Spring?

One day, I've been promised, spring will come. If it stops snowing, I will be doing (up to) three shows in May. It's going to be a busy month!

Firstly, I hope to be returning to main street Sykesville for their Fine Arts and Wine Festival, held on May 4th. These are the photos you're looking for.

On May 10 I will be back at the Boonsboro Green Fest for the 3rd time. Here's hoping for a beautiful and dry May Day. Bring your recyclables, donatables, and buy some repurposed items, crafts, plants, and of course, photos!

On May 18 I will, for the first time, participate in the Arbutus Arts Festival. This looks like a busy festival full of crafts, food, and family entertainment.  Come check it out!

More thoughts on local interest

I probably sounded a bit bitter last time I talked about local interest photos. Oft asked for and rarely produced. I have a few of my town, and this spring, I did some recon after a show and took some pictures of a place I'd return to in the fall.
The entire time I was there, lazily taking pictures, all I could think was, 'I'm pandering.' This was probably an elitist and stupid thing to think. Having taken the pics and printed some out and gone back to that fall show, I am still of two thoughts on local interest. Many people saw them and did one of two things. "Hey, I know where that is!" or "Where is this?" Ironically, some of the pictures were too close to where we were (less than a block) and still too far away.
I thought, well, that's it, I can't even pander right. But on the other hand, I did sell a few that in any other town, I wouldn't have. So, I still don't know what's best.

One bit of magic did happen as an argument against local interest (or at least 100% local interest). One guy flipped through one box of pics and pulled one out. He looked at it with wonder and bought it immediately. He told me that he and his wife had been in the exact place and waited for an hour for the sky to cooperate. They ultimately gave up and told themselves 'one day, we'll find the picture we were looking for.' And, so he did. He happily took the picture and it is now a tool for him to remember a special trip, place, and feeling. For a minute, I felt self actualized.

Magnets

I am super-stoked (and high on glue fumes) to introduce Under the Same Sun magnets for your viewing, purchasing, and fridge decorating pleasure.  After many contemplative hours and a little online research, I've made 47 of these beauties, all for you. 
 The reviews are already pouring in.

"Best day ever!"  -your fridge

"I want to be held up by these gems."  -your kid's homework

"No one will see me under these."  -your grocery list

"One of these over your face will improve this picture."  -your older sibling

 "Don't get too distracted while getting a drink." -one of these awesome magnets

Custom Order

The hardest part about having this very small business was (and is) deciding which pictures to offer to sell.  Inevitably, of all the prints I make, someone comes up with someething I don't have.  But yesterday, someone asked for something that I did have.  Just not physically. 
This has me wonder if I should take the suggestion of making a portfolio, or just carrying the lappy around to pull up special requests. 

Anyway.  Marsha, is this what you had in mind?  Email me.  ellieunderthesun@gmail.com

Spring Things!

The long awaited and short (at the moment) spring schedule for Under the Same Sun is here!
On May 5th, I'll be at the Catonsville Flower Festival and Garden Party, fancy!

This is a celebration of spring and the opening of their summer Farmer's Market.
Join me (and others) for colorful arts and crafts as well as a chance to brighten your day with some flowers and fresh veggies.  

http://www.catonsville.org/events/flowerfest.html

On May 11th, I'll be in Boonsboro, Maryland at the Greenfest.  This is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Here you can bring all of your recyclables and they'll take care of them.  Here's a comprehensive list of what they'll take  http://www.boonsborogreenfest.com/recycling.php.  Then you can find some re-purposed arts and crafts.  You can eat delicious food.  And after all of that, you can stock up on recycling products such as compost bins and rain barrels.  The hippie in me wants it all!

http://www.boonsborogreenfest.com/

Customs

I have custom orders on the brain. This past weekend I had my first print-only custom order. I am more than happy to resign myself that you can mat and frame pictures exactly to your liking. So, officially, I'll make you a 5x7 print for $5, an 8x10 for $10 and an 11x14 for $15.
These too can be mailed or picked up or delivered or whatever is most convenient.

On that same subject, while I don't sell online that doesn't mean you can't order. It's better to go straight to the source and that is via my personal email. There is a fairly extensive gallery flipping it's little heart out on the right hand side of your screen. If you see something you like, just let me know. I'll make that picture into anything you can think of. Well, just short of mugs and t-shirts, but I'd find a way if you wanted it.
Shipping is whatever the post office charges, and that's about that.

If you've been to see me at a show, you know many more pictures exist. If you vaguely remember something you liked, I am sure I can figure out what it was for you. I was there for most of them (haha)!

P.S. I'm thinking of a little website redux. I am not very good at design and such, but not quite happy with the way the 'ol blog looks. If you're a frist time visitor, bear with.

Do your Wurst.

Thanks to all my Frederick peeps who came out for octoberfest!  I know that it was really for the brats and the beer, but at least some of you bought some pics too!  This was a great event that I hope to continue to participate in.  I got free food, free drink, and got to use frederick's oldest bathroom.  Surprised some old friends, made some new, and didn't get stuck in the mud.  So, a rousing success.

Thanks again for making it my most successful two day show yet! 

Last show of the year is coming up on December 1st.  Right here in downtown Frederick.  Details to follow, 'cause you know you want 'em. 

A Real Show

Hello to my many, many readers. 
I am very happy to tell you that one of my photos (the well-groomed highland cow) has been chosen to be in the National Juried Photography Exhibit 2012 at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center.  The show is Juried by William Stapp, and he knows some stuff!  So come to downtown Frederick to see mine and many more awesome photos this fall.  The show runs from November 3rd to the 25th. 
More details here. 

And you can nab your own copy of the well-groomed highland cow.  It is easy as coming out to Oktoberfest this weekend and saying 'Hey, Ellie, lemme at that highland cow.' and I will reply, 'It's famous now so it costs $600 a print!'  Just kidding!

Oktoberfest

Join me this weekend for Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt.  This Frederick, MD tradition is October 20-21st and will feature local artists, history, and German beer!  (need I say more?  good, 'cause that's all I've got.)

Custom Order

Here is my first custom order to be mailed.  It wasn't as tricky or expensive as I had expected, so bring them on!  At Under the Same Sun, custom orders are as they should be:  Cheap and easy!  
Only $2 extra charge for a custom 5x7 print mailed right to your house.  So, pick some out, and at shows, keep that in mind to get just the print you're looking for!

50/50

This weekend was a great example of what it means to be a successful crafter.  With only a year in and about five shows under my belt, I seem to have a 50/50 chance of getting it right.  It seems that half of my time I have chosen a good venue, had fair weather and patrons have turned up.  When this happens, I sell a bit and feel right with the world.  The other half of the time, it rains, no on comes out, and the wind blows too hard.  When this happens, I freeze, get wet, or am scared the whole time and don't sell much.  This very small business seems a game of chance, and hopefully in a few years I'll have a handle on all of the variables that I can control.

On Saturday I as at a lovely event that started out very well. Let's just say that I love events that start at noon.  I was also thrilled to get to park right behind my tent.  Knowing that wet weather was coming, this made me feel far more secure.  There was chili and beer as promised, but the whole event was closed down 2 hours early due to the severely dark cloud that was looming over us.  I think I set a record in packing up and got everything back in and safe minutes before the weather hit.

On Sunday I went to my biggest event ever.  It was really wonderful as it was full of crafters, very well organized and overpopulated with arts and crafts hungry patrons.  It was certainly the most exposure I've gotten in one day and the most I've ever sold!  It made up for Saturdays' losses and then a bit more.  This is sure to be a regular UTSS event.

So thanks to all who came out to buy from, help, and support me this weekend.  It is truly appreciated!  If you are reading this, you are awesome!

Facebook

Just a reminder that you can 'like' Under the Same Sun on facebook.  Keep up with the latest schedule of events and new pics!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Under-the-Same-Sun/160240764053968

Crafting Mania!

Well, mabye I exaggerate, but this weekend I am doing two craft shows, two!

Firstly I will be at the Sykesville, MD Chili Cook-off and Beer Festival.  This event is on Main Street in Sykesville from 12-5, this Saturday!  Really, you had me at beer festival. 
http://www.sykesville.net/main.html

Secondly, I will be at the Catonsville Arts &Crafts Festival on Sunday from 10-5.  This is a big even on Frederick Street in Catonsville, MD.
http://www.catonsville.org/events/artsfest.html

Come on out and get yer craft on!

Autumn is the Best

We are rapidly and thankfully approaching my favorite time of year. With Autumn comes better clothes, cooler nights, beautiful colors, great holidays, and some potentially sucessful crafting. I am sorry it's been a while since a new post appeared, but I've sort of resovled not to craft in summer because I hate the heat. That, and summer shows are hard to get into. All complaining aside, I have three events lined up this fall, (possibly a couple more). Fall is the best time to be a crafter as people snap into Christmas shopping mode and hopefully will enter my tent and be overcome with joy and buy everything for their friends and family members. Hey, it could happen.

On September 9th, I am attending the Catonsville Arts & Craft Festival from 10-5. I am uber excited about this one as it is short, and allegedly very intense. There will hopefully be a lot of people there, including you!
 In October, I will be at Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt for a weekend of Beer, Brats, and Arts and Crafts.
 In December, the Fredeick Arts Council is hosting an Artists Market for first saturday celebrations. This is a fun event full of local artists, and if you're lucky, free wine. FREE WINE. That's all I have to say about that.

More info and helpful links can be found in the Upcoming Events section to your right.  Hope to see you under the little white tent. 

Thoughts on Local Interest

"Can I offer you some constructive criticism?" the officious lady loudly asked.
"No." I replied.
It didn't really matter what I said, as she intended it to offer it anyway.
"You need local interest pictures." she began (and never ended) "I think you'd catch more peoples' attention if you had some local interest here.  The other photographer," she gestured to the other side of the show, "has pictures of this town.  This town!  That's getting him a lot of business.  That's what you need.  I mean from a marketing stand point.  That's what I'd do."
"I..."  I attempted to answer.
"Yep, these are okay, but really what people want is local interest.  You know what I mean?  That's what people expect."
"Okay.  That's great.  I know that other photographer, and that's his thing.  All he has is local interest.  This is my thing.  Besides, I have some local interest.  Just not a lot."
"Well, what you need to do is come to the town you're going to be in, take some shots beforeheand and then you'd be set."
What's sad is that she thinks that she is the only person with this idea.  How did she think the other photographer got pictures of that town.  He's retired, and with that time he recons places and takes local pics.
"The thing is, I already have all of these pictures, and it's not cheap to make them.  I'm just starting out, I don't need to boost my inventory right now.  And, I like to think they're pretty pictures and it doesn't matter where they were taken."

It was about here that this ladys friend started to flip through the 5x7s.  She pulled some our showing to her friend and asked me where they were.  "Gettysburg.  Harper's Ferry.  Boonsboro.  See, maybe I don't need local interest after all."
She seemed to soften.  And backpedal.
"You know what, I think you're going to do just fine."  She continued to browse and repeated  "You're going to do fine, honey."

Oh, God would you please buy something or leave.  The whole interaction lasted far too long and earned me no money. What's nice about having my own business is that I don't have to worry about them complaining to anyone when I dismiss their suggestions immediately.

I'm often asked if I have local interest pics.  And, I do have a few, but the majority are non-local.  I used to apoligize for not having local pics, but I don't bother anymore.  It's not my thing.  At least not now.  The non-local pics are what I have and if you don't like them, no one's got a gun to your head.  I think I've sold enough non-local stuff to have confidence in it and I'm not too worried.  People largely want pretty pictures and I like to think I have a few.  

I meet all kinds at these shows and that's half of what keeps it entertaining.  I hate to rant, but the local interest thing was getting to me.  Thanks to all who come out and enjoy the pictures.  Thanks more to those who don't ask for local interest. 

Green Fest

I had a great time today at Boonsboro Green Fest.  This local festival celebrates all things reducing, reusing, and recycling.  I've missed it the previous three years, but I plan to keep this a regular stop on my photography selling tour.  It was full of good people, cool products, and great upcycled and green products.
It was a mild success for me, but It was a great day to sit outside and enjoy the weather.  I'm proud to have been a sponsor of this event, and I hope it continues to grow!
And, no one asked for local interest pictures, score!

Greenery

Join me tomorrow to green it up at the Boonsboro Green Fest. This 3rd annual even features green solutions, recycling, and recycled/upcycled products. I'm sure to stick out as not green enough among 141 other vendors. Come on over the mountain and check it out!

http://www.boonsborogreenfest.com/index.php 

Fine Art and Wine Festival

This Sunday, join me for the Sykesville Fine Art and Wine Festival. 12-5pm on mainstreet Sykesville, MD. Free admission, and, did I mention wine?

More infor here! http://www.sykesville.net/minutes/sykesvillefineart2012.pdf

O(k)tober

I'm very happy to let you know that October is shaping up to be a busy month for the crafter in me. I'm officially booked in for Frederick's Oktoberfest, held on October 20-21st. I'm pretty stoked as this is the craft show I remember going to as a kid. That and it's about six blocks from my house. Oh, and the free admission, October weather, and German beer! Hoping to see you there!

Show 3

I had my first show of the year last weekend and it was great.  Great from the off as it was a very short drive from my house.  This is convenient and inconvenient at the same time.  I could have walked to the show in 10 minutes, but instead I took all the time to pack the car, drive there, unpack, set up, repack, and get back home.  It was somehow more complicated than a show that is further away.  That aside, I was nice to get home quickly and fall into bed.
It was also great because it was inside.  Thus, unlike my other shows, it was not raining on me, and my stuff was not going to blow away. 
Thirdly it was great because people showed up!  How amazed I was to see so many people wandering through the market with genuine interest in all of the artisans there. 
Lastly, it was great because in four hours I sold more than my first two (32 hours worth) of shows combined.  Happy times!  I am still amazed that people look at all, but very grateful to have people buy and (hopefully) display one of my pictures in their homes.  It felt good. 
Oh, and I was also thrilled to use the magic swiper with little trouble.

Anyway, thanks to all who came out, I'm sure none of you had been to this website before, but you made my day just by being interested and not getting too bored with my anecdotes. 
See you in May.