Don't Mess with Momma Bear

 

The other day my realtor daughter-in-law asked if I would consider creating a special piece of art that she could use as part of her thank you gift basket when she closes on a house.  That got me to thinking about just how popular BLACK BEARS are there near Knoxville and the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.  I jumped right in a came up with this cute design.

I decided to call this piece "Grin and Bear It" because I thought the MOMMA BEAR had her paws full with these 3 busy cubs.  Just remember that you NEVER MESS WITH THE MOMMA BEAR!  

This print is available in 4 easy to frame sizes and also comes as a note card or a magnet.  Here is the link to my Etsy Shop: Signed Art Prints  or Coffee Mugs

 

3 Etsy Shops- Am I CRAZY?

Sometimes, I wonder that myself,  because keeping up with all 3 Etsy Shops consumes a great deal of my energies.  There is a thought and some logic behind this madness.  Well, at least that is what I've told myself.  I thought I would just explain what each shop is about.  I know that there might be some confusion since I have moved a number of items from my main shop over to the TOWNCOSTUDIOS shop.  Let me just take a moment and clear it all up for you.

Julie Townsend Studio- Etsy- (SIGNED ART PRINTS, STICKERS, CARDS AND SUCH)

My first and main shop was created way back in 2010 but I had no clue what I was doing with my art back then, and didn't get serious about Etsy until the first of 2016.  My very first sale was a little 4 x 6" chickadee print in March of 2016. I also had my first commission drawing that year sold through my shop.   I continued to sell a number of small prints and stickers in 2017.  Sales really took off for me in March of 2020 when I started creating my "Wash Tub Series".  My Facebook followers really grew that year too and that has helped with many of my sales.  Now I'm almost ready to hit the 1000 sale mark with 997 total sales showing today.  

I have poured myself into this shop and work hard every day to build it up.  It features all my art prints, cards, magnets, stickers and so much more.  Anything that I print myself or ship out of my studio is listed on this shop.  I have worked hard to create a special brand that reflects my personal touch.  I make my own wrapping paper, free thank you gifts and the cute little pig and cow confetti that I sprinkle in each order.  My love and DNA is all over these items!  LOL!

TownCoStudios- Etsy (PRINTED GIFTS- MUGS, MOUSEPADS & BUTTONS ALONG WITH TONS OF PRINTABLE INSTANT ART)

The second shop, I opened in February of 2020 and it was supposed to be a joint venture with my son but that didn't really pan out like I hoped it would.  I've just recently gotten a clear vision of what I want the shop to be.  The shop motto is "Faith, Family and Farm Art to Make You Smile" and is mostly an extension of my first shop. There is a lot of my own artwork here but it isn't limited by that.  I have lots of graphics, quotes and mottos and font art here as well.

I wanted a shop that would provide complete passive income and so I've recently done a lot of rearranging of these two shops.  All my outsourced printed gift items, such as coffee mugs, mousepads and such are all listed on this shop. I also have lots of downloadable art that you can print out for yourself.   The whole idea behind this shop is that when we are traveling in the camper with no WIFI or on vacation and my printer is at home, the shop can continue to generate income because all the listings are either processed through dropship or are downloadable.  It's a great idea and I'm working hard to see that come to fruition. 

Dusty Boot Finds- Etsy  (VINTAGE ITEMS)

This final shop was opened in July of 2020 and is now at 50 sales. I am pleased as punch with how this shop is going.   Nothing listed here is handmade, rather there is an assortment of vintage items that we have collected over the years that I decided that I needed an outlet to sell them. Mostly things we have collected that are just lying around here collecting dust. I raided my jewelry box, the garage, the bookshelves and we have even picked up little things out in the desert.  Hence, the name DUSTY BOOT FINDS.  It has worked rather well over this past year.  I have a dedicated shelf in my inventory room where I house all the listings in numbered bins.  The hardest part is finding the time to create a new listing from the piles of items I have gathered up that I want to add to the shop.  

Sticker Storage Solutions- I'm Obsessed

I have searched high and low on Pinterest for ideas on how to better store my Etsy Shop sticker inventory without spending a boat load of cash at IKEA.  Well, yesterday I figured it out and I'm so excited I just had to share it with you.  I wanted a storage solution that would allows each sticker design to be stored separately,  protected safely, be convenient and still allow for the stickers to be viewed by the public if I'm at an event or a festival.  I have a unique inventory number that I use on my Etsy Shop and I'm not fond of the idea of having to sort hundreds of stickers when I return from a weekend show.  I needed a way to keep them together but make them easy to flip through.  Let me just say, that once I started transferring my stickers to this new storage solution, I didn't stop until I had finished with my whole inventory.  I was obsessed!   I'm in  LOVE how it is working out so far.

My sticker inventory stored by #

As usual, when I try something new, I can't keep it to myself.  I love sharing my discoveries with you as I'm on this journey to grow my art business.  I'm sure you are asking yourself, "Why does she even bother with stickers?"  I wouldn't be truthful if I didn't tell you that I have wondered that myself.  Let me just say that having stickers on my Etsy Shop in the beginning was a great decision.  It is all a numbers game.  If you look like a brand new shop with just few sales and not many positive reviews, then potential shoppers may hesitate to purchase more expensive item, such as original art from you. If they see lots of sales and 5 star ratings in your shop, they have much more confidence in you as a business owner.  Customers are more willing to take a risk with a new shop when only spending a few dollars.  Stickers definitely helped  me get my shop up and running.

Also, unless you have at least 100 listings, Etsy doesn't really rank you very high in their SEO searches.  You want to get your shop listing to 100 or more as quickly as you can.  Designing stickers and offering them on my Etsy Shop was good way to accomplish that.  Not to mention, I sold over $400 in stickers in 2020.  Those $2 or $3 items do add up.     

Will I always take the time to print and cut stickers for my shop?  Probably not, but right now I'm still enjoying the process.  Now back to my cute solution for storing my inventory.

An example of a finished sticker envelope

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the kraft brown A7 envelopes that are sold at Hobby Lobby.  Regularly priced at $14.99 for 100 of them, I want until they are 40 or 50% off and then buy several boxes at a time.  I use these sturdy envelopes to mail out all my small order items.  Anything that will fit and isn't over 1/4 inch thick goes inside these envelopes.  I write a cute little message on the flap and add an equally cute sticker to decorate the envelop before I drop it in the mail.  

What I decided to do was to use these envelopes to store my stickers in.  I cut off each of their flaps to make sturdy little pockets that my stickers fit perfectly into.  I then wrote the inventory # and the title on the top edge of the pocket.  I attach an example of each of the stickers on their respective envelop so that it is easy to see what style of sticker is inside.  To make this envelope more sturdy and help keep the stickers clean, I covered it with a few strips of packing tape.  I think this is going to work beautifully when I go to my next event.  I will certainly keep you posted.  

My cover page for my catalog

Finally, I decided it made a whole lot of sense to create a sticker catalog of sorts.  I just finished my creating a portfolio binder and since I loved how that project turned out I decided to create a similar styled binder with thumbnail photos of each of my stickers, and have them organized by animal categories.  I can visualize customers filling my tent and taking the time to flip through my catalog and portfolio.  At least that is what I hope happens. 

My first festival since COVID is coming up in November and all this is in preparation for that weekend.  

Want to check out more of my whimsy artwork?  Why not head on over to my shop and poke around?  Maybe like my FaceBook Studio Page @JulieTownsendStudio.

Here is the Etsy link to both of my shops:

Julie Townsend Studio on Etsy

Townco Studios on Etsy

page 1 of my sticker catalog

Have you read any good books lately?  Or should I ask if you have read any books at all?  What is that one book you have read and you consider it to my your all time favorite book?  For me personally, I love to read but I consider myself a slow reader.  I will confess that it has been a while since I have read a book.  These days my time is pretty much taken between creating art, marketing my art and watching grandchildren.  I do miss reading so I might try to re

Over the years, I have read many books that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have actually read the book "Shepherd of the Hills" by Harold Bell Wright 5 times over the years.  It is a great story and I would consider to be one of my favorites.  Other good books that jump to mind are "Christy" buy Katherine Marshall, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte', "Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery and anything written by Jane Austin or Janette Oke.  

I may not have read a book recently but I have included them in several art pieces.  You might find them entertaining so let me share them with you.  I hope you like mice in artwork because it seems that if I draw a book I must add a mouse sitting on top.  

First Painting of 2021

"Bitsy"- 11 x 14 x 1.5 acrylic on canvas

 It's hard to believe that we are already into May of 2021 and I'm just now talking about my first painting of the year.  Now don't you think that I've been sitting on my artist laurels, because that is far from the truth.  You see, I invested in a new iPad Pro tablet and my very first Apple Pencil at the end of 2020 and I've just been having a blast learning how to use these new tools.  I've added a ton of new drawings to my inventory along with 2 more coloring books.  All thanks to my iPad and the amazing app Procreate.  

As much as I enjoy this new medium, there is something about picking up a painting brush or pencil and covering the white of a canvas or paper.  No, I'm not going to abandon my first loves.  So that is why we are almost half way through the year and I'm just now talking about my first painting.  

This cute little goat is one of the new spring goats birthed at Galloping Gerties in Glenns Ferry, Idaho.  I think her name is Gumbo Lil but for my painting I decided to title it "Bitsy".  Katie Lenni takes the best goat pictures ever and I'm blessed that she lets me use them as a reference for my artwork.  You are AWESOME Katie!  Give her Etsy Shop some love and check out all her great goat soap- Galloping Gerties- Etsy

I do have this original painting available at the moment as well as prints, cards and magnets of this little sweetie.  Here is a picture of me holding the original painting for a little family photoshoot taken out towards Lake Mead.   If you would like to give "Bitsy" a new home or want to get cards or prints of her then just hop over to my Etsy Shop- Bitsy -Julie Townsend Studio Etsy Shop

Let me end today's blog with a picture of the cutest art model ever.  

NO HONOR AMONG THIEVES

 

They might as well have broken into my home and stole my dearest possessions because stealing of an artist's work is like stealing a piece of their heart.  It is no little matter and I feel very violated by the whole thing.

 It was only a few short weeks ago that I was blissfully drawing little angels and stuffed nursery toys, having no idea that a thief was lurking in the shadows of  Amazon.com and other corners of the world wide web.  

I recall clearly that night, just taking one more quick peek at my Facebook wall to see if there was any new news about a dear friend who was gravely ill.  Swiping down though my feed, I noticed a sponsored ad appearing on my wall that showed a cute little goat on a metal sign.  I like goats of course since I paint and draw them all the time but this goat made me stop and take a second look.  My initial thoughts were that this goat looked very familiar.  I snapped  a screen shot of it to remind me to check into this matter more closely and I headed off to bed. 

The next morning, the ads appeared again and this time it was the same goat but the background had changed.  This company was advertising all over my Facebook feed and the same goat was always there smiling up at me.   I walked right into my inventory room where I have all my original painting hanging on the wall that are currently for sale on my Etsy Shop.  Right there, front and center was my original little 8x8x1.5 inch acrylic painting I did last year that I titled "Silly Little Goat".  I held it up and compared it to the goat on my phone.  Just as I had suspected,  I realized at that moment that I was the victim of intellectual property theft.  What has followed since that time is hours and hours of me working to get all these listings pulled down. 

One company had this little goat listed 32 times and another one had it listed 14 times.  I found 4 Etsy Shops and about 20 different listings on Amazon.  I still have no idea who stole it first but because there is no honor among thieves, they just steal from each other.  It's like a stage 4 cancer that has metastasized.   It's discouraging to say least, but I have to stay diligent and address each infraction as I find them.  I keep a Google doc file for "Stolen Artwork" where I keep the URL and the company name.  I make a note when I email them the cease and desist letter.  So far almost all of them have apologized and removed the listing.   I'm sure they are more sorry that they actually got caught than being REALLY SORRY.  I then cut and paste the URL to my "Resolved" list.  

Anyway...I thought I would share the herd of goat imposters and have you compare them to the original.  As you can see, adding a little dandelion in the mouth isn't enough to disguise their treachery.

IMPOSTERS-

   

 

 

 

THE REAL "SILLY LITTLE GOAT"

  

Cute custom wrapping paper on a budget

 I have started watching a number of artist/Etsy sellers that have regular studio vlogs on YouTube.  They seem of have several characteristics in common- They are all from the UK and they LOVE PINK!  This is just an observation and I'm not saying that you have to paint your creative space pink but I do notice that they are very dedicated to making this part of their branding.  That branding is obvious even down to the packaging of their orders.  Cute PINK stickers and wrapping paper are a must.

I did check into the whole custom wrapping paper option and found that it is rather of an investment.  I mean to get 250 sheets of wrapping paper printed you are talking hundreds of dollars.  I decided for myself this was going to have to be put on the backburner, as I don't feel that my shop is at that level yet in consistent sales.

Does that mean that I'm stuck using dollar store tissue paper on my orders.  NO- I came up with my own branding solution and I'm having a blast with it.  The beauty of having a farmhouse/country niche is that I can easily use ordinary supplies and give them a farm look.  I have a whole box of huge sheets of white packing paper that were given to me several years ago and rolls of brown Kraft shipping paper in the studio and so I decided I was just going to invest in a few rubber stamps.  Down the road I plan on designing my stamps but in the mean time these are working beautifully.  I ordered some on Etsy (I love supporting my fellow creators if I can) and then a few other's I purchased on Amazon or at my local Hobby Lobby store.  

I have to admit that I've kind of gone a bit overboard on the rubber stamps at this point but they were all so cute and now I have plenty of options.  If the order is primarily goat, then I can pick from several of my goat stamps to create the perfect wrapping paper.  The same goes for cows, sheep, horses and chickens.  Yeah, I have the whole barnyard of rubber stamps now.  It's sort of therapy for me to just stamp up the pages, dreaming of my future art sales.  I can even enlist the help of my grandchildren.  (Got to train them now to be my studio assistance for the future)

My final touch before I seal up the envelope is a sprinkle of pig and cow confetti that I punch out of paper using paper punches.  I've not been able to locate a goat paper punch so if you have one lying around that you never use, let me know.  By the way, my grandchildren also LOVE to use paper punches.  It keeps them well entertained.

Awwchuuu....Spring is upon us

The winds have been fierce recently around the Southern Nevada area, and the pollen count has been in the HIGH range everyday. Add the COVID pandemic and I find it's just a perfect time to stay in the studio and be creative! I know much of the country has faced bitter cold and lots of snow so SPRING is always something to look forward to as we hunker down and try to stay warm. Drawing colorful spring flowers and little critters has been my focus for the past few weeks.  These little drawings have brought me a great deal of joy, and I am pleased at how this spring collection has turned so far. Who doesn't love dark purple irises, sunny daffodils and bright pink tulips? I'm already making plans to add crocus and gladiolus to finish out the spring blub flowers.  For my gardening friends, am I forgetting any other bulb flower? 

 I'm just dying to show you what I've done so far. Be prepared to smile.

 

 

Wouldn't these pieces make an adorable wall art collection for a baby nursery or a child's room. I have options where you can print them yourself or I would be happy to do that for you.  You can hope over to either of my Etsy Shops and just search SPRING.  Hint, hint....these would also make wonderful Mother's Day cards and gifts.    

PRINT YOUR OWN AT TOWNCO STUDIOS

SHOP MY MAIN ETSY SHOP- JULIE TOWNSEND STUDIO

My Studio is Looking More Like a PIGSTY Everyday

 

I finally found a cardstock paper that I am happy with for use with my mini note cards, recipe cards and bookmarks.  This paper is really smooth and gives a nice surface for the ink to hold to.  It is just thick enough and I can trim and score it easily.  At $12.99 it is a real bargain in my opinion.  

250 Sheets of 65lb premium smooth white cardstock 

Here is my newest pig mini card (5.5 x 4.25 inches) that I have featured on both of my Etsy Shops.  The regular listing is for printed cards and then I have created a digital file listing on my second shop that allows you to print as many cards yourself as you like for one low budget friendly cost.  The only restriction there is that they must be for your personal use and not to be resold.  

mini note cards on my Julie Townsend Studio Etsy Shop

print your own mini note cards on the Townco Studios Etsy Shop

"Having a Swine Time"

I'm adding new listing almost everyday, and this past week it has been pigs.  The artwork here on this card is a piece I titled, "Having a Swine Time".  I think it would be perfect hanging in a bathroom, child's bedroom or a baby nursery.  Like all my prints I have sizes ranging from 4 x 6 to 11 x 14 inches and you can have me matte them or you can pick out a frame at Hobby Lobby or a Michaels and let them matte it for you.  

"When Pigs Fly"

A second piece I finished this week is called "When Pigs Fly".  I know we have all heard that expression but who knew they actually make a flight vest that would work with a pig.  I guess if you have enough helium balloons you can get almost anything off the ground.  I would say the birds do look a bit surprised except for that one that has decided to hitch a ride.

"Purdy the Spring Pig"

Finally, and probably my favorite is "Purdy the Spring Pig."  Purdy is just so pretty in her cute bunny ears.  When the daffodils bloom you know that spring is here and I think is ready, don't you?  This design was so much fun that I decided to use it for my spring garden flag this year.  Both prints, cards and the garden flag are available on my Etsy Shop.

Prints and Cards- "Having a Swine Time"

Prints and Cards- "When Pigs Fly"

Prints and Cards- "Purdy the Spring Pig"

Garden Flag- "Purdy the Spring Pig"

Purdy with Pink Gingham on a garden flag

Grow your FAITH and there won't be room for FEAR

 

I drew this little doodle design the other night while thinking about how many of us are under a spirit of fear right now.

This is such a FEARFUL time that we find ourselves living in. It has shaken many of us to our core and I'm claiming 2021 the year of growing my faith and "WEARING OUT MY BIBLE". If you trust in the Lord and fill your heart and mind with the knowledge that HE IS YOUR SALVATION & STRONGHOLD, (Psalm 27:1) then there will be no room for FEAR.

The words to that powerful Zach Williams song, "Fear is a Liar" comes to mind this morning-

Fear, he is a liar

He will take your breath

Stop you in your steps

Fear, he is a liar

He will rob your rest

Steal your happiness

Cast your fear in the fire

'Cause fear, he is a liar

Coffee with Julie- 1-4-21

2021 arrived and passed and today we are all resuming our daily lives after the holidays. My shop sales came to a screeching halt on December 9th it seems and since this is my first real year of sustained growth and revenue from my online sales I don't have previous history to judge if that is normal.  I think it makes sense that all the online Christmas season shipping had been done and so I took the time to begin working on my new designs for the upcoming year.  

I received my new iPad Pro 12.9" and my first ever Apple Pencil around that same time as my sales slowed down so I stayed very busy learning how to use this amazing new tool.  I downloaded the app Procreate (seems anyone serious about drawing digitally on the iPad chooses that drawing app) and I have been having a blast ever since.  

I'm currently working on my second "Farmhouse Whimsy Coloring Book" and hope to have it published and available on Amazon by the end of the month.  I'm subtitling this one "All Critters Big and Small" so I can include my mice, bunnies and bees in the book too.  This project has me super excited because I LOVE the passive income that I think self publishing on KDP (Amazon) will eventually bring. 

My first book wasn't published until November 1, 2020 and so for those 2 months of 2020 my sales break down as follows:

Farmhouse Whimsy Coloring Book- A Coloring Book to Make You Smile - 62 copies  COLORING BOOK ON AMAZON

2021 Farmhouse Weekly/Monthly Planner- 21 copies  2021 PLANNER ON AMAZON

Little Farmers on the Go- A Traveling Game Book- 13 copies TRAVEL GAME BOOK ON AMAZON

Branding your business is so important and something that I really want to do this year is wrap most of my orders in cute wrapping paper.  Eventually, I will design my own and have that printed for me but in the mean time, I decided that I would use rubber stamps and both brown (the rolls that painters use to tape off windows) and a whole case of white packaging newsprint paper that someone gave me.  The beauty of having all your designs in a farmhouse/country theme is that you can easily upcycle items around your house and it adds to the homemade primitive charm of the farmhouse motif.  

I ordered this "Tim Holtz Collection- Funny Farm" cling stamps and a few colors of ink pads to get started.  We found some wood to glue the stamps too and Wallaaaah! I have cute farm themed wrapping paper with minimal investment.  I can't wait to start wrapping all my 2021 sales with them.

I will be sharing more about this in detail on my next VLOG- YOU HEARD ME CORRECTLY!  I have started my own YouTube Channel where I show off my new artwork or studio tips.  This will be expanding in 2021 and I'm super excited about growing this new social media connection.  Here is the link to my channel so please consider subscribing!  Julie Townsend Studio - YOUTUBE