Mobile Metal Working Studio

New Reward Added!

Here's my website with more of my work and my some of my classes and my blog, where i talk about making!
I am a metal sculptor working in the medium of jewelry (I really like miniature things- the more intricate, the better!) and I run a teaching studio and shop in Bartlett, TN. I do many of the local shows, including Art Walks, Cooper Young and even the Pink Palace arts & crafts fair, but I need to expand my circle in order to keep my business going and growing. This means going to out of town shows that can run anywhere from a weekend to a whole week. 

I'm a bit of a nature-lover and try to be environmentally friendly whenever I can- so my day-to-day car is a compact and as such is a nightmare for carting my booth display. Once I Tetris everything in, there is hardly room for me, and there is definitely no room for anyone to go with me. While this is an inconvenience for local shows, it makes it almost impossible to do an out of town show (Gas, parking, maintenance, etc. for a second car cuts into the profit margin). It makes it dangerous for me to drive long distances (Car packed to the roof definitely cuts into my visibility and makes me a target for auto break-ins. Also, I'm not able to nap in my car for long drives due to all the things in the back)

The out of town shows that I have tried have been successful as far as sales go, but there are a few things that eat my profit margin that I feel the Mobile Metal Working Studio would address—1) the need for another car if someone needs to go with me, 2) hotel costs, 3) no room for tools and equipment to make jewelry while I'm away- the evenings after the show closes are lost time for me as an artist.

I have found a pretty much blank slate 1970's VW bus that is in good condition, with a decent engine and a pop up roof for more space inside. It used to be a Camper but has had most of the inside fixtures removed, so there's a bed (great for taking a nap on long drives or to sleep on in an RV park instead of giving all my profits from shows to a hotel!) and the passenger and drivers seats. There's 2 outlets inside that can connect to an external power source (like RV parks) and could run all the tools needed for a mini bench inside so that I would be able to create custom work on site, make modifications to jewelry on the go, and restock fast sellers.

I think the Mobile Metal Working Studio would also be an excellent marketing tool locally. I could take it to shows were demonstrators are welcome and show people how I make the art I make. Pop-up shops and mobile retail are growing as more people recognize that sometimes you have to go to where the people are, and traditional retail space isn't always an option.

The amount that I'm trying to collect is enough to purchase the VW bus, pay for the shipping to Memphis from California, and pay sales taxe and title/registration fees. If any additional funds are raised, I will use them to pay for a few minor repairs on the Bus and the base for the Mini Bench.