Etsy Workshop

I want to sell my jewelry on Etsy. The problem is that there's a learning curve and all kinds of things to be aware of and different ways of doing things and on and on. I'd love to say that I don't have time to deal with it but that wouldn't really be the truth. I chose not to take the time to learn it all. But I still want to sell on Etsy.

Luckily, there's help for people like me! Thanks to Jon and Patricia Hecker, I don't have to take the time and effort to learn it all on my own. They have culled all the information I need into a 90 minute workshop which they are presenting. Luckily, they brought it to Kalamazoo the night before the Garage Sale Art Fair!

Although they've been helping me get my Etsy site up and running all along, I still came away with 2 full pages of notes. All kinds of things to do or use. What I really loved were all the little tips and tricks that they've picked up over time. Pat spends time on the different forums and came up with all kinds of things I had never even considered which will help my site get noticed and hopefully sell more work. Once I actually get work up there!

So look for my jewelry on my Etsy site soon!

This is their official disclaimer - “The term ‘Etsy’ is a trademark of Etsy, Inc. This workshop is not endorsed or affiliated with Etsy, Inc. It is being conducted by two experienced artists who have maintained a steady presence on etsy.com”

Positive news in Michigan!

I'm finally almost finished with the Garage Sale Art Fair end of show jobs. The thank you notes to the artists went out today and I've started filing things away and getting the checkbook back in order. It makes all these jobs much more fun knowing that we did everything we could to get people to come shop and it worked.

The Fairgrounds said that most events right now are running about 10% down in attendance. BUT, the Garage Sale Art Fair - was UP 12.5%!!! We charge $2 at the door for adults (kids are free) so we know exactly how many people come in. We had 1500 people through the door in the first approximately 90 minutes! Wow! I would love to have counted how many people came back later since we stamp their hands for free returns.

Does that mean that all our artists had great sales? Of course not. Some were spectacular, some were good and some weren't. I just know that we did everything we could to get art buyers through the door. Then it's up to the individual artists to sell their work. I hope they're satisfied with what we did...

The Garage Sale Art Fair - 2009

Another year and the big event is over and done. All that's left is the wrap-up, going over what worked, what didn't and what gets changed for next year. The top picture is of part of the show location before it gets filled with artists. The image is a little yellowy where as in person it isn't. Not sure why.
This is Michael showing off our new entrance banner! The Fairgrounds put a lovely new awning over the door which we didn't know about when we got the new banner but it worked next to the door just as well.

And this is Pat and Jean in my booth during the show. Obviously, this is NOT my normal show display but is it perfect for a Garage Sale Art Fair!

I'll add more pictures later as I recover!

Cleveland By Hand

Last November I did the Cleveland By Hand art fair at the I-X Center in Cleveland and really had a fun show. Time with friends and plus nice sales means I can't wait to go back. That plus one of the best Mexican meals I've ever had at a funny little restaurant near the show. Can't wait!

The show is connected to the Fabulous Food Show and this year, Pat and I are going to find a way to go get in. We could hear all the enthusiasm so now I want to see for myself! That was a huge draw for patrons, some of whom I would bet had never been through an art fair before so it think we benefited from them being next door, in the same room. Boy you knew when Paula Deen hit the stage! A big roar from enthusiastic fans!

Back to the show. Not sure how many artists were there but it was the perfect size show. Easy to walk, easy to go back and find that favorite person again. Tons of clean bathrooms so no lines (okay, that's a personal favorite). A show director, Jay, who actually walked the show solving problems and looking for input. I saw him constantly throughout the show. Do you know how rare that is??? And he stopped and listened. This is a very good thing to be reminded of a few days before the event, the Garage Sale Art Fair, that Michael and I put on.

Here's to show directors that consider the artists to be the important part of the show!

Garage Sale Art Fair time

This Saturday is the 13th Annual Garage Sale Art Fair in Kalamazoo Michigan. We've done everything we can to get the information about this great event out to our customers and friends, now it's just waiting for the event to finally get here. We have a great group of artists this year with both new people and returning favorites. It should be a great mix!

I finally started today to get my own personal things ready to sell at the show, forgetting how much work it is! Going through all my jewelry and deciding what to sell off at huge discounts and what to save. Gathering all those odd pieces I made that don't match anything else. And those pieces I just don't want to see again!

Plus I'm bringing some of those art pieces I've collected over the years that I just need to make sure get a good new home. Some are still loved by me and some have been replaced by new favorites. I just don't have room to keep everything so this is the perfect time to clear things out.

Then there are the supplies. Haven't even started on those yet but I should have a good pile of things I bought to make --- (fill in the blank) but haven't. Sometimes once I get them in the studio I can't remember what I had planned for them or I've tried but my idea isn't working like I'd hoped so they get pushed aside. That's tomorrow's project.

My hope for the show is record crowds of people wanting to buy just what our artists are offering this year. I want both artists and customers leaving with big smiles on their faces, clutching something wonderful they found at the show!

Jewelry Artist Magazine - let me brag a bit...

I'm featured in an article in this month's issue of Jewelry Artist Magazine

Buyer's Market - Wrap Up!

Home again and pretty much recovered from the show. My shipping crates were delivered today so tomorrow I'll start the job of unpacking and sorting everything to be packed away until my next wholesale show.

This was a LONG show. It was slower than most wholesale shows for me so the days dragged on but it really had it's high points. And these are their pictures (with my apologies to David Heston who I didn't get a picture of).

So, the picture above is of Patricia Tschetter and Marilyn O'Hara. Marilyn kept me fed and filled with fresh juice during the show as well as just being a good friend! Her official job was in Patricia's beautiful jewelry booth! Luckily, they were just down the row from me so I saw them often.

The picture on the left is Michael, Grace and Don. Grace was at the show helping Michael which meant that Michael wasn't around as much. He gave me wonderful dark chocolate on Valentine's Day. Wonderful man! So if I mention Don, I have to mention his wonderful girlfriend Jorn as well. She saved me at a wholesale show last year.

The picture on the right is David Smallcombe, also a jeweler, since we're in the jewelry section! I know David from doing retail shows in the midwest since he's from Kalamazoo. He was a peach and took a box home for Michael that had some of my poles in it. I really want his wonderful pricing spreadsheet!

On the left were new neighbors, Ashley and Alberto Parada standing next to a poster of his beautiful work.

On the right is Amery Carriere who was a great addition to our little grouping! Wonderful woman with beautiful jewelry. Plus she also uses rose gold which I love!

In case you haven't discovered yet, it's the people that make a show. Your neighbors make all the difference and I'm blessed with very good ones at the Buyers Market!