Thanks so much for dropping by my little studio. Take a look around…this is the view from the driveway. You’re here in mid-June.
A Smile for the Garden
I like to think of my art work as a smile for the garden. And that’s what I want my dish art to do for my customers, too! A touch of art is what makes backyards and gardens more interesting and inspiring places to spend time. That’s precisely why I make them!
You may have heard that artists develop a special attachment to some of the pieces they create. For me, that would be true, because I put so much thought and energy into making each one special. Nothing is mass produced, they’re all originals!
Each one is a little different because there is so much variety in dishware. Table decor and its presentation–even if informal–is art in and of itself. I simply take the artistry of that plate, cup or teapot and incorporate it into a different artwork. That means my customer can almost always find something that uniquely fits the color and personality they want for their yard or garden.
I simply enjoy giving ordinary, every day things new life thru art. Which in return, has given me new life as an artist, blogger and small business owner. If you love what you see, you’ll enjoy our newsletter, too. Scroll down just a bit to sign up.
Good to see you and hope you’ll enjoy the rest of this blog.
Kris, this is my favorite posts of yours (so far). Must have something to do with all the beautiful artwork in pictures! ” )
Oh, thank you so very much for the kind words. I love what I do!
I love the teapot lady!!!
I’m so excited to get started with my flower art pieces! You have helped me with your knowledge on glues, construction and learning how to market my pieces once I am ready. I look forward in receiving your news letters! Thanks again for writing the article!
Thank you so kindly, Beverly. You made my day! I wrote the articles for precisely this reason. I’ve heard stories from so many who tried making dish flowers, but they fell apart or broke which is disheartening. Some just give up. My hope was that by providing this information, more would have success. Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions. – Kristen/MIAG
I also make glass flowers that I drill. I love all of the ones that you’ve shown here. Can I ask how much you normally sell these for?
Wonderful! I enjoy hearing from fellow artisans. Thanks for reminding me that I need to do a post on this. (seriously!) Pricing ones art, believe it or not, is a struggle for many artists. It was (and still is) for me. We have a tendency to only think about materials, placing less value on the artistry. YOUR imagination to put those plates together in a whimsical way that brings a smile to someone’s face. Some artisans consider it a business or create on the side to earn extra money to pay the bills. Others do it as a hobby–for the “fun” of it, and lower prices may reflect that. However, there are 2 common methods you can start with 1) cost of materials x2 or even x3 OR 2) $25/hour (what is generally considered a “professional” rate) the time it takes to create your art piece from start to finish. Neither is really satisfactory. For one, dish flowers are not cookie cutter. They are not really assembly line type crafts. You can’t just go down to the craft or fabric store and buy your materials in bulk. You aren’t churning out hundreds of look-alike gnomes.(and I LOVE gnomes, by the way). There’s time invested in going around to all the thrift shops and garage sales looking for specific dishware. As for pricing, I have different prices for different pieces. For example, if I hand-paint on the glass there’s more effort and time invested. The addition of glass beads..etc. Anything that adds intricacy or uniqueness above and beyond other pieces.
Your skill level factors in, too. I have been making them for 5 years and am gradually building recognition for the quality of my work. Buyers can tell by looking at the piece that there is a degree of artistry and skill that goes into it. (I didn’t start at that level. My first ones were pretty humble, admittedly, and I wasn’t as confident in my process…which I have upgraded over the years) A couple things to consider: Take note of the average price other crafters have. Keep in mind there is more work that goes into a drilled plate, plus the cost of that drill tip and the extra time it takes to drill. My plates are generally between $55 and $80. But again, there is a LOT that factors into it. When customers can plainly see that there’s a lot of handiwork that goes into something, color combinations, some whimsical accent, a particular beauty…they know my price is reasonable. Plus they like it, plus it makes them happy. Plus they love having one-of-a-kind garden art to display in their yard or garden. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions. Thanks so much for visiting the blog! ~ Kristen
Love your teapot garden! Lovely.
Thanks Viki! And thanks for visiting ~Kristen
Kris, I just ran across your blog as I was searching for diy glass birdbaths. I am so inspired by your creations and excited to get started on mine! Thanks for all the tips and I’m sure I’ll be referring back to your suggestions. Keep on creating those beautiful pieces!
Oh wonderful! So glad to know I’m showing up in a search. It’s hard work to learn all the things one has to do on the Internet. Let me know if you have any questions about anything. Thanks so much Cindy for taking the time to drop a line. Have fun with your projects! ~ Kristen
Ms Spencer,
I have recently retired and was looking for a creative and meaningful “job” that could give me work/life balance, after working sooo many stressful and very long days. I love to garden, and I love all kinds of vintage ware. So, when I came across your blog, and saw your “dish flowers”, I knew that I found something special that I would enjoy doing, and eventually maybe even bring in enough income so that I won’t have to go back to
”Corporate America”.
I can’t thank you enough for sharing your joy of how to make these special flowers. I think of the ladies that used to use these plates and glass wear, and how they must have cherished them; protecting them from breaking and chipping. Sad when they lost a plate or a cup. Little would they know that these last plates, or unmatched saucers could make an old lady thrill at making a charming, and special flower, honoring another time.
Thank you again for every covering every single detail on how to make these charmers 🙂
Evy, how thoughtful are your comments! I’ve often wondered about the stories these dishes could tell. And their story continues in someone’s yard or garden. It doesn’t happen often, but when selling at a craft fair, I’ve had someone come up and say: “OH, I remember those dishes! We had those when I was a kid!” (Or when we first got married…etc.) An elderly friend of mine had given away some vases and other household items to a thrift store several years ago. I must have picked up that same vase shortly after she dropped it off. It was a unique ceramic vase, square with a slight bend inward towards the base. Floral pattern. I had it for a few years myself until making it into a totem sculpture w/ a large tea pot on top. When I posted it on facebook, she was surprised when she saw the vase. Called me and told me she had one just like it at one time. The store she gave it to was where I found it. She even had a picture on her phone because back then, a friend had given her a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her birthday and she placed them in that vase. Well, she bought my totem and now has her vase back! Just funny stories…
I find it very relaxing to create art (most of the time, anyway) And I hope you have fun whether you make things for yourself or to sell. If you ever have any questions about anything, feel free to drop me a line…I’m always available to help. Have a great summer in your garden and enjoy your retirement!