The downturn in the economy that began several years ago seems to have (predictably) hit artists and craftspersons quite hard.  Art based businesses have bee the most obvious victims and at least four of the galleries that represented my work have folded in the last 18months.  They seemed to be able to hold out for the first couple of years, but with no immediate end in sight I think that they just chose to cut their losses and move on to more reliable income producing endeavors.  Other galleries that carry my work have made adjustments but there has still been a marked drop in sales.  Strike one.

In addition to gallery sales a long time source of income for me, and several other art-related-workers, was shows – both small local or regional shows and large national/international shows.  I participated in both and was relatively successful until about 2008/9.  When the market took it’s big nose dive in October of 2008 I had three consecutive weekends of shows lined up and was expecting some pretty good results.  Yikes.  Those customers that did show up were spooked ( I don’t think it was due to Halloween) and kept a tight hold on their wallets and their credit cards.  I actually saw people come with envelopes/coin purses where they had put away the exact amount of money that they allowed themselves to spend.   Basically something we should all do all of the time but  a marked change in behavior from their “whip out the credit/debit card” behavior BC (before crash).  Strike two.

Another interesting thing that we began to notice at shows was the marked “graying” of the attendees.  That’s not to say that everyone there was pushing around a walker but the over 40 to under 40 ratio was pretty extreme.  Being a “mature” buyer of art and fine craft I appreciate the knowledge and sensitivities of those buyers, but like me they mostly have extensive collections and are merely browsing for something truly new and/or outstanding.  They would also like a bargain.  Strike three.

Where are the younger buyers you may ask?  Online.  That’s it – plain and simple.  It became obvious to me that I needed to develop an online presence or consider my art/craft merely an expensive hobby.  I have been working toward the goal of drastically reducing the number of shows that I participate in and reducing gallery commitments with an increase in online sales for the last two years……with mixed degrees of success.  I’m having to learn things (search engine optimization, analytics, etc.) that I never really wanted to know and even alter my work to make it more appealing to a 2D (rather than 3D) audience.  This has led to many “Help, Mr. Wizard” moments, but I’m getting there.  Stay tuned.

So why the photo of mint at the top of this post?  Well, as the point of this post is “going with the flow”  I’d like to use my experiences with growing mint as an example.  For years we tried to grow mint under our bay laurel tree.  The first year it looked great but the second year it didn’t come back.  I’m talking MINT here people!  So we plant it again, even trying several different varieties……got some strange looks from people at the nursery as we were checking out with 14 mint plants.  Same results.  Tried again for a third year and didn’t even get a great looking crop over the summer and decided to throw in the towel.  Last year we planted no mint but had a few little sprigs pop up here an there – c’est la vie.  The photo that you see atop this page is our gorgeous, voluntary mint crop this year (and it’s only early May).  Now this is not where we originally planted it or wanted it but it looks beautiful and we are certainly not going to evict it.  Sometime you gotta go with the flow and it takes you someplace just as good, if not better, that you originally though you wanted to go.

And that space under the bay laurel tree?  The radishes like it just fine.

In the last two years I have opened two Etsy shops and it has been quite a learning experience, full of unanticipated lessons and surprising discoveries.  Initially I opened my Reminiscence Papers shop to sell  my own finished studio work and papers left over from my own wholesale paper design business as well as papers & embellishments remaining from three years of Paper Event (a biannual sale of paper and related goodies) that I c0-sponsored.  I soon realized that the studio work would be best separated from the supplies/materials and opened Debra Glanz, but that’s for another time.  For now I would like to take you on a little bit of the path that has led to the Reminiscence Papers shop as it is today.

www.reminiscencepapers.etsy.com

As I mentioned I started this shop with my own decorative papers,  some papers that I had imported for Paper Event and a variety of embellishments.  A noble start and they did attract a little bit of attention (note to all who want to start an online shop – it will not take right off and be prepared to wait three to six months before you see consistent sales).  Having this shop did give me cause to look at the collections of items in my studio – things that I had been assembling, and in some cases forgetting about, for more years than I care to mention.  One day I ran across some old porcelain doll parts that I had sought out for a series of boxes that were great fun to make but sadly not great sellers.

Since I had once thought these would be perfect for my work who’s to say someone else would not feel the same.  Therefore I sorted, cleaned and photographed little collections of the doll pieces and posted them for sale.  I’m happy to say they sold/sell much better that my little Frankenboxes did.  This, of course, started me searching for more parts to clean, collate and sell for all sorts of uses – collage, doll making, altered art, etc.  Sadly, I haven’t been able to find much in the affordable range lately so the doll part section of my shop may have seen it’s heyday but I still have a pretty good stash to work

with.

Enthused by the success of my little stash of doll parts I remembered that I had quite a collection of vintage letterpress type just sitting in the garage.  Many years ago I purchased a used hot stamping machine to stamp on my books and boxes in gold leaf.  Having this machine led me to search out printer’s foundry type (rarely made these days) to use.  Not being a letterpress printer I needed only a fraction of the type and boxed the rest up for ???  All these years later I hauled out the type, cleaned it up and started offering little alphabet sets, letter/number collections and words or phrases.  This was even more wildly successful than the doll parts.  Go figure.  Who knew that there were so many people out there who find beauty and value in these little overlooked bits of history?

And yes, I am still searching for and finding great broken sets of letterpress type and will continue to offer it on the Reminiscence Papers site for all of those, who like me, find comfort in possessing and using these letters and images that would otherwise be homeless.

Someday, when it is finished, I will show you the fabulous coffee table that I have made from a vintage printer’s drawer filled with an assortment of type and dingbats.

WINTER WORKSHOPS

with

Debra Glanz

Many of you have asked and now the answer is YES – I will be teaching workshops this winter.  These Winter Workshops (outlined below) are designed to brighten your days, spice up your nights, make you appear younger and lose weight instantly.  (Actual results may vary and not everyone will have the same experience.  Debra is not responsible if you are unable to achieve the promised results because…………..she’s a BIG FAT LIAR)

These adult level Workshops will be held in a wonderfully appointed, private studio and will have no more than 10 participants in each.  They will run from 9am to approx.. 4pm.  You will receive more information than your head can hold, written instructions for each project and a generous packet of materials and supplies.  There will be a list of   general supplies and equipment for you to bring, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Contact me if you’re interested or if you have any additional questions.  debra@dglanz.com

February 3  – Making Book(s) – $90

Level:  Somewhat Coordinated Beginner

This workshop will explore several small book structures that have applications for journals, jotters, mini albums/scrapbooks  & elaborate cards.  Participants will complete at least 5 different books…………..probably more.

February 5 – My Twisted Valentine – $80

Level:  likes to Run With Scissors

Just in time for Valentines Day, this workshop will cover various options for cards & envelopes from the sublime to the ridiculous.  Plan to leave with at least 8 new projects in your card-making arsenal.  Prizes will be given for Most Romantic Card, Most Ironic Card, The Darkest Heart Card, Most Sarcastic Card, and What the ????? card.  (In case you didn’t know I have a well-developed Dark Side and this holiday really brings it out.)

February 11– Boxing Lessons I – $90

Level:  Coordinated Beginner

In this workshops we will start by learning how to beautifully cover an existing box.  From there we will move on to reinforced origami boxes, small card-stock type box packets,  and creating custom box lids.  This class is similar, but not identical to, the Boxing Lessons workshops taught at Art Media several years ago.

February 12 – Boxing Lessons II – $90

Level: over-Confident

In this workshop you will complete  just two projects………but they’re really, really good ones.  We will start off with a Tipsy Tower, stacked origami bowls for which we create custom interlocking lids and bases.  A great structure to impress your friends and even yourself.  After you stop patting yourself on the back for the great Box you made we will move on to a book style box.  I love, love, love this style of box and it has so many applications I couldn’t begin to list them all here.

February 18 – Papier Mache – It’s Not Just For Kids Anymore – $75

Level:  Free for ALL (mildly insanity is a plus)

For this workshop we will primarily use the layered papier mache method to create bowls and boxes.  This is a “get down & dirty” class where the goal is to create a lot of projects…………but be warned, you will be taking them home wet.  This is the place to let your inner child loose.

Jill explains and demonstrates.

I have used one for years and I am now on my second Dremel tool with all of its bells, whistles and attachments.  Drilling and cutting things apart were pretty much all that I was using it for but at least I had moved beyond pet pedicures, which is what many in the class limited themselves to.  Jill not only showed the versatility of the rotary tool but pointed out that because it turns at a much higher rate of speed than an ordinary drill it can be used for a wide variety of techniques on nearly any material.  In the workshop we worked on glass, copper, steel, mirror,  plastic, polymer clay, tile and wood and explored how each of the different bits and drill speeds worked with these materials.  Personally, I found glass to be the most satisfying and was quite pleased with the amount of control that can be achieved.  Polymer clay was probably my least favorite material as it was difficult to get any detail at all any mine ended up looking like a pre-school play dough piece.  Wonder if my mom would like it to add to her collection?  My friend, Ann Munson, had great success making an old CD case look like an oil pastel drawing – how did she do that?

Ann Munson hard at work.

Though this workshop was geared to the book arts, Jill Timm is a book artist herself, I do recommend it to artists in amy media.  I’m still not sure exactly how I’m going to use my new skills but I am much more comfortable with this – need I say it, AMAZING tool.  Now I’m armed and dangerous (before this class I was just dangerous).

Below is my most successful piece and some of the other participants work.

To see this post click on “Think Different” in the blogroll.

At long last we have decided to retire the Paper Event email list – when was the last time someone wrote to tell you that they’re taking you OFF of a mailing list?  To all of you who shopped at, participated in, supported and commiserated with the Paper Events, we thank you.  Our combined passion for all things paper burns on and we offer the following local resources to help you fulfill your paper needs and desires:

Art Media

Carries an ever-changing assortment of decorative papers, art papers, drawing papers, printing papers….you name it.  They also have a great range of tools, adhesives and more.  http://www.artmediaonline.com/

Reminiscence Papers at Etsy

I have taken much of the product that was offered at Paper Event, along with a vast assortment of new items, to my Etsy shop.  Check back often as new items are added almost daily.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReminiscencePapers?ref=si_shop

Debra Glanz

Once Reminiscence Papers at Etsy was established I decided to create another site for my finished work – primarily boxes.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DebraGlanz?ref=si_shop While this is a great, convenient source for my boxes those of you in town might want to check out Hoffman Gallery at Oregon College of Art & Craft as they not only have a nice collection of my work but an amazing offering of work from other artists.  8245 Southwest Barnes Road, Portland, OR 97225-6349   (503) 297-5544

You might also check out my website (which I am resolving to be better at keeping up to date) at www.dglanz.com I’m going begin a reference to other paper arts sites there soon.

Focus On Book Arts

This wonderful biennial conference is the place to go for workshops relating to books and paper.  Check out their website for conference dates and be sure to visit their vendor Market on June 26 & 27, 2011.  http://www.focusonbookarts.org/

The Accidental Bookmaker/Green Heron Book Arts

This is a great store/website offering book making kits, bookbinding supplies and papers.  Check them out online and visit the Forest Grove store.  The offer classes too!

http://www.greenheronbookkits.com/

If you have any other questions you can drop me a line.

Take care,

Debra

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReminiscencePapers?ref=si_shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DebraGlanz?ref=ss_profile

!

You will find a link to my Etsy store under “Art Supply Stores” on the right hand side of this site.