Jan 25, 2012 - Meet Daisy

These days when you come to Wise Daughters, you'll meet Daisy, the dog I adopted last week. She's a 4 year old puggle (pug/beagle) who was sent to a pound because her elderly owner had to go into nursing care. She didn't cope well there, so was taken into doggy foster care by Snookie's Little Rescue, a national non-profit, and it's through them that we found each other.

Daisy was clearly the alpha dog in her last home, and has work to do to learn her manners, but she's a very quick study. I can see her trying very hard not to displease me by barking. She's already learned to sleep in her own bed next to mine and to sit next to me at the shop (vs in my lap all the time).  She needs a lot of reassurance, but once she gets it, she's as sweet and calm as any well loved dog can be.

It's just lovely for me to have her company, especially on those long days when there's a full shift plus an evening workshop. She's come to enjoy our routine of walk/bus/walk to get here, followed by a mad dash around the shop before she settles in for the day.

Don't worry if you've got allergies or are just not that into dogs - she's restrained behind the cash so she won't bound over to greet customers. But if you want to say hi, she'll give you a wag of her ridiculous curly tail.

Jan 11, 2011 - Help for Handmakers

There's an embarrassment of riches in this city in terms of artistic talent. But few people possess a combination of creative skills and sales acumen. It's not always an easy blend. This is where I hope Wise Daughters can make a difference in 2012.

Since mid-2010, I've been offering workshops on The Art of Selling, to help makers with the often daunting business side of things. It's on the schedule again Jan 18, followed in the coming weeks by The Art of Marketing via Social Media (levels 1 & 2) and then Craft Fair How-To, each presented by crafters with a wealth of understanding in these areas. This cluster of workshops will really help equip handmakers with tools and tips for success in this very tough line of work. One of the most valuable aspects of these workshops, I think, is the chance to get feedback and share ideas with peers, since many of us work in isolation.

I've also decided to move forward with more consulting for crafters. I do quite a lot of it anyway, as part of the process of negotiating with artists who approach the shop, and I enjoy sharing what I've learned over the past 3 years. So I'm offering 30 minutes of free one-on-one consultation with handmakers who want help pricing, packaging and promoting their wares. I'll give you an honest opinion and help you determine where to focus your energy (besides making things). Some people are great at selling themselves, others would rather crawl under a rock. I can't change your disposition, but I can help you improve your written materials, for example, so your message is clear. Then maybe you can get your gregarious best friend to be your front man or woman at shows and sales!

If you'd like to know more, check out the workshop details at www.wisedaughters.com or shoot me an email at crafts@wisedaughters.com. 

Mary