Creative Kismet » shop talk

Bday Sale

Creative Kismet — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:00:38 +0000

I have a sale going on if you don’t already know. 40% percent off everything in my shop. Sale ends Sunday at midnight. Use coupon code BDAY40.

Shop Update

Creative Kismet — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:20:14 +0000

Lots of new stuff in my shop!!

Magnet Sets:: Necklaces::Rings::Cards::Memo Holders

Last day to order is December 18th, then the shop will be closed for the holidays!

craft fair report

Creative Kismet — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:28:42 +0000

I did my little craft fair yesterday, at the hospital I work at, and I am happy to report that it went better than I thought it would. I did this same fair 5 years ago and had 2 sales. I also had less and totally different stuff. This time around, I had about 20 sales, which was much better. The table only cost $10 and I made $150. Had I known I could easily accept credit card payments via Square on my phone, I might have done a little better. I did sign up for it and will hopefully be able to use it next weekend at another little fair I’m doing. I just hope people are comfortable with swiping their card on my phone. We will have to see how that goes.

sign-up sheets and info

I sold only one necklace and 2 prints. What sold were my magnets and mirrors. I heard a lot of people say that they only had $20, probably because they went to the ATM in the hallway and took out only that much. So I think people were looking for small ticket items so they could spread their $20.

magnets

I did get a lot of really good feedback on my art, which was very heart warming, and was even told by someone that I had the best table at the fair. One woman asked if she could pay me to come to her home and teach a group of her friends how to do some mixed media art. Heck yeah, I’d love to!!

art prints, necklaces, notepads

When you sell art on-line and you don’t get a whole lotta sales (300 over the last 3 years – not bad, but not great), it really helps to get positive feedback in person and reassurance that what you are doing is good (yes, this is the sensitive artist in me). So maybe my stuff is good, and maybe just not enough people are seeing it? Maybe I need to get it out there more? It all seems to be a roller coaster of emotions when you put your art and soul out there for people to take or not. What I do know, is that I felt really good about my art when people were flipping through my prints, and overall, I was not disappointed about my little venture out and am ready and more confident to try more.

scrabble tile necklaces, memo holders (made from painted canvas), rings, mirrors

What I learned:

* That I need to take credit cards!

* That I need to make my prints more visible. I had them in a box and only a handful of people actually stopped to look through them all.

* People need to visualize your stuff in action. Next time I will actually wear my necklaces and rings (duh!) and maybe have some prints displayed in frames.

* That putting only 1 of each design (mirrors & large magnets) gave people more of an impulse to buy it. If they see only one, they may think it is the last one and buy it. I learned this from Andria (thanks!!)

* Don’t be afraid to chat. I am initially very quiet and not one to be outwardly chatty. When I made the effort to step out of my comfort zone, more people were interested in what I was doing.

* Offering information about a product and sometimes suggestions on why to buy can sometimes help. For example, you can write on a card what something is, but the senses are so over whelmed that they may not “see” it. Actually hearing, “these are mirrors” or “all of these items have images of my own art” or these are made with really strong magnets” made more of a connection to what they were looking at.

Table Neighbors: Designer bags by Kim M and Plushies by Little Rabbit Designs

More Table Neighbors: Pretty notebooks/frames and yummy sweets at the fair

A few things I did do:

* I had coupons available to use for future on-line purchases and offered free shipping if they didn’t mind meeting up with me at the hospital to pick up their item. After-all, most of the people were employees there.

* I met the people at my neighboring tables. They were fun to get to know and made the day go by a little easier.

* I made prices visible for everyone. I am unsure if it is better to make them ask or not.

Next Saturday I’ll be doing another small craft fair at an elementary school in town with 30 other vendors and food carts. Should be pretty good. So, if you have any tips or suggestions I would love to hear them. I’ll be doing a completely different set up for this next one. I’ll have to provide my own table and everything.

more little houses

Creative Kismet — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:20:30 +0000

Little White House

Little Tuscan Villa

Little houses on 300# hot press watercolor paper, 5 x5 inches big.

Paper, paint and encaustic wax medium.

I just love painting little houses!!

Now in my shop!

And, don’t forget about free shipping in the US. Use code : FREESHIP!!

(international buyers, please contact me about discounted shipping)

ebay, travel journal and other things

Creative Kismet — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:54:27 +0000

see my eBay listings ->>HERE<<-

I’ve been toying around with the idea of putting some of my original works up on eBay as a way to clear up some space in my studio. It’s also a way for you to get some original art, possibly very inexpensively. Only 5 days left for these auctions!!

And have you heard about 1001 Journals? It’s a place where you can send your art journal out to travel. Different people sign up and play in your journal for a bit, then it gets sent off to the next person. Eventually it makes it’s way back to you, filled with creative magic and stories of adventure! I started up my own travel journal and 10 lovely people have signed up~Yay!!! I can’t wait to get it started. There are 4 spots left, if you would like to play too! Read more about 1001 journals HERE and start up your own HERE.

Other stuff….

My friend Sunny has an awesome tutorial for making double-sided copper pendants. They are gorgeous!

I’ve been knitting while watching Mad Men. I am currently making this poplar cowl.

I want to sew too. This, this and this.

And I need to paint.

There is just not enough time in the day!!!

shop update no. 2

Creative Kismet — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:23:04 +0000

Some little magnets, painted with some sweet little party animals.

They are all celebrating the birthday of the Regal white horse. Everyone has their red party hats on and they are going to have a grand time!

See them in my shop!

Shop Update no. 1

Creative Kismet — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:29 +0000

I finished my little wood blocks yesterday and spent the whole day today, listing everything on etsy. Phew!

I love painting small. These have a collage paper base,then they are painted with an encaustic wax layer on top. You can see a couple of older pieces in there too.

Please stop by and take a look!

Huge shop update and sale

Creative Kismet — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:53:54 +0000

I have some new stuff in my shop that I wanted to share.

Pretty Grunge Bike Brooch

Find Your Sparkle art print

Pocket mirrors and magnets. A little bit of Creative Kismet in your pocket or on your frig!

Original Art!! I now have 19 original art pieces in my shop. I finally decided that I am ready to let these pieces go.

20% off everything in my shop. Just in time for Mother’s Day. Sale ends May 1st.

Bunnies 2,3,4 & 5

Creative Kismet — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:47:06 +0000

They are multiplying over here!! (bunny #1 is in the previous post)

I have been very inspired by bunnies lately, not just because it is almost Easter, but because when we went hiking last Saturday, we saw a jack rabbit and a cottontail. Of course, the one time I forget my camera too.They are so beautiful and SO fast!! The jack rabbit did sit still for us for quite a while. He was quite big.

Mr. Bunny

I made Mr. Bunny out of paper clay. I love that stuff. I have to work fast thought. The dryness and warmth of Az make for dry clay very quickly. I only had to set my pieces in my outdoor oven (aka, the Arizona sun) for about 30-60 minutes. I shaped Mr. Bunny around a wood peggy.

Then I made some brooches. They will be in my shop very soon. The paper clay bunny brooch will go as is (it now has a brooch pin on the back) and it will be $15. The other two are teeny hand painted bunnies with crackle finish and glaze. They are in the process of getting felt and beads, like the ones I made for the brooch exchange. They will be $18.

~~Paper clay bunny brooch, $15~~ sold, thank you

Pink Bunny Brooch, $18 (see with felt and beads HERE)

~~Cottontail Bunny Brooch, $18 (see with felt and beads HERE),~~ Sold

If you are interested in buying one, let me know in the comments or email (left sidebar), and I will give you a ‘I don’t have to post on Etsy‘ discount of $3 off (plus free shipping!). They will be listed in my shop on Thursday.

Here are my clay pieces drying before paint. I also made some gals & an owl. Can’t wait to get them all painted up!

Well, that’s all, folks!

New website

Creative Kismet — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:59:45 +0000

I just wanted to share my new/revamped website www.creativekismet.com. My hubby and I have been working on it for a while to make it more “me”, and easier to hop around. I added a bunch of my art, old and new, to my portfolio. If you have signed up for my newsletter, you may have already seen it. If not, please stop by, take a look around and tell me what you think.

I am almost done with my postcards, but it will probably be dark when they are all done, so here is a little peek at my sketches and ideas for the last five. I like how the sketches look with all the blobs of paint every where.

Lastly, I’m having a spring sale in my shop. Use code SPRINGSHIP at checkout. Sorry, US orders only.

Happy Tuesday!