Love Writer print by dekanimal

In the next edition of the Writers Spark series, we meet the multi-talented Brenda Salzano.  Brenda works in a dizzying array of mediums – throughout her creative life she has sculpted, painted, made jewellery, spun, weaved (woved? woven? weavened? help!), and taken photographs!  She is an animal lover and she also loves to write (she maintains three blogs, as well as writing articles for Squidoo and Handmade Spark).

I hope you like!

1. Tough ask but…give us a bio in one sentence!

I am a blue jean, t-shirt wearing, third generation artist, inspired by nature and all things at the sea!

2. What do you create?  What drew you to this particular craft?

I am a multi media artist, meaning I do lots of things.  I love sculpting best, forming anything from kiln fired clays. Designing second, especially wearable art (aka jewelry) with a big focus on doing something not found anywhere else.  Photography third.  I also know spinning, weaving, pottery and I have done a lot of acrylic paintings over the years.

I grew up on a homestead in Alaska and a huge ranch in eastern Oregon.  The wilderness, animals, nature inspires everything I create.  I am a hopeless artist in that even when at rest my hands are making something, or I am reading about how to make something new.

3. What inspires you?  How do you keep your creative spark firing?

I cannot stay indoors too long.  I take a drive to the beach (which I am blessed to live near here on the Oregon coast).  I will meditate on life, my goals and God; take a walk down a trail, and snap a lot of photos.  By the time I get home, I am ready to create again.

I am also a member of an Etsy team too, and we have regular challenges that keep us creative.

4. Tell us about your day job…

I work completely at home, with the exception of weekly volunteering for the local Salvation Army.  We should all give some of our time somewhere each month – this will help your soul be balanced and creative also.

I spend the first third of my day writing for my spiritual inspiration blog and answering emails from people who seek encouragement in their spiritual life.  The rest of the day is for my art.  My husband sells a lot of my things when he is on the road, he is a professional musician.  A lot of the time I eat lunch at the ocean, but I am a real home body.  I love being alone!  I create best when I am completely alone.

5. What kinds of things do you enjoy writing about?  Where do you get your ideas for blog posts?

It seems that everyday circumstances will spark my writing.  I am very opinionated.  I tend to be kind of an ‘alpha’, if you are a dog owner you will know what that is!  Life is so full of things to share, and I think people want to know about how other people handle things – what do they feel in similar circumstances, or how did they do that?  Plus, when my husband gets home I don’t get a word in edgewise so blogging is my outlet, LOL!

6. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from running a handmade business?  What advice can you pass on to other Etsy sellers?

Find your brand – who are you? – and reflect who you are.  Don’t make things you hate making, and never give up.  You might have to rest for a bit but do not give up.

I am almost 60 years old and two years ago I did not know what Twitter was, Facebook or much online lingo at all.  I have now improved my photography, learned how to make a light box and I network.  I still have not attained the sales I want on Etsy, but I am doing well in shops in Las Vegas and Oregon.  I do not even consider that I will not make it on the internet.

7. And for blog writers?  Any advice on writing posts and engaging readers?

I am new at blogging, less than two years, but so far I can only share that it takes time and that fast results are not lasting results for faithful followers.  I used to own a small gift shop and I know that it is important to slowly build a customer base from authenticity and truthfulness.  I have learned that people like to know other real people who inspire them, uplift them and help them.

8. How do you market your business?

Craft fairs = YES!

Twitter is working well for me, I recently reached 1000 followers!  Facebook has been great for finding old friends but my fan page is not anywhere near where I want it to be.  I am working on that one…I also write on Squidoo and I’ve found you can make a small impact there.  I listed two ‘how to’ videos on Squidoo.  Plus YouTube uploads – I am working on getting more videos of jewelry making posted.

You can have a look at my article ‘How To Make A Visual Marketing Plan For Your Etsy Shop‘ which shows you my hand drawn circle of networking goals.  I think everyone could and should do this.  Write it out and add to it.  It has really helped me focus – I need to update it already, so much has grown in a year!

9. Time to pay it forward!  Tell us 3 of your favourite Etsy shops that we should support…

Guy Melamed – with the best lamp work frogs!

Nadine and Kathleen – for greeting cards and art photography

Pchickki’s Treasure Barn – mixed media collage art

Thanks Brenda!

Salzano’s on Etsy

Brenda’s website

Brenda on Twitter

Brenda on Facebook

Brenda’s handmade art blog