Category: The business of craft

New work at Glass Orchids

Posted on by Nancy Tang
New work at Glass Orchids being fired in kiln.
New work at Glass Orchids being melted right before your eyes.

 

My goal for winter was to create new work at Glass Orchids, for the upcoming season.

I  have to say that I’ve failed miserably at that task this winter.  This winter I’ve been consumed by other tasks, after getting through the holidays I’ve spent my time working on websites for myself and the various arts organizations I’m a part of. I’m also the manager of two of the artisan cooperatives I’m in , and organizing for the upcoming season takes a lot of work.  I admit, I also enjoyed days of laziness which are greatly  needed to refuel for the coming year. 

I’ve got plans for new work at Glass Orchids, so many plans lol…… but first I’ve got to set up for the opening of the cooperatives, do my taxes (which no are not done yet), clean my studio, plant my garden, and then, yes then, create new works!!!

In addition to working getting this site ready for prime time, I also created a new website for one of my cooperatives: Belfast Harbor Artisans. 

 

So it's 2019....A New Year

So it’s 2019….A New Year

Posted on by Nancy Tang

A new year, a new season! January is typically the month I rest up and take a little break, but this year the new season seems to have come earlier….. working on websites for The Bangor Art Society, Belfast Harbor Artisans, converting GlassOrchids.com over to GlassOrchids.art, working on a site for my sister, and one for SouthWestHarbor Artisans…and helping River Arts with theirs.

Getting the agendas set for the coop meetings this weekend, and entering pieces for shows at River Arts and the Bangor Art society. I need to organize my studio and stock, and make new work, and do taxes… planning my garden for this spring….applying for shows……why did I ever think Jan/Feb were slow months?

This year I’ve left 2 coops, and am going to try and pare down what I make to those things that have been selling, and things I just love to make. I’m hoping to focus a bit on obtaining a few new wholesale accounts too. 20+ years doing this and I’ve still not found the Golden Mix, the formula to maximize income based on wholesale. retail, coops, consignment, online sales……. sometimes I feel like Jason of the Argonauts.

Now, just to get back to something I said above.. I’ve moved GlassOrchids.com to GlassOrchids.art.. why? Well, maybe you’ve read my saga of Google Jail? GlassOrchids.com is in google jail so I get no traffic or search engine placement. I made an innocent / but ignorant mistake and will pay for it forever apparently….. but hopefully with GlassOrchids.ART I’ll be able to recover…. time will tell….

Anyway, till next time,

Nancy

Fryeburg Fair

Posted on by Nancy Tang

Wild preparations are underway for the Fryeburg Fair! I’m firing my kilns on overdrive. The show runs September 30th thru October 7th, 8 days, 12 hours a day; whew. This year I’ll have many more items made with upcycled glass bottles, as well as other new items. Long hours ahead getting ready for the fair!

~Nan

WordPress Technical Support & Development

WordPress Technical Support & Development

Posted on by Nancy Tang

WordPress Technical Support:

I’ve just joined a site called Fiverr; this is a site that lets folks offer services starting at just $5. I’ve been in tech for over 35 years, and have been working with WordPress for quite some  time. I currently manage 6 WP sites which include blogs, shopping carts, security software and more.

Check out my profile on Fiverr to see how I can help you.

I’m offering services starting at $5 to solve a WordPress problem for you, and ranging up to $200 for a complete WordPress website setup.

Feeling all alone out there in WP land? Do you have plugin problems? Can’t get WP to do what you want? Have you been hacked, or do you need security set up? Having trouble getting your shopping cart activated? Need to port your website from another platform to WP? Whatever your need, I can help.

Press Releases

In addition to WP help, I’m offering a tiered service to help you with Press Releases. Everything from writing a simple release for your event, to creating a stunning release and submitting it for you. All starting at just $5.

Interested in joining Fiverr yourself? Click ME to get started!

 

SEO, Taxes & Swiss Cheese – what do these 3 things have in common?

Posted on by Nancy Tang

SEO, Taxes & Swiss Cheese

Well, me. I’ve spent the better part of the week doing my business and personal taxes. Now as if that weren’t enough, I decided I needed to work on my websites, their content and my SEO. Recently I ported all my sites over to this new host and to the WordPress platform. For the last 20 years I’ve used HTML and had optimization down fairly well… then came WordPress and all that went out the window, sort of.  So today I’ve been researching, tweeking, submitting etc… Apparently I got a little fried because 1/2 hour into trying to prove to google that I did, indeed, own my  own website, I forgot why I was doing it!! I remember now… it was so I could submit my new pages to the search engine.

I’ve installed plugins, I’ve changed page titles and text to increase my chances at a higher ranking. After all that I decided well heck, I don’t have very many products on my site yet so let’s add a bracelet with 6 variations in color, AND inventory management. That didn’t go so well at first either, but, eventually I got it to work.

My mind is now officially Swiss, cheese that is.

Ah, the life of an entrepreneur….

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Here is a good article for those like me just getting started with really trying to work WordPress

Today I’ve added my SnapDragon(tm) Bracelets, check out those variations!