Pottery Sale at West Side YMCA
I’ve spent two weeks in Florida, working and visiting my family. I also participated in the Indie Craft Bazaar at Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale and had a great time. In the week leading up to the show, I made lots of earrings (and other stuff that didn’t quite get finished):
And on the big day, I put together a table that I kind of loved:
When I get back home, I need to put some of these things that aren’t already there, in my store.
A little last minute surprise. I’ll be participating in the Artist Market at 25CPW Gallery on Saturday, December 15 with a table of other artists from the West Side YMCA Artworks program. The sale runs 12pm – 8pm (I’ll be manning the table 6-8pm.) There’s also a reception from 6:30pm – 9pm.
Our table will have jewelry and ceramics for sale and the event will also include some wonderful work from other local artists. A great place for one of a kind holiday gifts. I’m very excited about being included!
I’ll be selling my wares at the West Side Y Annual Holiday Sale on December 6 through December 8. Lots of wonderful one of a kind handmade items for sale, including my ceramic items for the home and some jewelry as well. If you’re in New York City, come on by.
My New Year’s resolution was to do something creative every day and document it online. I’ve been doing that at Girl vs Inertia.
While I haven’t posted every day, this project has provided me with the impetus to play and be creative in new and interesting ways and my cup runneth over with ideas for new things to try. I’m particularly pleased with my latest ceramic work, so I thought I’d bring some of those pictures over here:
More of the collage pieces are in the process and I’m currently contemplating what they’ll become, but I’ll let you know when you can see these new items up in my store (in the not too distant future).
I’m heading to Florida tomorrow evening for a long (and long overdue) vacation. I arrive about midnight and then 12 hours later I’ll be one of the vendors in the Indie Craft Bazaar: Let It Sew at Revolution Live in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.
I’m so excited to be participating in my first craft fair in my hometown and hope that I’ll make a killing (or at least some extra cash for enjoying my stay!) I’m a natural extrovert and so I love meeting people and talking to them about my work, and no matter how long I’ve been doing it, it’s always a rush to sell something that I’ve made. But, whenever I’ve participated in these types of events, my favorite thing by far is always seeing what kinds of stuff other people are making and selling. The coolest thing about the indie crafts/artisan movement is that there are so many interesting and different people, making all kinds of stuff. It’s truly inspiring and I’ve met some really wonderful artists (and people) while participating in and/or shopping at these kinds of events.
So, if you happen to be in the area, please come by for truly unique gift shopping. And even if you aren’t nearby, think about shopping handmade this holiday season. It’s a great way to support small businesses, talented artists, and your local economy.
A friend at work just introduced me to a new website that I have a feeling is going to become an obsession. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can collect images from anyplace on the web. You can also upload from your own computer or add them via the Pinterest App. People seem to be using it for all kinds of things, but for me, it’s a great way to collect inspiring images and stuff I want to save for use later. I’ve started a few already:
I’m so excited about it because I am always finding things online that inspire me, which has made my bookmark list ridiculously large and nearly unmanageable, despite being pretty well organized. Pinterest is great because it organizes everything visually and gives me access to things like they would be displayed on an actual inspiration board. I don’t have to go to each and every website to see them. And as a bonus, I can share those inspirations with other people, who can in turn see all the cool stuff I’ve found (and have a little peek into my brain).It’s come just in time too. I’m revving up for holiday craft sale season and have been collecting inspirations for new jewelry (and other items) I’m making. I expect to be participating in a couple of sales in December and will keep you posted when I’ve confirmed them. I may also put some new stuff up in my Artfire store, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if you want an invitation to Pinterest, let me know and I’ll send you one.
I know. It’s a poor excuse for my vanishing act.
It’s summer time, so with that title you might picture me at the end of a dock, fishing pole dangling, enjoying the solitude. Though if you’ve ever met me, that image would make you laugh out loud! I’m actually in my natural weekday habitat — a noisy office, sitting in front of a computer screen, going about my day job. It’s a job I love — Community Manager for an online small business community (OPENForum.com — check it out!), but as with most of us, full time employment can make creative pursuits (and start-up side businesses like
Gotta get better at updating, but for now, my Purple Pouty Face earrings are featured the collection Purple Passion and my Liberty in Light Blue earrings are featured in the collection The Wonderful World of Color-CEIL.
Check them out and the rest of my jewelry currently for sale at Artfire.com.
More new stuff coming soon…
What was the wisest decision I made this year? It’s not even a question. The wisest decision I made this year was to take the 3D design class at SVA, rather than to take the graphic design class I had intended to take.
Here’s how it happened: I had been doing more and more graphic design in my day job, partly because I really enjoyed doing it, but also because we didn’t really have the financial resources to hire a graphic designer every time we needed a new piece. I’m not trained as a designer, although I’d taken a class years and years ago. I do think I have a pretty good instinct for design and certainly my skills have improved (as has my confidence) over the last few years because of the work I’ve been doing. However, I also felt like I wasn’t getting any credit for the work because I “wasn’t a designer.”
With that in mind, I decided I should take a continuing ed graphic design class, since it would help my work and increase my knowledge. So, one evening in May I found myself at the Graphic Design Information Session for the SVA Continuing Ed program. The description of the evening said there would be an opportunity for portfolio review, so I brought samples of flyers I’d done, along with some pictures of my pottery, since I feel like my art work informs the way I design. I felt it would be a good way to find out where I stood.
At the end of the presentation I spoke to Skip Sorvino about the graphic design program and showed him my work. He suggested that I take his intermediate class. I then went and spoke to Kevin O’Callaghan, (whose praises I’ve been singing here for a while now) because Kevin’s presentation was both compelling and entertaining. When I showed Kevin my portfolio, he commented on my pottery, saying that I clearly had a talent for 3D design and that he thought I’d really like his class. I chatted with him for a couple more minutes and went home.
I had walked into that evening KNOWING that I was going to sign up for a graphic design class. I left, unable to decide whether I should stick with the plan or take the 3D class. I kept waffling back and forth. The graphic design class would help me at work and would make my design skills stronger. It was what I’d intended to do and I should do it. On the other hand, I simply couldn’t stop thinking about the possibilities of the 3D class. Back and forth, but always arriving at the thought that I really wanted to take the 3D class. That it seemed like fun. It seemed like the right class for me.
As I’ve mentioned before, I took the 3D class. Not only was it the wisest decision of the year, it was a big turning point for me. It allowed me to create work that I’m proud of and It has helped me change the way I look at what is possible. It also reinforced for me that it’s much more important to listen to my inner voice, than to make decisions because of what other people think. My layoff has also reinforced that I did the right thing, made a decision for my personal artistic growth, not what’s best for a job which I no longer have…
Below, images from my pottery “portfolio”
Coming soon, images of work from my 3D design class..
This year I was incredibly fortunate to take a 3D Design Class at SVA with the amazing and inspiring Kevin O’Callaghan. I learned so much in his class and I had classmates who were also inspiring and supportive of the work I was doing and wish to continue doing. Kevin, along with “The Pants” (Kevin dubbed us the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) are a new community in my life and I’m so lucky to have them. When I told Kevin that I’d been laid off, he didn’t skip a beat, merely told me that it meant I’d be able to spend time at the workshop now. Just what I needed to hear.
I also continue to appreciate the community of my pottery class. The many talented artists with whom I spend each Friday night, are some of the kindest, most generous, and most hilarious people I know. They’ve helped me through some crappy times and celebrated with me in good times. My teacher, Matt Nolen, had a similar reaction to Kevin’s when he found out I’d been laid off. He said, “Well, time to start focusing on your jewelry and pottery!” Yep, it’s true.
Tonight I had dinner with my friends Sarah and Jonathan. We’ve started a conversation about world domination. Okay, not quite, but a plan for something really exciting for all of our futures. I’m not ready to discuss the details just yet (that will come soon), but they are a community with whom I am excited to grow over the course of the next year and beyond.
People always talk about what a big city New York is and those who don’t live here wonder how those of us who do can stand to be around so many people all the time. What they don’t understand is that as big as it is, New York is really just a a lot of small overlapping communities and neighborhoods that make up the whole. It’s one of the things I love so much about living here. And it’s why I know that I’m in the right place.
