Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Post-Buckman Report


Well, so I lied: this post is not about drawings, as I promised in my last one. I simply haven't gotten that far yet. This one is about what a great time I had at last weekend's Buckman Art Show & Sell. With the help of my new jewelry cards, I sold a little over twice the number of pieces I've typically sold in the past. Thank you, Morgan! Folks were sticking to the lower-to-mid-price range, since we're not out of the recessionary woods yet, but it was a very busy show and they were buying. It was fun and lively, full of good energy.

I especially enjoyed connecting or reconnecting with fellow artists: old friends Lisa Gastelum (TQB Designs) and Lisa Kaser; Ann Hymas (Circle Couture) & Taya Koschnik (Tasi, w/ her sister Silvija with whom I didn't get a chance to speak) - Thanks, ladies, for the awesome trades! Christopher Reitmaier, my cohort in the use of bottle caps (I think each of us showed pieces made with odds or ends given by the other), just to cover the highlights. I have to thank Taya for making my highest-priced sale of the day while I was taking a break (the necklace pictured above). That's another great thing about these shows. Without official booth-sitters, we take turns with our neighbors to make sure none of us are chained to our tables without relief. And I must thank my neighbor Samantha, who's involved with the running of the show, and who volunteered to haul my work (and my husband's) to & from the show, as we don't have a car. Much better than dragging it all in my granny-cart in the rain.

And, the spirit of generosity abounds. A quite dapper gentleman in a pinstriped suit and a bowler hat came to see me. He'd liked my button pieces when he visited the show last year, and this year he came back with a small bag of gorgeous vintage buttons for me. I was touched not only by the actual gift, but that he'd actually remembered and saved them up all year to bring to me. This is one reason I know I'm on the right path - ever since I started making jewelry with buttons and other found objects, abundance has come my way. With every show, there comes a perfect stranger willing to share collections of buttons, in some cases family heirloom buttons. Or friends who collect bottle caps for me when they're walking their dogs or traveling. One friend has brought me bottle caps from a surfer beach in Hawaii, and from trips to Australia and New Zealand. (Although the pickings were slim in New Zealand: apparently, they just don't throw trash on the ground like we do in America...) The universe does provide, and I'm grateful.

In any case, it was a great show. And as soon as I get through with my taxes, I'll turn my attention to drawings for awhile, and keep you posted.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011





Time once again for the annual Buckman Art Show & Sell - for me, that's always a harbinger of spring. New life, new ideas. I'll be there with my jewelry: collage pendants, gemstone beads & pearls, and Brew Buttons. I have some new styles available in the Brew Button line. In addition to the holed buttons with nuts'n'bolts, there are new pendants and pins using interesting shank buttons layered onto one or more bottle caps (shown in top photo). Because they cost less to make in materials and labor, I'm able to offer them at a lower price point than the bolted variety. I also have some new pins using vintage dominoes with buttons or old jewelry parts (shown in center photo).


Another new thing: I've recently had my business and jewelry cards redesigned and will be debuting the new look at Buckman. They're fresh and bright and show off the jewelry to its best advantage. (My graphic designer is the very talented Morgan Harrington. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in using her services!) The cards, with jewelry, are shown in the bottom photo.


My next post will be about my drawings. I did manage to complete another one before I had to throw myself into show preparations, but have had time only to contemplate what the subject of the next one will be. Once Buckman is over, I'll carve out some time to begin a new one. I can't wait to lay out that large, white sheet of paper and start out on the tightrope walk that is drawing. In the meantime, I hope to see you at Buckman: Friday, March 11 - 5 pm to 9 pm, and Saturday, March 12 - 10 am to 5 pm!