PainterPaige hard at work

I thought you all would be interested in seeing all of the hard work that goes into my booth set-up each and every time I sell at a local show.  First we have to pack up the car with everything, drive to our location, figure out where exactly our spot is, then unload everything.  Then we have pop up the tent, put together all of the display panels, hang all of the artwork in the best spots possible and set up the table that holds my smaller pieces along with marketing materials and the ever important sign-up sheet.  But I love the way my booth looks when its all done.

My assistant hard at work

Early in the set-up stage

Have to get it just right

Ready for business!

A new year. Welcome 2015

A new year.  A time to make new commitments.  To set new goals.  One of my goals every year is to blog more.  And every year so far, I have not kept that commitment.  Here it is January 27, 2015 and I haven't blogged since August.  AUGUST!  Oy.

I am still struggling with the "who cares what I have to say" fear.  But I am going to start anyway.

I am just going to write about my life as an artist.  My wins and failures.  My struggles and achievements.

Ok, I will start with some achievements from 2014.

1.  I  more than tripled my income from 2013!  Not bad, not bad at all.

2.  I was accepted at bigger and better shows.  Another good step.

3.  I have grown tremendously as an artist.  YAH.

4.  I have continuously put myself out there.  I let myself be vulnerable.

5.  I created my website and its up and running.  I printed cool business cards.

6.  I started selling prints of my work so that I don't have to keep reinventing the wheel over and over again.  I sold tote bags printed with my designs.  Keyword, is "sold"

7. My twitter followers has grown proportionately to how much effort I put into tweeting.  Funny how that works.

8.  I took my first in-person art business course.  I learned a lot and met some really great people.  A win-win.

9.  I still work full-time and do shows on the weekends, sometimes working 6-7 days a week and haven't given up.

10.  I survived!

Etsy, you frustrate me

I have been reading up on how to get noticed on Etsy lately since I have had my site up for about 2 years and have only sold 3 pieces and got a one commissioned piece from it. Why?  Is it my work?  Is it my photography? My keywords? My SEO?  It is super frustrating.  I constantly read up on best practices for Etsy and try to follow all of their suggestions but it really hasn't made much of a difference as far as sales.  I try to renew listings every week.  I try to even post new pieces every week since Etsy brings up searches chronologically.  I tried following all the information I have on which keywords will bring me the most visits.  I am even a member of quite a few Etsy teams.  My local, CREST (Capital Region Etsy Street Team) has been great and really helpful.

But so far, nothing.  I honestly am not really sure what to do or where to go from here.  

If anyone out there is willing to visit my page and give me their thoughts I would be forever grateful.

www.etsy.com/shop/painterpaige