Weekly Creative Challenge for October 2, 2011

Busy ! Busy! Busy!

Well this past September has been a very busy time for me. So many show, so little time. This is the time of year when many of the art fairs, festivals, and shows all take place. There seems to be some type of event every weekend. During this past month I have participated in 6 shows and It has been a whirl wind of travel, setup and sales. It has been hectic and fun at the same time. For example, I have been in a different show from Thursday to Sunday this past week - I had a trunk show on Thursday, an art walk on Friday, a jewelry show at my job on Saturday during the day, a Mall art show during Saturday evening, and a art fair on Sunday. By Sunday evening my whole body felt it and on Monday morning my voice was going just in time to do an eight hour shift at my job. This was a pretty intense week but through the grace of God (and Lots of Coffee) I got through it and It Was Good!

I have sold many of my design which has made me very pleased. I will be showing you all these designs in the next couple of weeks. Many people like my new lines such as my "Textured Block" series and my free form wire earrings. My "Art within Art" and "Fretwork" lines have been doing very well also. I truly feel blessed.

Well here is a sample of one of those pieces that already has a Home. It is called "Visions on a Cloudy Day." I love the Labradorite faceted rounds and the eyes. I will be continuing this series and update you all on my progress.

Well I have to get back to work.
Take care and stay creative!

Allison B
www. alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for September 11, 2011

The Season Has Begun !

Well, I have started the "Season of Shows". I have participated in my first fall show and it was Great! I showed and sold many of my metal pieces. Also I sold many earrings of both styles. I received a lot of feedback and I'm working on new pieces to be ready for the next upcoming show the weekend of September 16th through the 18th (Mosaics art Fair in St Charles, MO).

I will be working on many new concepts as well. This past show I introduced my "Textured Block" series of smaller metal and gemstone pendants and they were very well received. I made 8 pendants for the show and I sold all 8 of them. I will be working on having at least 12 for this next show and will be featuring them in an upcoming blog in the near future. Then you can see what I came up with.

I'm still waiting to hear the outcome of the jurying process on 2 other shows. I hope it will be good news. If it all goes well I will have 11 shows for the September to December time period. WOOOOOOO ! Yes ! 11 Shows. Keep me in your thoughts. "Tis the Season to be Busy"!

Well, for this week I will feature one of my newer pieces that debuted at the Queeny Fall Art Fair here in Ballwin, MO. This piece is called "Beautiful Flight." I hope you all enjoy my new design. I will have to get back to work now so take care and stay creative!

Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

ALNB Collections Weekly Challenge for August 28 2011

In the Planning Stages.....


Well the Fall and Holiday season is approaching. Yes "The Holiday Season". I will be starting the new show season next weekend. This will be my first big show for the upcoming season. I have taken a break from blogging to work on new designs and I have come up with many new designs. I'm at 15 new designs and counting.


I have also started hearing the outcome of some of the shows I have applied to and for this season I will be at 11 shows and counting. Yes! 11 Shows! I know it seems to be a little crazy but I have talked with others artists and they have informed me that this is the "Nature of the Beast." This is the beast season for shows in the artist world. Many of our sales for the year are earned between the month of September to December. A lot of artists don't participate in spring shows because they don't seem to sell as much during that time of year. They usually do shows during the Summer, Fall and Holiday season.

This years show season is also different because I have also included shows that are out of state. I will be by the end of the year have done 3 shows in Illinois. I am trying to spread my wings a little bit. I hope they will enjoy my work there as well. I have a new gallery in Chesterfield, MO in which I have my work. The gallery is called "MindWorks Gallery" and It has been great so far. I'm very interested to see how the holiday will be there. I'm trying to reach more people through social media such facebook, twitter and of course blogging. I now even have a "fan page" with facebook. Working on a business is more than a notion but It is rewarding when someone really likes your designs.

Well starting next week I will be showing my new fall line so keep watching for the new pieces starting in September. Stay in touch to see all the designs and visit me on facebook when you have the chance. I will show you new pieces next week.

Take care and Stay Creative!
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for the Week of July 3, 2011

Looking Towards the Future!

This is the time that we as artists are now in the "Hurry Up and Wait" mode. This is the time of year that all of the fall and holiday season shows are doing their "Call for Artist" rush. All of the shows due dates are all coming to a head in early and mid July. There are so many ways to apply now. From email to zapplications to snail mail. They just get it in on TIME!!!!! And Let's not forget the FEES- Applications fee, Booth/Space fee, Electrical fee, and even the Insurance fee must be considered when you apply to all these shows. There are many fees but very little time.

I have to admit this is when it is a great time to compare notes with fellow artists to see what is really happening out there. Many artists have been doing these shows for years and most artists are great about sharing information about things such as if a show is worth doing to who is a great company and who to get your artist insurance from. Networking is a wonderful and important part of this business called "art". I am glad I have become friends with a fair amount of artists who are caring and will share information that will help you with these important and sometimes "Scary" decisions that can shape your career in the long term.

Well I have to finish up this blog entry so I can print up some of these applications and send them on their way. I hope I will hear promising news in the upcoming weeks. But until next week I share with you one of my last creations that found a home earlier this month. Introducing "Gaze from the East." I hope you enjoy this new work and have a wonderful and creative "4th of July" and great week.

Take Care
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for June 26, 2011

Stay Focused! Stay Steady!

Well it is very interesting when you finish a big show and you think you have time to relax a little. Well, that might not be the whole truth. It is amazing how time fly's and then you realize that there is another show just around the corner and you have to get back to work designing and creating. Thank God that this is a job you love to do. There is so much that is needed to be done for each event. This is also the time you need to be in multiple places at one time. I think I need to clone myself so I could get everything done.

Just this past week I went out to dinner with my husband James and we began to discuss the plans for this upcoming Fall/Holiday Season. YES! Fall is Fast Approaching. It will be here before you know it. It was very enlightening as I looked over all the shows, events, and art fairs, I figured out that by the end of the year starting in June I will hopefully be in about 15 to 17 shows. When you look at the list it is exciting, but also a little scary. This is when you take a deep breath and ...

STAY FOCUSED!!!

This is when your planning skills will kick into High Gear! All I can say is wish me luck - Pray for Me! I guess this is where the Rubber meets the Road - Or there the Saw Blade meets the Metal! (Ha, Ha!). Well you all will get to take this fun ride with me for I will let you know how it is coming along week to week! Sometimes I might have to skip a week if it gets wild. But it will be fun!

Well, I'd like to show you one of the pieces that sold during this last art fair. It was called "Torn Away"! Hope you enjoy it.

Take care and stay Creative!
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for the Week of June 19 2011

Regrouping After A Major Show!

This has been an experience within itself. I was gearing up for this show for at least two months. Working on new pieces, revamping my displays, ordering marketing materials to give out to customers and so on. Wooooooo! What a ride. Then the time comes to do the show. It is truly amazing how 3 days can go by so fast. The set up, the selling, the meeting new customers and making friends with other artist, tearing down after the closing of the event. Before you know it, it's all over.

A lot of times it feels like your in a whirl wind. Going every which way but loose. Then the wind sets you down and your left to ponder just what happened. It is very interesting when you look at your inventory and see all the major pieces you sold that weekend. At first you feel great then you become a little sad because even though you "Got them a Good Home," you miss your work. They become your "little darlings." That's when you pick up your pen or pencil and start sketching those "Oh cant live with out them" new designs and look forward to the new show that is coming up faster than you can imagine. I have another show a little over a week from now. Well everyone this is just a small glance into my world of creative fun. I wanted to show you one of my "Little Darlings" that got a home during the "Art and Air" Art Fair in Webster Groves, MO during the first weekend in June. It was a great show and "Remnants of A Ginkgo" was a great piece to work on. I hope you enjoy this one and have a wonderful and creative week.

Take care!

Allison B.
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com

Weekly Creative Challenge for May 22, 2011

When there is a lot on "Your Plate"!

This is differently a busy season. A lot of the artist I spoke to told me that the spring season is usually slow. I have to admit, it have been surprising busy for me. There are many shows and opportunities out there. The fun ( and scary) part is trying to decide which events and exhibition opportunities are best for me and my company. I'm still working on figuring out that puzzle. It seems to be a lot of shows and events popping up all around the metropolitan St. Louis area. There are also many more events in the Illinois and the lower Missouri areas as well. All of then look promising but it is a hard to truly know which one is right for my work. I have spoken to many other artist with far more experience than I and they usually say follow your gut, do your homework, and sometimes you have to just take a chance. Sometimes you will fail but other times you can be pleasantly surprise and benefit for the experience. This year I trying to step out more and participate in more events and find new venues for my jewelry to be shown to the public. It has been a "big process" but I will keep working on it. In June and July I will be in 5 to 6 shows. That is a lot for me. Some are big and some not so big but they're all a chance for me to get my work out there. Wish Me Luck!

Well this week's entry is called "Wind Blows" The swirls makes me think of a cool wind blowing. Just in time before the summer heat begins. This one has already found a home at the Spring Art Walk in St. Charles Missouri but I wanted to show it to you all anyway.

Take care all of you and stay creative!
Allison B
www.alnbcollections.com
http://alnbcollections.blogspot.com