Thoughts on Making and Craft Fairs and Self-Esteem

April 30, 2018
by Fun 'N 'Fiber Functional Ceramics and Handmade Jewelry


This past Saturday I bought a table at a small local arts & crafts fair.  I am always hesitant to do this for several reasons.

1)  I am a hobby potter, NOT a production potter.  According to Wikipedia, "production pottery refers to systematically producing wheel thrown pottery that is identical to each other.  It perhaps might be considered to be mass production pottery."   I am going to add that potters that hand-build their ceramics can also be production potters.  I know potters who make multitudes of hand-built trays, mugs, bowls, etc.  Generally, production potters make a living solely by making pottery, so they need a lot of product.

Some examples of production pottery:

                  

photo sources: International Journal of Arts , Joel Cherrico Pottery and Terradolus Pottery.

Hobby potters, or small batch potters, by contrast, don't usually make many multiples of their work - at least not as many as production potters do.  This is where the distinction between production and hobby potters blurs, because some hobby/small-batch potters do make multiples of items to sell, just not on as large a scale.  

When does small-batch pottery become production pottery?    I am not exactly sure.  But I do know that I am NOT a production potter.  I don't want to be.  This is a hobby for me.  Something to do now that my kids are off (and almost off) to college.  And, craft fairs get me thinking about volume/quantity.  You need to have enough to fill your table or booth and attract customers to that table/booth.  And that makes me feel pressure, which I don't need or want.  This is one reason I hesitate to "do" craft fairs.

2) I want pottery to be fun for me.   When I start feeling pressure, I get stressed and then it isn't fun anymore.  That can happen when I need to make a certain quantity of items (as for a craft fair) or a number of items to fill inventory at the local gallery shop  that carries my ceramics.  I have found that when this happens, I need to take a step back, breath deeply, and just play with clay. 

The last time I did this, I decided to hand-build something large.  I ended up with this:

Which now looks like this (the octopus "cap" cracked during the bisque/1st firing):

                            

                                  (I apologize for the terrible photography.  These are just studio shots to document my progress.)

I am unclear how this will turn out.  I plan to put some gold luster overglaze on it.  It will be what it will be.  But it was fun, and the next day I was back making items that I "normally" make.

Keeping it fun and not putting stress on myself is a big reason I hesitate to "do" craft fairs.

3)  But the ultimate reason I hesitate to participate in craft fairs, might be dubbed "self esteem," for lack of a better word.  All artists put the whole of themselves into their work.  They put their heart and soul, their entire "being," into their craft.  So when someone doesn't buy it, it can feel like a personal rejection.   The logic goes like this: 

Don't buy my "product" 

⥥

Don't like my work

⥥

Don't like me / Don't like who I am as a person

A lot has been written on this topic.  Gwenn Seemel wrote a great blog post about this topic in 2011.  She discusses how she has to seperate herself from her work.  She states that she had to stop "looking at [her]... paintings as an extension of [herself]...and [start]... seeing them more as objects with their own lives to lead" in order to not be almost "paralyzed by a sever lack of self-esteem."  Seemel states that keeping this separation intact is important because it:  

• "keeps the more vulnerable parts of [her]... safe
• "criticism of ]her]... work doesn't feel like criticism of [her]"

When she talks about criticism of her work, Seemel is talking more about critic's reviews of her work that are "out there" for all to read.  But for me, not having a lot of (or any) customers at a craft fair is my biggest fear because customers not buying my work IS a critique my work, and, by association, a critique of me.  They would buy it if they liked it/me, therefore, they aren't buying it because they don't like it/me.  I am "deathly" afraid of being that table at a craft fair that nobody is standing in front of!

I really need to work on taking Gwenn Semmel's advice, and separate myself from my work.

My solution?  

Only sign up for a few small craft fairs.  

I live in a small town in Northern New Mexico.  Luckily, we have some small groups who, as fundraisers, sponsor craft fairs, mostly around the holidays.  The one last weekend was sponsored by the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary.   I forgot my table cloth, and my set up was far from the professional set-ups you see at large craft fairs, but you can (apparently) get away with that at small, local craft fairs, because I actually sold quite a bit!

 

Photo of my table at last weekend's craft fair.  photo credit Maire O'Neill/ladailypost.com

We do have regular/large art/craft fairs in town about 4 times a year, but I have yet to sign up for any of them, mostly because of the reasons listed above, but also because they only provide a tent.  Each artist has to fill their tent with their own tables, shelving, etc.  I have none of that stuff.  I don't even have a sign with my business' name on it!  And, I am not planning on being one of those makers who travels from fair to fair, selling their product, so I really don't want to invest in those things.

Scenes from past "large" craft fairs in my town:

     

photo sources:  Fuller Lodge Art Center and Los Alamos Arts Council

Still, I am seriously considering participating in the 2018  Los Alamos Artist Studio Tour which will take place October 13-14.  AND, I need to get my act together and make a decision ASAP because the registration deadline is May 15, which is exactly 15 days away! 

Although the filling-a-tent-with-furniture-and-signage obstacle is not an issue for this event, the don't-stress-making-a-lot-of-product, keep-it-fun, and self-esteem issues are still present.  I am seriously leaning towards participating.  But just writing that last sentence sent a cramp through my stomach!  Yikes!

I am going to "bite the bullet" and fill out the form later today or tomorrow.  (But I still might change my mind!)   😜

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How Geodes Are Formed

April 22, 2018

by Margie of Fun 'N Fiber

I recently had a special order for a heart necklace with an American Sign Language "I Love You" charm.  I dutifully took out all my stone heart pendants, photographed them, and sent them to the customer.  The one she chose is amazing!  While working with it, I noticed its gorgeous variations and that got me thinking about how amazing geodes are!  I know agate slice jewelry is super popular and trendy right now.  Most of these slices are slices of geodes.  So I thought I'd do a post about how geodes form.  

First things first.  This is a photo of the pendant she chose, and resulting necklace.  Simple and beautiful.

        

You can find lots of beautiful natural stone heart necklaces in my shop, or convo me for a custom order!


Here are some other gorgeous agate hearts I have in stock right now:                    
                        

I like holding them up to the light because agate is mostly translucent, and you can really see its gorgeous banding in the light.

But how do these amazing bands and shapes form?

Most form within a geode.  Geodes can form in both igneous (volcanic) rock and sedimentary rock.  They are most prevalent in igneous/volcanic rock, partially because there are a ton of ancient lava flows around the world.  Here in America, old lava flows are the BEST places for geode-hunters to find them!  So, I am going to discuss igneous rock geodes below.

I found this diagram here, and though it is not the best diagram, it is pretty good.

Basically, when a volcano erupts, gas bubbles get trapped in the lava.  These gas bubbles form holes or cavities (called vesicles) in the cooled volcanic rock.  As water (rain, streams, etc) flow over the lava rock, these cavities fill with fluids rich in dissolved and suspended quartz molecules and other minerals.  Over time, these quartz molecules and minerals begin to form small crystals that attach to the inside walls of the cavity.  These crystals are called druse.

As thousands (millions) of years pass, more water containing different amounts and types of quartz molecules and other minerals flow into the cavity and form layers.  The original crystals (druse) get "filled in" and new crystals form on top of the new layers of agate.  These layers of agate form bands that may "contrast" depending on their mineral content.  This pattern of filling in layers, and forming crystals in the "center" space is repeated over hundreds, thousand, and even millions of years.

Due to its composition of quartz molecules (silica), the type of stone that forms in a geode is agate.  Agate is a semi-precious gemstone.  There are many different types of agate (dendritic agate, Brazilian agate, moss agate, crazy lace agate, etc.) besides geode agate.  Most, but not all, agates are translucent.  Most geode agates are translucent.

When you slice a geode open, you can find one that is entirely, partially, or slightly "filled in."

(above photos taken from here, here and here.)

This is a spectacular geode from Uruguay I found at Geologyin.com:

The largest AMETHYST geode ever found was also found in Uruguay:

It weighs 20,000 kg (That's 44,092.5 pounds or 22 tons, to us Americans).  An average elephant only weighs 5,000 kg (~11,000 lbs)  That's 5 elephants worth of stone!!!!

Here's a photo of it being transported and another with a man sitting in it!
(source: Verandah Magazine)























For jewelry, geode slices and carved shapes are often infused with color(s).  This highlights their stunning banding and makes their crystal formations/shapes more visible.  They are sliced, carved into shapes (hearts, wings, crosses, animals, etc.), or carved into beads.

I have some amazing geode agate necklaces available in my shop right now:

            
              Angel Wing Necklace                                        Blue & White Geode Slice Necklace


          
          Red Carnelian & Geode Slice Necklace                     Pink Geode Tassel Necklace



                                   

Blue & Red Dragon Vein Agate Heart Necklace                    Blue Agate Cross Necklace


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Fun'N Fiber Handmade Jewelry and Ceramics

Yarn Artists Rejoice!

April 6, 2018

Fun 'N Fiber Ceramics and Handmade Jewelry


So, my pottery has been selling like gangbusters locally at Fuller Lodge Art Center Gallery Shop, so I've been busy, busy, busy making pottery and neglecting this blog, which is in its infancy, and my Etsy shop.

Today, I listed several new yarn bowls in my Etsy shop so I thought it would be a great time to post about using yarn bowls.

Yarn bowls are a great way to keep your yarn and project organized while you are working on it.  Larger yarn bowls can hold 2+ colors at once!

Whether you knit, crochet or do some other art form that requires pulling long strands of yarn at a time, a yarn bowl is likely what you need.  A yarn bowl:
1)  Keeps your yarn balls from rolling all over the floor while you are knitting or crocheting.
2)  Keeps your fiber project and tools (needles, hooks, etc.) all in one place while you are not working on your project.
3)  Keeps your cat from chasing your yarn balls all over the room, thereby creating a whole lotta extra work for you!
4)  Makes you smile while you "work"!

Yarn bowls are easy to use.  Simply put your ball (or balls) of yarn in the bowl and pul the yarn through the slit/groove or hole.  To keep multiple colors from tangling, put each color through a different hole.  Place the bowl nearby (on the floor, on a table, on a footstool, etc.), rotate it slightly, so that the yarn forms and angle at the slit/hole, and you're ready to roll.  (YOU are ready to roll, but your yarn will not!)

There are many types of yarn bowls out there, but why not choose a handmade yarn bowl?  Each is a unique creation and physical manifestation of an artist's imagination!  Plus, you are supporting an artist maker (rather than a big box store).  And every time you buy handmade, the maker does a happy dance (literally)!

Here are 3 yarn bowls you can find in my shop today:

Blue Birds Yarn Bowl (above)

This bowl is done with a sgraffito (pronounced: skräˈfētō) technique.  I plan to devote a future blog post to this technique, but briefly, sgraffito is a form of decoration made by scratching through the surface to reveal a lower layer of contrasting color.  This cheerful bowl features 5 pretty blue birds chirping away under a swirly sky.  I do most of my sgraffito free-hand, so every piece will be different!

 Octopus Yarn Bowl (Above)

This bowl was fluted at the top right off the wheel.  When it was dry, I hand painted the octopus and fish, using a "water color" technique for the background, so it looks like water.  This whimsical octopus is knitting away in his under-the-sea grotto!

Mermaid Yarn Bowl (Above)

This yarn bowl combines several surface decoration techniques.  While the bowl is still "wet", I shape the mermaid by hand and attach her and the shells to the outside.  The seaweed is then painted on and outlined with a modified sgraffito technique.  When dry, I painted the mermaid and shells.  The same watercolor technique was used for the watery background as was used on the octopus bowl above.

A Yarn Bowl by any other Name....

I hope you check out my yarn bowls here.  And if you don't see anything you like, just ask!  I love to do special orders.

But, if you want to search for other hand made yarn bowls, here are some other names you might find them under:  knitting bowl, crochet bowl, yarn pot, yarn storage 

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