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!

Of Things to Come...

Well, it has been a very busy fall for me, and it has not helped that my health has been an issue lately.  That said, 2011 was in many ways much better than 2010!  Now, this is not my end-of-year post, but I wanted to take a few minutes to check in and talk about some things I'm considering doing differently going forward.

-I have decided to close my Sense of Fashion shop.  It's a really nice site, and the people on staff there are some of the nicest I have worked with in my online selling career; however, after nearly a year there with nary a sale, I've concluded that it is not the right venue for me.  I have moved the items I had for sale there back to my Artfire studio.  I have absolutely nothing bad to say about SoF--it just wasn't a fit.

-I am removing a few pieces (very few--less than ten) from my inventory.  They will be discounted and placed on my household selling site ("yard sale,") where I hope they will find new homes.  These pieces are not sub-par, so much as just not a fit with where I am going.  I feel that removing these from my inventory will help to streamline the aesthetic that I am starting to see emerge in my work, and that will create a more cohesive visual message as to what JLP is all about--something I still can't put into words, but can only communicate through color and form.  They will stay up in the "yard sale" shop for a while, and if they still don't move, I'll simply pass them on.  I feel Ok with this. It is part of learning who we are as artists, and these are not high-end pieces.

-I will be looking at different geographic locations for shows next year.  This year was not a good one for shows.  I realize the economy is partly to blame, but I also think I'm not getting my stuff in front of the right people.  If next year, with new locations, proves to be equally fruitless, I may have to stop doing shows, due to my health issues.  I do not generally have helpers when I do shows, so it is very physically taxing for me.  If I find locations that work well, I will focus on them, however.

That's all I've got for right now.  I'm trying to work out my Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales plan, and I have a couple of ideas for this blog--to get posting more regularly--but not a lot is going on in the studio right now.  I'm getting nibbles about photo shoots, so we will see how all of that pans out.  I am hoping to take some serious down time in either December or January.  While I'm going on Vacation in two weeks, I intend to leave my shops open, and I will probably take some projects to work on; however, I am in need of a genuine, do-nothing break.  The dead of Winter seems to be a good time for that.

Until next time, be well!

Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire: SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

From time to time, I blog for my animal-related artisan Teams/Guilds. Here is my latest for the Artfire Crafting for Animals Guild. Enjoy!

Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire: SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE…………….by Jen of JenniferL...: This was a hard blog post for me to write. I actually conceived of it last winter, and I've been rolling the idea around in my head...

Happy Fall!

My show season is in full swing! I've done two shows, and I have two more coming up. I will be selling in Manassas, VA with CREST on October 16, and then I will be selling in Derwood Maryland on November 5. My last show--for my vintage--was Saturday, October 1. Due to the weather, it wasn't as great as it could have been, but it was not a terrible day. A challenge? Yes!

Now that I have the vintage sale behind me, I'm focusing back on my art. I'm currently working on a mixed media painting and a mini-tin. Though our household is still pretty busy, I'm hopeful that I can finish these two pieces in time for the CREST show.

My writing page (the link is at the top of my blog) was just updated. I wrote a poem last night. I hope that people will enjoy it. With the whirlwind of activity I've been facing this summer and Fall, I have not had a lot of time for writing. I have written a few blog posts for other sites here and there. I have two posts coming out this month, both on animals. One is for the Artfire Crafting for Animals Guild, and the other is for Etsy for Animals. Of all of the Teams and Guilds to which I belong, I'm most active with these two, and writing on animals and animal welfare is something with which I'm very comfortable. It feels good to contribute in this way. One thing I did not mention in my writing update is that I acted as one of two editors for a friend's poetry anthology this past summer. That was a lot of fun, and I'm hoping that if he's happy with my work, he will pass my name along. My own poetry has been simmering in the background, since I've been so busy, but I'll get back to it over the winter.

Sadly, I have not been doing a lot of shooting recently. I do have a lot of photos to go through and archive and edit and put up for sale. I will probably spend some time while we entertain a house guest doing that. We are not sure how long she will be staying, but while she is here, I will probably not have a lot of access to the studio. I'm OK with this. The time to work on my photos will be good. I also have two prints I need to put into new frames. I hope to do that in time for the CREST show, too.

As always, lots to do!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Fall!