intenyears. instoresnow.

Guy here.

Hope this gorgeous Sunday afternoon finds you all well and happy. Just a quick post to upload some pictures from Gal's retail debut. The lines were wrapped around the building, a little old lady was trampled as the doors were opened and throngs of people rushed to be the first to purchase an intenyears. authentic jewelry piece. Well, at least that's how I recall it.

While this might not exactly have been the scene yesterday afternoon, I think we were both happy with the turnout and results. We had several sales and it was great to see the pieces displayed and selling. Here are some pictures from the show for your enjoyment. Up next is getting prepared for the Artwalk in Concord.

I am artist, hear me...crimp?

One of the things that I have been working on since I started intenyears. is self-promotion. I'm really sensitive to being seen as 'pushy'. Maybe its was the decade of retail management experience, maybe its the fact that I can be shy in new social situations, or thinking that people won't really like what I do, then proceed to tell me about it...in detail! Guy doesn't have the same issue, luckily. He can walk in, and be comfortable with everyone and everything. Explains why one of his many hats around here is Marketing, doesn't it?

His comfort with new situations, and understanding of how I work and feel about them, is really helping me push my comfort zones and grow intenyears. On the surface, its things like...gentle insistence on trying my first craft show, the All Arts Market in March, even though I was nervous and felt I wasn't ready. Do I even need to tell you yet again what an unparalleled success that was for me? Or...getting me to apply to a Silent Auction by prepping a portfolio. We got the email at dinner last night saying my application was approved for the ARTcravings Silent Auction . Check out the website...my name is on there as an artist, and I had to have the page printed out to go on my inspiration board!

Less obvious is how much more confident I feel trying new ideas, see my previous post about 'doing things wrong'. More importantly for me, is how I now answer that famous question, "What do you do?" I am a handmade jewelry artist/designer. No other caveats or self-depreciating laughter.

Now that you know how sweet and timid and shy I am, look at my new links up top. Check out my new Events page, because I am going places, and I want you all to come along for the ride. :)

No need to be coy any longer. The details have been finalized.



intenyears. will be launching at Nectar a floral design shop located in the McGill Rose Garden in NoDa.



The date is Saturday, April 10. It is the re-Grand Opening of Nectar, so there will be yummy refreshments and lots of gorgeous flowers. I will be there myself from 12- 2 to talk about my jewelry and hopefully meet lots of cool new people.

I'll be looking forward to working with Karisa, and the Rose Garden is a gorgeous spot and will surely give me hours of inspiration. Did I ever mention how much I LOVE flowers? Can't wait to see you there!

And the gears were set in motion...

Guy here.

So this week for me officially marks the beginning of the great marketing push for gal and her stuff. I have been waiting for her to get her pieces in order and have enough inventory of goodies to create with before we started pushing intenyears. out to the great wide world.

If you've been with us since the beginning, it is amazing to think of how far we have come in just a few short months. Going from her part-time hobby to a (sort of) full blown enterprise. I've felt especially creative and with the purchase of a new printer that is capable of printing 5x7 photos I am ready to start building her portfolio to use for juried shows and events. There are so many deadlines coming up they are hitting hard and fast. No need to be specific yet, however, if they all come through there are A LOT of things to be done. We might need Boris the intern afterall...

I am huge branding person, anyone who saw our booth at the show learned this first hand. From the booth itself all the way through to the box and the bag, intenyears. was all up in yo' grill. I firmly believe that in order to set yourself apart, no matter what business arena, you have to be branded and do it professionally. People might not expect it, especially at an off-site craft show, but they are REALLY impressed when they see it.

One of the reasons why gal and I work so well together has to do with her creative side and my business side. That's not to say there isn't a lot of overlap, for example we're both HUGE perfectionists. You can see this in anything she creates, she refuses to put her name on something that isn't just right. I'm the same way with any creative material or copy I create. We were chatting after the All Arts Market about putting our name on a piece (in the metaphorical sense) and realized we needed a way to put our name on on her pieces (in the literal sense). So the creative juices starting flowing.

I have never played with resin before, and I can tell you...it's pretty f*in cool. It was like I was mixing with one of the kiddie chemist sets from back in the day, except I didn't grow those lame powdery "crystals" (Remember those?) Anyway, although it didn't come out perfect, due to me being impatient and not sealing it properly, here is what every necklace will eventually roll off the line with:




Even though the sides have some "bleed" going on, it sill sort fits the vintage feel. We'll keep messing with and get it right, but its cool to know that all of her pieces (when we can) will have this attached. Ain't branding grand? Oh, and once we have the portfolio pics up on Flickr, we'll post that link for you.

Not to be outdone...

Two posts in one day, amazing. Gal is right, we have been super busy in getting her "studio" (i.e. the extra bedroom in our house) up to snuff. After clearing out more books than the Library of Congress and donating them, we had room to work. Finally the marketing and photography department have their own offices. Those artsy people smell funny and listen to classical music.

We have a new intern in the marketing department, Boris. We have no idea where he comes from or what his CV looks like he just sorta appeared out of nowhere. He tends to like dark corners and keeps to himself most of the daylight hours. I will say he is great at multitasking and helping out around the office. Here is an artist's rendering of our new intern:



Did I mention my phobia of spiders? Gal thought it hilarious last night when I looked into my light box and saw not only Boris, but his damned web with a fruit fly in it. I asked gal to remove our interloper only to have her force him behind the poster board at the back of the box! Thanks hun. I think he hitched a ride when she used the box outside last week. God, I hate spiders...

Thriving artist

So, yeah. Hi.

We've been busy here, but I know its hard to tell since it has been so quiet on the blog. Grab a cup of tea and let's dish!

First, I've been working with the owner of a local shop, let's call it Rose's, on carrying intenyears. along with other handcrafted items. Do I even need to explain how exciting that it for me? And stressful! I hope that if you live in or around the Queen City you will be able to stop by, browse, and take time to smell the flowers. Rose's is really an unique shop and in an awesome location, it would be well worth a visit. I'll post the definite info, date, and of course all the shop information as soon as I can.

Second, this being creative thing is pretty new to me. Or, at least the confidence in my creative voice. It amazes me that now, I seek out other things to try, and I don't think twice about attempting them. Before I would have never put myself out there, not even making the attempt, because I may 'do it wrong'. What I'm learning is, aside from safety issues, there IS NO WRONG when it comes to your own creativity, your own voice. I have so many ideas and dreams filling up my little notebook, a little craft bucket list if you will. Hmm, that gives me an idea......

Third, do you remember me talking about joining the local handmade and vintage group CrownTownHandmade ? They have been awesome, supportive, and informative. They've been trying to set up a community craft night, and as you can imagine the logistics of doing something like that can be crazy. Looks like the first one will be near the end of April, and you can meet me and do a fun craft. Because as of right now, I will be instructing how to do said fun craft. :) Of course, there is still so much time and plans may change, that's how things are looking. Of course I will post the finalized date here, and on Twitter.

And, last, we spent the day yesterday sorting and reorganizing out work space. It takes up a whole extra room, with my work table, a set area for the light box/photos, a new desk with our network printer, an area for soldering/wire work, and storage for finished pieces. I also hung up my print from CreativeThursday . To think, this started out as a lap project!

Thriving artist, indeed!

Hi ho, hi ho

Finally back to work as of today. Finished 2 necklaces I have been working on here and there. Mostly, I am excited to get started on the pile o'goodies my husband brought home with him from a recent trip.




Isn't he sweet? Lots of vintage buttons and beads and pins to incorporate into new pretty things! Plus, I took a soldering course recently and have expanded my wire work knowledge, so new things and new techniques = awesome new necklaces for you! Plus, sore fingers since I did hit my finger with a hammer working on a pendant. Don't expect that to be a one-off occurence.

This week should be pretty busy with creating, photographing, and posting new items, so check here or Etsy often. Lots of irons in the fire, it's an exciting time for us here!