MMCA Marketplace

Featured Friday Shop Finds

 From the shop of Amanda Davie

 

From the shop of Brenda Wampler

From the shop of Carrie Todd

From the shop of Christine Goldbeck

From the shop of Debbie Overton

From the shop of Elaine Brady Smith

From the shop of Mary Rork-Watson

From the shop of Roxanne Mendoza

From the shop of Stephani Gorman

From the shop of Sue Pieper

"Buried Treasure" Re-post

We are participating in "Buried Treasure" a collaborative hosted by Seth at The Altered Page.  To see a complete list of participates and find more treasures visit Seth's blog.

Article by Amanda Davie, MMCA Marketplace member.  

Original post April 2009

Giving Back in Tough Economic Times...   

As artists and creative entrepreneurs, I know most of us get asked to make a donation of some sort to various organizations or charitable events through out the year. I also know that it can be difficult to make that commitment each and every time we are asked. I wanted to offer up a few suggestions for making it easier to say yes the next time you are asked.

My first tip, is to be prepared...what does that mean? First you need to decide if you are going to make a donation(s) to a specific group, or see what might come up in the year ahead. I know from my experience, there are groups and non-profit organizations that are very dear to my heart, and I plan on making a donation to them each year. Do your research on the charity, or organization. See how they use the funds from their events, does it pay staff? does it go directly to the people/animals the organization is trying to help? My advice would be to stick with a local group/charity that is in your community. It is more likely that the money raised will go directly to fund their mission. What to give? There are so many ways to contribute, the obvious one is to donate a piece of your artwork for an auction or other fund raising event. Not only are you helping to raise funds for a cause you believe in, but you are bringing an awareness to your work, and the art community in general. Most of these events have a printed program, they will print the names of the donors, and this creates another opportunity to have your name visible in your community. Check to see if they are giving away door prizes. Maybe you can create a few small pieces to be given away in this manner. I was recently asked if I could donate a few small ornaments for an organization wanting to give a small gift to everyone who came to their event. Instead of ornaments, I asked if I could give out my handmade pocket mirrors. They were thrilled, and I have the opportunity to put my contact information right in the package along with the mirrors. This was a very low cost way to make a donation, and reach a group of people that probably have no idea who I am. I would also like to suggest, checking your old stock. See what you have left over from the past year, and set it aside for making a donation to the charity of your choice. I know we all have pieces sitting around that we can't bear to look at again, or hang up at another art show. Leftover inventory from the previous year only hurts your bottom line for taxes, so consider donating them to a charity. A financial donation is always appreciated, but I know it is getting more and more difficult in this economy to write out a check. Maybe you have computer skills that their staff is lacking. Offer to come in and help them set up a blog or website. Your commitment doesn't have to be long term, but a predetermined amount of time. Volunteers are always needed and in short supply. Offer to help set up an event, or even help decorate. If your time is limited, consider giving up one day to create things specifically for charitable donations. This is a great thing to do during the winter months as many organizations have events during the spring and fall. Wouldn't it be great to have a stack of things ready the next time you are asked to make a donation? Giving back to organizations should be a rewarding experience for you. Not only does it create positive energy and generate funds for a charity, it also makes good business sense to get involved and give a little something back. Thanks-amanda

Amanda's - Marketplace Shop

Amanda's - Blog

Giving Back in Tough Economic Times...

By Amanda Davie, MMCA Marketplace member.  

    As artists and creative entrepreneurs, I know most of us get asked to make a donation of some sort to various organizations or charitable events through out the year. I also know that it can be difficult to make that commitment each and every time we are asked. I wanted to offer up a few suggestions for making it easier to say yes the next time you are asked.

     My first tip, is to be prepared...what does that mean? First you need to decide if you are going to make a donation(s) to a specific group, or see what might come up in the year ahead. I know from my experience, there are groups and non-profit organizations that are very dear to my heart, and I plan on making a donation to them each year. Do your research on the charity, or organization. See how they use the funds from their events, does it pay staff? does it go directly to the people/animals the organization is trying to help? My advice would be to stick with a local group/charity that is in your community. It is more likely that the money raised will go directly to fund their mission. What to give? There are so many ways to contribute, the obvious one is to donate a piece of your artwork for an auction or other fund raising event. Not only are you helping to raise funds for a cause you believe in, but you are bringing an awareness to your work, and the art community in general. Most of these events have a printed program, they will print the names of the donors, and this creates another opportunity to have your name visible in your community. Check to see if they are giving away door prizes. Maybe you can create a few small pieces to be given away in this manner. I was recently asked if I could donate a few small ornaments for an organization wanting to give a small gift to everyone who came to their event. Instead of ornaments, I asked if I could give out my handmade pocket mirrors. They were thrilled, and I have the opportunity to put my contact information right in the package along with the mirrors. This was a very low cost way to make a donation, and reach a group of people that probably have no idea who I am. I would also like to suggest, checking your old stock. See what you have left over from the past year, and set it aside for making a donation to the charity of your choice. I know we all have pieces sitting around that we can't bear to look at again, or hang up at another art show. Leftover inventory from the previous year only hurts your bottom line for taxes, so consider donating them to a charity. A financial donation is always appreciated, but I know it is getting more and more difficult in this economy to write out a check. Maybe you have computer skills that their staff is lacking. Offer to come in and help them set up a blog or website. Your commitment doesn't have to be long term, but a predetermined amount of time. Volunteers are always needed and in short supply. Offer to help set up an event, or even help decorate. If your time is limited, consider giving up one day to create things specifically for charitable donations. This is a great thing to do during the winter months as many organizations have events during the spring and fall. Wouldn't it be great to have a stack of things ready the next time you are asked to make a donation? Giving back to organizations should be a rewarding experience for you. Not only does it create positive energy and generate funds for a charity, it also makes good business sense to get involved and give a little something back. Thanks-amanda

Amanda's - Marketplace Shop

Amanda's - Blog

Jewelry by Amanda Davie

 

If you are looking for unique one-of-kind jewelry, then you are looking for MMCA Marketplace member Amanda Davie's latest additions to her shop.  Each piece has a little of Amanda's generous heart and soul and you will not be disappointed.  Add a piece of Amanda's jewelry to your next outfit and see what happens.

Amanda Marketplace Shop

Press And Journal (Middletown, PA) & ArtBeet (Kewaunee County, WI) show support of Marketplace Exhibit

Middletown PA local paper, "Press And Journal" spotlights MMCA Marketplace with front page promo, as well as press release and color picture.

For more photos of the exhibit please view the Marketplace Exhibition Album in the upper right sidebar.

The above photo provided courtesy of Christine Goldbeck, who was also kind enough to host this first time exhibit featuring artists from the MMCA Marketplace, an online marketing venue owned by Debbie Overton. 

Thanks ArtBeet for the article on our exhibit!

ArtBeet: Representing The Arts Community in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin: MMCA Marketplace - article includes artist Sue Pieper

Read ArtBeet: Representing The Arts Community in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin: MMCA Marketplace - article includes artist Sue Pieper.

Artist Resource: A Charming Exchange

The Marketplace is not only a place to highlight our shop members, but a place to share with you resources that we find of interest and what better way to start than with one of our very own MMCA group members, Kelly Snelling co-author of "A Charming Exchange" 25 Jewelry Projects to Create & Share.  Kelly and Ruth Rae have created a wonderful book filled with fabulous photos and Kelly's delightful writings.  You will find step-by-step photos to guide you through many of the projects.

With Kelly and Ruth's permission and blessings we share a little of how the book came to be.  Ruth and Kelly were strangers until the summer of 2006 when they met at MMCA.  They quickly bonded and Ruth decided to host her first exchange with a charm swap.  Kelly had never made any real sort of jewelry before, but when she saw the artists who were signing up to participate she jumped in too.  The charm swap was underway and Ruth created an online blog with photos and step-by-step-instructions for each of the charms being submitted for the swap.  Soon there were other charm exchanges springing up everywhere.  Following such a successful swap Kelly and Ruth decided the project would make a great book and as they say the rest is history.  More than 20 of the contributing artists have passed through the doors of MMCA over the years.  Be sure to check out current MMCA members, Lorraine George and Amber Dawn Goldish as well as Kelly's beautiful pieces they collaborated on.  The book is filled with creative energy and sure to inspire you.  Many of the techniques used can also be used for other art projects as well.

I received my copy of the book and quickly sent Kelly and Ruth a thank you both for mentioning MMCA and sharing our link along with best wishes for the success of their new book.  Shortly afterward I received two of the most sincere emails and again with their permission I am sharing excerpts with you.

Thank you, Debbie. I'm so glad you have gotten the book and enjoyed it!  We were quite happy to be able to point people to MMCA. Deryn and Lorraine are here now to take a painting class. We've been running around all day and I just got home. Lorraine and I were talking about MMCA and how life is so busy that we haven't been on there. The computer time is definitely limited right now. But I want to get on and catch up and see what's happening.

happy smiles,
kelly

Debbie I will say that you had a way of collecting a dazzling group of artist, I will be forever thankful for your group... MMCA was the start of me taking my art to the next level. Your time and dedication for pulling together like minded souls will never be forgotten by me! thank so much!

Happy Creating!

Ruth

For more on Kelly and Ruth and "A Charming Exchange" and how to purchase the book we hope you will visit their sites.

~Debbie~

The Beginner's Guide

by MMCA Marketplace member Patsy Reeves

Nope.....This is not about "how to make a collage" step by step.  There are a number of great books out there one can buy to help with learning the physical process.  This is for everyone who has visited this site, loves collage, thinks to self....."I could do that", and you would be right!  That is, of course, if you follow the one and only rule required to make a great collage.  PLAY!  You have to remember to play as if you are five years old, in kindergarten and it's time to draw, paste and color outside of the lines.  What came naturally to us as a child gradually we lose as we conform to rules that somebody else made up!

Once you let go of thinking there are any other rules, you're good to go.  A fancy studio is not a necessity.  A dropcloth over the kitchen table works just fine.  I suggest you begin at a time when you have several hours knowing you will not be interrupted.  Turn on the music.  Turn off the TV and the phone.  Tell no one.  If you don't tell anyone you're about to begin, then there's no "show and tell" hanging over your head.  If you do something you love then it was a success.  BUT.....and this is the beauty of collage, if you don't,  you can recycle it.  Sand it down.  Tear it up.  Save the good bits for another piece.  And try again.  I'd made some real stinkers over the years, but within each one were some great parts.  Because I work most of the time directly with the papers and not on canvas, it's easy for me to rip one to shreds.  I close my eyes so I'm less likely to think of it as
precious.  I let the paper resist or not where it wants to be torn and shred.  I keep the best bits and lose the rest.

Collage is as unique as a fingerprint, a snowflake and the person who made it.  If you love it, that is all that counts.  If you want to sell your work, then one must understand what pleases you may or may not please the crowd.  This becomes the time when learning and applying a few basic rules of color harmony, design balance and images that speak to people become a part of the process.  Looking at Mother Nature is a great place to begin.  No one does it better.  Always in balance and harmony, she rarely irritates or grates on the eyes and nerves.  This step of moving up from creating to creating for others is also about sharing your talents.  Sharing means giving the buying audience artwork that hopefully adds something positive to their environment.

If you're not sure about the colors, balance or design, there are a few simple things one can do to check your piece for balance and harmony:

1.  Keep your focal point of interest off dead center.  It stops the movement of the piece in it's tracks.  Place everything a little to the left or right, up or down and so on.

2.  Turn your work, squint and look at it from all different directions.  It should not seem too heavy in any direction, but should have balance without being symmetrical.

3.  Look at your work in a mirror.  You will immediately see what you were blind to before.

4.  Put it away for a week and look from a fresh perspective.

Of course, some people have an intuitive sense of style, color harmony and come onto the scene with a head-start.  Just get over that and forge ahead. You can be a quick-study.  Never be shy about asking someone whose work you respect for their advice or critique.  Pick as many brains as you can find willing.  Take classes or workshops if you can. 

 

Surrounding yourself with great artists is the quickest and surest way to step up your game.  But don't forget rule no.1......PLAY!!!

 

Patsy Reeves

MMCA is Growing.....

Mixed Media Collage Artists (aka MMCA) was founded as a Yahoo group under the name Mixed Media Artists...a group of artists and crafters who were at different stages of their art careers with their main focus being Collage and Assemblage.

August 2005, brought about many changes for the group....our name changed to MMCA, we had our own website and forum, and we continued to grow and expanded to include many forms of mixed media.  Over the past three years our membership has included some of the very talented, less known up-and-coming artists and crafters, as well as, those that have name recognition among their art peers.  We share our collective knowledge, exchange ideas and techniques, and mentor to each other.

From the beginning I had dreams of what the group could and would become.  The research began over five years ago and the timing was finally right...so for the past several months, I have been working on taking MMCA to the next level with new features to include a marketplace and blog, as well as, a national ad campaign in at least one well-known publication.

The MMCA Marketplace will be comprised of a talented and diverse group of artists and crafters brought together to market their artwork.  Each juried artist or crafter represented will offer for sale original and unique works, therefore, giving you a variety of mixed media, collage, jewelry, paintings, folk art and more.  Something for Everyone!

The MMCA Marketplace Blog will feature our artists and crafters, and their artwork.  Shop owners will guest author on various products, techniques, and other hot topics.  Member news of published articles and artwork, links to their websites and blogs will be shared, as well as, many other resources of interest to artists and crafters as they travel the road that our Marketplace sellers have found to be helpful.

The application, benefits, fees and guidelines for joining the MMCA Marketplace will be posted in the next few weeks.  Plans are being made to launch the MMCA Marketplace website July 1st.

Be sure to bookmark the MMCA Marketplace Blog and MMCA Marketplace website to be one of the first to know the happenings with our marketplace, our artists and crafters, and information to help you reach your own dreams.

~Debbie~