International customers - what are artists missing

On the Etsy web marketplace, one has the opportunity to meet vendors and customers from all over the world. Meeting them is one thing, but making a sale to them is another. I often don't take the time to calculate shipping charges and create shipping profiles for Canada, the UK, east or west, Poland, or Japan, the list goes on! An Australian woman purused my Etsy store, found a product and assumed I didn't ship to Australia. Lucky for me, she sent me an email to request a shipping estimate. How many potential customers just abandon my art and trinkets and click to a different artist or shop when they find their country is excluded? Selling art is time consuming. The US Postal service does let you click on any country and get estimates. I learned that yesterday. And I learned, not to leave out the land down under. How many kangaroos for that art?

Alice in Wonderland guestbook and scrapbook complete!

A job completed and job well done! It's life affirming to create something beautiful and colorful. To get lost in the process. To get a sore back hunched over from hours of handiwork (Ha!). To share it brings another level of joy. I hate parting with my creations, but off the guestbook went, in yesterday's mail to my client. It contains 60 pages of tea stained aged art paper, and the cover and back are made of supple cream colored tain hide. The Alice in Wonderland graphics are hand painted with acrylics.  Now, what's next to create??

Labashosky's Harvest Golden painting exhibited in LaGrange, Kentucky

My "Golden Harvest" acrylic painting has been accepted into the Harvest Moon exhibition at Gallery 104, LaGrange, KY. This is one of my favorite paintings. I painted the sky in surreal pastels. There are all different types of art at the exhibit, and it's only a half hour from Louisville. The exhibit is running now through Sept. 24.http://www.gallery104.org/index.html

Beautiful bridesmaid gift bags

Bags galore a score and more ! I made these clever and colorful gift bags for my stepdaughter's wedding. She can place her gifts for her bridesmaids and flower girl in these artsy high fashion bags sized 15" x 18" medium. I used tissue paper to make their dresses and sea shells for their heads. The shoes are all different styles and colors cut from magazines. Of course, Golden Gel medium holds everything firmly in place. These bags are in it for the long haul and hold up well. You can order one or a set - just send me an email - all colors all sizes available. I'm like the bag lady!

Alice in Wonderland wedding guest book nears completion