Open Studios at the IO Mills! Jewelry, Photography & Hair Accessories Trunk Show w/ the Popko Sisters

 

The Dane Gallery welcomes you with lively music and a new show by all the artists.

Visit this Saturday and Sunday, Nov 10 & 11

to see 50+ Artists and their studios! 

I'm having a trunk show with butterfly jewelry, fused glass jewelry and accessories, lockets, silver jewelry, earrings, rings,  everything you can imagine that I make will be there! I have a ton of space, so unlike a craft show, I can have it ALL out on display and for sale. Hooray!

I'll personally be there on Saturday 12-4pm. 

Sunday, my space will be open 12-4pm with an assistant on hand (thank you mom!) 

while I am away in RI for a craft show. Please stop by and have some cheese and crackers and maybe a cocktail or two- its after noon! 

There will also be a free raffle drawing in my studio! Ooh la la!

 My sister Ann-Marie (www.annmariepopko.com) will have a full gallery display in my studio where you can purchase her work and see the gorgeous photography that she makes. 

She is taking orders for your custom photo wall art for the Holidays. Now is the time!

One more perk! My mother is super talented- how do you think we got creative? She will be part of the trunk show with her sewsoft products- quilts for your baby (crib and carriage quilts), sewn placemats, napkins, and holiday table runners. She's awesome and so is her work.

I hope to see you on Saturday!

In the Studio: Curious Finds

 I'm preparing my new studio, yes, still. It's been a very very VERY hot July and August and at some point I just became completely afraid of melting if I even approached the third floor. 

Oh just look at it, clean and empty. I should just have gotten it to sit still and not even bring a single thing to work on, like a meditation room. I love empty spaces.

I decided to clean out some storage and put it all into my new space to properly go through the boxes (completely interrupting the zen), while I still had a lot of open space to spread out with that project. I found a lot of old things. I studied Sculpture in school and there were a few things I hadnt taken out of the box for 12 years. I know. But seeing them again was lovely. It reminded me of all the hours I worked diligently on them. I'm talking about the feet in the box.

They are casts of my own feet, in different walking positions. They have holes on the undersides so I can set them on pegs in the grass. I cast my feet with wax (made for peeling off your skin). Then made rubber molds (which I had to learn the hard way how to make sure they didn't leak). Then poured plaster into the rubber molds, then coated them with wax. I didn't let them dry enough before waxing them though, and they never fully took to the plaster.

I used to do a lot of casting back then.

Bronze plaques/plates, about 4x4" and 4x6"

I actually don't quite remember making the bronze plaques of body parts. I think these may have been after college, when I apprenticed for a Sculptor in Provincetown. We poured a lot of bronze back then, but I cant jog my memory when I cast these. They appear to have some reasoning behind the amount of casts I did, in sets, maybe to make a box? I plan to finish these.

Its almost September now, and the weather is better, cool at night. My studio should be ready for work very soon. *crosses fingers*

Thank you from The Popko Shop!

THANK YOU for making this Holiday season one of the best ones I've had.
I am so truly thankful that you chose to buy handmade this year.

I expect & hope that you also buy from other artists- this makes a huge difference in our lives.

You've made a wonderful difference in my life.

this photo was taken at a place that makes me feel my happiest

Thank you thank you thank you!!

Real Butterfly Box -completed

It's finished! I love my newest project. I am keeping this one for myself, my first butterfly box. Here's some more progress photos and also the finished product!

My mother was also making a stained glass box, hers came out gorgeous, she worked with the aqua swirls on her glass to make a wavy pattern on the lid.

Stock Photo Product Shoot!

above, basic photo set-up from a birds eye view
below, what it ends up looking like to you!

I'd been meaning to re-do my glass butterfly necklace basic product shots for a while now. Some of the wing color options I had in the past are now harder to find, or just seasonally different. The [particular] listing had so many wings in it, and so many were currently hard to find, the listing was starting to sound like a sad story. "This wing is brighter now, this one is only ready in 20 days, this wing is no where to be found, this little piggy went weee weeee weee all the way home"...

above, new detail shot that I can use as a generic photo for other listings in my shop

above, the OLD stock photo
below, the NEW stock photos

So- as I do for all my "stock photo" product shoots, I have to make. Make lots of product at once. This is tricky, because its costly & time consuming. Costly because I have to have all the components before anyone pays me. Lots of components. I generally like doing it, but those two things make it hard to get a start on it. Often when I have a large order from a bride, for example, I take that as an opportunity to do some bulk stock photography.


Why do I like having stock photography of my jewelry?

1.)Because it makes my life EASY.
Well, easier. Its time consuming to do a photo shoot, so I might as well do it all at once- you have to get by those first 2 things (time and money) to get there, and then you have to wait for the right kind of daylight. Winter in Massachusetts is generally perfect for that though. Then I usually have to photo-edit them for a while. (With the right daylighting though, you will cut down on photo edit time. )
So back for the "easier" part... if I make "stock" photos, I will have to spend less time, in the long run, on each individual item in my shop. I state in each listing that 'Im happy to send a photo first', but this actually doesnt happen all that often. People are trusting, and they also seem to like a surprise. But on the rare occasion that they ask, its no trouble, because all they want is one photo, not five photos with every single angle and proper lighting. They mostly want to see the basics of the wing.

2.)Because its good to have images for websites or blogs to use for promotions.
If I have a collection of images, I can use them for a general idea of "who is popko?". I use these images for craft show applications, press, promotions, business cards or postcards. I can also use them in other listings on my site, if Im selling a pink necklace in the same setting, I already have a stock photo of a model wearing 5 of them. I plug that it and Im done!

Heres a few more photos of what my silly little set-ups look like. I always like to step away and take a picture of what Im actually doing. Below is a mash of stock and individual item pictures. I thought you might like to see how it all starts!

It usually begins with nice lighting. I prefer daylight, not too sunny. Bright overcast days work well for me. I place everything in the same huuuge window that I am fortunate to have. Its the one with all day sun and only sun rays in the afternoon. Sun rays kill my photos.

Below is a funny picture, the paintbrush is holding the necklaces, over the coffee and sugar containers. Im a professional, trust me! *wink*

below, the end result of the coffee & sugar escapade

I usually use plain white computer paper as a background. Ive chosen to use a rock or leaf or branch as a background. My jewelry is natural and I think it compliments it in a smart way. The first few pictures at the top were on a wooden drawer that I use at craft shows. I like the warmth the wood is bringing to the whole image. I'm still a white paper fan overall.

I know this post is just touching on a few ideas about product photography (mostly the idea that it feels really good to have some stock photos on hand!!!). I am, by no means, a pro, or really even know that much about my camera.
If you have questions about settings or such, ask in the comments below.
I hope you've enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes here at PoPkO headquarters!

Behind the Scenes : a new model, more packaging, studio

Here's a few photos of whats going on this week! I've got a new/old model. This dress form has been in my family for many years (it says 1960 on the front), and a few wedding dresses have even been made with this gal. Shes a keeper, but I need to re-cover the form. The little black print on the neck is a little distracting for my photos, what do you think?
I'm playing with shirts for her until I make a solid cover to make her gorgeous, preferably using linen in a neutral warm color. From now on, I wont have to shower or ever get dressed again to take product shots!



The finest earl grey tea on earth (thanks sis), is an afternoon staple in the studio.


Above, packing up orders (yesterday). I've decided to go back and use the old packaging, with the printed logo paper wrapped around the box. It just seems to make them look like a gift.

I had a few more photos to share, but it's not letting me load any more for some reason, blogger is sort of glitchy. In any case, I should go back to work. I start to fade around dusk...

Quick Look: packaging and playing, love and paper

Whats new?
I'm playing with packaging. I usually have a white paper "sleeve" with "popko!" printed all over it, then tied with ribbon. Pretty, I think. Branded, for sure. I also make sure to not mark the actual box in case the buyer want to reuse it.

photo below: current packaging. the text is actually different looking, this is an old photo. but it's close.

I'm looking into either streamlining the process of packing because it takes a long time when packing a bunch of orders. I DO love the way they look,
I LOVE using ribbon and won't cut that part out.

photo below: possible new packaging?

I've been making a lot of pocket mirrors and have beautiful linen textured, colorful, scrap leftover. I thought I'd play with my love of color. It doesn't have my logo on these though- maybe I can use a sticker? Still tossing out ideas, but here's what I came up with in an instant.

PACKAGING: what kind do you like?
[1] Simple/Plain (get to the point of my item!)
[2] Ornate/Lovely (spare no expense, I am worth it)
[3] Recycled/EcoConcious (recycle packaging to keep it 'green')
[4] Beautiful/ Simple/ Gifty (I need simple but I like pretty)

I'd love your input int he comments.

Another little note:
Those little flocked and gilded hearts are still lingering, they are adorable!!! I thought you'd like to see my adoring photos! Still, I think they are gifts and not "products'. I have to keep some things just for me (and the giftees!). Plus they are way too labor intensive at this point to think of selling them. I just want to eat them. But they are furry.

Happy Weekend!

Sneak Peak! NEW butterfly wing jewelry!

What's next? I am finally going to have small, round, blue butterfly jewelry for everyone thats been asking me for 3 years. Yes. Finally. Finally! Im so very excited, because 1. I will be able to give you what you want, 2. I will be making something new, and this change is well beyond needed 3. they are really really pretty. I am also in love with that giant teardrop that I put on a wicked long 24" chain. Feels luxurious.

I am planning the pre-debut in the shop around Jan 15th, along with a scrumptious newsletter on Monday (sign up on the left for the deals!). But- I still have to price the new pendants. I really want them to be affordable, but now that I am actually making them, I see how much work they are. I am making every single component of them MYSELF, cutting the glass, grinding, soldering etc. Im still enjoying it now since its all new to me. Maybe once I get a good formula for sizes and shapes and colors, I can streamline my production.
Enjoy the sneak peak!