Looking Ahead

The holidays are fast approaching, and I'm glad that they're almost over. The Christmas craft shows are done, the custom orders completed, and all of my gifts, handmade with love, are ready to be opened.

With a little down-time, I've been able to get creative and branch out by learning a few new techniques, and experimenting with some designs that have been idling in my brain. Some have worked out really well, and I can't wait until I can show them off on my Etsy site and my home site.

All ready I'm looking ahead to what I'll be doing this year when it comes to crafts. My knitting continues to develop. I'm working with beading, and developing some great things with wire work. I get so excited just thinking about all of the projects I have lined up to tackle in the new year.

My main focus this year will be working on listing on Etsy once again, and working on my own website. I've been horribly lazy when it comes to photographing and listing my items.

Has anyone else got any crafty New Year's resolutions they're pondering?

Happy Holidays!

I'm finally feeling the holiday love in the craft department! Yeah! I just had a holiday craft show that went spectacular, with another one this Saturday, and the custom orders have been rolling in. Just by bringing some jewelry in to work today, I managed to make enough to cover my Christmas tree. Good Times.

I'm hoping to get my new website up and hopping in time to catch the holiday rush. I know it won't be as fancy as the last one, but I just couldn't afford the hosting any more. Ah well.

So, how is everyone elses holiday craftiness going?

Holiday Buzz

The holidays are such a great time to be artist/crafter. I love knowing that the gifts that I create for my friends and family will be one-of-a-kind and strait from my heart and my hands.

The holidays also mean a (hopefully) busy time for those of us who sell our artistic wares. This year especially, people seem more inclined to buy handmade gifts. I like to think it's because with such a lousy economy, we're being more conscious of spending our money with our neighbors, rather than corporations that are running their own companies into the ground and expecting us to bail them out. But who knows.

I'm glad that things have picked up on my end, and I'm excitedly preparing for two upcoming craft shows. What are you doing in your crafty world this holiday season?

Back On The Horse

After a very prolonged creativity/productivity block, I'm finally starting to get back up to speed with my jewelry making, while still progressing with some new knitting projects.

Now that I've reestablished my contact with the first shop my jewelry is carried at, I'm already buried in FOUR commission pieces! What a way to dive in face first. I"m pretty nervous, but they sound like smaller jobs, so I'm praying it won't be too overwhelming.

The other shop that my jewelry just recently got into has sold one of my pieces, and the owner is offering to give me private lesson time if I'll work a few hours on Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Since this man is my original silversmithing instructor, and he's super talented, I'm VERY excited. This is a great way to pick up some new skills and get moving again.

What really got me moving though, was spending a day making jewelry with my mom. She came up from Vermont to visit for the weekend, and we spent some time shopping for jewelry supplies (which I hadn't done in ages) and then putting together some jewelry. Since she is a real novice, I got to help her with some basic skills, and her excitement and enthusiasm was contagious. I've caught the creativity bug once again!

Inspiration

In the midst of my recent (and still ongoing) severely long jewelry creativity-block, I rediscovered knitting. I did a few simple things that were quick, easy, and extremely relaxing. Knitting has been a good way to keep my craftiness going, my hands moving, and my creativity from completely stagnating.

During this time, I also got myself a new puppy:



Isn't he a doll?

Anyways, one of the many things my new puppy has given me, is creative inspiration. I'm taking my knitting to a whole new level by attempting to knit doggie sweaters (I'll let you all know how that turns out). Not only that, but he's given me a lot of inspiration in the direction of my jewelry as well. He's really made me think about what other people are passionate about, what moves them.

So, what is your biggest source of creativity?

Artist vs. Crafter

I did a local craft show a week or so back, and ended up running into a situation that I had never thought I'd have to deal with.

My craft buddy and I had just finished setting up our tent in the drizzling rain, so I made my way over to the welcome tent where they were having free coffee and muffins. As I poured myself a warm, wonderful cup of coffee, I heard the woman next to me complaining loudly to the art fair organizers.

"I didn't know there would be jewelry makers here. You just didn't make that clear in any of the literature you sent me. If I had known there would be jewelry makers here, we probably never would have done this show. I don't think it's fair that my husband's $4,000 paintings should have to be next to a booth selling $14 dollar earrings!"

Trying not to choke on my coffee, I calmly looked at the woman and said:

"Excuse me, I actually happen to be a jewelry artist with a booth here. I just wanted to say that I am an artist, and some of my smallest pieces take hours to complete. It took me years to develop my techniques, just like your husband, I'm sure. And, obviously I managed to find the jewelry category on the registration form, so if you couldn't find it, you must not have been looking very hard."

The Artsy Farsty Lady huffed a bit and left the tent. I quickly apologized to the registration ladies if I had seemed out of line. I told them that I just couldn't keep quiet. They assured me that I was in the right, and I scurried back to my booth with my hot coffee.

Later that morning, I realized Artsy Fartsy Lady and her husband had there booth only one over form ours. I couldn't help but watch Artsy Fartsy Lady throughout the day as she tried to hawk her husband's overpriced paintings in her filthy, cut-off, denim shorts and grungy tank top. I couldn't help thinking that she could really benefit from a $14 pair of earrings....

So, my question to my fellow jewelry makers is, do you consider yourself to be artists? I know I do, but I see a lot of people labeling jewelry design as strictly craft. What do you think?

Riverbank Art Festival This Weekend

RavenWorks will be at the Riverbank Art Festival this Saturday, in Westbrook Maine. Please come and visit! There should be lots of great local artists, food and general goodness for all.

My name is even featured on this blog! I'm very excited :

Also, RavenWorks may be mentioned in an article in tomorrow's local paper in regards to the art festival. I'll be sure to share if there's a mention :)