A Little Bit of Culture (and Ice Cream) to Fill Me Up

First, a huge thanks to all the supportive comments on my last post. It's nice to know that even when you feel like you have been lacking in the blogging department, there are people to cheer you on (and that everyone seems to go through it). And as the Dose Girls said, "You do the best you can." Thanks, everyone!

After spending the first half of May prepping for my first outdoor craft show, followed immediately by Cambridge Open Studios the next weekend, it was refreshing this past week to have a bit of a break from that aspect of my business. Actually, scratch that. To spend an entire weekend not thinking about my business. I even gave myself a staycation day last Tuesday. Oh, glorious day off!

It was a mostly unremarkable week, and yet fantastic at the same time, filled with time spent with friends, an entire day in the jewelry metalsmithing studio, meeting new people, and lots of time outdoors. The weather for the most part had been spectacular in the Boston area, and I feel fortunate that my schedule is flexible enough that I can do things outdoor when I want. 

I had an opportunity to attend my first blogger networking event, specifically for food and art bloggers, where I represented both myself and Boston Handmade. I got to partake in some of the local culture, helping out with the second weekend of Cambridge Open Studios and attending Porchfest in the neighboring city of Somerville. I also went to a talk about refugees in Israel and learned about a different aspect of the country. All in all, a great week!

May 16 , 2013

  
The blogger networking event I attend was hosted by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA (the town probably best known for the witch trials in the 1600s). They have a gorgeous outdoor area, and the weather was perfect for mingling and enjoys tasty treats. 

We were also given an opportunity to explore the museum. Everyone was talking about the Nick Cave exhibit; as soon as I got there, I understood why. It was wild. He makes these sounds suits (two of which are pictured above) and makes videos of people dancing in them to techno beats. The videos were quite mesmerizing. 

May 17, 2013

One of the things I like about partaking in the 365project is the opportunity to experiment with shooting and editing photos. Playing around with photographing a house plant. 

May 18 , 2013

For the last few years, the neighboring town of Somerville, MA (the birth place of Fluff, fyi) puts on this great event called Porchfest, which is "a community event where Somervillians share their love of playing and listening to music" (from the Somerville Arts Council website). Basically, people play music on their porches, and people come to listen. These guys, as you might be able to tell from their name, played really cool Russian instrumental music. 

May 19 , 2013

When all else fails, I can always count on a picture of Leo. Seriously, look at that sweet little face!

May 20 , 2013

South Station in downtown Boston, one of the three commuter rail train stations. I just though it was so beautifully lit up--I had never seen it like this before.  May 21 , 2013 I've been having a hankering for peanut butter ice cream. I was given an ice cream maker for my bridal shower two years ago, and it is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets ever. Ever noticed how many store-bought ice creams have all these funky, unrecognizable ingredients? What I love about making my own ice cream is I can deterimine what goes in it, and it's pretty much as natural as you can get. It might be full of fat, but at least it's organic! Anyway, I used this recipe (minus the candied) and it was UH-MA-ZING (and ridiculously easy). Seriously, I'm tempted to eat more right now.
What has been a highlight of your week?

You Can't Do it All

I woke up this morning dreaming about writing this blog post. (Can you tell it's been on my mind?)
I feel like I have been neglecting my blog. Sure, I've been posting in it at least three times of weeks, but to be honest, there hasn't been much feeling behind it. 
Posts are often written at the last-minute and aren't planned out. I feel like I'm just going through the routine posts. An updated on my 365project, a Friday Five (and even that has been inconsistent), and until a couple weeks ago artist interviews.
I cannot remember the last time I wrote a blog post that I really thought was worthy of your time. 
These past few weeks I had been so consumed with preparing for my first outdoor crafty show, Cambridge Open Studios, and a sudden slew of custom orders that I haven't felt I could carve out time to sit down and write a proper blog post. Of course, they are all wonderful things that are helping me to move my business forward, but I miss blogging. 
And my Etsy shop has suffered as a result as well. Listings expire and I don't notice them for days. I still haven't finished updating all of my listings. And I have a new line of jewelry that I still have yet to even photograph. 
When I focus my energy on one aspect, I find it very challenging to keep up with other areas. 
A few months ago, when I was in the midst of taking Blogging for Your Creative Business I was super focused on blogging. I was using the writing prompts to journal most days, which in turn would inspire blog posts. Now? I'm a bit ashamed to say I automatically archive those e-mails. I'm afraid to see how many prompts I have yet to actually read. 
But on the flip side, when I was in blogging mode I found I was devoting very little time to creating jewelry. 
I've realized as the sole employee in a small business that I can't do it all at the same time. 
A few months ago I was trying really hard to do it all and do it all well, and it was stressing me out. I felt like I was working all the time and always struggling to keep up. I worked all day and most of the weekends. I was feeling dejected that no matter how hard I worked, I couldn't seem to do everything I had intended.
I have slowly learned to focus my energies, and rule out things that I haven't deemed to be of the upmost importance for where I'm at right now. Instead of trying to get into as many local shops a possible, I'm concentrating on building up my inventory for my summer shows. Instead of worrying about having my jewelry featured in blog posts, I jump on the opportunities when they arise.
I've also decided that time with friends and relaxing is also important to me. I received some news a couple months ago that put things into perspective for me. Of course I want my business to succeed, but I also want to enjoy life and not feel like I'm working all the time.
So I apologize if my blog posts have been lackluster recently as a result. Although I have another show coming up in a few weeks, I feel like I'm in a good place where I can also focus more of my energy here. Thank you for sticking it out with me (you know who you are!) and hopefully you will see some more blog posts that are not just me updating you about my latest show!

Friday Five: 5 Things You Can Do to be a Kick-Ass Craft Show Customer (Plus 2 Bonuses!)

The 2012 Boston Handmade Marketplace, photo by Jessica Burko

It's no secret that I love handmade items. To see people's amazing creativity and skill hard at work. To experience the uniqueness of something that was made by hand.  To interact with and have that personal touch of buying directly from the maker.
It probably won't shock that you that craft shows are one of my favorite summer and holiday time activities. You might even say I have a slight addiction to craft shows. (And talking about them, apparently.)
If I'm traveling and find out there's an awesome craft show in the area, I'm there in a heartbeat. To be able to peruse the stands, seeing what incredible goodies people have concocted with their creativity and own two hands, is intoxicating. 
Ok, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but seriously, how amazing is it to see what people make and have it all in one place?
Though I may be new to the craft show scene as a participating artist, I am a veteran when it comes to being a patron. Along with some of my fellow makers in Boston Handmade, we have acquired quite the collective skillset, if you will, at rocking it as craft show customers. 
And I want you to be able to rock the craft show just as hard. 
That is why over at the Boston Handmade blog I shared with you the 7 Things You Need to Know to be a Rockstar Craft Show Customer. Go on, check it out!