Late post and musings on sales

So I have plenty of excuses for why I'm posting late this week. Mostly, it's because I'm running behind on everything, and I'm scrambling to keep up with the things I'm being graded on. Which means that this blog falls behind, since right now, as far as I can tell, it's something that I'm doing for myself or whoever randomly stumbles onto it (anyone out there?). On the other hand, I still feel guilty for not updating on time, which must mean something.

The pieces I posted photos of last week are still not finished. The wall panel has be relegated to a drawer, where it cannot sulk accusingly, and the green fish is waiting patiently to be set, after I finish things for classes. On the other hand, I've started and finished a large enameled bowl with lizards on it, and begun enameling a much smaller bowl, which should be finished by next week, if I'm doing well. (Unlikely, but I remain ever hopeful.) Sadly, I don't have pictures, but there's an excellent story about why I don't have them.

I have a storefront on etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=35848 Late last week I received a message from someone asking if I could post different views of a piece. I messaged her back and assured her that I would do that. Yesterday she messaged me again, and explained that she'd like to buy the piece as a Christmas present, but she wanted to see more views first. At which point I was like, okay, I should do this right now. I did, and she purchased the piece. But along the way, my camera went to the hinterlands of my apartment instead of my studio, which means that I can't get the pictures I took Monday to post here. So, if I'm feeling extra devoted, perhaps I'll do a special picture post in the next couple of days.

Etsy is a funny place. Most of the work is handmade, but much of it isn't made well. Almost everything well made gets lost and is underpriced. But there are a double handful of craftspeople who are intent on reclaiming Etsy as a viable marketplace. Sales don't happen often for those of us who price our pieces at what they're worth, not what it's easy to sell them at. But sometimes sales do happen, and I feel like maybe Etsy is redeeming itself, attracting a public that's willing to pay more for something well made, and able to recognize the well made objects amidst the lesser pieces.