minouette at the Spring One of a Kind Show L-04-29

Who's planning to go? Come by and say hello!

Spring One of A Kind Show: Get your cheap tickets!

Just for you, I have a special discount for tickets to the Spring One of a Kind show! If you follow the link you can get in for only $11 ($1 off the usual on-line price and $3 off the regular adult entry at the door).

Get your discounted tickets right here!

In other OOAK news, I have submitted my final payment and signed my contract. It's all official now. I've been working on my online profile too. I'll be sure to share it with you soon!

OOAK Prep

This week in OOAK prep:
We went to Home Depot and found a inormous lock box. Basically, it's a large, sturdy, plastic trunk with hinges, latches and a place for a padlock. I can place my packaged prints inside, and if I need to go somewhere, lock my valuables inside. The whole thing will fit under my table. It isn't large enough for my oversized prints, so we also got a transparent plastic box which is meant for under-bed storage. This box fits on top of the first box and can also fit under my table. Then, I spent the better part of two days packaging prints. I have a collection of cellophane envelops in various sizes, so it was a question of getting a large amount of foam board, cutting it to size, and stuffing the envelops with print, foam board, and business card. I've packaged dozens and dozens. This also involved trying to convince Minouette that there was no cats in packaging prints (like crying in baseball), but she really thought this activity would be improved by a cat's involvement in all aspects. Things I've learned: I have a large number of prints. I need more cellophane envelops and foam board and maybe another storage box. My cat does not understand the use of an xacto knife.

Next, I've been working on my profile for the OOAK site and answering questions for Etsy - writing things like artists statements and so forth.

Lastly, I've been scheming about displaying my prints and researching how other people display things. The photos are two shows I did in December - the Wandering Winter Craft Show at the Gladstone and the Movies and Makers show at the Fox Cinema. These were different shows with really different tables and issues. At OOAK, I'll have a large rectangular table, and I'll only be selling art (no pillows or textiles) but I don't want to go with my usual retort stand and ribbon with suspended prints trick. My bamboo stakes on top of retort stand trick probably wouldn't fly either. It's a more formal sort of show and I'm hoping RJH will build me a display. I've found some examples of the sort of thing I have in mind.

Things I still need to do: research smart phone plans so I can get a smart phone credit card reader. There are a number of different products available which are a great solution for small business people who couldn't invest in a regular credit card reader. You just stick them in your smart phone and then you can swipe credit cards and process payments.

minouette at the Spring One of A Kind Etsy Section

Last night I got a call: I've been accepted to the Spring One of A Kind Show! This is a huge show with sixty thousand visitors over five days, March 27 to March 31st. For the first time ever they will be having a special Etsy section for 40 Etsy sellers. They received applicants from all across the country and even from the US. Participating is an investment, so I've previously elected not to apply. But this new Etsy section seemed like a real opportunity to make the plunge into this huge show! Like the Rising Stars section, the Etsy section will allow sellers to rent a smaller space for a smaller fee. Not only will the Etsy section be showcased as a special artisans section within the show, but Etsy will also be providing us with their support (in terms of promotion of sellers, networking and marketing help). I'm somewhere between jubilant and intimidated.... I'll be working away on preparing my stock and I'll be blogging about my preparations and experience, for anyone else who is considering trying this in the future.

So far, I'm designing some displays, printing more linocuts and scheming about how to prepare prints for sale.

If you are in Toronto and would like to attend, just let me know so I can hook you up with cheap tickets!