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My friend is having her surgery today. I have been thinking about her and saying many prayers all day long. And hoping she will be OK. I hate feeling helpless like this.

I started going through the various drawers, nooks, and crannies here in the office to gather all of my card-making supplies together. I think I want to start a business selling my cards. Just something simple, like an Etsy site or something similar. There are moments when I think this is a great idea and that it will be a lot of fun. And then, there are other moments when crushing doubt takes control. And I think it's the most foolish and frightening idea I've ever had. At the moment, doubt is winning out. >.O

Still ... supplies are in the process of being gathered. If nothing else, it'll make life easier for me on my next card-making occasion.

And, overall, just feeling blah and more blah. I was expecting better things from you, 2011. So far, you aren't delivering. -.-

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I hope everything went well for your friend’s surgery.

I’ve been meaning to put some things on Etsy myself. I have my shop all set up and ready to go but haven’t managed to finish making anything to put in it yet ^__^;;; That was actually my only new years resolution to myself this year, to do more art, and finally get back to selling it.

Aside from just online you should take your cards around to coffee shops and see if the owners would be willing to display them. A lot of the places around Annapolis carry cards made by local artists. You’d make a little less money than through Etsy, because the shop will take a percentage, but you’ll also manage to sell to people who weren’t actually looking to buy cards, but things just catch their eye while they’re waiting for their coffee. If you’d like to visit us sometime soon I’ll take you to some of the shops that might be good candidates. I find that people are a little more likely to buy things when they see them in person than through a picture online. (I’m not discouraging Etsy, you should do that too, just saying you should cover lots of bases!!)

*HUGS YOU*

My friend's surgery went pretty well. It looked like (last that I heard) the cancer hadn't spread, which is exceptionally good news.

Once you get stuff back in your Etsy shop (although I know that's not an immediate priority for you right now, with everything else going on in your life *HUGS*), you have to send the link to me. I love, love, love your artwork. And I think your shop will do amazingly well. You are super talented!

As for myself, I feel really ... I dunno. Unsure, I guess is the best way of putting it. It's something I really want to be brave enough to do. At the same time, there is this voice in the back of my head saying: "You know, you're not really an artist or anything like that. And you never will be, no matter how much you want to." And it's easy to listen to that voice. Really, really easy. So, yeah ... paralyzed by fear at the moment and trying to get over it. I am not brave at all. -.-

The coffee shop thing is a great idea! I would never have thought of that ... although I'm not sure I would ever be brave enough to try it. I'm not good at asking for things or selling myself.

...

Seems there's a LOT I need to work on for 2011. *nervous laugh*

I'm thinking of you, my friend!

Don't be afraid! What's the worst that can happen? Even if you don't sell a thing it wouldn't mean you aren't a good artist. It would only mean that we're in a recession and people just aren't buying a lot these days. I tried selling stuff online a few years ago, before Etsy existed, by putting things on ebay and advertising them in art communities on LJ. My results were dismal, I only sold one thing out of a huge pile of stuff I made. I got pretty discouraged about it and for a long time I was very cynical about trying to sell anything online. But I'm trying again! (Even though I doubt I'll do much better this time around either, haha.)

You actually have a good advantage that you're a great photographer. I think one of the biggest keys to selling on Etsy is having high quality artistic photos of your merchandise (it's how you can get picked to be displayed on the front page.) So you're already way ahead of a lot of people trying to sell there.

I highly recommend trying to sell in some real shops though. From my experience people waffling over whether to buy something or not are way more likely to go for it when the item is actually in front of them (and even more so when they've read a little artist bio or even better have met the artist.) Craft shows are hands down the best way to sell because when people meet you they want to buy stuff from you. When the weather gets nice, the first Sunday of every month there is an art street fair in Annapolis. If you were interested maybe we could set up a table together one of the times!

I would wait until there were several items in my shop before showing you, but there will probably never be more than one or 2 items in it at a time since I just haven't got enough free time to make lots of stuff. So here, hah, my shop with all of one item in it lol:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gnarlycat?ref=pr_shop_more

Aha! I found your comment again! I knew it was in here somewhere -- with a delicious link in it, no less -- and I could not remember where. Gah, I'm a dork. >.O

I think what scares me the most is knowing I'm not "really" an artist. Not like you are. You are amazingly talented and create the most gorgeous and creative things! I would never presume even to think of myself on any level approaching that. Maybe scared isn't quite the right word. Intimidated?? That might fit a little better.

I do agree, though, that it can be hard to sell things on the internet. Particularly something like a card, etc ... that might end up being something of an impulse purchase. I think it's easier if someone sees that in person -- preferably when they are standing in a long line and very bored: ha, ha!! =D

I am glad you're trying again!! And speaking of ... I LOVE everything you have in your Etsy shop. But that little felt horsie kind of speaks to me. I may have to order it. *wanders off in search of funding* =D

You, my friend, are being ridiculous! There is no such thing as being a 'not real artist'! If you make art then you are an artist. And I happen to know for a fact that you're a good artist, as I have some of your art framed and hanging on the wall in the most used room of our apartment. Are ya trying to tell me now that I have bad taste, eh??

Anyway, don't be intimidated by anyone . I don't think it's a good idea for artists to ever compare themselves to each other. Everyone has such different styles and the work they do appeals to different types of people. It's just about finding your niche. And you have several niches, I've seen you do a range of different cool things. Just go for it! And you should do it ASAP because with Valentine's Day coming up cards are selling better in the next week than any other time of year, seriously. You should put some up tonight if you haven't already. And after you've listed them advertise in places like the Art4Sale LJ community, etc.

Also a lot of the trick to selling on Etsy is networking. So I'd recommend checking out the forums, favoriting things and doing the other stuff they recommend in the sellers guide (like making treasury lists.) There is so much content on Etsy you have to make yourself visible or it won't matter how good your stuff is, if no one manages to find it. I'm speaking theoretically of course, so far I've made a grand total profit of $4, lol. But I plan on putting more effort into those things once I get a few more things in my shop.

Best wishes and good vibes to your friend.

I think you'd do well selling your cards. The Christmas card was lovely! Go for it. :HUGS:

Thanks for the well-wishes for my friend. I appreciate that so much. It seems the surgery went pretty well. She came through with no complications, and -- at least at this point -- they think the cancer had not spread, so they were able to get everything. She has a long recovery ahead of her, but hopefully there will at least be some positive news once all the testing is done.

Awww, thanks for the vote of confidence. I need it really badly. I feel like such a weenie, because I want desperately to do these things and to try new things ... but I often feel too afraid to give it a try. Or too much like I do not have the talent or ability or whatever to succeed. This kicks me in the arse with writing, too. If I could get my brain to shut up and just write, I think things would be great. But, my brain never shuts up with the doubts and the self-hatred.

I come from people who say "no" a lot. Pretty much, any dream I had as a kid or any scheme I mentioned or anything I said I wanted to try would be met with a "well, you know you won't succeed at it" ... or "you know it will never work" ... or "why do you want to change things around/try new things/etc? there's no point in it." ... and on and on and on. All differing forms of the word "no". Don't try. Don't do it. Don't bother. You won't succeed. At some point ... without even realizing it ... it becomes too hard to fight this any more. And you (meaning me) throw up your hands and say: "Fuck it. You're right. I'm a failure." And boom. There you are.

Anyhow ... sorry for the long comment. I am sensing there is probably a whole journal entry in here, somewhere. *nervous laugh*

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