TWISTY(ing) The Night Away or Starving Artists Fight the Recession

So, the month of February is well on its’ way, hopefully we’ll watch it slip-slide away in a slushy farewell, and we pray that the slump in bead sales will also disappear with the icy mess.

I truly believe that we are in a recession, but if we are creative and smart, glass artists can weather the storm. We must adapt and find innovative ways to combat the slump.

Here at Artemis Lampwork, due to my injury, we’ve had to find ways to not only continue business without me at the helm, but keep growing. Hubby Bill does all the Metal work, Packing and shipping.

DD Pam has learned my art of Twisties and has picked up where I’ve had to leave off, creating custom twisties (Twistying the Night Away!), typing all of my ads and sales as well as take dictation for my blog entries, she’s been a trooper.

We’ve diversified by carrying some select items that attract both lampworker and jewelry artists alike, while keeping interest and variety on our websites as well. We located some difficult to locate Bali Silver Lentil Bead Caps, and keep them in stock as most Jewelry Artists and Lampworkers need them regularly for special projects.

We’re also finding unusual uses for all the beads I created before my injury, & have accumulated over the last 4 years of lampworking, that I’d saved for a rainy day.

I think, however, that the hardest thing of all, is to keep the creative juices flowing when we’re depressed or worried about our financial situations…Never truer were the words “Starving Artist”, than today, for many of us. This is the time, despite being concerned, where we HAVE to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps, clear our heads, and get REALLY creative both at the torch and in our business, in order to weather this storm. After all, this too will pass!

All we need is a bit of hope and a PILE of glass just waiting to melt!

Lynnie’s work can be found in her Etsy Store or at artemislampwork.com