Still Backlogged! Ack!

So, yeah.  I'm still not able to make things happen as I'd hoped.  I'm so behind this year that it's not even funny!  This is a source of great frustration for me.  Unfortunately, when one is running a business as a sideline, this is a fact of life.  Making time for my art is always a challenge!

Back on April 29, I sold at an event that was not an artistic event.  In fact, my subject matter, by all appearances, has very little to do with this cause.  It was a fundraiser for my local Humane Society.  All of the vendors (except me and maybe two others) were pet-focused and pet-related.  What was this random crafter doing there, people were wondering?  (It's true!  Everyone that came into my booth was very confused, and I had to repeatedly give my schpiel about how some of my proceeds and art are donated to animal-related causes each year.  I've decided I'm going to have a banner made explaining this.) 

Sadly, though he said he would, the coordinator never sent me photos to use, so that I could give this event its own post.  See, I didn't take my camera (like a dummy!)  This was my first time attending--let alone selling at--this event.  I did not know the rules about photos, and they were not made clear.  I did not want to take my camera, only to have to leave it in the hot car.  Boy, was I kicking myself!  There were cameras everywhere!  Lesson learned!

The event was very good for me.  In fact, I made more that day than I do at conventional art/craft shows!  I did not make my table fee--it was higher than I'm used to--but I made more money than I ever have before.  I had a wonderful time, the weather was perfect, everyone was super, super-nice and enthused by what I do, and I got enough doggie love to carry me over until I was able to go and visit my parents (they have two dogs.)  People asked about custom work.  A lot.  I gave out a ton of cards. Finally, I came away from the event with new product ideas!  It was just a perfect day, and if I'm invited back, I will definitely do this show again.  I figure having the banner next time will probably help a whole lot.  It was really, really good to step out of my "comfort zone" (I really don't have one--I will try about anything once!) and try a new venue, and I feel I was rewarded for that decision.

My next show was supposed to be this past weekend at the venue I sell at almost every spring and fall in Thurmont, MD.  Unfortunately, we had a family emergency, so I had to back out.  It is my hope that they will hold the event again in the Fall and that I can join them at that time.  Though this particular event is not generally profitable for me, it is one I love.  I get a lot out of going, and I'm very fond of the owner and some of the other sellers I run into there.  It's really a great venue, and I'm hoping to see it flourish, despite this tough economy.

Since I was unable to do that event, I'm going to try and do two or three weekends at Fenton Street Market this summer.  I will go at least once each as an artist and as a vintage seller.  My vintage usually does pretty well there, and again--it's a wonderful venue.  The organizers have fought very hard to keep it going in the face of some local government ridiculousness, so it's a very special venue, and I look forward to participating each year.

Finally, back in April, I had two major writing assignments for a publication for which I volunteer.  One was an event, and one was an interview. Both were stressful and taxing (positive stress) for different reasons.  The work I did on each assignment sapped my energy for pretty much anything else, but the results were very good!

All of this has meant that I have not been able to get into the studio, but again:  For a part-timer, that's just how it goes.  While I was dealing with the family issue, I did have my jewelry stuff with me, so that I could get some things made. Unfortunately, the Muse did not choose to visit.  It has been about three weeks since I've been able to pick up a paintbrush or needle or take pictures.  Things have just been crazy.  I'm hoping that, after this holiday weekend I will be able to get back on schedule.  (I always say that!  LOL!)

The last note I want to make here is that today, I bit the bullet and signed up for an account on a stock photography site.  Being a photographer myself, this is something I've been resisting for a very long time.  I had hoped to use my own photography on my blogs; however, since I'm often not at home or not at my laptop when I choose to do my blogging, I don't always have that option.  When I can use my own, I absolutely will.  When I can't, I'll be using this site and crediting the artists.  The best part is that I will be trying to sell some of my own work through it!   Every day, I see the value of these sites more and more, so why not give it a try?

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, for those of you in the US!  For the rest of you, keep being awesome, because you are!



(photo: (c) Robodread/123rf.com)

What NOT Being in the Studio Looks Like

I'm sorry to seem so dramatic, but I have not had time for art in ages, and it is driving me mad.  Mad, I tell you!  It's not all bad, though.  Just busy.

-The cat tree refurb from my previous post is finished.  It was actually finished a couple of weeks ago.  It was a very easy job, and the cats are thrilled with it.  I will post an "after" photo just as soon as I have time. Since there is plenty of carpet left over from that job, I am going to repair some of the other cat furniture, as well.  When, I could not tell you.

-I have been really busy with writerly stuff lately.  I am currently developing two rather big stories (locally,) and the logistics and communicating with the folks I'm interviewing have been hectic.  I finished covering one of them this weekend, so now I have the huge task of sending follow up questions, editing the photos, and composing the post.  The other one is still up in the air, as the person I'm interviewing and I have not set our interview time.  That's what's been eating my last couple of weeks.  It's exhausting, but very rewarding.  (I'm not really ready to share what the publication is, but I may one day.)

-I am searching for a new, better job.  The evenings when I haven't been working on one of my stories, I've been trying to apply for jobs. As anyone currently searching knows, this involves a lot more than just attaching a couple of files to an email and hitting "send."  There's been a lot of setting up profiles on websites I may never visit again, uploading portfolio materials, emailing back and forth, phone calls, coaching, and polishing off (or creating) writing samples, all with little to no response!  I did make it through three rounds with one company, but after that:  Nothing.  It doesn't help that I'm not finding a lot for which to apply right now (very targeted search, since I am already employed and have time.)  Most people know that this is a very exhausting process!

-I have been invited to submit more artwork for an exhibit in which I already have work hanging (the previous one ends on May, this one starts in June.)  I was originally going to bump one of my paintings to the front of my queue, but the deadline is approaching, and I will not, in fact, have time to get started.  I will be submitting some photos, though, so we'll see how that goes.  I have to pick up the painting from the previous exhibit toward the end of may, unless it sells (which would be awesome!)

-My first show of the year is next Sunday, April 29.  It's a new type of venue for me, and I'm really excited, though I paid a higher fee than I'm used to.  I've just decided to try some new things and see if that will bring me some more sales or a new customer base.  My work is not geared toward pets, and a small percentage of my work is actually animal-related, but I do often donate my work and some of my proceeds to animal causes, and I'm somewhat involved in rescue.  I wrote a detailed cover letter letting them know this, and I was accepted.  In a chat with an employee at my local pet store, I found out that the traffic last year was pretty good, even though it rained, so I'm hopeful.  As always, if it doesn't work out, I simply won't return.  I had been hoping I'd get some studio time, so that I can finish up some additional pieces, but that's just not going to happen.  The articles are going to eat up my week.  That's just how it goes.

I hope that all of my readers are doing well! Happy Spring!

What Unmitigated Studio Time Looks Like-March 2012

For the first time in a very long time, I have a day that is completely free and open to me.  At the same  time, as is usually the case, I am just itching to make art.  What that means is today is all about art/DIY/creative work.  Yesterday, I attended a fantastic workshop, and that charged me up even more, so today, off I go!

My opening photo is of the stuff I currently have on my desk (except for the old pair of glasses. Those are just going away!)  As you can see, boxes are a big theme for me right now.  The box in the foreground is my next photo embellished box, whose theme will be in honor of the Chesapeake Bay.  The Rose box is under repair, and the little, yellow tin is almost ready to list.  I'll be focusing on applying the next coat to the Bay box today.

For the past few days, this painting--"I Was Gretel"--has really been nagging at me, so I have commandeered a corner of the studio I share with my boyfriend, and I'll be working on her today.  The can of paint on my desk is the base for the trees I need to put in, and I still have a few collage pieces to apply (I will probably paint the trees in first.)  I don't know how soon I will finish her.  It just all depends on how much time I ultimately get today. 

With the exception of "Willow", which is hanging in DC, I am still not selling my paintings--at least, not actively;  however, as I become more active again with that aspect of my art, I am growing more and more open to the idea.  "Willow" and "Gretel" are part of a series that is forming, so I am trying to decide whether to wait and try to sell the entire series of originals together and offer prints of the individual paintings, or to put them up for sale as I finish them.  This is a really tough dilemma for me, because  as much as I like my art, I'm not real confident about it. (I know, I know.  This is something I just need to get over.)  The fact that I'm so danged slow at finishing my paintings gives me plenty of time to think and  plan and let the paintings tell  me what they want.  ;)

Finally, as you can see by these last three photos, our huge cat tree is in serious need of repair!  Today, I will be devoting time to getting started on that project.  This will definitely be more than a one-day project.  I'll be repairing each leg separately.  My parents are wrapping up some major renovations, and I was lucky enough to snag this roll of carpeting.  The Liquid Nails was left over from a previous project, so this project will cost nothing.  Structurally, the cat tree is fine, so there is no reason to throw it away, and it is too beaten up to donate to a rescue, etc.  Besides, as you can see, my cats love it!  They don't care what it looks like (but I do!)  It won't be as pretty and shiny when I'm done with it as it was when it was new, but it will at least look neater.  LOL!

As always, everything depends on my energy level and on any interruptions.  I also have housework I will be doing in between.

(I'm going to have some equally-rare alone time this afternoon!  My boyfriend is going out to shop for my birthday present!  :)  I'm pretending not to speculate on what he's going to get me!)

I'll certainly keep  everyone up to date with my progress!  Stay tuned!

Little Stone House: No Waste Sofa Cushion Refurb!

I have not had much time for artistic pursuits recently, outside of my writing. I've been working on getting my paperwork ready for the tax man, blogging on topics other than JLP business, and various other things.

Here is a post from my home/personal/green living blog about a little DIY project my boyfriend and I completed this weekend. Enjoy!

Little Stone House: No Waste Sofa Cushion Refurb!: My boyfriend and I had a (very rare) free weekend recently. Part of this weekend, naturally, was spent attending to our Little Stone House...

Looking ahead to 2012 With JLynnPro.

Famous last words!  In my last post, I mentioned that my flare ups were becoming less frequent and less severe. Well, I'm afraid that was wishful thinking.  January has been a terrible month for me, health-wise.  Some of you who have been reading this blog for a long time will recall  this post about the mystery illness with which I fight what now seems like constantly.  I am due to go to the doctor again this coming Wednesday, and I plan to ask for another full work up.  This is only relevant to my business, in that my struggle with this illness has slowed me down considerably.  I am already a couple of weeks behind where I wanted to be by now.  This is not the end of the world, but it is frustrating!

Now that I've gotten that out of the way (thank you for hanging in there with me while I vent a little!) I'm ready to talk about 2011 and my hopes and plans for 2012. 

-2011 was a better year for me, business-wise. There was pretty good growth from 2010, so I have no complaints!  It was a big year for my vintage, and while the art is still slower to move, things did pick up last year.  I hope to maintain this momentum and build upon it this year.  Every step forward is appreciated, and the movement gives me hope! 

-It is said that most new businesses fail in their first five years.  When I initially started JLP, I had decided to wait until 2013 and then re-evaluate.  I have instead decided to wait until 2018, which will be ten years past when I started the business, and then re-evaluate. I have a couple of reasons for this.  First of all, I started the business right around the time the US economy tanked.  I was aware of this fact, but something inside me told me to do it anyway, and I've felt nothing but good about it ever since.  Secondly, this is a part time venture for me--a sideline.  I actually pay my household bills with a day job while I build my little business up.  That means I'm not pounding the pavement, networking, and knocking on doors (so to speak) as much of the time as my colleagues who run their businesses full time.  When I'm working for me, I give it 1,000%, but I simply have less time.  I figure that means growth (or failure) will happen a little more slowly. Plus, I'm happy doing this, so I'm willing to stick it out a while.  Who knows?  I may ultimately say "there is no re-evaluation date.  I'm just gonna do this 'till I decide to stop!" ;)  I don't feel my business is failing, by any stretch. I do feel it is growing slowly.  I'm OK with that, especially considering my additional challenges.

-I stuck my neck out a couple of months ago and actually asked my peers for feedback on my main studio .  It's not that I thought I was doing everything perfectly and nothing was wrong with my shops.  It's that I'm extremely sensitive and shy and have trouble talking to people as it is: I was not equipped, until this point, to have people critique my studio, my art, my what-I-do.  In the end, though, I am glad I did it, because I got fantastic feedback, and I now have both a plan moving forward and an idea of how to merchandise in the future.  It has resulted in two distinct product lines, which is actually pretty cool.  Sure, it means more work to market everything, but if people are having a better browsing and shopping experience when they visit my shops, then that's a good thing.  Will I maintain both lines?  I don't know. I know I enjoy both the Earthy stuff and the whimsical stuff, so for now, yes.  (The whimsical items have been moved here, but as always, I'm happy to move things around and list them wherever someone wants to make a purchase!)  I still have a lot of work to do on other aspects of my studios, but asking people for help was a great idea, because now I know where to focus my efforts.

-I completed two book projects.  My role on each was a supportive one; however, I worked very hard, that work was appreciated, and I now have two finished books for my portfolio.  As I stated in my last post, my own writing did languish, but that was mostly due to my health.  I expect to resume work on my chapbooks this year, and I'm also (as always) talking with a couple of people about some film projects.  There is still no definite plan for any of these, but the interest is still there.

-I have hung a piece in my first art show.  This is huge for me. It takes me forever to finish a regular painting, and then I tend to hide them away for years, before I even think of trying to exhibit them.  I was invited to submit to this show, which was an honor, so I submitted a mixed media painting from 2005, a much older painting, and a framed photo. The 2005 piece, called "Willow," was the one accepted.  I'll be thrilled if it sells, but it's exciting just to know that people are seeing it.  I've already received a lot of compliments.  My next painting is in progress and has been since...you guessed it--about 2006.  LOL!  Part of the issue, as I have mentioned before, is that I don't have a lot of space to pull my easel out and set it up in the studio.  I will fully admit that the other part of the problem is my confidence is somewhat lacking. Entering a show has taken me a long way toward getting over that, however!

-Based on my habits the last few years, I will be looking at hiring out some of my business functions in 2012.  This does not mean taking on an employee, but it may mean I'll be paying someone else to do a couple of things, chiefly my bookkeeping.  It's a very simple thing, but for some reason, I have a real block about that.  I don't know why.  Also, though I will be building my website myself, I actually have a webmaster--someone to handle the hardcore, technical details.  He is showing me how to update the site and add content, but he will be handling the backend "scary stuff."  I'm not at all tech-averse, but having tried to take some classes in the past, I have learned I dont' particularly have an aptitude for it, so I'm happy to hand it off.  I would like to have the site live by my birthday in April. (Yes, I know I've been talking about my website for a couple of years now!  LOL!  This time, I really mean it!  Stay tuned!)

-I will be maintaining the rotating schedule I set up for myself last year.  In optimal circumstances, it works really well.  When I focus on just one aspect of the business for a week, I get a whole lot more done.  I'm still not ready to phase any aspect of my business out--that much I know.

The biggest Lessons Learned I'm bringing forward from 2011, I guess, are:

-Self care must come first.  If that means I don't work on JLP for a couple of weeks, because I need to rest or tend to my family or what-have-you, that's OK.  I find a stopping point on a large project, or I wrap up something, and I take that down time.  As of now, because of how I've felt this month, I can't say if it helps or not, but logically, it should.  If I burn myself out, there will be no JLP.

-Reaching out to other artisans and business people doesn't have to be scary.  They do not bite, and most won't tell you that you're horrible, but the wise ones will tell you where you could do better, and that's a good thing.   (I really am terribly, terribly shy!)

-Slow growth is OK and is probably preferable when one is juggling other things, like a day job. It does not mean you're not "as good as" or not good enough.  It means you are doing what you can, when you can, in the best way that you can.  (I'm sure I would feel differently if this were my full time endeavor.  Hopefully, one day it will be!)

Here's to a prosperous, healthy, and happy 2012 for us all!  Thank you for reading.

Happy New Year from JenniferLynn Productions, LLC!

 

Every year, I do a "lessons learned/goals" post. This is not that post.  This post is a quick wish that everyone have a happy and prosperous 2012!

My winter has been considerably less active than I'd hoped in the studio, though some positive things have also happened.  I had a painting accepted into an art show, which will run through May in Washington, DC!  This is the first time I've tried entering a bona fide art show, as opposed to taking things to a craft show.  I submitted three pieces, but having just one accepted was a high honor.  I was at the show location on 12/26 to drop off my piece and help hang the show.  So much positive energy!  I'm very proud of myself and honored to have been invited to submit stuff!  :)

My Holidays were peaceful.  I actually relaxed, which--if you've been reading me and following my updates for a while you will know--is not easy for me to do!  Though I have been wanting to buckle down and finish some UFOs, my body has dictated that I rest.  I've taken my Winter one day at a time, and that has meant a lot of down time.  The planning has not let up, though.  This weekend, I am spending time getting my studio neatened back up, so I can get back into the swing of things.

My vintage shop has really taken off this past year!  I won't say I've been hand-over-fist; however, my sales have picked up quite a lot.  I've been very happy with that!  I still have a ton of items to list, and once I get a few more things out the door, I'll be ready to go on some buying trips!  Exciting! Will that happen in2012?  We will see!

My crafts and photography have been slower to move, sadly; however, I finally put my neck out and asked my fellow artisans what the issue might be.  Thankfully, no one said, "Well, you suck!"  LOL!  The fact that my shop is such a hodge-podge did come up, though.   I have noticed a dominant theme emerging in my work, so that bit of feedback did ring true.  I do a lot of Earthy designs.  I have a  nature theme and Earthy color palette really starting to emerge. At the same time, I do fun, whimsical designs with bright color palettes. 

What I have done to try and tone down the dissonance is that I have opened a shop on Blujay.com for my more playful pieces.  I sell other items not related to my business on Blujay, and while it has been slow there, I am comfortable with the site, and the community is very nice.  I think those items will fit in nicely there.  I do not value these pieces any less than the ones in my main shop.  I just recognize that it's a separate theme.  If I could afford to, I would simply open another studio on Artfire.com, but that's not a possibility for me at this time.  As I state on my Blujay shop, I am happy to move items between sites to sell them according to customer preference, and I will also directly bill/sell via email.  Each of my pieces, whether it is a purse or a photo print, is precious to me, and great care goes into each and every item!

Sadly, I have set my writing aside, not because I haven't wanted to work on it, but because I've had other things going on.  I am determined to move it along in some way in 2012.  Chiefly, I hope to get my poetry in front of someone and maybe publish it this year.  Mind you, this is not a resolution, but simply a statement of intent.

The good news is that, because I have listened to my body and taken it easy this Fall and Winter, my flare ups are becoming less frequent, and they are less severe.  I am hoping that, as I find exercises that work for me, my energy and health will increase and my pain will decrease.  Right now, my flare ups only last a couple of days.  I am hoping it will stay that way!

I hope that each and every one of you has had a wonderful Holiday Season--whatever that entails!  (I feel there is room for everyone on this great planet of ours!)  Happy New Year!  I will do my wrap up/goals post sometime in the next few days.  Tomorrow, I hope to have glue and paint all over my hands!  ;)

Happy Solstice!

Here comes the Su...

Curated By: JenniferLynnP...

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

 
May your Holidays be bright, and may the new year bring you endless joys!