Trial and Error...

I'm learning a lot through this my first art/craft show season!  Last weekends show, which I thought would be a home run, was a huge disappointment!  And though I wouldn't say it was a complete waste of time, it was pretty darn close!  I have one final show this season this coming weekend at 5 Points Park in Sarasota and fingers crossed will end the season with a bang!  Throughout the season there have been many wonderful moments, but one moment from this past weekend truly puts a smile on my face!  A customer very excitedly enters my tent and exclaims "I'm so happy to have finally found you, I've been looking for you at every art and craft show since January", which made the disappointment from the previous weekend fade into the distance!  And though her husband did try to work a deal by talking me down on the price of the item she so coveted, I am happy to report that she did leave with the treasure she was seeking!  Just in case you've ever wondered, an art/craft show is NOT a garage sale!  Many of us don't have a physical storefront and this is our venue to display our hard work to the public. So it is not acceptable to most artists that you try to wheel and deal us on our price, in fact many of us find it quite offensive!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy getting a good deal as much as the next person, but this is not the place for that kind of thing!  There are a lot of factors that go into how we as artists price our works and many artists don't charge for their labor as it is, so our work is generally priced more than fairly!  Anyway, I apologize for the sidebar, but this situation was a bit disconcerting for me.  But as this was to be her birthday gift and I could see that she would be heartbroken to walk away empty-handed, I didn't make a big deal about it and did work with them a bit.  And although it put a slight tarnish on the experience, I think the outcome was good all the way around and I'm ecstatic that someone enjoys my work that much : )

I've been weighing my options, trying to decide if art/craft show gypsy is for me and I think I've decided to participate in local shows early in the season (Nov. - Feb).  It just seems as though the market in Florida is pretty saturated with multiple shows per weekend, so traffic gets more and more diluted as the season progresses.  I don't want to pull out completely because I really enjoy meeting and getting to know my customers face to face, so I'll be trying this schedule out in the fall.

I also made my very first art for art trade with a very talented local artist Robert Johnson whose art I've featured above.  I love his use of perspective and color!  He and his wife Sandy are residents of Anna Maria Island and Bob paints scenes from many local establishments as well as nature.  They participate in quite a few of the local art and craft shows and they'll be in Englewood on Dearborn this coming weekend, so if you're in the area stop in and say hello!

And lastly, I'm super excited to start classes this week to learn some new jewelry design techniques and hone my skills, so wish me luck!

3 for 3 and Guardedly Excited : D

I scored my very first retail location last week and ironically it isn't even in the state of Florida, it's in Indiana!  And after a trip to the east cost of Florida a few days ago, my jewelry is set to be sold in a total of 3 retail spaces with hopefully more to come locally!!!  I won't be naming names until the ink is dry and the first orders have shipped, but the boutique in Indiana will be featuring my designs in their spring fashion show!  I am SO EXCITED and this is only the beginning, look out world here comes SSMDesign ~ Jewelry Personified : D

Learning Curve...

So many new things to learn!  My dear husband got me a professional DSLR camera for my birthday to help me take better quality pictures of my work and because my old camera is tired (I take a lot of photos of my jewelry) and frustrated me to no end.  I've discovered that I have a lot to learn about the basics of photography, but thankfully it takes great photos in automatic macro mode while I'm learning  : )  I've recently signed up for classes at Art Center Manatee and I'm finally going to learn how to prong-set gemstones among other techniques, so I'm super excited to get started!!!   And taxes, uggg!  Though I have an accountant to do the actual filing, but most of the gathering, organization, and calculating is up to me.  I've been working on it for 2 weeks now and every time I think I'm finished I discover something I forgot.  I make my business more organized with each year, but it also seems that each year brings more that requires my brainpower elsewhere taking me away from the actual creation of my jewelry : (  As I imagine most people do, I thought owning my own business would be easy, but it's A LOT of work!  Being a sole proprietor = you do all the work yourself and if you don't it doesn't get done until you do, so you have to prioritize your day!  But it's not all bad, I can spend the day in my pajamas if I want to, have a beer with lunch, or take a day off whenever I wish : )  And besides learning something new everyday is a good thing, it keeps the brain engaged and me on my toes!  (pictured above Chromium Earrings ~ 13 carats in natural emeralds and 1 carat in raw black diamonds set in 14kt yellow gold fill)

Trust...

I have to learn to trust my instincts and end this internal battle I wage every time I need to order more supplies!  For me it's true what they say, "old habits die hard"!  I was taught growing up the old adage "waste not, want not", so every time I have an idea for a new design (and they are becoming increasing more elaborate with much more expensive findings) I question the supply order and my gut feeling that this new piece will be a hit!  Case and point, my most recent design "Sands of Time ~ Diamond (or sand) Filled Shake Necklace".  I've participated in two craft shows since its inception and it has been my best seller, so why do I keep doing this to myself!?!  I am making a vow to myself that it ends today!!!  I AM placing my orders TODAY!!!  End of story!!!

Eerily Similar...

   This past weekend was my first bonafide art/craft show.  It was a lot of work and also a lot of fun!!! I made some really great contacts who offered helpful advise and tips!  Some vendors travel all year long to various venues!  I can't even fathom that at this point!  I think for now I'll stick to our local winter season.  The photos were actually taken on day 2, it was just too cold and windy on Saturday!  Plus by Sunday we pretty much had the construction and deconstruction down to a science.  And though the weather didn't exactly cooperate and there were many other events going on, I have to say that all in all it was a successful weekend!!! 
I'm already putting what I learned into use to prepare for this weekends Anna Maria Islandfest!

    I do have to say though, that participating in art/craft shows is eerily similar to my former life  as a product specialist.  With the travel, early call times, and odd comments from patrons (seriously, do a lot of people not think about what they say before they open their mouths, do they just let fly!?!)  The only real difference I see at this point is that I am promoting my own product, not someone else's and that for me that is priceless!!! 

    These are my latest creation!  I am so proud  of the way my Sands of Time ~ Diamond Shake Necklaces turned out : ) So much so, that I made them the focal point of the display.  I bought this gorgeous vintage frame from junk shop and made a display board from cardboard, scraps of burlap left over from another project (rehabbing an antique headboard) and old sheets.  I'm all about recycling and using what I already have : )

  These are up on my website Jewelry Personified if you'd like to see more detail or have one of your own!

My Process...

 

                                                Xs & Os Necklace

    I thought I'd take you through my process in creating a new design.  New designs come to me at all hours of the day, many at the most inopportune times, so I have paper and ink scattered throughout the house, in the car, and in my purse!  They come to me in my dreams, in that fog between waking and sleep, and sporadically throughout the day.  Sometimes I'll sketch new ideas in my design book and sometimes they'll just haunt my brain until I bring them to life, either way they eventually become a tangible thing.  This particular design came to me a couple of days ago as I was creating another Valentine's Day design (a pair of earrings ). The photos above will give visual affirmation to the process of creating this necklace from start to finish : ) 
    So clearly the moment of conception begins in my brain and unfortunately, I can't really show you that, but once the idea has formed my hands go to work.  This necklace involves PMC (precious metal clay) which in a nutshell is tiny particles of recycled pure silver suspended in an organic material creating a clay-like base that can be formed and/or cut into shapes and impressed with patterns that once fired (either by torch or in a kiln, I'll be using a torch today) the organic matter is burned away leaves behind .999 fine silver (pure silver).  And since this a design for a necklace and the design requires a handcrafted chain complete with gemstones, I'll be wire wrapping rhodolite garnet beads, I'll be illustrating both. 
    First I lay out the items I'll need to prepare the "XO" charm then I lube everything up with olive oil to keep the clay from sticking.  I cut the amount needed from the pat of clay, roll it out to the proper thickness, impress the pattern for the base and xo for the top then cut them out with circular cutters, remove the excess clay and place the pieces over a warming plate to dry.  Once the clay is leather hard I remove it from the warming plate, sand the ragged edges and smooth the surfaces, place on my firing board and torch away.  After firing I quench and dry them then run a wire brush over them to remove the fire scale and check of any unfinished areas.  When I'm satisfied with the result drop them in the tumbler to polish to a brilliant shine : )  At this point depending upon the application, they are either ready for placement or in this case a dip in liver of sulfur for oxidation, once they've reached the desired depth of color they are rinsed dried and polished once again to reveal texture and detail and added to the other components.  Now it's time to make the chain, so I measure and cut all of my wire and chain to size and begin wrapping, forming, and stringing until my creation is complete.  I'm a bit obsessed with detail, so I meticulously choose each gemstone to best compliment the others!
   Throughout the entire process I'm listening to calm soothing music.  The process of design/creation is very meditative for me and whether you believe that an artist adds a bit of their own vibration and spirit to each piece or not, I want to make certain that your jewelry feels as good as it looks!  So there you have it, a finished necklace.  Different designs require different amounts of time for completion  depending on the amount of detail (this one took several hours).  However once a piece is finished it's really only the middle of it's journey!  It still needs to be displayed, photographed, priced, listed, and hung until it's purchased, boxed, shipped, and finally opened and worn by it's new owner.

Please excuse my absence...

I all the hustle and bustle of the holidays I had a bit of an accident.  While on my usual skate I ended up in a face-plant with road rash down my right side from my face to my knee  : (  I was very lucky in that I didn't break anything or mutilate myself to the point that I won't heal completely.  I still have no idea how it happened, I was down before I knew I was in trouble.  I mean I didn't even have time to try to protect myself, my hands are in perfect condition! And it's funny the things you think of after the fact, I guess it's better that I could break the fall with my face instead of my hands since I don't make jewelry with my face.  Thankfully,  I'm on the mend now and healing surprisingly fast!  Exactly one week to the day and what's left of the devastated flesh is new and pink!  Anyway, it's back to business as usual and I've got some great new designs in the works for the new year ; )

Christmas is about presents... but not how THEY spin it!

Over the past several years I've found it increasingly difficult to find the Christmas Spirit. Probably because the media and retailers shove their idea of what this blessed day is about in our faces before Halloween has even come and gone. But if we can hold fast to the true gift of his birth and celebrate it the way we choose. Not by feeling forced into giving the most expensive presents, but by giving gifts wrapped in his image, the most exquisitely wrapped gift, the gift of ourselves to those we hold dear! The following is an entry from Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy from which I read everyday. Maybe this can help you find your Spirit too.

Gifts of the Magi

Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents.  ~Jo March

 

Jo’s right. Remember when she grumbled about not having any money for presents in Little Women? Christmas is about gifts. Always has been. But we feel uncomfortable with this emphasis on gimme, gimme, gimme. Buy, buy, buy. Charge, charge, charge. We admonish our children to remember the reason for the season , even though we have difficulty remembering it ourselves when we are caught up in the chaos and commotion of the holidays.

Today let’s ruminate on the Real role of gifts in the Christmas story. Those gifts were wrapped in miracles, which is probably why we can’t find them in malls or in mail-order catalogues.   The first gift was of Spirit: unconditional Love. The next gift came from a Jewish teenagers named Miriam, who was known to her family and friends as Mary.   Her Christmas present was selflessness, the complete surrender of ego and will needed to bring Heaven down to Earth. The gifts of her fiancé, Joseph, were trust and faith. He trusted that Mary wasn’t pregnant with another man’s child; he believed there really was a divine plan to get them through this mess. The Child brought forgiveness. Wholeness. Second chances. The angels’ gifts were tidings of comfort, joy and peace, the reassurance that there was nothing to fear, so rejoice.   The shepherd boy’s gift was generosity: his favourite lamb for the baby’s birthday present. The innkeeper’s wife’s gifts were compassion and charity: a warm, dry, safe place for the homeless family to stay, her best coverlet to wrap the new mother and little one, a meal for Joseph, the donkey’s fresh hay.

   Three kings from the east traveled many hot, dusty miles following a bright star in search of a royal birth. The sages’ divination foretold the coming of the ‘King of Kings’; on their camels backs were treasures with which to honour his arrival. But when they arrived in Bethlehem , they found the newborn prince in a cow stall instead of a palace. The shocked Wise Men unwrapped gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but their real gifts were wonder, acceptance, and courage. They offered wonder by surrendering logic, reason, and common sense. Accepting the impossible, they suspended skepticism long enough to double-cross the insane King Herod, frantically searching for the child who would change the world. With courage – at the risk of their won lives – the Wise Men helped the young family escape to a safe haven in Egypt .

 Of, yes, Christmas is all about gifts. Nothing but gifts. But such gifts! Gifts tied with heartstrings. Gifts that surprise and delight. Gifts that transform the mundane into the miraculous. Gifts that nurture the souls of both the giver and the given. Perfect gifts. Authentic gifts. The gifts of Spirit, a frightened teenage girl, her bewildered sweetheart, the child, the angels, the shepherd boy, the inn-keepers wife. The gifts of the Magi.

Unconditional Love. Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Second Chances. Comfort. Joy. Peace. Reassurance. Rejoicing. Generosity. Compassion. Charity. Wonder. Acceptance. Courage.

To give such gifts. To truly open our hearts to receive such gifts gratefully.

Christmas just won’t be Christmas without any presents.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy.

Insider Information...

 

www.Etsy.com

This is a tutorial on how to use Etsy to your advantage and find the various seller's discount codes for handcrafted holiday deals!   
I've been on Etsy now since 2009 and not just selling, I started as a consumer and things have changed a lot since then, really in just the last year.  On Etsy everything is either handmade or vintage and you'll find everything from food and books, to pottery and makeup, and even a vintage kitchen sink!  So I'm just going to dive right in here, every shop on Etsy is unique, yet uniquely similar in that each shop has an announcement section (just under the banner at the top) on the front page.  In this announcement section you'll find notes from the seller, shipping deadlines, and any information they think is important for you to know, like discount codes or a map of where to find them!  Honestly I'm shocked at how many people don't look around shops before purchasing, and I say this from experience (I've offered many a sale and customers have purchased, but not entered my clearly displayed discount codes)!  Where has the sense of adventure gone, the thrill of the hunt, are we really all that pressed for time!?!  I mean, you're on the internet, possibly on your lunch break, or you can't sleep, maybe you're just bored and passing time, or you're shopping for a purpose.  I don't know about you, but I like to keep as much of my hard earned dollars in my own wallet as possible, so I'm ALWAYS looking for a discount and most sellers make it super easy and the deals are right there for the taking!!!  Especially now during the holiday season when each day it would seem is a reason for a different sale (black Friday, small business Saturday, cyber Monday) so sellers put discount codes in their announcements so they don't have to edit each and every listing for each new sale they offer!  It really only takes a minute or two to look around and explore the different areas of the shops.  Visit the seller's profile page to learn more about them and their process or how they came to do what it is that they do.  Visit their policies page to see their stand on returns and shipping.  And there's a mix of course, some sellers haven't taken the time to create their "sections" but the serious artisans most certainly have!  You can even SHOP LOCAL on the site!  At the bottom left-hand side of the main Etsy page is a clickable link that takes you to a screen on which you can enter your zip code to discover shops in your own back yard!  One more thing, ASK, click the contact button to "convo"  the shop owner.  Most artisans are more than happy to accommodate special requests anything from faster shipping to smaller or larger sizes, simply ask, most of us truly enjoy interacting with our customers!  And I can't say this about every website, but this is true for most Etsians anyway, we're not trolls hiding inside your computer trying to get you to buy our product, we're real people, masters of our craft offering our art and soul for your enjoyment!  So what do you think, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to navigating Etsy, but I think I've armed you with enough of the details to give you a boost.  Now go get those holiday deals ; )                   

Thanksgiving

I am most thankful simply to be home!  During the past 6 years I have either been in San Francisco or L.A. for the Thanksgiving holiday working auto shows.  My family was always gracious enough to celebrate the holiday either before or after the actual day, but this year (since my retirement) I am home and hosting the dinner myself : D  And in honor of this blessed event I plan to do it right, even taking some risks!  I will be making a pumpkin pie from scratch, pumpkin and all (click the link for the recipe I'm using)!  I did quite a bit of research before settling on this recipe, and there are A LOT of recipes out there, but this one seemed the most straight forward and natural.  All of the rest of the dinners ingredients are ready to be prepared.  We've got a 19lb turkey, candied yams, mashed potatoes, and cranberry relish (all also from scratch), green bean casserole, and everything on the menu is a family tradition including  "THE salad" and homemade dinner rolls, so the rest should be a piece of cake.  Of course, the planner that I am, I did purchase a can of pumpkin pie filling as back-up just in case something goes awry.   Wish me luck!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

UPDATE:

This recipe is totally worth the effort, but be forewarned you will need a bit of muscle and elbow grease to cut these pumpkins open!!!

Too Good Not To Share!

 I know this is pretty far outside the content of my normal posts, but this shepherd's pie recipe (from Martha Stewart's everyday food mag.) is too amazing not to share!  It's really quick to make with very little clean-up and tastes INCREDIBLE!!!  I took a few shortcuts and made a couple of changes that I'll share because time is an issue for me.  The recipe calls for mashed potatoes (as the crust/topping) and to save time and hassle I used the Simply Potatoes brand of pre-made mashed potatoes, one because they are quick and easy (these are a staple in my household, I always have them in the fridge) and two 'cause they're natural (no high fructose garbage or partially hydrogenated bull sh*t).  It also calls for a frozen veggie mixture and I recently discovered the Publix "casual + light" mix (a great combo of fresh frozen corn, green beans, peas, carrots, and limas) I use this for my pot pies too : )  For the onion I also used frozen (we always have these in the freezer too since a whole "sweet" onion is usually too much for one recipe, so we simply chop and freeze the excess).  Thyme is another ingredient, one that I did not have in my pantry, so I used Herbs de Provence of which the first ingredient is thyme, it gave it a lovely sweetness and depth of flavor that really added a nice balance to the dish!  You can also make this ahead and heat later!  I will definitely be making this recipe again and again!!!  Enjoy : D

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY CANCELED : (

Confirmed Artisans/Vendors: (and more to come)
❥ click name for a preview : )
*Stephanie ~ SSMDesign Jewelry Personified (Dec. 9th and 10th) ~ 
Handcrafted Fine Jewelry
*Raphaella ~ Heartful Art (Dec. 9th) ~ 
Motivational Art and Paintings
*Colette ~ Thirty-One (Dec. 9th) ~ 
Customizable Handbags and Accessories
*Stephanie ~ Rodan and Fields (Dec. 9th and 10th) ~
Beauty Products
*Jeff ~ The Coffee Plant (Dec. 9th and 10th) ~ 
Craft Roasted Small Batch Coffee
*Kristi ~ Kristi’s Klean Kreations ~ 
Bath and Beauty
*Paisley ~ Paisley Fawn (Dec. 9th) ~
Handmade Plush and whimsically Twisted Illustration
*Karen ~ Yummy Wear Diaper Cakes ~ 
Fanciful Diaper Cakes
*Meredith ~ Wild Woman Beads ~ 
Beaded and Lampwork  Jewelry
*Bonnie ~  Bon Jean Creations (Dec. 9th) ~ 
Hand Sewn Treasures
*Amanda ~ Hawaiian Butterfly Organics (Dec. 10th) ~ 
Organic Bath and Beauty Products
 
 

It has been decided...

I have been wavering for weeks as to whether or not to host a holiday open house.  A venue for my friends, neighbors, and the public with an opportunity to browse and do some holiday shopping in one no-hassle no-pressure environment where they can choose from a multitude of handcrafted items from local artisans while getting to know their neighbors.  I have finally decided to go forward with the planning!  Details and photos to follow as artisans and specifics are confirmed : )  Stay tuned...

Local Flavor ~ The Annual Sarasota Chalk Festival

Above are a few photos from this years annual Sarasota Chalk Festival (click the link for more photos and information).  I've been unable to to attend this and many other amazing events in previous years due to my heavy travel schedule with my former job and was delighted to finally see all of the incredible talent displayed by artists from around the globe. 

Time Off For Good Behavior ; )

I am giving myself the gift of time for the next couple days!  I've been working non-stop for months in preparations for this past Saturdays event and for the upcoming holidays, so now I'm giving myself a day or two off : ) 

Saturday was a success!  It was a beautiful fall day in sunny Florida, though a bit windy for my taste, overall it was a great first event experience and everything went pretty smoothly!  My jewelry designs were well received, I made a lot of contacts, even had a few sales and a raffle!  It wasn't as busy as I'd hoped, but season has only just begun!!!

The Countdown Begins...

                               www.SSMDesign.etsy.com
Well, the countdown has begun.  I am now within the the final 2 week stretch before my very first public showing of my jewelry at the Stoneybrook at Venice Art Festival.  I still have quite a long list of to-dos, but the excitement and anticipation I'm feeling are palpable!  Honestly I don't know what to expect, I've been to art/craft shows as a patron before and my years of working events should have me well prepared.   It should be loads of fun and plan to drink it all up and enjoy each and every moment : )  But now to the final preparations...  and by all means, if you are in the area on Sat. Nov. 5th please stop by and say hello (directions are posted below)!

OMG It's Working...

                               www.SSMDesign.etsy.com

I've been reading the forums, watching countless videos, and working diligently on my SEO (search engine optimization) and holy cow, the changes I've made are working!!!  I keep a close eye on my shop stats and google analytics and my numbers, views, and favorites are going way up!!!  I still have a lot to do, but this makes it all worth while and definitely keeps the motivation alive!   WOO HOO!!!!

Goals, Goals, and MORE Goals...

                               www.SSMDesign.etsy.com

Since beginning the "Holiday BootCamp"  I find myself constantly setting goals and adding to my to do list, but isn't all bad!  Not only am I setting goals, I'm reaching and surpassing them too!!!  I set a goal to have 100 items listed in my Etsy shop before the holiday shopping begins.  I am proud to report that I have listed 96 so far, and have so many more items made and ready for listing that I will be well over the 100 mark by the weekend!!!  This boot camp has been such a great motivator for me, I'm learning so much in so many areas and seem to be working around the clock, but loving it all : D  Of course there is stress but it's a good kind of stress, the kind I put on myself to better my very own business.

If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say...

Remember the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all", well I think more people should follow this rule.  Granted I did open myself up to the critique, however I was expecting at least a little constructive criticism, not the complete decimation of 2 years worth of hard work!  I know there are issues that need to be addressed, that's why I asked for help.  But I was expecting an objective and neutral view from a stranger to give me ideas on bettering my shop, however this was NOT helpful it was simply hurtful!!!  I'm not a wuss, I can handle a difference in opinion, but I've been working very hard to better my business and this just stresses me out, (telling me I need to change everything I've been working so hard to improve) plus it snuffs creativity.  I will overcome this, I always have and I always will.  But please remember in your daily round that words can cut deeper than a blade and the scars can last far longer!  Choose your words wisely and tread lightly on the souls of others and your own.  This is also a reminder that just because you think you've learned a lesson, don't think for a moment that the test is over!!!