In October 2008, I was thrilled to be featured in the Style section of Richmond Magazine. If you didn’t get a chance to grab a copy of this great local magazine, the article has been posted online.

To see more samples from my newest jewelry line, “The Captured Collection”, please visit my Etsy Shop at http://www.dreamspiralart.etsy.com I hope you enjoy it and, as always, I appreciate your feedback. Happy New Year!

Last Christmas I was gifted with a 3 CD set by Bruce Baker, that I found to be very helpful for my jewelry business. If you currently exhibit or are planning to exhibit your handmade goodies in juried art festivals, I highly recommend purchasing these CDs.

On the first CD, Bruce talks about “Your Slides and the Jury”. In other words, tips on how to wow a jury and gain acceptance into high-end art festivals. The second CD is about “Booth Design and Merchandising”. I learned some surprising Do’s and Don’ts from this one. And the third CD has been my favorite of all: “Dynamic Sales and Customer Service Techniques”. I’ve listened to this one 3 times so far!

It has been fun to try out the suggestions regarding booth design, marketing, and particularly the sales technique during my 2008 shows. I noticed a definite increase in my sales… not to mention, my increased comfort level with being a sales person now that I feel like I know what the heck I’m doing.

I’m a formula-girl. I feel more comfortable with having a basic formula or guideline to follow than I do with adlibbing. I’m also a middle child, so that means that I deviate from formulas. My life is full of contradictions like this. Would you believe that although I am an artist, I am like structure, I obessive about organization and I love numbers? Yeah, me neither. But apparantly someone did, considering I was hired three years ago to work as an Administrative Assistant for the State’s Judiciary… oh gosh, I am deviating (again) from the point of this post… at any rate, go out and get you a copy of the 3 CD set by Bruce Baker. You will not regret it!

90% of the gifts I purchased this year are handmade by the artists of Etsy . I bought some wonderful, whimsical… and even practical goodies and got to support other artists in the process.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!