The other day Gary came in the house and said he found an apple tree in our back yard. We've lived here a little over a year and our roles have reversed. I stay inside working with clay and Gary works outside taking care of the landscape surrunding our home. I said there aren't any apple trees back there. He said yeah there is, there's a small shrub with some apple looking things on it.
I went out to inspect. I found a small persimmon tree with a few persimmon fruit on it. Isn't that the most luscious color? While I was out there I heard the tap, tap, tapping of a woodpecker. I looked up to see a pileated woodpecker in a dead tree chipping away for insects. Kind of hard to see him on the left side of the tree, but he's there. The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America and can reach 20 inches in length. What treasures I discover even on a short walk out of doors.
No matter what's happening around me, I can always find something joyous in nature. Here's a gopher tortoise tile I made today. We have lots of these tortoise around here too.
Remember I had my doubts about bringing my pottery to a show recently. The show was local and the entry fee was reasonable. Well the results were OK but not great. Based upon the comments of the organizers, I brought only inexpensive items to the show, all $20 or under. One item for $15 sold, the rest were less than that. The entry fee for the show was $50 and I sold $100 worth of items. Gary said even a penny profit is a profit. Gotta love a positive attitude.
I decided to arrive at the end of the show early to see what sold and what didn't. This show is set up and run by the organizers so artisans don't have to be present while items are being sold. When I arrived they said someone had stopped in and asked where my work was, an admirer or a lurker, hopefully an admirer. As I looked around I couldn't help but notice many of my items were placed at the back of tables or on the lowest shelves so were less likely to be seen.
There was one other potter in the show. I noticed she had lots of bowls left at the end. I also saw a beautiful covered round bowl of hers priced at $10 which didn't sell, but it was barely visible on a lower shelf. I think that show is mostly to showcase and sell items made by members and the organizers, jewelry, knitted scarfs, and painted glass. Live and learn. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
I think to double the entry fee was pretty good especially as you had no say in the setup.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, thanks, yes and I'm glad I followed their advice about the price points, it paid off in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI've had a pileated woodpecker visiting my yard again lately. They are so big! You were lucky to get a picture. Mine's pretty jittery. Any show with sales has to be considered a success, but it's too bad the organizers didn't organize a bit more fairly.
ReplyDeleteA persimmon tree. That's pretty cool.
The village near us looks sleepy, like a postcard. One would think nothing ever happened here. HA! Merchants I know say it's the most back-biting, aggressive place around. Yep, Gary's right, you turned a profit and are building a following...now, back to that rooster!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, in addition to the entry fee, you have to figure in the time it takes to pack, deliver etc. At least you didn't have to be there, although you probably would have sold more if you had been. I always used to sell more at group shows when I was there to talk about my work. Customers love to feel connected with the maker. The high sellers at the coop Christmas pottery sale were the higher and highest priced members, because they were there to talk about their work. Alas, the board of the entire association thought they could make improvements....enough said!
ReplyDeleteLove those 'yellow apples'. Do you get to eat them or do the animals get them before they are ripe? Birds don't seem to care about persimmon pucker.
I hope you were joking about putting the rooster on a lot of less expensive stuff. He's too wonderful and deserves the very best. You have a distinctive, appealing style. Don't sell yourself short.
Hi Teresa, thanks, yes counting my lucky stars on the sales, I tried to get closer for a better photo, but he flew away so he was pretty jittery too. Probably birds that big and colorful have to be careful as they are easily seen. Yeah cool to have a persimmon and not even know it. Ha.
ReplyDeleteHi Kittie, thanks, back biting, I guess in this economy that is true in a lot of places, you really like that rooster, I better make some more. Roosters are really popular, I guess they are an icon for farming in a way. Farm animals are somehow comforting of bygone days I think.
Hi Smartcat, thanks, yes I was kidding about the rooseter, I just can't bring myself to mass produce stuff and anyway I can't compete with mass produced item prices nor the amount of energy and time needed to produce them. I would be much too bored for that. Although I might make some more colorful roosters and perhaps a hen or two to go along with him. One of the persimmons which was more ripe had four peck holes in it so I think the birds will probably get most of them.
ReplyDeletetoo bad the set up wasn't great... that is the downside of someone else displaying your work. we recently removed some work from a gallery and brought new things in. they had one of jeff's goblets that was a cool sculpture of a head, on shelf near the floor where you couldn't even see what it was.
ReplyDeleteat least you gave them a try and made a little money.
persimmon Pudding! you are now in the south- look for a recipe.
ReplyDeleteLearning curves are there forever!
Hi Michele, thanks, yes items placed low do not sell at all; that's why I build those tall shelves. At our recent garage sale I used those shelves, and made the bottom shelf the least priced shelf, no sales on the bottom even though it was priced less. Folks either don't look down or are to too lazy to bend down. Ha. Yep, I always say some money is better than no money at all.
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, thanks, persimmon pudding, hum I'll have to look that one up for sure. Yes the learning curve happens every day. And with the changing economy what we might have known or learned last year may not be the same this year or in this state.
I lived in a house with an apple tree in the back yard. I didn't realize it was an apple tree for years until one summer it started growing fruit, just one. It was the weirdest thing.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a different world you live in with persimmons and tortoises! We have pileated woodpeckers here in Minnesota, however. They are an awesome bird--and we have some really big and ugly snapping turtles!
ReplyDeleteHi Lori, thanks, I once planted an apple tree when we lived in the mountains, it never did get any fruit or blossom, I think it was too shady for it.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Sparrow, thanks, yes it is truly different here, the water turtles here we call sliders as they slide into the water, but the tortoise lives entirely on land and lives in a burrow, hence the name gopher tortoise, I love the pileated woodpeckers they are so prehistoric looking somehow.
I love your hubby's positive attitude. A $50 profit is very good.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda..beautiful art as always..simply gorgeous! and I love the photo of the woodpecker..they are such gentle giants..! Wonderful about your show..shine on!I think that;s great!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos..happy creating..
Victoria
Perhaps you could display your objects yourself next tine? Love the top photo...soft and lovely colour.
ReplyDeleteLovely photo! When I had my crafts business, I had a shop in my home and I did several shows a year. But I also had my stuff in 2 consignment shops that generated a nice monthly income. Are there any in your area?
ReplyDeleteHi Gigi, thanks, yes any profit is good.
ReplyDeleteHi Victoria, thanks, yes happy creating for sure.
Hi Kate, thanks, I do love the soft surface of those persimmon.
Hi Marguerite, thanks, I just put my work in a local cooperative art gallery (see side bar); am searching for more appropriate places for my work. We have a community sale in November and I am working with some other artists here to see if we can have an artists tour and I have a few more shows coming up too.