Be Creative Today!

Just a quick post and message for the day...

Creativity comes in many forms. Whether you are an artist, teacher, parent, in business, program computers, creativity will propel you to the next level. Many of my friends say they wish they were "creative", but they don't realize that they ARE creative!

So today...realize you are creative, let your intelligence shine, and have some fun!

Evolution of an Art Fair Booth and Design Tips

There was so much I didn't know when I started doing art fairs and one was where to start when creating a booth. It was overwhelming. I needed a tent, displays, weights - the list went on and on! I called a friend for advise (we used to do trade shows together) and she made the comment "you were responsible for a 20x120 foot booth and you can't do a 10x10?!" Yes.. I used to be involved with trade shows for a major collectible company, but somehow creating a booth for "me" was daunting!  

I ordered a tent and started to build my booth and I am sharing some photos of how my booth has changed over the years. I was really happy with my first booth however it took manpower to assemble since I was using heavy tables and lots of props. I quickly learned it was not the way to go. Then I had an "ah-ha" moment when I attended a seminar and we could submit slides of our work and booth for a critique and how a jury may score us. I anxiously waited for my turn. Then the slides went up. My work looked great, however even I shuttered looking at the photo of my booth. The person running the seminar struggled to find some positive things to say. I was crushed to say the least.

My very first booth. Yikes!

I thought this was an improvement. This one never made it to the shows!

After the workshop I approached the instructor and said "is there anything I can salvage from my booth?" and I got some great advise. She said my booth looked like I should be selling leather. My work is light and delicate and the booth was heavy and dark. The work and the booth were disconnected and it was so obvious but I didn't see it. Sometimes we get too close to our own work and can't see the flaws.  So... with 3 weeks until my first show applications were due I had to rebuild an entire booth! It was the holidays and the Christmas tree stayed outside because my living room became my "workshop" while I built my booth. I tossed everything out and started from scratch.

I bought folding bookcases for "cases" and used mirrors as the top. The mirror works well with glass jewelry. Yep, they are heavy but worth it. I lightened it up and made neck forms that went with the color scheme (however, they were lightweight and "flew" in the wind). I liked the etegere that I thought highlighted my best sellers as people walked by, but after watching how people shopped I realized no one ever bought anything from it! It was a pain to put together and I had to zip tie it to the poles for stability so I used it for a year and then ditched it. I set up my display in the traditional "L" shape where I stood behind the counter, but in the last couple of years I have changed that too. It is hard to tell from the photo below, but I bought glass shelving that I use to create levels and interest. It was an improvement, but there were more changes to come.

A major improvement but still not there!

This is my current booth. I decided to open it up so I could work with customers. I felt that I was putting a barrier between me and my clients when I stood behind the counter. It has several "stations" and ways to draw people into the booth. The best sellers are on the aisle to catch their attention and then they are drawn into the booth and  the pieces in the back. This gets customers off the aisle and a cozy place to shop. There is also an area with a mirror above where I can work with customers but others still have access to me. It has a nice flow and seems to work well. I have a poster on the wall that shows the process of how to make the beads. Having it large on the wall works well visually, but also when I am describing and pointing to the photos others in the booth stop to listen. I love interacting with customers and educating them on the process so I have found this to work well!

My booth from last season. I think I am happy with it.. this year I need lights!

So I have come along way since that first attempt at a booth. It is a process and I continually watch how people shop, listen to comments, make sure my best sellers are moving, etc. I am constantly re-merchandising at a show by how items are moving.. or not. It is my "store" for the weekend and I love it! I also learned merchandising and enhanced my sales skills by working at a boutique part time. The experience has been priceless!

10 Tips for Designing your Booth:

• Purchase the best tent you can afford
• Make sure your booth enhances your work and is appropriate for your target customer
• Display on multiple levels to keep the eye moving and add interest
• Make sure your display pieces don't overpower your work - less is more!
• Floor covering goes a long way - if it is "cushy" people tend to shop longer
• Use your walls and corners
• Wall coverings can make your booth cozy and also blocks out the beating sun!
• Merchandise your pieces based on how customers shop (I display by color palette)
• Lighting - if you sell jewelry it is beneficial to invest in lighting - especially on those cloudy days
• Watch your customers and improve as you go. It's a process.

Yes this all fits in my 2-door Honda!!

And I close with one final comment... weights, weights, weights! You need to have the appropriate weights to be safe in storms (and there WILL be storms!). Even if it is a sunny day, put your weights on. You never know when the wind will pick up and a storm will suddenly come out of nowhere! It is as much for your safety as your neighbors. You don't want your tent blowing into your neighbor and damaging work! I learned this lesson and fortunately it was not at a show. I was taking a booth shot in my backyard and a little breeze came by. I watched my tent levitate and topple into the house. I built new heavy weights that week.

I'd love to hear from you if you have any additional tips! Just leave me a comment.

Mint Weddings - Personalize your Jewelry

I have had the privilege of customizing jewelry for many weddings and I always feel honored when someone commissions  me to create personalized pieces for their special day. Because the glass comes in so many colors I am able to create a design to compliment  the palette the bride has chosen. I love working with them to create a design that is unique to them and reflects their style and personality.

Various shades including hemlock, grayed jade, and frosty mint are key colors for this seasons weddings. I love the freshness of the color and it can be paired with various accent and complimentary colors. The Chocolate Mint collection is one of my favorite palettes and is perfect for mint weddings. The palette can be customized with shades of pink and gold to compliment the beautiful combination I have been seeing for weddings. I love the elegant look of those colors and it is such a soft and romantic combination.

One of the boards I love to follow is from the Perfect Palette. A wonderful collection of wedding inspiration. If you or someone you know is getting married it is a great blog to follow. You will find so much inspiration from color palettes, flowers, cakes, and unique reception ideas. Below is one of their story boards for Mint.

Mint story board from the Perfect Palette

If you are looking for something  for your bridesmaids that commemorates the day the Confetti Necklace may be just the perfect gift. It is shown with a traditional pearl combination, but can be customized to compliment your palette. The card also includes your name and wedding date. Want to make it a little more special? Let me know and we can customize the back with a photo, quote, or personalized message. 

For designs available in Mint visit my Etsy Store. You may also want to follow Donna Sauers Designs on Pinterest and my boards that include wedding inspiration, ways to personalize your wedding, and wedding jewelry for you and your bridesmaids. 

Feel free to contact me to create a collection for your special day in a palette that will compliment the colors you have chosen.

Purple Passion - February Birthday Gift Ideas

Purple was my favorite color as a child and my clothes and room reflected my love of the color (maybe to the extreme!). Back then it was a girly lilac and I still remember many of the outfits I had in that palette and  think back fondly on the pair of crushed velvet bell bottoms I received for Christmas one year (I guess that is showing my age!)

Somewhere along the way my new color love became orange, but I still have a soft spot for all shades of purple and look forward to working in new palettes for Spring. The Purple Passion Collection includes shades of plum and amethyst which makes it a perfect gift for February Birthdays.

Purple Passion

Each of the pieces in the Purple Passion Collection includes Amethyst. The stone comes in so many shades from almost a pale pink to a deep and regal purple with a bluish cast. The Amethyst meaning is spiritual growth and protection and they are known for bringing clarity of the mind to the person who wears them. By wearing amethyst you can become more in tune with your own feelings and get to know your inner self. It can bring calmness, inner peace and thought to heighten natural intuition. Amethyst is also thought to attract positive energy and repel negative energy. The sweet Birthstone Confetti necklaces make a great gift for "girls: of all ages and come with a card that highlights the traits of people born in that month (I only picked out the good ones!)

Birthstone Confetti Necklace

One thing I always look forward to is the introduction of Pantone's color of the year and love the wonderful hue of Radiant Orchid. Visions of new designs for Spring and Summer are already dancing in my head and filling up my sketchbook! 

“While the 2013 color of the year, Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”

“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

Pantone Color of the Year 2014 - Radiant Orchid

Many versions of Radiant Orchid from bright jewel tone to soft and subtle lilac were seen on the runway at the Milan Fashion show. And the glorious hue is popping up in everything from handbags, shoes, jewelry, and nail polish. It is the pop of color to keep you on-trend as we launch into the new year! This week I will turn on the torch and start to create new designs in wonderful combinations of orchid, amethyst, periwinkle, and lilac. I envision some pieces being a collection of hues seen in fields of lavender. I can't wait!

A few more pieces in the collection. I love the plum "dew drop" beads in these pieces. Little drops of hot clear glass are applied to the surface of the bead while it is still molten. I have to remind myself not to have a venti coffee and then try to attempt these! The clear glass has a reaction with the plum and it gives it a silvery luster which I love!

Click Here - For more pieces in the collection

So stay tuned for designs coming out of the studio with shades of purple and orchid. I look forward to "playing" this week with new glass colors and palettes. 

Valentine Gift Ideas (or a treat for you!)

It's Almost Valentines Day!

Valentine's day is right around the corner and personally I think it is a wonderful gesture to give something that is handmade. Flowers are wonderful, chocolate is a sweet indulgence, but jewelry will last a lifetime and remind that person of you when they wear it.

I've always loved the rich cranberry colored glass and it is also perfect for Valentine's Day. I pair it with Rose Quartz which is called the "Love Stone".  It's energetic hallmark is that of unconditional love and makes rose quartz a stone for every type of love: self-love, family, platonic, romantic, and unconditional. As a variety of quartz, rose quartz has high energy, and this strong energy can enhance love in virtually any situation. That is one of the reasons I include Rose Quartz in the Cranberry Passion Collection.

A perfect little gift is also my Confetti Necklaces and I created one just for Valentine's Day. Choose a sweet pink or rich cranberry. I had a lot of fun designing these and the packaging for them. They are a take-off of my Confetti Birthstone necklaces which are a customer favorite.

Cranberry Passion 

Confetti Necklaces

A Box of chocolates is a sweet indulgence, and I am definitely a chocolate lover, but these little delectable designs won't go to your waistline and will last a lot longer! Frango Mints and Melt Aways are my favorite chocolates (if I had to pick just one!) and the Chocolate Mint Collection was inspired by them. It is a customer favorite also! Minty green glass is paired with smokey quartz in a palette that will compliment all your fashions in any season. A perfect choice for the chocolate lover!

Chocolate Mint Collection

Visit my Etsy Store for all the designs I currently have in stock if you are looking for a gift... or need a sweet treat for yourself (I definitely believe in treating yourself to a gift too!). However you choose to celebrate Valentine's day, remember to just tell all those important to you that you love them... because that is the most important thing about this day, and every day!

Reggie and I wish you a happy Valentine's Day! And if you need a little inspiration, follow my Valentine's Inspiration board on Pinterest. Great ideas for food, crafts, and additional ways to make the day special.