Yesterday I filmed a narrated video tour of my studio and property in East Berlin, PA–which includes showing two baby lambs recently born and my chickens, toward the end!
I have both clients and friends in my newsletter contacts–gathered over the 35 years I’ve been in business from anywhere like craft fairs and festivals to one-time or repeat custom work. Some repeat clients have developed a friend relationship with me on some level, that when they touch base for artwork/calligraphy I feel I remember/know them a bit and vice versa.
Over the years, the “Cord of Three Strands” personalized wedding gift has been one of my main sources of connecting with clients. Sadly, in recent years I am not receiving many orders for this piece nor is my internet presence drawing in new customers for this once popular wedding gift among my studio offerings. I think it has to do with many factors, including changes in how the internet/searches now work. I can’t seem to compete with the bigger, corporate entities that have money to crowd out and push down search engine results.
A number of my clients recall that I am from Delaware and had relocated to Alabama in 2012 for a second marriage that sadly, ended in a second divorce the end of 2019. Because I had relocated my whole life and business there for eight years and then relocated back north, settling in Pennsylvania to be near my son in 2020, it has been quite rough for me on every level.
I continue in my commitment toward my art and the rebuilding of my life here, though there are obstacles especially at my age. This economy is also not the most conducive to my predicaments, but I am a “long distance runner” in the situation.
Historically, July is almost as slow in business as January, since people go on vacation. I had a good surge of caricature work in May and June, but July nothing. Work has trickled in, and general flows have been somewhat impacted by weeks of excessive heat, a severe case of poison ivy, and ongoing personal family situations that deeply weigh on me.
I’ve been calm and patiently taking each day as it comes, hoping/waiting for God’s provision to meet this months expenses and needs. On Sunday, I advertised an Open Studio on a local “Next Door app” and on my Facebook, and not a single person showed up. It was disappointing–and I had nearly 800 views of my post–but I will just need to keep putting it out there especially into the fall.
I have significant bill deficits at the moment, with one major bill needing attention by July 31st.
I am a problem-solver, so I decided to communicate to clients and friends a quantified and easy, clear way that people who want to help me maintain/succeed here during these ongoing struggles can do so. I am having a “campaign” of sorts with one, single image (“Sunflowers and Butterfly”) available in card/matted print options. I’ve quantified how many of each I’d need to sell to meet my goal, by subtracting out production/shipping costs.
I am asking you to consider making even a small purchase of this “stream-lined” deficit campaign, simplified!
I also am promoting 50% off any item on this link if purchased today or tomorrow, July 31st. As of this morning, the Wildflower River Collage has been sold.
To purchase something from the Sunflower and Butterfly offering, please email me with what you want and your shipping address. Email: eileenslifer@lettersource.com
Payment can be made by PayPal at this link. Also, my Venmo user is: @Eileen-Artist
I hope that some of you might take the time and enjoy getting to “know” and understand me and my life/business situation here through the video below! If you can put it on your Roku TV, and get yourself a good snack and beverage and leisurely watch, I would truly appreciate! For those of you who know of/understand how Patreon works and wish to make a monthly pledge of support for as little as $5 a month (taking me “out for coffee” so-to-speak) that would be appreciated, too. General support of my artwork endeavors helps offset my hiring an amount of needed help here, in the grand scheme of things. If you watch the video, you will understand!
Thank you! I am deeply grateful for you, my customers!
The pricing/options are as follows:
Individual card $7.50
Set of 10 cards $58.50
5 x 7 matted print $12.50
8 x 10 matted print $20.00
11 x 14 matted print $38.00
16 x 20 matted print $100.00
