Wow, I sure didn't post much while I was gone

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Originally uploaded by Markie's World

Yeah, I know, I promised tons of updates. Convention was just way too tiring and then I had a blast hanging out in CA with friends! To make a long story short, I learned a ton at convention and will be approaching my business totally differently, I'll be really busy for a few weeks still working on that, and then if God lets me, I'll be going back to CA for a friend's birthday party... sooo much driving!

Desperation and Gambling

The sadness of a town with a gambling problem and an economy gone to nothing. I'm on my way to the 2010 Face Painting and Body Art Convention in Las Vegas. I experienced torture and sadness when I decided to stop for gas in the last town in Idaho southbound on I-15 (I have no clue the name of this town). I figured gas might be a little cheaper and it would be quiet since it was in the middle of nowhere. I couldn't have been more wrong on the quiet part, I'm afraid. The place was crowded... I had to circle around for a pump and I got the last parking spot to go inside. The checkout line had at least 30 people in it - almost all of them buying lottery tickets. The main language spoken was Spanish, though the crowd was fairly diverse. Apparently, this was the "lucky gas station" to buy lottery tickets at (and maybe the most convenient for the Idaho lottery? Most of these people had Utah plates.). One (white just so we're clear given I mentioned how many Spanish speakers there were) clearly stressed mother was abusively yelling at her kids for, honestly, fairly innocent behavior.

I left with the distinct impression that these people were gambling away their last few dollars in hopes of getting out of economic hard times. Sadly, for most - probably all - of these people they are only digging themselves deeper. They were not a happy crowd. Normally I'd have taken a camera phone pic at least of the long line but I didn't feel it would be safe to do so - they seemed like a group on the edge ready to explode at any tiny thing. May God bless them.

Downsizing

FPBA Convention Starts Monday!

For those of you who don't know, I'm going to FPBA Convention next week. This is a big learning and fun opportunity for face painters and I'm beyond excited. But now is the time to do my rather least favorite part of getting ready to go anywhere. Packing. And part of that is having some face painting products to carry around all day for practice in classes, jams, etc. For those of you who do not know me, my face painting kit is in a big Stanley toolbox and is hard for me to lift and carry any distance. I'm what fellow face painters call a "tackle tart" - put simply, I buy tons of products and carry them around everywhere - even if they're only occasionally used. Fun things for specific designs. Everything has a use, but it doesn't get used a ton. And I can't carry a 30lb kit around with me all day, LOL. Besides I need to practice downsizing for walk-around events (which I don't do - for a reason) and the like.

A Backpack


Target had this really fun Keroppi backpack on sale for $4. Perfect. That was my case for my cut back face painting kit. Kiddish - fun, attracts attention, and appeals to boys and girls alike. How on earth was I going to get my face painting kit downsized to a kids' backpack?

I normally carry two brands of makeup - Kryolan Aqua Color and Mehron Paradise - for most common colors I use. They're different both in texture and in shade. Kryolan is more powdery, but brighter colors. Both have a purpose and get used a lot. With the exception of two Kryolan colors (my day-glow rainbow cake, and Interfrenze Bronze) I packed only Paradise colors (and Wolfe white) - because the containers are smaller and lighter and I have a case that holds 12 of them.

I grabbed a couple blushes, a blush brush, my brush case, sponges, a lingerie wash bag (used for dirty sponges), some business cards, a single spray bottle of water, white glitter (the main glitter I use - by a lot - it works well and looks great on anything), half Q-tips, and my Silly Farm "Wonder Palette" (little Kryolan split cakes). That's it.

Wow, it's light. And portable. I'm going to like it. I'll still want my full kit for events. But I'm thinking birthday parties and the like - I may be able to get off with a limited, scaled back kit. My back feels the appeal.

Are you a tackle tart? Even if you don't need to, try seeing what you don't really need for smaller events... you may be quite surprised!