Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Adorned In Romance
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
80th Annual Plaza Art Fair
Fall is a wonderful time of year in Kansas City to enjoy fairs and festivals. After the sweltering heat we had this summer, I'm happy to get outside and appreciate the fall weather. Saturday I attended the Plaza Art Fair with my father, mother and brother. We had such a beautiful day and really enjoyed the weather, people watching and ambiance of the country club plaza as well as the vast array of art on display at this event.
This was the 80th annual Plaza Art Fair. The Art Fair was started during the Depression as a way to attract new customers to the Plaza and to lift people's spirits. Back in 1932 you could buy a painting for a price of $1 to $10! The first Art Fair was so successful that it has been continued as a yearly event to this day. Now the fair attracts a crowd of over 250,000, and it is known as a top ranked national art event with 240 artists from all across the US. Needless to say, it is a real honour to be chosen as one of the artists to display and sell your artwork at this event.
There was some very impressive art on display including painting, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, photography, glass, metalwork, photography, printmaking and of course, jewelry. One of my personal favorites included a printmaking booth by Marina Terauds of North Branch, MI. Marina Terauds utilizes the printmaking techniques of etching, mezzotint, aquatint and drypoint to create intricate and beautiful works. I loved the way she uses chine colle to make her work shine and the details in some of the nature inspired pieces. She has a wonderful style of mixing fantasy with nature to create scenes that could have come straight from a dream world. If you'd like to see what I mean, check out her websites, www.marinaterauds.com and www.studioterauds.com.
I also really enjoyed the linocuts and woodcuts of artist Kreg Yingst. His music inspired creations included great artists from the blues, jazz and rock and roll legends. He also displayed a whole series of prints based on songs and song lyrics. My favorite piece was a portrait of John Lennon with a peace sign superimposed and the word "imagine" spelled out in scrabble tiles on the frame. You can check out his online galleries here, www.kregyingst.com.
I think one of the more unusual and creative booths had to be David Burton's booth. He combines toys we all can remember from childhood to create intricate and whimsical pieces of mixed media art. I recognized many Star Wars action figures I had as a child as well as popular figures such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. He paints the whole scene black to bind the figures and background together and tell a whole new story with them.
You really could get lost in his work for quite some time as you remember the different characters and think about them combined in this slightly twisted way! Here is David Burton's online gallery, www.davidburtonartwork.com.
I enjoy all the art at the Art Fair but what really inspires me most is seeing the work of all the different jewelry designers on display. I loved Kristin and Eric Wornson's beautiful little pendants that contained real pressed flowers, www.skippinglilies.com. I also liked the jewelry of Jaana Mattson. She uses soldered glass tiles to showcase natural and vintage materials. She had a series that encases bird feathers in glass, many of which I recognized from my own birds. You can check out her Applied Arts Studio here, www.AppliedArtsStudio.com. My favorite find of the day was from Mary DeMarco, La Contessa. Her nature inspired work is fun and whimsical, with a bit of glamour and glitz thrown in. I just couldn't resist this beautiful sea creature bracelet! My dad surprised me with it as a gift- thank you Dad!
She had another series of designs featuring squirrels and acorns...too adorable! Check out Mary's work online here, www.lacontessa.com.
I hope you enjoyed my overview of the Plaza Art Fair. If you are ever in Kansas City in September you really should come check out the fair. The Plaza is a great place to visit even without the fair but this event really makes it worth a trip!
This was the 80th annual Plaza Art Fair. The Art Fair was started during the Depression as a way to attract new customers to the Plaza and to lift people's spirits. Back in 1932 you could buy a painting for a price of $1 to $10! The first Art Fair was so successful that it has been continued as a yearly event to this day. Now the fair attracts a crowd of over 250,000, and it is known as a top ranked national art event with 240 artists from all across the US. Needless to say, it is a real honour to be chosen as one of the artists to display and sell your artwork at this event.
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| A view of the Plaza Art Fair, Sept 24, 2011 |
I also really enjoyed the linocuts and woodcuts of artist Kreg Yingst. His music inspired creations included great artists from the blues, jazz and rock and roll legends. He also displayed a whole series of prints based on songs and song lyrics. My favorite piece was a portrait of John Lennon with a peace sign superimposed and the word "imagine" spelled out in scrabble tiles on the frame. You can check out his online galleries here, www.kregyingst.com.
I think one of the more unusual and creative booths had to be David Burton's booth. He combines toys we all can remember from childhood to create intricate and whimsical pieces of mixed media art. I recognized many Star Wars action figures I had as a child as well as popular figures such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. He paints the whole scene black to bind the figures and background together and tell a whole new story with them.
 |
| Fairgoers enjoying the detailed work of David Burton |
I enjoy all the art at the Art Fair but what really inspires me most is seeing the work of all the different jewelry designers on display. I loved Kristin and Eric Wornson's beautiful little pendants that contained real pressed flowers, www.skippinglilies.com. I also liked the jewelry of Jaana Mattson. She uses soldered glass tiles to showcase natural and vintage materials. She had a series that encases bird feathers in glass, many of which I recognized from my own birds. You can check out her Applied Arts Studio here, www.AppliedArtsStudio.com. My favorite find of the day was from Mary DeMarco, La Contessa. Her nature inspired work is fun and whimsical, with a bit of glamour and glitz thrown in. I just couldn't resist this beautiful sea creature bracelet! My dad surprised me with it as a gift- thank you Dad!
 |
| My new sea creatures bracelet by Mary DeMarco, La Contessa |
I hope you enjoyed my overview of the Plaza Art Fair. If you are ever in Kansas City in September you really should come check out the fair. The Plaza is a great place to visit even without the fair but this event really makes it worth a trip!
 |
| One of the Plaza's resident statues, with a view of the fair behind it. |
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Etsian topics...
I utilize Etsy for my online jewelry store. What is Etsy? According to Etsy's website,
"Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers.
Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice:
Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade."
What a great mission statement! I love it because I love making things, and it gets to a point where you have enough of your own stuff you've made and need to send a little of it out into the world. It's a great place to connect with other creative and artistic people that also like to make things, and those who like to search for vintage treasures that they save from the corners of people's basements and antique stores. Some of the sellers on Etsy are dedicated to taking stuff that's no longer useful or needed and making something brand new and cool out of it. Etsy is kind of a universe in itself. You can get lost in Etsy and spend hours there. You can join a team and participate in discussions in forums. You can just spend time window shopping and discovering new artist's work and reading about them and what inspires them. The Etsy forums and blogs are full of useful and very helpful info for people that are just getting started, those that may need to work on improving their stores and even those that are just looking for a good story.
One of my favorite things about Etsy is treasuries. Treasuries are little member curated lists of things they find for sale on Etsy. Once you get into making treasuries it can be almost addictive. Treasuries are ranked according to "hotness" based on how many views they get, comments and clicks to the items listed on the treasury. Really great treasuries can even be selected to make it on the front page of Etsy. This is a coveted spot because it gives the listed items a whole audience of viewers, a great opportunity for your shop to be discovered by someone who loves what you are selling. I have made several treasuries since joining Etsy. Some of them were team challenges from the team I belong to, It's a Madcap Life. Our team captain, A'esha, comes up with great themes and challenges her team to create a treasury based on it. Our team is also doing all team treasuries, treasury lists where every item listed is from a member of our team. One of my favorite treasuries I've created so far was one of these. Here's a link if you want to check it out and see what I am talking about: Earth and Sky
I've been fortunate enough to have some of my jewelry featured in other team members' treasuries. I really appreciate it when I am included because it is one more chance for people to see my creations. If the treasury is popular I have an opportunity for my jewelry design to make it to Etsy's front page. Here are the treasuries I've been included in so far.
Three Times Charmed necklace: Spring Rhapsody treasury by sunsan
Botswana Agate Swirl earrings: project: APRIL treasury by sunsan
Modern Love Affair earrings: Subtle love treasury by elsahats
Botswana Agate Swirl earrings: Spring DESIRES...April WISHES... treasury by sunsan
Mon Amie necklace and earrings set: No hard feelings...Enjoy Summer is coming...have a coffee treasury by piscesandfishes
Sugalite Candy earrings: MOMENTS... treasury by sunsan
A great big THANK YOU to these Etsy sellers for featuring my jewelry in their treasuries. If you click on the treasury names you can view them, and if you click on the maker's name you can visit their Etsy stores. They all have lovely stores and are worth a visit.
This is my Etsy store: greygirldesigns I would love it if you would take a look and let me know what you think about my store, my jewelry or whatever! Comments are much appreciated.
"Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers.
Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice:
Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade."
What a great mission statement! I love it because I love making things, and it gets to a point where you have enough of your own stuff you've made and need to send a little of it out into the world. It's a great place to connect with other creative and artistic people that also like to make things, and those who like to search for vintage treasures that they save from the corners of people's basements and antique stores. Some of the sellers on Etsy are dedicated to taking stuff that's no longer useful or needed and making something brand new and cool out of it. Etsy is kind of a universe in itself. You can get lost in Etsy and spend hours there. You can join a team and participate in discussions in forums. You can just spend time window shopping and discovering new artist's work and reading about them and what inspires them. The Etsy forums and blogs are full of useful and very helpful info for people that are just getting started, those that may need to work on improving their stores and even those that are just looking for a good story.
One of my favorite things about Etsy is treasuries. Treasuries are little member curated lists of things they find for sale on Etsy. Once you get into making treasuries it can be almost addictive. Treasuries are ranked according to "hotness" based on how many views they get, comments and clicks to the items listed on the treasury. Really great treasuries can even be selected to make it on the front page of Etsy. This is a coveted spot because it gives the listed items a whole audience of viewers, a great opportunity for your shop to be discovered by someone who loves what you are selling. I have made several treasuries since joining Etsy. Some of them were team challenges from the team I belong to, It's a Madcap Life. Our team captain, A'esha, comes up with great themes and challenges her team to create a treasury based on it. Our team is also doing all team treasuries, treasury lists where every item listed is from a member of our team. One of my favorite treasuries I've created so far was one of these. Here's a link if you want to check it out and see what I am talking about: Earth and Sky
I've been fortunate enough to have some of my jewelry featured in other team members' treasuries. I really appreciate it when I am included because it is one more chance for people to see my creations. If the treasury is popular I have an opportunity for my jewelry design to make it to Etsy's front page. Here are the treasuries I've been included in so far.
Three Times Charmed necklace: Spring Rhapsody treasury by sunsan
Botswana Agate Swirl earrings: project: APRIL treasury by sunsan
Modern Love Affair earrings: Subtle love treasury by elsahats
Botswana Agate Swirl earrings: Spring DESIRES...April WISHES... treasury by sunsan
Mon Amie necklace and earrings set: No hard feelings...Enjoy Summer is coming...have a coffee treasury by piscesandfishes
Sugalite Candy earrings: MOMENTS... treasury by sunsan
A great big THANK YOU to these Etsy sellers for featuring my jewelry in their treasuries. If you click on the treasury names you can view them, and if you click on the maker's name you can visit their Etsy stores. They all have lovely stores and are worth a visit.
This is my Etsy store: greygirldesigns I would love it if you would take a look and let me know what you think about my store, my jewelry or whatever! Comments are much appreciated.
 |
| My Sugalite Candy earrings. |
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Doing what I love...
For years people (family and friends mostly) have told me I need to sell my jewelry creations online. I always had an excuse why I wasn't doing it.
1. I spend enough time making jewelry for family and friends that I couldn't possibly keep up with an online store.
Well, life threw a little kink in that...I won't go into details here but I found myself facing a lot more free time and having less help to find homes for my jewelry. I came to realize that I do have the time for it if I make the time. It has to be high on my list of priorities. Also, I can't rely on other people to do what I should be doing for myself. I have to be my own best salesman. And, as my own best salesman I have to promote myself in ways I am comfortable with. Since I enjoy making jewelry and spending time online, I am keeping both of us happy!
2. I don't want to sell online without a business license.
This one is just common sense. Of course I shouldn't be operating any kind of business without going through the proper legal channels first. I was just unwilling to spend the time researching what I needed to do to make everything legit. Once I started the process though, I started to become excited about my new little business. Once I had my business licenses and sales tax ID number I knew I had come a long way and I was going to follow through and try to make a success of it.
3. I had a case of "lack of motivation and overall laziness".
When you are a beaded jewelry maker, you develop a bit of an addiction to beads. In order to buy more beads to feed your addiction you need money...if I can sell a bit of jewelry here or there then before you know it...I have more money for more beads. So there is a motivating factor. As far as the laziness goes, well I think we all have moments of laziness in our lives. I just needed to get over it and move on and try to make something of myself.
Life has a way of sending challenges our way. Brick walls, obstacle courses, ties that bind us...it's up to us to take up the challenge and find a way to make it through, over or around. To find a way to cut ourselves free from the excuses that are holding us back.
Points for me to remember as I continue on this journey:
1. Stay motivated!!
2. Don't lose focus.
3. Keep promoting myself.
Sure, I haven't sold much yet or come even close to breaking even. But, I am just starting off. Now, the potential exists because of the steps I have taken and the work that has been done. The online world is a vast sea of artistic expression and I am just another fish in that sea. It is up to me to keep trying to get my name out there, let others see my work and judge it for themselves. I think if I can remain positive and keep working hard I may even get to where I want to be someday. In the meantime, thank you to all of you that have encouraged me along the way. I do appreciate it and I was listening, really I was. And now I realize I am enjoying every minute of doing what I love!
1. I spend enough time making jewelry for family and friends that I couldn't possibly keep up with an online store.
Well, life threw a little kink in that...I won't go into details here but I found myself facing a lot more free time and having less help to find homes for my jewelry. I came to realize that I do have the time for it if I make the time. It has to be high on my list of priorities. Also, I can't rely on other people to do what I should be doing for myself. I have to be my own best salesman. And, as my own best salesman I have to promote myself in ways I am comfortable with. Since I enjoy making jewelry and spending time online, I am keeping both of us happy!
2. I don't want to sell online without a business license.
This one is just common sense. Of course I shouldn't be operating any kind of business without going through the proper legal channels first. I was just unwilling to spend the time researching what I needed to do to make everything legit. Once I started the process though, I started to become excited about my new little business. Once I had my business licenses and sales tax ID number I knew I had come a long way and I was going to follow through and try to make a success of it.
3. I had a case of "lack of motivation and overall laziness".
When you are a beaded jewelry maker, you develop a bit of an addiction to beads. In order to buy more beads to feed your addiction you need money...if I can sell a bit of jewelry here or there then before you know it...I have more money for more beads. So there is a motivating factor. As far as the laziness goes, well I think we all have moments of laziness in our lives. I just needed to get over it and move on and try to make something of myself.
Life has a way of sending challenges our way. Brick walls, obstacle courses, ties that bind us...it's up to us to take up the challenge and find a way to make it through, over or around. To find a way to cut ourselves free from the excuses that are holding us back.
Points for me to remember as I continue on this journey:
1. Stay motivated!!
2. Don't lose focus.
3. Keep promoting myself.
Sure, I haven't sold much yet or come even close to breaking even. But, I am just starting off. Now, the potential exists because of the steps I have taken and the work that has been done. The online world is a vast sea of artistic expression and I am just another fish in that sea. It is up to me to keep trying to get my name out there, let others see my work and judge it for themselves. I think if I can remain positive and keep working hard I may even get to where I want to be someday. In the meantime, thank you to all of you that have encouraged me along the way. I do appreciate it and I was listening, really I was. And now I realize I am enjoying every minute of doing what I love!
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