Staying on your toes
Oct 2008
My jewelry business parallels my life and just when I think everything is calm and tidy, something happens to shake it up. A few weeks ago I learned what it's like to set up and take down my booth by myself. It's something I've wanted to do and I picked a weekend of predicted sunshine to do it. But of course it rained...hard. I can get pretty wimpy about physical labor, especially in the rain, but I did it and I'm pleased with myself for it. Just when I thought life was back to normal after my summer shows, and as I was about to start replacing all the pieces that I sold at the big Boise festival, and leisurely getting ready for my next show in November, I got several unexpected orders and re-orders from galleries and customers. Yikes. I was already low on inventory and had to scramble a bit to fulfill the orders. That got my adrenalin going! But I made it and now have a better idea of how much stock to keep on hand.
My work is available in several new Washington galleries this month. The Laurel Tree in Duvall is a new gallery with work from Northwest artists. The Artist's Remarque in La Conner is also a new gallery owned by the same people who have had Cattails and Dragonflies in La Conner for several years. Artisans' Wares in Spokane is a long established gallery which has moved to a larger space and is now carrying my work.
Coming up soon is the big Fall show for Best of the Northwest on November 14, 15, 16. This year, and for several years to come, it will be at Seattle Center instead of at Sandpoint. As the Sandpoint facility is reorganized the show is going back to its Seattle Center roots. We're big enough to fill both the Exhibition Hall and all of the Northwest rooms so come prepared for lots of beautiful arts and crafts, music and food. I have a few discount admission coupons so contact me if you'd like some.
After that is the Phinney Winter Festival on December 6, 7. The Phinney Neighborhood Center is one of my favorite places in Seattle so it's always fun to be involved with their events. There is music, food and a lot of beautiful work at this one. Perfect for holiday shopping.
September is road trip month
Sep 2008
My husband came with me and was a huge help. I enticed him by talking up the great bike riding areas in Boise so he managed to get in a couple long rides. But he was also a real support in setting up and taking down my booth (as he always is) and in helping me with sales in the booth. There were times that people were stacked 2 deep looking at things and I was so glad he was there to talk to people and write up sales slips.
We had a great road trip to get there. It's about a 10 hour drive but neither of us had been through parts of the route so it was nice to experience that together. We travel a lot but don't do a lot of road trips and we had a good time.
Next up is the 1st annual Arts Together craft show in Everett on September 19-20. It's on the courthouse plaza in downtown Everett and on this show I'll be setting up and breaking down on my own for the first time (unless I can coerce a friend to help). I'm up for the challenge and excited about being in this first-time event.
I delivered some of my work to the East Shore Gallery in Bellevue last week. There is a lovely gallery space there in the Unitarian Church (see sidebar for details). I had never been to this gallery or this church before but it is in a beautiful setting in the woods. You'd never know you were close to the freeway and major streets in Bellevue. My work will be there through mid-October so go checkout this little oasis in the city.
Also this month, I''ve been featured in Issue #9 of the IndieArts DVD magazine. Karen Landey puts together a wonderful electronic magazine with interviews and galleries of artists' work as well as in depth features of art locations. You can check out the clips of this month's issue and look over previous issues at www.indieartsDVD.com and check out their blogspot at indieartsdvd.blogspot.com
I have to put in a plug for Brielle Designs. Susan and Ellen Busteed have been so very supportive of my craft show learning curve. They make beautiful, mixed media switchplate covers. Check their work out at www.brielledesigns.com
Now to unpack and get to work in the studio. Holiday shows are coming soon and my new resin and silver work is calling to me.
Why I dread August
Aug 2008
August 2-9 is my husband, Ken's annual bike trek.
August 5 is our anniversary.
August 11 is my birthday.
August 15-17 I have the Best of the Northwest Marymoor show.
August 15th is Ken's dad's 91st (!) birthday.
August 18th is Ken's birthday...let's just say that this is a milestone birthday for him and I'm not far behind.
August 21 I have my trunk show at Manya Vee's for the Edmonds Art Walk.
August 22-24 Ken is out of town on business.
August 23rd is our good friend's birthday.
August 30 I teach a mixed media class.
Are you tired yet? No, no, there's no time to rest because on September 2nd we need to deliver a big order to the East Shore Gallery (very flattered to be asked to show my things there!) and September 3-9 we are on the road to Boise for Boise Art Museum's Art in the Park!
Good heavens.
So what am I doing on all the dates not listed above? Well, I'm in the studio exploring silver and resin and preparing applications for the pre-Christmas shows. I'm hoping to be in a couple Christmas galleries this year too. I've applied to Allied Arts in Bellingham and will apply to Artique at the Columbia City Gallery again.
Does it sound like I'm complaining? I'm really not. I love what I'm doing and look forward to each event in my art and my life. Lucky girl, very lucky girl.
Oh! And one more piece of news. And I'm excited to be part of the first annual Arts Together fair September 19-20 in Everett. This is coordinated by the Snohomish Council for the Arts and will be held in the main courthouse square in downtown Everett. Just because I don't want September to feel neglected after seeing August have so much fun :-)
Hot and Cold
Jul 2008
Last month I wrote about how calm and quiet things were...well that's certainly changed. I'm geared up in the studio for the upcoming summer shows, converting my scattered accounting and inventory records to computer, trying to keep up with show applications and inquiries, getting in some time with my husband in between his biking and, yes, kayak trips. It's a running joke about how the outdoor boy married the indoor girl, but we seem to have figured it out.
One of the things I'm excited about is my first trunk show on August 21st. I'll be the featured artist at Manya Vee Selects, a gallery in Edmonds, WA. The show is in conjunction with the monthly Edmonds Art Walk so it should be fun seeing lots of people strolling the street, shops and galleries that evening. But before that comes Kirkland Uncorked in mid-July and Best of the Northwest at Marymoor in mid-August. Check the sidebar at the right for details.
I'm working on some interesting resin and silver pieces featuring Japanese washi paper designs. You should see them in August for sure and, hopefully, in July. I love the combination of materials and the unexpected pop of the paper patterns. Cool silver, hot patterns.
Life Shifts
Jun 2008
It's funny because I actually like change...a lot. The rush of something new, the shift in perceptions, the opportunity to learn something. I'm usually drawn to the excitement. So I've surprised myself by being so happy in my quiet spot right now.
Laughing Girl is still growing. More wholesale and consignment orders are coming in and I just confirmed my acceptance into both Kirkland Uncorked and the Fall Best of the Northwest show. I was waitlisted for their Fall show last year and again for this year but just got word I've been moved up into the accepted group. Happy, happy.
Sometime this summer I'll be moving my studio and that will bring its own excitement. But for right now, the quiet feels great. Life has shifted me into neutral for a while and I'm enjoying the glide.