Last year, my friend Amalia, started “Well Traveled Wares Wednesdays” as a means to get people to share pics of my pottery on Instagram. I loved the idea, but it sort of fizzled after a while, because I wasn’t sure how to keep it going. Since my original Instagram account was hacked in April, I’ve been thinking about how to reconnect with my audience AND connect with new people as well. My new page has grown quickly and that is largely because of so many people sharing just AH (After Hack). It was very humbling, and it also gave me an idea on how to refresh this Well Traveled Wares Wednesday concept, but now with prizes for sharing!

You see as a small business, social media is the new “word of mouth” and there’s a lot of noise out there trying to grab your attention! Every time someone shares one of my posts, you’re helping me connect with new people who may enjoy my art. Sharing also helps with the dreaded Instagram algorithm: the more shares, saves, comments and likes, the more reach you have, because Instagram does not elevate all content equally. So, I want to entice you to share, and reward you with a monthly prize! Sounds fun, right?

Each calendar month, there will be a new grand prize, and a couple small surprise snail mail prizes throughout the month.

Here’s how it works:

• Follow my new account on Instagram @well.traveled.wares

• Share a photo with a piece of my art in it on your Instagram feed. It can be styled amongst your plants, or just a simple snap. Get creative… or don’t, whatever is easy. Before you post, be sure to tag me @well.traveled.wares and use #welltraveledwares - it must be both so it’s easy for me to track. Boom, you’re entered!

• Don’t have any of my art but still want to help? Super, I got you. You can repost any of my posts in your stories AND tag me @well.traveled.wares and #welltraveledwares. I’ll repost these and add them to my highlights reel for the month. Boom, you’re entered!

• Want a bonus entry? There are two ways:

  • Sign up for my emails via the link in my Instagram bio, or on my website ( I promise I don’t send that many, but you’ll want to add my email address info@nicolemcurcio.com to your address book so they don’t go to spam). You’re automatically entered.

  • Turn on post notifications on Instagram, so you’re sure to see my posts when Instagram is squashing them. Don’t know how to turn on Notifications? Here’s an easy tutorial . Once you turn on notifications, you’ll need to send me a screenshot, since there’s no way for me to see this on my end. Once you do, you’re entered!

• Share, and post as much as you like. At the end of each calendar month, I’ll randomly select one winner to receive a prize, plus I’ll draw a couple winners part way through the month to receive a small bit of snail mail as a thank you. I’ll always announce the grand prize at the beginning of each month- usually whatever I am creating in the studio, but the small prizes will always be a surprise.

Lauren, aka @dontfernonmybutt sharing a one of a kind Dogwood planter I made her last spring.

That’s it. Sharing is caring, and it’s a fun way to virtually collaborate - my art and your styling. I am so grateful for all the amazing people I’ve gotten to know through this art adventure of mine. Thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for purchasing my artwork. Thank you for the messages and kind words. Being a small business owner is hard work, but I am amazed that I am finally doing what I love full time, and I could never have done this without your help.

So let’s get this started! What is the prize for June??

• One of my brand new 6” Pole Dancing Planters! What the heck is that, you may ask? Well, I hate when my moss poles lean and wobble as the plant gets bigger. So I have been working on creating a pot that has a built in pole holder to offer some stability, and I’m so excited to share them in my next shop update!

I’m so excited! Here we go….