My Favorite Time of the Year

FAll is here!  I love the weather, windows open, a cool breeze.  I love shorts with sweatshirts or pants with tank tops.  LOVE it.

Time to take a deep breath and try to catch up.

We are finally into the swing of school, and sports (thankfully only ONE kid does sports- Julia). 

We are getting through our first colds of the season and a really super duper bad case of poison ivy (it is currently my turn with the cold).

I have been babysitting mornings the last week, and while it has totally sucked my studio time away (I am NOT good at time management or new schedules) I am really enjoying my nephew.  My nieces were little when my kids were, and we were all so busy, I never got this one on one time with them.  So, I am enjoying it a lot. And he is learning to talk and just at that plain old adorable age. 

This is why everything is taking me twice as long this week. (like getting beads listed)

I did get a big magazine submission done, and I am almost ready to submit a couple of class proposals for Beadfest Spring in Philly. I hope they get accepted, because I think they will be a really fun time!  More polymer painting, but some different ways to use it.  You will have to wait to see. 

I also managed to make a little batch of beads while working on my class samples.  I made some sugar skulls, spider webs and eye beads, with Halloween in mind, but I love these designs anytime of year. 

I think there may still be a set available in the shop

www.stacilouiseoriginals.com

I also made these really cool moon and spiderweb sets.  To me, these are fall, full moons, spider webs to dodge on fall hikes in the woods.  I am just loving them.  (they are in the shop as well)

There are some new bronze beads in the shop as well.  I spent the early part of the week listing while I was babysitting in the morning.

In other news, I have local art show on Saturday (tomorrow)- the Souderton Art Jam.  Last year was the first year for this show, and it was a blast!  We really enjoyed it.  So if you are local, come on out and say hi....Julia and I will be there selling my wares (and she will have some of hers for sale too)!

It felt really good to finally get back to jewelry making after the marathon that was Beadfest!  I finally got to play with my own polymer beads, and some of the great beads I aquired at beadfest as well.

Here are my newest earrings

These are some other new designs.  As you can see, I couldn't wait to use my newest fall / sugar skull beads

Every year, I try to think of a new "simple" design- something along the lines of pendants.  I know my pieces can be busy, and big, and complicated.  And sometimes, I know I just want a simple easy piece of jewelry.  The problem is that most times, they don't sell, because I think they can't compete with the big bold pieces in my booth.  However, I am really happy with the newest design this year.  Its bold, chunky, and different, yet very wearable everyday!

So, now I just need to find everything and price everything and pack everything for my show.  Wish me luck!!!  and I hope to see you there!!!!

Crafts in the Meadow- Tyler State Park Pa

This weekend you will find me at Crafts in the Meadow- Tyler State Park Pa.

 

I am booth #79- so please, if you are in the area, stop by and see me.  This is a pretty amazing show, with lots of wonderful artists.

 

Here is a map of the meadow if you want to plan out your trip.

 

I hope I see you there- the weather looks delightful for a show.  Fall is my favorite season and I am excited to be outside all weekend socializing with other art lovers.

 

 



Takin some time with family......................

Well, I feel like I haven't done ANYTHING for a week!  My eldest got his tonsils and adenoids removed last Wednesday.  We were told its a 1-2 week recovery.....and it really is!  Poor guy.  He's in so much pain, has to take the pain meds (with codine) every four hours (including overnight- I have to set my alarm), and OH BOY are we tired!!! 

So let me try to sum up the last week-

Wednesday post op- he did great!  The nurses loved him and one said she wished all her pediatric patients were this good.  I was a mess though, it was hard to watch them wheel him away, knowing he was scared.  But its all good, part of that life and learning thing!

We were totally blessed by friends from our care group at church who brought meals the first few days.  It was so nice to not have to worry about that...and they even made soft things like homemade applesauce and carrot soufle for Aiden.  What great friends!!!!!

So I spent the next few days caring for him.  But saturday I had a show at my Dad's church, it was their 185th anniversary celebration.  It was hard to leave Aiden with my hubby (ya know, I just wanted to be the one caring for him...) but I decided to take my daughter with me and make it a girl day, besides, I needed a helper.
It was super windy- but a beautiful fall day.  Julia and I had a blast.  It wasn't a real busy show, but the celebration turned out really nice.  Here are some pics....

My dad, his dad (grandpop), dads brother (my uncle) and my cousins son all played some good old tunes for us.

My dad

These teens below were there to spread the word of peace.  I just fell in love with these guys.  They played with the little kids all day, and they write their own programs from their own experiences with bullying, teaching kids about being peacemakers.  GREAT kids!  Julia made some good friends there.

Julia

Below is a couple shots of my booth.  Julia helped me set up the tent and carried the weights to each post for me.  She is one tough chicky!  She also set up all the earrings.

All in all it was a really nice day, with lots of family stopping by to hang out, old friends coming to visit and shop, and just a lot of fun with my baby girl.

Above- Julia and friends watching her pop and family play some old time country tunes.

On sunday- though we weren't supposed to take Aiden anywhere, we decided to try to tour a dairy farm and take a small hayride.  It was free, and just a little walking...and Aiden wasn't staying put at home anyway (he's supposed to be resting).  I am glad we did.  LIke I said, it was low key activity wise, but lots of info, and the kids got to pet some calfs and learn all about milking cows, and raising pigs.....and took a hayride.  Fun time. 

Yesterday- I just tried to catch up around here, and today, my studio is getting cleaned.  I should have snapped a pic of it.  Horrible, over run, messy, boxes, crates, bags, in the hallway, all over the floor, can't even get to my table.   Time to pack up the show stuff, re-organize and get into winter production mode.  Heading in there now. 

So now you know where I've been.  Whew!

Jewelry Shows, Displays and the Dis-content Artist

Love My Art Jewelry just had a blog post on Jewelry Displays.  I think every year at this time (with my first show just weeks away) I begin to think.........how can I make it better this year?

It is my torment.  I don't think I will ever be happy with it! 

Here are some things that I have changed over the years and why.

Originally, I had my tables set up in a U shape (just your typical wide, heavy, low, folding tables) so that people could walk into my tent. 

pros- it allowed people to feel like they were entering a shop

cons- items were close to the walls of the tent, and windy days were horrible and things kept falling

Anyway- I wanted something closer to the front, to grab peoples attention, not to mention, I have increased my inventory over the years, and needed more table space to display it.  (I am a bit obsessive about having something for everyone in a couple of color choices)

A friend had these tables and I just drooled over them.  I am a tall woman, so I like things a bit more at eye level.  These are adjutable height, not NEAR as heavy, they fold, AND they are narrower, so it gives me more room for the customer.

 
To make up for the narrower table, I got more shelves, to create more space for displays.  You can find the tables here.  I get my folding shelves at Ollies for about $40....otherwise they are $79 online!!!

Over time my displays went from hanging my necklaces in a row, where you can't really see each necklace, to each necklace being displayed flat.  I found these displays were perfect for that.  Not only can you display a few necklaces on each one, but, to pack up, I just made little covers for them, and put a rubberband around it and stack them all together and drop them in a tote.

  I do not have to take each necklace on and off.  This saved me an hour of set up and tear down time (not to mention NO untangling)!!!  Getting out of the house at 6am with three small kids and babysitters to fill in, is no easy task, so the later I can get there to set up, the better!!!

This is my most current diplay....but its changing a little bit again.  Just a little.

I have also found that good displays don't have to cost much.  Here are a couple that I have made over time using drift wood I found on the beach or branches from a tree in my back yard!

The picture on the left shows the drift wood bracelet display I made and the one below to the right is made with tree branches.

 I also got this display case at a white elephant sale for $8.  It was locked and there was no key.  So my husband drilled the lock, and I painted it!  I made a shelf for the back to keep the glass angled.  Voila!

Last year I spent a lot of time making my display so it would hold up in high winds.  I did a couple of windy shows that were really scary.  Here are my tips for that. 

1.  Do not have anything near the walls of the tent
2.  Make some weights to hang from each corner using cement and PVC pipe (much cheaper then buying weights, and they are heavier then what you can purchase online).
3.  Stake your tent down TOO, and if you are on the street, screw wood to the bottom of each post with large washer and then set bags of sand on each corner (I put mine in brown pillow cases with ribbon so they look nice)
4.  Have lots of hand clamps in case you need to clamp your table cloths to the legs of the tables.  When they blow, people are likely to step on them and bring something off your table.
5.  I added velcro to the bottom of my flat displays, so they stick, AND put a half of brick on the back / bottom of each so they don't become kites.
6.  Always have extra rope and duct tape and bungies, you never know what you may need to rig to survive the day!!!

This above picture show the tent with the wood and sandbags as weights.

My biggest tip for saving time is to do a complete set up at home before the show.  Lay out all the tables, cloths and all, shelves, jewelry............. set it up true to size (10x10 for most outdoor shows).  Then you can make sure it works, you can check your prices, polish things that need to be polished, ect.  Then pack it up and all you have to do that morning is set it up.  No arranging and re-arranging, or finding you have no room for a new display.  No extra stuff to take along that you didn't need. 

I totally take over the family room the week of a show.  I also get to see if I need more of anything- like earrings or bracelets.
I have really moved away from an artsy display to a functional one.  I really don't think it has effected my sales at all.  I sell more now that I did with the more natural and creative displays, and I am happier at the show because I can open on time and be relaxed, instead of a panic on how to make it work that morning.  It is about displaying your work in a way that is easy and eye pleasing...because, lets face it, your work is the star of the show, not the display.

Here's some through the years shots of my booth (they are not in any kind of order).  I couldn't find the really old ones.  I bet I got rid of them!

A few more key/general tips:
1.  Make your display fit your style~ both as a designer, and functionally
2.  ALWAYS use floor length table cloths- it just looks best, and most good shows require it
3.  Leave a place where you can deal with the customer, so when they buy something, there is a place for them to write a check or set their purse down
4.  Have a spot with a GOOD SIZE mirror where they can try on jewelry
5.  Have items clearly marked with signs explaining different materials, ex: Metal Clay Jewelry

6.  And have fun.  Talk to people.  Talk about what you do, where you find your stones, how your designs came to be.....the BEST selling point of your display is YOU.  People love to meet the artist, and find out what makes you tick.  Most often they buy your jewelry, not only because they like it, but because they like knowing how or why it was made. 

So~ now I am off to obsess a little more about my upcoming shows!!!!

Do you have a show secret you'd like to share???