December EBW Challenge voting and 2011 EBW Challenges in review

I did not have a specific goal for the number of EBW challenges that I wanted to complete in 2011, but I am really proud of the fact that I completed 9 out of the 11 challenges this year, especially with everything that was going on this year.  Among other things, it really pushed me to develop the high-end price selection for my shop, including a brand new product line and pattern for it.  I'm not sure that I ever would have done this on my own, but as an artist, I think that it's important to have this high-end work as part of my repertoire.  I have put a lot of hard work into these challenges this year.  It's high time for a little review.

Before I get to that, here's my entry for the December EBW Challenge Arabesque Style.  You can read more about this piece right here.  It's part of my brand new line of wrap bracelets/necklaces that I will officially release next month.  It's available for sale here.

Voting for the EBW Challenge takes place on the blog today through December 15.  Please check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.  If you can't see the clickable mosaic, click here.

Here's a look back at my other entries from this year.  Click on any of the photos to see larger versions of them.

 

As part of the challenge aspect, I also created two brand new PDF patterns.

PROS

• While some get a lot more than others, in general, my challenge items get tons of views and hearts.
• Regardless of the complexity of my pieces, participating in challenges always brings a lot of traffic to my shop.
• Every challenge that I've participated in has helped me to grow as an artist.
• As already mentioned, these challenges push me to create higher-end pieces that I most likely would not make on my own.  They are a wonderful showcase for my shop and for my inventory selection at craft fairs.
• For 2011, I created a new line of right angle weave cuffs from this challenge.  I also created two of the first pieces for my wrap bracelet/necklace line, which was a great sneak peek for my customers.
• While patterns are a lot of work initially, especially on top of creating the challenge piece itself, they are lasting products for my shop.  Having two new patterns is a great asset for my Etsy shop.
• In August, my Strawberry Fields Forever Cuff placed 10th in the popular vote and 2nd in the private team vote, which was a huge ego boost.  I have many of you to thank for that popular vote placement!

CONS

• While my higher-end pieces get a lot of views, they don't sell very quickly.
• I have had a couple sales from these new patterns, but not nearly as many as I hoped that I would.  At least they aren't going anywhere and may take off at any point.

What's the plan for 2012?

• My goal is to participate in at least 6 challenges in 2012.  We start the BBA Challenges in January.  BBA members have to participate in 6 of those per year so I don't want to burn myself out with too many challenges.
• At least 4 out of those 6 EBW challenge pieces have to fit into current shop lines or must fit into my current shop style and average price point.  One of my biggest goals for 2012 is to continue to narrow my shop focus.  I will be growing my new wrap bracelet/necklace line and want most of my other new inventory to fit into existing lines with just a few one of a kind pieces in the mix.  My challenge items have to fit into this equation.
• While my EBW challenge items obviously have to have large portions of beadweaving, my BBA challenge items can be any medium.  I may use some of them for shop pieces, but I will most likely be using many of them for other projects.  While I love jewelry making, I don't want to burn out on it.  Also, I will be expanding my craft fair inventory and craft fair display options in 2012, which will include many opportunities to meet BBA challenge themes.

I appreciate everyone's support with all of the EBW challenges this past year and looking forward to sharing my EBW and BBA challenges this next year!

first fall 2011 show review

Over the weekend, I did my first of two craft shows that I have scheduled for fall 2011.  I found out about this show through the Milwaukee Area Artists & Crafters Team on Etsy..  Joining local teams is a great way to learn about local shows.  I hadn't been to this show before, but people had positive things to say about it on the team thread.  It was very close to my house and was pretty inexpensive, so I decided to give it a shot.

It ended up being the best smaller show that I've ever done.  There weren't huge crowds, but the people who did come were there to buy.  It was at a school, and there was a very supportive group of teachers, parents, and students who all came and shopped.  Aside from the hour right around noon, I had pretty steady sales all day.  I also got to network with some of the other local artists, including a few people from the team, and some of the teachers.

I changed a few things about my booth set up from my 2010 shows.  I think that all of these changes helped.

One long table: Instead of making a half square shape with a longer table flanked by two shorter tables on either side, I made one long table.  I actually did this for the Iowa Art's Festival, too, but this one was longer.  I still had space on both sides so people could easily walk around and reach everything that they needed.

More jewelry displays: I added a couple necklace displays to to the couple bracelet displays that I already had.  I wanted to get them through Michael's, but they didn't have any, so I ended up ordering from Oriental Trading.  I thought about getting a couple more bracelet displays, but I'll hold off until next year.  I didn't have a lot of interest in necklaces.  However, I still had more people looking at them when they were displayed like that.

More vertical displays: The necklace displays were part of my vertical plan.  One thing that I've felt that my booth has lacked in the past is vertical displays.  I've needed more things that will catch the eye from far away.  I'd used the magnet board a couple times before.  This was the first time I used the bulletin board for my tacks and some of my earrings.  I taped down both of my easels.  Even with an indoor show, it's still pretty easy for them to get tipped over.  Taping them down significantly reduces that possibility.  I didn't have any problems with it this time, which was awesome.

I didn't get a close up of the pin display that I used for this show.  I took inspiration from Connie of AsteropeBC who uses a bowl filled with uncooked rice for her pins/brooches.  I filled a tin with clear decorative rocks (which coordinates with the other decorative rocks that I have in little cups in my booth).

Not only did it work well for the display, but I sold ALL of the pins that I had!  I will definitely be making more of these for the next fall show.  I mostly made heart ones, but I'll expand a little and use some other themes as well for this next batch.

Less price signs: In the past, I have used more price signs like the $15.00 one that you can see in the upper left hand corner of this picture.  These signs do work well, but I have so many price points now that I couldn't use a lot of the designs that I had used previously.  I still had everything tagged individually and sorted by price point, which was pretty effective.  I still answered questions about pricing, but I think that's to be expected no matter what.

Again, all in all, definitely a successful show.  I'm planning to keep my set up very similar for the second show that I have next month.

Here are a few of my items that now have new homes.  I pulled most of these listings until I can decide if I want to make them made to order or not.  If you're interested in anything similar, let me know.

I just re-shot this one before the show.  This is a perfect example of a piece that does work well with the light gray, but still has a terrible thumbnail.   If anyone has any advice on this, it would be much appreciated.

I also took a big 3 piece custom order during the show.   I'll make sure to post pictures of it here before I get it to the buyer.

I used this post for Erika's 10/24 Link Party.