Sticks. And Wind. And Rain. | Dogwood Arts Festival Market Square Art Fair | April 25 - 27, 2014

Sticks. And wind. And Rain.

The Dogwood Art DeTour this past weekend was a lot of fun and I met some new art lovers who had not been to the glass studio on previous Art DeTours. I worked on a couple of different projects during the Art DeTour so folks could see how I create the fused glass goodness and ask me questions. I love explaining my craft and showing people around the studio. Sometimes the Art DeTour takes place after the Dogwood Art Festival Market Square Art Fair, but this year it was before, so I hope a lot of those folks come by to see me there, and anyone who couldn't make it to the Art DeTour will come by as well.

Here is how I sum up the Dogwood Arts Festival Market Square Art Fair:

"This event has more art than you can shake a stick at and all the food on a stick you can eat."

You can quote me on that if you'd like. It's true though. But of course there is also the wind. And the rain. But you've already heard all about Mother Nature's annual Dogwood Arts Festival temper tantrum here.

Anyway, here is a list of all the artists who will be exhibiting at the Dogwood Arts Festival Market Square Art Fair on April 25th through 27th. Mark you calendar for this free, fun, family-friendly event! There is lots of entertainment as well as food demonstrations and wine tastings.

I'll be sharing some of the fresh fused glass goodness that will be available at the Art Fair over the next week, so be sure to pop over to the Sassy Glass Studio Facebook page and Twitter to see them. Also, if you aren't already subscribed to the newsletter, do that now too. You don't want to miss anything!

I look forward to seeing you at the Dogwood Arts Festival Market Square Art Fair! I'll be located across from Latitude 35, more or less, so I'll be easy to spot.

ON A SIDE NOTE:

Now is the time to sign up for Fused Glass Classes! The weather is perfect to work in the studio and open the doors to the sounds of the birds. Click the links to find out more information on Beginner Fused Glass Class and Intermediate Fused Glass Class!

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Refresh and Reorganize | a mini studio makeover

{ Organized + Refreshed = Increased Productivity + Inspired Creativity }

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of cleaning, moving and tossing stuff in the trash. The glass studio is a work in progress, but I wanted to share a short video {kind of like a moving portrait} of the refresh and reorganization. All that's really left is some painting and then I can hang some shelves, a cork board and some art on the walls and be done with it. For now. Eventually I will paint the floor, but that will involve removing everything from the studio and I don't have time for that now. Maybe next January!

The area I have been reorganizing is my main workspace. We boxed in an area about 10 feet X 10 feet when we started working on the "Great ALM Photo Office|Studio Project" about 6 years ago and outfitted it with items we already had, like shelves, a desk, tables and even the wainscoting and window were things kicking around the garage. Yes, my glass studio is in what was once a boring detached two-car garage/workshop. During the "Project" we built up on top of it and out the sides to add another garage bay and a large porch. What I love most about my entire glass studio space is that I can open the overhead door in the gallery/classroom area and work pretty much outside. I will be sharing photos and updates on that area when I get it finished up. All of my reorg/refresh has to be done in time for the Dogwood Art DeTour on April 12th and 13th when my studio is open to the public. Who wants to see that I usually work in a messy, unorganized space?!

Here is a "before" photo:

Yeah, it was a mess. It's a happier space now!

Here is the short "after" video:

Here are some photos I found of the glass studio being constructed. Wow! Looking back on these photos, I really wish I had painted the walls before moving everything into the space so I could get working. The walls still look like this. Gross!

I'll share more photos and/or video as I work my way through this project. The gallery/classroom area will have a nice comfy couch so my mom can wander down to the glass studio and watch me work. {We moved my mom in almost a year ago and she has a hard time getting around so it will be nice for her to have a place to sit and hang out with me.}

Don't miss out on the fun of  celebrating National Craft Month in Sassy Style! March will be a fun month of crafty awesomeness!

{ON A SIDE NOTE}
There are still a few days left in the Warm up with the Hot Winter Sale going on through February 28, 2014 in the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop! Save 20% with coupon code HOTWINTERSALE.

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Celebrate National Craft Month in Sassy Style

Did you know March is National Craft Month?

Yes, I know there is a month or a day for just about every interest, but let's be honest, who doesn't love to craft? Over here at Sassy Glass Studio we are celebrating National Craft Month in several of ways. Pick one or two and join in the fun!

Fused glass class discount: Save $50 off Beginner or Intermediate Fused Glass Class

Beginner Fused Glass Class is a fabulous opportunity to learn more about fused glass and expand your artistic skills, plus you create a set of fused glass coasters in the process. How cool is that? Intermediate Fused Glass Class if offered to students who have taken the Beginner class. Call me at 865-406-3870 or email me at lisa@sassyglassstudio.com to schedule your class today. Just mention you want to take advantage of the National Craft Month special!

Share your National Craft Month photos with Sassy Glass Studio on Instagram and Twitter

Post your crafting photos on Instagram and Twitter during March and tag @AllThingsSassy and #SGSCraftMonth. I'll retweet, share or comment on your photos and choose someone and their craft to be featured on this blog. Fun! I love being inspired by other creative people!

Sign up for the Creative Business Mentor Program and grow your creative/craft business

The Creative Business Mentor Program is perfect for artists, craftisans and other creative folks who want to launch their own business. Whether you want to venture into your creative biz part-time or full-time, there is never a better time than now! Enroll in the Creative Business Mentor Program during the month of March and receive a bonus hour of mentoring, a $50 value. Call me at 865-406-3870 or email me at lisa@sassyglassstudio.com to schedule your class today. Just mention you want to take advantage of the National Craft Month special!

So there you go, three different ways to celebrate National Craft Month in Sassy Style!

Click this link to find out more about my crafting journey!

{ON A SIDE NOTE}
Wow! It's warm in Knoxville, Tennessee today and tomorrow will be 70 degrees! But don't worry, that doesn't mean the Hot Winter Sale is over yet! Warm up with the Hot Winter Sale going on through February 28, 2014 in the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop! Save 20% with coupon code HOTWINTERSALE.

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Winter Warm Up!

Just when you thought it was warming up for Spring, good ole Punxatawney Phil sees his shadow and foretells six more weeks of Old Man Winter's visit. Sheesh! It's been too cold for me to comfortably work in the glass studio, so I've been focusing on what I consider to be the less creative side of my business. You know, exciting things like marketing, updating the Etsy shop and coloring. I might think they aren't creative, but they really are.

Do you need a winter warm up? I know I do!

Warm up with the Hot Winter Sale going on through February 28, 2014 in the Sassy Glass Studio Etsy shop! Save 20% with coupon code HOTWINTERSALE. Also, check out the all the heart pendants and rings available. Perfect for Valentine's Day!

A few of the heart pendants available in the Etsy shop

So, now that you are all warmed up, here's how I make marketing more creative:

1. Part of my marketing involves Pinterest. If you don't know what Pinterest is, you've probably been hanging out in the ground with Punxatawney Phil. Pinterest is a cool tool for anyone who likes to pretend they know how to cook, thinks they can operate a screwdriver or sewing machine, or dreams about winning the lottery so they can afford a fantastic new wardrobe. Some folks think it is a waste of their time. I don't. It's an easy way for me to find creative inspiration, share my artwork, plan my glass studio redesign, grow my business and plan a garden. {Take a peek at my boards if you are interested!}

2. Another important aspect of my marketing is my Etsy shop. I love doing the Dogwood Arts Festival Market Square Art Fair in April as well as the Market Square Farmers' Market from May to December. Thist means I'm fortunate that I only have a couple of months each year I have to rely on my Etsy shop more than usual to attract potential shoppers and turn them into buyers. Keeping the shop fresh and stocked with new items is very important to me. Nobody wants to visit my shop hoping to find something new only to see the same old stuff. So even if it is really cold out there in the glass studio, I have to suck it up and get out there and create. I usually do this when we have a "heat wave" and it's over 30 degrees. I'm not crazy!

3. Two other ways I market my fused glass art are by using Twitter and Instagram. Twitter is a great way for me to share what I am doing in the glass studio or in my personal life. It's how I let you know more about me. Yes, I am on Facebook, but my page there is more about Sassy Glass Studio and less about me. I use Twitter to give you a glimpse behind the scenes. I use Instagram pretty much the same way. But it's more visual since it is all photos and videos. Instagram is perfect for sharing images of what I just put into the kiln and then again when I take it out.

So, there you go. There are three ways I market my business that allow me to be creative. I get to pin cool stuff over on Pinterest, make my Etsy shop look nice and share photos and video of what I am doing. Take a moment and give me a follow on the social media platform{s} of your choice and see what is going on!

Psst! Here's the latest newsletter! If you would like to subscribe, you can do so in the box on the right.

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It's a Sassy New Year! {part 2}

Can you believe the first month of 2014 is almost over? Time always seems to fly by when we have so many things we want to accomplish, doesn't it. The beginning of the year is always a little quiet business-wise and I've been taking advantage of the slowness of this time of year and working on expanding my creativity both in the glass studio and with my photography. But my creativity is not all that I am focusing on this year. As I mentioned in my first post of the new year, I am also working on being more active and social.

To me, this means spending more time doing physical activities I love like working out, bicycling, and taking hikes, as well as the activities I don't like such as working out really hard and getting better at riding my mountain bike in terrain that makes me a pretty much scared to death. I've decided that I'm not getting any younger and I need to do these things now before it is too late! Even if they scare me.

And I will be more social. {Maybe I will even be more social while doing things that scare me!} And I'm not talking about meeting friends for beers, dinner and a movie. Being more social is important to my business and to my sanity. So, for me, being more social will include spending more time with other creative business owners, preferably with coffee, sharing about our businesses and creating ways to grow our businesses. Although I operate my photography business with my husband, that is not the same social environment as working in a business with several other people. I like to talk with other people and learn about them and what they do. And I already know my husband. At least I think I do. I also want to meet more people in my community and around the world. Increasing my social footprint, so to speak. I love meeting people in person, but some of my socializing may be on-line through the use of social media, podcasts, webinars and meetings/conventions. 

Connect with me if you are in the Knoxville area and want to go for a bicycle ride! I love to ride the greenways on my pink cruiser if that appeals to you more than mountain biking. And if you want to meet for a coffee, give me a jingle! Check back next week for my next post sharing my 2014 plans for being more productive and awesome.

Here's to a Sassy New Year! 2014 is going to be awesome! Stay tuned for more information about upcoming events, classes, workshops, videos and behind-the-scenes goodies!

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It's a Sassy New Year!

Be more creative!

Be more active!

Be more social!

Be more productive!

Be more awesome!

Those were my objectives for 2012. And they are my objectives for 2013 too! I'm excited to embrace my objectives in some different ways this year!

On creativity...

My husband, Allan, and I spent Christmas in Colorado with our two young nieces who create a lot of art seated around their craft table coloring, painting, cutting and pasting. 

Each morning, I would join them at the table to work on a 'project'. I forgot how much fun coloring can be! Sometimes in the afternoon we'd work on something different, like painting and loom potholders. The girls assured me I did a good job. 

Here are a couple of my favorites!

I'll be sharing more about my other objectives over the next few weeks! Let me know how you get your creative juices flowing. I'm always looking for new and fresh ideas!

Here's to a Sassy New Year! 2014 is going to be awesome! Stay tuned for more information about upcoming events, classes, workshops, videos and behind-the-scenes goodies!

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Knoxville Twestival 2009...Meeting My Tweeps {one-of-a-kind fused glass art | Knoxville, TN}

It has been very hectic around Sassy Glass Studio, but I made time on Thursday, September 10th to attend Knoxville Twestival 2009 which was presented by Social Media Club of Knoxville, Knoxville Overground, Knoxville Social Media Association at the Knoxville Zoo.  Social media has been a great way to promote our businesses and I have been utilizing Facebook, Twitter, this blog and local social media venues with great success.  As soon as I spotted a tweet on Twitter that Knoxville Twestival was looking for donations for their silent auction I knew Sassy Glass Studio should be a part of this event.  The fused glass vase shown above was created especially for the event and it went home with @iberrychick at the end of the evening.  The event was wonderful, well attended and raised over $3,000 for the Salvation Army of Knoxville.  It was great to have the opportunity to meet many of my tweeps and make some business connections as well.

To find out more about Knoxville Twestival 2009 visit this link.  Follow Sassy Glass Studio on Twitter @AllThingsSassy.