This project was a lot of fun for me. Honestly I’ve been feeling a bit burned out on making stuff with the intent of selling it, because I think that intent does influence my process, not always for the best. But it’s also sort of depressing just making stuff and assuming nobody else will ever see it. So it was awesome to make something that is not ever going to be for sale but also knowing that it will be going somewhere where people can see it!

I’m now a member of InLiquid, a Philadelphia arts organization! Here’s my profile on the InLiquid site (which includes the only artist statement I’ve ever written that I don’t totally hate.)

I’ll be at Clover again on Sunday November 6- the last one until the spring, and not too soon to start thinking about Christmas gifts!

Big thanks to everyone who came out to Art for the Cash Poor this year, and an extra big thanks to my mom and sister for all the help!  Also, nice seeing some familiar faces and making new acquaintances among my fellow vendors.

This time I experimented with my setup a little bit- opening it up a little more and putting the jewelry table outside the tent. I probably won’t be able to do this at some shows due to space constrictions but I’ll definitely do this again if I have the space.

I’ve done a whole bunch of shows with my tent since I got it two years ago, but I still find it amusing to tinker with and improve my setup. This was also my first show with my super cool new jewelry display. The bottom part is an old printer’s type drawer I got from a vintage vendor at the April Clover Market (I’ve forgotten their name or I would post a link!). I attempted something like this last year. Bought a type drawer from Ebay, but then decided the spaces were too small to really work. I took out some of the dividers between spaces, but then I didn’t really have enough spaces for all my necklaces. I ended up propping it on my desk and using it as a display for random odds and ends (beach pebbles, seashells, broken glass things, old pocket watch, random found things that aren’t good for jewelry…)

The new type tray has the perfect size spaces for my optician lens necklaces. My super awesome dad added the lid, using these special hinges that keep it open at any angle. There are hooks in the lid for hanging other necklaces from, and he even perfectly matched the color of the original drawer and banged it up a bit with a hammer and chisel so it would look old.

This time I also brought one of the frames that came with the optician lens sets I use for making necklaces since I’ve gotten tired of trying to describe them. I got three inquiries about how much I was selling them for! Not ready to part with them quite yet…

Also, a big thanks to my mom, who filled in for my usual Designated Helper and Schlepper of Stuff, who was off kicking ass in the Broad St. Run. Looking forward to the next Clover Market in June!

She worked on it first, and added some flowers and leaves and such. The brown fronds were originally intended to stick straight up, but they melted a bit in my car. I think they actually look really cool like that, so it turned out to be a happy accident. Here’s a picture of it before I added anything:

My original plan was to make some cardboard painted birds to add, since it reminded me of a nest. But then when I sat down to work on it I ended up doing something entirely different! It was fun to work on and a good way to use up some of the larger watch and clock parts that I haven’t been able to use in jewelry.

Our bra will be on exhibit at either the West Chester or Exton branch of the Chester County Art Association from October 8 to November 5!

With each show I like to experiment with my setup- this time I added a separate table for the necklaces, and also a portfolio book of every digital collage I’ve made so people could order prints even if I didn’t have a framed print on display. I also decided to use just one table display rack instead of two, which I think was a bit nicer and less claustrophobic.

Big thanks to everyone who bought something, everyone who gave me nice compliments on my work, and of course Caryn for all the help! Oh and it was nice meeting some more fellow Handmade Philly members in person and seeing some I already knew!