Reinvention...

For four years, I co-owned and ran a brick-and-mortar gallery and in January, my business partner and I came to the conclusion that we needed to close. And so, after many years of designing and selling our work individually -- and then setting that aside (pretty much) in order to run the gallery and sell the work of others -- we each found ourselves back in our home studios, designing new jewelry and businesses and learning to market our work in new ways.

And so I have been thinking about 'reinvention' and how necessary it is to be able to do it several times in a long life. Not being a 'digital native' of the young set, I am finding it fun and interesting to master new online marketing methods using Facebook, Twitter, a website, and coming Etsy shop, and this blog. My business partner and I now have two separate jewelry businesses, but we share knowledge, skills and information to our mutual benefit. And we retain the gallery's e-newsletter on Constant Contact.

One previous 'unintended consequence' of having to reinvent our businesses has also given us opportunity to re-imagine what work we will make to sell in this new way. What I am learning about online marketing platforms is informing what I choose to create in my studio. And vice-versa. And so this time, 'reinvention' of myself, my art and my business is merging seemingly disparate ingredients into a new whole. Which is what I want my life to do, as well!


Having been pulled in too many directions in the past to list, it is thrilling to now focus strongly upon a 'unified field theory' of business, life and art. I hope those who read this blog and view my current work will feel inspired by the opportunities that arise when moments of 'reinvention' arrive in their own lives.

Poppy Earrings  Textured copper and sterling silver disks dangle from handcrafted sterling earwires. These will soon be featured in my Etsy shop, which will launch by April 15.

............................................................................................
I love fabricating earthy jewelry in my studio and am just finding my way to an online presence with my work.

Tana McLane introduces her new City/Rustic blog!

Introducing my new blog: City/Rustic News! It will focus on the work I'm doing now, as well as on the work of some of my artist friends.

I live in Tallahassee, Florida, and I make art jewelry in two basic ways: I'm a metalsmith, working in sterling silver and copper; and I also hand-knot rough-cut semi-precious gemstone beads. And I work in fiber: crochet.

My work is urban/contemporary and earthy.

Within about 10 days, both my new website and Etsy shop will launch. Meanwhile, I already have a Facebook business/fan page: City/Rustic Jewelry & Fiber, with a handful of current photos posted there.