Taming the Tangle

Food for thought on MLK via WTF

Hello, patient readers... I'll get caught up on all the goings on over the past couple of months (maybe... if it seems pertinent...). For now I'll just hide behind the "I've been busy" excuse, which means on days like today when I'm finishing a big order and have to just hunker down and get it done, I plug in and listen to something. Some days I enjoy an audio book (if you want to know the geeky side of me, I will reveal that I'm listening to George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series... I've read them previously, but it's been so long that I wanted a refresher before jumping into the newest "A Dance with Dragons." The audio books are more performance, and a great way to re-experience the books).

Other times I listen to podcasts when I want a change or have tasks that take an hour here, an hour there... they keep me going for shorter-term attention spans. I have a list of about 16 favorite podcasts that I keep track of on Stitcher, although my all time favorite one is WTF with Marc Maron, which I discovered maybe 6 months ago. Marc is a comedian, and his podcast is based around his interviews with fellow comedians yet we also get to know about him through his periodic monologues. The show is always thought provoking, and it has enlightened me in many ways, and re-opened my love for comedy. I really got hooked on the show when he spoke with Lisa Lampanelli ("The Queen of Mean"), whose comedy I always had a hard time with because I don't generally find mean-spirited humor funny. What a difference to get a glimpse behind the performance image, though... she seems so nice, sincere, and open. I have since heard her tell a story on the Risk podcast (a new fave that I was just introduced to), which was hilarious, poignant and touching.

When a podcast or program can help me to be more open minded and truly re-evaluate my own perceptions, while also entertaining me, then I'm in. I've also become obsessed in my dream world with the idea of imitating WTF slightly by starting a podcast of conversations with art fair artists, since, like comedians, we are also performers in a way... sharing our perspectives and experiences in a visual manner. We have our pack mentality, we understand road life, we celebrate highs and lows, and we have jealousies and rivalries with those who "make it." It could be nice to put some words to that and get to know the people as just people, where it's not so daunting to approach an artist as a person and start a discussion.

Today was a slightly different WTF than what I had experienced before. Comedian Todd Glass, who apparently had been on the show before, asked to be invited back specifically so he could come out of the closet publicly while simultaneously having an interesting discussion. The conversation was riveting, and I learned so many things and gained a level of understanding that never sunk into my head during PC training at Smith College. It has been ingrained in me over the years to be sensitive to what people want to be called, referred to, etc. etc. Which still boils down to naming and classifying, which, yes, has its purposes at times as an easy handle. Yet what Todd wanted to get across was that rather than focusing on that minutiae (albeit important) to "prove" your open-mindedness was rather to prove it with actions of another sort. On a small level, we can improve our vocabulary... rather than call something "gay" or "retarded," think about what you really mean and then say that.

On a larger scale, if you are around someone who refers to something as "gay" (I mean the slang usage here), rather than singling them out and putting them on the defensive about their usage, maybe make a passing remark such as "I'm not sure why our sexuality entered into this. Why do you really not want to go to the party?" or whatever it is that was being slandered. Todd felt frustrated at times during the interview, like he wasn't making his points clear, and now I understand with trying to paraphrase. By all means, listen to the WTF podcast rather than just rely on my feeble attempt to explain the monumental shift this made for me in my head.

One of my favorite stories was how to deal with a heterosexual guy who says he just can't imagine sleeping with a guy or the idea of two guys having sex. Todd brings up the notion of imagining the guy's sister or Mom having sex, which of course is followed by more extreme cringing, and then driving the point home that in general none of us thinks about the details of other people having sex. It's not something we have to think about or even talk about unless we want to (and, in general, that's the role that porn plays)... there are so many other things to discuss about relationships other than the details of sex (which are also okay to discuss if desired... Sex with Emily is another favorite podcast that I follow to get different sex perspectives since it can often be taboo to discuss in detail with friends). I just like how he made that point in a way just about anyone can understand.

My whole purpose in writing this post was to rejoice in the fact that on today, Marting Luther King, Jr. Day, it was truly refreshing to feel like my mind was opened to another's perspective. To see that I can broaden my horizons and make changes within myself that might help to move us as a culture forward. Especially on a topic that I don't understand why so many people get so up in arms about it... as adults, we deserve to give and receive love with whomever and however we want.

Get techie with it

The past week has been a very techie one for me. One of my big February goals is to set up a new mailing list database. In trying to download a free trial of Bento, suggested by art biz coach Alyson Stanfield, I found that I needed to update my computer system for it to be compatible. After updating my system I realized I could finally consolidate my old external drives onto my new external backup drive. Now I'm back to square one (albeit a little zippier and less cluttered) where I can finally get around to downloading a free trial of Bento to see if it will fit my needs.

Earler in the week I also spent a huge chunk of time (as in 2 full days) working on updates for my website. I had let some areas of my website slide for a while, so this was a major organizational undertaking. It's all good, though, because I have new goal and checklist systems in place so a major back slide won't happen again. Yet it all made me wonder... does anyone care? do people look at these pages on my website?

Well, here's an interesting post I found on Crafting an MBA, a great resource for looking at your art or craft as a business. Megan Auman of Smaller Box wrote a guest post about Google Analytics and your online shop... she's a bit of an expert seeing that she's written an  e-book about it all. Reading that will have to be one of my spring goals maybe for April. I hate to put it off, but after a full week of being techie it's definitely time for me to get my hands in action on some new jewelry designs!

I have several Riverstone Bangles in process on my bench right now for my newest store, the Bellevue Arts Museum gift shop in Bellevue, Washington as well as some unfinished new designs; shown above: Riverstone Bangles, photo by Linda Savitz, © 2011 Kathy Frey

Peace of mind: a computer backup system

For years I've been thinking about backing up my computer regularly. A few years ago I even bought a program to help me do this, and then, there it sat, in its box. I still have it. How silly! Luckily this isn't one of those sad stories where I wished I'd done it once I'd lost everything... phew! But my mind was getting tired of thinking about it all the time. I was spurred into action last month when my laptop started to run out of space... I couldn't even load images from a new photo shoot. So, from word of mouth from other artists, I ventured into an Apple store to see what was new. Time Capsule is a great product I'd heard about, but it was going to require a system update which I just wasn't mentally prepared to deal with (I have all my program boxes, somewhere... in storage... I think....). Luckily there are lots of other backup drives on the market. How could I resist this cute little number from LaCie... in *orange* no less?

It's a full terabyte... I can't even wrap my mind around that! And it's tiny and durable, which means I could move a bunch of files onto it that I don't need to regularly access on my computer yet it can still travel safely with me on road trips. It also came equipped with a simple backup program that I programmed to run once a week.

My next step may be to research web backup, which this little number also comes with information on. That will be for true security... just in case everything explodes or gets stolen. For now I'm reasonably content knowing that if I drop my laptop or spill a cup of tea across it that all is not lost.

The best part is that I actually do sleep just a little better! Not bad for under $200! Do you have any tips for what you do for peace of mind?

A modern look at pearls

Have you explored etsy treasuries? They are mini curated displays of work based around a theme (note: they do expire after a certain amount of time). I think anyone on etsy can make one. I have never put one together myself, yet am honored to have my work included in them often. This particular one -- Unusual Elegant Pearls -- has a wonderful collection (and great prices!) if you are a pearl fanatic like myself. It features my Pearl Box Dangles and a selection of stunning jewelry creations.

Pearl Box Dangles, oxidized silver and pearls, photographed by Grant Boyle, © 2010 Kathy Frey

Style: A crisp fall day means sweater weather!

Fall is hands down my favorite season... the colors, the crisp air, fireplaces and the smell of wood burning, and not to mention the clothes... my favorites! So this seems like a perfect time to kick off my style column, something I've been wanting to do for a long time... the Blog Triage class is motivating me to jump in and get started.

Here is what I'm wearing today:

A comfy pair of Levi's that fit my waist well without being too tight so I can wear a fitted sweater without all sorts of annoying bulges. The jeans are bootcut to balance my curves and to fit this wonderful pair of Picolino boots that I bought at more than 50% off during the summer. The red of the boots doesn't exactly match the bright red stripe in the sweater, but that's okay... this isn't the 80s. The boots just add a nice finishing detail to this casual cosy outfit.

The sweater has a lot going on with all of the colors and pattern, so I'm keeping accessories to a minimum. With a good foundation (I'm talking bra here), the sweater is really flattering to my figure. The v-neck plunges down but isn't too revealing. I'm opting to not wear a necklace because I will throw on a scarf with a lightweight jacket when heading out the door. My hair is also filling in my neckline; I figured I had enough going on in that area.

So for accessories:

I'm wearing a pair of my shield earrings which clasp, so I don't have to worry about one falling out with my scarf. This pair has shades of carnelian and coral to pick up the red and orange hues in the sweater... some of my personal favorites. I'm also wearing a ring designed by Smersh (real girls wear concrete and pearls!)... the side by side colors remind me of the stripes in the sweater. The colors don't match exactly once again, but they lend themselves to the warm cozy subtle fall shades that I love so much. And, of course, I'm always wearing glasses so I have to keep that in mind when accessorizing.

So today is a subtle day for jewelry, and that's okay. At times I will load myself up with new designs or favorite pieces, but today felt like a quieter day for me. I will be working at the Mowen Solinsky Gallery for a few hours this afternoon followed by a warm dinner at India Oven in Grass Valley... this is the perfect weather for all those wonderful spices. My clothes and accessories are matching my mood today... I'm feeling warm and cozy and a bit introspective (actually still tired from a busy working weekend, maybe a bit rundown) yet I'm looking forward to this afternoon's activities. It's nice to have variety in how you present yourself, and, even as a jeweler, I like to intermix my jewelry with other pieces from my collection.

ps- As a little side note, I laid my outfit on the floor of my fairy cottage so you could see a bit of the acid-washed concrete. It's such a beautiful texture and color (albeit a wee bit chilly).

Why blog?

Today's Blog Triage class assignment was a 2-parter... the first part "who are you writing for?" you can read here. The second part is to explain why I blog. Much like Alyson Stanfield said in the kickoff to the class, I started blogging because I felt like I should. Cynthia Morris said she blogs because she likes to write, which is also true for me.

Writing is one of those funny things that I enjoy so much in all of its forms... journaling, writing letters, writing books and articles... even email, facebook, and twitter... I just enjoy words a lot. Yet every time I sit down to write, I remember my first writing teacher at Smith College (Pat Scarda for any Smithies out there) who thought I was just a terrible writer, and I was! The class was Reading and Writing Short Stories. My story was always the "worst story for this assignment" example, and I'm not exaggerating. The other aspect of the class was that we had to keep a journal. We could write about anything in the journal and be as personal as we wanted since she would be the only person who read them. After reading my journal several times, Pat pulled me aside (again... I swear I had to meet with her at least once a week) and told me she realized that I'm not a terrible writer afterall. We were spending so much time and working so hard together to force my writing style into something it's not... a short story fiction writer. I'm much better writing conversationally from real life, or tackling articles or essays. Not that I gave up on her class or writing in general... I worked and pushed and learned. And, yes, all of this runs through my head in 1-2 seconds everytime I sit down to write.

Pat taught me to continue to sit down and write. To push myself and learn; learn from the failures and the successes... but above all, continue to make writing a habit. Much the way reading is a habit I developed early in life and truly cherish; writing has become a low simmering soup that sits on the stove as I periodically taste and enjoy as the flavors meld and deepen over time.

Blogging is a way for me to continue this exercise. I haven't made it a full-on habit yet, but hopefully that will change with this class. The writing process is something I do for myself, yet the end written post is for you. This isn't a private journal that I cringe at the thought of anyone reading... rather I love knowing when someone reads my blog and a particular post speaks to them. Blogging is another way for me to network, outside of the sales space of my booth at shows. I like connecting with fellow artists and customers equally... there are always so many interesting connections to uncover.

From blogging I do hope to learn to share more, especially in the photography arena. Words I'm comfortable with... taking photos? just not me... hopefully that will change. My plan is to push myself to beef up my visuals, which will actually add to the variety of blog posts. I want to create some regular blog features like a style guide of mixing and matching clothes with my jewelry and other accessories, which will be fun for me and hopefully for you, too. I'd also like to share my art collection as a way of featuring other artists and discussing life on the road and creating a more artful living space... crucial for artists and non-artists alike.

Those are some of my goals and what I love about blogging and hope to get out of this class. Let me know if there's anything else you would like to see in the mix!

Love at first blog: Cynthia Morris

As I've mentioned a couple of times lately, I just started a Blog Triage class with Alyson Stanfield and Cynthia Morris. Alyson is an art consultant who I've seen in person, and I'm a huge fan of her book "I'd Rather be in the Studio," which I've recommended to many, many artists. I found out about the class from one of Alyson's newsletters, and it finally hit me as "hey! I think that class is for me!"

On the other hand, Cynthia is new to me. I hear her voice on the class audio files, but I figured I should also study up a bit. In just an hour this morning, I feel in love with her blog. It's great for jump starting any artistic endeavor, and she focuses a lot on boosting your writing. Her blog feels personal, and it's filled with all sorts of tips. So far I've learned about how to sleep better (or get over jet lag) and how to manage social media time. Check out her Original Impulse blog and let me know if you too are fast becoming a fan.

Take a class for a fresh start!

With the desire to build a more vibrant blog, I signed up for the 4-week Blog Triage class with Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield. I've decided to give myself a little wiggle room by doing the self starter class; I'll miss out on the class feedback and consulting (so hopefully you will share some comments along the way!) but I wanted to take a little pressure off myself since I'm shocked that I decided to commit (or re-commit) to another new thing. Today's assignment is to describe the people I want to visit and read my blog.

This is a bit challenging because I know who some of you are. There are fellow artists as well as designer and writer friends from my previous graphic design career. At least a couple of my stores and galleries follow along here so they can get to know me more and pass that connection along to their customers. The hard part is that I have so many potential readers... fellow artists, collectors, stores and galleries that carry my work, people who are reading my book and fellow jewelers looking for tips, students who want to pursue a jewelry career, as well as customers from art fairs. This isn't even mentioning friends and family (or spammers). Who is my ideal audience, though? That's tricky because I hate excluding anyone, yet in my heart of hearts I would like to write to people who have a piece of my jewelry (or a collection) and are looking for a connection to me. They (you!) want to understand a full-time artist's life and live vicariously through it. Posts for this person will appeal to other readers who can pick and choose to read posts by subject matter.

Does this sound like you? Am I missing anyone? Am I targeting the right mark? What I crave most is to get more comments and feedback on my blog so I know I'm striking a chord. Many people do email me directly rather than post a comment, which does achieve the same effect of us having a dialog yet it misses out on potential networking. So don't be shy... let me know what you think! And thanks for following along as my blog goes through a makeover during the next month.

Tweet, tweet

With my sporadic blogging tendencies, I've started twittering as a supplement. You can find me at: http://www.twitter.com/kathyfrey

For the moment I'm posting little update snippits about the studio, my show travels, work life in general, and inventory updates... who's getting new inventory and when. Follow along, and please don't be afraid to let me know what you would like to know more about! Sometimes I am brimming with so many ideas but lack the discipline to get to any of them so just get quiet for a while until I can focus again. It's a crazy cycle, but thanks for following along!