The Artisan Connection

2008 Season of the Albuquerque Downtown Grower's Market

2008-06-05T13:49:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again!

During the Summer and Fall you can find Eclectic Elements at the

Albuquerque Downtown Grower's Market
2008 Season

Every Saturday
June 7th through October 25, 2008

7 am - 11 am

in September hours change to 8am-Noon

8th and Central
Robinson Park

Arts and Crafts
Music
Fun for the kids
Food
Fresh local produce
Honey, flowers, herbs and more!

It's great fun! Be sure to get a breakfast burrito from Java Joe's and check in with our friend and favorite "famous artist" Cay Garcia!

Hope to see you some time over the summer!
sam

Eclectic Elements

Cay Garcia

Eclectic Elements Buys Scrabble Tiles! (and other game pieces!)

2008-05-14T11:56:00.005-06:00

Eclectic Elements Buys Scrabble Tiles!

Eclectic Elements is always in need of Scrabble tiles for their recycled and upcycled fashionable "Trashion" creations!
Full sets and partial sets of the tiles are fine.

The always need J K C M and Q tiles, but they will take everything you can send.

Please use the contact form to let them know you have game pieces available.
Click here to contact Eclectic Elements if you have old games to sell

Also, they can trade game pieces for finished jewelry if you like!

Be sure to use the contact form so they can discuss what you have and prices or trades.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle, Go Green!

Click here to visit Eclectic Elements

SCRABBLE is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc. and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons, PLC of Enfield, Middlesex, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.

Mineral Makeup?

2008-01-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

Mineral makeup is all the rage right now.

Here is a link to a balanced review of the subject.

From WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/features/the-lowdown-on-mineral-makeup

An educated consumer is a happy consumer!
Enjoy!

Peace, equality, justice...

2008-01-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

Once one assumes an attitude of intolerance, there is no knowing where it will take one. Intolerance, someone has said, is violence to the intellect and hatred is violence to the heart.
--Mahatma Gandhi

Stability and peace in our land will not come from the barrel of a gun, because peace without justice is an impossibility.
--Desmond Tutu

Happy New Year!

2008-01-04T13:40:00.001-07:00

A sincere thank you for
your support in 2007.

Best wishes for the New Year!

Sincerely,

sam
Eclectic Elements

http://www.eclectic-elements.com

The Sampler is one of the Best for Indie Advertising...

2007-11-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

Is your advertising budget tight?

Can't figure out where to spend those precious advertising dollars?

Well, The Sampler is a great way to get your products in the hands of potential buyers!

The Sampler
http://www.homeofthesampler.com

How does it work?

You contact Team Sampler with a proposal for a contribution. Your contribution should represent your work and you can contribute from 25 to 200 or more samples.

Be sure to contact them before you send anything. Each month the deadline is the 20th for the following month's contribution to give Team Sampler some time to assemble the Samplers.

Click here for more information about contributing

The best part about this type of advertising is that your products are delivered directly to people who can see them, touch them and enjoy them. It is very interactive.

Also, you get a link on The Sampler website and reduced rates for advertising on The Sampler website.

Click here to purchase a Sampler.

Recently, The Sampler introduced new products...The Sampler Select and City Sampler. These are exciting new Samplers with a lot of potential for indie artists.

The Sampler has been supporting the indie community for years and Marie and Team Sampler are dedicated and hardworking and, well, awesome!

Another benefit is that your products can be sent to media contacts for more exposure!

Click here for more details about Media Sampler contributions.

So, consider getting involved in The Sampler community of indie artists.

Go Sampler!

Amethyst Lobster at the Pasadena Bead & Design Show

2007-11-14T11:11:00.001-07:00

Our friend Mary Lu of Amethyst Lobster will be participating in the

Pasadena Bead and Design Show.

January 17 - 20, 2008
Pasadena Hilton

250 Exhibitors and Workshops

Amethyst Lobster
http://www.lobsterlu.com/jewelry/

Pasadena Bead and Design Show
http://www.pasadenabeadanddesignshow.com/

Maria Cay Garcia Cut Paper Folk Artist now online...

2007-10-02T17:34:00.000-06:00

Check it out!

Cay Garcia Shop

Cay's work is fantastic and now you can find it online, not just in Albuquerque, NM.

www.caygarciashop.com

Click here to visit

She's in the process of stocking the store so check back often for reproductions of her original art. High quality notecards, magnets and Giclee prints.

EBSQ NFAC Nibblefest Contest September 2007

2007-09-19T12:11:00.000-06:00

EBSQ Nibblefest Art Contest
September 2007

Theme: Retro

This month's contest begins September 20th at 4 pm Pacific time.

Artwork is listed on eBay auctions with a .99 start price. All listings end on the 27th of the month.

Do a search on eBay for NFAC to find this month's selection.

Here is our entry...

Click here for our eBay auction.

Click here for our EBSQ portfolio.

Click here to visit our website.

You just can't beat a .99 start!

Here are some links for more information:

Click here for more information about Nibblefest Art Contest

Click here for a list of Nibblefest Art Contest themes

Click here to visit EBSQ

Update: More about copyright issues...

2007-06-01T08:13:00.001-06:00

In April 2007 we posted about copyright issues and included several links.

Here is an additional related link to Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts:

http://www.vlany.org/resources/index.php

Great information.

Niobium for Metal Sensitive Jewelry Wearers

2007-05-12T19:25:00.000-06:00

Niobium is a good choice for people with metal allergies or sensitivities.

Can't wear your earrings anymore due to skin irritation?

There may be a solution!

Niobium is a metal similar to Titanium and is hypoallergenic. Many people, even those with severe metal allergies, can wear Niobium.

It comes in a plain finish and colorful anodized finishes.

Many jewelers can provide different findings and finishes to accommodate your preference or allergies.

In our experience, Indie Jewelry Artisans are a very helpful bunch! If you find a pair of earrings you love, but they only seem to be available with a certain metal or earring style, it is worth the time to find out if the jeweler can help with a special request.

Most large retailers are simply distributors. They can't handle customization requests. Your purchase is shipped from a warehouse.

However, many small artisan jewelry businesses are used to going the extra mile to help their clients. They are designers and handle all aspects of their business from sourcing materials, individually handcrafting their designs, dealing directly with customers and they probably actually ship your purchase themselves!

We encourage you to support small businesses, self-representing artists, crafters and independent artisans.

It is possible to find smaller, independent jewelry businesses who are committed to providing personalized services. You get exactly what you want (including a custom design in some cases) and you support a small business...

Sounds like a win-win to us!

Info about Niobium on Wikipedia

Eclectic Elements Repurposed Show Entry #2

2007-04-16T09:59:00.000-06:00

Here is our second EBSQ show entry...

EBSQ
Repurposed: Art from Recycled Materials

Click here for more information

Eclectic Elements

EBSQ Show Winners

2007-04-14T10:16:00.000-06:00

We are pleased to announce the results of two EBSQ Shows...

Eclectic Elements:

Patron's Choice

Click here for more information

and

Patron's Mention

Click here for more information.

Click here to visit Eclectic Elements

Also, our friend Mary Lu of Lobster Lu and Amethyst Lobster won for her....

Secret Treasure Map Pirate Ring

Patron's Mention

Click here to visit Amethyst Lobster

Thank you to the Members and Patrons of EBSQ for their votes!

Copyright Issues for Artists and Crafters

2007-04-12T18:21:00.000-06:00

Copyright Issues for Artists, Artisans and Crafters

We are all influenced by things we see and hear and read. Sometimes we may not even remember what we saw that influenced us.

It is the rare artist, artisan or crafter who hasn't seen something that reminds them of their own work.

I have created something and then have seen a very similar thing in a gallery in another State and there is no way we could have been influenced by each other. It happens.

I have created something that I thought was very innovative and then, while surfing online, found something very similar that I know I hadn't seen before. It happens.

Some say there is a collective consciousness that we all share. Some say it is pure coincidence. Either way, copyright is a very tricky issue for artists, artisans and crafters.

Here are a few links to help you begin to understand this complex issue. We don't want to say that any of these links are the final say in any of this, but offer them as a way to begin to understand just how complex this all is.

Here are links to current law:

http://www.uspto.gov/
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/legislation/dmca.pdf

Here are other links of interest:

http://www.rightsforartists.com/copyright.html
http://whatiscopyright.org/
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
http://www.chillingeffects.org/index.cgi
http://www.funnystrange.com/copyright/index.html
http://www.copyrightauthority.com/poor-mans-copyright/

In a nutshell, when something unique, such as a song, is written it is automatically copyrighted. However, the main issue usually becomes enforcement.

Issues around direct copies are fairly straightforward. Please don't. Even if you don't think you will ever cross paths or be competition for the person you copy it still is wrong. A friend of ours had someone buy one of their products, figure out how to make it and then started selling a direct copy. Not cool no matter how you try to justify it.

Issues around collage are complex and there is little settled law.

Some issues are really about trademark and not copyright.

Some things can't be copyrighted at all.

So, in short, if you see something similar to your work, you may not have been copied. It is possible for two or more people to come up with the same or similar designs.

If you know for a fact that you have been copied you can use some of the links above to help you decide how to proceed.

Eclectic Elements EBSQ Repurposed Show Entry

2007-04-12T15:26:00.000-06:00

Here is our new EBSQ show entry...

EBSQ
Repurposed: Art from Recycled Materials

Click here for more information

Eclectic Elements

Love this...felted fruit and vegetables!

2007-03-31T22:26:00.000-06:00

Fiber Arts is back and big.

All the cool kids are knitting, crocheting, felting, sewing, embroidering, etc. We wish we could play too. Alas, our sewing machine is buried and we haven't knitted or purled in YEARS.

Let's live vicariously through a talented fiber artist....

These funky felted fruit and vegetable items are fabulous!

Cucumber and Carrots!

Lemon, Strawberries, Cherries and Grapes!

Click here to read the whole article...you know you want to!

Dear Brookelynn Morris...we LOVE you!

Lichen and Moss Show at EBSQ

2007-03-31T10:25:00.000-06:00

Here is an entry from the Lichen and Moss show at EBSQ.

"Hanging Tree Moss"
Mixed Media

by Eclectic Elements

Entries in the Paper in Three Dimensions Show at EBSQ

2007-03-28T08:36:00.000-06:00

Here are two entries from the Paper in Three Dimensions show at EBSQ.

"Jenny, I've got your number..."
Necklace and Earrings Set

by Eclectic Elements

"Secret Treasure Map Pirate Ring"

by Lobster Lu of Amethyst Lobster

Paper in Three Dimensions Show at EBSQ

2007-03-27T10:07:00.000-06:00

Paper in Three Dimensions Show at EBSQ.

Show opens: 3/1/07
Deadline: 3/31/07
Voting: 3/31/07 - 4/8/07

Basic information:

Prospectus:

Paper. We know what paper is for. We can write on paper or draw on paper. We paint and print on paper. But paper has a life beyond its common two dimensional usage. Paper can be, and is used, to create things in three dimensions. That is what this show is about - creating three dimensional art with paper.

It isn't a new concept, we all know of the art of Origami and many of us made the less far complicated paper snowflakes that decorate classroom windows every winter. Paper can be used for both functional and decorative items. It can be strong or it can be delicate. It uses are myriad. The limits of what you can do with paper for this show will be yours. You can make something that is traditionally made of paper. Your piece can be something usually made from other materials that you render in paper. It can be something completely out of the imagination. It can be functional or just wonderful to look at. It can be ordinary or exotic. Use your ingenuity. Roam the broad ranges of your imagination and create.

All entries must be three dimensional. The main material of entries - no less than 75%, must be paper; though all materials used should be listed. Please use your artist's statement to tell us what kind of paper you used in the creation of your piece. You should also describe how it was made or constructed. If an entry is functional, please explain how it works. Why you chose to create what you did should be included in your statement as well.

The artist's statement is required. It will increase understanding of your work and significantly enhance the experience for the viewer. As texture or other small elements may be pivotal to the piece, detail shots are encouraged. All points of the prospectus should be met.

Here are some links for more information:

Click here for more information about the Paper in Three Dimensions Show

Click here to visit EBSQ

Nibblefest Art Contest at EBSQ

2007-03-20T17:10:00.000-06:00

We just learned of a fun contest on EBSQ.

Nibblefest Art Contest

Basic information:

This contest starts every month on the 20th at 4pm Pacific time.

Artwork is listed on eBay auctions with a .99 start price. All listings end on the 27th of that month.

Do a search on eBay for NFAC to find that month's selection.

Here are some links for more information:

Click here for more information about Nibblefest Art Contest

Click here for a list of Nibblefest Art Contest themes

Click here to visit EBSQ

Great resource for Earring Lovers!

2007-03-14T19:21:00.000-06:00

Earrings Every Day

One stop shopping for earring lovers!

This is a great way to find all styles of earrings to help round out your fashion accessory collection.

Lobster Lu's Art, Antiques & Jewelry Blog

2007-03-12T22:22:00.000-06:00

Lobster Lu's Art, Antiques & Jewelry Blog

Our friend Mary Lu gets a mention at art for housewives!

recycled can earrings

Love it!

Etsy can't seem to decide what to do and issues another version of their "Constitution"

2007-03-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

So, it seems that sellers of vintage on Etsy have a reprieve...for an undisclosed period of time.

Now, Vintage can stay and will be put in a separate section (as will supplies), but the ax over their heads remains.

The "Constitution" states that vintage may be removed completely or to a different section and that Vintage sellers will be given 2 months notice.

Which begs the question...

If you are being told that you may be removed with 2 months notice, then why would you keep selling there?

Seriously, why would a seller develop a market only to be told they may be shown the door at any time?

And the issue of supplies being put in a separate section is also a bit strange. They still pay the same listing fees and commissions. As a "child of the 60s" we can't help but think of "separate but equal" which makes our heads explode.

Our advise remains the same.

* Diversify where you sell so you are not held hostage to the whims of indecisive business people.

* Register a URL and open your own ecommerce site so you aren't subject to arbitrary rule changes.

* Selling on a mall or auction site means they can change the rules any time they want. One rule change can impact your business negatively or put you out of business.

Apparently, this new draft of their "Constitution" will be revised yet again.

Some of this seems a bit cruel and most of it seems unnecessary.

Can you say "indecisive," "unprofessional" and "wow, you are going to revise it AGAIN?"

Diversify, diversify, diversify...

New kid on the block...Etsy shows Vintage sellers the door

2007-03-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

Etsy is supposed to be about people and community...not anymore.

Etsy shows sellers of vintage items the door and also sellers of supplies. Then changes it's mind about supplies. Can you say "roller coaster ride?"

The problem is the only way a vintage seller would know they will have to close their stores is to read the Etsy Forums...and Etsy says only a tiny percentage (1%-2%) of their customers do.

Some vintage sellers are finding out the bad news from their customers that they will have to close their shops...wow, just wow.

Etsy seemed to be the rising star of the online selling world of self-representing artists.

In a stunning announcement last week via a new "Constitution" the company:

1) Told their long time sellers of vintage goods that they were no longer welcome effective immediately.

2) Told supplies sellers they were no longer welcome

3) Told print sellers they were changing the rules mid-stream and that Etsy was moving from "venue status" to "business partner" and telling print sellers that they may no longer drop ship even if the companies they were using were producing high-quality, archival prints.

Then, after much outrage, and yes, tears, the debacle continued and the twists and turns began.

1) Vintage sellers, still gone, but maybe we'll let you list a few more items for a couple of weeks.

2) Supplies sellers could stay, however, the only supplies that could be sold were by people who were "de-stashing" and only 100 listings were allowed at any one time.

_____ a) Yes, you are correct, there is no way to enforce that...more twists coming so hold on to your hat.

3) As clarification, long time successful print sellers asked if, really, did Etsy mean that home printer created prints, which in many cases are non-archival, were better than high-quality archival prints by virtue of the fact that they were sent to the customer by the artist.

_____ a) They never received and answer to that question.

But wait, there's more...

1) Vintage sellers, still gone.

2) Someone in the Accounting Department** ran the numbers (clearly that should have been done first, right?) and SURPRISE SURPRISE! Supplies are allowed again with NO RESTRICTIONS.

_____ a) Note to Self: Please review revenue reports before, without ceremony or notice, dumping a revenue stream.

We could go on and on, however let's just say that in over 8 years of selling online we have NEVER seen a mess such as this.

Yes, it's a "young" company run by "young" people. Does being "young" mean you can't understand why people might be outraged that you were summarily dismissing them? One vintage seller reported being told just 3 days before the announcement that her vintage business was welcome and good luck.

The key point in all this being that Etsy relies on members to be their advertising rather than hiring an advertising or marketing company. Interesting concept and it seemed to be working.

However...

In the case of vintage sellers, they advertised for Etsy without being compensated, printed cards with an Etsy URL and at their own expense, brought buyers to the site who then were exposed to other sellers of handcrafted goods and happily paid their listing fees and commissions.

It is quite a shock I'm sure to be told "letting you sell here was a mistake" and don't let the door hit you on the way out, buh-bye.

One would think that even though they are young, the owners and staff would have more compassion and better sense than to make such unprofessional, messy and confusing mistakes in public.

Their Forums are an exercise in madness these days.

Most disturbing was the glee expressed by some of the artists, artisans and handcrafters over the vintage sellers being dismissed. One would think the "starvin' artist" community could muster some level of compassion. Some seemed more concerned about "getting rid of competition" from the vintage sellers.

Last time I checked, the vintage people were bringing buyers who might never have visited Etsy. We think that extra traffic might have brought in new buyers who might then buy a handcrafted item as well as a vintage item. One would think that the artists, artisans and handcrafters might be appreciative.

Guess not...

We don't want to waste anymore time on this. In our opinion, the damage to the company image is done.

Our thoughts are as follows:

Please do not rely on one selling venue for your business. Diversification is the key to longevity in selling online.

Please keep in mind that if a company such as this behaves in this manner one might imagine these types of mistakes will happen again. Yikes.

Colloquially, please don't put all your eggs in one basket.

-----

** Those are the guys who pay the bills

Eclectic Elements is Art of the Day at EBSQ

2007-03-07T07:48:00.001-07:00

Eclectic Elements rockabilly pink and black dice charm bracelet was chosen for Art of the Day at EBSQ.

EBSQ

EBSQ Art of the Day - 3/7/07

Pink and Black Dice Charm Bracelet by Eclectic Elements

Handcrafted Beaded Indie Artisan Boutique Jewelry