Workshop wrap up

I led a workshop at Montserrat College of Art this past weekend about being an artist and a businessperson. The main focus of the workshop was getting your work online using Etsy and I talked loads about social networking, selling at craft fairs, licensing and gave all the tips I could think of. It was eight hours of enthusiastically trying to show creative people who are on the fence about selling their work how to go for it! It was seriously so much fun and I couldn't be more proud about the response I've gotten from the participants. I'm feeling very warm and fuzzy about all the feedback and I can't wait to see the shops they set up.

I know I haven't got it all figured out for myself but teaching people what I know has helped me see how far I've come.

I can't wait until my next workshop! Teaching is the best. I am learning so much.

My opinion on dealing with copy-cattery

I've been meaning to talk about copying and was reminded of the issue when shopping around Etsy today. I saw an item that gave me a sinking feeling because it strongly resembled one of my most loved designs. I can honestly say that upon seeing the item, my body temperature rose for a few moments. This has happened to me about a dozen times. My immediate reaction to seeing a potential mimic is to be either indignant or foaming-at-the-mouth enraged. After dealing with this feeling for years (sometimes poorly) I have a plan of action I feel confident to recommend.

Next time you come across something you deem a copy of your work, try this:

1. Be really upset for as long as you feel really upset but please do not do a single thing. If you must vent your anger, make sure you are speaking to a small private audience. I like to call my Mom because she is always on my side and makes me feel like I can overcome any injustice.

2. Once your passionate fury has subsided to a low growl, take a deep breath and eat a big bowl of humility because the next part requires a clear mind.

3. Examine the copy-ness of the copy. I'm not really discussing rip-offs shipped overseas and mass produced. I'm mostly focusing on the idea of artists and crafters stealing from other artists and crafters. It is painfully obvious when huge companies copy because they barely bother to hide it. This advice mostly does not apply to big companies who practice creative theft.

Most copies in question fall along the similarity spectrum of fraternal twins to distant relations by marriage. To determine if you have reason to take action, ask yourself these questions:

- Research! Did the item in question appear after yours? Do they seem to have some creative ideas in their portfolio or shop or does it all look like copies? Does the alleged copier clearly have knowledge of your existence (i.e.- they bought from you in the past, repeated your writing, used your product photographs, you are so super famous that Martha Stewart asked for your autograph)

- Is your art made of pieces that other people can purchase and assemble? Jewelry findings, clip art, anything made of things manufactured on a large scale? Unless dramatically modified, it is easy to see how similar items could be created from similar pieces.

- Do you think you are the only person who has ever done this? Seriously? I am not trying to be mean but there are lots of productive and creative people out there and sometimes lightning strikes twice especially if you are using an on-trend vocabulary of imagery.

- If your technique or item is very simple, what makes it distinctly yours? It is a gray area for sure but I think this part requires SOUL SEARCHING about what makes your vision unique.

4. If you have come this far and still believe that a person knowingly imitated your totally original item without a dash of their own creativity, you are ready to make your case... to a friend (no lawyers yet!). I hope you have a friend who you can trust who will take this concern seriously and knows that their role is to try to be an objective copycat juror and not a nodding-in-agreement machine. If you can convince your level-headed friend that you have been wronged, feel confident to take the first step of confrontational action!

5. After your friend's agreement, you may be tempted to spill just a tiny bit of venom online. Don't blow it! I believe it is ethical to open a dialogue with the accused before rallying an internet gang against them. I like to employ a firm but non-harassing tone. Maybe talking to them will make you realized that the offender just walked the line of inspiration vs copy a little too closely and you have an opportunity to set them straight. Even better, you may have found a kindred creative person who sees the world the way you do and makes similar art; maybe you should be friends with them!

6. I rarely have had to bust out my Cease and Desist Letter *legal shivers* because most people I've contacted have apologized and promised to stop or convinced me that they were possibly innocent. If your copycat doesn't reply to talking like a normal person, please use the power of legalese and draft one of these puppies and talk about your fake lawyer while you start researching how to find a real lawyer.

7. 95% of the time there is no need for a step 7 in situations of artists stealing from artists. If you are here at step 7 and still want to proceed, I have become useless to you. Thankfully, I have only needed to go this far. If anyone can recommend some resources for serious legal action, I welcome them in the comments.

Did you notice that I have not included a step that recommends you use all the power of your Blog and Twitter followers to drum up intellectual property outrage about your case? Sorry! I know that being validated by the masses is delicious BUT it is also unwise. If you get a lawyer, your lawyer will tell you not to talk about the case. Heck, too much craptalking (aka slander) could have legal consequences for you too!

I hope that next time you are faced with the stressful situation of dealing with copyright infringement, you find my method helpful. In the case of the piece of art I saw on Etsy today that I thought could be a mimic of my design, It didn't make it past step three and was not even close enough for me to feel I needed to confront the artist.

I also hope that the next time you hear one of your favorite artists accuse someone of infringing, that you don't join in for a quick conviction. My theory is that the best way a person can help the original artist is to promote and support of their creativity rather than rally against some designer impostor (lets not drive traffic to their site).

Maybe I am too soft. I'd love to discuss this topic more. Have you ever been too quick to call foul? Do you think it is appropriate for an artist to publicly accuse another artist? Have you ever thought something was your brand new creative idea only to realize someone else had been doing it before you?

My first workshop is a doozy!

Next month I'm teaching my first workshop at the school I graduated from five years ago! I'm very thankful that Chelsea invited me back to Montserrat College of Art to lead an introductory class for people who want to start selling their work on Etsy or at craft fairs.

The class is on October 15th and 16th from 10-3. At first I was a little intimidated by the idea of giving ten hours of content but once I started outlining the class and all I would like to cover, I almost feel like I will have to rush! I expect it will be an enthusiastic whirlwind of information and handouts. My goal is that all the students will have shaken off any self doubt and intimidation about putting their work out there and feel confident in their craft fair vendor/ online shopkeeping skills!

Today I made a massive list of tips for having happy customers, an attractive shop, good descriptions, reliable packaging and effective promotion and I suddenly became gripped with the feeling that I do not always practice what I preach! I would really hate to be telling students what to do but also secretly knowing my own shop is not the most shining example. So today I am starting a shop overhaul. I will critique my own product shots and policies and descriptions as thoughtfully as I plan to critique the students.

I should be doing this anyway but it is nice to have a nudge with a deadline.

Here is a link to Montserrat's continuing education class list. Mine is called "ETSY (AND MORE!) FOR ARTISTS" and costs $100 for the weekend. I think that is a pretty darn good deal for ten whole hours of advice. If I gave ten tips per hour, that is only one dollar per gem of wisdom! Yes, I know that is a ridiculous way to think about it but I do think that this class will help people get a strong start at selling and that it will be a good investment in the success of their business.

http://www.montserrat.edu/continuing-ed/workshops.php#a117
Beverly, MA

If you can think of any artists/ makers in the area who need a nudge or a mentor, I would be very grateful if you would show them my class.

Proud Lions

The spring printing spree I've been on hasn't slowed yet. I made another new card design! This time, a pride of lions is lounging lazily under a tree. My favorite is the lioness in the tree all flopped out. The life!

This print marks the first time I've mixed my own custom color ink for a print. Gocco inks come in such an array that I've never needed to stray from using ink straight from the tube. This time I had a very specific idea of what I was going for. I wanted a 60s/70s cream and copper and goldenrod color scheme so I mixed an ink with 3 parts fancy sparkle gold, 1 part red and a touch of dark brown. I like it!

This card is available in my Etsy shop (as if you didn't know that was what I was getting at).

pssst

A few years ago I put out a gocco print edition that featured three colorful and boldly patterned snakes. I thought they looked good but I had that edition collect dust on Etsy for two whole years without selling a single one! I remember vowing never to try to sell something with a snake on it again because they don't seem to have any commercial appeal.

Too bad I love snakes. Yes, even the really big ones, the ones that hang from tree branches all creepy and the ones with venomous fangs. So, I broke the promise to my practical self and started printing up another snake design. This one features a harmless green snake with a secret and has just slithered into the shop.

My friend Liz suggested that the snake cards may be an unexpected success since that famous adventurer, the Bronx Zoo Cobra, has used his charm to gain tons of Twitter followers and has surely done a lot for the popularity of snakekind.

Big happenings this weekend. RENEGADE!

Today is my last full day of work before heading off to New York City as a vendor at The Renegade Craft Fair! I have been crazy nervous for weeks while I tried to amass inventory, work on my display and get a credit card machine. It's all coming together just in time and I'm finally feeling genuine excitement. I am so very thankful that I am able to participate in Renegade this year! I have actually had this as a goal in my mind before I even had a business! There are so many makers that will be showing at Renegade who I hold in such high regard that I am proud to be beside them. This is by far the biggest event I've ever been a part of!

Are any of you fine blog followers going to be selling or shopping there? Please let me know so I can look forward to meeting you!

Stampin' fiend!

I wonder if I'll ever truly catch up on all the investments I've made for my business. I can't seem to employ the same rigorus budget restraint I have adopted for personal spending to my business. I just love buying new tools, fine paper and amassing every single tip size of Micron Pens and every color of Gocco ink under the sun.

My latest business splurge is three beautiful custom wood-mounted rubber stamps from fellow Etsy seller, Love To Create Stamps! I bought a scarf-bunny stamp first so I (well, Theresa made most of them) could make some stickers and I loved it so much that I promptly ordered my logo stamp and a thank-you snail. I am already planning my next stamp (a "do not bend" design for my outgoing packages featuring an inchworm).

I have been stamping anything that has a spare inch of blank space.

A handful of fine things

Here are five things that I am especially happy about right now.

1. Tomorrow is the grand opening of the Cute Show at the ellO Gallery and I can't wait to see my work on display and meet the other artists. Ah, what to wear?

2. A new machine has debuted that is a self-contained screenprinting device much like the Gocco. It's called the YUDU and looks like it has the potential to satisfy me in some way after I run out of supplies for my beloved Gocco printer. This gives me hope.

3. Etsy and Apartment Therapy have teamed up for a new creative competition called "Do It Now!" which encourages everyone to finally tackle a small household project in a creative way. I have so many ideas for fixing up my place that I never start so I am glad for the little nudge. Actually, the possibility of winning a $250 Etsy shopping spree is kind of a big nudge. I've already begun to spruce up the entryway to our apartment.

4. I am going on a business/fun trip! My old friend Ashley (of Fern Animals) and I are headed to New York City next week for the premire of Handmade Nation and to hear a lecture by Faythe Levine. I can't wait!

5. I finally thought of a concept for my first attempt at zinemaking and, by popular request, it will be overflowing with bunny illustrations.

I'll elaborate on all these super things in other posts but I just felt like bursting and wanted to share. Let me know what you're especially overjoyed about and help keep this glee-bubble intact!

Button

Well, my sickness has subsided and I'm on the mend. The only real symptoms I'm still experiencing are a stuffy nose and unquenchable sleepiness. I haven't moved much from the couch but I have stayed semi-productive nonetheless. Justin has been helping me with the mighty task of overhauling argylewhale.com and making it actually relate to my aesthetic.

I did leave the house once for a well-bundled dash down the street to the local theater to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I really enjoyed the story and, as everyone agrees, the makeup was astounding. I also was impressed by how alarmingly attractive Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are. Not that I forgot really, but damn those two are just remarkably well made! The two images above are my favorite be-buttoned items on Etsy from Eaten Apple and Stichface.

Well, tomorrow is Saturday and, for once, I haven't overplanned it already. The only task I'm forcing myself to complete is the epic battle that is bunny wrangling and nail trimming.

Two new prints to share!

I've been surprisingly efficient these past two days despite having a really miserable cold. I rarely moved from the couch but since drawing and printing are not very strenuous tasks, I created two new things!

The first print I made is surely the simplest design I've ever created but It's also my new favorite. This print is my illustration of a bunny's nose and mouth but it also looks like it could be a symbol of some sort. I'm trying to be more mysterious. This print will be available in my shop later this evening (unless I fall asleep on the couch instead).

The next little print is of a snail on a log and these will be used as my thank you notes included with orders. I like that they match my snail mailers.

Well, I'm still not feeling better so I expect I'll have some new designs to share tomorrow. Funny how I'm more productive when I should be resting.

Oh, I also gave myself a new hairdo. Here is the before and after.

Swansicles

This drawing marks the second time in a row where I've designed a Valentine's card specifically for Justin and then couldn't help but cheapen the sentiment a tiny bit by printing up a whole bunch more for sale. Of course, he doesn't care but I feel a bit dirty.

Last year I made him the "Wii Belong Together" valentine and this year I made an image that oozes with classic romantic imagery like swans, stars, script handwriting and an elegant swirly border. But the truth is, well constructed romantic scenes with candlelight and soft music have always made us laugh self-consciously so I had to make this swan valentine less mushy so Justin wouldn't wince.

I changed the expression on the big swan's face to a look of surprise and added his exclaimation, "Gah! Your feet are like icicles" because I can't think of many simpler expressions of love than allowing your partner to snuggle up to you even when their icy appendages make you shiver.

Random trivia: The swan's quote is from one of our favorite movies (Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette) during the one of the excruciatingly awkward bedroom scenes between Marie Antoinette and King Louis.

I'll be adding a white version of these swan prints to my shop tomorrow.

I forgot to mention these:

Last week I was overindulging in a fantasy about home ownership and pining away for one particular 1920s cottage for sale in our neighborhood. I was browsing the listing photos online and imagining my stuff in it's rooms and my garden in it's yard and especially my relaxed self in it's claw-footed bathtub. I dove so deeply into this dream that I began wondering what the neighbors would think of us when we moved in. I sketched a friendly little note to them and pictured myself putting it in their mailbox and them being utterly charmed by my neighborly-ness.

Sadly, I don't reasonably see Justin and I having the opportunity to buy our first home for quite awhile but that didn't stop me from printing the cards up anyway. For maximum sweetness, I was given permission to model the houses after Jessica from Petite House's little sculptures.

"Bunnies Adrift" is back in blue

I have just finished the second edition of "Bunnies Adrift" and I've changed it up a bit. I chose a cool colorway this time around and it really gives the drawing a different feeling. The first edition was a bit sillier using traditional party balloon colors and this one has a more calming feeling of gently floating through a blue sky. I actually think this edition is more aligned with my original intentions for the design and I may even like it a tiny bit better. I'm curious to hear your opinions. Version one of this design can be viewed here.

strawberry-munching mini bunny love notes

I can add my newest card set to the long list of items that Hodge and Yoshimi (my bunny companions) have inspired. They are endlessly producing adorable scenes that I feel compelled to share. The formation illustrated in these bunny-heart cards is seen pretty regularly in my home when Hodge and Yoshimi are sharing a treat. Though, they look only vaguely heartlike in real life because Hodge is more than double Yoshimi's size so their heart shape is awfully lop-sided (heh. Hodge is a lop-ear as a matter of fact).

Today will be rabbit-centric as I have also decided to begin printing my second (and a little different) edition of "bunnies adrift" as well. Bunny days are my favorite kind.

Guinea Pigloo Card Set

I have made another item featuring my favorite rumply-furred, petal-eared creature. I will always adore the humble guinea pig and guinea pigs will always adore sleeping in their plastic igloos. I'm selling these wintry greeting cards in a set of five with matching envelopes in my Etsy shop.

If you're thinking, "is that all she did?" the answer would be, "Heck No!". I told you I would become a crafting machine and I have much more to report. I spent a good part of the day assembling promotional packets with Jenn and we'll be sending dozens out to the press and especially to boutiques all over the country in hopes of acquiring more wholesale accounts. I've been meaning to do this for such a long time!

We also printed another new set of cards which will be debuting tomorrow. They are small and sweet and are embellished with (you guessed it) bunnies! I'm excited to show those off but I will hold back out of respect for the guinea pigs.

I miss holding you.

I made a new print featuring my favorite bug. Behold the striped fluffiness of the woolly bear caterpillar! I think I'm more pleased with this print than anything I've ever made because I never thought I'd be able to successfully draw and print the subtlety of the woolly bear. I hope I don't come across as immodest, but I'm pretty proud of myself with this one! It's available in my shop for just eight dollars because it's a very small print (the caterpillar is actual size).

wooly memory time:
One time when I was a child, I was headed to a checkup with a doctor that I'd never met before and I remember being very very nervous walking towards the building because I was expecting to receive a shot. I was dragging my feet and looking down when I stumbled across a fine and fuzzy bug wiggling across the path ahead of me. My mother told me that it was a woolly bear caterpillar and that I could bring it into the Doctor's office with me if it would make me feel better. I was greatly comforted and have no memory of any stinging shots because I was probably distracted by my new friend.

another woolly memory:
In college, I went on a field trip to Storm King Sculpture Park with my class. I had a great day walking all through the park looking at huge installations in the brisk fall weather. After a few hours of art absorbing, I was pretty spent and decided to just stroll along a path that the park maintenance staff used with golf carts for the remaining hour of the trip. I was looking down with my hands in my pockets being a little chilled and over saturated when I spotted a woolly bear hustling across the path. Then I saw another and another! There were probably twenty caterpillars crossing the path in front of me and I was dismayed to see that a couple had been smushed by the golf carts. I spent the rest of the trip as a caterpillar shuttle and safely escorted the rest to the other side.

I haven't seen one in years. I wonder where they disappeared to. Maybe I need to get out more often.

New little tidbit

I am shamefully late-coming with this idea. But I figure, better late than never! I've introduced this sage colored scalloped ornament adorned with scarf bunny to the ol' shop. She says "my favorite things are handmade" and perhaps if this little hint is hung from your tree, you'll find bundles of lovingly handcrafted goodies in your present pile.

I ate a wild mushroom omelette for breakfast

I stayed home sick today and kept out of the cold rain. I feel much much better now.

I had a pretty productive day for someone wrapped in blankets, confined to my office chair and working one-handed due to the other hand being constantly occupied by a mug of hot tea.

I've nearly completed the tedious task of putting a couple thousand prints into their individual cellophane sleeves with business cards as part of my attempt to streamline my shipping process. I also finished the long awaited "Danger for Breakfast" print which is now available in my shop.

The night is still young and I hope to print another something special before retiring. I'm all revved up with productivity now that Bazaar Bizarre is just around the corner.

Dear beetle, that is an understatement.

I try not to get into politics on my blog because my opinions are all totally predictable as a young woman living in Massachusetts. But, I can't resist sharing how joyful I am that Barak Obama will be our next president. I don't think I've ever felt more proud of my country. I'm also thrilled about another win I celebrated on election night. Massachusetts has voted to end greyhound racing in 2010! Yeah! I don't know what I am going to do with this overflow of elation.

As a reaction, I finally got around to making mini prints of an old sketch in honor of the refreshing change in our government. It's available in my shop for five dollars.

"Kraken Down on Piracy"

This print marks the first time I've had a miserable time printing. I ended up having to use two screens and four bulbs to get one decent burn. Gocco supplies are pricey and hard to come by so I was pretty disgruntled. Even after burning the second screen, the whole thing was a little mis-registered and each print took extra attention to get it right.

I think it is worth it though and I'm really pleased with the way that (most of) the prints turned out. I think "Kraken Down on Piracy" may have missed it's heyday in trendy squid and pirate imagery by a year or two, but, I hope it's fun enough to sell well without having to rely on the popularity of nautical themes. I was originally going to print it on midnight blue paper but when I was cleaning my screen on a piece of tan paper towel, I saw that the turquoise and tan lent the drawing a nice nostalgic feel that I think complimented my handwritten lettering. Printing this was surely troublesome so I'm glad I had a happy accident that made it better.