It's that time of year again, time to do your holiday shopping! What better way to shop than to shop handmade (and locally!)? You get beautiful, quality items while supporting your local artisans and artists, sounds pretty good to us! So many of our AREtsy team members are getting ready to sell their wares in Arkansas craft shows all over the state that I just had to share a list. If you know of any other shows, please leave a comment about it! If you're an AREtsy member who is participating in a show but aren't listed, please leave your information here.
2009 Holiday Craft Shows
Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show Saturday, November 14 : 10AM - 5PM Holiday Inn Convention Center in Springdale, AR Show Website
Fayetteville Farmer's Market - Holiday Markets Saturday, November 21 : 7AM - 1PM Downtown Fayetteville on the Sqaure and Saturday, December 5: 9AM - 3PM Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
Both will feature more crafts and gift items than the usual market and include the following AREtsy members: Laurie of Punkinhead and Girlchild Erin of Idyllhands and Woolyhands
Arts Eureka Fall Show Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29 Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center in Eureka Springs, AR
Carmichael Center Holiday Show Saturday, December 5 : 8AM - 3PM Carmichael Center in Searcy
Coming next week will be a list of shows that the artists of AREtsy are participating in for the Holidays, but there is a show tomorrow that will have some local artists in it (a few who are members of AREtsy). I didn't want that event to get missed because it will be a great opportunity to come out, meet some AREtsy ladies and have some fun.
What: A Handcrafted Holiday When: Saturday, November 7 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Where: Walton Arts Center's Nadine Baum Studios (corner of West Avenue and Spring Street)
There will be Holiday treats to snack on, delicious drinks (leaded and unleaded), festive music and lots of one of a kind items perfect for any Christmas presents for friends, family, or yourself!
So come on out - we'd love to see you there. Bring a friend (or three) and enjoy a girls evening out!
It's War Eagle Weekend! Can you guys believe that this weekend is finally here? An entire weekend... well, you could almost say week... full of craft fairs. Too many craft fairs for one person to visit. We have War Eagle, Bella Vista Arts and Crafts Festival, the NWArkansas Craft Show in two locations, Spanker Creek (although I don't recommend going to this one), shows at the Frisco Mall, Jones Center and a plethora of other places.
This weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year. I always loved hunting craft shows for that perfect gift for someone (or myself), getting to samples the dips and sauces that vendors sell, and just having a blast getting in the spirit of the season. Since becoming a vendor in the craft show circuit a few years ago, I have missed out on the fun of the hunt. Sure, I can get some Christmas shopping in while hanging out at my booth for a few days, but it's not the same as hopping from show to show only taking a break for lunch. I just miss the shopping - what can I say... a girl's gotta shop!
Who's heading out for the shows this weekend? Who's vending? Leave a comment telling us where you'll be so we can get out and shop from some local Etsy artists.
So put on your comfy shoes, empty your bank account and start shopping for Christmas!
If you're a lover of all things steampunk then there's an event coming to Northwest Arkansas October 2nd and 3rd you will not want to miss called Ravenwood Festival. Ravenwood Festival is a yearly Steampunk, Darkwave, Industrial event that takes place in Northwest Arkansas featuring bands, live performance artists, and djs from all over North America as well as artisans from all over the globe. One of the artisans that will be selling her wares at the festival is our very own El's Bells! For more information on the performers, vendors and tickets visit ravenwoodfestival.com
**If you're a member of AREtsy and have an upcoming event you'd like to share on the team blog, please feel free to contact us via the yahoo group, etsy team thread, or by directly contacting IdyllHands or TheBeehive on etsy.**
Trying to decided if an artsy/crafty business venture is in your best interest? Here's a great food for thought article that might help you make that decision a more informed one! This article was written by Laurie of Glassbead on Etsy and originally posted on her blog, Isinglass Design. Thank you so much for sharing this great article with us!
Do The Math
As you attempt to get your home-based art or craft business off the ground, you may be approached by folks who have shows they would like you to participate in, or shops they want you to sell your products in. Here’s my special tip to help you make these important decisions- do the math! It’s very important to figure out how much something is really going to cost you before you sign on the dotted line and turn over your hard-earned money. What do I mean, how much it’s really going to cost you? Well, first and most important is the booth fee, or percentage the shop will take off the top. Booth fees are pretty straightforward.
Here’s an example. Let’s say I have heard about a show with a $100 booth fee. A fee of $100 is just that, no hidden costs, no percentages. But what, exactly, would I need to sell to make that kind of fee a sensible investment? I have often heard that a booth fee should be no more than 20% of your gross. So if I pay a booth fee of $100, I would want to bring in at least $500. I would think about the number of hours the show lasts, the amount of inventory I predict I can have in my booth, etc. Does it seem feasible? I have found, in the larger shows I have done, that I can generally sell maybe 20-25% of the stock I have on hand. So for a show like this I would want to have at least $2000 worth of product on hand. I know that can be easily done. Now how about the hours of the show? Well, let’s say the show is just one day- a Saturday from 10am to 8pm. That’s 10 hours. Ok, so if I sold an average of $50 worth of items an hour, I could make that booth fee. Do-able? Well, probably.
There are plenty of other considerations, though. Is it in town? That means no hotel and minimal gas costs. Is it a juried craft show? I find that that is what draws the type of customers I am looking for. Is it indoors or outdoors? Bad weather can ruin your chances of having a good day at an outdoor show. Do I know anyone who has done the show? What do they think? This is a starting point, though folks have different ideas of what a ‘good show’ is. All of these things and many more should be taken into consideration, but doing the math on that show fee is the first, very important step.
Here’s an example a friend presented me with recently- a craft mall situation where he would pay $100 a month, plus 15% of his sales. Hmmm… That sounded a little iffy to me, so I did the math for him. Here’s what I told him. Well, if you sold $1000 worth of your product a month, you would pay that $100 rent, plus another $150 a month in fees. That’s 25% of your sales. Is that sensible for you? Well, he knew from previous shop experiences that it was pretty unlikely that he would sell $1000 worth of product in one shop in a month. And if he sold less, the percentage he would be paying the shop would just go up. For me, the answer was a definite no. I don’t think he’s going to do it either.
Yes, there may be times when you just want to take the plunge, roll the dice, and see what happens. But I’d strongly suggest that you first do the math, and not delude yourself about how things will turn out financially in the end.
Hope this helps with some of those difficult show decisions!
**If you're a member of AREtsy and have a great article you'd like to share on the team blog, please feel free to contact us via the yahoo group, etsy team thread, or by directly contacting IdyllHands or TheBeehive on etsy.**
The weather in NW Arkansas, although mild all summer, has taken a cooler turn this past couple of days. Could it be that Autumn is descending upon the Ozark Mountains just in time for the start of craft fair season? Can we be that lucky?
Did I lose you at craft fair? That's right, this coming weekend, Labor Day weekend, marks the start of the craft fair season for Northwest Arkansas. The Clothesline Fair will be taking place in Prairie Grove at the Battlefield Park. This has always been one of my favorite fairs to visit. The artists are amazing, the food is good, and the scenery is lovely. In fact, this fair will be featuring a couple of the AREtsy team members! Starlightdesigns and PeacesofIndigo will both be on site - so make sure to drop by and meet some fellow team members.
This is a HUGE event with tons of artists to shop with. Come on out and get some Christmas shopping done early, eat a turkey leg, drink some fresh squeezed Lemonade and listen to some live music. You'll be sorry if you miss it!
Arkansas Artists on Etsy members are hearing the sweet chirping of birds! Awhile back we had our team's Spring Tweet Swap and here are some of the beautiful creations our team members came up with for this lovely birdie theme. Be sure to click the image or link below to be taken to the artist's Etsy shop.
Water Cast Sterling Silver Pendant on Oxidized SS Chain by Teresa Smith of TSmithDesigns handmade silver and gemstone jewelry
Watercolor Robin by Suzanne Churchill of arpainter watercolor painter specializing in house portraits
Swallow Necklace by Erin of Idyll Hands handmade jewelry and hand knit Accessories
Birdhouse Heart Home by Beth of Heart Homes clay tiles and sculpture
Knitting Bird shadow box by Sunny of The Beehive custom scrapbooks and unique paper crafts
I mentioned in a previous post that something big was coming in July. Hopefully, this won't disappoint.
AREtsy is having a team wide Christmas in July sale starting Monday, July 6 and lasting 2 weeks until Sunday, July 19. This sale is HUGE! There are some amazing deals to be had and you don't want to miss out.
Here is a list of participating AREtsy shops along with some basic details for their sales. What are you waiting for? Go shop!
The Beehive - $5 off scrapbooks, memory catchers, framed silhouettes and premade page layouts (including custom orders), free shipping on all other items not mentioned above. Also, receive $5 off future purchases. Just enter "Christmas in July" in notes to seller at time of checkout to receive the discount.
Idyll Hands - HUGE sale section and free shipping on all jewelry purchases! Other discounts and specials to be announced over the next two weeks.
Wooly Hands - Huge sale section on yarns and roving. New items and discounts to be announced over the next two weeks.
Shillcutt Studio - free shipping, will be refunded after payment via PayPal.
Glass Bead - buy one get one of equal or lesser value half off. Item will be refunded after payment.
Bluetail Designs - 20% off of everything and free shipping to US and Canada. Enter "July09" in notes to seller at time of check out to receive refund via PayPal.
Simply Stacy Jewelry - 15% off of everything (excluding mother and grandmother bracelets). Send a convo to seller letting her know which items you want and she'll adjust their price.
Linda68 - free shipping in the US, $1 everywhere else.
Hats Etc - buy one item get one half off - item refunded after payment.
BMacre - free shipping with $20 purchase, free shipping and free gift with $50 purchase. Refunded via PayPal after payment. Heart Homes - free shipping with $20 purchase, free shipping and free gift with $50 purchase. Refunded via PayPal after payment.
Sew Into You - discounted Christmas fabrics. Madd Crocheter - 10% discount on all items. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.
ScrapADot - buy one item, get one item half off. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.
Handy Helpers - select items discounted. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.
By Cheryl Images - buy one luggage tag, get one luggage tag free. Pamper Me Please - sale section and $1 shipping to US and Canada (excludes items in Flavors section).
Oak Leaf Hollow - 10% off of everything. To be refunded after payment via PayPal.
For those of you who were selling or shopping on Etsy last summer, you might remember a viral sale dubbed the "YART Sale". It was a single idea introduced in the forums that spiraled and took Etsy by storm. The idea of a YART Sale is like a yard sale... but with art! Many, many, many Etsy shops jumped on board to participate last summer with sales on items, free shipping, free gifts with purchase, and so much more.
Well, the 2nd annual YART Sale is taking place again this year and is sponsored by the ESST (Etsy Supply Street Team). It officially takes place Wednesday, June 10 - Sunday, June 14. It's a good chance to find many great deals from some fabulous Etsy artists. Just due a tag search for "Yart" to find shops that are participating. Many AREtsy members are also participating. You can shop here in Arkansas AND get a great deal on some great items by browsing the following list (keep visiting as more artists join in on the sale - they will be added to the list):
The new issue of At Home In Arkansas Magazine is now on the newsstands. Make sure you grab a copy since you'll be seeing some familiar faces. This month's issue is all about cottage style and contains an article on cottage industry with some of our AREtsians' handmade goodness featured! Grab it up off the newsstands, your local bookstore or go see the online version here. Those featured in the article are:
Three of your fellow AREtsy members will be participating in a boutique... or should I say beaut-ique sale on Thursday, May 28 in Rogers, AR. Punkinhead, Idyllhands/Woolyhands, and NightskyProducts will all be selling their goods along with a few other local artists and there will be some wine, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, and massages as well.
So come on out to Balanced Body at 816 B West Poplar in Rogers on Thursday evening between 5:30 PM and 9:00 PM.
Oh - did I mention, there will be door prizes? So come on out, meet some fellow AREtsians and have a fabulous time with the ladies.
Pssst - there is the potential that this event could grow a bit for the Holiday season, so if you're looking for a trunk sale in NWArkansas to get in on, it might be a good idea to come down and meet the ladies who organize it *winks*
While we're still lazing away the days here in May, summer is just around the corner. Before you know it, it will be June and just 4 weeks later, we'll be facing July dead on. The AREtsy team will be holding a team wide "Chrismtas in July" sale in July. It will either be the entire month or the first couple of weeks - that has yet to be determined. We'll promote it here on this blog, on our personal blogs, on Twitter, Facebook, other team blogs (we do have some sister teams), in the Etsy forums and on the Etsy event calendar. It should be big - so I'm hoping you'll all join in.
If you are interested in participating (and I sincerely hope you are), please email send me a convo on Etsy (Idyllhands) with your shop name, what your sale is (type of discount, free shipping, etc) and how the buyers will redeem their discount/sale (for example - will they leave a note at time of purchase? Will your items already be priced at their sale price?).
More exciting team member news! Laurie Ament, known to most of us as glassbead, has just had an incredible honor bestowed upon her glass, she's going to have one of her beads (pictured left) in a juried show in Corning, New York being hosted by the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB). This is an incredible honor and the show is going to include a list of impressive glass artists that Laurie is honored to be among. Below is the show's description, as found on the ISGB website, but be sure to click here for a full list of glass artists that will be in the show and a gorgeous slide show of their very impressive work. You can also visit Laurie's Etsy shop, Isinglass Designs, to make some of her gorgeous beads yours or find her regularly at the River Market in downtown Little Rock, AR. Congratulations Laurie!
Perspectives: Traditions and Innovations in Glass Beads
We are pleased to announce the artists whose work will be our 2009 Perspectives exhibition and part of the GAS Conference in Corning, New York!
This juried exhibit presented by ISGB, represents the endlessly captivating styles, techniques, and processes used in contemporary glass beadmaking. Unique color, form, and textural elements were combined to highlight the infinite possibilities of glass, as expressed by our members. Artists were encouraged to create a bead that best captured their inspiration, innovation, and personal "voice."
This distinctive collection of small wonders in glass artistry can be enjoyed June 5 to September 7 at the Radisson Hotel, Corning, and opens specifically as part of the 2009 GAS Conference. Artists, collectors, gallery and museum personnel, writers, and critics from around the globe will come together to celebrate the medium that unites us all - glass!
In addition to the exhibition that will be showcased to glass enthusiasts all summer long, the top three beads with the highest jury scores will share the COVER of the summer issue of The Glass Bead magazine. These artists will be announced no later than May 12.
If you're an AREtsy team member who wants to participate in the Spring Tweets Swap please get your information in ASAP! Brandy will be sending out match ups for the swap Wednesday night! Happy Swapping! You can find the swap information here.
The Etsy Twitter Team is having a Sidewalk Sale to celebrate the spring weather and to get outside a bit! Virtually! So please take a stroll down our sidewalk of shop listings. Each shop is having a different sale so check them all out. There are some extremely great deals going on this week!!
The sales run from Sunday, May 17th to Saturday, May 23rd.
PrettyCheap.etsy.com FREE card with purchase of any 3 items! Exquisite floral, original photos and detailed embroidered cards will be given free (choice of free card by prettycheap). Just ask for your free card at check out (please purchase 3 items in one transaction).
SumikoShop.etsy.com Free shipping worldwide shipping all week. Please contact her before buying, She will cancel shipments or mention "Etsy Twitter Team" in the message to seller at checkout.
MeagansDesigns.etsy.com KaedanKrafts.etsy.com Offering free worldwide shipping for both of her shops that will be already marked with $0 shipping InMyHeadStudios.etsy.com 15% off items (not including shipping or NY state sales tax if applicable). Add the comment "Etsy Twitter Sidewalk Sale" during checkout. Discount given via PayPal refund.
ACageyBee.etsy.com Every order will get a free sampler pack of 4 postcards included in their shipment! In the note to seller box, please mention "Sidewalk Sale" to get your free postcards.
Threepeats.etsy.com All necklaces $5.00 off! After payment, $5.00 will be refunded to the buyer’s PayPal account for each necklace purchased.
SandisTs.etsy.com Free Shipping - After payment, shipping will be refunded via PayPal
FirebirdHouse.etsy.com 30% off all purchases that total $20 or more. PayPal refund given for discount.
WaysideViolet.etsy.com 20% off all items in my shop: To participate type "May" in the message to buyer. Discount will be refunded via PayPal after purchase
ScrapArcs.etsy.com All earrings $5 or less per pair. Prices already marked down.
SouthpawStudios.etsy.com 15% off, + Plus free worldwide shipping. Also $5 gift certificate included for future purchases (limit one per customer). Redeemed with code "Sidewalk TW Sale" in message to seller box, then you will receive a prompt PayPal refund
HuayruroPeru.etsy.com 20% discount using PayPal refund to everyone mentioning "Sidewalk Sale" in message to seller box
RhodesAnnalsDesigns.etsy.com 10% off list price - Leave message to seller saying “sidewalk”. She will do a revised invoice or if you have already paid via PayPal she will do a refund.
AquarianBath.etsy.com Free Lavender Spearmint Lip Balm with purchase of $10 or more. Add the comment "Etsy Twitter Sidewalk Sale" during checkout.
MindyG.etsy.com Free shipping within the US only (via USPS First Class) with any purchase. Add to message to seller box "sidewalk sale" and you will get a refund through PayPal for the shipping amount.
Jenco13.etsy.com free shipping to anyone in the USA and a flat rate of $5 to all other countries on her list for items over $20 and $3 for items under $20. Discount given via PayPal refund
TamaraGarvey.etsy.com With any purchase, get a FREE single card of your choosing from any of the card sets in the Stationary section of her shop. Just include which card you'd like in the Message to Seller box, or contact her soon after purchase.
MissesKwittys.etsy.com Free USA shipping or Half Price international shipping when you spend $20.00 or more in her Etsy shop. Plus she will be tossing a free little "thank you" present into each package! Just put "EtsyTwitter Rocks" in the note to seller and she will refund the shipping discount back to your PayPal account.
PurpleLemonDesigns.etsy.com Free Shipping! Use code “SIDEWALK” in the notes to the seller, and she will refund the shipping after the order is paid for through PayPal
BRefour.etsy.com Most items are already on sale but you can get and additional 10% off on orders of $15.00 or more by entering the words "Sidewalk Sale" in notes to seller. The 10% will be refunded through PayPal.
LindaB142.etsy.com 20% off purchases over $5. Buyers need to use the Promo Code "Sidewalk" and she will refund the discount via PayPal. Free shipping for orders over $30.
Tamdoll.etsy.com Free domestic shipping on non-ribbon items. Will automatically give a PayPal refund for items not already specially marked as part of the sale.
ArtWhims.etsy.com Free Shipping on every item in the shop! To redeem this great deal, enter “MAYSIDEWALK” into the message to the seller upon check out. You will be reimbursed through PayPal for the cost of shipping.
DeeJayPhotography.etsy.com Free shipping! Type "Sidewalk Sale" in Notes to seller to receive a refund via PayPal.
NikkyLeeDesigns.etsy.com 15% off items $20 or more. "Sidewalk" in message to seller to get discount. Wait to pay for revised invoice
AmbientLights.etsy.com 20% off all items*! Please write "May Sidewalk Sale" in notes to seller when checking out and wait for a revised invoice or pay and you will be refunded via PayPal. *discount valid for items only, does not include shipping or taxes if applicable.
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Many thanks to SassyCat.etsy.com for creating our sale graphic!! I could not have hoped for something better!! Thank you!!
The Etsy Twitter Team is having a fantastic sale that starts on Sunday so keep your eyes pealed for participating shops. The full list of shops and the specials they'll be running will be posted on Sunday! Until then, here's a little teaser:
The Etsy Twitter Team is having a Sidewalk Sale to celebrate the spring weather and to get outside a bit! Virtually! Each shop is having a different sale so check them all out. Some extremely great deals will be going on!!
The sales run from Sunday, May 17th to Saturday, May 23rd. Shops and sales to be announced Sunday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many thanks to SassyCat.etsy.com for creating our sale graphic!! I could not have hoped for something better!! Thank you!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why, you might be asking, would a group for Arkansas Artists on Etsy be promoting a Twitter Team sale? It's all in the name of team spirit, because the more teams band together to help each other the more we can all get out of our promos, sales, knowledge and all around Etsy love! AREtsy will be hosting our own summer sale soon and the Etsy Twitter Team has agreed to promote our sale! I'm feeling the love!
Brandy of ekioart has graciously accepted the title of Swap Queen for our team! A big thanks to her for helping us all build our group! Swaps are a time consuming thing to organize and we're so glad to have someone willing to take on the job. Brandy will be heading up regular swaps for our team and has already worked up our first challenge. It's a cute one!
Swaps are great fun. They are a way to stretch your creativity, make something you may not think to make otherwise and to trade for someone else's fantastic creation. Sound pretty great? It is! Here are the rules, if you're interested please view the yahoo group link here to see her email address, where you'll send your info. Happy swapping!
Spring Tweets Swap.
This swap will be all about birds. Swallows, Robins, Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, DoDo's you name the bird this swaps about it! From their adorable and unique nests to their little flitting tails.
Here's the low down.
A. This swap will be one lovingly crafted item from you to your partner. Lets say it's a Medium. Medium is considered (by time) 2 or more hours, (by size) one single necklace or bracelet, a scarf, (by cost) $10-$30 dollars. Now, if you want to do a couple of smalls instead of one med that's fine too. And if you want to do one Large that's fine too, just make sure your partner knows so they don't feel bad when it arrives and they only sent you a med.
B. Time limit. Lets start this puppy on May 20th and say send outs are June 15th. That's nearly a month to do one swap item. Of course, you can always send earlier, I just want to give everyone plenty of time as I know there are plenty of spring things to do!
C. Fill out this form!
Name of swap: Spring Tweets! Etsy username: Email address: Your real name: Mailing address: Anything your allergic to? Is there any craft you would NOT like to receive? Your fav colors, wists, styles, artists? Is there something you collect (IE, boxes, tiles, tiny pictures, etc) Anything else you want to share with your partner?
All in all, we want you to just have fun with it, get creative and enjoy getting to know one another!
IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR INFO TO ORGANIZER VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE AND NOT TO REPLY WITH IT HERE. Please send your email with the info to (go to yahoo group thread here for email address)
16x80' mural in downtown Blytheville by Suzanne Churchill
AREtsy member and painter Suzanne Churchill has much to celebrate with the recent completion and installation of her mural in downtown Blytheville, Arkansas. The mural is comprised of 40 4'x8' wood panels that had to be transported from Jonesboro, where the artist lives, a trek of about 1.5 hours. That accomplishment is topped off with an exhibition of her paintings at The Ritz in Blytheville, Arkansas for the month of May. Congratulations Suzanne!
Blytheville Bus Station, a painting by Suzanne Churchill that can be viewed at The Ritz in Blytheville, Arkansas through the month of May.
Hey all of you in Little Rock - Teresa of TSmithDesigns will be hosting an open house at Stefano's Gallery next week. There will be wine and goodies... oh, and some great artwork! So if you're in the area, make it out to help support a fellow AREtsy member (and to get that glass of wine!).
Debby of StarlightDesigns will have her work featured at the Arkansas Studies Institute in downtown Little Rock! The Arkansas Studies Institute is a joint project between the Central Arkansas Library System and the University of Arkansas - Little Rock. Located in the Main Library campus in the River Market District, this is a place where people can learn more about what has shaped our state's past and what guides the future of Arkansas.
If this sounds like a big deal, that is because it is. What a great honor to be featured in such a way! Make sure to drop by and check out her lampwork art - you won't be disappointed!
I know, I know - it's been a couple of weeks since our last featured artist. I really just wanted all of you to build up a ton of anticipation for who the next one would be. Eleanor of ElsBells is one of our newer active members of the AREtsy Street Team. But don't let "newer" fool you. She's very supportive of the team members, always offering up kind words in the forum and has a fabulous shop to boot! I can't wait for all of you to get to know a bit more about her.
Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.
My name's Eleanor Evans, and I live in beautiful, sunny Bentonville. I'm 31 years old, single and a social butterfly. I'm loud, opinionated and can usually be found at the karaoke bar every week.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
My first love has always been writing. I was a newspaper reporter for several years until I was laid off early this year. Since newspaper journalism has reached a dead end, I'm now working toward being my own boss - getting freelance writing gigs, odd jobs and nannying. Much happier than I was when I was someone else's employee!
What first made you want to become an artist?
I had a friend who started crocheting a couple of years ago and I decided I wanted to get into it as well. It's hard being a lefty crocheter because books either tell you to learn to do it right handed or try to read the directions backwards, so I had a fellow lefty teach me how to crochet. I just loved the idea of making things, and my relatives and friends have really enjoyed the gifts I have given them since I started crafting. Since I do nothing from patterns, I consider myself a crochet and jewelry artist.
Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.
I just started making jewelry about a month ago and I absolutely love it! For jewelry, I just like to make things that I know I would wear myself. I usually sit at my table with my bead organizer and put beads together to figure out what looks best.
I love working with Czech glass beads and metals - and my favorite beaded jewelry to make is earrings. I ALWAYS use nickel-free ear wires when making earrings, because I am allergic to anything else and completely understand the problems a lot of women have with finding cute, fashionable earrings that actually work.
But lately I've discovered Shrinky Dinks. The first thing I made with shrink film is a pair of Flight of the Conchords earrings that sold almost immediately. Since then I've made a few other pieces, and I plan to make a lot of 1960s advertising ephemera charms. I love the mod styles, bright colors and general kitsch of 1960s advertising. Be on the lookout for some really fun pendants and earrings!
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
A navy blue chenille afghan my mother made for me about six years ago.
Name your top five books, movies, songs/musical groups, and web sites besides Etsy.
Books:
The Handmaid's Tale, To Kill A Mockingbird, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, The Color Purple, Animal Farm
Movies:
Harold and Maude, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, A Clockwork Orange, Sunset Blvd., My Fair Lady
Songs/Musical Groups - oh dear, do I have to pick five? I'll just pick what pops up when I hit "random" instead: Yael Naim and David Donatien, Weezer, Snow Patrol, The Beatles, Madonna w/Justin Timberlake.
I have only been selling my work through Etsy since mid-April. I use my twitter account (@bellesouth if you'd care to follow), as well as my blog at bellesouth.blogspot.com. I also use Facebook - and word-of-mouth.
My mom has been my biggest cheerleader since I opened my store and also tells all her girlfriends to look at my work. Things are starting out slowly, but that's to be expected.
What are your favorite things about belonging to AREtsy?
First of all, artists have the power to lead and to drive Arkansas' economy. If you haven't looked through The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation's report on Arkansas' Creative Economy, I highly recommend it. I believe our future is not going to be in giant manufacturing plants, but rather cottage industries.
Also, to find other artists in my home state who are passionate about what they do and who have the drive to create, inspire and be inspired by others is wonderful. I've only been a part of AREtsy for a very short time but I really hope to become an active part of what seems to be a wonderful network of folks.
I also like making new friends.
In ten years I'd like to be...
Proud owner of a house with separate studio room, an adorable rescue dog, and maybe mom to an Elsbells Junior or two. And finally able to knit something.
Northwest Arkansas Boutique Show
Handmade for the Holidays
Lamar Handmade Boutique
Fayetteville Farmer's Market - Holiday Markets
Both will feature more crafts and gift items than the usual market and include the following AREtsy members:
