New Pieces

My first "open house" last night was fun!  I was most excited to meet two "internet friends" -- Katie of Heartless Arts, and Angelique of Kalknits -- thank you ladies for stopping by!  It was fabulous to meet you in person!

I got an itch to paint the other day, and made a few of these "sun" & "moon" pieces -- although of course, they're open for interpretation (I've heard that the "moon" looks more like earth, and the "sun" looks like a harvest moon?).  Whatever they are, I think they're pretty.  I've been wearing a moon paired with a quartz crystal for the last few days, I think it's a cool combination!

They'll be up in my Etsy shop next week, if you're interested.

I kind of want to try my hand at painting more... I might not be any good at actual figures, but I really love color combinations.  I also think it creates a need in me to practice patience, and any chance I get to do that, I should probably take it -- after all, practice makes perfect, hm?

Want a free ring?

Okay, so I guess "free" isn't technically right, because once again I am asking for your support in the upcoming RAWartists showcase (Feb. 21st!!)...

But this time, I'm offering you a free ring from my Hearts & Arrows collection, and I'll even cover the shipping, 'cause I'm cool like that.

Just go HERE and buy your ticket!!

I get that not everyone can really use a 40% off coupon (although a few of you have, so thank you!!), but it's kind of hard to resist a free ring, isn't it?  Well okay, it still costs you $10, but gimme a break here, I'm not really used to (or good at) asking people for support.

In fact, that's been an obstacle for me before.  I can't tell you how many times I've needed a little help getting something up the stairs, or a shoulder to cry on, or someone to bounce an idea off of, but pretty consistently, even when offered this help that I need, I've said "no".  I used to blame it on me being Southern-raised, and how saying no was the polite thing to do.  But I'm not really all that polite most of the time, so I don't think that's it.

Maybe I'm just not good at admitting my weaknesses?  (I think Dave would promptly agree with that.)  Maybe I feel like asking for help opens me up to criticism?  Maybe I'm controlling, and would rather take care of things on my own?  Maybe all of these reasons, and then some more?

The thing is, I think RAW is actually trying to equip artists and makers with the tools they need to succeed by asking them to bring in this support.  It also brings people to the event, and helps me with the usual cost of participating in an event like this.  But there is a lesson in there, isn't there...?

I think there's also a lot of guilt that goes along with asking for help, for me anyway.  I've had to say no to plenty of friends, because I didn't have the money or the free time to support them.  It's difficult for me to ask for something that I haven't been able to give when I was asked.

Fellow artists and makers, how do you ask for help/support/sponsorship?

New Necklaces!

I'm not really a lovey-dovey kind of girl, but I can try to appreciate a good Hallmark Holiday just as much as the next person.  I added a few Valentine's Day pieces to my Etsy shop.

Black Arrow / White Heart

Black Heart

White Arrow / Black Heart 

White Arrow

White Heart

As my oldest friends know, I decided in high school to call Valentine's Day "Anarchy Day" -- I bestowed upon my loved ones red velvet cupcakes with black icing and red anarchy symbols drawn onto them.

Classy, I know.

But true to my rebellious spirit, I will be sporting the Black Heart Necklace on this 14th of February.

An extended vacation at The End of my Wits.

Okay, let's get totally serious, here... I don't like to call myself negative, I prefer realistic.  But lately, I've encountered one too many things going wrong, and I'm starting to feel like a failure.  What do you do, when you're a small business -- no, a tiny business -- and you've spent your savings account on supplies for a huge project, and things just... start going wrong?

I'm in a sticky situation right now.

I have five days to provide photographs of 20 different products for a huge sale, and for whatever reason, everything that's worked in the past with my necklaces is suddenly just not working,

and I don't know why.  This is a terribly frustrating situation, because I've already spent the money, I can't afford to waste any more supplies, but this is also really not a good time for experimentation with new methods.

I've got a few ideas I'm going to try out tomorrow, so I guess for now I'm just venting.  But seriously, if any other small business people out there have been through this, or something like this, and has advice for me, I'll take it very eagerly.

Overtime Time Officially Starts... NOW!

Over the last few weeks, I've managed to pull together a few wholesale-type orders-ish.  Haha, is that confusing?

I've been accepted into two different "flash sale" sort of sites, but of course, I can't really mention them until they're up.  One of them should be announced on Friday, so look forward to getting discounts on some of my pieces!  The first site is featuring my state charms and Chicago flag necklaces, the second is going to feature my map pendants.

South Carolina State Charm Necklace

Exciting, right?  Well, this is my first time doing a large quantity order, so I'm a little scared, and a lot excited.

The scary part is spending a large (for me) amount of money just to prepare for it, and then not knowing for sure if I will sell enough to cover that cost.  The exciting part is having my pieces viewed by so many people, people who may not visit my Etsy shop and wouldn't have seen them otherwise.  

So needless to say, I'm a bundle of nervous excitement!

If anyone out there has ever done large-scale wholesale, let me know about your experience!  I would love advice, encouragement, and all things positive-energy.

Look forward to the announcement of the first shop on Friday, here as well as on Facebook and Twitter!

The production line is crankin' it out!

Being here all day, every day means that instead of being able to make, at best, 10 pendants/charms a week, I'm able to make more like 40 a week.  So what does that mean?  Lower prices, of course.

The general idea is:

US City Map Pendant Necklaces/Keychains: $9-19

US City Map Pendants

State Charm Necklaces: $15

State Charms

Now, speaking of the production line... I better get back to it!  ;)

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Do cute dogs make you smile?

I know, this is ridiculous...

ridiculously cute, of course!

As if my dog weren't cute enough, I went and put him in his skeleton jammies.  He took it upon himself to sit down on the pillow like it was a little doggy-sized recliner, and to watch his neighbors walking by through the window.

I hope y'all had a fun weekend?  Mine was... eventful (we'll leave it at that).  One of my Chicago Flag Necklaces went off on its way to China on Saturday, and that's pretty cool, isn't it?  I've officially crossed international borders!

Chicago Flag Necklace

I think I'm going to hang a map near my desk, with those red pins to stick in to every state my jewelry is shipped to.  I've always wanted to stick pins into a map for some good reason, so there it is.

The itch...

I've been getting it again, the itch, the desire, the absolute need to create something... sometimes it can be so frustrating to feel this way, when I don't necessarily have to focus to even pick just one thing, or the means to support it once I do.  Thankfully, after a few experimentations, it ended up not being too entirely expensive, and I'm really excited to see how it turns out.  No photos yet, I'm waiting until I can hold a finished product in my hand... but, I'm really excited!  So get excited with me, and then look forward to pictures, in a day or so!

Chicago's Next Top Pendant Model

Oh yes, I got models.  Okay, so I got a friend and a pedi-cab driver, but I think they did a great job!

Baseball Pendants on Etsy

Baseball Pendants at thebigcitybumpkin.com

Chicago Flag Pendants on Etsy

Chicago Flag Pendants on thebigcitybumpkin.com

I'm going to try to get some more shots with different pendants tomorrow.  If you want to be a model, come by Waveland and Kenmore (outside Wrigley Field) tomorrow around 2 p.m., and I'll happily take your picture wearing one of my awesome pendants!

Supadupa!

I just put together a shop over at Supadupa.me -- check me out!

http://thebigcitybumpkin.mysupadupa.com/

Hello!

Well hi there, birds & blokes!  Sometimes I miss my blog so much, or more than anything I think I miss the time I used to have to sit down and post pictures of my leisurely breakfasts.  Ah, those were the days.  I find myself at my desk, day dreaming about... well, about something different.

It's going to be a long, hot Summer here in Chicago, that's for sure!  I just hope the fun parts last longer than the not as fun parts.

I want to start working my photographs into my pendants, specifically cool shots I've taken around this lovely city.  What do you think?

New Necklace Line

I'm taking these vintage photos, and running with them!  I've made and listed five, so far, and I'm hoping they will get a good reaction, because they're fun to make.  Imagine that there really is only one -- I just find that fascinating, to be able to wear someones history around your neck, and to be the only one in the world who has it.

You can find them all (and more!) in my Etsy shop!

What I'm working on

Just a quick update to show y'all what I'm working on.  They're pendants made from vintage photos, and I'm quite enamored with them.

Please forgive my shoddy photography, I'm tired and there's no natural light to speak of, but I just wanted to show you something, for goodness sake.

The Lady in White

The Third Wheel

Besties

In other big news, I applied for Renegade Craft Fair (Chicago) today.  Eeeeeek!  I'm excited and nervous, please send me all the positive energy you can.  The announcement comes on June 14th, and I rather feel like the kids in drama class gathered around the cast posting...

US Cities Map Pendants

Yay, I'm finally getting to work on different US cities!  I did a few of these for my friends & family back in VA, but I'm going to be working on other major US cities soon, and I'll always take requests, of course.  You can make requests at thebigcitybumpkin.etsy.com

Charlottesville, VA

Washington, D.C.

Richmond, VA

Baltimore, MD - This one is for my friend, Xiane

What's Goin' On

CTA Pendant

Union Station Pendant

South Loop Pendant

Neon Orange Tiger Stripe Pendant

I finally, finally, got the last of my pendants listed on Etsy.  You know what that means?  Heh... that I need to make more.  I'm trying to build up a stock, in the event that I get accepted into the Renegade Craft Fair this year in Wicker Park.

Dave and I need to work on more of our baseball pendants, too -- he thinks that a friend in San Francisco might be interested in a bunch of them, and they are way more labor intensive than the other pendants.

Once the Cubs are playing at home again, I'll be selling the Wrigley Field pendants outside of the park (or Dave will, while I'm working in the park), on Waveland Avenue, so if you're in town, stop by to see us and say hello!  There's a kid that sells lemonade once in a while, too, so it will be well worth your time to stop by.

Phew!  So, that's what I'm up to, this glorious last Friday before I join the workin' stiffs again at the office.

You can always visit my Etsy shop here: the Big City Bumpkin on Etsy

New Etsy Listing -- Sears Tower Pendant

Another Chicago landmark pendant!

Sears Tower Landmark Pendant, available in my Esty shop

Click the photo caption above, or here: Sears Tower Landmark Pendant.

Visit my Etsy shop here: the Big City Bumpkin on Etsy

Tooting my own horn, baby!

These turned out AWESOME!!

They are all listed in my Etsy shop, so have a gander, won't you?

What I want... Turquoise Ring

Oh me oh my, I'm doing a little lusting...

Charlene K, retails for $125

Honey-Bunny, if you're reading this... I can buy it for a lot less than that retail price!  Hint hint, wink wink.  I'm just sayin'...

If you're into that kind of thing, there are discounts to be had here .  I've never purchased from this site, but that ring is making me want to.