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Lollygaggin' in Lowell, Michigan |
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If you enjoy whiling away a day browsing art galleries, clothing boutiques, and scenic backroads, then visit Lowell, Michigan. The thriving little town is a half-hour drive southeast of Grand Rapids.
You can see my photographs at Fire and Water Art, an artist coop gallery at 219 West Main in downtown Lowell (Weds-Sun, 1-6 pm, Fri, 1-7 pm; 616-890-1879). Fire and Water has an excellent framer and also sells paintings, artisan jewelry and furniture, fiber arts, and pottery.
On Lowell's Main Street, you'll discover handmade gifts from beeswax tapers to custom made saddles. A block south of Main is another great art display at Lowell Area Arts Council. Get a map in a free downloadable guide to the 16th annual Christmas Through Lowell, November 16-18.
Warm up with wood-fired pizza at Flat River Grill or Turkish fare at Zeytin. Check out local covered bridges. Get more details about Lowell here. |
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We've Got Page Rank |
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 You may have heard of Google Page Rank (PR). It's a measure of how important the Google search engine ranks web pages.
Google--no surprise--gives itself a PR of 10. Relatively new websites have no PR, which is where my blogs and Great Lakes Editions were when I launched them.
Though Google won't reveal its exact algorithm for determining Page Rank, experts say it depends in part on how much authoritative content your site has, how often you add new content, how many people visit your site, and which other sites link to yours.
You can check the PR of any site by downloading the Google Toolbar--which also has neat features like making it easy for you to translate web content in other languages. |
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Great Lakes For All! |
Great Lakes for All is the title I chose for my blog on Great Lakes environmental news, but it also hints at one of my basic business principles.
I feel extraordinarily fortunate to be able to experience first hand the beauty of the Great Lakes and I want to share that with all who can appreciate it. So I offer a wide range of products, from affordable cards and small prints to large, lovely, limited editions.
I recently displayed my work at the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival in Alpena, Michigan. Though I got lots of admiring comments, sales were slow. One common comment--"I love your work, I only wish I could afford it!"
Well, that got me thinking. I really do want to be able to bring a bit of the beauty of the Great Lakes into anyone's life, even to those who are feeling the pinch of the northern Michigan economy.
So I've decided to lower the prices on my 5x7 and 8x12 prints by $20. I've taken $10 off the price of a mat for them as well. I hope this brings a bit of Great Lakes beauty into the price range of all!
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Ever Wonder Who Buys My Work? |
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Several people have asked lately who I see as the target market for Great Lakes Editions.
You might expect that the people who buy photographs of Great Lakes lighthouses and landscapes would also live in the Great Lakes region.
And so far about two-thirds of customers are from this region. But we've had orders from across the country, from Massachussetts to Iowa to California.
Not everyone says why they've ordered of course, but we know of people who've bought Great Lakes Editions work to christen a new home, grace an upscale rental property, brighten an office, or surprise someone with a gift. Several say they like knowing that their purchase helps support nonprofits working to preserve the beauty of the Great Lakes.
If you live in West Michigan, then you may also see photographs I've sold to Grand Rapids Area Medical Education Center, Church of the Servant, and St. Mary's Health Care. |
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Buy a Print...Get a Free Box of Matching Cards!
Offer good through November 30 |
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This is the last chance to take advantage of this offer!
In the next newsletter I'll announce a significant upgrade to my line of Keepsake Cards and a price increase that'll make it impossible for me to repeat this offer.
Here's the deal. From now through November 30, simply purchase a print, matted or unmatted print, 12x18 or larger...and I'll send you a box of 6 matching cards. Free!
It's a great way to do something special for people you appreciate. Because when you send one of my Keepsake Cards, you're giving a lasting gift of art.
I use the same quality materials to make my Keepsake Cards as my fine art photographic prints. Each card will fit perfectly in a 5x7 frame and will last, with care, for generations.
Feel free to forward this newsletter (and offer) to a friend. Simply use the link at the bottom of this email. |
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Current and Upcoming Shows |
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- November 28-December 31: Park Church, 10 East Park Place NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- November 30-December 1: Urban Institute of Contemporary Art Holiday Artists' Market, 41 Sheldon Boulevard SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- January-March, 2008: Walker Library, 4293 Remembrance Rd, Walker, Michigan
- March 3-April 14, 2008: One Trick Pony, 136 East Fulton St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- April-June, 2008: Church of the Servant, 3835 Burton St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- July-August, 2008: East Grand Rapids Library, 746 Lakeside Dr SE, East Grand Rapids, Michigan
- September 13-December 6, 2008: Grandville Library, 4055 Maple Street SW, Grandville, Michigan
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