One thing that I loved last year was traveling up and down the east coast and attending many AER state events (teachers' groups) and showing my work. What always seem to come from these events is the beginnings of new ideas. There are quotes, words phrases and themes that I might not have thought of on my own and enjoy the impromptu brainstorming. Brainstorming is something very important to artists!
Also, on Facebook I often run contests. I will suggest a category and request ideas. If I use your idea- you get that item for FREE! BUT, that being said, please feel free to send me ideas- even if I am not running a contest. If I use your idea, you will still get it for free!!!!
Please become a fan, please look up K Fehr designs and Jewelry in Braille and 'like' me!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/K-Fehr-Designs-and-Jewelry-in-Braille/234943035153
Next month I will be in Chicago- attending the IL AER event. Who doesn't love Chicago in February? Brrrrrrr.... But, from that I hope to meet new people, spread the word about my work and ~hopefully~ announce a BIG new addition to the Jewelry in Braille line. Something MANY of you have asked for and is SO close to fruition. Stay tuned!!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
2009/2010 Year In Review
So 2010, what a year! But to fully explain why 2010 was SO amazing for Jewelry in Braille, I need to rewind to 2009.
In January of 2009, I was still a Senior Designer for Lenox- a leading giftware company located in Bristol, PA. Living in Perkasie, PA with my wonderful husband and 2 amazing dogs, it was then that our world moved to Waynesboro, VA, a great town located just west of Charlottesville, VA. The move served a few functions- my husband's job was now in that territory and it got us within 4.5 hours from his kids. The 'plan' (and I giggle now) was to continue working for Lenox remotely- as the majority of my work was on the computer and heck, you can be anywhere to do that, right? So, for the first 5 months or so it was great... steady work and my coworkers were my dogs. Lovin it! As the year continued, work began to slow from Lenox and I thought to myself- why not build a website for my Braille jewelry? At that point it was solely on Etsy and there were a few sales here and there- but nothing in numbers to speak of. So, taking advantage of the downtime, www.jewelryinbraille.com was built by me and launched. Yay!
Through the year I was perfecting my process, figuring out what was working and what wasn't- working on new designs and trying to figure out my next step. That October we rescued Howie- our male Doberman- adding one more to my coworkers! That November was also exciting- I experienced my first 'Christmas rush' and needless to say, the wind was in my sails and I wanted to get out there!
2010
So my New Year’s resolution last year was to start showing my work- finding the venues and audiences who would appreciate the unique styling of yours truly. So, January something, I began researching teachers groups, blind and visually impaired groups like ACB, NFB, etc... The biggest issue I ran into was that many of these websites were not updated and information was hard to come by. Then I found the AER-BVI website... American Education Resources for the Blind and Visually impaired- now you see why AER-BVI flows off the tongue a little easier! The VERY first show that I saw... the VA chapter of AER... the event, Waynesboro, VA- my hometown. Was this a sign or what! Not knowing what to expect at that first event, I made my checklists and thought I was ready for it all- I was not even close to imagining the response. Here is little ol me, with a line 5 deep all day. It was an amazing day, full of meeting some WONDERFUL people and learning at each turn. I got home after the event and just started to cry. Never, in all of my years of being an artist have I felt so deeply connected to the work and seeing the impact of my creations moved me greatly. That felt pretty darn wonderful!
After the VA AER, I attended the PA AER conference- this time with backup- my husband. It was great to be back in PA, meeting many people who either work with my niece or soon will. I attended the MD/DC AER, The National ACB in Phoenix (where I met my first Doberman guide dog!!) and then took a little time off to rebuild my inventory and fill orders to the Museum of Disability History, Independent Living Aids and the National Braille Press.
Then... the autumn.. oh boy... I attended the SC, NY, AL, KS, FL and ME AER conferences... 6 shows in 6 weeks. Exhausting, wonderful and a true learning experience! The shows ended right before Thanksgiving which to be honest was a blur.. Every morning I woke to find my emails overflowing with orders- wonderful emails from customers wanting unique treasures for their loved ones and I was so happy to be a part of that!
2011 is already shaping up to be busy- so stay tuned for updates on that! Please post your comments- I would love to hear from you!
In January of 2009, I was still a Senior Designer for Lenox- a leading giftware company located in Bristol, PA. Living in Perkasie, PA with my wonderful husband and 2 amazing dogs, it was then that our world moved to Waynesboro, VA, a great town located just west of Charlottesville, VA. The move served a few functions- my husband's job was now in that territory and it got us within 4.5 hours from his kids. The 'plan' (and I giggle now) was to continue working for Lenox remotely- as the majority of my work was on the computer and heck, you can be anywhere to do that, right? So, for the first 5 months or so it was great... steady work and my coworkers were my dogs. Lovin it! As the year continued, work began to slow from Lenox and I thought to myself- why not build a website for my Braille jewelry? At that point it was solely on Etsy and there were a few sales here and there- but nothing in numbers to speak of. So, taking advantage of the downtime, www.jewelryinbraille.com was built by me and launched. Yay!
Through the year I was perfecting my process, figuring out what was working and what wasn't- working on new designs and trying to figure out my next step. That October we rescued Howie- our male Doberman- adding one more to my coworkers! That November was also exciting- I experienced my first 'Christmas rush' and needless to say, the wind was in my sails and I wanted to get out there!
2010
So my New Year’s resolution last year was to start showing my work- finding the venues and audiences who would appreciate the unique styling of yours truly. So, January something, I began researching teachers groups, blind and visually impaired groups like ACB, NFB, etc... The biggest issue I ran into was that many of these websites were not updated and information was hard to come by. Then I found the AER-BVI website... American Education Resources for the Blind and Visually impaired- now you see why AER-BVI flows off the tongue a little easier! The VERY first show that I saw... the VA chapter of AER... the event, Waynesboro, VA- my hometown. Was this a sign or what! Not knowing what to expect at that first event, I made my checklists and thought I was ready for it all- I was not even close to imagining the response. Here is little ol me, with a line 5 deep all day. It was an amazing day, full of meeting some WONDERFUL people and learning at each turn. I got home after the event and just started to cry. Never, in all of my years of being an artist have I felt so deeply connected to the work and seeing the impact of my creations moved me greatly. That felt pretty darn wonderful!
After the VA AER, I attended the PA AER conference- this time with backup- my husband. It was great to be back in PA, meeting many people who either work with my niece or soon will. I attended the MD/DC AER, The National ACB in Phoenix (where I met my first Doberman guide dog!!) and then took a little time off to rebuild my inventory and fill orders to the Museum of Disability History, Independent Living Aids and the National Braille Press.
Then... the autumn.. oh boy... I attended the SC, NY, AL, KS, FL and ME AER conferences... 6 shows in 6 weeks. Exhausting, wonderful and a true learning experience! The shows ended right before Thanksgiving which to be honest was a blur.. Every morning I woke to find my emails overflowing with orders- wonderful emails from customers wanting unique treasures for their loved ones and I was so happy to be a part of that!
2011 is already shaping up to be busy- so stay tuned for updates on that! Please post your comments- I would love to hear from you!
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