Okay, I got news yesterday that for the third time I was not juried into the Cottonwood Festival in Richardson, Texas.  I didn’t even make the waiting list.  This is one of several shows I have not been juried into this year.  I have made a couple of wait lists, but have not officially been juried into anything yet this year.  What is the deal?  The year before I was juried into everything I entered, but I was sticking with the smaller shows and maybe that was the key.  Problem is, smaller shows do not attract enough people and I make very little in sales, as my work needs a lot of people to catch those who understand it.   Makes me wonder if my dolls are just not an item that is known for “selling,” so the shows go with the more traditional artists?  I as a doll artist understand that dolls are a hard sell.  I attract crowds and always have wonderful comments about how fun they are and that they are eclectic, but when it comes time to make the sale people ask what do they do with them.  I mean really, they are a piece of art that you put on a shelf like pottery or sculpture.  They sure aren’t kid’s toys.  I mean really, I don’t think a lady in lingerie or in her stripper costume is something I would want my kid to be playing with.  Also, they don’t have changeable clothes, so that is another sign that they are a piece of art, not a play toy.  Geez, I guess it is time to focus more on my handbags and accessories.  I guess I am at the point in my life that I never thought I would be at.  I turn 49 the first of next month and I hate my job (well jobs, I am a medical transcriptionist and work seven days a week so I can just pay my bills), have no retirement, and feel stuck.  I am not in the mood to go back to school and if I was I have no idea what I would even study at this point.  I really want to make my business go, but am at a crossroads of what direction to go in.  Do I focus more on the embroidery/screenprinting and just do my fiber art on the side and try to make more of an internet presence?  Do I keep pushing on with my fiber art and keep applying to shows until I figure out what people are really looking for, conforming my art to practical items with some soft sculpture?  This is just too confusing at this point.  I really need a mini trip to the coast to clear my head.  I think Galveston is still in good shape, of which I don’t swim in the ocean anyway, I just love standing next to it looking out at the horizon being in complete awe of God’s work.  Oh well, I have to go run errands, so until next time…