Adventures in Online Commerce: Reading is cool (Pt. 5)

As I was trawling around Artfire the other day, I happened upon their help guide called "The 45 Day Guide". Oooooh, this sounds good.
Upon reading it, I realize, that according to this help guide, I've only gotten up to "Day 2", so far, which requires me to read a whole load of articles, so that I actually understand what I'm doing here.
For that day, I read. Just read and nothing else.





Reading is good.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Adventures in Online Commerce P. 4

I guess I can't very well keep avoiding this bio/blurb/shop's policy business. So what better way to figure this out then to read what others have wrote before you. Brilliant!
I start with shop policies, copying and pasting the ones that sound good like "all sales final" or "all items shipped by Canada Post". Anyway, I get about 7 or 8 policies posted. Well, that wasn't too hard.

Next, "the blurb". I check out one of my old cv's as I know it has an artist statement of sorts. Hmmm... I only can write 125 characters?! No matter, I'll just edit it down and take out the fluffy parts which kind of bugged me anyway. There...125 characters of slimlined beauty.

Bio.
Again, I am on the hunt to see what others have written in the bio area. Bugger. Most of them have hardly written anything! Some have written too much. Ugh. Not very inspiring, is all I can say. So, I begin by writing a "Welcome- to-my-online-shop-and-would-you-buy-something. Please?" sort of thing. Honest, direct and not very long.

And the final addition; a very nice photo, so that whoever visits your "shop/studio" knows that you really do exist.

I can feel, nay, know I'm getting closer to having my shop up and running...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Adventures in Online Commerce P. 3

I find nothing harder then writing about one's self. I even have a former instructor, who would laugh at knowing how true this is for me. Usually, if I have to write my own bio, it means finding something else more meaningful (and possibly more painful) to do avoid this task: like the laundry; or housework; or plucking my eyebrows. But, never the less, here we are. So, I skip ahead to the Method of Payment.
You figure this would be pretty easy, but there was more to it than I thought, as I had to set up my own PayPal account. Don't get me wrong, there were other options. But, how many people do you know, who shop online, pay by check. Really? Sooooo, I sign up for my PayPal Account, but it will still take a few days for everything to be confirmed. Good thing, I'm not ready to open shop as I still have a bio, blurb and shop policies to write up. Remember?
Something tells me this whole undertaking is going to take longer then I anticipated.
Mmmmm....to be continued.....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Adventures in Online Commerce P.2

I did it! I picked a name for my online shop. As daunting as that hurdle was, I managed to a) pick a name that I could live with (and that wasn't lame) and b) wasn't already taken by someone else, which by the way is always a possibility. Phew.
Now on to the next task: filling out the rest of this behemoth.





"Pro" or "basic"? I chose "basic" for now, as to be rather blunt, it's free. No, you don't get all the extras, but that's just more stuff to fill out and who wants that? Not moi.

"Avatar": easy. I have one always on hand (my self-portrait as an old-style pilot: I like it anyway and it has served me well.), but if you don't, you can always put up something temporarily in the meantime. Maybe a photo of your old Auntie or pet lemur or the type of thing you'll be selling, how novel? At least you can change it, in any case.
"Shop banner" (also easy): now that your shop/studio has a name, it's just a matter of picking a nice font (I just used one I downloaded for free off the internet.) and put it over top of a nice copyright free image. I figured, this could always be changed later as well. I want to get up and running, right?

Fortunately, with the "basic" package, you don't get much choice when designing your page; in fact, you only get a choice of 3 colour schemes. I choose the blue one. Done!

At having to fill out the shop bio, blurb and policies, I feel a sudden urge to lie down for a nap....

To be continued...

Adventures in Online Commerce P.1

I've been toying with the idea of setting up an Etsy or Artfire site/shop over the last few months and I finally took the plunge a few days ago. My reason being, mostly, that my basement work area is beginning to get crammed with the box assemblages I make and it's time I did something about it. I chose Artfire over Etsy, not for any particular reason other than I had looked at it a few times and I kind of liked it's name (yes, yes, I know, very shallow...actually more like lazy... but anyway...). So, I proceed to sign up and started to input all the info required to set up shop.

Difficult task #1: what to call your "studio" upon signing up. "The name you choose cannot be changed", I am informed. Choosing a name, especially one you can live with, can be a challenging task; it's kind of like naming a child (with the exception that if the child hates his/her name they can change it later, much to your chagrin.).
At that point, after staring at my laptop for a few minutes (...hours...), I decide that I've had enough for the day and that it's a good time for a cup of coffee.

To be continued...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Business of Art Business

Here is a blog link that was passed on to me by my friend, Betsy (she actually posted it on our Alumni Group Page), and I thought it might be of interest:
 http://www.artbizblog.com/
Read it now and bookmark it for future reference! You will not regret it.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Voting day ...using the "Goblet of Fire Method"

It's voting day in Toronto! Let's see which candidate will be chosen from my Goblet of Fire!

"Wingardia Votee-oh-sa!"

Did you really think I was going to tell you 

who I was voting for?

Voting: The Goblet of Fire.

In a few days, the citizens of Toronto the good will get another chance to cast their ballots and will, hopefully, get a Mayor and City Council, who will get it right this time. Now, this isn't going to be a blog on who or what to vote for, as I'm sure you are all sick to death of the reports, soundbites and polls that have been a part of our daily lives for the last few months.
No, this is going to be about the method I will be using to determine who I will vote for in this election and not necessarily for the coveted position of Mayor. That's an easy one as they're all over the media anyway. What I mean, is for the City Councellors. I live in Ward 3. Etobicoke. I would have never guessed that there was anyone running, as I have not received any of the usual pamphlets, phonecalls or visits from either the person running or a representative for them offering to kiss my baby or put a sign on my front lawn. Nothing. In the last place I lived, I got visits from them all. This time, I actually had to look up whether or not there was someone running in this Ward.
So, how is one to determine to vote come election day? By using what I would like to dub "The Goblet of Fire Method" (appologies to J.K. Rowling):
Get a very nice goblet (or something similar; after all there is only a few days left.). Make sure to draw an age line around it, so those under 18 can't mess with it. Write the names of those running for City Councellor on some scraps of paper with waterproof ink. Before you drop the names into the goblet, make sure to add a spoonful or two of baking soda and some vinager, to make it smoke like a volcano. Now, quickly add the paper scraps. Switch off all lights, except for the most dramatic one and make a big fat production in front of your friends, family, co-workers etc. by choosing a name out of the goblet.
Voilà. Your choice is made. Just don't forget to bring it with you to the polls on election day.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

World Post Day- Hooray!

As I was too busy celebrating what would have been John Lennon's 70th Birthday, I totally forgot about another important October 9th Celebration, World Post Day. But, there is still time left for post-celebratory things you can do:

1. Join Postcrossing (www.postcrossing.com)- I love sending and receiving random postcards in the mail. It's an adventure and it sure beats junkmail and bills. Don't wait, do it now! Sign yourself up!

2. Join Postsecret (www.postsecret.com) and mail them one of your deep, dark secrets (anonymously of course.).

3. Pick up a really touristy postcard and send it to someone you haven't heard from in a long time. A friend or a maiden Auntie, they'll love it.

4. Do you have an artistic bent to you? Ever wonder if you put an address and the right amount of postage on a really odd item like a popcan, would it get there? Then pick up a copy of "Good Mail Day" by Carolee Gilligan Wheeler and Jennie Hinchcliff and invite yourself into the world of Mail Art. It's fab and this mail art fun will only cost you the price of a stamp (unless you are trying to post an elephant, of course.)!



Just remember, in this day and age, snail mail does rule!
Happy World Post Day, belated.

(Btw, to find out more about World Post Day, see Postcrossing's blog, http://www.postcrossing.com/blog, on the subject. )

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Harry Potter style wand

Harry Potter style wand
Originally uploaded by Louise Kiner
This is the first time I am using the flickr blog it tool, so I am sharing the Harry Potter style wand I made out of a sheet of paper and a glue gun, if you can believe that. Now I'm kind of addicted and I am making a second one.

Here's the instructables link if you want to make your own (and it's cheaper then purchasing one. And, it looks way cooler.).
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-an-awesome-Harry-Potter-wand-from-a-sheet-of-/

Nuit Blanche: A Kid's Guide To Conceptual Art

So, how exactly does one do Nuit Blanche with their 11 year old in tow? Well, here were a few of my solutions, so we could take part in this night of art extravaganza:

1) Find a birthday party! With balloons! And cake!


("Happy Bithday to_")

2. Get their yah yahs out with a dance party!


( "Dances With Stangers")

3. If they start getting cold (after all, it is October!), just find them a nice bonfire to warm up. There's bound to be one somewhere...


("Pine Cone Colony")

4). ...or a nice house made from a bus shelter...with a Twister game to keep them occupied!


("The Bus House Collective")

5. And finally, if they lie down in the middle of the street, take them home.



They've probably had enough conceptual art to last them until next year's Nuit Blanche.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

5 things I love about "Word on the Street"

Fall.
My favorite time of year.
Not because of the fall colours, nor the cooler weather (well, I do like the cooler weather, that I'll admit.).
It's the "Word on the Street" book festival. Somehow, it's become a family tradition to attend this fest. So, here are 5 reasons I love it so (not in any particular order.);

1. The discovery of the new; new authors, new books, and not something you would find in Chapters/Indigo/ Amazon neccessarily.

2. Where else can you get a "Polkaroo" button and wear it proudly and not feel completely silly.



3. Authors! Authors! Reading, signing books and chatting with their adoring public.

4. Hey! Isn't that Giselle from TVO Kids?! Look hon, it's Giselle!

5. Book bargins and lot's of them! I try not to buy any books for weeks before hand, just for this. And, giveaways! Stand in the right spot for a few minutes and some one may even offer up a freebie!

So, there you have it. Only another 364 days until the next one. "Word on the Street", I await you with baited breath.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wacked Out Dreaming

Usually, I can't remember
my dreams clearly, but this one is truly on the wackier side, for me anyway.

I'm in an art class. The instuctor is prickily in nature and has us writing down in our sketch books some kind of mathimatical equations (I did say wacky, right?!). I look down at my notebook and realize that I haven't written anything that she's been saying down nor have I been listening to her at all! Suddenly, she stops, looks around the room and says, "you do realize everything I am telling you will be important to your future in this class." I flip to the back of my sketchbook and, lo and behold, is this indescribable math equation! I am sooooooo relieved that I actually wake up. It's 6:30 am and my alarm is beeping madly.

I really do need to cut down on my caffeine intake. Or something.

Sweet dreams.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

5 things about the "Ex"...

I had my once yearly (or mostly yearly) visit to the Canadian National Exhibition or the "Ex", as many so fondly refer to it. Anyway, in order to mark the end of this years Ex, here are my 5 fondest thoughts on it, not in any partcular order:

5) The Airshow; I admit it, I love the Airshow. I am completely amazed at the nerve of some of the pilots and how they allow their planes do what they do. I know people complain about the noise, the pollution etc., but it's only once a year. This year Mother Nature made sure of that.

4)The Food: Where else can you eat a whole bag of Tiny Tom Donuts or fried butter or Belgian Waffles with ice cream and not actually feel guilty about it?

3)The Crowds: I'm not big on crowded places, nor do I like line ups either, but if I was from another planet, this would definately be the place to go to observe humanity. Fascinating!

2)The Shopping: I see people walking arounds with bag loads of stuff. Could someone please tell me where this secret amazing shopping area is, as I can't seem to find it.

1)The End: The Ex always marks the last 18 days before the kids go back to school and I know all you parents out there are secretly checking off your calenders, aren't you?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone