Jewelry Making Outside The Box: Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business

June 18, 2013

Why Not Me? Why Not You? Why Not All of Us? Take the Challenge!

Here we are, me and my sweet friend, Kate, at the Lafayette Hotel last weekend right before breakfast.

John and I took a run down the river to Marietta to spend some quality time with our pals, Kate and Mike Mulligan, of Mulligan Stew Jewelry

Kate is an exhibitor/member of the Riverside Artists Gallery in Marietta. On Friday evenings, once a month, Marietta (Ohio) sponsors the Art Walk, where there are many businesses featuring handmade and fine arts stay open later than usual, and there are vendors and musicians of all kinds in the streets. We visited Kate's spot in the gallery. One of her most recent pieces is this one:

Love those colors!

During our visit we talked about marketing opportunities and getting your name out there in the big, wide world of handmade jewelry. I asked her if she'd ever considered submitting her work to a magazine for publication.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed. "I don't really think I am ready for THAT. Do you think my things are good enough?"

We all struggle with that big question. (The answer to hers is YES, good grief, YES!!)

In the Summer 2013 issue of BELLE ARMOIRE JEWELRY, Jen Cushman writes about the submission process in her regular column, ART CHOOSES YOU. The article is entitled, "A Turn in the Spotlight", and you'll find it on page 124...right there with Jen smiling at you.

Jen mentions that the "process of publishing is simply that---a process. Media is a business, and business rules and etiquette apply just as in any other profession."

Rules? Etiquette?

Yes! In the back pages of most craft publications on the market, especially those on mixed media art and jewelry making, you will find explicit rules on how to submit your artwork and/or ideas to their particular publication. Many have published deadlines as well as suggestions regarding what the publication will be looking for at that time (so you can go ahead and get your thinking cap on!)

They also give directions on how to approach them for submission. Some will ask you to simply go ahead and mail your items to a certain address; others will require a *brief* email query before sending. Some publications require that funds to cover return of your materials be included with the item(s) you submit; others do not.

Most all of them do not mind if you have blogged about your item or shown it once on a Facebook page (but DO check, as there are a few that don't want you to show it ANYWHERE before you allow them to consider it). NONE of the publications wants you to submit photos to several editors at once, waiting for the first bite. All want an EXCLUSIVE to your project, photo or article when it comes to print.

None of them will accept submissions that are copies of work you have seen, or anything made from a kit. Few will accept submissions of exact techniques learned in a class. If they do allow it, full props must be given to the teacher and the class you took.

Are you already thinking, AWWWW.....this is TOO HARD?

I get ya. I think that was going through Kate's mind, too!

Let me ask you this: Do you blog? Do you think you can write a tutorial?

Here is an example of a very professionally written tut:

Rubber Stampings on Metal by Michelle Mach

Michelle Mach has been published over 100 times in print, and I'm pleased to say that once in a bit, she provides a tutorial for the B'sue Boutiques Jewelry Supplies website. If you need a great example of what you'd need to do for magazine submission, this is probably a perfect one.

In Jen Cushman's article, we're told that to take the first step, you need to make a few pieces---maybe a small body of work--that are authentically YOUR OWN, YOUR STYLE, that express who YOU ARE, as an artist.

Next, go ahead....wrap them up....ship them out. Jen says not to put too much pressure on yourself. Rejection is INDEED possible! (Oh how I know. I hate rejection as much as anyone; time is precious, it's kinda like, hey, I don't have time for this rejection PROCESS!)

But rejection is PART of the process. You may need several tries. The fact is, eventually, you WILL be published. And then, after being published, you may not be, another time you try! But keep at it. Maybe your items will not be right for one publication, but your design type might be perfect for another.

Jen went through the process, stem to stern. Now she has a column in BELLE ARMOIRE JEWELRY, and recently was FEATURED....literally, pages of her pieces!...spotlighted in the magazine and ON THE COVER!

During our little brainstorm session, I actually said to Kate, "Sheesh, I keep saying I have to do this, but time is so short, I can't be fiddling around with these people." WELL: on thinking that out, I realized that *my* fiddling around is more like, NOT DOING IT, holding back from doing it, NOT taking the time to fully experience the PROCESS.

So then, we were thinking, HEY! What if we could get a *bunch* of the VERY QUALIFIED jewelry artisans from the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook to start submitting like crazy fools. Some of them already do, like Joan Williams of Lil Ruby at Etsy, and Cathy Buckley of Cat's Meow Jewelry. Joan has been published quite a number of times!

If we as a group did that, IN TIME, it's almost a given that many would start getting those lovely CONGRATULATIONS! letters and emails.

MAYBE a whole bunch of us might appear in print all at the same time!

Maybe even, in the same magazine!

At this writing, we have over 1,100 members at the Creative Group. It's entirely possible that this dream could become reality.

So, what do you think? Can you get on the stick with me? I'm gonna do this. I'm tired of saying I don't have time, tired of fiddling around. We are a very gifted group; many of us have been at our craft for a very long time. I've been published here and there over the years, but I have never dedicated myself to making it happen.

And what if you're new? Don't think for a minute that you can't be published yet, that you are not ready. If your work is original, looks good in a photograph, is something a publication feels would garner attention amongst its readers....you totally could be published. There is no prerequisite amount of time required for you to be at your workbench, before acceptance.

So whether you're an old hand at what you do, like me....or brand new...here's to US.

It's my time. AND yours. What do you say? Let's DO IT.

Posted at 07:41 PM in Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, It's My Life, Jewelry Making, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Selling Your Work, Things I've Learned From Others' Blogs | Permalink | Comments (2)

June 03, 2013

Just FINISH Something!

Ever write yourself a note like that?

Ever FEEL like that? Here's what I'm looking at....

Lovely painted brass. Nothing finished.

More of the same. I want to sponge on some Lumiere paints and then do a little Iced Enamel....

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/paints_pearl_ex_mica.shtml

for Lumiere paints, if you don't know about them...

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/glue_resin_lacquers_glaze.shtml

for Iced Enamels, if you haven't tried them, either!

Here are some pretty pendants.....

They need to become necklaces! And here is that gorgeous focal that Moriah Betterly gifted me last week....

It's waiting!

I get pretty frustrated. I had NO IDEA how much paperwork there would be, how much new technology there would be, how much managing! there would be, back 25 years ago when I started my business.

It seems that every 5-6 years you have to re-invent yourself, too. Don't think for a minute that the schtick that works to keep you going today, will work in a few years. It's constant change.

Then I look around and see how many who are newer to this trade than I, and have written not one....but several books.

Well! I STARTED mine. SEVERAL TIMES. Changed gears several times. It hasn't happened yet.

We decided video would be better. Okay, what's up with that? Well, Jordan is having trouble getting the 'ditty' for the video recorded. Then, our video camera died. Rob says, no worries, it probably didn't have enough definition anyway....so we got a new one.

NOW....if I move too fast on camera, it blurs. Back to the drawing board. This is no good for professional video.

I feel like an idiot, because both should be done. But then....I step back, and I think:

It's so easy to have "all or nothing" thinking. In other words, just LOOK at what I haven't accomplished yet in my career! LOOK at what others are doing! When you do that....you forget what you HAVE done.

First, I've somehow managed to stay in business for 25 years. And now, most of my family works with me. Some say, never hire family and friends, it won't work out. For me, that has not been true. There is no one I would rather have here, day in and day out!

My son, Jordan, gave up his corporate job to be here. Here he is at the laptop, a little over a year ago, when we were still in the home office.

Here he is taking a class with Linda and Opie O'Brien....turned out to be one of the last classes they had before they retired to the Berkshires:

and my friend, Shelley, who has been with me for more than 14 years of the journey:

Sometimes I drive her nuts.

We have Rob, too.....who is my nephew; Lauren, who is Jordan's wife.....and Donna, my sister in law. I have two temp helpers who come and go rather regularly, Lauren England, and Javi Bustamonte. Javi is a computer tech who will take over some of Rob's techie duties when he finishes machine school this fall.

This month, a year ago, I signed the lease on this building and we moved our business.

That's Donna, cutting pads for under the cement blocks where we placed the stampings files at the new place, on moving day.

And Shelley, finishing up the last of the work before we pulled the plugs in the old office and moved downtown to our building.

We have done so much in this last year. I knew nothing about setting up a store or doing any merchandising, but we managed on a shoestring.

Here we are, just getting started with the workshop part:

Piddling around with the pieces we had, trying some merchandising:

This stuff is all down at the antiques mall now......it wasn't the right thing.

This IS:

Mitzi Curi and I in the workshop in early April....she came all the way down from Michigan for the weekend for a private class. Since then, we've had a number of small classes and events.

A table and chairs where folks can come and work on a project.

My spinner is constantly being filled with more bead/charm/stampings goodies!

No one taught me how to do any of this, this last year. I had to just figure it out.

So I guess I AM finishing something....what I really need to get clarity and move on to those other things. For the first time ever, I have a place available where YOU can come and visit me and we can work on a project together. Several follks already HAVE, as you can see.

If you would like to come, here's some info to help:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/visiting_bsue_boutiques.shtml

And if you are feeling like me, that things are just not getting done as you'd like, why don't you step back, too?

Think about all the things you HAVE done, all the things you know about this year that you didn't know about just last year. All the new things you have tried. Think about all your great new ideas! MAKE A LIST. Chip away at it! Be determined.

It all comes around in time. I'll get the video done....and one day, that book, too.

Posted at 09:12 PM in Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, It's My Life, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Using Social Media to Promote Your Art | Permalink | Comments (8)

May 29, 2013

Apples of Gold in Silver Carvings

A wise man once said that a word at the right time was like apples of gold, in silver carvings.

Imagine how beautiful that would be!

I received a beautiful letter in the mail yesterday, and along with the letter, a gift:

Moriah Betterly of BluMudd is a member of B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook Many of us at the group work with brass stampings, patinas, metal, beads....but Moriah is a ceramic artist. We are delighted to have her and are inspired by her work.

Moriah's letter says:

"I just wanted to send you a little something for being supportive of my work and for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing group of people in the B'sue Boutiques Group on Facebook. I have never been a part of a more friendly and helpful group than this one. Some of the designs these folks come up with, blow my mind. I am so new to jewelry making and just starting to dabble in it, so being a part of your group and watching your videos have given me the confidence to stretch my wings a bit and venture out from just making jewelry components to trying my hand at making jewelry as well.

"The first piece is just for you. It's the second necklace I ever made and I now have you to thank for my beadie charmie addiction. (I'm wearing that necklace as I write this, and I think I'll be wearing it a lot. I LOVE it.)

"The second piece is for you to play with. I just know you'll create something fabulous with it! (Oh I don't know, Moriah....I sure hope so! This is a beautiful bracelet plaque!)

"Thank you so much for all of the support, encouragement and friendship. It truly means the world to me."

Moriah, you just MADE MY DAY. Apples of gold in silver carvings!

Visit Moriah's Facebook page here: BluMudd at Facebook

Posted at 05:09 PM in Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Style and Color | Permalink | Comments (4)

May 25, 2013

Something New for the Shop! The PERFECT Bead Chest!

Penny Whitlow from Farmtiques, just down the road from our little shop in East Palestine, just pulled up with her truck....and OH! what was ON that truck:

EEEK! Yes of COURSE I bought it!

Penny had spied it at one of her picking haunts way on down the road....she'd mentioned it to me the other day, but I couldn't quite picture it.

It's sort of like a mini map chest, don't you think? It's PERFECT for me for bead and stampings storage here in the shop! As you can see, it has two sizes of drawers:

AND, the drawers pull out:

I'm over the moon....and Penny let me have it for such a pittance for something like this. My promise to her was that if I decided I couldn't use it any more some day, I'd sell it back to her for what I paid for it.

I don't know what it's made of or how old it is....but my my my....I do know it's a find. There are eight drawers down, I think, on each side.....wide on one side, narrower on the other. All pull out. And it doesn't have that funky stank some old wood gets...surely someone was using this in their garage, once upon a time.

Well, now it will hold beads and treasures for YOU to explore, when you come to see us here at B'sue Boutiques. All I have to do is FILL IT UP!

Wow, Penny. What a pal.

Posted at 03:46 PM in Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, It's My Life, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Style and Color, Using Social Media to Promote Your Art | Permalink | Comments (4)

March 25, 2013

B'sue Boutiques Was On Television This Morning! Check out Greta on the Go!

I had such a great time last Wednesday when Greta Mittereder of WYTV News, Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio, visited me at the shop!

Greta is always on the go, ferreting out new ideas, little shops, cool things to do in the Mahoning Valley area. I was thrilled when she said she and her camera man, Anthony, were coming out to visit with me.

The video was shot in two- three minute segments....here are the current archived links from the WYTV Greta on the Go archive:

http://www.wytv.com/content/features/daybreak/gretaonthego/story/BSue-boutiques/bnahURa3Vk--vKfxd9bPsg.cspx

or you might notice at the bottom of the video screen it shows part one and part two video, click on the first one to see the first part, then the second. ;-)

The first one showed our stock and shipping area, and talks about our business....and the second shows off our shop, talks about our wares and classes. Greta shows off the bracelet I made for her, as well!

If you would like to make a bracelet like this, here's the video:

Charm Bracelets a New Way

Here are some more that I made:

Here is the silverware finished skinny silver bangle form at our website, too:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Fine-Silver-Finished-Skinny-Cuff-Make-Layers-of-Bangles-10905

Here's a big thanks to Greta for coming on out to check us out! I hope we can do it again some day!

If you'd like to see some more of the places Greta has been lately...check out her archive: http://www.wytv.com/content/features/daybreak/gretaonthego/default.aspx

Posted at 06:34 PM in Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, It's My Life, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Selling Your Work, Style and Color, Using Social Media to Promote Your Art | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 23, 2013

A Muse Box for B'sue.....from Caroline, All the Way from the Netherlands

This morning I found a curious little brown box in my mail box. It had traveled a very long way.....all the way to little East Palestine, Ohio, from the Netherlands.

It was sent as a surprise from a creative jewelry making friend. We often visit at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook

Her name is Caroline Laurense, and she has gotten in on a number of our Muse Box Deals over the past weeks at the Group---I make special packages at deep discounts every Friday for the first ten who contact me after I announce them.

The note enclosed with her box, sent to me, says:

"You always give people a good time with your muse boxes....so I thought, why not give one to Brenda. I hope your like this Dutch Muse Box. I made it especially for you with some Dutch goodies. I hope you like the stroopwafels special cookies...Have fun!"

It wouldn't have mattered what was in it, Caroline just touched my heart. International shipping is expensive and we all have to watch our pennies. The stroopwafels were amazing, my husband and I had them with our coffee this morning before I left for the shop.

In the box were so many Delft-type beads and charms and even little wooden Dutch shoes! You can see it all in the photo above---except the cookies! They're gone!

AND....one more brass plaque, I think it was a piece of furniture hardware. I already made it into a bracelet:

I was having a hard day today, we got some upsetting news about the lack of progress by the township to run the sewer line past our house. Apparently the whole thing is on hold and is not going to progress for an indefinite amount of time. We are managing, but this news is just a *bit* devastating.

At the same time, I also know that things can turn around quickly. Sometimes they do, just at the time we you feel the worst about them.

Caroline, your darling package put a band-aid on my blistered little heart today. There are good people out there who care. Some live very far away.

This is proof that when you put a good vibe out there and show love and support, you will get it back, in mercy buckets.

Posted at 05:04 PM in American Made Brass, Designer Finishes, Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Mixed Media Technique, Style and Color, Using Social Media to Promote Your Art | Permalink | Comments (8)

January 18, 2013

A Smart Design from a Smart Cooky

Every time I look at this lovely design from Robin Delargy of Loo Loo's Box at Etsy I just smile.

I can see myself wearing this lovely concoction. I would walk down the street with a spritely step and a song in my heart. Wouldn't YOU?

But the reason I'm writing about it is because of how INTELLIGENTLY it is made. These days artists have to work carefully, stuff is costly. My way is to load up a piece to crazy...but egad, can you stay profitable like that?

When you first see Robin's bracelet, you think, oh my! so over the top! But really....there is an uncanny economy going on here, so pleasing to the eye, so joyful to the wearer....and profitable for the artist. Such clever use of components, such smart choice.

She's used a heavy length of old vintage chain here, and oh my, it's soooo handsome. Robin is an ace with her own patina on raw metal, it's her thing. She's done her thing to the brass here, sealed it, and made that piece of chain HERS.

She added a heavy lobster for easy on and off....and excellent security. The end of the piece is embellished, too...simply, but effusively. My guess is that it probably has her maker's mark on it.

The heart charms have also been subject to Robin's patina treatment, yet she has staggered color. She even staggered color on the large, heavy jump rings she used in the piece. Then, the hearts were embellished with Old Rose Ox flowers, tiny caps inside used to set little sparkling chatons.

This is a piece fit for the most Bohemian gypsy....or elegant businesswoman. And it's just so DANG smart.

You go, girlfriend! Thanks for sharing this design with us.

Posted at 09:26 PM in Featuring Artists Whose Work I Admire, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Mixed Media Technique, Selling Your Work | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 14, 2013

Cool Etsy (Or Google) Keywords To Help Your Listings Be Found

Many of us bang our heads over what keywords to use in our Etsy stores or stand-alone websites.

At the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook we've had quite a discussion. This lead to some research being done, and a list being made, which we have archived at the Group.

Why should we keep that all to ourselves, though?

So here it is....such as it is:

Style 1980s (or any decade) adorable African Americana angelic antique art deco

artisan art nouveau Asian autumn avant-garde bizarre black tie bohemian boho chic bold burlesque business casual cheerful chic circus classic classy clever cocktail colorful complex contemporary country cute cyber dark deconstructed delicate DIY dramatic earthy eccentric edgy Edwardian elegant ethnic European everyday fall fantasy feminine flapper folk folk art formal formal French funky funny futuristic gag geek geekery gladiator glam goddess goth gothic gothic lolita grotesque harvest hippie hipster horror humorous Indian indie industrial Japanese kawaii librarian lolita luxurious manly masculine mermaid Mexican midcentury

minimalist Middle Eastern mod modern modest modish mystical natural nautical nerd noir nostalgic old world organic oriental Paris peasant pirate playful polished prairie preppy pretty Primitive punk quirky refined Renaissance Renaissance Fair (Ren Faire)

recycled retro rockabilly Roman romantic rustic sailor secretary seductive shabby chic simple sophisticated southwest sporty spring

statement steampunk summer sustainable tasteful traditional trendy ugly

upcycled urban Victorian vintage waldorf weird western whimsical winter witty woodland zany Texture airy bright bumpy buttery coarse cool cozy cuddly delicate downy embossed feathery fluffy frilly frizzy furry fuzzy glittery grainy hammered hard iridescent light luminescent luminous matte metallic opaque patina plush pointy polished prickly puffy rough ruffled sculptured shaggy sharp sheer shimmery shiny silky slick smooth soft sparkly stamped translucent transparent velvety waxy woolly Size baggy big bulky chunky curvy deep delicate dense extra small fitted frail gigantic heavy huge large lightweight little long loose massive medium miniature oversized petite plump plus size shallow shapely

Actually.....this is just part of the list. At the Group, you will find the info under FILES in the top toolbar. It's in a nice four column document, easier on the eyes.

We had an interesting conversation on the meaning of some of the words as well as tips for finding keywords to list our Etsy goods that might help our cause.

Catherine Jeltes mentioned that she keeps tabs on the front page treasuries, and peruses other listings by artisans who have been successful at Etsy. She also says that you can type terms you'd use to describe your work in the search bar and watch what comes up. Phrases and terms you might not have pondered may arise!

Also, don't forget: your keywords should not only be in the title, but in the description as well as the tags.

Happy listing!

And more reason for you to come and join us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Facebook

Many thanks to Laurel Steven of http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurelsteven, who compiled the document for us. She works in polymer clay....and last time I looked, had some pretty awesome stuff for sale!

Posted at 05:12 PM in Jewelry Making, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business, Mixed Media Technique, Polymer Clay, Selling Your Work, Things I've Learned From Others' Blogs, Using Social Media to Promote Your Art | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 02, 2013

How Charming! It's Great to Live in a Small Town

I love New York!

My heart leaps up with just the thought of getting to go there on a buying trip. If I lived there a hundred years, I would never see or experience it all. It truly is a city in the sky. Instead of things stretching out for blocks, it goes stories into the air!

I love the sounds, the sights....the way it smells. Really! It smells like car exhaust, food vendors, and sometimes, yes, a little eau de garbage on the side. It's a unique scent you never forget and you don't really hate, because it means excitement and fun.

On the other hand.....you don't want to smell it every day. You don't want to deal with the clogged traffic, the congestion on the sidewalks, the noise.

I live in a small town of 5,000 called East Palestine. It's in Ohio.

Wikipedia says of East Palestine, Ohio:

The town was founded in 1828 and incorporated as a city in 1875. Nearby clay pits supported a pottery industry; the W. S. George Pottery Company was formed in 1909 from the East Palestine Pottery Company and operated in the town until the 1950s. Formerly, East Palestine was called Mechanicsburg, but was changed to "East Palestine" as part of a religious nomenclature in that area such as New Galilee, Pennsylvania, Enon Valley, Pennsylvania, etc. Mechanicsburg is today a name given a village in Champaign County, Ohio, near the opposite border of the state from East Palestine.

Have you ever heard of W.S. George Pottery? if you collect vintage dishware, you know it well. It was made here, as well as Kemple Art Glass. At the turn of the 20th century, the Goodyear Rubber Company was located here in East Palestine. There were many little industries, factories and enterprises that supported many a young family in East Palestine, over the decades.

This is our park, the little jewel of East Palestine:

I have so often enjoyed the idyllic water fountain in the midst of the lake in the park, and feeding the ducks that live on its edges.

This is the historic log cabin that still resides on Bacon Avenue. Each year volunteers gather there to make apple butter.

And we have a GREAT library, too!

It's just a little town, like many a small town....

Little shops and enterprises cluster along the main street, Market Street.....insurance agencies, a photography studio, and advertising business, a Dollar Store, a florist.....a Chinese restaurant and a bakery.....a bank, the 1820 candle shop, a consignment store, a barber.... another bank, some legal offices, and a large hardware store. That's of course, just to name a few.

And.... it's OUR small town.

There are many quaint historical buildings in East Palestine. Over the years, some have fallen into disrepair. Mr. and Mrs. Don Elzer moved to town awhile back, saw the charm in here in this place. To be sure, it was charm that some of us had forgotten.

They began to undertake restoring some of the buildings, which encouraged new commerce. They are working to make sure the world outside of East Palestine, Ohio, knows how charming this little town used to be....still is....and can be.

This huge edifice exists in the heart of town. It needed a lot of work. The Elzers are working diligently on it, a long with a few other buildings. It will take time and heart. Some wonder if they will be able to finish the undertaking.

There is a saying: The bad news is, TIME FLIES. (Time has flown since they began to ply their dream of bringing the charm back to EPO. It DOES take time to bring back an old building, as well as a lot of heart.)

The good news, however, is that time may fly....but YOU are the pilot. The Elzers pilot their dream, and they are doing a great job. It's a BIG building!

Meantime, quite a few NEW shops opened in good old EPO. One is Black Dog Antiques:

And we have a great new Chamber of Commerce Building!

I was glad to bring my business from my home down to the darling little building in the back of the Sparkle Grocery Store:

Here I am at work in the front part of the shop, which is a combination gift shop, workshop and class center:

The word is getting out about East Palestine. I have a bunch of newspaper clippings now on my corkboard, and yesterday.....we were on television!

Here's a link to the video spot from the WKBN (Youngstown) broadcast:

http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/East-Palestine-Rings-in-2013-with-7-New-Businesses/YhFRyh9nl0GWIuA6sWFM0A.cspx

Do you live in a small town? What is the mindset like? You know.... it's easy to be critical and impatient; we live in a critical and impatient world. It's easy to be complacent, easy to give up on a dream, easy to give up on people.

When I came to this place last summer, I worried that I would not be able to let my light shine here. I am not used to working with the public on a personal level. I have indeed worked with them daily on the internet for many years, when my business was at home.

That is, however, quite different than dealing with folks who walk into your very own store. I wondered what they would expect of me, and how I would show them patience and respect while still getting my own work done.

My friend, Shelley, gave me this beautiful framed picture, which hangs on the wall right by the front door. I look at it daily as a reminder of my personal goals toward the people of our community:

I would like to be nurturing, like the young shepherdess, patient and caring. See how she considers the little lamb in her arms, but also, the ewe at her side?

Who can be perfect? We all have bad days! Yet I think this is a good example and a good reminder for a shopkeep as well as a website owner. I want to treat you this way when you visit me online at http://www.bsueboutiques.com I also want to give you all the attention I possibly can, when you visit us in the sweet little shop at 42 1/2 Garfield Street in East Palestine, Ohio.

Shop owners also need to be patient and caring with each other. Many have been very generous with me here, already. I hope to do the same for them.

If you live in a small town, do the same. That's the charm of it! And your *privilege*.

Yep! It's great to live in a small town!

Posted at 08:14 PM in Encouraging Your Artistic Journey, It's My Life, Managing Your Arts and Crafts-Related Business | Permalink | Comments (4)

December 19, 2012

Can There Be Too Many Artists?

What do you think? Do you think that since handmade has become so hip, there's now an artist on every corner? Can it possibly be that being an artist doesn't mean what it used to?

I remember the first time someone called me an artist. I was making rice paper earrings, crumpled paper with a wash of color, heavily lacquered, with a few little pearls and sparklers studding some of the folds in the paper. They were huge. What can I say....it was the late 80's.

A woman picked them up, looked at them in a rather marvelous way and commented to her friend in a hushed, rather reverent tone: "This woman is an artist."

They didn't buy the earrings.....but I have looked at myself and what I do differently, ever since.

I'd always thought that if you were going to call yourself an artist, you needed some sort of paper to prove it, like a degree....or at least, a huge, recognized body of work. I stopped thinking that way a long, long time ago. Being an artist simply means that you are capable of doing artful things, have proven it, and had the guts to stick your neck out and share them with the world. Once shared, your handiwork was validated via a sale....or given to someone who wore it with joy, and the piece became the center of a conversation.

But is that really all there is to it? Many people call themselves artists nowadays. Many people have sold their work! The internet has made this more and more possible as the world grew smaller via your computer browser.

Can there really be too many artists? Or too many artists in one field? We here like to make jewelry. Is there really a glut of jewelry makers, for example, on Etsy? Too many at shows?

I look at it this way: Can there be too many restaurants?

If you like to eat, there are NEVER too many restaurants, especially since there is a limitless variety of cuisine in the world. I love Mexican food. In the last ten years or so, there have been a lot of new Mexican restaurants open within driving distance of where I live. Are there too many?

No. I have my favorites at each of them.

Art is like that. Do you really think that you would favor ONLY the work of one artist, all your life? Will people always be drawn to just ONE genre? Will they all like only one style of jewelry?

If you are a real jewelry afficionado, you can't have enough of it, and you may not care if it's handmade or not. You're as comfortable shopping at the mall as you are at a show full of artisans. You like what you like, you buy what you like, when you can. How many times have we been told, "I love it all!"

On the other hand, we all have favorites....a favorite artist, a favorite restaurant, a favorite movie, a favorite book. My faves won't necessarily be yours.

And you know what.... that answers it, I think! NO. There can never be too many artists. Yet, in a world that is fast beginning to appreciate handmade as being something special (FINALLY!) there is a key to getting notice and being successful. That key is the proverbial 'rub'.

The next time you begin to feel that there are too many people making jewelry and that it's too hard to catch a break, and that your sales have flagged and oh...sigh...maybe you just don't have enough talent, ask yourself:

1. Have I tried anything new lately? Just as cooks try new recipes....have you tried a new jewelry technique?

2. Where am I listing my goods? What do I do to make my photos clear and my designs appealing? Do I have a gimmick, something unique that draws attention to what I do as an artist?

3. How do I treat my customers? How do I package my handmade items? Do I make my customers feel special when they buy from me? Am I helpful and open to suggestions?

4. Is my pricing in tune with the market? Too cheap is just as bad for sales as too expensive. Do I have goods to suit all purses: impulse items as well as higher-end items?

5. Do I try constantly to upgrade quality in my work?

There can NEVER be too many artists who are busy learning new techniques and changing up their game. They pay attention to trend, parlay their talent into quality goods, and show their customers the respect and care they deserve.

The flowers in a garden are diverse, but there can never be too many.

Be glad to call yourself an artist, to share with other artists, be nutured and be willing to nuture others. There is always room for another innovative artist with a great new idea.