This is the holiday card I sent out last year that inspired Mr. Aerten’s aunt to come shopping at my house. It is now available for everyone (yes! everyone!) on Zazzle. (Whatever card I send out this year will likely be available for everyone (yes! everyone!) next year.) As soon as the Zazzle review team makes sure I didn’t do any horrifying, matching postage stamps will also be available [edit: they're now available!]. (And how cool is that?!) I may even make the original available on Etsy.

All your holiday shopping can be done right there in my Zazzle store… or my Etsy store. Talk about convenient!

Nah…  I’m going to stick to more, um, normal things.  For example, this absolutely fabulous coffee mug from the Doodle Collection.  You’ll recognize the piece from July 9’s Wordless Wednesday…  Joy Is Like the Rain.

Imagine sipping your favorite tasty beverage out of this mug, while all your coworkers gaze in admiration of your excellent taste in dining accessories, and your vast good forture in owning some Aerten Art.

In addition to the key chains, magnets and stickers, I will also be adding greeting cards and (especially for Monique) mini posters.  If anyone is interested in other items, do let me know.  I’m thinking of making a few t-shirts for myself.

In Zazzle news, I continue to add all these mandalas to my collection.  Monique requested greeting cards…  so greeting cards in two sizes will also be available.  Now, those would make fabulous gifts.  And since I saw some Christmas items in a store yesterday, it must be time for you to start your Christmas shopping.

In other news, I’m selling SHOES in my Zazzle store!  (This is in addition to the magnets, keychains and stickers, of course.)  There’s also a new postage stamp design… and I’m thinking the guys might like some new ties.  Since Mr. Aerten has to wear one to work every day, and most of the ones he has are B-O-R-I-N-G, he could become a walking advertisement for my art.  Ah yes!  At his next company holiday party, he can wear a tie to match my fabulous shoes!

So it made me stop and wonder… where should I be trying to sell my stuff? Because there are hundreds of places out there, and I’ve been trying all sorts of them, from A (ArtCardsWanted) to Z (Zazzle) and a whole bunch of places in between. And here’s what I’ve noticed based on my online sales over the past year: I sell everything on Etsy. Not most everything… everything.

(OH wait, no! I have sold ONE item from my website! And that was really cool, but those PayPal Buy Now buttons are a pain in the tush.)

And that makes me question why I keep any of these other sales venues active. I’m a member of Worldwide Women Artists, and a number of the other women have had success with these other venues. Maybe it’s the abstract nature of my art that keeps the sales down (or non-existent outside Etsy). Goodness knows I’ve seen plenty of puzzled looks when people pass by my booth at craft fairs. Art shows are a different story, of course, because people expect to see all kinds of art there. Maybe the internet is more of a craft fair than an art show. I don’t know.

Some people have said my prices are too high, others say they’re too low. If that doesn’t make me crazy, probably nothing will at this point. (Or I could consider myself fortunate that I was a little daft to begin with.)

Or maybe it’s that evil “marketing” word. I’ll admit to knowing less about that than I know about, say, setting up a primary domain controller with Windows 2003. (Ok, that’s not a fair example… setting up a PDC is only scary the first time.)

Feel free to chime in on any thoughts you might have.

Ah, and one last thing. No updates on Etsy until after my mid-term on Wednesday. I have to pull together another set of works to upload, and that means manipulating scans and writing descriptions, which would take away time from studying. Gosh. It’s so weird to be back in school taking tests again…

(Oh, and apparently our men’s basketball team is playing in some sort of championship game tonight. Like I pay attention to these things. But… Go Saints!)

This is a portion of my encaustic painting, Chakras. It captures most of the texture and brilliance of the original (which is also for sale, but only through email until I get more PayPal buttons up or put it in Etsy).

This piece is Abstract Squared No. 9. The original sold last summer at stART on the Street to a young (preteen) lady who spent her own money on it. I know how kids hoard their money, so when she decided to spend her allowance on my art… well, it still brings tears to my eyes. I’m so honored.

Oh! And I have other things for sale at my Zazzle store.

Christmas is coming, people! More things will be showing up at both sites in the coming weeks.