anticipation

I just dropped off my inventory for the Silverthorne Gallery show. Eva at Grand River Beads, which shares space with Silverthorne, was kind enough to hook up some of the members of Cleveland Handmade with what was originally going to be a one-night trunk show, but has been expanded to a month-long exhibition. Friday night from 6 to 9 is the opening reception; if you’re in the area, stop by to say hi.

The end of January starts the season of anticipation for many artists. That is when most of the summer and fall show prospectuses come out, and when we all kick ourselves for not being better prepared with all the photos, bios, and other little details we need for applications — you know, the ones we swore we’d have ready this year, unlike last year. Right. So, after all that scrambling to get it together, we sit and wait for the results to come back. Last year, I was turned down for only one of the shows I applied for, and I knew I pretty much had a snowball’s chance for that one. But, I’ve upped my game since last year, and I’m going to give that one another shot. This year’s applications will be a bit more ambitious, and definitely more plentiful, too.

I really need to get cracking in the studio…

showtime!

I’m in the thick of sorting through the huge listing of local art shows I received yesterday, trying to decide which ones I will apply for this year. Cleveland Handmade is also thinking about holding our own shows, too.

free shipping upgrade

This week, I’m offering a free upgrade to USPS Priority Mail shipping within the United States for orders placed through my Etsy shop. Assuming the post office keeps its end of the bargain, orders placed by noon EST Friday should still arrive in time for Christmas (if the package is going to Alaska or Hawaii, make that Thursday).

Silverthorne Gallery trunk show

Last night’s trunk show at Silverthorne Gallery was a great time! I made more than a handful of sales, and the staff and shop are just fantastic. I got to meet some other wonderful artists, too. Thanks to everyone who came out to support me.

I’m a pseudocelebrity

Check out my interview over at This Rocks My Socks, and be sure to enter the contest. Hurry — the deadline is October 9 at 9 p.m. Eastern time. And be sure to check out the other artists profiled there, too.

Many thanks to Brandi at Catie’s Blue for the invitation to participate. She has the most adorable pumpkin earrings in her Etsy shop right now.

productive day

This afternoon I knocked out one of the big items on my populous to-do list: getting a handful of new jewelry items finished and posted on Etsy.

I’m especially pleased with the brass etchings I’ve been working on. I first learned this etching technique several years ago, and in the past week I’ve been experimenting with how to apply some permanent color. I think these fit in nicely with the other garden-themed pieces I started making in the spring. I have many, many more than are posted on Etsy; come out to an upcoming show to see more.

Summer Market link

The Avon Lake Summer Market show launched their website today: http://www.folgerhome.org/summermarket/. Looks like lots of great vendors again this year.

North Olmsted Juried Arts & Crafts Show

Today I learned I was accepted into another summer show. It’s a small, first-year show, so I’m not quite sure what to expect, but I hope it will be a good one. If you’re out and about that day, I’d love it if you would stop by and say hello.

North Olmsted Juried Arts & Crafts Show
Sunday, August 12
10-6
Frostville Museum
24101 Cedar Point Rd.
Rocky River Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks
map

Here’s hoping they’ll get some kind of publicity going for it soon; I wasn’t able to dig up anything on the web.

2007 Avon Lake Summer Market

I will post about this again when the date gets closer, but several people have asked whether or not I was doing this show again and to give them more details, so here you go:

Avon Lake Summer Market
Saturday, 28 July 2007
10-6
32770 Lake Road (at Route 83; map)

The Summer Market is a benefit for preservation and restoration of the Thomas Folger Home (note: the Folger Home website is all bells & whistles [including sound] with even less [and well-buried, at that] information about the show than I’m giving you here, but it does give a little history of the Folger Home, if you’re interested).

This is a fun, well-organized show at the lakeshore with about fifty vendors selling all kinds of great stuff: home decor, flowers and plants, baked goods, quality arts & crafts, antiques, and so on. This isn’t the same stuff you see everywhere else, and the scenery can’t be beat. I was so impressed with this show last year that I expressed my desire to be included this year less than halfway through the day last year. Hope to see you there.

sparkly things

My Etsy shop is now up and running! Look for new items every couple of days — there’s a queue of fun stuff waiting to be photographed and posted, and I’m working on some cool new ideas. Feedback is always appreciated.