Monday, November 28, 2011

announcing the new rachelmilllerartist website!

I am so excited about my new logo, branding and website.  Now it will be easier to find me on the web and be able to see everything all together.  At rachelmillerartist.com you can find galleries of my past and present pieces in Judaica and Jewelry.  There is also my bio, my artist statement and resume of my work.  Plus there is an easy link right to my Etsy shop to purchase items.  On the home page you will also be able to see exactly were I will be exhibiting and selling in person.  And I especially excited to have this blog linked to the rest of the site, so you can read about all the new creations and inspirations.  Special thanks to Ran Mano of Manointeractive.com for putting this all together.
Please let me know what you think of the site.  Comments and criticism are welcome!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

questions answered

I've been doing some local St. Louis craft show and I get a lot of comments and questions from people.

What are you doing here?  This is a craft fair.
Well That's true, my things are more artwork then craft and the prices are a reflection of that, but most of the local fairs I participate in are in Temples and Synagogue.  That a good place to meet Jewish people who are more likely to purchase my mezuzahs, yads and Jewish star necklaces.  Even though they may not be interested in buying anything today, they will take my card and remember me when they want to get a special gift or piece for themselves.

Is everything you make Jewish?
No it is not.  I make a lot of jewelry.  My fine silver jewelry is a reflection of my personal style and aesthetic.  I like jewelry that is causal.  I am a former sportswear designer so I keep current with the trends and try to incorporate styles that are up to date but still stand the test of time.
There are a lot of wonderful Jewelry Artists out there who work in PMC.  One reason that I started to concentrate on making Judaica is to keep myself unique and find a niche in the market.  Of course, through that process, I found I was able to express myself even more creatively and making the Judaica became my focus.

Your stuff is so beautiful, why are you not showing at Laumeier or the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton?
Well, first of all thank you.  I really appreciate that you like my work.  I would love to be a part of those shows, but there is a short answer on why I am not.  I do not have a booth.  A proper tent (booth) with lights and display costs $2000-$4000.  In order to be considered for these shows you must have a picture of your booth in your application.  These shows are juried and the competition is fierce, especially in the Jewelry category.  So you must have a professional display and booth to be considered, and no you can't just rent one.  Buy my work and I will invest in the booth, I promise.