Several threads come together in this blog entry today. Let me explain.
I just finished a new book recommended to me via e-mail newsletter by my friend Amy Peters, a silver jeweler out of California. You can see Amy's work at www.amypetersstudio.com. The book is "dream big!" by Lisa Hammond, founder and owner of the women's gift catalog company, Femail Creations.
Amy was promoting this book because a) Femail Creations is a big customer for her, which has helped her grow her company; b) Lisa has become her friend in the process; and c) Amy is quoted extensively in the book! Lisa requested thoughts from her many artists, asking them how they brought THEIR dreams/businesses into reality. Amy is one of those artists.
First thread: I credit Amy with my initial success in promoting my work. A few years ago on an on-line discussion forum for craftspeople, Amy generously posted a list of instructions on how to put together a press kit. I followed them religiously and have achieved quite a degree of success from my efforts. To date, me and/or my work have been featured in a dozen magazines, two dozen books, several newspapers (including The Boston Globe)and I've appeared on TV. So I owe Amy Peters a HUGE thank you!
Then, Amy introduced me and my work to Lisa Hammond, owner of Femail Creations, at a wholesale craft show last winter. Lisa's company focuses on celebrating women (and girls), and strives to feature products made by women or by companies owned by women. Femail Creations placed an order with me this summer, and a few weeks ago I shipped my very first order to them. (Shell earrings! Look for 'em!)
The company is very artist-friendly, understanding that handmade goods may cost more than imports and may demand a longer lead time and smaller quantities. It is an excellent company to learn the ins and outs of producing work for catalogs. So I am grateful to Amy for the introduction, and to Lisa for placing that first order with me.
Next, Lisa's book is AMAZING! It's a straight-from-the-heart story of how she conceived an idea for a very special company--one that celebrated and supported women--and brought it into existence practically from her kitchen table. It shows the ups and downs, the wonderful successes and the hilarious mistakes she made along the way. Lisa happily admits she made every mistake in the book, and turned every one into either a valuable lesson learned, or a surprise success. I will never, ever doubt the validity of my efforts again! You can order the book from Femail Creation's website at www.femailcreations.com/shopping
Last, it turns out Amy has been inspiration to more people than just moi. Lisa quotes Amy at least half a dozen times in the book. I asked Amy how she achieved such star billing in the book, and she said Lisa felt she was the most articulate, passionate artist she talked to. I'll vouch for that!
So check out "dream big!" to learn how dreams can come true, if you only dream hard enough, dream big enough, and leave lots of room for mistakes--and laughter! And support both of these companies--Femail Creations and Amy Peters Studio--not only because they were founded on dreams, but because they've also helped others find THEIR dreams.
