Art pretties!

[merimask]

First things first... I just want to say to all of my LJ friends who spoke up in my f-locked entry yesterday ; you guys are incredible & really, I'm so lucky to have such amazing friends.   Did you all read eachother's responses to that entry?  Because it was truly touching.   Thanks, every one of you.  *big heartfelt hug*

Now!  On to the pretty stuff!

I do not think I have properly shared the AWESOMENESS of

golden_meliadeshairsticks.  I know I go on & on...but that's not the same as a picture...& this one has crossover value, too.

Those are called "Amazon" & you can find them at her Etsy shop...right here!   She made those particular hairsticks with a couple of leather leaves I sent her once...aren't those great?  I own a couple (ok...four sets!!) of her hairsticks & I can honestly say they're the best-made, most unique sticks I've ever had.  If you're looking for something feminine & unique & frankly very affordable, give her sticks a try.

 

Speaking of Etsy (and aren't I always?), look what I finished & put up in my shop yesterday...

That's not an old picture (you can see the last Frost Dragon mask I made...which also happened to be the first Frost Dragon I ever made, right here), I just finished that mask yesterday.  I'm very very pleased with it.  Even though I struggled at first, in the end it all came together very nicely.  Proof that I can effectively reproduce that particular, complicated mask.  Which is a good thing to know.

I almost like this new version of the Frost Dragon better, too.  The mane came out very wild & lion-like.

I'm getting much MUCH better with my photography too, I think.  *pleased*

I hit a milestone in Etsy yesterday...over 300 people "heart" my shop!  That's truly amazing.  I've had an incredible three months there (I effectively hit my three-month mark today) and I'm closing in on 100 sales.  Awesome!   Absolutely the MOST effective online marketing forum I've ever found...ever!  Beats E-bay all to heck.  I owe golden_meliadesa mountain of gratitude for turning me on to that site.

So I have a mound of boxes to mail and a mound of masks to make.  Back to work!

Comments

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

I like this frost dragon better. The only thing I can figure out is that the tooled "tufts" in between the eyes are larger. For a large, bold, involved piece I think that the tufts need to also be bold rather than delicate. It can have fine detail, but the bits need to be in scale. Does that make sense?

Hey - how's my oni coming?

I'm reserving for I-Con today. I can't wait to sketch the next dragon plaque with you. I'm SO excited about the idea. It'll be really cool if I can can communicate what I want.

[merimask.livejournal.com]

I think you're right about the dragon...I also used a swipe or two of black antique stain to really make the carving pop. Greg said I did a better job fitting the eyebrow pieces to the mask (I know he's right about that because I FREAKED out over that part).

Now that I have my mojo back (I think!) I plan to tackle the Oni...just as soon as I get this damn order finished for Rumors! Mardi Gras is coming...they need this stuff ASAP.

Yay I-Con! Really looking forward to getting out & about this year...I haven't done a SINGLE show or event since Pennsic (Etsy has been that good!)

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

"I also used a swipe or two of black antique stain to really make the carving pop."

*That's* it! Part of it is the scale of the tufts, but a lot of it is the stain. Not only does it pop the carving, but it give it depth that the first one didn't have. I wasn't as excited about the first one as I felt I should have been, given my love of all things blue. The "bottom" of the color scale was missing. You had all those middle blues, and the top end with the light silvery colors, but the bottom darks were missing. A chorus without a baritone, if you will. I really like it.

I forgot about Mardi Gras - by all means, keep Rumors happy. Besides, I enjoy bragging about it.

I'm looking forward to I-Con too. More so than last year, because now I know what it's like. I will stake out territory against any incursions by the neighbors. I will take pictures of Greg sleeping. *This* year I will take pictures!

I'm glad Etsy has been good, but don't become a shut-in!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

lol...I am SUCH a shut in. That's a good way to put it. I'm losing whatever social skills I had...seriously. I had this open house thingy I went to & I had to just STOP myself a few times, because I was yammering like an ass...everything that came into my head went right out my mouth. Some people find it charming I think, but I don't want to add to the "wacky artist" stereotype. It's no fun being a circus animal.

But yeah...I'm awful around people lately. Worse than usual. You are warned. ;-)

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

Well then - you're all set to fit in at I-Con and Pennsic with the other social maladapts! Don't think of it as losing social skills, think of it as protective coloration.

I have a cold. My third of the season. I am NOT amused...

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Oh no! You should be sleeping...why are you awake? Are you staying home tomorrow?

Do you have AIM? We should be IMming...

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

Because I have a cold. I can't breathe, which prevents me from sleeping, so I'm downstairs on the computer, whining at my husband and drinking hot spiced cider. I'm going in tomorrow. I was out sick on Monday with vertigo, and it's too early in the year to burn up all my sick time. I'll be fine.

I don't have AIM at the moment. Guess I'll have to do something about that, eh?

I'm going back to bed now Mom - talk to you tomorrow.

[zannachan.livejournal.com]

Those hairsticks are gorgeous! I've admired some of the other hair sticks she's made that I've seen, but those are my favorite so far--then again, I love leaves.

The frost dragon is stunning, too. I love your new dragon designs.

I'm so glad that Etsy is doing well for you!

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Isn't Mel's work awesome? I freaking love her hairsticks. She puts a lot of thought & care into them.

Thanks...very happy that I was able to make that mask well (instead of destroying 2 sq feet of premium leather!)...I was pretty nervous about it but it all turned out fine. ^__^

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

I just want a very moderate business, myself...more than one sale a day might kill me, lol. I tell you, kls_eloise has been a great customer...it keeps bouncing between you and she as to who has the most sticks LOL, so obviously you don't owe me for Etsy as you and a person I met on your flist are my two best customers :)

Thanks for the plug!

PS: Glad you were able to get past your little bump and figure out how to make that mask again :)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Hey, just doing my part. :-) You've put so much thought & effort into your product & your shop, I thought you deserved a bit more recognition.

I had a CRAZY day on Etsy yesterday...4 sales & I don't know why. I wasn't in a showcase, or featured in any of the treasury listings (I checked)...I just kept getting hits & faves & sales. I think once you get past a certain amount of "hearts" for your site, it just starts having a life of its own.

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

I saw that. I check your sales all the time. :) It might be snoopy, but it's well-wishing sort of fannish snoopy, if that makes it any better. ;)

[merimask.livejournal.com]

lol...I check yours too! I hope that's ok. I just want to see how things are going for you from time to time. I check on all my faves though (Neile and IreneSuchocki and Fringe too)so don't feel too creepy about it. ^__^

I'm seeing odd things...strange trends. Like, Neile gets faves every day, LOTS of them. Dozens every day. She's well over 3000, I don't know exactly how many 'cause I gave up after awhile. Yet, she gets few sales...less than two a week. I can't figure it out.

Also, the Storque articles...HOW do you get one of those? Just have to get noticed? They write articles about people who've been there for almost a year & have less than a dozen sales. Is it something they only do to help certain Etsy sellers out? Am I doing too well? I'm baffled.

I still have so much to learn, in there.

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I wouldn't be the type to mind when I do the very same thing in return, lol. Besides, checking out all these little bits...learning the numbers...is how we figure Etsy out to the best of our ability.

Neile gets into a LOT of treasuries, but her necklaces are too expensive to be a regular purchase for most people. The only people getting mass purchases daily are those whose products are mainly under $30. Madison Studios, gamiworks, Littleputbooks, etc, those have attractive bright necklaces all in the $5 to $20 range and they get snapped up en masse. But Neile's stuff is pushing $100. I personally just won't pay that on a necklace for myself, basically ever...it would have to be my favourite necklace in the world.

You can't 'get' a Storque article, far as I know. You can get into the Storque showcase, but if you want into the articles, someone has to write/submit one about you, or the admin/etc have to take an interest. As far as I know it is NOT something you buy your way into except in the case of the Showcase.

The front page...the one featured right now with the purchases has been open about a year and sold only a few items. Dunno why they featured her, her purses aren't so great. What is the criteria? At first I thought it was success in sales, etc, but now I think it's just random by the admin...they put up what they like.

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

As of today, I think we're tied. :-D I love your work - you've got me playing with my hair again, instead of just tying it up.

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

Yes, let's see...Meri has gotten three through Etsy...two as gifts and one for herself. And I've GIVEN her three...Tiger way back at the beginning, then one for last Fday, then Artist when she volunteered as a tester for my new, stronger sticks. (Oh SO much stronger than the sticks I made for the first two years.)

So you're tied for how many sticks you own, yep. :)

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

Hmmm - I'm actually two behind. Good, it gives me something to aim for. ;-p

[golden-meliades.livejournal.com]

You're one ahead in purchases, she's two ahead in sticks that have actually passed through her hands, whether she actually bought them or if I gave them to her, and whether they're for herself or not. But of sticks she actually has for herself to wear, you're equal. :)