My apologies...

I'm very often working away from my blog and realized that no one knows when that is - it just looks like I'm not responding! I popped in to see if I had any unmoderated comments, was shocked to see I hadn't stopped in since February, and then saw how many comments were sitting in the comment box.

But wait, it gets worse... I read through all the comments (more than I've ever gotten before, of course), and then when I clicked to delete one of them, all of the other approved comments disappeared! Good grief.

Anyway, I am sorry to have been away so long; things can get really busy around here. Since the last show in Columbus I've had a tough time balancing making enough new work for upcoming shows and making several custom pieces along with having kids and life and stuff, etc.

I think it's fair to say that unless I have a special project a client wants to follow or new professional photos I'm probably not going to post - it's just too hard to find the time!

To answer as many comments as I remember: thank you everyone for the sweet compliments! The baby spoon wasn't a commissioned piece, I just really wanted to make one. It was recently accepted into the Ohio Craftsmen Best of 2010 exhibit, and is currently touring different gallery stops throughout the state. It's an honor to have my work chosen for the second year in a row.

The green amethyst ring just sold to a lady who was absolutely crazed over it, which is one of the nicest compliments of all!

And if you're interested in my work, need a custom piece, or want to purchase a piece you've seen, please contact me through the "about me" link and click on my email address - I'm not ignoring you! Artists always need new work and I'm no exception!

Again, sorry to everyone for losing the comments and slipping into a studio-driven coma!!!

~Jeni

Chicago

I'm back from my travels for awhile, and dearly looking forward to resting and spending time in my garden. Chicago was disappointing as far as sales go, but was also one of the loveliest settings I've shown at. This art festival was an Amdur production, and Amy was there in person to make sure everything went smoothly. I was pleasantly shocked to see her in an orange traffic vest directing artists and cars to their assigned spots. She even came around to warn us of high winds for Saturday night so we could buckle down extra tight. This is a woman not afraid to get in there and make sure things are done right!

Before leaving the area, we stopped at the Chicago Botanic Garden - what a treat! 360 some acres of beautifully maintained garden, including a gem of a Japanese garden on its own little island. That alone was worth the trip...

I'll be back in Chicago soon for another of her shows, and hope to see a better return on my investment this time. If not, this sort of thing drives me to improve my work, find better shows, and re-evaluate my direction and how to get where I want to go.

See you on the road,

Jeni

sweet rewards and encouragment

To pick up the thread hinted at the close of my last post, my hard work last year has really paid off. I'm not sure why I'm so surprised about meeting my goals and reaping the benefits of them - maybe because sometimes life doesn't always give back and play fair. I know that's happened to me before (lots of hard work and no return, or worse, negative return).

Focusing on a few design lines, getting professional photos, and creating a stylish booth were lofty but reachable goals in 2008. Because I stuck to it and did a good job of it, I'm now a happy recipient of too many show acceptances! I have the odd task of turning down shows that I wouldn't dream of missing last year. It's hard to do, too, considering all the application fees that my bank statement reminds of.

So far I've gotten 4 Chicago shows, one in Massachusettes, one in Virginia, two in the Columbus area, and two on the East side of Cleveland. Nearly every show I applied for was accepted! I've even had a piece accepted into "The Best of 2009" exhibition put on by the Ohio Designer Craftsmen. It'll travel for about a year around the state going to different locations until it comes back to me (unless the piece sells). There's a photo of it on my web site. That's a huge step from last year, and I want to encourage anyone else out there. If you're struggling to get somewhere, set your goal and then fill in the baby steps in between. The baby steps really make it do-able. I even put deadlines on each step so I didn't get behind.

Share your goals with people, too! Be crazy and let the whole world know what you're planning to do. Share it here on my blog or on your own - or if you're really nuts, post it on both! It'll hold your feet to the fire to have a little accountability, and when you final get that sweet prize at the end, we can all celebrate!

kisses,

~Jeni

Substance in absence

The last couple of months have been a time for me to take a thoughtful look at who I am and where I'm going. While I'm sorry for the absence on my blog (despite all those helpful New Year's resolutions to post more often), it's been a necessary time to really explore.

A lot of fun and exciting pieces have come out of this rumination vacation, as well as some unexpected changes on a bigger scale (for my life). And not everything culminated in answers; I have new questions and some areas seem even grayer than before. I don't mind that kind of tension though. It's better to ask the questions and not have answers than to make them up, or worse, not even ask the questions at all!

So for now I'll leave you with knowing that I have had a wonderful several weeks discovering what I really want to do and who I am as an artist and person.

Content and very happy,

~Jeni

P.S. My hard work over the last year has paid off; I've already been invited to 4 shows in Chicago this summer!