It just takes a sale to create incentive

So happy, this week four ACEO cards/paintings have sold. These are those.......

Today these were listed and the woodpecker has already received a bid.....

This is the ebay link to the woodpecker if interested: https://www.ebay.com/itm/334114794177?hash=item4dcacb2ac1:g:SX4AAOSwIOlhGXaA

Good Gracious!

 So I've got bids on two ACEO cards on ebay...yeh! 😃 However, its been awhile since I've sold anything there and I'm just learning you can not use PayPal directly anymore to receive payments, I think?? Ebay now manages all payments? And that sets up a delay in getting your money quickly.  I'm confused (nothing new ;-). So with that and their fees I decided to see if there were any other popular places to sell Art Cards...... ArtCardsWanted.com. I remember seeing this site a long time ago, I'm talking years ago, so I take that as a good sign (that its still up and running). I think I'm going to give them a try.  I have all these prints of my cards that I'd really like to sell. 

 Joining is free, listing is free, and there is no fee when sold, its a no brainer.

Goodbye Etsy

 Seven months on etsy with no sales :-(  no surprise really.  When you type in earrings in the search bar you get 5,548,278 results! I've closed my shop.

New ACEO Paintings on Ebay

 Copy and paste link or click on Photo to bid/purchase

 Pear: https://www.ebay.com/itm/334096763588?hash=item4dc9b80ac4:g:Rp4AAOSwqWphBcrY

Beach #1 https://www.ebay.com/itm/334096760048?hash=item4dc9b7fcf0:g:aaMAAOSwdd5hBcp8

Beach: #2 https://www.ebay.com/itm/334096759196?hash=item4dc9b7f99c:g:XWwAAOSwwxdhBcl~

Hummingbird and Squirrel: https://www.ebay.com/itm/334096756616?hash=item4dc9b7ef88:g:P2oAAOSwcBhhBceo

Cherries:https://www.ebay.com/itm/334096751302?hash=item4dc9b7dac6:g:IMYAAOSwSc9hBcNq

Now what??

 Ok, I admit I'm not a very patient person, never have been, but 6 months on etsy and nothing....nada....zippo. Perhaps I was delusional when I thought the earrings were good enough to sell, or maybe I'm not up on whats trending these days.  I tried a Facebook page, paid boosts, got lots of looks and nothing....nada....zippo.  I'm now toying with the idea of selling all the beads, findings, tools etc. as a lot on ebay.  Its hard to stay excited and inspired with the crickets making so much noise.

So whats next?  Not sure.  I'm bored.

Quick Note...

 All prices on earrings have been reduced :-) Check them out in my etsy shop.

New Listings and an Etsy Shop

Some new listings and an Etsy shop

 

Click on the Etsy link above to see more.

Finally For Sale Handmade Earrings.....

....with more to come.

Yellow Calcite

 Green Serpentine

 

Red (Dyed) Quartzite

 

 

African Turquoise

 

SHE'S ARRIVED!

The model for the earrings I'm making and hope to soon be selling. I have to give the seller on ebay credit for their honesty, they did say her hair was tangled, and they weren't lying.

She looks kind of how I feel by the end of most days ;-). It took about an hour to untangle the mess and another half hour or so to give her a new look. Gave her some bangs but not sure what I'll do with the rest of her hair, its just pulled back in a braid for now.

Wonder if I could paint her a bit of a smile? Drilled a hole in her ear and she's just about set.

Meanwhile I am still waiting for some new beads I ordered (from in the US!) a month ago. I know they've finally made it to Philadelphia but we'll see how long they sit at the distribution center before I'll get them :-(

Switching things up a bit

 Wow, its been a while since I've posted anything here, let's correct that! 

I've found a new interest.....jewelry.....making some that is. No, its not the macrame bracelets I made in the past, now its earrings, beaded drop earrings. I've become addicted to beads 😬, beautiful semi-precious stone beads especially, nature is gorgeous. Now..... we know however most addictions have a down side and this one is no exception. What is that down side you ask? All the things you need to buy to go with the beads; tools, findings, storage, etc. And then there's learning all the techniques you need to know and practice, practice, practice....... over and over and over again 😳.  Despite any frustrations I am enjoying it. I've made a start 😁

Update on screen progress

Progress has been slow but steady. A goose and her goslings are the focus right now, there will be more little ones on the panel second from left, and still more foliage and birds to do.

Anyone remember this mural I did on canvas quite a while ago that I couldn't seem to sell?

 Well I decided to add it to the back of this folding screen and I have to say making that first cut was not easy. 

The screen will stay with me.

Inspired to Paint

Its probably been about 3 years since I bought a four panel blank canvas folding screen with the intention to paint it to sell.  I was finally inspired a few days ago to drag it out of the back of a closet to set forth on the task, albeit no longer with the intention to sell it.
I had saved this picture of a folding screen that I really like and it was/is my inspiration for my project.

I love the graceful simplicity of the design.
So here's how my version of this is going so far.....

There are four panels, one is folded back on the left. I'm going to be focusing more on the addition of birds. These are just five of many more to be added (along with more foliage, still filling it in).

I also plan to give it the appearance of age with some stain. When I put the background color on I noticed it crackled, a really pretty fine crackle and I think the stain will work beautifully with this.

Sometimes its just hard to understand

Sometimes I see something that just jolts me and reminds me of that saying 'life is just not fair'.

I'm guessing its the reputation of the artist and the opportunity to impress their peers that the buyer is really purchasing because, call me ignorant, but it surely can't be about the bunny. I'll just hope this is part of an auction or something that will benefit an organization in need.

Full Time Is Working Well

One of the benefits of working/cleaning full time again is I've lost 10 lbs(!) and I'm also managing to keep up with the new car payments! The clients who have moved just this past week is still a work in progress, I'm going over to the new home today (and tomorrow) to try and help get things organized while they are away for the weekend.  Moving from a three story house with tons of storage to an apartment with very little storage is proving to be quite the challenge. Its a lovely apartment though, brand spanking new renovations and a view to die for.
I spent Friday and yesterday at another clients (also away) scraping moss off of their brick patio while simultaneously pulling up weeds between the cracks of the bricks, it had gotten way out of control.  Sore back and hands and it looks lovely once again.
I need to remember to take before and after photos to show other potential clients!! Then again having just turned 68 this week I'm not sure this is the kind of work I should be advertising ;-)

Art and Crafts On Hold

I'm hoping once I get adjusted to doing cleaning work full time again that I'll be inspired to devote the weekends to creating, although, now that I have a reliable car I'd also like to get out and do a bit of exploring, trips outside the city, see some farm country, some mountains maybe.

And its finally official, the family I've been working with for 6 years that are moving, are moving to an apartment that is just a half block from me, the move is next weekend.  I can walk to work two days a week (well 3 actually, a new client is also close) and when winter comes I won't have to worry about losing that income because of snow or a car that won't start. I did mention in my previous post that as I'm getting older the smallest things can make me happy ;-)