Perhaps the holiday season isn't the best time to start a blog but that's the way my life typically is. As the first posting here on my blog I would like to share just a bit about what is happening.
Last week was spent updating much of my website. I have been travelling to bead shows now for over 11 years. That seems like such a long time. I used to love the travelling. Lately however, its just exhausting.
Driving to each show, often 12 to 18 hours each way. Loading and unloading hundreds of pounds of beads, jewelry and display. Set up and tear down. etc... etc... etc...
Sure, there are things I could do to make my life easier at shows. My current set up takes 4 to 6 hours and I could make that easier. However, I percieve myself as an artist. I just can't bring myself to throwing my beads and jewelry down on a table and hoping they sell themselves.
I could perhaps fly to shows. But.... I would not be able to take all my art to each show with me. This also takes me back to set up... I would not be able to set up and display everything the way I want.
I already try and take a helper to each show. However, he does not drive so thats no help with the travel aspects.
So, taking all that into account and knowing that the future holds more and more online sales. I have made a comittment to spending more effort on online sales. Cutting my shows down to about 2 a year from the 10 or so I do now.
Sure I have had my website up for years however, it takes real effort in promoting a site to the level that allows one to earn a decent living on just web sales. Up to this point, I have been adding things here and there, and listing my site on my business cards and letting things just happen. LOL! Well they don't really happen on their own.
In conclusion, yes it's the holiday season, Happy Holidays everyone! I will be enjoying the holidays but I will also be spending more and more time on the website, my Etsy store and promoting both!
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Self Representing Artist Cindy Craig speaks up about the business of creating and selling glass lampwork beads.
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About Me
- Artglass Adornments
- Janesville, WI, United States
- My name is Cindy Craig. I’m a glass and jewelry artist living in a small town in Southern Wisconsin. I’m originally from the southern California but moved to Fargo ND to attend art school where I discovered the magic of glass. I’ve been making glass beads and small sculptures since 1994. Besides glass I have always been fascinated with ancient archaeology and many of my beads and sculptures show that influence. Other arts that I have explored in my career include large scale bronze sculpture, raku ceramics, re-creating early viking and anglo-saxon adornments, felting, weaving and cooking. I have to say however that since I began creating glass beads and sculptures many of my other artly pursuits have gone by the wayside. I consider myself blessed to be able to do what I love every day and to have other people appreciate my work. I can't imagine a life that would not allow me to play with glass and fire every day.