Tuesday, February 24, 2009

New Artist I have found!!!



One of the great things I love about Etsy is that you can see some of the most beautiful artists in the world. It's kinda like going through the Smithsonian and being able to meet and find out all about the artists, except you can purchase them!!! There are a lot of artist on Etsy so I tend to use keywords to help sort them out and since I am a member of The
designstyleguide team I thought I would use that. It was through this I found Kathyart!! She has some of the most beautiful pottery
I have seen.


She sells her home decor items on Etsy so please do check out her store.



She also has a portfolio on The Design Style Guide that lists one of my favorite vases. But I would have to say that this is my most favorites. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16180914. I could truly see this sitting in my living room.


Here is a little bit about Kathyart, My name is Kathy, and I have loved arts and crafts all my life. As my five children have grown, I found time to pursue my love of pottery and jewelry. Each piece I make is unique and one of a kind. My joy comes when others like it just as much as I!



Here is a little bit about the process she uses,

Horsehair pottery is created by the piece being removed during the heating process and horsehair carefully added. The horsehair burns into the piece leaving beautiful one-of-a-kind squiggles, creating a beautiful one-of-a-kind piece of pottery. The piece is then sprayed with a finish for protection.


These are truly unique items that anyone would be proud to have as a part of their decor.


Please visit Kathy and tell her I said "HI"..


Friday, February 20, 2009

Treasury Bliss!!!

Was trying to figure out how to snag a Treasury and as I was going through the lists I found out I was in 4 of them!!!. I'm thrilled!!! Please go and click on them so they will move up on the list!! I still haven't figured out how to get a Treasury!!!



http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=40659
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=41191
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=41143
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=41477

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Sold my Avatar!!!

So now the delimma, should I change it to one of my other pieces or keep it as it is? If I change it whick piece should I use? Help me out here, what would you do? If you vote to change it, which piece from my store would you use?

Thanks for any help you can give!!!!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Etsy, Artfire, but Mainly Handmade!!

I have been going back and forth between Etsy and Artfire lately. I've had a lot of views, but sales have sloweeeeeeedddd down. I don't have anything to benchmark against since I just opened my store, but it still feels slow. Anyway, I have found some wonderful artist on both of these sites and I wonder why anyone would want to buy from China anymore!!! Is it because there is too much choice when you are buying handmade? I know I have a problem deciding which one to buy from. Its funny though when I am looking at handmade stuff, price doesn't even figure into the mix. Usually artists sell so cheap anyway!!! If you were able to buy half this stuff in the store you would pay twice the amount and still feel like you were getting a deal!!
Anyway,,,,I guess my rant is over for now!!
by the way, I was featured on a blog yesterday, check it out!!!http://youvegotmaille.blogspot.com/ there is some wonderful maille in her etsy store as well!!
I was also featured on this treasury!! Please go and click on all the pictures so it will get to the first page!!! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=39023

thanks for reading and don't forget to vote in the poll!!!!!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Saturday Already??!!!!


I swear I don't know where the time goes!!! The older I get the faster it goes. I hope all you young folks appreciate the time you have!!

Anyway, its been a busy week at the store! See I own a public glassblowing facility and gallery in Wilmington, NC and while the holiday season wasn't the best, we held our own. But February is usually a busy month for us and this Feb. hasn't been any different! Fortunately glass makes for great Valentines Gifts. But then I had a busy day on Etsy so I was having to make a lot of stuff. Plus, I had a lot of lessons this week!! Granted, I'm not complaining, but its always feast or famine!!

Anyway, I am being featured in another blog this week. http://audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/ so please do go check it out!!1

I listed one of my most favorite pendant this week and they want to feature it. It's a fumed pendant and the color are not glass but from the fume of gold and silver!! The picture does not do it justice, it is one of the few pieces that I have made that I would love to wear myself if I actually wore necklaces. Other than my cross the only thing I wear around my neck are my glasses and I don't ever go anywear to dress up!!
Anyway, thanks for looking!!
Don't forget to take my poll about the Exclusive Trunk show idea!!!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Home Party Poll

So, as I said the other day, two other artists and myself are starting a home party business with our art. After years of going to HORRIBLE Tupperware, Home Interiors and other parties we thought it would be nice to be able to go to a home show where you get to look at pretty stuff, meet artists and just have fun. No silly games, no hard sell, just fun.



The artists are: Rdgdesigns-(me) selling hand blown glass ranging from $15.oo to $150.00. Including jewelry, candlesticks, vases, bowls, etc.

Pine Garden Baskets-Melanie Walter- selling baskets made from long leaf needles and clay ranging in price from $14.00 to $200.00

Sara Westermark- selling handmade metal jewelry ranging in price from $14.00 to $200.00.



So here's my question, would you want to go to, or host such a party?


Please take my Poll and let me know what you think.
Thanks!!!!!

Monday, February 2, 2009

I'm featured on a blog!

Just found out that i am being featured on this blog, http://www.craftyhangover.blogspot.com/ please go and check it out. I don't know what all this blogging really does but I'm a part of it.
I also posted a new piece today, here it is,, what do you think?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20529529
I would love to hear comments, if anyone reads this anyway!!

In an effort to get our art out there, 2 other artist friends and I are starting a home show party called Exquisite Trunk Show. We are copying the Tupperware model in that we will give the hostess $50.00 off any item they may want and a bonus to anyone booking a party. I am partnering with Melanie Walter who makes beautiful Pine Needle Baskets (check her out at http://www.pinegardenbaskets.etsy.com/) and Sara Westermark who makes beautiful jewelry ( check her out at http://www.sarawestermark.etsy.com/ ). I was telling someone at the store about it and she couldn't wait to book one, So who knows. If you are in the Wilmington, NC area and you're interested, let me know.........
I am interested though, is it something you would do?
Thanks

Thanks for looking!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

I am featured in a Treasury!!

Found out tonight I am featured in a Treasury on Etsy!! For those of you that don't know, thats a good thing. It gets your store out there for more people to see and that's what this is all about. If you get a chance, please go visit and see if you see anything you like. They have some beautiful artists on there.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=37071


thanks for looking!!!

Jeez Louise!!!

I don't know about all this blogging stuff, I don't know how in the world anyone has the time to read all of these!!! But on the off chance that they do, i am creating one. I mainly am doing it to promote my websites (doesn't everyone?) but who knows where it will go.
Anyway, I am a glassblower in Wilmington, NC and I own my own studio and Store. I teach glassblowing at both the furnace and the torch (known as lampworking). Business is down (as is everyone's) so I am trying everything to bring more traffic!!!!
I have a web page that you can go and see some pictures of the studio and store...www.rdgdesignsonline.com
and an etsy page....rdgdesigns.etsy.com.

Please come look at my stuff!!!

Thanks,

I'll be back!!!