Exhibition Summary

Thanks so very much for all the kind and encouraging remarks and wishes on my "Etsyversary" yesterday. It means a lot to get a pat on the back now and then, for sure, and I'm very happy to get feedback from my readers and fellow bloggers!

To backtrack a couple of days, here are some images from the recent show I was in last Sunday. It was pretty big! And it was all jewelry, which made it pretty darn competitive....I have to wonder, since I'm pretty new at the face to face approach here, if being included in a more mixed group of vendors wouldn't be a better format? It's certainly something to consider, now that I've participated in one of each the past 2 Sundays.

But I did get some fairly decent photos during the show, and I'm happy to include shots of my own set up because I felt I learned a few things from the weekend before and made a few changes and improvements, so that was satisfying. I kept it so simple. The boxes: shoe boxes, file boxes, wine boxes-that I packed all my stuff into got emptied at the show, covered in fabric, and used to set up some staging for the pieces. I did see some pretty elaborate display set ups, and also some even simpler than mine. It was very educational. I also met a number of really nice people both as customers and as vendors...including a fair number of folks who are also using Etsy. The common thread was--everyone was from Chicago and the surrounding area.

Final Countdown - Handcrafted Jewelry Show

Well, it's hard for me to transition from my internet mode using blog, Etsy and Artfire, to the "open market" mode. I haven't done it enough to have all the routines figured out, I lack some of the props and other devices for show and tell...but hey, I'm faking it just for one more day and then I'll need to consider whether it's my thing or not.

I like to meet folks, don't get me wrong. And I understand there are a lot of people who are uncomfortable shopping online. All good reasons to be 'out there'--OTOH, there are other ways, like galleries and consignment, that the work can be available "in the flesh" so to speak. So Sunday will be a long day...and if there are any folks in the Chicago area who can drop by...please do! Here's a link to the particulars and a map. Otherwise, have a lovely Sunday and thanks for stopping by!

Preparations for a Holiday Sale

New Earrings with Cubic Zirconia drops (above)

New Earrings (& Matching Pendants) with German Leaded Crystals (above)

New Earrings with Clear and Colored, Faceted and Smooth Czech Glass (above)

So I'm getting a little nervous now because come this Saturday night, I must have my car all packed and ready to go for early Sunday morning. I've agreed to participate in a Holiday Market in Chicago, and I just don't DO these kinds of things often enough to have things "all organized and together" LOL!! But now, in the final countdown, I realize there is the inevitable "slippage" as in, "shoot, I meant to get that finished before I go," etc. And since I've been making new earrings like crazy the past few weeks, I had hopes of posting at least some of this new "bling" to my Etsy or Artfire shops before the sale...but it's not going to happen. The photos aren't done and my time is just too tight to do all the writing that goes with putting pieces up online.

So I made a collage of SOME of the new pieces I'm "taking to market" and am posting them here, because all of you, dear blog readers, are invited to let me know if anything catches your eye and you want more details about it...because I'd be happy to list individual pairs of earrings before I take it all "to market!"--Just sayin'!-- The prices are very reasonable, ranging from a starting price of $12 & $14 for fancy glass to a middle range of $20 to $22 for nice big Cubic Zirconia with wire wrapping and my own hand formed wires. Many pairs fall in between these two points. The very "top of the line" right now are the long Cubic Zirconia that run $27. Shipping, with Delivery confirmation and a decorative gift box, adds a flat $3 to earring orders, regardless of the quantity.

And if you're in the Chicago area? of course you're invited to drop by in person (I'd be thrilled!) The time is 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday 11-8-09; the location is the Emanuel Congregation at 5959 N. Sheridan Road; and the occasion is a "Chanukah Market" featuring fair trade and locally crafted goods...not sure how many other jewelry booths there will be but I'm told is going to be a good group of booths....I have a beautiful postcard for the event here in PDF format that I'm happy to email to anyone interested, just use the email address below.

I'm running behind, of course, so I'd best get back to work here....but do drop me a line directly, if you like, at WillOaksStudio (at) aol.com as I'll be checking in regularly until the car is packed on Saturday night....and no doubt, there will be pieces still available after that. However, I forgot to mention I'm doing another Holiday Market in Schaumburg, IL one week later...to be continued!