Winter torpor

I don't know what it is about winter, I just can't get motivated. Yes, this is a slightly ridiculous thing to say since I've been plugging away at my chainmail flapper dress, I've finished a chainmail coif and I'm working on costumes for an upcoming show. Nevertheless, I still have a ton of business things I need to do--updating my website, working on wholesale catalogs, taking photos for tutorials--that I haven't been able to bring myself to do.

Distraction at its coolest...

What's an entrepreneur to do? One thing I've learned is that I have to forgive myself if I'm not constantly working on my business. All work and no play make Jack Nicholson's character in the Shining a crazy person. Sometimes I wake up wanting to make a pillow shaped like lips. And that's okay. As long as the tutorials are written, the catalogs and updated, and the website is overhauled at some point in the near future, it's all okay. Some days you just have to sit around and sew.

Vanessa Walilko
Bold chainmail jewelry
Handcrafted chain maille jewelry

The value of professionalism

Ever since I put my aluminum chainmail jewelry and armor up on Model Mayhem, I've gotten a lot of requests from photographers, stylists, and the like to use my pieces in photo shoots.

This past weekend, I loaned out my pieces to Megan Sontag, a.k.a The Shutterblade. I can't stress what a delight it's been to work with her, and I absolutely love the photos from the photo shoot. You can take a look at them by clicking here.

I'm looking forward to working with her again. Chicago fashion jewelry and fashion designers take note--if you want to work with someone prompt, professional and downright awesome, Megan is the lady to contact.

Vanessa Walilko
Aluminum Chainmail Jewelry
Handmade chain mail jewelry

New Year's Resolutions

This morning I thought about all of the things that I have to do this year... and my head nearly exploded. It turns out that Kat Wisniewski of Elemental Art Jewelry wrote a great overview of what she needs to do over the next few months and it inspired me to write an overview for my work in the next year. Here's a list of things I have to do in no particular order.

1) Prepare my wholesale booth for an upcoming wholesale show
2) Build inventory for upcoming summer shows
3) List new items and ship Etsy orders for both my chainmaille supply Etsy shop and my handmade aluminum chainmail jewelry Etsy shop
4) Maintain relationships with stores and ship out wholesale orders
5) Maintain Facebook and Twitter accounts
6) Photograph step-by-step photos and write directions for chainmail and beaded jewelry tutorials
7) Keep track of supply inventory so that I can make all orders in a timely fashion.
8) Photograph entry for the upcoming Bead Dreams competition.
9) Work on new clothing pieces for upcoming competitions, shows
10) Apply to juried exhibitions (gotta stay current in the art world...)
11) Keep sending out applications for 2012 summer shows. I have multiple deadlines coming up this week.

Speaking of deadlines, I'd better work on those show applications. In fact, I need to step away from this to-do list (just the first things that came to mind, mind you, not an exhaustive list) before my head explodes again.

Vanessa Walilko
Handmade aluminum chainmail jewelry
Bold aluminum chain mail jewelry designs