Hi,I'm Michelle Robison, from Ohio. New to forum and art shows.
I worked as a repair jeweller for 4 years,opened a jewellery store in 2005,commercial retail and antique jewellery . We lost it in a fire and we didn't open up again. The restaurant next door burned,took us out and insurance wouldn't pay,so after all was done two years later we got about 40% of our initial investment back.
I went back to working in my studio and discovered selling online...started making art jewellery. Had a friend who sold at juried art fairs telling me to try that but I was too chicken to try...
I just got into Winter Park Art Festival,so I'm excited and scared.... It's a huge investment since when I juried,I had no tent,tables,travel cases,nothing for outdoor shows... I did my own photography...shoe string budget for sure...
Ive been Googling like crazy to find info on shows, set ups,everything I can.
My friend Sandy Sharon, jeweller from Toledo Ohio area, passed away in 2005,so I lost my mentor for such a venture... She did juried shows for a long time...
This is a sample of what I do.
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You have to win a prize at Winter Park to be reinvited, but they have a lot of prizes. Seems like at least 3 in each category. Nice prize money too.
Well too much to hope for with my first show. Invites back,do you jury in again or is it automatic? I don't know how it works...
If I don't win a prize does that mean I can jury in again? sorry to sound ignorant but this is my first show so I have no idea how it all works.
Hi Michelle and welcome to AFI! Beautiful work and what a great piece of amber .
I actually designed two other necklaces in wax for this and scrapped them and finally settled on this.
I loved that piece when I saw it, wasn't sure what I would do with it but knew I just had to have it..I've never seen another one like it. I got it from Harini and Cosmo. Not sure if they're doing these any ore.
Sandy tought me a lot about jewellery,especially about small torches,polishing,introduced me to gemshows. I knew about gemstones but not about where to get them. She showed me so much... she learned and shared.It's what I admired about her... she was always willing to share.
She did some pieces w/ porcelain faces and I did the faces for her,it's how we met...
We'd trade supplies and hang out...
She didn't do casting, hers were all fabricated...wonderful rolling techniques and granulation too...I did a little fabrication ,but mostly carving and casting.
I wouldn't be here w/o her...
Michelle, you are in the correct place to introduce yourself to the AFI members. We are glad to have you here. Sounds like you have had some tough knocks the past few years. Sounds like you have bounced back and are ready to go.
Your necklace is stunning! You do very nice work. I am sure you will do well in any show you do.
We have really helpful members here. They will offer help any time they can.
We'd also love to here how you do at Winter Park.
Jacki B
It's my first juried show so I hope I can get into it again..Do they reinvite? I'm not sure how it works...
I just bought a tent on Ebay last week,it came today,so I'll have my hubby help me set it up so I can figure out how to decorate the booth so it looks nice...
I bought some 6 ft fold up tables at Walmart,and folding chairs. I've been reading posts on suggestions on what to take to shows...Great ideas...
I have one idea that I used when I did when we owned our store...
I kept my rings in the holders when I'd put them away ,but they'd always fall out. So I used Saran Wrap on them and they stayed in place...that way I could pack them up easily and quickly. Just unwrap and ready to go. I bet that could work for packing up for shows...
I miss her everyday. She was such an inspiration and such a fun person to be around. Knowledgable too. I wouldn't have gotten into jewelllery if it hadn't been for her. I have two pieces of hers and I treasure them. she died in Vegas in July 2005....
Pam and I had her cremated and brought back home....since she had no family. We still have a get together and talk "smack" about Sandy...all in good fun...
She is truly missed.
Part of it is cast,part is fabricated.I got the carved amber at a show in 2000, I was with Sandy at Troy and got it from Cosmo.
I'm from Defiance, met her at an art doll show in Toledo,were friends ever since...
Her Mom used to do all the shows with her. When we had a party she and her mother came together, but I guess that was a while ago now and probably her mother is gone also. I had heard about Las Vegas through the grapevine.
Yeah her mom was cool. They were more like sisters than mother and daughter... Her mom died in 2000,I think. her mom went into a depression and never came out of it. Sandy went into a depression after her mom's passing and she never recovered...
Sandy died in Vegas..Pam called me and told me she had to have two people ID Sandy since it was via email.I was the other person. I still have the picture the coroner's office sent...We paid to have her cremated and brought back.
Pam brings her ashes and we all get together and talk "smack" about Sandy... all in good fun. she would have loved it...
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