I've been a vendor at three shows so far this month, with one more to go at the end of the month! That's the most I've done so far in one month. The first two were what I'd call small, less than twenty vendors and the last one was medium sized. The first two shows I sold a few things and made my fees and expenses back, but not much more. It would be ok if I was just trying to pursue my jewelry making as a hobby, but since I'm trying to make a career out of it, the shows were dismal. I would be eating spaghetti w/ no meat every night if that's how it went at all my shows!! I sure hope the next show isn't dismal too!!!
The show last weekend was different story! Thank goodness!! It was another show at a church, but it had a track record of 11 successful years behind it...not to mention the fact that a friend of mine had done it for several years and said it was a good show. Well, my friend was absolutely right!! I was busy pretty much nonstop for the first few hrs. I even sold two necklaces where I normaly might sell only one! The sales were also multiple pieces bought by each customer, not just a single pair every time. Even with a 15% donation to the church's youth group, I had my best show ever! Not only that, a couple of women, who organize another event the third week of every November, were there and asked if I'd like to participate in their show. I of course said yes, especially since my friend and some customers had mentioned it to me and said that show was very, very busy and very, very packed. They are supposedly very selective about who they let in the show, so I felt great that they asked and I now have a show scheduled for November!
I guess this last church craft fair showed me that I do have real earning potential with my jewelry. It was an affirmation that I am doing the right thing by trying to pursue my dreams. I just have to find the right shows to attend where my art will be appreciated and that of course is the proverbial 'rub'! I know I'm just starting out so I think I've done a good job so far, but I want to do better! Much better!!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
Gallery Debut
Tonight was the grand opening of the B&B Studios Gallery in downtown Seattle. I was priveleged to be a part of it by being selected to be a guest artist! The owner John does great photography and so did the other guest artist Lyle. The grand opening was scheduled to be part of Seattle's 1st Thursday Art Walk. It was an exciting experience for me to have found my first regular venue for selling my jewelry.
My mom and brother came, as well as a few Seattle friends I'd made in the past few months and I thank them dearly for their support! I sold a few pieces, but I think it was good just for the exposure alone and getting my name 'out there'. I was able to hand out quite a few business cards and point out that my website now has a show schedule, if not any pictures! Hopefully that will turn into some future sales.
I think it was a smashing success for the gallery and for myself! Alot of people showed up and really seemed to enjoy themselves. With John having more time to advertise for the next show and the gallery, I have even higher hopes for the next 1st Thursday Art Walk!
My mom and brother came, as well as a few Seattle friends I'd made in the past few months and I thank them dearly for their support! I sold a few pieces, but I think it was good just for the exposure alone and getting my name 'out there'. I was able to hand out quite a few business cards and point out that my website now has a show schedule, if not any pictures! Hopefully that will turn into some future sales.
I think it was a smashing success for the gallery and for myself! Alot of people showed up and really seemed to enjoy themselves. With John having more time to advertise for the next show and the gallery, I have even higher hopes for the next 1st Thursday Art Walk!
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
An East-West Connection (aka My Big Adventure)
I was lucky enough to have the chance to visit a few places back East last week. I was able to mix business w/ pleasure so that I didn't have to pay for plane fare or any hotel and I got a great deal on a rental car!! How did it happen? I was able to work for a bead dealer at a big show in Baltimore, Maryland. He paid for round trip plane fare, hotel, rental car, and for my help for the 3 days of the show and then I paid for rental car for 3 days. Pretty sweet deal if I do say so myself!
After the show, I went to Delaware to visit one of my oldest (and I don't mean age-wise!! LOL) and dearest friends who (or is it whom? I never know!) I've known since seventh grade! It was great to be able to visit with her and we crammed some sight seeing in too! Since it was my first trip back East (and I didn't really ahve much time there), we did the 'history' thing and visited the sights in downtown Philadelphia. Independence Hall, where they signed the Declaration of Independence, and most recently of the movie National Treasure fame, the Liberty Bell where they have a whole building of exhibits about the history of the bell, Betsy Ross' House where I learned that Betsy never actually owned a house, she was renter just like James and I are now, the Quaker meeting house where I learned or re-learned (I vaguely remember learning about him in elementary school) about William Penn and how instrumental the Quakers were in establishing that area, Benjamin Franklin's grave where everyone throws pennies apparently in homage to his saying, "A penny saved, is a penny earned.'. We also tried to visit the US Mint, but they had a rule that if you had a camera, you couldn't go inside the building! You couldn't just put it away...it couldn't be in your possession at all. So we took a pic outside and that had to do.
We also saw some lesser known historic sites in Wilmington, DE. Grace Church, which is marked on tourist maps, was by far the most beautiful church I had ever seen! It was a large building with tall spires, many intricate stained glass windows and doors that were a muted shade of red that I absolutely love! The building was built of some sort of stone brick that had a very light green or celadon cast to them. The whole effect was very striking and I had my friend take a pic of me in front of the church! We also visited Old Swedes Church, actually called Holy Trinity Church, the oldest church in the US with continuous services. It was built in 1698 by Swedes who settled near the Christiana river (named after the Queen of the time). A few years ago, when stripping paint off the church doors, they came across something which I think proves that human nature hasn't really changed that much over the past 300 years...graffiti! Yes...graffiti! People had carved names and years, the oldest being 1711, into the church doors and also into stones surrounding the entrance. Amazing!
Lest you think all we did was soak up history, we mixed it up by visiting two contemporary art venues! One was for local Philadelphia industrial design companies and individuals, and the other was exhibits for local Delaware artists as well as nationally known artists, The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts. It was quite interesting.
One other happening of note during my visit to Delaware...I got to watch my friend 'break board' at her Tae Kwon Do class. It was exciting because it brought her one step away from earning her Black Belt!!! I am happy to say, the day after I left, she 'broke board' again, was presented with her black belt and is now a fully empowered, kick-ass, black belt baddie!!! I am soooo proud of her! Don't mess with her!! You can read about my buddy and her 'black belt' journey at: www.womanwarrior007.blogspot.com
All in all, it was a great trip, even though there were a few things I would have changed. It was nice to earn enough play money to visit my friend since most things were paid for through the job. I can't wait to make a return trip and get to Washington DC and more of Baltimore and who knows what else?
After the show, I went to Delaware to visit one of my oldest (and I don't mean age-wise!! LOL) and dearest friends who (or is it whom? I never know!) I've known since seventh grade! It was great to be able to visit with her and we crammed some sight seeing in too! Since it was my first trip back East (and I didn't really ahve much time there), we did the 'history' thing and visited the sights in downtown Philadelphia. Independence Hall, where they signed the Declaration of Independence, and most recently of the movie National Treasure fame, the Liberty Bell where they have a whole building of exhibits about the history of the bell, Betsy Ross' House where I learned that Betsy never actually owned a house, she was renter just like James and I are now, the Quaker meeting house where I learned or re-learned (I vaguely remember learning about him in elementary school) about William Penn and how instrumental the Quakers were in establishing that area, Benjamin Franklin's grave where everyone throws pennies apparently in homage to his saying, "A penny saved, is a penny earned.'. We also tried to visit the US Mint, but they had a rule that if you had a camera, you couldn't go inside the building! You couldn't just put it away...it couldn't be in your possession at all. So we took a pic outside and that had to do.
We also saw some lesser known historic sites in Wilmington, DE. Grace Church, which is marked on tourist maps, was by far the most beautiful church I had ever seen! It was a large building with tall spires, many intricate stained glass windows and doors that were a muted shade of red that I absolutely love! The building was built of some sort of stone brick that had a very light green or celadon cast to them. The whole effect was very striking and I had my friend take a pic of me in front of the church! We also visited Old Swedes Church, actually called Holy Trinity Church, the oldest church in the US with continuous services. It was built in 1698 by Swedes who settled near the Christiana river (named after the Queen of the time). A few years ago, when stripping paint off the church doors, they came across something which I think proves that human nature hasn't really changed that much over the past 300 years...graffiti! Yes...graffiti! People had carved names and years, the oldest being 1711, into the church doors and also into stones surrounding the entrance. Amazing!
Lest you think all we did was soak up history, we mixed it up by visiting two contemporary art venues! One was for local Philadelphia industrial design companies and individuals, and the other was exhibits for local Delaware artists as well as nationally known artists, The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts. It was quite interesting.
One other happening of note during my visit to Delaware...I got to watch my friend 'break board' at her Tae Kwon Do class. It was exciting because it brought her one step away from earning her Black Belt!!! I am happy to say, the day after I left, she 'broke board' again, was presented with her black belt and is now a fully empowered, kick-ass, black belt baddie!!! I am soooo proud of her! Don't mess with her!! You can read about my buddy and her 'black belt' journey at: www.womanwarrior007.blogspot.com
All in all, it was a great trip, even though there were a few things I would have changed. It was nice to earn enough play money to visit my friend since most things were paid for through the job. I can't wait to make a return trip and get to Washington DC and more of Baltimore and who knows what else?
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