This is hardly a post of thoughtful philosophical discoveries but of things that are fun.
Internet radio is not new and this station isn't either: Martini In the Morning, but it's new to me, and I have always adored Rat Pack music. I'll admit now that I was an 80's kid... I missed the big hair and opted for short pixie/punk kinds of cuts. I also toted around my post-punk 80's rock like Adam and the Ants and shopped the yard sales for used Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald LP's (the big black vinyl disks that preceded cassettes that preceded CD's). Now I'm starting to feel old and I might have been a bit of an oddball musically.
I came across June Cable's WiZard of Felt web site a few years ago and was smitten with her felted dolls. I thought they were fabulous with great whimsy but at the time she didn't live in New Brunswick. She obviously moved here sometime in the past couple or three years. She is delightful and just as whimsical as her fabulous creations. I had the privilege of acquiring a couple of berets from her this past weekend. I love them and anyone that knows me, knows that I like my hats, not too wild but just different enough to be noticed and June's work gets noticed.
A friend recommended William Shatner's autobiography "Up Till Now" to me recently. Laughed my way though it when it was appropriate. Like the fine actor he is, he plays the comedy off the tragedies of his life and it makes a fine read. It's not heavy and moross so it is ideal for grabbing a few pages here and there, but really, you may get into it and not want to put it down.
Enjoy the discoveries.
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Revisiting Praise Junkie
I've been thinking about what I said here in June.
I'm wrong, the rare compliments are the true gems. The usual ones are great, but they do loose their luster faster by fading from memory sooner. The rare ones are the ones that truly get tucked inside the mind and held onto as real treasured memories.
Time has a way of passing, and in passing, teaching.
--
I'm wrong, the rare compliments are the true gems. The usual ones are great, but they do loose their luster faster by fading from memory sooner. The rare ones are the ones that truly get tucked inside the mind and held onto as real treasured memories.
Time has a way of passing, and in passing, teaching.
--
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Measuring Success: it's not just in the money
It's a topic that I have been thinking about for awhile and it certainly comes up with every show that I do. Inevitably an organizer, or more frequently, other artists/artisans will ask "Was it successful?"
Very rarely now do I feel that a show has been a failure. It has to be a real bad one in a lot of ways to get that designation.
This weekend's Art Market in Fredericton was no exception. All the attending artists were asked to complete a survey with various questions measuring the success of the venue. Did we hear/see advertising for the event? What went right, what went wrong? What else could have been done? And the clincher of most events that have some amount of municipal, provincial or federal funding: Circle the number that represents your sales for the show.
The problem with evaluating the success of a show/sale totally in terms of actual sales at the event is that it never takes into consideration the other things that make it a personal success.
There is the amount of personal promotional effort that a person puts in. How many business cards and brochures were distributed? How many conversations did you have with people who have never seen your work before? How many people are seeing you again and are now getting interested in what you do? How many people were complimentary or just plain curious? How many names did you get to add to your contact list for the area in which the show was held?
Answering and measuring from that perspective can take a show with low sales numbers and turn it into a success that can built upon at a later event.
The surveys also don't address these possibilities either: If you teach in your medium, did you get new students? Were there any commissions or custom orders placed for your work?
Another avenue for success: Did you make a connection with another exhibitor or a visitor that may lead to another income stream, exhibition possibility or further recognition for your work?
And finally, one of my favorite ways to measure the success of a show: Was it fun and did I get to meet other artists and exchange ideas?
The Art Market in Fredericton was a raging success for me on a lot of fronts. There were sales and a couple of commissions. Lots of compliments and conversation. Plenty of cards and brochures out there now. No new names on my list, I'm really bad at that part yet. Met a lot of the other artists and had some great conversation with them. Got some new ideas for business too and may have snagged a couple of new students. Not bad for a rainy weekend in Freddy Beach.
--
Very rarely now do I feel that a show has been a failure. It has to be a real bad one in a lot of ways to get that designation.
This weekend's Art Market in Fredericton was no exception. All the attending artists were asked to complete a survey with various questions measuring the success of the venue. Did we hear/see advertising for the event? What went right, what went wrong? What else could have been done? And the clincher of most events that have some amount of municipal, provincial or federal funding: Circle the number that represents your sales for the show.
The problem with evaluating the success of a show/sale totally in terms of actual sales at the event is that it never takes into consideration the other things that make it a personal success.
There is the amount of personal promotional effort that a person puts in. How many business cards and brochures were distributed? How many conversations did you have with people who have never seen your work before? How many people are seeing you again and are now getting interested in what you do? How many people were complimentary or just plain curious? How many names did you get to add to your contact list for the area in which the show was held?
Answering and measuring from that perspective can take a show with low sales numbers and turn it into a success that can built upon at a later event.
The surveys also don't address these possibilities either: If you teach in your medium, did you get new students? Were there any commissions or custom orders placed for your work?
Another avenue for success: Did you make a connection with another exhibitor or a visitor that may lead to another income stream, exhibition possibility or further recognition for your work?
And finally, one of my favorite ways to measure the success of a show: Was it fun and did I get to meet other artists and exchange ideas?
The Art Market in Fredericton was a raging success for me on a lot of fronts. There were sales and a couple of commissions. Lots of compliments and conversation. Plenty of cards and brochures out there now. No new names on my list, I'm really bad at that part yet. Met a lot of the other artists and had some great conversation with them. Got some new ideas for business too and may have snagged a couple of new students. Not bad for a rainy weekend in Freddy Beach.
--
Friday, June 26, 2009
And before it's too late...
... a little more self-promotion here:
There is a jewelry fashion at Fusion Coffee on Main, in Woodstock, NB, tomorrow at 2PM. It is in partnership with Viktor's Blue Rose Salon, Spa and Boutique. Not only is it a great opportunity to see my fabulous work, but to learn about all the new services that are being offered at Viktor's and to see some of his and Christian's hair design expertise.
Next weekend, starting on Thursday July 2nd and running through to Sunday afternoon, is the City of Fredericton's Art Market in Officer's Square. This is a first time event and in celebration of the fact that Fredericton has been named a Cultural Capitol of Canada for 2009. There is going to be both visual art and fine craft at the venue, but only one of a kind and original pieces.
Yesterday, to my delight, I found out that the New Brunswick Craft Council has featured a piece of my jewelry on this year's promotional postcard for the Fine Craft Festival in Rothesay which is quickly coming up on July 11 & 12.
Don't forget that the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Summer Market is coming up on July 24-26 on the corner of Spring Garden & Queen in Halifax. We miss the tall ships that weekend, but we do get to see the Pride celebrations which is fun too.
And lastly, my schedule for the Fredericton Arts Alliance casemate at the Garrison District Artisan Shops in Fredericton has been confirmed and in co-operation with the other artist participating that week, I am in residence from August 8-11. I will be spending that 3.5 days working on exhibition entries for the rapidly approaching Metal Arts Guild of Nova Scotia competition and exhibition on "Sea Life". It's a broad subject, so the possibilities are endless so I need to narrow it down just a bit from there.
--
There is a jewelry fashion at Fusion Coffee on Main, in Woodstock, NB, tomorrow at 2PM. It is in partnership with Viktor's Blue Rose Salon, Spa and Boutique. Not only is it a great opportunity to see my fabulous work, but to learn about all the new services that are being offered at Viktor's and to see some of his and Christian's hair design expertise.
Next weekend, starting on Thursday July 2nd and running through to Sunday afternoon, is the City of Fredericton's Art Market in Officer's Square. This is a first time event and in celebration of the fact that Fredericton has been named a Cultural Capitol of Canada for 2009. There is going to be both visual art and fine craft at the venue, but only one of a kind and original pieces.
Yesterday, to my delight, I found out that the New Brunswick Craft Council has featured a piece of my jewelry on this year's promotional postcard for the Fine Craft Festival in Rothesay which is quickly coming up on July 11 & 12.
Don't forget that the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council Summer Market is coming up on July 24-26 on the corner of Spring Garden & Queen in Halifax. We miss the tall ships that weekend, but we do get to see the Pride celebrations which is fun too.
And lastly, my schedule for the Fredericton Arts Alliance casemate at the Garrison District Artisan Shops in Fredericton has been confirmed and in co-operation with the other artist participating that week, I am in residence from August 8-11. I will be spending that 3.5 days working on exhibition entries for the rapidly approaching Metal Arts Guild of Nova Scotia competition and exhibition on "Sea Life". It's a broad subject, so the possibilities are endless so I need to narrow it down just a bit from there.
--
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Praise Junkie
There are people in our lives that we often receive compliments from or give compliments to... We feel good for both giving and receiving. Sometimes we find ourselves smiling a little brighter or trying a little harder because of the receipt of the compliment. We want another one, we need another one, our mind cries out for another one, we need the hit of the boost of the compliment.
The moment of realization dawns: I am a "Praise Junkie".
Now assume for a bit that you are not a junkie, but someone with confidence in your abilities and an unquestioning faith in yourself. Assume for a moment that you do not regularly seek out praise. Assume that you rarely receive complements and that for just this once, someone you have rarely received a compliment from gives you one. What value do you place on that praise? Is that one comment now worth more because it is rarely given than a similar one that is received daily?
I found myself pondering this recently. Both evaluating my need for a hit for the praise junkie and why one rare and off-hand comment about being "pretty" from a friend seems to have had more power than the daily reminder that I am "beautiful" from my partner.
On the rather cynical side though, praise is like marketing and diamonds: Rarity can lend value and perceived scarcity can up the demand.
I'll draw this conclusion for the moment, I have a daily showering of "diamonds" from my partner, so I guess when I get tossed another colour of gem, it's just unusual enough to be fascinating for awhile, but eventually the novelty wears off as the edges chip and the shine leaves the softer gem.
--
The moment of realization dawns: I am a "Praise Junkie".
Now assume for a bit that you are not a junkie, but someone with confidence in your abilities and an unquestioning faith in yourself. Assume for a moment that you do not regularly seek out praise. Assume that you rarely receive complements and that for just this once, someone you have rarely received a compliment from gives you one. What value do you place on that praise? Is that one comment now worth more because it is rarely given than a similar one that is received daily?
I found myself pondering this recently. Both evaluating my need for a hit for the praise junkie and why one rare and off-hand comment about being "pretty" from a friend seems to have had more power than the daily reminder that I am "beautiful" from my partner.
On the rather cynical side though, praise is like marketing and diamonds: Rarity can lend value and perceived scarcity can up the demand.
I'll draw this conclusion for the moment, I have a daily showering of "diamonds" from my partner, so I guess when I get tossed another colour of gem, it's just unusual enough to be fascinating for awhile, but eventually the novelty wears off as the edges chip and the shine leaves the softer gem.
--
Friday, June 12, 2009
Another quick update
I just received word via email that I am on the tentative schedule for a Fredericton Arts Alliance residency at the FAA casemate, Garrison District, Fredericton, for August 8-14. Formalities need to be concluded with the scheduling, but so far so good.
--
--
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Updates as promised
News regarding the Casemates or Artisan Shops at the Garrison District in Fredericton:
I joined a casemate on Monday with 2 potters and a surface designer, all students from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Open daily through 20 September.
Received notice on Monday night that I will be doing a week of Demonstrations for the New Brunswick Crafts Council casemate, Productive Hands, on August 24,26 & 28 from 11:30 - 1:30.
More Critter action:
A deer was browsing the elder bushes that edge the lawn yesterday, got some shots, but I do need to oil the hinges on the living room door.
And finally a jewelry shot:
Badly photographed as it was taken in haste but this is the Nephrite Jade piece that was chosen nonetheless for the gift given to the "Irish girl" at last Friday's retirement party.
I received another note from "P" on Monday morning to let me know that the recipient "loved the necklace."
And now for something completely random:
I am missing a particular breed of an espresso addicted personality quite sharply today. Oh well...
--
I joined a casemate on Monday with 2 potters and a surface designer, all students from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Open daily through 20 September.
Received notice on Monday night that I will be doing a week of Demonstrations for the New Brunswick Crafts Council casemate, Productive Hands, on August 24,26 & 28 from 11:30 - 1:30.
More Critter action:
A deer was browsing the elder bushes that edge the lawn yesterday, got some shots, but I do need to oil the hinges on the living room door.
And finally a jewelry shot:
Badly photographed as it was taken in haste but this is the Nephrite Jade piece that was chosen nonetheless for the gift given to the "Irish girl" at last Friday's retirement party.
I received another note from "P" on Monday morning to let me know that the recipient "loved the necklace."And now for something completely random:
I am missing a particular breed of an espresso addicted personality quite sharply today. Oh well...
--
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Critters
Our critters are out in force these days.
One of the large Grey Squirrels released her brood of 7 foolish little ones from the nest on Sunday. It was wonderful display of bizarre and clumsy acrobatics. One of these days I will get a picture of one of the greys. They are very timid out here in the country, so they don't sit still very long when they hear a noise.
This particular chipmunk though, despite their inate timidity, was willing to let me get out the camera and snap a couple of close-ups. Apparently though, 6' is close enough to suit him. He's been happily stuffing his jowls with some of the bird seed that I threw out for the Junco's and Jays earlier today.
Now this is "Mamma George". All of the red squirrels that frequent the house are called George, regardless. This particular George is one of the ones that will come when you call, and she does expect to get a piece of bread and peanut butter when she comes knocking. Which she does... she'll climb the screen door at the kitchen and ring the brass ships bell that we have by jumping on it.
Mamma posed for several pretty shots, including this one, before she got tired of the beep and whir of the camera. Note the small piece of bread that she eagerly grabbed out of my hand and is now devoid of peanut butter.
Sometime in the next 3 weeks or so we will see her with bringing the little ones out of where ever it is that she has them in the nest.
--
One of the large Grey Squirrels released her brood of 7 foolish little ones from the nest on Sunday. It was wonderful display of bizarre and clumsy acrobatics. One of these days I will get a picture of one of the greys. They are very timid out here in the country, so they don't sit still very long when they hear a noise.
This particular chipmunk though, despite their inate timidity, was willing to let me get out the camera and snap a couple of close-ups. Apparently though, 6' is close enough to suit him. He's been happily stuffing his jowls with some of the bird seed that I threw out for the Junco's and Jays earlier today.
Now this is "Mamma George". All of the red squirrels that frequent the house are called George, regardless. This particular George is one of the ones that will come when you call, and she does expect to get a piece of bread and peanut butter when she comes knocking. Which she does... she'll climb the screen door at the kitchen and ring the brass ships bell that we have by jumping on it.
Mamma posed for several pretty shots, including this one, before she got tired of the beep and whir of the camera. Note the small piece of bread that she eagerly grabbed out of my hand and is now devoid of peanut butter.
Sometime in the next 3 weeks or so we will see her with bringing the little ones out of where ever it is that she has them in the nest.
--
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