Social Networking Works

It's pretty arrogant to think that folks are just out there talking about your work. You have to swallow your pride and toot your own horn. I have found facebook to be an incredibly valuable networking tool. At first, I felt a little obnoxious talking about stuff. Am I boasting? Does anyone really care? And the fact is, yes, some people think you are boasting, and yes some people care. Some folks will get tired and hide your updates, but those aren't your customers. Your customers care. Your customers want the updates, some customers are waiting for your updates, some customers will even pounce on those updates.

I love what I do, and I am proud of my work. I am just as excited to make those updates when something gets accomplished, as my customers and friends are to receive them. I have a lot of friends who run their own businesses, and I absolutely love hearing from them and learning from them as well.

Fine Furnishings Show Recap

I took the summer off. I spent my summer with my kids, enjoying hot days at the pool, trips to the zoo, and a whole lot of nothing. It has been 3 months of producing nothing and having no worries...but that doesn't mean I wasn't anxious to get back into the shop.
September 1st came and I was eager to get back to the shop. So many ideas over the long break were swirling around inside my head. I cranked out 4 pedestals in 4 weeks for the Fine Furnishings Show which took place this past weekend.
Square One Design had our own booth at the show amongst some incredible craftspeople. For 2 1/2 days we were surrounded by amazing furniture, beautiful displays, and a flurry of creative energy. It was fantasticly inspiring. Although there were not many sales, not just in our booth, but in general, it was great exposure and we will do it again.
Ryan was amazing to have along. This was the first show we have done together. When people inquired about the work, he was so quick to direct them to me. It was kind of sad that even though we were standing side by side, 99% of folks would direct their questions to Ryan, assuming the work was his alone. He was fast to correct them, letting them know that I was actually the designer and woodworker, and that his job was sanding and finishing.
I was told (and I don't know for sure if this is 100% true) that I was one of only two women woodworkers in the show. Apparently we are a very rare breed. I met, and liked very much, my woodworking sister, Dolly, from Chicago. I plan to pick her ear about what her career has been like for her as a woman in a field so obviously dominated by men. She brought it up briefly when we first met. We swapped stories about what it was like to visit a lumber yard and have to convince the whole crew of men working there, that you do, in fact, know what you are doing.
I left the show feeling proud of what I have accomplished in my first year out of the gates. I feel so fortunate to have a husband who is supportive and educated and awesome. I am inspired to try some new things and to not worry too much about making pieces that can be easily reproduced, but rather to keep making pieces that are intriguing and fresh.
A big thank you to all who came out to the show! An even bigger thank you to my new virtual buddy, Joe, (legend) who critiqued a pedestal of mine and got me thinking full circle again! Thanks to Dick Ivens for his words of encouragement, Jeff Miller for the reading assignment, Brent Budsberg for being the nicest guy we've ever met, Bruce for following our blog, and Martin for his willingness to head to the pub whenever we ask!

Goings Ons

These past couple of weeks have been so full. I would like to take a moment to talk about what has been going on.

Firstly, I submitted a pedestal table into the Ozaukee County Art Show at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. It was the first piece of furniture that I have entered into any show, since my senior year of college. I was nervous, excited, anxious, hopeful, doubtful...the list goes on and on. But what happened was shocking. Someone bought the table before the show even opened. There are so many words I could use to describe I felt, but most of all, I felt grateful, elated, and vindicated.

I have recently taken a huge step back to figure out what direction to grow in as an artist. Selling that table meant that I know without a doubt that I am heading in the right direction! It was inspiring and awesome and magnificent! and I am on top of the world!

The next thing I have been working on is reinventing my Etsy store. The first time I tried this was just kind of blah. I had high hopes, but it never really went anywhere. I have decided to give it another shot, but this time look at it differently. Basically, it is a way for people to see the work, get an idea of my pricing, and contact me. Another little something for folks to check in on every once in a while.

I am trying to work harder on self promotion. If you don't tell anyone what you are doing, how else are they going to know? At first, I thought, does anyone give a rat's patoot? But now I realize, no one does unless you show it to them. So if you have time, check out the Etsy site. If you want to read about the trials and tribulations of trying to build a small business, read the blog. And if you just want to drop me a note, become my friend on facebook.