goal, the piece might actually be very uncomfortable to wear for more than a hour at a time....their dedication and interest in making these pieces was most impressive.  I mean, i lLURVE making things....i however, have not reached the level of dedication it takes to make the beautiful headdresses they are making, simply for the  joy of it....

Tarot card reading: this panel was made up of three local ladies who are all very accomplished in their own right...i have to admit i think i enjoyed this panel the most because of the ladie's interactions with each other...it was almost as if they were having their own conversation and finishing each other sentences  and laughing so much it made me laugh as well...I also thought it was interesting how they each seemed so different visually , in that, one lady seemed more dressed in a New Orleans Goth style, the next seemed more Earth Mother, California Girl, and the third was more Gypsy/ Ren-faire....i felt like i was getting all of the stereotypical representations in one place, whether it was planned that way or not i have no idea...but it was an interesting dynamic...What did learn about tarot cards....i learned that if i'm interested n learning the meaning of particular cards, then they recommend taking one card a day and studying only that particular card....

 Beginners Knitting Circle: ...i went with my dear friend Melia,  of Bemused Art simply for the company. I had forgotten my knitting needles...so i figured i would just sit and hang out...but they gave me needles to borrow, some yarn and a pattern for the "Jane Hat from Firefly"....somehow when my husband and son watched the series, i missed this particular episode, so i had no idea what i was making...but, surprisingly, i was able to read the pattern, and actually did complete the project...i should say here, that it was not a full-size Jane Hat...it is a small broach size hat...and i am very proud of myself for completing it...i now want to make actual life-size Jane Hats for my family...though, my son said he probably won't wear it...lol...

I did attempt to attend two workshops that had to do with carnivale attractions...one had to to with juggling and the other was hoola hooping...i just wanted to see how they did it...but when i walked into the room, they immediately tried to get me to participate with them...and that is not my personality...so, i immediately said " buh-bye" and left....i have to learn by seeing, FIRST....(take note...if you want me to participate...DON"T THROW ME INTO THE DEEP END ...SHOW ME FIRST...and LET ME GET COMFORTABLE....or i will leave every single time...just sayin'....)

What else did i learn from attending All-Con?
I learned about "Costume FUnk", I learned about Assassination City Roller Derby (which i have been a fan of for almost a year now), I learned that Fen-Con is coming up in the fall, and i learned that this was a great experience for the whole family...we all really enjoyed it...together...which was my hope the whole time...there was something interesting for all of us...it was a win/win....

got to show my artwork,and got to enjoy something with my family...