We have three lights [...]]]> Thought I’d post a few more photos of the new improved SCPCG display. Last year it was all grey, this year we had black risers, and black trays. Each artist got one tray. I think it worked really well. The black looked elegant and unified the different styles.

We have three lights overhead. The table is raised up to a customer friendly height using pvc pipe extenders below the bend in the legs. Our extra beads fit under the table – easily accessible when someone is interested in a particular artist, and the risers give us space to put the order books, packaging, etc out of sight but right at hand.

We had signage and information about the guild at each end of the table. I think we may get a few new recruits. Several people seemed seriously interested in checking out the guild.

My work

RAM beads - proceeds donated by artists toward museum exhibit

I was at the Bead Bazaar in North Haven, CT this past weekend. I had a great time, spent quite a bit (on aqua terra jasper, sparkling glass beads, more Gilders Paste, paper and bark cloth beads from Uganda, chain, etc, etc) and met a number of interesting people.

If you want [...]]]>

I was at the Bead Bazaar in North Haven, CT this past weekend. I had a great time, spent quite a bit (on aqua terra jasper, sparkling glass beads, more Gilders Paste, paper and bark cloth beads from Uganda, chain, etc, etc) and met a number of interesting people.

If you want to see unique jewelry, go to a beadshow. Don’t look at the vendors tables–although you’ll see some there too–look at the people who walk by.

There were gorgeous beaded collars, and a necklace I coveted of bunched up periwinkle shells. I found out you can create spiraled beading wire by running it through scissors the same way you’d curl ribbon – a nice effect. I met a woman and her daughter who is making feathered hair ornaments.

And I met some of my own past customers. That was inspiring and humbling and educational.

There was a woman who had one of my dragon’s eyes. She hadn’t strung it yet, but she told me she keeps it near her bed as a dream catcher.

And another woman who paid me the ultimate compliment of telling me she was going to use one of my pieces in her wedding. I was proud of the piece when I made it – two white birds intertwined – but it was wonderful knowing it had that much of an impact on her.

I also found out I need to bring more new work to the show. When someone can point to my tray, and say, “I have that one and that one and that one…” it’s great. It means she really liked my work – enough to buy more than one piece. But it also means I need to bring more new stuff for her to look at.

I did have some new designs but not as many as usual. We’ve limited it to 25 pieces per artist (you can’t fit that much on the tables with 15+ artists from the Guild) so since I knew I wasn’t going to need a box of 50-60 pieces I didn’t make as much this time. Next year, I think I need to bring entirely new work and leave the variations on older pieces (even if they’re good and I really like them) at home.

It was a good day. My feet hurt at the end of it, but it was all good.

I’ll be working the table first thing on Saturday morning. If you’re in the area, stop by. It’s [...]]]> I’ll be at the Bead Bazaar this weekend, along with a number of others from the Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild. We’ll have a great selection of polymer clay beads and jewelry from over 15 different artists.

I’ll be working the table first thing on Saturday morning. If you’re in the area, stop by. It’s a nice show with some really gorgeous art beads and supplies – the only problem I have is that I always spend more than I make

2011 BEAD BAZAAR Sponsored by the CT Bead Society
NORTH HAVEN Holiday Inn
201 Washington Ave, North Haven, CT
Saturday, Sept. 10 10am – 5pm
Sunday, Sept. 11 10am – 4pm

You can find more information and a coupon at the Connecticut Bead Society’s site.

I was listening to Bruce Baker’s cd on selling the other day (which I highly recommend) and he was talking about sharing your story with your customers.

He [...]]]> The title sounds like it should be about writing, doesn’t it? But I’m talking about story when it comes to your art.

I was listening to Bruce Baker’s cd on selling the other day (which I highly recommend) and he was talking about sharing your story with your customers.

He was referring to your story as an artist, or the story behind your art, or your process – that little bit of extra special information that makes people go hmmm… And then buy the piece because they want to own a bit of that story.

But while I was listening, it also occurred to me that my favorite pieces of art have their own stories and meanings – without adding any extra words.

There was a series of paintings I saw online somewhere (and I wish I could find the link) with surreal white wolves in suburban settings. It made me think and a swirl of fairy tales went through my head. In that case, I almost don’t want to know the artist’s story, I have enough of my own.

Sometimes, a painting simply connects with a personal memory and it becomes more meaningful because of that. That’s not something the artist can control. But if you make art that has meaning for you, chances are that it will connect with someone else.

I have a small oil painting of a dirt road that curves away into a pine wood. Very simple subject. But it resonated with me because it reminded me of happy places from my childhood. In the gallery, when I went back to look at it for the 3rd time, Dave told me to buy it. It makes me happy every time I look at it.

Many of the animals I make have a connection for me. There are animals I sculpt repeatedly – because I love them or because I have so much tied up in my head with them. But I think if I did it consciously, I could add another level to that – an extra layer of meaning or abstraction that would make the piece really stand out. I just need to think about it some more.

So, what’s your story?

I’ve always heard that art sells better with a story behind [...]]]> I thought this was interesting… Novelist Holly Lisle is writing the first draft of a story, and emailing it out to her fans. She’s also collaborating with her daughter, Rebecca Galardo, who is creating jewelry and artifacts to go along with the story.

I’ve always heard that art sells better with a story behind it, but this is the first time I’ve seen it taken so literally.

You can see the first limited edition up on Etsy. The cool thing (to me) is that the original was made in polymer clay.

Btw, I’d recommend signing up for the story if you like fantasy with a bit of an edge and tiger shape shifters. It’s caught me so far and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I picked up some cool silver frames that I plan on [...]]]> The Bead Bazaar was a lot of fun this year. And for the first time ever, I think, I made more money than I spent. The economy seems to be picking up since I did about 5 times better than I did last year.

I picked up some cool silver frames that I plan on using with a sculpted design inside. And I also got some wonderful labradorite beads – I love the way the colors flash in the light. I haven’t decided what to do with them yet, so they’ll probably spend some time in my collection with everything I’ve bought in previous years

I also got some great pewter charms which are made by Green Girl Studios – definitely worth checking out if you don’t know their work. I love the round little hippo I got.

The last few weeks I’ve been playing around with various ideas for the new look of my website. The first image is a screenshot of my current design. The second image is what I’m imagining the new home page will look like… The subpages will have a much [...]]]>

The last few weeks I’ve been playing around with various ideas for the new look of my website. The first image is a screenshot of my current design. The second image is what I’m imagining the new home page will look like… The subpages will have a much smaller icon of the giraffe at the top.

I think I’m going to remove alot of the old work and really focus on the better stuff I’ve been doing lately. I hadn’t done it earlier because:

• I thought some of the early work might be good reference to anyone starting out
• I haven’t updated much of ANYTHING on the site in the last couple years and hadn’t gotten around to it

So I may review some of the older stuff and if it’s something I think is worth archiving, I may just make a blog post about it. That way it will be saved for posterity (digital posterity anyway), I won’t feel guilty about throwing things away, but it won’t be cluttering up the new and improved version.

I really don’t know where the guilt of throwing away perfectly good stuff – whether it’s physical or web content – comes from but I have an overdose of it… I think most creative people do though. I’m sure that someday I will find a use for all the cool rocks I’ve saved.

Comments on the design are really welcome if anyone has any ideas or suggestions. You may be able to see it live at http://www.skygrazer.com/dev/ but I make no guarentees since I may take it down in the future and I’m in the process of working on it.

You’ll find poignant and sometimes funny insights on life, art, and the [...]]]> Luann’s blog is one of the first I ever read and got me started on this whole blog reading thing… I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, actually Make sure to look at her website and wonderful wall hangings too.

You’ll find poignant and sometimes funny insights on life, art, and the business of art. Take a look at some of her series on booth design and selling at shows.

In her own words:

I’m Lori Greenberg and I want to help you be successful in your bead business. You will find these pages packed with information from how to create a web [...]]]> I’ve already mentioned a post by the BeadNerd before. Lori Greenberg is a glass beadmaker but used to do polymer clay.

In her own words:

I’m Lori Greenberg and I want to help you be successful in your bead business. You will find these pages packed with information from how to create a web site to how to sell at shows, what’s hot in the market and interviews with who’s who in the bead world.

A recent post on Setting Goals… Something I should start thinking about for the year.