Preparing for the New Year - One pile at a time

My shop has exploded into the livingroom - I unloaded the Yukon and my show suitcases into the house and storage room. All my show gear, tools and inventory are in flux. Needless to say I step carefully around the house right now.

I think a part of being an artist is evolving the process that organizes me. Making lists and remaking them so that I show up at shows with my inventory, what I need to display it and sell it. Having backup so that if my credit card machine is dead I can still process sales, if the inventory is all sold in a certain item I have a way get it, if my booth has severe shortage of stuff I am there with duct tape, extension cords, extra light bulbs, table cloths, display items. Somewhere in there I need to have airplane tickets, show fees, remember to pay for tables, electricity, hotels, maybe a rental car.

Knowing my customers, what they need and want is probably the most important thing. Communicating via telephone, email, facebook or face to face is what it is all about.

When I have some kind of a handle on all of this I can sit down and design something that comes out of my or your imagination. It is dessert for me.



Vineyard Rose Clasp on Necklace made by Jill Wiseman



I am sure that many of us are in this mode, whether it is putting away Christmas, cleaning for the end of the year, or like me, getting ready for the next year and what we see coming. I look forward to seeing many of you in Tucson. 

If you are planning to go check out http://www.jewelryshowguide.com/ - it has one of the most complete lists of shows, vendors and specific products and where to get them. To pre-register for the AGTA show - which is needed prior to December 31st - go to  AGTA