The importance of small boutiques and galleries

Over the past two years I've been working hard to establish my jewelry line and get it out to the public.  One of the most essential parts of doing that is working with independent and small galleries such as Equinox Gallery in San Antonio and Ghost Gallery in Seattle (and the many other places, including online).  I've come to realize how important they are and many other independent retailers.  

It's a very symbiotic relationship, without jewelers and makers like myself these galleries wouldn't have the fresh talent to show their customers and without galleries like them I wouldn't expose my work to new customers.  In that sense I'm so grateful for them.  I also understand more of what it takes to run a gallery, studio and events since co-opting at Art Avenue.  

The hard part is getting the community to understand just how crucial to people and the community small business' are to the economy.  I try to stress this with my friends and family that aren't as into the handmade community as I am, but it's hard when you've got the Family Dollar down the road.  

So here's my soapbox message for today, think hard about every purchase you make because there is a history to it.  Such as the on trend blouse you get at the mall that was manufactured in China, that supports the big business and yet doesn't give much to the poor people that made it.  However, when you drop say $25 or $50 on that ceramic mug your local artisan made it goes to an artist that pays his rent, shops locally and puts that same money back into the community.  

*many ECU alumni are represented by this Equniox Gallery

Laurie Kearney, owner of Ghost Gallery has a super keen eye for artwork

My beaver teeth earrings (ethically sourced - no animals harmed) now being sold at Equinox Gallery.
Image by Equinox Gallery

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New pieces in my Etsy shop

This year is already proving to be very productive; I'm submitting all my papers for a practicing business in the state of North Carolina, I've decided which bank to, finally, open a business account and I've made several new pieces of jewelry.  

Within the past several weeks I've also been slowly setting up my studio and the metals studio at Art Avenue; getting an air compressor for my wax injector and getting the right tools.  It's costly but fortunately I've made some sales this month already and it helps fund all of this new equipment I need for the studio.  I'm also fortunate that my boyfriends dad is gifting me an oxygen and acetelyne tanks, along with a torch tip system.  It's so wonderful when your family and friends support your dream and do whatever they can to help, I'm a lucky lady!

So enough of studio talk, here are some new pieces I finished this week.  I really love the little geode and crystal earrings.  I've kept those geodes for about 6 months and finally got a chance to make them into something pretty to wear.  Also some new beaver teeth earrings added, these are slightly thinner than previous teeth earrings. 

I hope you like and thank you for reading!

Resurrection earrings - geode crystals (from Points of Light) and quartz crystal points.

The Hunted - Beaver teeth earrings

The Hunted Crow claw pendant with amethyst in bronze.

The Hunted - Triple Crow claw ring with rough aquamarine, 18kt gold plated bronze.

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New pieces

Just got these photos back from my good friend Tara Locklear, aren't they great?  These pieces were both in my senior exhibition.  

My favorite is the Keeper necklace, it's such a statement piece that I can imagine a shaman wearing.  I call it the keeper because the turtle is said the be the keeper between realms of earth and water and combined with the beaver which is a builder of it's home, and is constantly working at perfect it's goal of building a dream.  

The Deep Sea necklace is very close to home for me, the black coral is from Panama and the ammonite was gifted to me from a dear friend (Kat Cole).  It represents the change in time and how water can transform wildlife to a state of permanency.  

I hope you like and thank you for visiting! 

The Keeper, cast bronze from a turtle shell, copper, silver and beaver teeth

The Keeper back detail.

Deap Sea necklace. Black coral, ammonite, and sterling silver. 

 

Deap Sea close up. 

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