Latest news

Hi guys! I am FINALLY getting around to posting on this blog. Pam went to so much effort to set it up. I’ve been such a slacker in some areas. On the other hand… This has been a good month in other areas. I went to the Best of Missouri Hands conference in Jeff City a couple of weeks ago and really got revved up about my next marketing actions. I also made some new really good friends- always a bonus. I got the contract for my work at Barnes Jewish Hospital which is very exciting. Last weekend I did the Quenny Park show in StL. Thankfully it was an indoor show because there was lots of R-A-I-N!!!!! I was awarded third place in 2-d. To me that has a bit more umph than say 1st place in fibers. Out of all the 2-D artists- painters, photographers, printmakers, mixed media 2-d, graphics and drawing artists I got third place. 

After our last meeting my Niche Award finally arrived in the mail. In the box was a certificate of the award, about 100 stickers to attach on any promo packs saying- Niche Award Winner, a generic press release, a booth sign and… drum roll please… a big honking glass trophy. I think it weighs 7 lbs..

The most exciting news is that I have an appointment next week with a high powered gallery in an art oriented town within a half-day drive of here. They had already heard of me from another artist in their stable in December. I had forgotten about that. I cold-called there 2 weeks ago after researching them on the internet. I felt only medium warm about how the phone call had gone. Then last weekend the artist who had referred me was at the Queeny show. She asked if I had ever talked to the gallery. I embarassingly told her I had talked to them but had failed to mention her name. Then  I asked if she speaks with them very often. She said that yes nearly every day and she’d put in a good word for me. The next day she tells me they have talked and the owner wants me to email her again with my images, data etc. I did and the upshot is I have an appointment to meet with them next week. Fingers crossed BIG TIME! I have talked with 3 different artists who had been with them 10 years and all three raved about how well they are treated and how much effort the owners go to in order to promote their work. Also- each had had many large scale sales from that gallery…..can you tell I’m excited????? Now I just need about 4-5 more nationally and I will drop most of my shows. I’m leaning this direction right now for 2 reasons. First- it is a marketing direction I have not tried to learn previously. I have work currently in several fine craft galleries but they really primarily sell my smaller works. What I want is a gallery that really wants to know my goals and works to make those happen. I’m thinking long-term. I want a relationship of mutual respect for my work and their efforts, and who has a clientele who can afford my larger works, and consequently knows enough about my work personally to be able to educate their audience on the merits of my work. From what I have learned, this gallery fills the bill. It is not the gallery I mentioned at the meeting- totally different town, totally different direction.

The second reason is to facilitate my being able to be on the road less often. It’s more in fairness to my husband than anything else. If I can replace the income AND be home more well, we all win!

I’m working on several exhibition proposals for the next year plus figuring out which exhibitions I wish to enter. As you know there is lots to do. Looking forward to seeing everyone later this month.

Add comment April 6th, 2007

Here I am!

Well, I finally found time to get on our blog and do a post. I also updated my profile with info about myself. I’m currently working on a large underwater scene. It’s in batiks and polka dots and will be heavily beaded and embellished with sheers and netting overlays etc. I will enter it in the Houston Festival in their new category called “embellished quilts.” I was stuck on the designs and colors of the fish for two weeks … up till the wee hours every night. Fortunately, Merrilee came over to discuss the quilt and its design elements. It is always so helpful to get input and perspective from another person. I’ve always planned to call this one “Hitting Rock Bottom” because it has so many rocks on the bottom. I wanted to put a whiskey bottle on the rocks. I’m now thinking of putting an old shoe with Amelia Earhart’s name on it (and call it “Where’s Amelia?). OR I may put an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny yellow polka dot bikini on the rocks (and call it “Skinny Dipping”). I’ll post some photos of this quilt venture next week. I just have one more fish to make and then I can hit my drawer of beads and threads. I asked Merrilee if she thought I was “loosing it” over this quilt and she told me that happened a long time ago! Here are 2 great quotes from Amelia Earhart that seem to pertain to my current quilt project:

“Preparation, I have often said, is rightly two-thirds of any venture.”
“It is far easier to start something than it is to finish it.”

Kathy Kansier, Ozark, MO

2 comments April 6th, 2007