Lucky Charms

Oh, you charming kitties!

I recently started making these little hand-painted wood tag-style charm necklaces. (I like to call them "amulets", because it sounds magical!) On one side, the feature little kitties that help you meditate on a certain goal or behavior (which is written out on the other side) . The idea for these grew out my attempts to produce some beautiful, one of a kind, wearable  mini-artworks that not only looked cute but but that also had a more meaningful, and maybe useful, purpose. I love words, quotes, and I love to do lettering too, so making these charming kitty amulets would also be extra engaging for me to make.

Focus

I wasn't even thinking about this when I created the one above, but, strangely, this one seems to echo my wishes for my mom in her stroke recovery. For one thing, she sometimes shuts one of her eyes - like Popeye... and like the kitty here. The second thing is that all the swirlies above the kitty's head could signify the brain injury event of a stroke, and of how a person's brain so cerebrally mixed up after one. And lastly, one of her biggest hurdles she is working through is being able to focus on one task long enough to complete it successfully...  and this is called Focus. Hmmm!

The two above have been adopted (by me)!

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We are all "Party Animals" for A Place To Bark!

I recently took part in a truly wonderful art project. I, along with 20 other pet portrait artists, were invited to create and contribute works of art to be published in a uniquely themed art book.

It's called "Party Animals", and if you remember last years' benefit art book that I contributed to and blogged about ("Dogs Rule"), this one could be considered a "Part Two" of sorts. Jill Beninato of Sit Stay Smile is the responsible "party" for "Party" -- she spearheaded the "Dog's Rule" project herself and made it all happen! She came back at us with "Party Animals" this year . Once again it is an honor to be a contributor. Like last year, this years' book includes art images that were specifically created for the project by each of the artists. The interpretation of the theme of "Party Animals" was the goal, and each artist was given free reign!

(See "You Tube" video demo series of my watercolor painting for the "Party Animals" book)

This time though, the party is even BIGGER and more shareable (yes, that's really a word - I looked it up), because, unlike last years' project, ANYONE can enjoy a beautiful copy of this years' collaborative project because copies are for sale, with ALL proceeds - every nickel - going to benefit A Place To Bark. (Plus, your purchase is entirely tax-deductible.)

I can tell you first-hand that the quality of the printing and binding of this 'zine is gorgeous and lovely. I am proud to have my work in the book, and to be among so many other extremely talented artists who are not only each boldly unique in their own artistic voices, but who are also very generous and caring people who are all joined by our love and support of animal welfare. Because the entire monetary proceeds of the 'zine go directly to A Place To Bark, you know that your $20 purchase is making a HUGE positive impact. (The great art, beautiful printing, and inspiring words in this book make it truly gift-worthy as well).

If THAT isn't ENOUGH, the ORIGINAL ARTWORKS printed in the 'zine will be auctioned off on Ebay on October 15, with all benefits going to A Place To Bark. Mark your calendars!!

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More from the show

Rare! A photo of me sans glasses!


In yesterday's post, I forgot to mention one crucial detail about the show yesterday: the wind was trying to whoosh away my merchandise at every opportunity!! I thought for sure I would have a nervous breakdown ;).



View from my ''runaway display' protection perch

I was constantly preoccupied with protecting my displays from runaway products, just like a mom protects her child in the passengers' seat of the car, from a hard stop. To the rest of the world, I'm sure I looked pretty funny, which I can live with (I am all about entertainment value, anyway).



View of Christine O'Brien booth and art display (left). What a beautiful sight. Chromalab's booth of crisp, delightfully designed clocks and refurbished objects for home (right).

Anyway, as such, I was fairly tethered to my booth and was unable to visit many of the other exhibitors. I did have the opportunity to visit with my immediate neighbors for very brief spurts. That was nice especially because there are some Boston Handmade members which I was either looking forward to meeting for the first time (the duo at Chomalab) or perhaps I had met before once, but only fleetingly (Christine O'Brien). I also got to meet the woman behind Little Wishes jewelry. I wish I snapped some photos of her beautiful gossamer display and gorgeous jewelry! Oh well -- next time!



More of my neighbors' booth displays



My sister and tent-mate Nancy NancyRosetta)



A NancyRosetta display -- I love these!!

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The day I've been waiting for...

See more BH Union Square 2009 photos on my Flickr photostream

Today was THE DAY! The Boston Handmade Marketplace Union Square show that I've been incessantly tweeting, Facebooking and blogging about finally took place today! The weather was sunny and beautiful, and we all were breathing a grateful sigh of relief, I am sure, on waking up to this weather today. It was so nice to be 'gifted' with good weather. Given the summer we have had thus far, it was, indeed, a 'gift'.(What is Boston Handmade? Read Mission Statement here.)

I shared a tent with my sister Nancy of NancyRosetta jewelry. It worked out just great to have her as a tent-mate. First of all, I do not have a tent of my own, and she likes to share, and I was thrilled to share myself, so it worked out perfect! Not to mention that she came and picked me up at my home, with all of my wares, so that was also a great thing. I'm pretty excited to be joining with her again for at least TWO dates in AUGUSTat SoWA (8/02 and 8/09 for sure, and possibly 8/30). So.. Be There, Or Be Square!

For the past week, I've been going at breakneck speed and intensity getting ready for this show. I have not done a show in *gulp* at *least* ten years... and, back THEN, I was selling ONLY greeting cards, and I'd really only done a couple of shows.

This time, it was going to be much, much more involved. I not only had to figure out what I currently had for inventory, what I wanted to add to it, and HOW I wanted to 'design' my entire stock of inventory (no, you can't just throw a bunch of unrelated objects on a table! sorry! ;) ). But, JUST as importantly, and some might say even MORE, was the fact that I needed to figure out a key element of this whole project -- my DISPLAY!!

I really don't think you can overestimate the impact of the impression your display will make to your visitors. It gives them some key unspoken clues about you. First off, it shares information about your entire visual aesthetic and your creative philosophy. It also tells them how you view your own work and how, or even WHETHER, you value it. (Surprise! You probably did not know that your choice of display had the powers of X-Ray vision!)

But, the most significant thing is that, regardless of how you "show yourself" to the public, whether consciously or not, you are making decisions on how people will size up you and your work. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. You know that saying "You never get a second chance to make a first impression"? That saying, though I know it's a generalization, applies profoundly here. So, if you do not put the work into your own display, you are really cheating your chances at success. IF you are putting time and effort into doing shows to begin with, I think it's greatly important to put your best foot forward.

I learned a lot about my products and displays my first time out. There are some display tactics I tried that worked well, and there were some that were not successful. I took notes on these while I was still there AT my table, not after. The minute I close up shop, I know I am liable to forget all of these valuable bits of wisdom. So I made sure to seize the moment with pen and paper. Now, for the next show, I now will have a much-improved display (and maybe this will pay off with increased sales)!

In terms of product sold, I did okay today. I came away very pleased with my sales for the first time out. To be fair, the crowds were much, much thinner this year than last (which I attended but did not exhibit)... and, there were a lot of looky-loos, but not a lot of buyers. (I think people are way less impulsive to buy. At least they were today). In all honestly though, regarding sales, I was happy to get any today. And I do not mean that as a self-deprecating remark at ALL... Here is the thing: I believe in my product, in my artwork, and I absolutely ADORE it. (In fact I think I am my own biggest fan. I hope that admitting that doesn't lose me any fans.) But, I also know that this is my first run out here. I have no illusions. My plan today was to observe what people gravitated toward, what parts of my display seemed to work well and what parts did not work. To have a presence, say Hello, show my face, name, and products and make sure that my take-away "contact info" cards were within easy reach. Hey - maybe I'd even sell something (wink wink). Basically, I was entering this particular arena with a "This Is Me Putting My Best Face Forward, My First Time Out, Before I Have The Luxury Of Experience" attitude.

I have been working as a professional artist, illustrator, and graphic designer for 15 years. I have worked in various commercial markets and I have even proudly earned a little visibility in a couple of them. But, this *specific type* of market -- this live, open-air arts and crafts market for my work, is more or less new to me (save for that 6-month stint over 10 years ago I mentioned already). So, I say, jump in with both feet, but don't forget the life-preserver!

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this peek into my first art market in a really long time. I'll be doing at least two more shows this summer and I will be sure to post about the show prep as the dates grow closer. Maybe I might even be able to do a little show-and-tell on the process of product I create. I really would have loved to post a "diary" of sorts for this show - especially because it was so much trial-by-fire and that is something interesting to go through and to share. But the prep, I have to be honest, was just way too frenzied and franticfor that to happen this time out. Next time, I'll be able to be a little more relaxed about it because I now have a base to work off of. SoWA, here I come! Stay tuned for more on those dates, plus a couple of new pet portrait commissions in the works!!

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Another painting

Here's another little cute one I'm working on. I call her Bertha. She's acrylic on wood, 4" x 4".  She will also be for sale at the Boston Handmade Somerville show.

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Gearing up for Boston Handmade craft show

I'm working on paintings and some functional art pieces ;) for the Boston Handmade Marketplace show at Union Square, Somerville on July 11. Yay!

So what do you think? Is she a diva or what?

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