Name of your website?Aradia's Gallery & Naturals
Your name?
Teresa Carey
Your Location (city, etc)
Gimli
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Original clay art, aromatherapy, natural personal care, and herbal products. Art created from nature and spirit. Natural products in harmony with the earth. All created by me, Teresa Carey, from my rural property near Gimli, Manitoba.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
My website includes a great portion of what occupies my life. I am a clay artist and incorporate natural motifs in my creations. An interest in herbs and natural remedies started in my teen years, and an interest in essential oils and aromatherapy grew from that. Spirituality was always paramount to me, both in exploring religion and psychic development. I taught myself to read Tarot cards, and worked on personal development. Throughout my life I was always involved in the arts: music, writing, painting, clay. It is only natural to want to spend my time on all these endeavors. In 1998 I made a commitment to make a living doing what I love, what I am passionate about, and what empowers me. Launching a website grew out of a need to reach like-minded people who desired the types of products I create.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
My first website was launched in 1998. It included a bunch of bad photos of some of my work, before the days of digital cameras. But the site itself was nicely done by a guy who accepted some pottery and a paltry sum of cash in exchange. I am really very grateful to him for his help, and if I ever make any money as an artist, I plan to look him up and give him more money.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
Originally it was named "Aradia Earth & Sky". Aradia is a magical figure who championed the cause of the underdog. She is also a strong female figure. "earth & sky" refered to the materials I use: clay, earth, herbs, aromas...Aradia's Gallery & Naturals seems more expansive now.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Really, there are no similar offerings out there. I am totally unique and refuse to be a copycat. My natural products are very pure. I avoid hype and glitz in all I conceive. The look of the website is really different too. I created my own home page image with a photo of an oak tree I took. A friend photographed me, and I grafted my body onto the tree trunk. This friend also taught me how to edit my website myself, so I entirely revamped it, according to my own tastes and abilities, and added a whole bunch of new artwork and products. It continues to be a labor of love!
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I have multiple goals. I want my artwork to continue to evolve. There are lots of projects on the back burner. I am in the process of creating a writing site (teresacarey.ca)and doing more journalistic writing, and perhaps a novel. It's a long way from completion though. I want to take my natural products line mainstream soon under the name "Aradia Naturals". It's in the works, but I still have to sort out regulations, new labels, manufacturing site, distribtion, etc.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
I am not a financial success, but that was never the point. I have put in lots of time and money and have managed to stay afloat,but I am at the point where I would like money!
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would keep on course, but it would all happen much more quickly.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Yes and no. Cross that bridge when it appears at my feet.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Just being an impoverished artist and dealing with people who think I can pay bills with compliments.
What has been your biggest challenge?
It has been hard to be so prolific in ambition and imagination without enough resources for it all to gel completley.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I have the best luck after people meet me and see what I have to offer. Most of my customers met me at one or another venue when I have taken my show on the road.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Now that I know how to edit it myself, I feel an enormous freedom.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
It will stay up until I die, because it will evolve with me.
What is important to your vocation?
Being true to what is "real" in all of what I do.
What is your website address?
Aradia's Gallery & Naturals
