Where there's smoke...

I began my new Etsy shop in January. It is vintage and I've been having so much fun running it and finding great things to stock it with, that I haven't really been writing here very much. I've also learned a thing or two about what to buy and what seems to sell as what never sells (for me, anyway). I want to share a tip with you when buying at any kind of sale or auction.

Where there's smoke, there's fire. I walked into a sale once and a man said "all of these papers, fabrics, etc. smell like smoke." I hadn't noticed that the owners of the house were smokers, but he was right! I found an amazing pair of red pumps and bought them anyway, thinking that they didn't smell like smoke. Lo and behold, I got them out of the house and in my car and I regretted that decision: they were SMOKEY!! There was nothing I could do to get the smell out, so eventually I just gave them away. This has also happened with a couple of dresses. Even in a house of non-smokers, formal dresses may have been in a smokey bar or party and I have not been able to get the smell out through dry cleaning or anything. So, my best vintage tip, is don't be ashamed, pick it up and smell it! You'll be happy that you did.

New Work

New custom name photo: (c)2010 Jennifer Dennis Potter

My new vintage shop!

I've been busy as a bee lately putting together this new vintage shop on Etsy called Hold The Wire. I found a great faux bois set this weekend, which I've added to the shop along with clothing, patterns and a few other things. I'm trying to continue to work from home since I love being able to get my kids off the bus every afternoon and help them with homework as well as be there for sick days and every other kind of days without having to ask a boss for the time off (guiltily!). I adore vintage and thought it would be a perfect match for me. So, I now have 2 Etsy shops, jenniferdennispotter, which is my photography, and HoldTheWire, my vintage shop. Thanks for any comments or for checking out the shops. I really do appreciate your support.

Etsy feature & new work

Etsy featured my name block photos on their Facebook page a few days ago. Soon after, I had two new sales, which I wanted to share with you (above).

Collaboration

When my five-year-old son found out that I wanted to do a "Tortoise and the Hare" photo, he wanted to be involved. He decided that he would help by making a backdrop. This image is the result of our collaboration! I think it adds a nice energetic quality. The actual painting is much bigger than I could fit in the picture.

Starting school

So, my kids have started school and I have a full seven hours to devote to my own work! Of course, I need to walk/run with the dog, do laundry, etc. The rest of the time can be devoted to creating and seeing what I can do with some uninterrupted time to take pictures and add them to my Etsy and 1000 Markets shops.

When I see my son's crayons and paper out on the kitchen table, I do have a pang of missing him, but I know that we still have our evenings and weekends. What I am grateful about is that I have devoted the better part of the last 10 years to caring for my kids, teaching them, taking them to the zoo, the science museum, the library and the park. I am left with no regrets that I didn't spend enough time with them. So, even though I feel a little lonely without my sweethearts here, I am going to make the most of the time that I have and create. I've posted two new photos that I made this week with many more to come.

Studio re-do part 3

My lights have arrived! I'm now the proud owner of a set of three small tabletop lights which I will be using today on a custom order. We have hung the roll of paper on a dowel and then from chains on the ceiling. The photo shows what it looks like with two of the lights on. I now have a place to work on a consistent basis. Hooray!

Studio Re-do, Part Two

All of the painting things, buckets and boxes have been moved to the side, the floor has been mopped and I am ready to put up the table. I tend to be a perfectionist, so I'm fighting that by not getting every single thing into the perfect place before I can work here. If I can just start with a workable space, I will later move out more things that I'm not using and get it more organized. I did get my roll of seamless white background paper in the mail and bought a dowel to hang it on. My new lights were shipped five days ago and I breathlessly watch every UPS truck go by my house. Oh, yes, wait a minute Mr. Postman! Is there a package for me? I'm hoping that with new lights, I will be able to reduce my dependence on Photoshop to correct lighting issues. Can't wait!

Even on the bitterest days

I walk with my dog even on the bitterest days. He needs it and I need it. We get to the trail and he is like a young puppy again, sprinting around, off leash. We are sometimes the only ones there. At times, I need to leash him, which he will submit to, but he would so much rather run free.

At home, he lies by the heater or hovers around the kitchen, hoping for things to be dropped, but on the trail, he is free. He puts the need for heat and the need for food on hold and just runs.

my young photo assistant

I started my shop on Etsy, jenniferdennispotter in March and since then, my kids, especially my son (pictured) have wanted to get in on the fun. Etsy has given me a way to be with my kids, create my work, and have it seen. My latest body of work has been my toy series. I've been using small toy animals in studio or realistic settings to create little scenes. A typical afternoon for us may be: taking the dog and the little toy animals to the park for a hike and to take photos. My son will clear away little sticks, brush and other things that impede the look of the photo at my request, feels like a big helper and learns some things about photography as we work. We look for just the right moss, just the right light, just the right pose of the deer. After he is asleep at night, I edit the image in Photoshop and post it to Etsy, if it's worthy. If not, we've still had a great hike and the chance to work together.