Life as an artist working in metals, fiber, paper, and more. It’s all about the art!

Communication is an art form in itself, and many people seem not to have been taught the difference between personal and business communication.  They are two very different beasts, with very different rules and requirements.

A business e-mail should be a formal communication between two or more parties, relating to a business topic.  This is not the place for informality, or a casual tone.  Save those for e-mails to friends and family.

In a business e-mail DO:

1.  Use proper punctuation.

2.  Use correct capitalization.

3.  Use correct and formal grammar.

4.  Use correct spelling.

If you are uncertain of any of these, you might want to compose your message in a word processing program, and paste it into your mail program.  Be sure to check for formatting errors, as the two programs may not transfer everything correctly.

5.  Check to be sure you have the correct word - to or too, pale or pail, sense or since - they may be spelled correctly, but may not be the correct word for that sentence.

6.  Have a subject line that quickly and clearly defines the purpose and content of your correspondence:  Custom Emerald Ring, or Guild Jury Question for example.

7.  If this is an ongoing correspondence, be sure and include prior e-mails in the current e-mail.  You can set your mail program to place these either at the beginning of the e-mail, or at the end (which is my personal preference).  Keeping everything together helps both you and your correspondent stay current on the discussion.

8.  If the topic changes, be sure to change the subject line appropriately, and drop any prior correspondence that is no longer relevant.

9.  Do be sure and include appropriate contact information in your e-mail.

A note on organization:  most mail programs will let you create folders, and you can set up mail rules that will automatically drop mail into the correct folder.  So if you have ongoing correspondence with a supplier or client, you might want to set up a folder and mail rules to house all of that correspondence in one easily accessible place.

Now for the DO NOT’s:

1.  Do not use slang.

2.  Do not use profanity or curse words.

3.  Do not take an informal, casual tone unless this is someone you know well and have done a lot of business with - and maybe not even then!

4.  Do not assume the other person will remember something from a prior discussion or e-mail; reference it clearly.

5.  Do not use emoticons or abbreviations such as <vbg> - (very big grin).  Stay formal.

6.  Do not use lots of colors and fonts. Stay simple.

7.  Do not overuse cc’s and bcc’s - copy only those people who really need to be included.

I hope you find these tips on business e-mails helpful.

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As mentioned previously, I am a juried member of the Artisans of the South Carolina Cotton Trail, http://www.sccottontrail.org/artisans.html, a group created to promote, market, and support local artists.  Last week I took a selection of work from several of our members to a tourist-oriented store, with great success.  This morning I took a different group of work to a high-end gift shop.

The gift shop, Porter’s Gift Shop in Florence, SC, http://www.portersgiftshop.com/ bought the most expensive painting, and almost $900 wholesale value of my own work!  Whoooeee!  Plus they want me to do a trunk show leading up to Mother’s Day!

They were excited to have local work by our group.  I think the fact that we are a juried group made a definite positive difference in their willingness both to set the appointment to look at the work, and to purchase a substantial amount.

Even though we are less than a year old, we are already getting a regional reputation as a group of high quality artisans, which is fantastic!

I would highly suggest you look into starting your own artist group if there is not one in your area.  I belong to two - the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths, http://www.ncsg.net/,devoted entirely to smiths, and the Cotton Trail group, which is much, much broader!

Both have been great career supports for me.

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I am a member of the juried group Artisans of the South Carolina Cotton Trail, http://www.sccottontrail.org/artisans.html (sorry - I can’t figure out how to put a link in!).

We are a juried group that covers five counties in South Carolina, and were formed to help market, promote, support, and educate artisans (with a wide definition!) in our area.

While some of our members are long time professional artists, some are very new to the effort to market and sell their work.

We are working on a branding campaign, and have a logo, rack cards, etc. to get out the message of who we are, and what buyers and viewers can expect when they see that logo.

We are less than a year old, and have already put on one sale, one exhibition, and have another sale scheduled the first weekend in March.

In our first strong effort at reaching out to retailers I stopped buy a local store aimed at tourists (Young Plantations), and run by the local pecan processing plant.  It is right at the intersection with the interstate, and gets north/south traffic bound for Florida and the Carolina beaches.  In addition to a wide range of nuts they have an ice cream counter, a small deli, a fresh bakery, and a gift shop.  I felt our work would be a good fit for them.

The manager was lovely to deal with, and we made an appointment for me to come back the following week with a selection of work for her to view.  Our president created a form in Word that he sent to all our members, that they could print out which had our logo and name on it, so the work would be branded.

We asked each member to tag each piece they submitted, and to use the logo form to attach a retail price to the piece.  I bought an earring spinner display from Rio, since there are two of us that are jewlery artists, and the store had no displays.  I also bought two acrylic sign displays, and made signs based on our rack cards, with our logo and story, that the store can display with the work.  These emphasize that the work is both local and hand made.

I wound up taking her work by two painters, two photographers, two jewelers, and one clay artist.  She bought almost everything!  It was truly wonderful.

On Monday I will take a different group of work to one of the premier gift shops in Florence, Porter’s, for their buyer to look at.  This is quite a different market, being very upscale.  They carry everything from fine china and crystal to Vera Bradley to hand made items, going up to quite a high price point.

Another member is taking a selection of work to a new museum store opening in Lake City, on the way to the beach and Charleston.

All these new marketing efforts are very exciting, and I am delighted that we are taking off so well in our first year!

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I lucked into the purchase of two large displays just before Christmas.  They were on nice wooden bases, and were originally the glass displays used in a high-end clothing store to show off sweaters or shirts.  I got a super deal on them, and used them for the first time at the Florence ArtsFest this past weekend.

The glass pieces are 10″ x 16″, and are designed to fit on the wooden bases horizontally.  This is not how I wanted to configure them for my jewelry, and I wound up using less than half of one display.  I bought four 4′ x 2′ tables from Sam’s Club, with legs that will adjust to children’s height, table height, or counter height.  They are the indesctructible light weight plastic.

I set the tables up two on each side at counter height, and had an extra table at the back.  I put the glass clipped together vertically on the side tables, and used some old displays on the back table.  I think for the next show I will get another of the counter height tables to use in the back.

A friend loaned me a small round table to put my turntable earring display on.  I need to find a counter-height way to show this - the small table was really too low.

I would also love to get some framing that I could put better lights on down the road.

Overall, I was pleased with the way the booth turned out, and thought it looked much more professional than the display I had before.

New tables and glass displays

You can see that the small round table is too low, but the glass displays look good, I think.  My lights work, but could definitely be better.

You can see the edge of the low back table in the left of the picture; that table needs to be the same height as the others I think.

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I was juried into the Florence ArtsFest 2009, both into the Juried Exhibition and into the Sale.  This was my first time participating in these shows.

The show format was different from anything I have done before.  Set up was the weekend before the show, Saturday and Sunday.  Then the juror chose awards on Monday from the work juried into the exhibition part.  The Monday - Thursday patrons were walked through the show to select Purchase Awards.  The Exhibition and Sale opened Friday night with a Gala Opening - $50/person, with Martini bars, wine, heavy hors d’ouevres, and live music, capped with the awards presentation.

Saturday the Exhibition and Sale were open to the general public at no charge.

Frankly, leaving my jewelry out for the whole week made me more than a little nervous, but they had a policeman on duty the entire week, and security was as good as they said it would be.  No one had a problem at all with theft or missing items.

The other thing they handle differently is that all sales are rung up at the main register - not by the artists.  Each artist is given receipts, and when someone buys a piece the artist fills out the receipt and keeps the original; then the buyer takes the receipt to the checkout and pays, and has their copy of the receipt stamped PAID.  They bring that back to the artist, who then gives them the work they purchased.  After about 2 weeks the Arts Alliance will mail checks to the artists.  The Arts Alliance handles all the credit card processing and all the sales tax filing.  Different.  Seemed to work ok, although I’m not thrilled with having to wait for my money!

In addition to the booth fee, they also take a 30% commission, which doesn’t thrill me either.  That said, they did provide excellent security; a really great and well attended opening reception; breakfast and lunch and drinks for the artists on Saturday, and good PR.  So I guess I got my money’s worth out of it!

This was my first show for 2009, and the economy in our area is really, really bad.  We have plants closing, public schools laying off staff, colleges laying off staff, the state university system is talking about closing at least 4 regional campuses, and businesses are shutting right and left.  So I really was not sure what to expect.  Lets face it - arts and craft show purchases are not necessities!  Pay the electric bill or buy a new necklace…gee….tough call!  Not!

The Arts Alliance said attendance and sales were down from prior years.  I had a personal goal for the show, and came very close to it, so I am pleased.  I also made several high-end (for me) sales, and received a couple of commissions - so not bad at all.

The show was held in the old public library, and was on two floors covering 4 rooms.  I was on the main, ground floor in a primo spot - not sure how I lucked into that!  There were 5 folks selling jewelry on my floor, and at least three on the top floor - a surfeit of jewelry.  Two were dichroic glass artists; one did some really incredible piercing in copper and brass; there were several beaders; and one with an assortment of stone items.  I was the only one with soldered metal as a focus of their work; and the only one with genuine pearls and top quality gemstones.

There were lots of painters, a couple of potters, one wood turner, and a fiber artist with some really neat stuff.

In addition to the juried exhibition they had a juried exhibition of high school students from the local public high schools, which I thought was a nice touch.

The show was well organized and well run, and I will add it to my schedule for next year, hoping the economy will improve and sales will be even better.

Pictures of my booth, with views into the painters on each side, are below.

View looking towards the entrance

view looking toward the back of the room

view with stairs to second floor in the background

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I did a show this weekend that was a new one for me, and in talking with the other artists realized that when I figure up the cost of doing a show, I do it rather differently than a lot of them.  I’m an artist, but I’m also a business person, and I do try to keep track of costs!

I kept hearing comments like “Well, I’ve made my booth fee, so I’m ok.”  Which made me wonder if they really throught that was their only cost for the show!

When I figure my show costs, they include ALL the costs associated with that show.  It starts with the time to fill in the application, the application fee, the booth fee, the postage.  If I have to submit photos, then I have to include a portion of the cost of taking the photographs of my work, plus any cost for having photos printed or put on CD.  Plus any time involved in doing these things!

Then you have to figure the costs of your booth displays and set up - a portion of that should be assessed to each show’s costs.

Next, the time to pack and load your work for the show, then to travel to the show, to unload and set up, to break down, return home, and unload again.  That is all time you should be “paid” for.

Part of your cost is your time on the show floor - that is time you are not in your studio creating.  What is it worth?

You need to include transportation costs - gas, mileage; food; and any accomodations needed.

Then you have your office supplies - price tages, signs, sales receipts, etc.

You balance these costs against the proceeds of the show.  The proceeds inclued sales, but can also include gallery contacts, custom orders, repairs coming out of the show - any benefits that accrue as a direct result of your exposure to the public in the show.

THEN you can figure out if your costs are outweighed by your proceeds!

It gets tricky trying to be sure you have included all your costs, and then trying to include the sometimes delayed or nebulous benefits.

I have a friend who sold nothing at one show, but got a solo gallery show from the exposure, which then resulted in large sales.  So sometimes the “benefits” may be delayed and at a distance.

In my most recent show I received two custom orders from the show, which will count on the proceeds side of the equation.  At least one of those customers has already indicated that if she is pleased she has more custom work she wants done - so that would also accrue to the show.

Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that once you have covered your booth fee you have covered your costs!

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I attended the GLW wholesale show in Orlando last weekend for the first time.  I have attended their shows in Greensboro, NC when they used to have them there, and in Asheville, NC, but the Orlando show was MUCH bigger.  Since I can’t make Tucson, and haven’t been able to make the July Franklin, NC shows in several years, this was the next best thing for me.

One of the things I found was Tagua Nut.  I had  not ever heard of, or seen, this nut before.  The Tagua Nut comes from the agua palm, Phytelephas Equatorialis. It is a rainforest palm tree, and the nuts are sustainably harvested from the forest floor when the babez containing the nuts ripens and falls.

Each tree contains several cabezas and it may take 3 - 8 years for the cabeza to fully mature. After harvesting, the nut is dried for three months, before being dyed or carved to prepare it for sale.  Additional employment comes from the hand-crafted creation of figurines and jewelry by local artisans.Conservation International and other groups are involved in developing this as an economically viable way for the citizens of the areas of rainforest where this palm lives to make a good living while protecting the rainforest.

The Tagua Nut is also called “vegetable ivory”, as it looks quite similar to ivory, and can be carved much like ivory can.  Before the development of plastic it was widely used to make buttons, accounting for about 20% of the US market in buttons at one time.  It was also used to make buttons for WWII military uniforms.

As people become increasingly concerned about protecting rainforests, and eco-friendly consumerism, the Tagua Nut is gaining in popularity.

Browsing the internet I found a number of sources for this as ready made beads, slices, or whole nuts for carving.  Prices vary widely.  Mine are all large - about 1 1/2 inches long or so, and about an inch wide.  On the internet I found them in a range of sizes, with most being much smaller than mine.

I purchased mine from C & I International, Inc.; www.candiinternational.com.  I have also been contacted by http://www.pueblito.ca/, who also sell the Tagua nuts.

I preferred the ones with swirls and patterns, but got some solids also.  Pictures are below.  I will post again as begin experimenting with these in jewelry.

Plain, undyed Tagua nut strand

Close up of plaing Tagua nuts

Green Tagua Nut strand

Green Tagua Nut close up

Orange/red Tagua Nut strand

Orange/red Tagua Nut close up

Purple Tagua Nut strand - note these are solid, without the swirls

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My daughter and I gave a workshop for children in the 2nd grade up on the Monday before Christmas.  We taught them how to design a necklace, bracelet, and earrings.  They learned about symetrical and asymetrical design.  They learned the names of chain nose, round nose and bent nose pliers, and crimping pliers.

Each child made one necklace and then either a bracelet or a pair of earrings.  They learned how to use crimps and the crimping pliers; how to make dangles and loops; and how to add a clasp and earring findings.

We had a selection of beads and plated findings for them to choose from, all included in the workshop cost.

Each student had  a “station” set up, with a hand towel for a mat, and their own set of scissors, bent nose, chain nose and round nose pliers.  They had a grand time going through the different beads and findings, and laying out their designs.

We enjoyed watching them work, and the huge range of designs the girls came up with.

At the end they wrapped the items they had made as presents in Christmas paper and ribbon, and were ready to take their gifts home.  I was impressed that each girl made at least one of her items as a gift.

It was our first beading class for children, and went very well.  We will definitely do it again, and I will work up a list of classes that we can offer to give to the area arts commissions and recreation departments.

Laying out their necklaces and choosing beads.

Working on their jewelry.

One of the Dad

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I am very fortunate to have my studio at - actually under - my house.  It is partially underground (not the best thing, but such is life!), and has three outside walls, and one wall that backs into the crawl space of the house.  The three outside walls each have at least one window.  The wall that houses my bench has a window at the bench that looks out across the yard, drive, and woods.  To my right is a wall with two outside windows looking out across the swimming pool, and down across the bottom land and Thompson Creek.  Sometimes I see deer or a flock (?) of turkeys.  The wall behind my bench faces the pond and across to the state park.  That wall has one window and a double door with windows and steps up to the side yard.

So in three directions I have lovely views!  Always water, sometimes wild geese, deer, turkeys, blue herons, turtles, ducks….  some lovely fogs and mists rising over the pond.  Beautiful sun rises, and depending on the time of year sun sets from the bench window.

I’ve put in a few pictures to give you a sense of the beauty that surrounds me as I work.  I often use what I see as inspiration in my work, especially in the etchings I am experimenting with now.

Pond view looking towards state park

wild Canada Geese on the pond

Pool view with the palm trees I

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