Spring is here, and shows are starting!

It's been so beautiful this spring, and now our shows are starting in just a couple of weeks. I've been enjoying the pressure-free days, but now this is starting to change. Beginning April 28, our art fair season begins. Once again every weekend something is planned. Many will be the half-day markets in downtown Bloomington, which is really nice let me tell you! Most of the time those markets are great, enjoyable, and profitable. But, always there's the threat of weather related problems...which does put a dent in the pleasure and profit column. With the weekend long events, one hopes for at least one day of good weather with a good outcome.

I took part in the DBA market's application review board meeting this week. A group of the vendors and myself and my husband, the lone artists, met with the chairwoman, Marisa, to decide particulars for the market. One great result was that we now are going to be located on Jefferson St, about mid block pretty close to the band. This is where I started 9 or 10 years ago, and am thrilled to be back there! It will be great to be in a spot sheltered a bit more from the wind on Center Street.

I also have a Bronzclay class scheduled next Saturday, the 14th at MCM Designs Bead Shop in Decatur. They are located at 2885 N. Oakland, Decatur, IL. Contact Diane at (217) 791-5169 to sign up...as far as I know there are still openings.

I had some jury photos taken by a professional artist in March...hoping to get accepted into some "higher end" shows this year. I don't know if this will be of any help, but it's worth a try. I have heard of many, many artists being rejected or placed on waiting lists by show coordinators, even though their work is outstanding or that they have taken part in the show before. There are sooooooooo many artists that it is becoming an overwhelming task to get accepted anymore. I wanted to retire last year. I know I will at the end of this year!

Artfire Curated Collection....I'm In!

How great to see my work included in Metal III - from Chains to Forged

Metal III - from ...

Curated By: DreamStonesby...

Indie Design

Fast Fire Bronzclay class coming up.....

Fast Fire Bronzclay is great. It shrinks very little - 10% - unlike the original at 20%, fires in a shorter period of time inside the kiln. Best of all, it does not warp! There is one issue with the clay...when cz's or other stones are embedded in the fresh clay, the stones (which usually are fine with the firing) come out of the kiln with a cloudy film. I've learned to embed any stones in original first, attach it to the unfired Fast Fire, then when fired together the stones look fine.

Fast Fire does not acquire the multi-colored kiln patina. Out of the kiln it has a darkish coating which needs to be scrubbed away with a steel brush, soap & water. A beautiful golden color shines as the end result. Unless you prefer to add color. You can use Liver of Sulfur solution, Gilders Paste, or alcohol ink. I've used all three and like them all. Once colored or left golden, an acrylic coating should be used to keep the bronze from tarnishing...which is really more of an "oranging"...it can get an orangey cast over time. The pendant in the photo has no color added. The earrings have some Pitch Black Adirondack Alcohol Ink coloring.

The class will be held at the Bead Parlor, downtown Bloomington, 318 N. Main, on February 11th, 1:30pm, usually lasts a couple of hours. Please contact Jeff, the Bead Dude, at http://www.thebeadparlor.com/

The Garlic Press in Uptown Normal continues to carry my work, and some new pieces were taken in last week...!

Bronzclay Class

I've scheduled another Bronzclay class to be held at the Bead Parlor, 318 N. Main St., in Bloomington. Yesterday, I saw that it is already Sold Out! I'll need to talk with Jeff, the Bead Dude, to schedule another later on.

I have so far only sent in one application for entering an art fair for 2012...Spring Bloom, which is being held in late April, at the Interstate Center on the west side of Bloomington. It probably will be a nicer venue than the old Sale barn, but marginally. I was hoping and had heard that it would be at the downtown Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. That would be a great spot for an Art Fair!

I was disappointed when picking up the pieces I had taken to the Decatur Madden Arts Center Christmas event through December...nothing sold:(- The woman giving me my items back thought they were too high priced. Although she only looked at the sheet listing the items...she did not look at the items! Last time for that event for sure.

I have sold several things at the McLean County Arts Center this past month, so there's hope. Then in December, The Garlic Press, an outstanding eclectic store in downtown Normal, purchased many items from me for their shop. They are always busy...but at that time, I was showing my things while they were busily wrapping gifts to be sent out. Talk about multi-tasking!

I have not had any sales at this time on the new Artfire shop, one month later. I have a display ad coming up in a couple of weeks, maybe that will bring attention to it. Please take a look.......

http://www.artjools.artfire.com/

Artjools on Artfire!

http://www.artjools.artfire.com/

I finally decided to try the Artfire website, and have a few pieces listed there, with more each day.

A learning experience for me, and I wish I could get it more "personalized", but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

If there are particular pieces anyone would want to see there, please send an email to me artjools@frontier.com

It's certainly been nice to relax and have no pressure to produce more work. Just have a lot of cleaning, reorganizing to do in the studio. Not my favorite thing to do.

I still have pieces at The Garlic Press in downtown Normal, The Bead Parlor in downtown Bloomington, and at the McLean County Art Center's Holiday Treasures Show in downtown Bloomington. Also at the Madden Arts Center in Downtown Decatur, as listed under the shows column.

Artfire vs Etsy vs ?

I've been browsing the sign up info for the online shops of Etsy and Artfire. Artfire appears to be a bit easier to get the whole procedure accomplished. It has a monthly fee with no other fees involved with listing or purchases, whereas Etsy has both. Etsy seems a bit too "full of themselves". The actual storefront you would end up with is certainly more attractive on Artfire. As well as easier to get it that way!

But, maybe I could just list some things here on the blog, with prices, information on how to pay...call with card info, check, etc. Has it been done before? Would it work? I don't even know if anyone even looks at this. So probably not.

This weekend is the last Farmers market...being held indoors on the floor of the US Cellular Coliseum, downtown Bloomington. 10am to 1pm. Lots of fun, come on by.

These pieces above are the latest things made and photographed. Trying some hints from Etsy on photography, and I think I'll stick to my own method! And I do not understand the photo of the coneflower leaf being screwed up...wasn't that way before I uploaded it!?

Bronzclay Class #4

This Saturday at the Bead Parlor, 318 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL, will be the fourth class for making Bronzclay jewelry. It is already full! If there continues to be an interest, I can add classes in December...so let me know!

It's been so great to relax a bit, having the majority of the art fairs over with. Especially the every weekend trips to here and there. Nice to sleep in Saturday mornings! I'm still considering what to do with shows, etc. next year...haven't come to a conclusion yet.

The show schedule for the remainder of the year has been updated, and we added a promising Christmas event during December at the Madden Arts Center in downtown Decatur. More information on that in late November.

The downtown Bloomington Farmers Market has a Thanksgiving Market to be held at the Coliseum, 10am to 1pm. There is a great breakfast using the farmers produce and meat to be held in the Coliseum Corn Palace restaurant prior to the market, and allows early shopping on the ice rink floor, before 10am.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/downtown-bloomington-farmers-market-and-artists-alley/enjoy-a-great-farm-to-table-breakfast-and-support-your-farmers-market/10150931209270438

We hope to see you all there!

PS don't know why the photo of the bracelet looks so strange, but you can get the idea!!!