An American Veteran's Dream
My American Dream by Miles Maria ,
I have MS , and I need help. I need oppertunties to reach my dream.
Buy my stuff! OR, let me make something for you.
Help me fund my fun projects and get stuff for helping me, also.
My Dream is to own and keep a small homestead with a family art business in it, so I can keep it. I beleive this is possible and hope you share my amerian dream.
18000$ is the new goal. Repair/upgrade bathroom, kitchen, and upgrade energy efficiency
of home so we can aford it in the future.
I was trying to raise enough to pay for the home, but that seems to difficult.
But, I now understand that my 18K goal to repair the bathroom, kitchen and other part of the home are more important.
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Here is the idea & my basic plans.
I have products I can make now. Samples are below. More samples will coming soon.
I have planned products. See "Planned Limited Editions"
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The current project that is seeking funding is the Ceramic cookies mold project.
Last Goal of 100$ was reached and the money was used to buy matieral to make new projects
Current funding goal is 350$ for getting 100 ceramic cookie mold started.
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And I am also looking for people that want something made just for them or perhaps for they're organization or business.
Planned limited editions:
1. Cermaic Castles & Villages ( I can make these to order now) Reward levels for this depend on size of the castle or village ordered. The 100$ Reward level is where this begins. links to images: https://www.facebook.com/milesmaria.artistgamer/photos/pb.577893938917711.-2207520000.1427735716./946308118742956/?type=3&theater
2. Ceramic Spacehips and Dropships ( I can make this to order now ) Reward levels for this depend on size of the spaceship, the amount of detailing and if it comes with any special features;like a diarama base or special carrying case. The 100$ Reward level is where this begins. link to image: https://www.facebook.com/milesmaria.artistgamer/photos/pb.577893938917711.-2207520000.1427735717./931609960212772/?type=3&theater
3. A Game ( Currently being developed and designed )
The 10$ Reward level is where this begins.
4. Ceramic Cookie Molds ( Currently being developed & designed) The 50 $ Reward level is where this begins.
5. Ceramic 25 mm Bunkers for tabletop wargames ( I can make these to order now) The 50$ Reward level is where this begins.link to images: https://www.facebook.com/milesmaria.artistgamer/photos/pb.577893938917711.-2207520000.1427735716./939736706066764/?type=3&theater
More new projects are planned and I'll also be doing whatever random projects that seem fun and other people want becuase they messaged me and told me so.
How to be Rewarded 3 different ways.
1. A person sees one of my art works or products that I have already shown in examples. They message me they want it. I box it up and the person donates at the arranged Reward level and date.
2. A person see's a new project that I'm developing and planning to sell in future and they want it when its available. They message me they want it. I Place them in a special list of people to get the first items produced with possibles bonus's and the person donates at the arranged Reward level and date.
3. A person has seen all the different arts and crafts I can do and they would like me create something just for them. They message me that they have something they wish created. We find an agreeable Reward level and the person donates at the agreed date. Some art works might required a 50% up front donation of the agreed Reward level.
Please read each Reward and pick what fits you. Email me is you have any questions before you donate.
I plan to Reward everyone that donates somehow. I'm not asking for a handout or freebies. I'm a proud American that believes hard work means your dreams can come true.
I have many examples of my art to show as possible Rewards to people that donate; if they wish a Reward.
Anyone that wish's to donate and would like to make a special plan for an art work or other special exchange arrangement should contact me prior to donating. Please see the Rewards desciptions.
I'll be posting updates to facebook everytime someone donates and I'm willing to even advertise for other businesses if they donate.
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Here is my story if you wish to know who I am and why I might be worthy of your time and money.
I got MS in 2002, and it's trying to take away my only dream. The dream I worked hard for all my life.
I'm not asking for handouts. Let me make Art for you or help you with something. Lets work together.
Finding a group of Art Patrons is the foundation of this plan. Providing the Patrons with Arts and Crafts that enhance the quality of thier life is the back bone.
Since this business is on the home property about $180000 is needed to get the business fully operational and self sustaining by the end of this 5 year plan. Yes, I wish to be a self-sustaining person. I don't not wish to rely on others.
Yes, this is a long term plan to make Art, meet Patrons of the Arts and live my American Dream.
Please look at the Rewards at the bottom of this page and email me with your questions before you invest into me and my art.
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I'm re-opening Mitic-Maria Studios with only what I can earn here. My income from disabilty will not pay for my home or my life as an artist. I have about 5 years to work this out or I'll loose my home and the dream.
I'm a veteran, I served our country with honor in the US Air Force from 1976-1980. I have family roots in America going back to the American Revolution.
I have earned a B.A. in Art from the Chico State, CA.
I and my wife Chris Mitic once had this great art business back in the 1980's and 90's. I created ceramic castles for table top wargamers , dragonware ( cups and plates with dragons), skullware ( skull cups and bowls, crystalware ( cups and plates in shapes of crystals).
Chris has a B.A. in Art also. She ran that business, made paintings and designed various art works of her own. We traveled to various gaming conventions & craft shows and sold our arts and crafts anywhere we could.
But , we had to sell that art business to startup our new growing family in 1996. We both took regular jobs which got our first and only home in 2000. Everything seemed fine to for a while. But then life has surprises.
In 2002 I had emergency surgery and came out of it with some brain damage. But, I kept trying to work at Apple computers.Then in 2006 I had to stop working. I had become to disabled from MS to continue at Apple computers. Money got very tough and still is.
I have tried to worked part time as a K-12 subsitute teacher for about a year or 2, but my MS got the better of me. Finially, in 2009 in went on SSDI and my life began to stablize a little.
Since 2011, I started to become healthy enough to make arts and crafts again. I still have most of my tools and equipment and the garage has been converted to the studio space as you can see below.
https://www.facebook.com/mitic.maria.studios
We've been married 33 years and we still have this wish for the American Dream. We never had a wedding or a honeymoon. We went to college instead. We never even had wedding rings or fancy trips. We always just worked hard, saved our money ,took care of our kids and lived honest. This family homestead and the art business is all we ever wished for.
It would have been easy to do, if I had not become disabled with MS. Now I need another way to make this American Dream come true.
This is the outside kiln and metal casting area I would like to finish someday. The home/garage studio is finished and ready. But I can't afford to finish it yet.
Once we are funded we will be able to continue making art and fun things for the rest of our lives . While meeting new and interesting Patrons that love art and family like we do.
Help us live this American Dream.
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Reward Details
All Rewards above 10$ are open to negotiation via emails, chats, photo's or phone calls prior to the donation date.
All Rewards 100$ or above; may require a designing time , creation time and deliverery time pre-planned via emails, chats, photo's or phone calls prior to any Patron & Artist designed Reward donation date.
These Top Tier Rewards of 100$ or more are open to negotiation with concern for subject matter, materials, deleivery dates and special needs of the Patron.
After the first year, I'd like add extra Rewards for the Top Tier Patrons who invested that year. These Reward would be free to these Patrons for thier early investment into me and my art.
Special Rewards are planned for all persons that are the first to donate at any level.
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No one or business that donates is required to take any Rewards. The Rewards are here to demonstate that I'm not begging and honestly trying to make my American Dream come true with your help.
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Here is sample of a hand painted castle I could create for a Patron of 500$ or more. An artwork like this would be pre-planned and each would be a one of a kind castle with village or just a large castle perhaps, if your a gamer.
Here is a recent project called "The Vampire Hunter", and another example of what I could make for a Patron of 100$ or more. Items like this can be pre-planned by the patron as well.
Here is a trellis sculpture I made for my back yard. I could also make one for any Patron 500$ or more.
Each Top Tier Reward of $100 or more could be a one of a kind artwork. The site for the artwork and installation would require am area preperation plan prior to delivery & installation .
A ceramic spaceships made to scale with gaming figures to table top war gamers. For a custom artwork like one of these, the Patron would need to send pictures prior to donating.
The is a self portrait sculpture that comes with a little box as a pedestal and inside are the personal thoughs of the person it's about. Would you like a sculpture that tells your story? This one was about me and so is the one below.
The above sculpture is called "Super Tech Saves the World!" This sculpture was made while I was working for Apple computers and they had an internal art contest for employees and I won first prize. I could make you a custom sculpture too.
The gate I made for my front yard. Perhaps I could make one for you.
I beleive in the American Dream of owning your own homestead and being self relient. If you beleive in the same, The please help me to earn this wish and live the the dream someday. Become a Patron and give me a last chance.
Bless you for taking the time to read this.
MS will not beat me.
Sincerely,
Miles Maria
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Find me on Facebook and Military Gamers.
https://www.facebook.com/milesmaria.artistgamer
http://www.militarygamers.com/forums/member.php?8397-Sergeant-Miles