pretty lights!

pretty lights!
Originally uploaded by circaceramics

We're outta here for a few days -

When we come back, we'll be gearing up for our Cup-A-Day January 2008 (read here for the 2007 version, which started in February), and thinking of a display/inventory strategy for the ACC Baltimore show :)

Happy Holidays!

Nancy + Andy

Phew!!!

the merchandise mart - pretty!
Originally uploaded by circaceramics

Thanks to everyone that came out to the One of a Kind Show and for all the people that purchased from our Etsy shop. Although we didn't get all the pieces finished that we wanted to (do we ever?) we did manage to come out with some great new work.
We were also amazed by all the people stopping by our booth that first met us at an indie show or referenced Etsy. A year ago only a handful of people mentioned the Renegade Craft Fair (the winter market was taking place the same weekend) and even less knew about Etsy. An example of just how much things have changed in a year, a customer from the show looked us up on Etsy and then called us wondering if it would be possible to purchase an item from our online shop to be picked up at our studio-he even gave us the instructions on how he could do it. Within 2 days he was happy, ready for an ornament party, and even left us feedback!
Finally, for the past few months we've been waiting for the release of a New York Times article about the handmade movement. Over the summer we did a half hour interview with Rob Walker and he even stopped by our booth while checking out the Renegade Craft Fair. We think it is some of the best writing that has been done on this subject.

As Nancy likes to do {{{hugs!}}}...
Andy

we got nothing but time...

Ah, the total freak out.

Our stomachs were finally feeling better after the Ava incident (our doggie is doing WAY better btw), and then we realized, huh, don't we have, like, The Biggest Show Of The Year coming up? Hmm. We better get on that. And we have been gettin.'

DIY Trunk Show was totally awesome too, in case you were wondering - I just wish I wasn't all freaked out about Ava that day - I couldn't really concentrate, I cried when our friend Erica came by (she has a doggie, I knew she'd understand!) so that didn't help much, and I'd sent Andy home to be with Ava. It was such a weird day.

Here's some more stuff that is freaking us out:

1. Clay-body weirdness.
Andy will be writing about this later - But not good when you just bought 2000lbs of it, and need it for the next 2 shows plus orders . ARGH!

2. Media.
The One of a Kind Show has always supported their local artists by promoting their work on local tv stations. One of our plates will be on WGN 9 on this Thursday. EEP!
The New York Times Magazine writer we've been lucky enough to be interviewed by is getting ready to have his Etsy, DIY & Handmade story out before X-Mas. Fact checker will be phoning on Tuesday. EEP!

3. Production.
We have just not been able to keep up with inventory. It's really affecting how we look at a show - Which you may or may not know, is really important when you're trying to get the attention of every shopper using only your display and your product to draw them in - Shining personalities aside :) D'OH!

4. Upcoming Show Season.
Looking kinda bleak, imho. Seriously, I think the trend for these art festivals/fairs (not the indie ones, those draw a very different crowd and mindset) to charge $400 & up for the weekend will come to end once they see that their anchor artists are no longer applying and they're filling the spaces with buy/sell product. The crowds are looking bored, the events are getting WAY to big, and we're being touted, if we're lucky enough to even be mentioned, as entertainment. Did I mention we do about 25 shows a year? About 3/4 of them fall into the $300 & up category? Yep.

We were lucky enough to be accepted into the New Wave of Craft at the American Craft Council's Baltimore Show in February, and I expect that audience to be much more appreciative of the work being presented there. Baltimore! :)

This post is my rant that I promised I'd never put out into the cyberworld - But I do feel so much better having written this - Thanks!

[Andy will be writing about clay stuff later]

Nancy