FuZing the Creative with the Consumer
Blue Sky Pottery / Deb Babcock I was honored last year to be asked to submit my work which is featured in Best Of America Pottery and Woodworking Artists & Artisans Vol.1 by Kennedy Publishing.
Where are you located? I live in the mountains of northwest Colorado in Steamboat Springs. We're noted for our ski mountain and the number of Olympians who live and train here.
How long have you been creating handmade items? My first pottery class at the local college was taken in 2001. Since then, I've honed my skills with additional classes and workshops through such venues as Anderson Ranch, Laloba Clay Ranch, attending NCECA conferences, etc.
What type of products do you offer? The majority of my work is functional dinnerware. I like to think of it as a whimsically elegant style with the use of bright colors, textures and embellishments.
How did you decide on your company's name? Actually, a friend of mine came up with the name when we decided to rent studio space together. Meanwhile, she left to raise her young children and I retained the name.
What is your motivation? I enjoy making artistic pieces that are also useful. So I strive to combine functionality with my desire for pleasing all of your senses when you hold and use my pottery.
What do you enjoy most about creating handmade items? For me, it is the almost unlimited number of ways that I can use creativity to make something. From manipulating soft clay to form an object, to altering it via carving, poking, embellishments, etc. through the glazing phase and sometimes beyond when you add found objects to a piece.
Which items are your best sellers? People tend to especially enjoy my organic series of pieces that include teacups on leaf saucers, berry bowls and leaf bowls. My teardrop series of vases gain a lot of interest and are featured in shows and publications as are the whimsical teapots for which I have a nice following of admirers.
How do you market your products? Online through a site such as Handmade FuZion, in my studio which doubles as a gallery of my work and is located in an office building not too far from the ski mountain here, and at an annual holiday sale that is held locally with other ceramic artists.
What are your favorite features on Handmade FuZion? What new features would you like to see? One thing that I especially appreciate about Handmade Fuzion is the personal touch the owners provide, with frequent updates on what they are doing to promote the site, and the enhancements they have added as they receive feedback from buyers and sellers. It has a clean look, seems easy to navigate, and as a seller, it is easy to upload my work. Frankly, I need to get more of my work listed here since it is kind of hard to sell your work if you don't have it listed and available for sale, right?
Do you have any advice for other artisans? Communication is key to making an online buyer comfortable and happy with their purchase. I always acknowledge a sale as soon as it comes through and tell the buyer a little something about the piece they bought, when it will go in the mail, with a request to let me know that it arrived safely. I also enclose a business card that contains a guarantee on the back should the recipient have any problems with my pottery. I offer to repair, replace or refund their money.
My teapot set that is currently on display at an International Teapot Show.
Jewellia is all about unique, elegant jewellery, carefully handcrafted from quality materials. 
Jewellia
Luminescent Art for ambiance, for serenity, for renewal of the spirit.
Where are you located? Durango, Colorado
How long have you been creating handmade items? All my life, but especially the last 4 years
What type of products do you offer? At this time, mainly my light sculptures, but I also offer giclee prints of my art and original abstract paintings and multimedia works.
How did you decide on your company's name? LifeDance Art Studio... I like to think of life as a dance, where we learn to step in flow or sometimes stumble and spend some time off balance. Each has its place in our lives for learning and personal growth. 
What is your motivation? To create beauty... I feel that beauty calls forth higher consciousness in humanity, and humanity is at a critical stage in its development at this time in history, so anything that inspires higher, expanded consciousness is needed even more right now. We need to recreate the world, and do it from love, joy and creativity at its best.
What do you enjoy most about creating handmade items? I love the design process and watching the creation itself take turns I didn't necessarily plan, feeling I'm co-creating with the Great Creator of the Universe, bringing into being a piece of art as individual and unique as a sunrise or a sunset - each one of a kind. I feel a kind of bliss when I'm creating and watching something beautiful emerge and come to completion.
Which items are your best sellers? So far, light sculptures are a hit. Some of my colorful paintings are favorites with people and I also make frame drums with art on them at times... The drums have been very popular.
How do you market your products? I've been working on marketing online to increase my market beyond my local area, trying many places and strategies and will continue learning and fine-tuning. I plan on placing some of my pieces in local stores in my area in the New Year as well. It's quite a learning process!
What are your favorite features on Handmade fuzion? What new features would you like to see? I think Handmade fuzion is doing fine... I don't have any suggestions at this time; I like the site very much.
Do you have any advice for other artisans? Keep creating and be creative with your marketing as well. Try new things, keep doing what works!
Archival prints from original paintings as well as original paintings. Where are you located? I live just outside of Charlotte, NC and also maintain a very small studio in the South end art district in Charlotte. What type of products do you offer? Mostly archival prints from my original paintings as well as original paintings. I will soon be offering note cards and jewelry from my art. Which items are your best sellers? Prints of whimsical cats.
The Blue Cat
How long have you been creating handmade items? On and off since childhood. I enjoyed creating art (mostly pencil drawings) throughout my school years, but took a hiatus for a few years while pursuing a "real" job. I've spent the past 3 years developing my painting skills via workshops and self-study.
How did you decide on your company's name? I wanted a name that was simple and easy to remember. I also love cats and the color blue.
What is your motivation? I have a very strong desire to create art and to run my own little business. I enjoy both the creative and business sides of being a self-represented artist.
What do you enjoy most about creating handmade items? I enjoy the challenges of taking a blank canvas and turning it into a painting. I also find painting to be very relaxing and satisfying.
How do you market your products? I have a blog and I also twitter. I'm a member of a local art league which allows me the opportunity to meet other artists and patrons in person as well as participate in their gallery shows. I also participate in several charity auctions in the Charlotte area throughout the year.
What are your favorite features on Handmade FuZion? What new features would you like to see? My favorite feature is the very affordable option for sellers to promote their item(s) on the home page. I also appreciate the ease of listing items. Handmade FuZion is very visually appealing in both images and text.
Do you have any advice for other artisans? I would say to have patience and persistence. Strive to do your best work. Always maintain excellent customer service.
Handmade FuZions First Blog Giveaway starts January 2, 2009 GIVEAWAY: Scented Junk Food Jewelry Happy New Year everyone. Sorry it's taken so long to post. Every year after Christmas we take a time-out from our busy lives and just dedicate time to our children. At our end of year meeting we discussed advertising, new features, giveaways and contests. We are starting the new year on the right foot with our first Blog Giveaway. The unique and upbeat Handmade FuZion artisan DanzDzynes is giving away one Junk Food Jewelry item to a lucky reader. Winner will be announced on DETAILS: One comment will be chosen at random.
Thank you to DanzDzynes for being our first contributor. Your scented Junk Food Jewelry is awesome! Leave a comment on the giveaway post. One comment will be randomly selected. Check back on Fridays to see if you're the winner and to enter a new giveaway.
Check out this adorable Peanut butter and Jelly Charm! Yum!!!!
The best part is that you can choose which adorable handmade piece you want and also the scent that you like. Visit the DanzDzynes store and come back here to tell us which Scented Junk Food Jewelry is your favorite. If you win you get the piece you commented about!
Friday January 9th 2009.
FOR EXTRA COMMENTS YOU CAN
1-follow this blog
2-twitter this giveaway
3-subscribe in a reader.
Good Luck!
