Be Mused Art » Auctions http://www.bemusedart.com/blog Melia and her thoughts. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:59:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Water Garden – A Mercat http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2010/06/06/water-garden-a-mercat/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2010/06/06/water-garden-a-mercat/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:43:35 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/?p=871 This is what I worked on between panels (and during panels) at A-Kon this weekend. I am so very happy with the results. I did a lot more detail than is usual for me and lots of layers of colors to get them to be so very vibrant. It was soothing to work on [...]]]> WaterGardenB This is what I worked on between panels (and during panels) at A-Kon this weekend. I am so very happy with the results. I did a lot more detail than is usual for me and lots of layers of colors to get them to be so very vibrant. It was soothing to work on and the results, I think, are soothing to look at. And of course, I might be a bit crazy, because I put it on eBay with a starting bid of only 99 cents.

Of course A-Kon was a blast. I really want more Copic markers after going to workshops all three days. And I did buy some cool art. And my feet hurt from walking up and down stairs for 3 days. If you love animation, web comics, costuming or whimsical art, I so recommend attending this convention in the future.

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2010/06/06/water-garden-a-mercat/feed/ 0 Ebay got it wrong and the joys of Project Wonderful http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2009/05/20/ebay-got-it-wrong-and-the-joys-of-project-wonderful/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2009/05/20/ebay-got-it-wrong-and-the-joys-of-project-wonderful/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 18:01:08 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/?p=272 Do any of you remember the early days of eBay? The excitement of watching your auctions the ones you listed and the ones you bid on? That constant need to refresh and see if you were going to win, or to see how high your listings would go. eBay has been telling us that those [...]]]> leaderboard1Do any of you remember the early days of eBay? The excitement of watching your auctions the ones you listed and the ones you bid on? That constant need to refresh and see if you were going to win, or to see how high your listings would go.
eBay has been telling us that those days are gone, because no one wants to wait on auctions, that they want instant gratification. But they are wrong.
How do I know this? Project Wonderful!
I recently created a few ads to try it out. Just a few with some small bids to see if it would garner me any traffic or sales for my etsy shop.
Now I am reliving those early days of eBay. I am spending my days watching my bids, upping them when I am no longer the high bidder, checking to see how many clicks I get. It is crazy.
I have lost my mind. I am already up to $1.60 on a tiny little button ad! When I was just going to spend a tiny amount of money to get a feel for this site.
Now I am spending my time designing new ads, because I want to know if a leaderboard ad will do even better.
This is addictive, just like auctions used to be on ebay.

What happened to ebay? Why did auctions stop working? Was it the introduction of the “buy it now” or the stores that did auctions in? I suspect it was the stores. Because with stores, you had a huge number of drop ship items and new electronics and mass produced stuff from China showing up.
There was harder to find the unique and rare. With new electronics, you do expect to buy it now. But with hard to find computer parts for some outdated system that you are geeking out on getting up and running – there is some competition to get a limited supply- and the auctions work great for that. Or for an original work of art, when auctions were working you could find some great gems at great prices and the prices almost always were still high enough to make the artists giddy. And how about finding those vintage clothing items or collectables? Auctions were the way to go. It was for these things that eBay was born. eBay wasn’t there to replace your local electronics store. Why would you bid on something you can find at your local mall for the same price and not have to worry about shipping?
When eBay was an online garage sale there was the thrill of the hunt and competition. Now that it is just an online retailer, it doesn’t have a platform to really make it effective.
Amazon tried the auction thing once and discovered that it couldn’t compete with eBay. But now eBay has abandoned it’s roots and is tryinng to compete with Amazon in way that it’s platform really won’t succeed. Poor eBay. Too bad their current CEO is “ashamed” of eBay roots. If he wasn’t, there might be a chance to find that excitement again. But instead of wanting to be the best eBay, he wants to be the best Amazon. Maybe he should have gone to work for Amazon instead.

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2009/05/20/ebay-got-it-wrong-and-the-joys-of-project-wonderful/feed/ 1 99 Cats and a Bird Show http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2008/05/15/99-cats-and-a-bird-show/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2008/05/15/99-cats-and-a-bird-show/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 19:29:04 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/?p=175 So things are really starting to shape up with the show. Eastlake Pet Orphanage is willing to take responsibility for auctioning off 100 paintings in the name of saving a few loving animals. They are even talking about a special event centered around the show.l Now I need a venue to exhibit the paintings before [...]]]> So things are really starting to shape up with the show. Eastlake Pet Orphanage is willing to take responsibility for auctioning off 100 paintings in the name of saving a few loving animals. They are even talking about a special event centered around the show.l Now I need a venue to exhibit the paintings before they auction them off (they are talking about sometime around Valentines day) and money to buy the canvas.

James is talking about starting a website just for the show. But we can’t decide between 99CatsAndABird.com or 99Cats1Bird.com. Opinions wanted!

AlsoAs recommended Gillie on ebsq I started a ChipIn to see how far we can get with that.

When we start the website anyone that has made a contribution will get credit on the website (link to website if you include such with the paypal payment, if you don’t want credit, please state that you want the contribution to be an0nymous). If you make a contribution over $23 you will be listed as a sponsor on the back of 6 canvases and get one line in the program for the show. If you make a contribution over $50 you will be listed as a sponsor for 12 canvases and get a business card size ad in the program. if you contribute over $100, you will be listed as a sponsor for 24 canvases and get a 1/4 page ad in the program.
But a contribution as small as $5 will get you a link on the website as soon as we decide on a name.

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2008/05/15/99-cats-and-a-bird-show/feed/ 0 Things I learned about Science Fiction Conventions http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2008/02/22/things-i-learned-about-science-fiction-conventions/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2008/02/22/things-i-learned-about-science-fiction-conventions/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:49:07 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2008/02/22/things-i-learned-about-science-fiction-conventions/ I am very sore this morning, because I was silly enough to volunteer to help out with setting up the art show at a local science fiction convention. But I did so because, I have never exhibited at one before and there seemed to be a lot underlining assumptions that were not spelled out for [...]]]> I am very sore this morning, because I was silly enough to volunteer to help out with setting up the art show at a local science fiction convention. But I did so because, I have never exhibited at one before and there seemed to be a lot underlining assumptions that were not spelled out for a newbie like me, that I needed to learn. And boy was i right.

The first things I learned were about the courtesy of shipping the art.
1.Make it easy for the folks unpacking and hanging your art.

This mean:
a) make the art easy to unpack. No weird packing boxes that are difficult to open, no having the art get stuck to the adhesive of the box, no packing methods that require destroying the box in order to get to the art. No packing material that is “messy”, this means nice sheets of bubblewrap instead of packing peanuts or shredded paper.

b) make hanging the art as easy as possible. Have the proper hangers on everything. Provide a hanging diagram, don’t send more art than can be neatly hung on the panel space you paid for.

c)Bribery will get you far. The sending of candy and small examples of your work in the form of bookmarks and similar to those that are hanging your work gets you prime hanging locations.

d)Annoying the people that are going to be hanging your work gets you relegated to some off the main traffic pattern spot. This means have all your paperwork filled out properly, don’t send rude notes with the art, please have everything labeled properly and that sort of thing.

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2008/02/22/things-i-learned-about-science-fiction-conventions/feed/ 0 Things are looking a little different around here http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/12/06/things-are-looking-a-little-different-around-here/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/12/06/things-are-looking-a-little-different-around-here/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:56:38 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/12/06/things-are-looking-a-little-different-around-here/ If you look around, you might notice a few changes.

Okay complete redesign might be a better description. The best part is that you can now view my website in most any browser.

You can now also buy art directly off the web site.

As I add art to the website, I am deleting [...]]]> If you look around, you might notice a few changes.

Okay complete redesign might be a better description. The best part is that you can now view my website in most any browser.

You can now also buy art directly off the web site.

As I add art to the website, I am deleting it from eBay. Soon no more eBay store!

Part of me is excited about it. Part of me is a bit sad.

I got my start on eBay several years ago.

My first exploration in selling my creative expressions was selling hand crafted crazy quilt bags. They actually did rather well. But after my daughter was born, I no longer had a sewing room and I took up drawing again to stay sane. At the time it was mandalas. First ink drawings, then I pulled out those prismacolors that I used to work with in college and then watercolors and acrylics. That went so well, that I began to expand my subjects and mediums. Built up my confidence enough to start with the festivals. I had a lot of fun at those and did well. Gallery owners began to find me at the festivals as well.

So much has happened with my art in the last several years. And eBay was the start of it. But it seems that I have outgrown it in some ways. Maybe outgrown isn’t the right word. But it just doesn’t seem to be as good a fit for me as it was once upon a time.

So my next step is to focus on this site. I have had it for years. But I really haven’t explored making it work. This is it.

I hope you enjoy!

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/12/06/things-are-looking-a-little-different-around-here/feed/ 0 New Ideas, New Products and New Art http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/02/04/new-ideas-new-products-and-new-art/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/02/04/new-ideas-new-products-and-new-art/#comments Sun, 04 Feb 2007 17:23:59 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/02/04/new-ideas-new-products-and-new-art/ I have been busy lately and ideas have been stewing and boiling over.

I have lots of new Artist Trading Cards in my store right now. 

I have also started a new series of Fairy Tale Homes.  These have been fun fanciful creations of impossible castles and cottages.  I should have posted about these [...]]]> I have been busy lately and ideas have been stewing and boiling over.

I have lots of new Artist Trading Cards in my store right now. 

Tied UpKismetMermaid

I have also started a new series of Fairy Tale Homes.  These have been fun fanciful creations of impossible castles and cottages.  I should have posted about these soon as they have been selling quickly and I have few left right now.  There was even a minor bidding war over the Cat House Castle.

Cat House

I am also working hard to put together my cafe press store.  I have had it for years, but never done much with it.  I finally upgraded to a premium store and am going to be offering lots and lots of different designs.  So if you have an image that you would really like to see on a coffee cup of t-shirt please let me know so I can get to work on it.

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2007/02/04/new-ideas-new-products-and-new-art/feed/ 0 Fantasy Art? http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/12/29/fantasy-art/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/12/29/fantasy-art/#comments Fri, 29 Dec 2006 20:06:08 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/12/29/fantasy-art/ How in the world did I end up doing fantasy art?

I just finished my Violet Night Fairy a couple days ago

Then today Chris and I spent a few hours designing Dragons. I guess I will have to paint a few of them soon.

we even have ideas of some dragon kin floating [...]]]> How in the world did I end up doing fantasy art?

I just finished my Violet Night Fairy a couple days ago

Violet Night Fairy

Then today Chris and I spent a few hours designing Dragons. I guess I will have to paint a few of them soon.

we even have ideas of some dragon kin floating around in our heads.

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/12/29/fantasy-art/feed/ 0 Prints- Updating eBay store http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/11/20/prints-updating-ebay-store/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/11/20/prints-updating-ebay-store/#comments Mon, 20 Nov 2006 17:29:31 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/11/20/prints-updating-ebay-store/ Alright, I realize I got way behind.  But I am going to spend the next few days getting all my large prints listed on eBay before Thanksgiving.  I might be a few days off as I can’t work Thanksgiving or the day after.  So Sunday at the latest they will all be there.

As of [...]]]> Alright, I realize I got way behind.  But I am going to spend the next few days getting all my large prints listed on eBay before Thanksgiving.  I might be a few days off as I can’t work Thanksgiving or the day after.  So Sunday at the latest they will all be there.

As of this moment all the Fortune Teller large prints are listed in my eBay store.

Next I will focus on the small prints, and then after the holiday market at Dallas Market Hall Dec 9&10 I will start getting all those lovely originals that folks have not seen on eBay listed.

Remember if you are wanting something special for Christmas, order early.  If you spend $100 within 24 hours, before Dec. 19th, I will ship priority mail and send you a free Christmas card and envelope for you to mail to your friends and family.

And yesterday I actually got to go to a show as a loooker instead of a seller.  I had a wonderful time.  Got a chance to talk with some artists that I love, bought some nifty forged stocking holders from Kestral Forge.  And I got to meet another artist who has her work hanging in this one home where I felt tickled pink to have my Party Cat hanging.  All in all a good time.

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/11/20/prints-updating-ebay-store/feed/ 0 Christmas Cards, New Prints and Festivals http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/10/18/christmas-cards-new-prints-and-festivals/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/10/18/christmas-cards-new-prints-and-festivals/#comments Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:23:24 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/10/18/christmas-cards-new-prints-and-festivals/ Well the new Christmas Cards are finally in. To cover shipping I had to price the cards at $15 for a set of 6.  They are beautiful.  I am so happy with how they turned out.  Nice glossy finishes.  And they are big cards too. 5.5×8.5!

Christmas Cards on eBay 

I have also been [...]]]> Well the new Christmas Cards are finally in. To cover shipping I had to price the cards at $15 for a set of 6.  They are beautiful.  I am so happy with how they turned out.  Nice glossy finishes.  And they are big cards too. 5.5×8.5!

Christmas DoveYule CatJingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bel-lies

Christmas Cards on eBay 

I have also been working on getting up to date on my print listings.  First I am working on small prints as I am further behind on those than anything.

Small Prints on eBay can be found here.

Also I am in the midst of my fall art festival season.  Upcoming shows are Edom this weekend and Huffines Art Trails the weekend after that.

Then Kismet is Nov. 11th, where my original painting In The Spotlight will be raffled off.

In The Spotlight

]]> http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/10/18/christmas-cards-new-prints-and-festivals/feed/ 0 Yule Cat and Seussian Suburb http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/09/17/yule-cat-and-seussian-suburb/ http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/09/17/yule-cat-and-seussian-suburb/#comments Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:05:17 +0000 Melia http://www.bemusedart.com/blog/2006/09/17/yule-cat-and-seussian-suburb/ First is the Yule Cat painting I promised to post a couple weeks ago, and just haven’t gotten around to doing until tonight.

11×14″

This is the last of my Christmas card designs. This one will have “Blessed Yule” inside. I am still offering preorders on these cards at $12 for a package of [...]]]> First is the Yule Cat painting I promised to post a couple weeks ago, and just haven’t gotten around to doing until tonight.
Yule Cat

11×14″

This is the last of my Christmas card designs. This one will have “Blessed Yule” inside. I am still offering preorders on these cards at $12 for a package of 8. Later the cards will be $12 for a set of 6 or $3.50 each.

And this adorable painting is available on ebay for a great starting price.

The second painting James said reminded him of the works of Dr. Seuss so it was titled Seussian Suburbia.

Seussian Suburb

8×24″

This one is also available on ebay at a great starting price.

Also the Fall Festival Season is about to start. So these will be the last 7 day auctions that I list for awhile. Not sure how many auctions I will be listing.

Saturday September 23rd is the Studio Tour and afterwards Kismet. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

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