Posted at 06:20 AM in Elegant Wire Jewelry, On the Road | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Posted at 08:35 AM in On the Road | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Today is day 1 of the 3-day Magic City Art Connection show in
Birmingham, AL. This is my third time doing this show, but only my first
time on the fountain plaza. I couldn't ask for a better view... or
better weather. The sun is shining, there's shade from the trees and
some mist coming off the fountain. Come on out & enjoy it with me! -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®
Posted at 10:28 AM in On the Road | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The doors are open, the jewelry is on display & the wine is flowing. It's so much fun to see my work nestled amongst wonderful works of art and some of my favorite ceramic artists. My work is complemented by beautiful spring blooms from Mary Lou's very own garden. Come on by and join us! -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®
Posted at 05:09 PM in On the Road | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Yesterday I flew into Portland, Oregon and made my way to Salem where I
will have a trunk show tonight at Mary Lou Zeek Gallery. Mary Lou and
her family have opened up their home to me as well, a luscious oasis of
art, craft, collectibles, family photos, and cozy comforts.
I packed my jewelry into one of my suitcases but decided to not finish a
Wire Boa for fear of it getting crushed... a good call considering my
bags really took a beating. So I'm putting the finishing touches on this
piece so it will be ready for the show tonight... it feels a little like
cramming. I love how it looks like some spiny skeleton as it takes shape
with the wrapping.
If you're in Salem, stop by the gallery tonight from 5-7 for a glass of
wine... I'd love to see you! My work will be available all week as
well. -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®
Posted at 11:54 AM in Jewelry Design, On the Road | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Today I made it back to the studio after driving home from Texas for two long days, the Bayou City Memorial Park Art Festival officially kicked off my 2009 art fair season, even though I already have 3 other shows under my belt (those were wholesale, though, a whole different beast).
This year I'm cutting back on my show schedule to get a handle on cash flow. It was good to be out and about with loving customers again -- I do enjoy retail shows for their energy and direct connection with customers and artists. The first show of the season helps to settle the butterflies (will people still like my jewelry and want to buy it?) and generally just get the feet wet again as I get back into the swing of setting up, restocking merchandise, helping individual customers to try on pieces, build up the stamina for standing all day. There are always a few "mistakes"... not dressing warmly enough (yes, even in Texas!), forgetting extra chains, and parking my car in a ditch that turned into a mud pit during the downpour that was setup (so, yes, I did literally get my feet wet).
Thank you to everyone who came out! On my drive home I stopped by the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft to discuss getting more inventory to them. I also swung through Austin to chat with Joe who owns Originals and carries some of my work, and I met up with Jodi Rae Brownstein for some coffee-lovin' fun outside of our home town of Chicago (where we rarely get to see each other because work seems to get in the way a lot!) and while there I also picked up a canopy for Olive who found a great deal on Craig's List... which also means she'll be joining the outdoor art fair ranks this year!
Where will you find me next? Next week I'll be touring the Pacific Northwest and will have a trunk show at Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, Oregon on Thursday, April 9. My next art fair is Magic City in Birmingham, Alabama during the last weekend of April. Hope to catch up with you soon!
Posted at 07:08 PM in Fellow Artists, On the Road | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The last 2 weeks have been filled with trips to the post office and UPS as orders from my wholesale shows find their way to their new homes. It's always fun for me to imagine my jewelry in all these different locales. Some, like museum shops, I've become used to the idea that my work sells and displays well in those environs. Others I'm going to have to try to venture to visit them on my travels to truly grasp the personality of the place. I love seeing galleries in person. Here's a little rundown of some recent activity:
Mowen Solinsky Gallery, Nevada City, California
Last month I traveled to this wonderful, outdoorsy artist enclave nestled in the Northern California mountains. While there I took new inventory to the gallery and experienced it first hand... and was lucky enough that there was even an opening during my visit! So I had the opportunity to meet other artists and people from the community as well as got to know everyone who works in the gallery and talk about my work more with them. This type of personal connection always helps to boost sales as well... consumers don't just want a piece of jewelry, they want a part of the artist and that storied life as well. This connection has to come through the gallery representatives since I'm not there most of the time.
I felt fairly familiar with Mowen Solinsky since they represent me at SOFA Chicago; I was familiar with many of the artists from that show. But the gallery is huge with much more variety. It was fun walking through and recognizing many artists' work I know (including Greg & Heather who make raku vessels in my old Cornelia studio building), discovering new work that I fell in love with, and just feeling like I could spend hours taking it all in and still not feeling like I'd seen everything. The gallery is doing a beautiful job of bridging the gap between fine art and craft. These are all things that I had to pick up on in person... now that I have more a sense of the vibe of the gallery and the community, I might be able to make better suggestions for jewelry that works in that environment/story and appeals to a certain type of clientelle.
Caldwell's, Seattle, WA
Ben, Anita and I met at the New York International Gift Fair. They have just recently received my inventory. I was spreading the word to a Seattle friend and did some poking around online... check out these links:
http://www.nuovo.com/caldwells/
http://www.10best.com/Seattle,WA/Shopping/Specialty_Shops/26282/Caldwell|s_Seattle_WA/
I am so curious to see my work in this environment. My work definitely looks like it has tribal influences, but I've never seen it in an environment that plays to this angle. I haven't seen the store myself yet, but I'm hoping to pop in for a visit next month (on April 9 I'll be having a trunk show at Mary Lou Zeek gallery in Salem, Oregon so am planning to tour around that whole region for a week).
Fallingwater Museum Shop, Mill Run, PA
How have I never been here? I have even dreamed about this place... the website is as beautiful as the building looks. A collection of my nests and more nature-inspired pieces are now in the gift shop, which I imagine is probably slightly different from a lot of high-design museum gift shops. I'll have to plan my travels to pass through here... maybe this summer.
Gardiner Museum Shop, Toronto, Canada
The Gardiner just received a fresh bit of inventory for spring... which is great since they just were voted one of the top 5 galleries in Toronto!
Relish, Bloomington, IN
This looks like the type of store where I could spend all my money... it's a little more "lifestyle" than any one type of store. I haven't been there in person, but it's not too far... I'll have to try to visit on one of my trips East. My jewelry just arrived so should be out on display!
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There are even more to mention, but that seems like a screenful for now! Let me know if you stumble across my work here or in any other stores... or if you think a store is perfect for my work. Thanks for your support.
Posted at 02:59 PM in Business, Networking, On the Road, Shopping, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
This year at BMAC I am sharing a hotel room with 3 other artists to cut
costs. We all traveled from Chicago... Eva May is here, and Barb & Jean
from Weener Ware. Jean made us all good luck charms... we each are
carrying a sparkly wolf to keep us strong. We feel like a little pack,
and now we howl before heading to the show. Gotta have a little fun,
right? -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®
Posted at 10:27 AM in Fellow Artists, On the Road | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Today is day 3 of Paradise City Marlborough where I'm showing my wares
this weekend. Before coming I finished a new collection of pieces
featuring sapphires for some holiday sparkle. The pieces range from
delicate waterfalls for something sexy to dramatically sculptural for
more of a statement... check out the undulating collar necklace that's
draped on the coral. This would be a great piece with a strapless gown
as it frames a neck beautifully.
Everyone is wondering about the holidays this year... well, if this show
is any indicator we as artists have reason to be hopeful. Yesterday the
aisles were full and people were carrying packages. While sales overall
are down, I'm excited to hear customers making the choice to buy special
handmade gifts even if it means fewer of them. Many people are also
taking the time to talk more with artists... everyone wants to feel
connected. I actually feel like a superstar being from Chicago... I've
been able to share my Grant Park rally night experience with many
people, helping to strengthen that bond of unity. -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®
Posted at 07:42 AM in Jewelry Design, On the Road | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
This month has been all about retail shows... I've had 2 so far and am heading to Kansas City Plaza tomorrow. I consider that my biggest show of the year, so between shows there's been lots to do in the studio, especially work on new designs. I will be bringing at least 10 new earring designs with me as well as some fun limited edition necklaces. I'll try to snap some pics to post.
Posted at 06:55 AM in On the Road | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)