Market Day!

My trip to the new market was a really successful day for me! I ran late leaving my house in the morning, which always makes me nervous and irritated (I abhor being late for anything), but it almost couldn't be helped. Torrential rain put a damper (ha!) on my typical evening-before-a-show preparations of loading the car.

I arrived without trouble at the site, and found the market manager, Lisa, friendly and helpful, showing me to my assigned place, and letting me know how the market worked and where to park. It was a glorious place, my spot, in the inner ring of vendors, under the trees. Lisa had said the site was often breezy, and yesterday was downright windy at times! But the sun shone and the temperature was perfect, so I couldn't complain. The only issue might be the presence of poison ivy (to which I am spectacularly allergic) in the occasional spot under the trees. Yikes. Turns out there was one small plant in my tent that I didn't notice, and of course, my kids ran through and over it constantly while they visited, but so far no one seems to have been victimized.

I was really happy with my new display:

Sorry for the into-the-sun shots....was the best I could do at the time.

I couldn't believe it, but I sold that necklace on the denim pillow...it has one of my etched trees on it, and I really wasn't sure I wanted to part with it, but...I was happy to have it go to a really nice woman who admired so much of my work. I very nearly sold the hollow bead necklace to the left to another jewelry vendor, and I may yet, but it wasn't in the cards on Saturday.

The market sales for me were pretty decent -- just as good as my best day at any other of the local markets -- and I did learn a few things that I want to have well in hand before my next day there on the 23rd:

• I need to make up some jewelry care cards. A no-brainer, but I haven't done it, especially since my printer has decided not to print on cardstock anymore, and I'm occasionally terribly frugal about business supplies.
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• I need to make up a postcard with my next show dates on them. Now that I am involved with this market, I have shows coming up!
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• This market has LOTS of vendors with chickens, rabbits, sheep, and alpacas. These lovely people need earrings. And maybe charm bracelets or pendants.
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• As usual, this type of market does well with lower price point items. This means more bookmarks, zipper and cell phone charms, and single-bead pendants, and earrings.
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• There are wineries vending at this market. Wineglass charms! Wine bottle stoppers! Cheese knives? Hmm...

As you can see, I have lots to do. I need to make a list, because at the moment, I don't even know where to start! But it's all for the good. Yay! Good sales and lots of appreciation for my work is like a shot in the arm. I feel so much better about everything.

To Market, To Market...

After a yearlong hiatus, I've decided to go ahead and do another farmer's market here in the Richmond area. I applied to the new market in Manakin-Sabot, My Manakin Market, and was notified that there was a place for me, beginning this Saturday (tomorrow!!). So, I will be hauling my show stuff out today and tonight and getting things ready. I'm really glad I had just done that gallery show with my girlfriend Carolyn a few weeks ago, because most of my stuff is organized and intact.

I'm also going to try out my new iPad and the Square for accepting credit cards. We'll see how that goes. I have the 3G 32GB iPad and I will be activating my 3G data plan for the first time. It should be a learning experience.

I know that farmer's markets may not always be the best venue for artisan jewelry and accessories, but I'm going to try it. I need to sell some work, and I need to expand my customer base in the Richmond area, and markets can be a cost-effective way to make that happen. We'll see.

I'm hoping this is going to be a good thing.

AWOL

It's summer, and so that means my time to create and be creative is limited and short. I'm sorry to say I have nothing really new to show.....it's been hot and I've been busy, and spending time with my kids while they are home this summer has been a top priority.

My middle daughter started summer school this week, though, and that has been a bittersweet experience. She'll be starting kindergarten in the fall, and this past spring when we registered her for school, we learned about the School Readiness program that was being offered (free!) to rising kindergarteners. It's mostly designed for helping kids who have not had preschool experiences get ready for 'big school', but Wren certainly could benefit from the structure. Plus, she is really REALLY ready to start school AND she could ride the bus! What's not to like?

New backpack, new lunchbox, and she's happily off! The first day, the bus driver took the kids to the wrong school, but that little adventure got straightened out and all is rolling along well now.

I didn't even cry that first day, when she climbed those bus steps and waved to me from the window. I *was* monstrously choked up, though. My baby!

*deep breath*

One thing I have been obsessed with lately is making fresh mustard. From scratch. You know my deep and abiding love for medieval history, right? Mustards have been around a loooong time, and a friend took a class from another friend who did some of her own research into period mustards. Well, now that we have the technology and the source for the mustard seeds, it's ON! The other day, I made honey mustard, peach mustard, a garlic and herb mustard, and a pepper spice mustard (with cloves and cinnamon!). Yesterday is was dark blackberry mustard, and today might be a wine-infused spice mustard. It's fun, and we have been buying our household meats from a custom butcher lately, so there is NO shortage of tasty grilled and smoked things to put the mustards on. YUM. I might be giving people homemade mustards for Christmas this year!

From left to right, top row: Pepper spice, peach, honey

Left to right, bottom row: plain ground brown mustard, garlic-herb, blackberry

In other news, I have been anxiously awaiting news from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, to see if I was accepted into the docent training program. The person who interviewed me said they'd make their decision and notify people by July 7th.....and it's July 7th! I think I will have to find something to do so I am not constantly refreshing my in-box.

Maybe Noah and I will go to the bookstore and peruse the jewelry magazines. Or to the spice store for more mustard seeds.

Frank and Jane Go To The Gallery

Remember Frank and Jane? They got to go to Art Works for a gallery show last night!

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Fourth Friday gallery opening reception at Art Works gallery. My friend Carolyn, who is a muralist and polymer clay artist, has a studio in the gallery and she invited me to set up a small display in her studio for the opening last night.

Not having done a show of any kind in months, I was really looking for an opportunity to revamp my display and try out a few new things I had in mind. My work has been evolving steadily since I started selling it about three years ago. I think it's really getting to a place where I feel like it is truly an expression of my skill and talent and vision, instead of an attempt to co-opt someone else's 'thing' and make it my own. Granted, there's really nothing completely new under the sun, but I really think most of my recent work has had more of a stamp of ME on it than anything else.

I'm defining my media, for one thing.

I adore copper. Truly I do, almost as much as glass, as a medium, and I have also discovered I love manipulating metal. Well, duh! What with all the pounding and shaping and mangling of sheets of copper and brass....one would hope I love it!

Etching has also become a new thing for me, and I am finding ways to use that process to bring out my own vision in the work I make.

So....copper, glass, etching, metalsmithing...yep. Now I just needed to find a beautiful and enticing way to display it all.

Remember those vintage suitcases I bought at an estate sale a while back? Got those. Also a mannequin hand, Frank and Jane, some basic necklace stands, a pillow I made for my couch, and some wooden cigar boxes. Much finagling and fiddling later, here is what I had:

In the background is one of Carolyn's murals, on the back wall of her studio. She's fantastic, and last night showed me once again how crucial it is for me to have like-minded artist friends that I can hang out with. It was fun to be in the studio with her, drinking some champagne (one glass each -- we're lightweights -- but the cream puffs? We put a hurtin' on those) and talking about pretty much everything under the sun.

Oh, there's Jane. She was hiding behind a lamp, and pointing out the hollow-bead necklace, 'Roman Holiday'. Carolyn's dad is a blacksmith, and he made that gorgeous lamp, by the way.

The picture quality is not the best, because I had to use the flash or else they were too dark. Sorry about that. I did love hanging my bangle and cuff bracelets off the edge of the train case, though, and standing the earring cards up in the cigar box was MUCH nicer than using my usual oak earring rack. All in all, I really like the direction i am taking with display stuff, so hopefully by the time my next 'real' show rolls around, I will have something really nice all worked up.

I have to confess: I made about five bucks last night, but the greater riches were gained in spending a couple of hours with a friend. Thanks, Carolyn!

Shop update and other bits...

Hi guys....just a really quick note to let you all know that I am busily updating my shop with earrings, AND the pieces I made for the Fairy Tale blog hop. Finally.

(The Faerie Queen earrings are already gone....to a really good home....thanks, Katie!)

Here's the link to the shop, or check it out on the left sidebar.

Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments about my recent work! It means so much to me to know you are reading and taking the few minutes to leave a comment! I'm still working my way around the rest of the blogs, but so far, everything I've seen has really been gorgeous!

An update on the hammered copper bowl (from Memorial Day weekend) is coming soon...

Fairy Tale Blog Hop!!

I know, I know....I'm late to the party. *hides*

I received such an amazing stash from my partner, Tara Plote, of Newbie Beader, and I was able to make three pieces with the beads she sent. ALL of the beads were 'challenge' beads for me, as I don't really "do" shiny or sparkly or precious. *grin*

I was stumped for a long time as to what I should make....I kept thinking silver was the only metal I could use, because the beads were so light in color and more dainty than what I typically use. Also, I am completely out of silver (what with it being so costly), but then it hit me! I can use my old favorite copper and make some gorgeous things with an unexpected bead and metal combination. So, here is what I made...

For The Faerie Queen

Night Garden

A Midsummer Night's Dream

I feel like I made some successful pieces, and I really like the way they came out for several reasons: One, since I NEVER use any kind of faceted, sparkly bead, much less one with an aurora borealis coating, I was pleased with how easily I could integrate them with my 'signature' metal, copper. I'd never really considered the more dainty, sparkly look with earthy copper. Another thing I like is my use of fiber in the Midsummer bracelet. I have not really used ribbons in any of my work, much for the same reasons as I didn't use "sparkly". But I really like the eclectic look of that bangle and how the beads and charms mingle with the ribbons and the forged copper bangle.

You'll have to check out Tara's page for what she made with the beads I sent her....but she has broken a finger on her dominant hand, so it may be a few more days before she can get her creations done. I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop, though. See below for links!

Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads

Courtney Breul, Beads By Breul

Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta

Evelyn Hall, Dragon Lady Evelyn

Sandy Richardson, Sandy's Coloring Box

Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Design

Tara Plote, Newbie Beader (My partner!)

Christine Brandel, A Hot Piece of Glass (You are here!)

Lisa Sittniewski, Alterity Art

Joanna Matuszczyk, Filcowe

Jenni Connolly, Jenni Bead

Geneva Collins, Torque Story

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Sally Russick, Wireworked

Mary McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas

Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs

Shai Williams, Shaia's Ramblings

Johanna Rhodes, Fire Phoenix Creations

Sandi Lee James, Do Be Do Bead Do

Sweet Addy Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Fused Glass

Teacher's Gifts 2011

Every year, I've always tried to make nice and thoughtful gifts for my childrens' teachers. Having worked in school systems, I know what teachers are usually given, and what they really do and don't appreciate. Since I've always been crafty, I've made a variety of things over the years. Since I learned glassworking and metalworking, the last few years have been jewelry gifts.

Jewelry has always been a very personal thing in terms of style for people, so I don't get too trendy or 'out there' when making pieces for people I know, but don't know well on a personal level. And I've always tried to choose themes that have meaning beyond the whole pencils-crayons-an-apple-for-the-teacher thing.

This year, I focused on the proverb, "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow." For the ladies who teach my little kids preschool, I made a series of simple copper necklaces featuring either a hollow glass acorn, or a polymer clay acorn, both of which I made myself.

For my oldest child, who is in middle school and has many teachers each day, I'm still working on gifts for those teachers. Her English teacher is male, so a necklace is Right Out. I'm thinking bookmark and gift card instead.

Of course, now that I am laid up in bed after having several outpatient surgeries on Wednesday, NOW I'm getting all these great ideas. Right when I have no energy to do them. Thankfully, Kira has a couple more weeks of school so I have a bit of time to get things done.

I really like the way these necklaces came out, and I'm thinking of offering them as glass or polymer clay pendants in my shop. It's a bit late for teacher gifts for this year, but not for this coming Christmas and for next year.

I think I'll list those earrings I wrote about recently, now that I have time on my hands and no ability to really do anything too involved.

What do you do (or have you done) for teacher gifts for your kids and their teachers?