2010 goes out with a roar.

A roar? Yes, because December was packed with 2 high end art and craft shows. They both were well managed, well organized and were run by the organization, Cleveland Handmade.

Shows of this nature are certainly labor heavy. For weeks ahead, jewelry is made, labeled and priced. The day before, pieces are packed into boxes. Lastly, usually late into the evening, all boxes and auxiliary items are loaded into the truck. Then you unload everything at the other end.

Yes it is work, but doing the show is completely worth it. Meeting former customers who have returned to buy again and making new customers. Having people simply admire your work. Meeting other artists. Explaining to people how a piece is made and what it is made of. Sharing the experience with my husband (he's just a little reluctant).

I feel that this year I have made strides as a relatively new artist. I think my work is more cohesive, or I'm a little closer to developing a "theme". A goal is for someone to look at something I've made and recognise that I was the artist. I may work with beach glass, rocks, mixed metals and the occasional bead or two, but when my work is viewed together they really seem to be the pieces of one big puzzle. Well, I don't think the felted wool pieces fit particularly well, but, oh well.

Well, now I'm quite ready to what 2011 unveils.

Lost at Sea

I like to feel settled. I like to plan ahead. I work hard toward a goal, but then like to revel in it for a while. No such luck recently. The collective, 1000 Markets, where I have had all of my jewelry listed for the past several years was sold. And I mean sold quickly. Advised on a Tues. it would close the next day. I had tended my little site faithfully, listing, updating photos, ets. It was a classy organization any our sites looked great.

They offered an "importer" to us to upload all our products to the new store with minimum hassle, but I couldn't do it. The first problem was the name - Bonanza! yippee aay. Couldn't get past my visions of Hos and Cartwright saddling up. But, more importantly, their inventory reminded me a lot of Walmart - no handcrafted items readily visible.

So, I chose another collective, Zibbet, for my jewelry. So far, so good, but holding my breath. Biggest problem to me with Zibbet, is the lack of a personal blog, like we had at 1000 markets. And I love to blog! So, I opened this one and, I suppose, will just set up links everywhere.

Maybe I will be settled again soon.

Beach glass pendant reflects my theme today of "lost at sea".