The Dragon Nthly

Looking ahead to 2012 With JLynnPro.

2012-01-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

Famous last words! In my last post, I mentioned that my flare ups were becoming less frequent and less severe. Well, I'm afraid that was wishful thinking. January has been a terrible month for me, health-wise. Some of you who have been reading this blog for a long time will recall this post about the mystery illness with which I fight what now seems like constantly. I am due to go to the doctor again this coming Wednesday, and I plan to ask for another full work up. This is only relevant to my business, in that my struggle with this illness has slowed me down considerably. I am already a couple of weeks behind where I wanted to be by now. This is not the end of the world, but it is frustrating!

Now that I've gotten that out of the way (thank you for hanging in there with me while I vent a little!) I'm ready to talk about 2011 and my hopes and plans for 2012.

-2011 was a better year for me, business-wise. There was pretty good growth from 2010, so I have no complaints! It was a big year for my vintage, and while the art is still slower to move, things did pick up last year. I hope to maintain this momentum and build upon it this year. Every step forward is appreciated, and the movement gives me hope!

-It is said that most new businesses fail in their first five years. When I initially started JLP, I had decided to wait until 2013 and then re-evaluate. I have instead decided to wait until 2018, which will be ten years past when I started the business, and then re-evaluate. I have a couple of reasons for this. First of all, I started the business right around the time the US economy tanked. I was aware of this fact, but something inside me told me to do it anyway, and I've felt nothing but good about it ever since. Secondly, this is a part time venture for me--a sideline. I actually pay my household bills with a day job while I build my little business up. That means I'm not pounding the pavement, networking, and knocking on doors (so to speak) as much of the time as my colleagues who run their businesses full time. When I'm working for me, I give it 1,000%, but I simply have less time. I figure that means growth (or failure) will happen a little more slowly. Plus, I'm happy doing this, so I'm willing to stick it out a while. Who knows? I may ultimately say "there is no re-evaluation date. I'm just gonna do this 'till I decide to stop!" ;) I don't feel my business is failing, by any stretch. I do feel it is growing slowly. I'm OK with that, especially considering my additional challenges.

-I stuck my neck out a couple of months ago and actually asked my peers for feedback on my main studio . It's not that I thought I was doing everything perfectly and nothing was wrong with my shops. It's that I'm extremely sensitive and shy and have trouble talking to people as it is: I was not equipped, until this point, to have people critique my studio, my art, my what-I-do. In the end, though, I am glad I did it, because I got fantastic feedback, and I now have both a plan moving forward and an idea of how to merchandise in the future. It has resulted in two distinct product lines, which is actually pretty cool. Sure, it means more work to market everything, but if people are having a better browsing and shopping experience when they visit my shops, then that's a good thing. Will I maintain both lines? I don't know. I know I enjoy both the Earthy stuff and the whimsical stuff, so for now, yes. (The whimsical items have been moved here, but as always, I'm happy to move things around and list them wherever someone wants to make a purchase!) I still have a lot of work to do on other aspects of my studios, but asking people for help was a great idea, because now I know where to focus my efforts.

-I completed two book projects. My role on each was a supportive one; however, I worked very hard, that work was appreciated, and I now have two finished books for my portfolio. As I stated in my last post, my own writing did languish, but that was mostly due to my health. I expect to resume work on my chapbooks this year, and I'm also (as always) talking with a couple of people about some film projects. There is still no definite plan for any of these, but the interest is still there.

-I have hung a piece in my first art show. This is huge for me. It takes me forever to finish a regular painting, and then I tend to hide them away for years, before I even think of trying to exhibit them. I was invited to submit to this show, which was an honor, so I submitted a mixed media painting from 2005, a much older painting, and a framed photo. The 2005 piece, called "Willow," was the one accepted. I'll be thrilled if it sells, but it's exciting just to know that people are seeing it. I've already received a lot of compliments. My next painting is in progress and has been since...you guessed it--about 2006. LOL! Part of the issue, as I have mentioned before, is that I don't have a lot of space to pull my easel out and set it up in the studio. I will fully admit that the other part of the problem is my confidence is somewhat lacking. Entering a show has taken me a long way toward getting over that, however!

-Based on my habits the last few years, I will be looking at hiring out some of my business functions in 2012. This does not mean taking on an employee, but it may mean I'll be paying someone else to do a couple of things, chiefly my bookkeeping. It's a very simple thing, but for some reason, I have a real block about that. I don't know why. Also, though I will be building my website myself, I actually have a webmaster--someone to handle the hardcore, technical details. He is showing me how to update the site and add content, but he will be handling the backend "scary stuff." I'm not at all tech-averse, but having tried to take some classes in the past, I have learned I dont' particularly have an aptitude for it, so I'm happy to hand it off. I would like to have the site live by my birthday in April. (Yes, I know I've been talking about my website for a couple of years now! LOL! This time, I really mean it! Stay tuned!)

-I will be maintaining the rotating schedule I set up for myself last year. In optimal circumstances, it works really well. When I focus on just one aspect of the business for a week, I get a whole lot more done. I'm still not ready to phase any aspect of my business out--that much I know.

The biggest Lessons Learned I'm bringing forward from 2011, I guess, are:

-Self care must come first. If that means I don't work on JLP for a couple of weeks, because I need to rest or tend to my family or what-have-you, that's OK. I find a stopping point on a large project, or I wrap up something, and I take that down time. As of now, because of how I've felt this month, I can't say if it helps or not, but logically, it should. If I burn myself out, there will be no JLP.

-Reaching out to other artisans and business people doesn't have to be scary. They do not bite, and most won't tell you that you're horrible, but the wise ones will tell you where you could do better, and that's a good thing. (I really am terribly, terribly shy!)

-Slow growth is OK and is probably preferable when one is juggling other things, like a day job. It does not mean you're not "as good as" or not good enough. It means you are doing what you can, when you can, in the best way that you can. (I'm sure I would feel differently if this were my full time endeavor. Hopefully, one day it will be!)

Here's to a prosperous, healthy, and happy 2012 for us all! Thank you for reading.

Happy New Year from JenniferLynn Productions, LLC!

2012-01-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

Every year, I do a "lessons learned/goals" post. This is not that post. This post is a quick wish that everyone have a happy and prosperous 2012!

My winter has been considerably less active than I'd hoped in the studio, though some positive things have also happened. I had a painting accepted into an art show, which will run through May in Washington, DC! This is the first time I've tried entering a bona fide art show, as opposed to taking things to a craft show. I submitted three pieces, but having just one accepted was a high honor. I was at the show location on 12/26 to drop off my piece and help hang the show. So much positive energy! I'm very proud of myself and honored to have been invited to submit stuff! :)

My Holidays were peaceful. I actually relaxed, which--if you've been reading me and following my updates for a while you will know--is not easy for me to do! Though I have been wanting to buckle down and finish some UFOs, my body has dictated that I rest. I've taken my Winter one day at a time, and that has meant a lot of down time. The planning has not let up, though. This weekend, I am spending time getting my studio neatened back up, so I can get back into the swing of things.

My vintage shop has really taken off this past year! I won't say I've been hand-over-fist; however, my sales have picked up quite a lot. I've been very happy with that! I still have a ton of items to list, and once I get a few more things out the door, I'll be ready to go on some buying trips! Exciting! Will that happen in2012? We will see!

My crafts and photography have been slower to move, sadly; however, I finally put my neck out and asked my fellow artisans what the issue might be. Thankfully, no one said, "Well, you suck!" LOL! The fact that my shop is such a hodge-podge did come up, though. I have noticed a dominant theme emerging in my work, so that bit of feedback did ring true. I do a lot of Earthy designs. I have a nature theme and Earthy color palette really starting to emerge. At the same time, I do fun, whimsical designs with bright color palettes.

What I have done to try and tone down the dissonance is that I have opened a shop on Blujay.com for my more playful pieces. I sell other items not related to my business on Blujay, and while it has been slow there, I am comfortable with the site, and the community is very nice. I think those items will fit in nicely there. I do not value these pieces any less than the ones in my main shop. I just recognize that it's a separate theme. If I could afford to, I would simply open another studio on Artfire.com, but that's not a possibility for me at this time. As I state on my Blujay shop, I am happy to move items between sites to sell them according to customer preference, and I will also directly bill/sell via email. Each of my pieces, whether it is a purse or a photo print, is precious to me, and great care goes into each and every item!

Sadly, I have set my writing aside, not because I haven't wanted to work on it, but because I've had other things going on. I am determined to move it along in some way in 2012. Chiefly, I hope to get my poetry in front of someone and maybe publish it this year. Mind you, this is not a resolution, but simply a statement of intent.

The good news is that, because I have listened to my body and taken it easy this Fall and Winter, my flare ups are becoming less frequent, and they are less severe. I am hoping that, as I find exercises that work for me, my energy and health will increase and my pain will decrease. Right now, my flare ups only last a couple of days. I am hoping it will stay that way!

I hope that each and every one of you has had a wonderful Holiday Season--whatever that entails! (I feel there is room for everyone on this great planet of ours!) Happy New Year! I will do my wrap up/goals post sometime in the next few days. Tomorrow, I hope to have glue and paint all over my hands! ;)

Happy Solstice!

2011-12-22T12:56:00.000-08:00

Here comes the Su...

Curated By: JenniferLynnP...

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

May your Holidays be bright, and may the new year bring you endless joys!

Of Things to Come...

2011-11-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a very busy fall for me, and it has not helped that my health has been an issue lately. That said, 2011 was in many ways much better than 2010! Now, this is not my end-of-year post, but I wanted to take a few minutes to check in and talk about some things I'm considering doing differently going forward.

-I have decided to close my Sense of Fashion shop. It's a really nice site, and the people on staff there are some of the nicest I have worked with in my online selling career; however, after nearly a year there with nary a sale, I've concluded that it is not the right venue for me. I have moved the items I had for sale there back to my Artfire studio. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about SoF--it just wasn't a fit.

-I am removing a few pieces (very few--less than ten) from my inventory. They will be discounted and placed on my household selling site ("yard sale,") where I hope they will find new homes. These pieces are not sub-par, so much as just not a fit with where I am going. I feel that removing these from my inventory will help to streamline the aesthetic that I am starting to see emerge in my work, and that will create a more cohesive visual message as to what JLP is all about--something I still can't put into words, but can only communicate through color and form. They will stay up in the "yard sale" shop for a while, and if they still don't move, I'll simply pass them on. I feel Ok with this. It is part of learning who we are as artists, and these are not high-end pieces.

-I will be looking at different geographic locations for shows next year. This year was not a good one for shows. I realize the economy is partly to blame, but I also think I'm not getting my stuff in front of the right people. If next year, with new locations, proves to be equally fruitless, I may have to stop doing shows, due to my health issues. I do not generally have helpers when I do shows, so it is very physically taxing for me. If I find locations that work well, I will focus on them, however.

That's all I've got for right now. I'm trying to work out my Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales plan, and I have a couple of ideas for this blog--to get posting more regularly--but not a lot is going on in the studio right now. I'm getting nibbles about photo shoots, so we will see how all of that pans out. I am hoping to take some serious down time in either December or January. While I'm going on Vacation in two weeks, I intend to leave my shops open, and I will probably take some projects to work on; however, I am in need of a genuine, do-nothing break. The dead of Winter seems to be a good time for that.

Until next time, be well!

Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire: SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

2011-10-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

From time to time, I blog for my animal-related artisan Teams/Guilds. Here is my latest for the Artfire Crafting for Animals Guild. Enjoy!

Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire: SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE…………….by Jen of JenniferL...: This was a hard blog post for me to write. I actually conceived of it last winter, and I've been rolling the idea around in my head...

Happy Fall!

2011-10-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

My show season is in full swing! I've done two shows, and I have two more coming up. I will be selling in Manassas, VA with CREST on October 16, and then I will be selling in Derwood Maryland on November 5. My last show--for my vintage--was Saturday, October 1. Due to the weather, it wasn't as great as it could have been, but it was not a terrible day. A challenge? Yes!

Now that I have the vintage sale behind me, I'm focusing back on my art. I'm currently working on a mixed media painting and a mini-tin. Though our household is still pretty busy, I'm hopeful that I can finish these two pieces in time for the CREST show.

My writing page (the link is at the top of my blog) was just updated. I wrote a poem last night. I hope that people will enjoy it. With the whirlwind of activity I've been facing this summer and Fall, I have not had a lot of time for writing. I have written a few blog posts for other sites here and there. I have two posts coming out this month, both on animals. One is for the Artfire Crafting for Animals Guild, and the other is for Etsy for Animals. Of all of the Teams and Guilds to which I belong, I'm most active with these two, and writing on animals and animal welfare is something with which I'm very comfortable. It feels good to contribute in this way. One thing I did not mention in my writing update is that I acted as one of two editors for a friend's poetry anthology this past summer. That was a lot of fun, and I'm hoping that if he's happy with my work, he will pass my name along. My own poetry has been simmering in the background, since I've been so busy, but I'll get back to it over the winter.

Sadly, I have not been doing a lot of shooting recently. I do have a lot of photos to go through and archive and edit and put up for sale. I will probably spend some time while we entertain a house guest doing that. We are not sure how long she will be staying, but while she is here, I will probably not have a lot of access to the studio. I'm OK with this. The time to work on my photos will be good. I also have two prints I need to put into new frames. I hope to do that in time for the CREST show, too.

As always, lots to do!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Fall!

Artfire Crafting for Animals Guild Rescue Donation Event!

2011-09-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

During the last week of October, 2011, I and the rest of the Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire will be donating 10% of all purchases using the coupon code below to Close to Home Animal Rescue. This is the perfect opportunity to do something kind while getting a jump on your Holiday shopping!

Details can be found on the Crafting for Animals blog.

Thank you for helping us to help animals!

Things Grow.

2011-07-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

My Summer has thrown me some curve balls, including the health issue to which I referred in my last post. It's been busy, so I have not gotten in the studio time I'd hoped, but I definitely have some things germinating and in progress.

One of those things is a 2nd series, this one of mixed media paintings. (The previous series I mentioned a long time ago was my "Coldest Dishes" photos series. I'm nearly finished with that.) This is a series that has been evolving. It is not one I set out and planned. It has been in progress for about five years now, and work on this series is slow-moving. (Seems a lot of my bigger projects are slow-moving!)

Ultimately, all art is about the self. That is a given; however, this series that is manifesting is about women. It is about women and the roles into which we are put, forced, pushed, placed, labeled, boxed, etc. by others. It is about the roles we don't choose for ourselves. It does not yet have a name (maybe I'll let you help me name it! Stay tuned,) but the pieces are either planned/designed or in progress. The first piece was finished a few years ago and hangs in my studio. As of now, as far as I am aware, there are to be four more pieces. I am currently working on number two, "I Was Gretel." She is about halfway finished.

I have a hard time finding the time and space to work on my larger pieces like these. This is part of the reason paintings take me so long. The studio is pretty small, and between the desk, the bed, my boyfriend's equipment, and my stuff, there's not a lot of room to pull out the easel and throw down a drop cloth. I used to work in the yard on nice days, and that was my plan for one of the pieces in particular; however, we've changed the yard to a walking garden, so there is no longer room to work there. I will have to work in front of the house, which will be interesting. These are not excuses, just my reality as it stands now. I am not unhappy with the arrangement. When the paintings need to come out, they will one way or another. I may eventually end up renting studio space.

So far, I have only two shows coming up in the Fall and none over the summer. I am awaiting word as to whether or not I will be selling in an antiques show on October 1. On September 17, I will be back up in Thurmont, MD, and on October 16, I will be selling at the 2nd annual Crest Falling for Handmade show in Manassas, VA. I really don't think I can fit in any summer shows at this point, anyhow. Our household is still fighting various illnesses, and we are traveling in August. I think this year has worked out as it should. More shows are always better, if they are quality shows, but the ones I'm in for are just great for me on more than one level.

For the next week or so, I'm going to be making a big push to get more vintage cleaned up, priced, and listed. We have too much stuff sitting around, and I really don't have a good way to store these items, so they need to go. There are currently four boxes of un-processed items stacked in the studio closet, and that makes things difficult. Some items will be able to go into the attic once they are processed, but most will not, due to the extreme temperatures and possible exposure to moisture. Beyond that, I have 2 mixed media pieces (smaller ones) that I'd like to start on and a piece of jewelry to finish.

Despite the various hiccups I've experienced this Spring and Summer, I feel things are perking along nicely. I just wish the rest of me could work as fast as my brain does!

Finally, I apologize if my blog looks a little weird. I am attempting to make it possible to get my blog updates by email; however, Blogger and Internet Explorer are not playing nice. I may have buttons in weird places, and I can't delete them right now. I will be working on this later, once I get into the studio again and can work in Firefox.

Happy Late Summer!

Creating With an Illness.

2011-06-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

I referred in a recent post to not wanting to get overly personal on this blog, and I recall asking how much is too much. It's been my goal to give you a glimpse of my personal life, but not overwhelm my readers with drama. Today, I feel like sharing a bit. Who knows? Maybe what I have to say will help others.

Part of the reason I don't update as often as I should (for SEO and engagement purposes) is I have an illness. It is an undiagnosed illness, and I am not a doctor, but I lean toward calling it chronic mono. Back in the early Zeroes (that's what I like to call that decade,) I had mononucleosis for the first time. Yes. I got it as an adult. The illness itself only lasted a couple of weeks, and I was out of work with it for only three days, and those were non-consecutive. I guess I got kind of lucky--or so I thought.

Starting within just a few months of having had mono, I started to have these episodes (what I now refer to as my flare ups) of extreme fatigue and lots and lots of body pain. It's rarely bad enough for me to miss work at my day job, but that does happen once in a while. Sometimes, it comes with stomach upset, body temperature weirdness (sensation, not my actual temperature,) and appetite issues. I sleep a lot harder (more deeply) than I normally do, and longer. It's usually triggered by overexertion, stress, or if the temperature goes from warm to cold. In short, it acts a lot like mono.

I have had many people I know suggest that I may have fibromyalgia, and I've been to one rheumatologist who has ruled it out. I have been checked for other issues, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, etc. I will be going to get tested again. I have also had my thyroid checked.

My point is that, if I do too much, I have a flare up, and I'm often unable to accomplish much in the studio, because by the time I get home from work (or get my housework or errands done, if it's a weekend,) I'm usually too tired to do much. If I am in pain, forget it! When I am at my best, I can finish projects quickly, often turning out 2-3 new pieces (art or handcrafts) a week, even after work. When I am at my best.

Unfortunately, I have not been at my best since about mid-May. Luckily, these flare ups have never stopped me from following through on a paid photo shoot (or a volunteer one--I often donate my time and services.) Hopefully, that will never happen. Even now--I recently finished editing a book for a friend. That came on the tail of the photo shoot I did in Thurmont, MD--I am flaring and recovering, and it just sucks! I have so many unfinished pieces that are not listed yet, because I've been too sick to work on them. It's a really tough way to run a business, and that is part of the reason I am trying to grow it slowly.

So, if you don't see me posting or listing for a while and I haven't mentioned that I'm up to my neck, it means I am recovering, taking much needed down time, so that I can rebuild my energy and get back to being the art machine that I know I really am. (I kind of get tired of posting to my fan page just to say "Hi. I'm too sick to work right now. I'll post later." Kind of silly, right?)

So what can an artisan with this type of issue do? My take on this, having gone through it for about five years or so now, is "Nothing. Wait it out." Be gentle with yourself. If you need silent time with no work, no housework, no activity, then take it. That's your body's way of saying "We need to rest." If you are like me, and your mind doesn't agree with your body's take on the situation, spend the down time journaling, designing, sketching, maybe doing online promoting--Keep it low-impact and know that your projects and your ability to finish them aren't going anywhere.

Thanks for listening.

I'm still here--just treading water at the moment!

2011-06-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a Spring! Not a bad one, just a busy one.

First of all, I have not managed to resolve my camera dilemma. That is, I've made a decision, but I have not been able to make the purchase. When I am able to make the purchase, I will be going with glass. I may need a new cell phone soon, and that phone will be a camera phone. That will solve my needing-to-snap-at-a-moment's-notice issue. It's practical and cheap. So that is that.

After I made that post, I got very busy. First, I had the show back in mid-May. Due to the stormy weather that weekend, the turnout was very low, but the music was fabulous, and my photos came out beautifully. You can see the photos here. I had only one sale that day, but I had a great time, and my new displays are working out beautifully. I am really glad I spent the money to upgrade my displays and packaging. It makes a huge difference! I have not yet decided on my next show. I would like to do this one again in September (hopefully under better weather conditions,) and I'm trying to get into an antiques show in October. I thought I'd be able to maybe pick up 1 summer show at Fenton Street Market, but my personal schedule is getting rather full and crazy, so that may be it for me until Fall. :(

Right on the tail of the show, I volunteered to edit a friend's poetry book. My friend is getting ready to publish their poetry and asked for an editor. I ended up being one of two editors, and I'm very glad I volunteered. It was a wonderful experience. This friend is a good writer, and I have every confidence they will do well with the book. I'm also grateful to have had the opportunity to add this to my portfolio!

Then, a couple of weeks ago, we had our downstairs carpeting replaced! The result is wonderful, but boy did that involve a lot of stress and shuffling. Part of this shuffling was putting things up in the studio, which meant there wasn't a lot of room to move around. I would do this again in a heartbeat, though--the house looks great, and it's much healthier for us and the cats. I think it's also adding to our energy efficiency--the stone floor keeps the house much cooler. Even the upstairs is cooler now!

Needless to say, all of these forces have combined to pretty much keep me from getting any of my artistic projects done and from getting any vintage ready to list. I hope to do some catching up this weekend. This is also why I have not been better about posting. Once a month is unacceptable, and I sincerely apologize. As things calm down at home, I hope to start doing some regular updates.

I hope that everyone is hanging in there and having a wonderful Spring-almost-Summer! :)

Camera Dilemma...

2011-05-06T08:46:00.001-07:00

I have a dilemma. Thanks to the tax man, I have a little money to spend on myself. I'm trying to decide whether to spend some on new glass for my Nikon D60 or on a good point and shoot, which I could more easily carry everywhere with me, which in turn would make me more likely to be consistent in taking photos (less bulky, easier to store/carry with me.) Just so you know, for about the first year I was selling photos, I was using a Canon Powershot exclusively. Some of the photos I have up for sale now are those same photos. (It's a very good camera.)

At the same time, spending money on glass for the D60 will expand my capabilities with that camera, which I like but don't LOVE yet.

Hmm... Any thoughts?

Ack!

2011-05-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

That's all I know to say. Time is just flying by, and my head is absolutely spinning! My weekly studio schedule has gone a little bit out the window, but that's not entirely a bad thing, and I'm not exactly set adrift: I'm simply very busy right now!

-My first show of the season is in just two weeks! I have several photos to frame, bookkeeping to do, and a couple of pieces of jewelry I'd like to complete before it gets here. That does not sound like a lot, but when you factor in my day job and taking care of house and home, along with the studio activities, it is indeed quite a bit. The jewelry is on hold while I await delivery of some supplies I needed to finish the two pieces, so I can focus on the other stuff.

-I have photos to edit and a blog post I need to complete today. I attended an event yesterday, and I'm expected to report on it. Ideally, I would have had the post up last night, but it just did not happen. I am working on it over my lunch hour. I will finalize it and get the post done tonight.

-I recently had a nice, little windfall, some of which I have put into JLP. I have gotten rid of most (and will get rid of more) of my old displays, and I have bought all new displays for my table and booth. I have also bought a more appropriate table for doing shows. The one I was using was way too small, and I think my setup probably looked too cluttered. I have also sprung for what I think is nice packaging. I'm keeping it simple and organic-looking, but it's all much more cohesive now, and I really think that will help. My next goals in buying stuff for the booth will be another table and some proper photo displays. I think what I am doing for now is working, but I want to tie it all together better. Babysteps.

-Of the photos I took of yesterday's events, I may sell a few to a magazine. They are supposed to let me know--this is not a done deal. It would be really great if it happened, of course, but you know what they say about counting chickens... ;)

-A friend was looking for an editor for their poetry book (a frist book, I believe.) I was among the people who responded to the plea, and I talked with that friend about their expectations yesterday. It looks like a done deal, and I am honored, but they have not sent me the document yet. I imagine I will receive it sometime this week.

-My vintage business is humming along right now. Sales are slow, but they do come, and my stuff is being seen. I hope to find an offline sale for my vintage this year. I'll start looking into that after I get the Stone Fence Gardens show behind me. (The windfall I had was related to this--it just ended up not being handled as a vintage sale.)

-On top of all of this, I continue to have some personal difficulties, and I'm dealing with a recurring illness. This last issue, of course, slows me down. It's very frustrating. I've not gotten a diagnosis, and I don't think that's going to happen easily. (It's one of "those conditions," but I'm not sure it's fibromyalgia.) I go to the doctor when I need to, but they are not very proactive or cooperative in helping me to try and get this diagnosed. I'm trying some different things with my diet, and I have a network of friends and associates who have similar issues. They provide good support and have a lot of good suggestions. Chiefly, when the weather goes from warm to cold, that is when I have a flare up. They can last for weeks, but it's rare that they keep me from going to work and things like that. There are times when they do, but fortunately, not many. Anyway, I'm sharing all this to illustrate the fact that, even though my to-do list is straightforward, the "doing" is not always so much.

This is a public blog, so I don't want to get into the personal side of it, other than to say I am looking for a different job and have been for a very long time with no success. I'm glad I have money coming in, but being miserable at work does affect other areas of one's life. I'm grateful to have a wonderful partner, family, and network of friends to keep me going. I'm especially grateful to my art, because that is the real reason I get out of bed every morning.

***

I feel that 2011 has been a good year so far, and I'm really looking forward to the summer and fall. I hope you all have a wonderful season!

Custom Charm Pin

2011-04-19T19:51:00.001-07:00

I recently participatedi n a drawing with other members of the Artfire Crafting for Animals Guiild. My contribution to the prize pack was a custom pin in an animal theme of the winner's choice.

The winner chose a hedgehog as her animal! At first, I was a little concerned about being able to turn it around quickly, but I'm happy to repor that Abbey Road Beads not only had what I needed, but she shipped them out so fast I lost no time in making the pin!

I'm shipping it off to the winner tomorrow, but I wanted to share it with you, too! :)

I just love custom work. I find that my customers often stretch my imagination even further than...well, than I could ever imagine! :)

Lost and Found Again.

2011-04-08T08:02:00.001-07:00

I was reading this post by Robert Genn this morning , and it--along with the comments in reply to it--brought to mind my memories of my own time spent disconnected from my Muse.

I've been artistic since I could hold a brush or pencil. I used to write stories and poems and make art all of the time. I think my mom still has a collection of my work somewhere! This went on from very early right up until I hit my mid-20s, and then it stopped.

For 10 years, I was in a relationship that was very unhealthy. My partner was an artist, true--a very talented one--but due to his various issues and my own responses to them, I became blocked for a long time. Oh, sure, I still wrote down ideas for pieces, and I still wrote poetry and did some freelance writing; however, the visual side of my art went dormant. At the time, I chalked it up to being too depressed or too busy or just not having enough space. (At the time, and for the same reasons, our home was very cluttered.)

Looking back now, however, I see that there was just a lot of fear there, a need to protect my most fragile inner core. I really feel that is why I did not make art. My partner did, and I even tried to help him get it sold and/or published, but me? No. Not until very near the end, when it just burst out of me.

So how did I reclaim my inner artist? How did I reconnect with my Muse? It's hard to verbalize. First, I started early on to clean up the old space, and when I moved into my current home, one of the first rooms I set up was the studio/guest room. The room was sacrosant. No cats, no outside influences. Just my computer, my supplies, and the guest bed. It was the Temple within my home, and in the beginning, I went there to just think and look at my supplies. I spent a lot of time doing this. Not making, just looking at what I had and drinking it all in.

Another thing I did (other than the obvious--ending that relationship) was I spent a lot of time just being good to myself. Sometimes, that meant talking through my trauma with a friend or a counselor or my mom. Sometimes, it meant spending quiet time alone, watching shows or reading materials that I enjoyed. It also meant doing solitary work on my healing process.

Part of that healing process has been JenniferLynn Productions, LLC. Once I got back into consistently making art and taking pictures and writing, my confidence started to come back. Having previously been in business (crafts) with a friend, I started to feel strong enough to start sharing my work with others.

It doesn't stop here, either: My work is still evolving. I am still learning, each and every day. Most importantly, I am working with my art in some way each and every day, whether I am crafting or working on photos or working on a painting. Every day, my butt is in my studio chair, and my hands are in paint or glue or on the mouse. Nowadays, when I get blocked--we all do--I simply switch to a different medium or project. (I have so many UFOs floating around that we could rename our house "Area 51!") If none of that works, I write. If that doesn't work either, I walk away and focus on the house or on errands, but shifting my focus always works.

If you are blocked, shift your focus. If you are disconnected completely, take heart: You can find it again. I promise.

Please feel free to share your own insights about being blocked and/or losing your muse!

"What's your pleasure, sir?" Artfire collection.

2011-03-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

Whats your pleasu...

Curated By: JenniferLynns...

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

Gettin' Personal: How much is too much?

2011-02-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

I love my blogs. I do. I read a ton of them, so I guess that's a good thing! The ones I enjoy the most are the ones where the authors share something personal about themselves--but not too much. There are a lot of writers out there who get this balance just right. I admire this.

I admire this, because this is something I don't exactly know how to do yet: How to balance my content between strictly-business and this-is-who-I-am. I do have a blog that's strictly for personal stuff. That blog is "safely" tucked away behind the privacy settings embedded on the site on which it's hosted. I can show it only to certain people, so I can be much freer with my content and not worry so much.

This blog, on the other hand, is for talking about my business. I talk to my clients and potential clients, to my peers, colleagues, fellow artisans and business people. I mostly share updates about what's happening with my venture. This is all well and good, but I'm aware it can be dry.

One of my goals for this year is to add new content and add content more often. I would like this blog to be more engaging and to share more of myself with you all. I just haven't figured out what aspects of myself I want to share or how much. It's a tough question to answer, because everyone's preferences are different.

Share your thoughts: How personal do you get on your blog, if you have one? If not, what level of sharing are you comfortable with from the blogs you read? What do you share about? What do you avoid?

I look forward to talking with people. There is a person behind this keyboard, after all!

Settling Into 2011.

2011-02-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

The year is off to a slow start for me. This is not really a bad thing. I have been taking my time in order to set my priorities and set my course for 2011. I'm already getting a feel for what's working and what may not be sustainable for me this year.

-My 365 Project, sadly, has been the first to fall by the wayside. I'm not going to delete my account, but I can see already that I just am not able to contribute a shot every, single day. There have already been times when I haven't been able to shoot for a week or more at a time, for various reasons. I may instead try and do something weekly. This is a disappointment to me, but that's the reality of my schedule right now. Between my day job, household tasks, and running JLP, I'm just not managing to make time. Hopefully, this will change in the future. If you're following my 365 contributions, do keep the link handy and check from time to time! Maybe I will be able to do better with it next year. I did know going in that it is a very challenging project for a lot of people, so I am not beating myself up about it.

-My schedule is working out well. This week will be another Writing Week, due to multiple impending deadlines. I have an article to write this week, and the book committee work is really picking up. Our deadline is speeding up on us, and my partner and I have 2 chapters to put together. Yikes! We're on the same page as to how we want to proceed, though, so it should work out OK. It just will be a lot of work. In addition, I have some markets I want to look at this week. It was going to be a Photography Week, but that will have to wait until next week. No big deal. I'm getting a ton accomplished, either way, so I'm happy!

-I've had delays, and things are going in fits and starts, because I have some things going on in my personal life that also need attention (other than the usual things, like housework.) As this is a public blog, I don't want to get too much into it, but I'll just say that I have some additional tasks that take up 1-2 evenings or afternoons (weekends) every week, which sets everything else back. Hopefully, this situation will resolve soon, and I can get on with The Good Stuff!

I hope everyone is having a good year so far. Happy Valentine's Day!

New Year, New Ideas.

2011-01-17T12:44:00.000-08:00

Here it is, a new year, and I'm just now getting around to posting the first update of the year. It's early yet, but it's already been a pretty busy year! Most of this has been due to just getting organized and ready for the new year.

-I've posted about my writing here. Still working on the same projects, but there has actually been movement. (Can you believe it?)

-Something I'm trying to implement this year is a rotating, weekly schedule. Since JLynnPro has multiple arms, I've decided to try focusing on one aspect of the business each week. For instance, last week was my handmade week. I worked on finishing up my latest box and a few other items I have in progress. Though other things did happen, I found that I got a whole lot done during my allotted studio slots. This week is my writing week. Next week--unless something urgent comes up--I will either concentrate on vintage or photography. I usually make that determination Thursday or Friday of the previous week, and it depends mainly on deadlines or obligations.

Why did I decide to do this? Well, as some of you reading this know (come on, I know I'm not the only artist that has many irons in the fire,) I tend to have several things going on at once. I carry an impressive backlog of tasks and projects. There are a bazillion things I could be working on at any given time. I found, looking back on the last 2 years, that I have a tendency to get sidetracked, so things were not getting finished in what I felt was a timely manner. More completed means more delivered, am I right? I figured that, if I focus on 1 arm of my business per week, I'd get a lot more done, even if I only get an hour or two a night to be in the studio. Having done it for 1 week (not a huge amount of time, I know,) I can say I think this is a correct assumption.

Now, the fact that I'm focusing on one thing in a given week does not mean that will be all I'm doing. What it means is that I will work on that task first and then, if I need a break or get tired or hit a stopping point, I will focus on something else. In the case of this week, I will go to my meeting tonight, and that will be my Writing Week Task. When I get home, if I have any studio time after my nightly household tasks are completed, I will probably work on the handmade items from last week that are very nearly done...etc. ...Or, if I get an order, I'll devote my energy to that. I'm sure you get the idea. Regardless of how much faster I actually complete projects, I can confidently say that doing things this way is far less stressful for me. This is very important!

-I am doing a 365 Project this year. While I am not able to shoot every, single day, I have managed to put up photos for all but 1 day so far this year. What I will sometimes do is either take 2 photos/pick 2 photos from the following day and use 1 of those, or I will just let it go. Sometimes, life gets in the way. It's not always practical (or allowed) for me to carry my camera with me. The D60 is bulky, and I don't have a strap for it, so it can be very cumbersome. What I may do is get in the habit of borrowing my boyfriend's point and shoot camera or maybe pick up 1 of my own. (Really, there are times when a P&S really is better.)

-I am planning on refining some of my product lines this year. I don't know yet exactly what that will look like, but I know that not everything I am doing is working for me.

-I will be doing fewer offline shows this year. I will also be looking for better ones (for me.) There are 2 that I will continue to do, because I am emotionally invested in them, but most of the rest will fall by the wayside. I did Fenton Street Market a few times last year, and I really like it, so I will probably return to that, but other than that and the 2 I mentioned, I don't think I'm going to be doing shows. I'm always open, of course, to new opportunities, but the shows weren't profitable for me in 2010, so I'm paring back.

-I am hoping to create a line of jewelry specifically for Sense of Fashion this year. I still have some of my jewelry available at Artfire , but I have enjoyed SoF so far, so I want to see how this goes. It costs me nothing until I sell something, after all.

-I will continue to create my decorated boxes, but I will be focusing on making them with my own photos. I'm even offering to make boxes customized with other people's photos! You will still see the occasional whimsical design, but the photo boxes are more in line with where I am trying to go, I think.

-I will continue to make bags and magnets, but they, like the more whimsical boxes and tins, will be occasional.

-The web site is still under construction. I'm trying to do things myself now, and it's my least favorite thing to do, so I don't focus on it like I should. I will be working it into my Weekly Rotation--1 week out of the cycle is reserved for office/admin/miscellaneous stuff. I can tell you that it's looking good and that I look forward to being able to finally unveil it! I will need testers! The announcement will go out on Facebook when I'm ready!

-Nothing has changed with my vintage . I'm still selling it, and in fact my first sale of 2011 was 1 of my silver serving pieces! :) (International, no less!) I did 1 show last year in the Fall. I think I will probably try a Spring show with it this year and go from there. I still have a huge backlog of items to clean, research, price, photograph, and list, and honestly, I'm looking forward to it.

-I am hoping to become more active and better about updating this blog. I'm hoping I can make it more interesting. I have a few ideas jotted down. It's just a matter of deciding on my blogging schedule. I'm happy to see that it sends traffic to my sites, and I'm happy to see that I still have readers, but I hope to be more consistent and creative with it this year. Bear with me!

As you can see, I still have a whole lot going on. My hope is that the schedule I've set up for myself will help me to be more productive. I still have a full time day job, and life still happens when and as it needs to, but I think this will streamline my processes quite a lot, and I feel good about it. I'll doubtless update you on how it's working for me.

I hope that each and every one of you is having a wonderful 2011 so far!

Quick update.

2010-11-30T07:33:00.000-08:00

With the Holidays ramping up, I had hoped to get back to my blogging, but I have not been able to carve out time. What I am doing, however, is going through my Favorites on Facebook and promoting 1 business each day. I figure we can all use all of the exposure we can get, and this is one small way I want to help out my fellow sellers and business owners. I hope that people will enjoy the features. (Today's feature is Vegan Craft Samples.)

I am also trying to work out a schedule for my blog, so that my updates will be more regular and (hopefully) more engaging. I'd like to start reaching out again and featuring other bloggers and artisans. Once I have a plan for next year, I will share it with you all. :)

My art is at kind of an ebb right now, so I have turned my energies, as I mentioned earlier on, to my writing. For now, what I am doing is going through some newsletters I've held onto and researching markets, contests, grants opportunities, and publishers. If you look at the top of my blog, you will see that I have added a page called "JenniferLynn Writes." That is where I will be sharing news and samples from my writing projects. It may take a while for much of anything to appear, but I wanted to let you know it's there, because there will be things to share (hopefully good things!) For starters, last night I submitted 2 poems. It has been several years since I have submitted anything anywhere, so I am excited about it.

When I travel to MA at the end of the month, I expect to take a pile of work with me. Chiefly, I expect to be working on my chapbooks and a screenplay someone has asked me to write. (Yes, I've mentioned the screenplay before. I am finally at the point where I am ready to start hammering that out.) Later on in 2011, I am hoping beyond hope that I will be able to afford some writing workshops, and my top choice is a screenwriting class.

The project on which I am stuck is another of my decorated boxes. This one is built around my "Sleeping Angel" photo, and I've got the outside done, but I am stuck on the lining. I have the fabric picked out, but I just haven't been able to make that final push and get the box lined. My goal is to focus on this type of box--boxes built around my photos--and let some of the more "odd" or "whimsical" ones go. I love those, but I'm really wanting to kind of solidify my brand better. I feel that having some cohesion of design will help a lot. Don't worry--the random "fun" box will still pop up from time to time--I love working on the little tins and such--but I think my photo boxes have potential. I'm even offering to customize them with other people's photos.

I'm still looking for other employment. That process is a slow, steady plod. I do give thanks for what I have, but I know that I could shine much brighter in a more suitable environment. I hope that I will find that environment soon. Meanwhile, I'm making the best of what I have.

I hope that you all have a very lovely Holiday Season!

Etsy CREST Blog Carnival: How I got started.

2010-11-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

We at the Capital Region Etsy Street Team (CREST) are having our very own Blog Carnival in order for the community to get to know us better. The topic this month:

How I Got Started With My (Various) Craft(s)

I have been writing, drawing, painting, gluing things together, and experimenting all of my life. All through school, my favorite classes were always art or any class that allowed me the opportunity to be creative. In the 90s, I went through a period where I was a very prolific painter. From the late 90s through about 2007, life circumstances conspired to keep me largely away from my art, but I did a pretty good amount of writing during that period. I have a lot of beginnings that will one day be spun into stories, poems, and perhaps articles.

In the very late 90s and very early 2000s, I did briefly have a venture with a friend. We spent one evening a week and whatever weekend time we could manage in her studio, creating different items, which we sold. We did craft shows for a couple of years. Sadly, in 2007, for reasons I'm still not really clear about, we parted ways, and I struck out on my own.

It was then that I started taking photos with the idea of selling them. In 2008, I started my little company, JenniferLynn Productions, LLC. In the time I was working with my friend, I became very excited at the prospect of taking risks and stretching and challenging myself, but clearly she had a different vision. On my own, I've been able to move forward with my plans.

I started selling crafts, because while I wanted to create, I also wanted to offer people things that they could use and that could help to beautify their living and work spaces. Also, because I'd been away from brush and easel for so long (at least 10 years,) my skills had become rough, leaving me feeling unprepared to offer my paintings. (I am planning to offer prints of some of my work from the 90s, but I have not gotten there yet.)

I have always had a drive to create. Except for that rough period I mentioned, I have just never been able to not make art. It is like breathing. It is something I must do.

What I have on offer now will no doubt change as I further define my style, find my market(s), and clarify where I want to go, artistically.

I am grateful to be a part of CREST, because I know that mentors, friends, and colleagues are just an email away, and that there will be events I can attend, where I can sit down with other people to create, like I used to do with my friend. I know that there are people (besides my wonderful boyfriend) who are rooting for me and will lend a hand, a shoulder, or support if I need it. Community is powerful.

Making connections with other people is the main reason I create!

If you want to read more about how people have been inspired to start with their art, you can visit these links:

Sandi Volpe Designs
Birch Tree Jewelry
Sew Artsy
Collage and Clover
Life As We Live It
The Twisted Cow
Wild Hare Daily
Turquoise Angels
Crazy Mokes
Sapphire Child (The Plant Geek Chronicles)
Of Cats and Crafts

Holiday sales are starting!

2010-11-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

From now through November 14, 2010, take 15% off all of my RedBubble Shop .

Discount code: JLynnPro_is_on_sale_7865.

T-shirts, posters, framed prints, and other formats. They do a top-quality job. You're guaranteed to find something you like.

Happy Holidays!

Housekeeping and Decision-Making.

2010-10-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

This has been an insanely busy year for me! Early on in the year, I made the decision to throw myself into doing shows this year. Sadly, other things in my life got pushed aside so that I could do this. It was also pretty expensive. That said, I think the way I have done things is probably the most efficient, in the long run. Now, goodness knows I didn't hit nearly all of the possible venues I could have; however, my experiences with the ones I did hit proved valuable.

For one thing, I now know which times of year I will and won't bother with shows (I have two left this year, but I have a good idea.) I also know which venues I will keep and which I will skip next year. This will save me money, time, and energy, and it will allow me to try different venues next year.

As I said, other areas of my life suffered a bit, but I am hoping to rebuild those areas over the winter and next year. I will be far more available next year, since I will be limiting how often I do shows. A major area that suffered was my actual creating. Because I was scrambling for a lot of the summer to prepare for show after show, I did not get nearly as much time as I would have liked in the studio. I have several unfinished products, to which I am hoping to return in the very near future. My next show is in about two weeks.

I have also had to put off--again--the roll-out of my website. I'm not going to be using this blog as my main site forever! Because I can't afford to pay someone to build my website, my boyfriend has been gracious enough to help me with it. He showed me as much as he could, and then I planned to take over the project, with him available to help me if I got stuck. Trouble is...well, see above. It's mostly finished. I just need to load photos into my database, and I'm debating whether I want a separate, sparse landing page or whether I'm going to use it as it is now. I don't anticipate being able to get back to it any time soon, so I'm hoping for a launch in early 2011. It's frustrating, but that's a consequence of running a one-woman show.

Finally, I have re-opened a shop at Etsy . I did this in order to stay involved with my local Etsy Street Team (CREST.) They are a great bunch of people, and even though I've been active with their off-site stuff, I have decided I want to be more actively involved again. We are gearing up for our very first Team craft show, and it's been fun helping with the preparations. It's also really good to have a local network.

On a personal note, I am having job troubles, so some of my time has also been devoted to searching for a more suitable position. As most everyone knows, now is a horrible time to be searching for a job. I'm plugging away, though. If my current situation were better, I could devote my job hunting time to my art, but this is simply my reality right now.

These days, I'm lucky if I can fit in one hour a night! That's just life.

I do have some exciting ideas simmering. I was hoping to manifest some of them along with the website, but that is taking too long. As soon as I get my next show behind me, I'm going to start planning and start doing some of these things. I think you will enjoy them! :)

I hope everyone is having a lovely Autumn so far!

Busy, busy summer!

2010-08-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while since I have made a decent post, and for that I am sorry. It has been a very busy and stressful summer for me, and sadly, I have had very little time in the studio. I have a lot of projects backed up, waiting for me to complete them.

I hope to be able to get back to it over the next few weeks, as my next sale (for my vintage items) is to take place on September 4! Also, the weekend of 9/18 and 9/19, I will be selling again up in Thurmont, MD at Stonefence Gardens. More details later.

In the interim, I have had a couple of small photo shoots, a lovely and much-needed vacation, and a Photoshop class. There have also been the normal stresses of everyday life, which we all go through. I have some photos from my vacation to share. I hope to be able to do that soon. I think a few of the images will go up for sale, but I have not had time yet to work on them and make that decision.

I hope to have more time and more to say soon. Meanwhile, I hope that you will enjoy the collections I've put together. They were my first. I have one I did for vintage, which I will post a bit later.

Sadly, I'm not finished running, so I will sign off here by saying that I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer!

My first Artfire Collection.

2010-08-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Bluest Blues

Curated By: JenniferLynnP...

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

POETRY: "Autumn Leaves (Me)"-2 Versions

2010-06-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

2 versions of a poem concept. Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year. For me, it is a time of solemnity, but not a sorrowful solemnity. It is the solemnity of really knowing oneself, of really being comfortable with who one is and where one is in his or her life. It is the time I feel most empowered, not just as a woman, but as a human being.

I love the sights, the smells, and the particular closeness that I feel to the people in my life.

These two pieces take on the esoteric and the more physical aspects (respectively) of who I feel I am at this wonderful time of year. I hope that you will enjoy them!

"Autumn Leaves (Me)" i

Autumn leaves
Me

Languorous, luxurious, wise,
And knowing.

Colors are more real,
The air is thin,
Astringent.

My body feels heavier,
But happy.
I love everything.

Autumn leaves
Me

Content, satisfied, warm,
And open.

My home is here
For all who would seek it:
Family.

I sleep more deeply,
Wake refreshed.
I feel right.

Autumn leaves
Me

In closer touch
With my power:
Queen, goddess, and friend.

As the Veil grows thinner,
I work harder
To help and heal everyone.

(c) 2004 Jennifer L. Moore. Do not duplicate.

**

"Autumn Leaves (Me)" ii

Autumn leaves
Me

Languorous, luxurious, leisurely,
And calm.

Colors and air are crisp,
And I, in my early morning way,
Hold court on the porch.

Barefoot in jeans,
Coffee and a cat at my feet,
I have endless time.

Autumn leaves
Me

Free, lovely, content,
And feminine.

The pulsing yellows of my kitchen call me,
And I, in my "maybe later" way,
Think of foods that love the soul.

Barefoot in breezes,
Coffee and a magazine in my hands,
I have countless ideas.

Autumn leaves
Me

Laughing, lusty, playful,
And alive.

Sleeping man, pillows, and curled up kitten call me to bed,
But I, in my "in the flow" way,
Turn to tasks that make a home and a life beautiful.

(c) 2004 Jennifer L. Moore. Do not duplicate.