Clear Communicator - Laser Cut

I pride myself on being a clear communicator. What I say is what I mean, nothing hidden, no booby traps for people to fall in and I look for that quality in people around me.

How does this fit in with Team Tuesday? Easy. Ed Maloney and Laser Cut & Engraving. His products go from from the very creative to the simply useful. . . a wide range. All of the products that I have seen help to make communication of ideas and way-finding easier and clear.

Also, ordering is simple and straight forward which is a bonus for people who are busy and/or maybe unable to describe the final product. I appreciate the EtsyNJ folks whose products I can incorporate into both my personal and business life. Laser Cut has become a vendor that I can depend on to be affordable, just want I want, timely and dependable. I'll bet you will find the same thing -- the photo is of numbers on a dormitory door. May not seem like a big deal to some, but if there were ever an emergency and I had to find someone, it would be a huge help to me or any other responder.

All right, I'm making my list of signs that I will need for the summer season here at the Center. It just feels good that I can reach out to Ed and my EtsyNJ friends and get quality products, at affordable prices right here in New Jersey.

So, let your imagination free flow and I'll bet you will think of something for your festival set up that you have been printing over and over, that would translate nicely into something Laser Cut could produce -- in a variety of colors, styles and graphics.

Talk about the concept of BEST VALUE!

Creations by Robin ~ serenity jewelry

Since I live by Barnegat Bay, I find that that water and tides are a major life force in my life. The good and the bad since we have had to deal with all the Nor' Easters this year. However, since I've been involved with Etsy and EtsyNJ I have met a bunch of very nice and creative people.

When AbbieRoad first started the Handmade Faire, I met so many fine artisans that I seldom have to go outside of my circle of friends to shop for gifts.

However, I was especially taken by the beautiful pieces made by Creations by Robin inspired by the glass she collected from the ocean. The colors and themes fit my overall life. The fact that Robin, Kevin and the family is so nice is a huge, happy bonus.

Robin is a very talented artist and fun to be with at a show or other places. I think that is what shines through in her work.

I love wearing the jewelry that I have purchased from Robin and feel that she puts something of herself in each piece. That's what I try to do when I weave baskets.

So my Tuesday shop is Creations by Robin.

This post is a bit short because I am getting ready for an event this Saturday and Robin will be here. She even makes life easier for an event planner.

We hope to see you on Saturday too!

Art & Craft Shows in the Central Jersey Region

TEAM Tuesday

I had sold products on eBay for years. Antigues, junk, internet services but when I started wanted to sell my weaving, I found it was not the venue for me - Too crowded with bargain seekers who were looking to buy cheap so they could re-sell it and hopefully make more than I did when they bought the item from me.

Around that time, Etsy.com was born. Some of my artist and crafty friends were using it so I jumped in too. Then came the Etsy Teams -- I thought that this would be one more marketing ploy to drive traffic to the main website. Boy, was I wrong.

The folks on the EtsyNJ Street Team are true team mates. They give good solid advice based on what they've learned and what they've experienced. They give honest feedback and that's not always easy. Kind of like when I asked Abbie, "Do I look fat in this skirt?" some years ago. Our EtsyNJ team members will tell you if you are going off the edge or are being unrealistic . . . . both on and off list. The support among people who came together as strangers but who have built on a common bond is not found in any other groups that I am involved with. That's is not to say we are all BFFs or will be but that there's a lot of information, support and experience here that we are all willing to share.

My shout out this week is for the people who give of themselves and support one another's events. We attend as vendors, shoppers, champion marketers and just keep on going and the last time I checked, there were no millionaires in our midst. . . . yet. Gosh, what a great group of folks!

My special EtsyNJ folks are the shops that are coming out to the Lighthouse Center's All About Waterfowling and Family Fun Day.

• Abbie Road Art
  
• Alonia Creations
  
• Crafty Dragon
  
• Creations by Robin
  
• Pinelands Basketry
  
• Seahorse Designs

Thank you for supporting the Natural Resource Education Foundation in its conservation and environmental programs.

You can download that spiffy EtsyNJ Street Team flyer HERE!

You can post your upcoming events and articles at the EtsyNJ.com website too!

Leafpile . . . the rooted tree takes off

For years, I "sort of" knew Holly Doyle from Leafpile and Jersey Made. It was only after AbbieRoad organized a couple of Handmade Faires and participated in outdoor festivals that I really got to know Holly.

What a magnificent journey in a very short time. Holly made a decision to do something different and with Abbie's mantra of "Dare to be Different," a more dynamic duo could not have evolved.

Holly is very creative and fun. I also find her to be very ecologically friendly because of her penchant for recycling and upcycling that I often used her art as examples of conservation and how to make something beautiful and useful out of an object or objects that would wind up in the landfill or just stuffed in a corner, forgotten for years until it could no longer be useful.

Jersey Made is a great shop that showcases many EtsyNJ sellers and gives them a chance to be in a "bricks and mortar" store -- HAVE A REAL LAND ADDRESS that they can direct people to. She provides a variety of services to the juried artists who have been accepted and continues to provide workshops, do her own art and be a good friend all along the way.

So, that's my etsyNJ special person of the day - Holly Doyle. If you are in the area, Mt. Holly Village, do stop in to Jersey Made and while you are there stop in next store to Pinelands Folk Music and Basketry Center to meet another etsyNJ artist, Mary Carty. She's my partner for a lot of projects both musical and crafty but then. . . that's a blog for another day.

Here's my "Best Occupational Category"

Okay, taking this link from Abbie's blog, I thought I would give it a try too.

It's interesting. If you know me, what do you think?

Pola

here's the scoop:

You're a CREATOR
Keywords

Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.


2nd Best Occupational Category
You're an ORGANIZER
Keywords:

Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate

These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

* Section I: You and Your Team
This personality overview section highlights your natural workplace talents—the tasks you pursue with passion. You'll learn how your natural strengths complement those of your coworkers and how, joining forces, you can resolve on-the-job dilemmas.
* Section II: Your Key To Success
Here you discover your capacity for dispelling disruption and maximizing profitability. Use this proven, beyond-self-perception advice to create a more positive career path free of detours.
* Section III: Managing Strengths and Weaknesses
Your evaluation's highest and lowest scores result in this section's recommendations for staying on-track in your career and reversing wrong turns. In focusing on your talents and missteps, you'll re-stoke your energy and enthusiasm for managing costly mistakes.
* Section IV: Leadership Power Moves
This final section identifies your "street sense," those power moves that turn obstacles into insignificant details. Here suggestions based on your color-ranked evaluations will guide you towards making the most of an interview or harnessing your fast-paced workday.

Crafting 2010

My New Year's Resolution was to be more selfish - that is to craft more, make more music and have more fun. I am happy to report that while off to a slow start, I am doing much better.

I crafted a supported spindle to use for spinning the beautiful Angora wool that AbbieRoad and I have been collecting from out bunnies and during the great blizzard of 09-10, I was able to get my beautiful antique spinning wheel to work and take up the wool that I was spinning. Polished off my knitting needles and started a project or two that are almost finished. So I am off to a great start (even if it took me till February to get my craft mojo going).


Thursday, Abbie and I will go to the breeder's to pick up her bunny and this weekend, I'll be doing a basketry demonstration at Meadowedge Park and am looking forward to making Neil's Easter Basket.

Oh wait, I forgot another important craft event this week - Craft Meet Up at my place on Friday. We were not able to get together the last time we tried to schedule it but I took the time to put on some music and work on projects, looking forward to Friday afternoon, March 5th when we are going to try to get together at the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education in Waretown once more.

Let me know if you can make it.