Craft Friendly Southern Illinois Craft Show and Entrepreneurial Blog

6 Ways to Influence Customers and Grow Sales from The Crafts Report

2011-11-13T21:51:00.001-08:00

Here is some very valuable information on figuring out some "shopper psychology" . Look a little deeper into your work, booth displays, and more.
A super quick summation of what she believes is as follows. Read her blog for the full story. These tips written by Carolyn Edlund.

1.) Make them feel uniquely special.
2.) Offer lots of information.
3.) Customers need to be involved in the decision.
4.) Tell the story.
5.) Provide a high level of service.

I found this very interesting post here.

{found} vintage furniture rentals and tips

2011-11-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely time looking at all of the wonderful items and ideas from {found} vintage furniture rentals.
They have a seemingly unlimited number of furniture pieces you can rent for special occasions. Why couldn't a larger art/craft fair or a trade show be that occasion?

I asked Allison Howell of Found Vintage Rentals if she could share some tips on using vintage furniture pieces in booth design, and here is what she said:

"

Our clients are always interested in innovative design solutions whether they are creating an environment for their wedding or decorating a craft fair booth. We suggest using pieces in unusual ways; turn a soda crate on its side to create a shadowbox with cubbies for your wares, open a secretary desk to use as a display with multiple levels, stack suitcases on your table to make "shelves" and a focal point.

We often encourage our clients to add multiple pieces of furniture to a display instead of a single table. A dresser with a stack of trunks and a side table next to it is a lot more interesting than a plain old 6-foot table. You'll also get more surface area and multiple levels instead of just one flat surface. Vintage furniture and decor can add an eclectic look that celebrates your style and represents your brand with a little flair.

I absolutely love her ideas and I believe that if you have a bit of creativity and take the extra time to plan these ideas, you will have a booth unlike any other. Stay tuned for more ideas with this theme.

Here is just a very small sampling of a few ideas from events that used {found} furniture. These events are traditionally weddings, photo shoots, large parties, and corporate events. Where else do you think that this service would be appropriate? Let us know in the comments below...
(found on Facebook)
(found Blog)

I have seen a number of fabric designers use large-scale sofas, chairs, shelving, and tables at Quilt Markets, and they usually upholster pieces with their newest fabrics.

These booths are far beyond anything I can usually imagine doing, and they are definitely an aesthetic to aspire to.

(AMH at a 2009 Quilt Market - source)

Happy Crafting and Decorating!!

Other related links: Brimfield Antique Show & EMP Photography

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

2011-10-23T23:50:00.001-07:00

Show Dates for Cristin Rae: Knitwear & Paper Goods (near St. Louis)

2011-10-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

See Cristin's lovely work at these shows and online. Her talent is incredible and she knits SO fast :)

November 6, Sunday
Trunk Show at Schon on the Boulevard
4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
#30 The Boulevard St Louis - Richmond Heights, MO
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Schon/120395561359595?sk=info

September 13, Sunday
STL Boutique Moms Fall Show
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Columns Banquet Center - St. Charles, MO
http://www.stlboutiquemoms.com/events.html

November 19
DIY Trunk Show
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Broadway Armory Park - Chicago, IL
http://diytrunkshow.com/

November 25-26
Rock N Roll Craft Show 8
Friday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Third Degree Glass Factory - Delmar Loop, St. Louis, MO
http://www.rocknrollcraftshow.com/

December 3-4
Renegade Craft Fair Holiday
Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m
Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, Wicker Park - Chicago, IL
http://www.renegadecraft.com/holiday-chicago

Indie Fixx - 14 Craft Show Do's

2011-09-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

This article is fully written by and credited to: Indie Fixx by Jen Wallace
"With indie craft show season upon us, I thought I might resurrect my suggestions for craft show displays. As a veteran of craft shows, both as a participant and as a shopper, I’m a semi-pro when it comes to craft show displays. That said, I’ve put together a list of craft show displays do’s to help you attract more attention to your booth or table.

One important thing to remember is that your store should be exciting as any mainstream store at the mall, that’s what lots of shoppers are used to looking at. In fact, you could even take a field trip to shops like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters to see how they display stuff as a stepping stone for your own ideas & solutions. Also, don’t forget to be creative!"

1. Do utilize your space well.

2. Don’t forget to price your goods & make sure those prices are visible.

3. Do hang stuff up, if necessary and possible!

4. Do provide a mirror if your goods are wearable.

5. Do think ‘outside the table’ in terms of your display.

6. Do make clever displays.

7. Do come up with solutions, so your items don’t blow away.

8. Do design custom & eye-catching displays.

9. Do use recycled materials to create your displays.

10. Do make it easy for customers to interact with your goods.

11. Do incorporate your branding into your display.

12. Do make your stuff look as tantalizing as sweets in the sweet shop!

13. Do be creative with your props!

14. Do show off items at varying heights.

The Queen Bee Market (blog posts and Re-Cap)

2011-08-21T14:07:00.001-07:00

So, I have been reading a lot about the Queen Bee Market the past couple of days and just found a post on the QBM website sharing their participants' recaps! If that wasn't a mouth-full :) See the links HERE...

Here is what you will find over there (although they have the actual links there):
the Pleated Poppy’s virtual tour

Elise Joy’s queen bee market/craft fair recap

No 17 Cherry Tree Lane’s weekend reflection

Angry Julie Monday’s recap

Creme de la Gem’s Thank You
(Tracy won best booth from the other vendors!)

lollipop’s recap
Cupcake’s booth
Funky Vintage Lovely’s To the Market post
Bliss Blvd’s When All is Said & Done

Just Lovely Thing’s recap

Art by Erin Leigh’s QBM post
Domestic Nest’s Debrief

Little Wellie’s Recap

Little Penelope Lane’s weekend

Parkside Harmony’s Wrap Up

Mommy Loves Coffee’s Did Some Damage Post :)

Blue Corduroy’s What I Learned post

Eisley Rae’s wonderful weekend

RockNRegalia’s QBM post
Lovey Dovey’s Post QBM
(thank you for traveling all the way from Wyoming Lacey!)

Carbondale, IL Sunset concerts Underway! 2011

2011-06-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

April 27, 2011
By Christi Mathis 04/27/2011 14:47:43
Found HERE.

"CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Summer fun and good music go hand in hand and never more so than at the Sunset Concert Series.

The 33rd season of the ever-popular summertime performances kicks off June 16 on the steps of Shryock Auditorium at Southern Illinois University Carbondale with the funk/soul/rhythm and blues band Space Capone. The free concerts continue each Thursday evening through the end of July, alternating between the Shryock venue and Turley Park on the west side of Carbondale.

“It is a great tradition -- full of fun and a diversity of music and people,” said Don Castle, assistant director of the Student Center.

The concerts are family friendly events and everyone is welcome to attend. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy a pleasant outdoor musical experience. From week to week, concertgoers will hear everything from tropical rock to folk and country, from hip-hop to Creole, from alternative rock to funk.

Sunset Concert Series sponsors are the SIUC Student Center and Student Programming Council, the city of Carbondale and the Carbondale Park District.

Here’s the schedule for the 2011 Sunset Concert Series, with all performances running from 7 to 9 p.m.:

• June 16 -- Space Capone, Shryock, funk, soul, rhythm/blues, http://spacecapone.com/.

• June 23 -- Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp, Turley Park, Creole Zydeco/Cajun/blues and New Orleans swamp pop, http://www.creolestomp.com/.

• June 30 -- Animate Objects, Shryock, hip-hop/ jazz/soul, http://www.myspace.com/animateobjects.

• July 7 -- Conch Republic, Turley Park, trop rock/beach, www.conchrepublicband.com.

• July 14 -- The Kinsey Report, Shryock, Chicago blues/funk/reggae, www.myspace.com/kenkinsey.

• July 21 -- The Black Lillies, Turley Park, Americana folk/country, www.theblacklillies.com.

• July 28 -- Fools for Rowan, Shryock, alternative rock/pop, www.foolsforrowan.com.

There are a few restrictions to assure everyone has a good, safe time. Rules prohibit glass bottles, kegs, pets and solicitation and there will be strict enforcement of underage drinking laws.

For more information about the 2011 Sunset Concert Series, contact the Student Programming Council at 618/536-3391 or visit the website at http://spc4fun.com/."

LOTS of UPCOMING SHOWS around the USA - Zapplications Shows for 2011-2012

2011-06-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

Art in the Park Myrtle Beach - Chapin Park - June 18, 19 - 2011 - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
DEADLINE: 6/16/2011
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 6/18/2011 - 6/19/2011
Art in the Park has been going on since 1973. As a judged show It has always been in a beautiful treed park two blocks from the ocean and in the center of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Special Note, all of our jewelry categories are full for this show.

Arizona Fine Art EXPO - 8th Annual - North Scottsdale, Arizona
DEADLINE: 6/16/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 1/19/2012 - 4/1/2012
Thunderbird Artists proudly presents the 8th Annual Arizona Fine Art EXPO. This 10 week event nestled in the most affluent, upscale area of North Scottsdale is only 5 miles south of Carefree and 5 miles north of Loop 101. Patrons love watching artists work in studios, can purchase artwork, enjoy the café, artists’ marketplace, 2-acre sculpture garden, attending garden parties and other special events.

The Arizona Fine Art EXPO has two-thirds artists returning, therefore, the jury is an on-going process until the remaining studios fill. American Style Magazine readers recently voted Scottsdale as 5th place (mid-size city category) for “Best Art Destination” in the country.

Grand Haven Art Festival (Grand Haven, MI.) 50th Anniversary June 2011 - Grand Haven, Michigan
DEADLINE: 6/17/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/25/2011 - 6/26/2011
The show is hosted on the most renowned downtown street in Grand Haven, Washington Avenue. Grand Haven is located 165 miles from Chicago, 20 miles from Holland-Saugatack and 35 miles from Grand Rapids.

This quaint downtown comes alive during this time of year. Washington Avenue runs directly into Lake Michigan and attracts a strong Chicago crowd. Come out and celebrate our 50th Anniversary!!

Boulder Festival of the Arts on 29th Street (Boulder, CO.) 4th Annual June 2011 - Boulder, Colorado
DEADLINE: 6/17/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 6/25/2011 - 6/26/2011
We have moved this show a month earlier to avoid the summer heat!

We are very excited to return to this great street art festival at the 29th Street in Boulder, CO. Boulder is an artsy, eclectic haven located in the foothills of Denver, just 30 miles North West of Denver. Boulder nurtures the mind, the body, and spirit. 29th Street is located in the middle of this pristine setting.

This special property 29th Street serves a trade area of 440,000 affluent residents. Boulder is both affluent and highly educated. 29th Street is an upscale shopping district. It is trendy, chic, and draws the most affluent shopper in Boulder. 29th Street is at Highway 36 between Arapahoe and Pearl Street close to Downtown Boulder.

Cottonwood Art Festival Fall 2011 - Richardson, Texas
DEADLINE: 6/17/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 10/1/2011 - 10/2/2011
Cottonwood Art Festival is located in Richardson, Texas where artists exhibit their work among towering oaks with lakeside beauty. This award winning event has been ranked one of the best fine art festivals in the nation and continues to uphold its extraordinary reputation as a first rate show. 2010 marks the 41th anniversary for this extraordinary event. Sponsored by The City of Richardson, Cottonwood Art Festival is a showcase for a large variety of fine art and fine craft and provides our patrons with the opportunity to meet and talk with the artist who created the work. Live entertainment, a Friday night gala for the artists and guests, a children’s art area and much more round out this perfect weekend in the park!

North Shore Fine Arts Festival - Roslyn, NY , New York
DEADLINE: 6/20/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/18/2011 - 6/19/2011
The North Shore Fine Arts Festival will be held in Christopher Morley County Park in Roslyn, New York. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, Christopher Morley Park is readily accessible to all portions of Long Island, located less than 0.25 mi from the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and about a mile south of the Miracle Mile on Northern Boulevard. The "Miracle Mile" in Manhasset is well-known for its high-end shopping center called the Americana Manhasset (Miracle Mile). The show site is on the very visible and heavily-traveled Searingtown Road.

The North Shore of Long Island in Nassau and western Suffolk counties that border Long Island Sound are referred to as the "Gold Coast". Historically, the area is one of the most affluent area in the country. Neighborhoods such as Manhasset, Roslyn, Great Neck, Sands Point, and Kings Point contain significant wealth dating back to the late 19th century. Christopher Morley County Park in Roslyn is a wonderful location for a fine arts festival offering unprecedented demographics.

Cape Cod Fine Arts Festival 2011 - Hyannis , Massachusetts
DEADLINE: 6/20/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/16/2011 - 7/17/2011
The Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District is sponsoring their third Cape Cod Fine Arts Festival on the Village Green on Main Street in downtown Hyannis, the commercial "Capital of the Cape". Hyannis contains the town offices and two important shopping districts plus the historic downtown Main Street and the Rt. 132 commercial district.

For 2011 the event will be moved from its August date to the middle of July. This will offer heavier tourist traffic, being more mid-season. For those that have attended this event previously, the Village Green is a delightful location: close, intimate, and easily accessible to the patrons.

Hyannis is an important tourist and resort destination for the Northeast attracting wealthy families, celebrities, and prosperous tourists. It’s the primary ferryboat and general aviation link for passengers to Nantucket Island. The seven villages of Barnstable include Hyannis, Centerville, Osterville, Cotuit, Marstons Mills, West Barnstable and Barnstable Village. Together they offer historic homes, beautiful beaches, fabulous golf courses, exquisite dining and numerous attractions including the JFK Presidential Library located adjacent to the festival. These are the demographics most sought after by artists.

Rising Sun Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts 2011 - Rising Sun, Indiana
DEADLINE: 6/20/2011
Jury Fee: $15.00
Event Dates: 9/17/2011 - 9/18/2011
The Rising Sun Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts takes place in Rising Sun Indiana's historic Main Street garden district and along the city's landscaped river-walk on the Ohio River. Over 100 artists will be juried into the fair by a panel of prominent art experts. The Festival is organized and operated by many Rising Sun volunteers who are dedicated to making this a rewarding and pleasurable experience for both the artists and attendees. Many artists' amenities, as well as a large promotional budget, are in place to ensure the success of our artists. We are purposely keeping our jury and booth fees affordable to encourage artist participation in 3rd Annual Festival.

Cooper River Fine Arts Festival 2011 - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
DEADLINE: 6/21/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/30/2011 - 7/31/2011
The second Cooper River Fine Arts Festival is sponsored by the Philadelphia Inquirer and will take place along the scenic Cooper River. Cooper River Park (347 acres) runs through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood and Haddon Township, among the country’s most affluent suburbs. The park is bounded by North and South Park Drives, Route 130 and Grove Street. Being a "bedroom community" within one hour's commute to Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton, and Princeton, the show draws heavily from all these cities. Camden County has a large college-educated population of doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, nurses, pharmacists, and scientists. In 2006, Cherry Hill was named among the 'Best Places to Live' in the United States by Money Magazine and was ranked eighth safest place to live in the same survey.

The Highlands Craft Show 2011 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DEADLINE: 6/21/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 9/30/2011 - 10/2/2011
The 30th Annual Highlands Juried Craft Show will be held September 30, October 1 & 2 2011 on the grounds of the elegant Highlands Mansion and Gardens in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania featuring over 60 high-caliber artists from throughout the United States. This well known and established Philadelphia area craft show welcomes 2,000+ knowledgable visitors a year.

Talented craft artists will display the highest quality of handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, home décor, and more, available for purchase throughout the mansion and adjacent heated tent. The 2011 show highlights horticulture with an expanded category: Garden and Lawn crafters, creating outdoor and lawn specific works.

Sugarloaf Craft Festivals - Fall Shows 2011 - Various Nationwide Locations, Maryland
DEADLINE: 6/21/2011
Jury Fee: $45.00
Event Dates: 9/30/2011 - 12/11/2011
For more than 30 years Sugarloaf has provided a low overhead market for artists and crafts people to sell their work. Sugarloaf's Fall 2011 season includes seven great shows in some of the nation's best markets: Chantilly, VA, Gaithersburg, MD, Oaks/Philadelphia, PA, Timonium, MD, Hartford, CT and Somerset, NJ.

Riverfront Art Festival 2011 - Columbus, Ohio
DEADLINE: 6/22/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/30/2011 - 10/2/2011
The Riverfront Art Festival celebrates its sixth anniversary this year. The festival features a picturesque setting, winding along the west bank of the Scioto River in, a city ranked by American Style Magazine as one of the top ten cities for art, Columbus, Ohio. While the heartbeat of the festival is its selection of visual artists, the location is also home to a waterfront amphitheater, which will play host to several performances, including two nights of WaterFire! The show features abundant parking, free electricity, a stunning view of the city and free bottled water for the artists. We hope you will let us host your artistry among the 150 artists presented at this year's Riverfront Art Festival.

Art Beat 2011 - South Bend, Indiana
DEADLINE: 6/24/2011
Jury Fee: $10.00
Event Dates: 8/27/2011 - 8/27/2011
Art Beat is a free, downtown South Bend stroll along the streets and sidewalks featuring the work of local visual, performing, and culinary artists. The event showcases South Bend and the surrounding community’s artists and creates awareness of the role that downtown organizations and businesses play in the artisans’ promotion and success. Local Michiana artists only - check full description for participation and eligibility details.

Frisco Art Fair on July 4th Weekend 3rd Annual (Downtown Frisco, CO) July 2011 - Frisco, Colorado
DEADLINE: 6/24/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 7/2/2011 - 7/3/2011
This event will occur on busy July 4th Weekend in conjunction with the Town of Frisco's July 4th Weekend celebration.

Summit County will be the recipient of a very special juried art fair on this Holiday Weekend. Downtown Frisco is nestled between Breckenridge and Copper Mountain, close to Denver. Last years event was a huge success. Summit County, Colorado is located in the heart of the Rockies, just one hour from Denver to the east on I-70 and is home to Frisco, Breckenridge, Keystone Resort, Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain.

Combine the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains, the quaintness of Frisco, the art of 100 fine art exhibitors, the publicity this event receives, and busy July 4th Weekend and you get a fabulous art fair!

Winter Park Autumn Art Festival 2011 - Winter Park, Florida
DEADLINE: 6/24/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 10/8/2011 - 10/9/2011
The Winter Park Autumn Art Festival is a community-oriented sidewalk show that features work by 150 outstanding Florida artists. In addition to presenting quality visual art, the festival provides free entertainment and participatory events for the enjoyment of visitors and artists. The festival is held at beautiful Central Park located along Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park and attracts 200,000 visitors. The festival is hosted by the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival Committee, Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, and the Crealde School of Art.

Cleveland By Hand Fine Art & Craft Show 2011 - Cleveland, Ohio
DEADLINE *extended to: 6/28/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 11/11/2011 - 11/13/2011
Celebrating its 7th year, By Hand continues its successful co-location with the Fabulous Food Show. FREE ADMISSION for the general public will continue as well complimentary electric, drive-in access and labor assistance. Don't miss the show that Sunshine Artist called, "a real class act," and Cool Cleveland describes as "comparable to Boston Mills or Cain Park, just indoors and warmer for this holiday time of year." We hope to have the opportunity to host you among the 210 artists presented at this year's Cleveland By Hand.

New Events

Southwest Arts Festival® 2012 - Indio, California
OPEN DATE: 6/10/2011
DEADLINE: 9/30/2011
Jury Fee: $55.00
Event Dates: 1/27/2012 - 1/29/2012
You are invited to apply for the Southwest Arts Festival® presented by the Indio Chamber of Commerce in Indio California! Featuring over 255 acclaimed artists showing traditional, contemporary and abstract fine works of art and quality crafts, the festival is a major, internationally recognized cultural event and was attended by nearly 10,000 people in 2011.

As an invited artist you will enjoy one of the most exciting and hospitable festivals anywhere. Because we make a special effort to connect patrons with our artists, we require that all artists, regardless of weather, be present every day of the festival. Festival hours are 10 am to 5 pm each day.

We provide easy check-in and check-out procedures with safe and secure access to festival grounds for set-up and breakdown. We allow advance set-up for artists with special requirements (very large art requiring the use of cranes, forklifts, etc., or artists with special needs.). Artist parking is free. Disabled artist parking is available.

Pinnacle Hills Fine Art Festival 2011 - Rogers, Arkansas
OPEN DATE: 6/10/2011
DEADLINE: 7/15/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 9/9/2011 - 9/11/2011
Lynette Wallace Productions presents the Pinnacle Hills Fine Art Festival in Rogers, Arkansas. This three day juried art festival features fine art and contemporary craft in 13 media categories. The Bentonville/Rogers area is the world headquarters of Walmart, as well as home to representatives from many of the major product vendors who do business with them. The average household income is $80,000 and many residents are transplants from Chicago and the east and west coasts. Rogers and Bentonville are experiencing an economic boom with many new constructions of both business and large homes in the Pinnacle Hills area. The new Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opens this fall. This 3 day art festival at the beautiful Pinnacle Hills Promenade is held the weekend of the WALMART NW Arkansas Championship LPG tournament at the adjacent Pinnacle Hills Championship golf course. Shuttles between the 2 events makes it easy for the 25,000+ extra visitors to Rogers an opportunity! to shop and enjoy the art festival. The area is a jewel in the region and Pinnacle Hills Promenade is the upscale shopping, dining and entertainment venue for a 300 mile radius. Retailers include Dillard's, Coach, Joseph A. Bank and White House/Black Market. Among the many dining and entertainment possibilities are Fish City Grill, PF Chang's and the Malco 12-screen theater. This first year, any artist that has shown in a juried art festival Lynette has directed including Bayou City Art Festivals, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, Georgetown Art In Square and The Shops At La Cantera Art Festival will be automatically invited during the jury process as a thank you. We hope you give this show a try; it has all the ingredients of becoming a successful show, booming economy, population that enjoys art and has an expendable income. Welcome to The Pinnacle Hills Fine Art Festival.

Boca Raton Museum of Art 26th Outdoor Juried Art Festival 2012 - Boca Raton, Florida
OPEN DATE: 6/15/2011
DEADLINE: 10/16/2011
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 1/28/2012 - 1/29/2012
The Boca Raton Museum of Art located in Boca Raton's Mizner Park is celebrating its 26th Annual Outdoor Juried Art Festival. The Art Festival has consistently been named one of the “Top 100 Art Festivals in the Country,” thanks to our guests and artists. Each year, 250 nationally and internationally-acclaimed artists have gathered in Mizner Park to showcase their fine artworks. The goal of this juried show is to select and present the highest caliber of art represented by many different mediums to our knowledgeable and discriminating audience.

The Harding Art Show 2012 - Nashville, Tennesee
OPEN DATE: 6/15/2011
DEADLINE: 10/15/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 5/3/2012 - 5/5/2012
The 2012 Harding Art Show will be held Thursday, May 3 through Saturday, May 5. The 2012 show will mark the thirty-seventh year of one of Middle Tennessee’s premier art events. The show highlights fine art available for purchase from over 70 artists from throughout the United States.

2011 ZAPP Conference Artwork Exhibition - Atlanta, Georgia
DEADLINE: 7/1/2011
Jury Fee: $0.00
Event Dates: 5/3/2012 - 5/5/2012
Share your artwork with the field and help educate yourself and your peers in the jury process! This application is for a mock-jury session at the third annual ZAPP® Conference. The 2011 conference is Monday, September 19, and Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at the W Atlanta Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia

Antique Booths

2011-06-17T11:05:00.001-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe I am just now finding photo inspirations for craft booths this way. I know that there are countless antique malls throughout the U.S. and they are filled with great ways to display your crafty goodness!! I am just focusing on one seller today, My So-Called Junky Life. She seems to keep loads of photos of her improvements, and has a designers touch! She uses mostly shabby-chic decor, and since most of her items are white or very light, she can actually put a lot more in the booth than a lot of different-colored items. The whites take up a lot less visual space than a lot of other colors. See for yourself...

from My So-Called Junky Life

Mathilda's Market in Australia!!

2011-06-15T08:32:00.001-07:00

"SAVE THE DATE! This Winter we'll be bringing you a fresh selection of new and treasured retailers, quality handmade and boutique goods at our next Mathilda's Market event:
*Mathilda's Melbourne Market

*Sunday, 21 August 2011 (9am - 1pm)

*Hawthorn Town Hall, Hawthorn

*Mark it in your diary! We do hope you'll stop by for a stroll through the Hawthorn Town Hall this August - but first, sneak a peek at who will be trading here!

*We hope to see you at the Winter Melbourne event! "

SEE THEIR WEBSITE HERE...

Art In Turley Park - INDIE CRAFT SHOW - Apps Available

2011-06-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

So, I have such a great time collecting artists for the Carbondale Downtown Art and Wine Fair that I just decided to host my own show!!!

Art in Turley Park will be held on Sunday, October 23, 2011 from 10-5.
TURLEY PARK is located at 300 West Main Street Carbondale, IL 62901
I can't wait to see how many great vendors we get in the show. I am open to taking vendors from any location at all....

The spaces are only $25, and there are still spaces open. A vendor map will be available shortly. We have already had lots if interest from some of my absolute favorite Etsy artists so far!!! Only hand-made items are accepted! This will ensure the absolute best shopping experience ever.
The application is available HERE

Art in Turley Park will be held under a beautiful pavilion on a fall Sunday. There is a huge playground facility nearby, so bring the kids and let them play in a very safe environment while you shop! What can be better than that?

Also, we will host a Cutest Dog Contest at 2pm. Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome, and there will be 3 prizes awarded to the pups who are voted The Cutest!!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at: ArtInTurleyPark (at) yahoo dot com. Applications still available!! Please inquire if needed. Thank you :)

Providence Open Market - Starts June 11!!!! - Rhode Island!

2011-06-06T13:19:00.001-07:00

This event is in its fifth year and looks just incredible!!! If you live anywhere within a couple of hours, I highly recommend applying for this show! It is reasonably priced, and I bet the spots go quickly!!

"The Providence Open Market, now in its 5th season, is the city’s only Open-Air Market where you can shop for handmade artisan goods and fine art. Now located in picturesque Lippitt Park, on the east side of Providence, at the juncture of Hope Street and Blackstone Blvd, where Providence borders Pawtucket.

The Market features a different group of artists every week ensuring that each visit will be unique - and with free customer parking, making a trip to the market has never been easier! This year the Providence Open Market is committed to partnering with community-based art organizations. Together we are working towards one goal – to give Providence a unique casual meeting place where you can shop for art, healthy edibles, handbags, jewelry, accessories and much more.

Not only does our Market give local artists an affordable venue to sell their wares, but we also provide customers with the opportunity to meet the people who design and create the wide range of products that are for sale.

When - Every Saturday, June 11 through September 24. 10AM-2PM
Where - Lippitt Park at Blackstone Blvd. East Side of Providence, RI"

Visit their Website HERE...
They are located at:

How to get the world talking about your items!!

2011-06-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

These words were taken in their complete form from Vanessa on the PaperNStitch blog.

"Selling your Art online without inspiring a conversation is exactly the same as setting up a physical art stand in the middle of a barren desert! No one will come, and your sales will languish! You have to move where the people are, and then you have to engage them in order to increase sales. This guide will teach you exactly how you can get the web talking about your art.

1. Actively Participate in Social Networks

You probably already have a blog and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Etsy and Flickr, but do you really use them?

Take Action: Statically posting your updates isn’t enough to get people talking about your art. You have to join Facebook groups and leave comments, join Etsy circles and curate collections, and upload your photos to popular Flickr groups. Chat with people, make friends and interact, and people will return the favor and talk about your work, too.

2. Tell Your Story

Your art is all about your story. People want to know your process and your inspirations. They want to know your humble beginnings and successes. People buy handmade over mass produced items for the human element, so show how human you are and tell your story.

Take Action: Update your blog and social networks frequently with your process and the adventure that is creating your art line. It will resonate with people, and they will spread the word. (Especially if you get your readers involved in the process! Think of creative ways to make your fans a part of the story.)

3. Make Friends in the Community

Genuine networking in your niche is invaluable, not only for rapport and inspiration, but also for starting the conversation about your artwork.

Take Action: If you see artwork that speaks to you somewhere online, stop and follow that person on their social networks and send them an e-mail. Let them know that you appreciate what they create. Leave comments on your favorite blogs. Starting this conversation is how you create friends in the community. You’ll talk about their art, and they’ll talk about yours.

4. Ask People to Write About Your Art

This is the common-sense answer, and it’s one that few people try. Find a resource that you feel would be a good fit for your artwork, and kindly ask if they would publish a story about your work. Many publications ask for people to submit and appreciate the free content. Be creative, write helpful guest posts for blogs or tell your story in a magazine. Don’t by shy, just ask!

It’s up to you: With consistency and a little dedication, you can get people talking about your art and spread the word of your line and vision. Get out there and get them talking, it’s your job to spark the conversation about your art."

This article and words were found HERE...

Craft Display of The Day!

2011-05-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

This cute craft table is great! This display by Gifts Created is nice, bright, and has a touch of earthy-ness to it.
The banner is great and doesn't overwhelm the table.
The astroturf is a nice, cute touch too!
I like the way she has built up her back level, by using bricks and MDF board, then sewing a slip cover for it. The wicker baskets with the red cloths inside are also great for displaying and cohesively organizing her plush creations!
See her FLICKR stream {here}...

Makeshift Shopping Villages in NYC!!

2011-05-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is a very fun concept! I love markets that just pop up around the holidays. It doesn't have to take up much room, and lots more people are out shopping - makes sense to me :)
This article has been copied and cited properly, in 100% from the New York Mag website"
"Market Values
Just in time for the holiday gift rush, makeshift shopping villages are popping up all over the city. - By Joe DeLessio & Alex Rees
Published Nov 17, 2010 -
ALL SHOW DATES REFLECT 2010, NOT 2011.

(Photo: Courtesy of Fêtes de Noël)

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park
Bryant Park, Sixth Ave., at 42nd St.; 212-768-4242
More than 100 booths make this European-style holiday market one of the biggest in town, while free ice skating on the park's rink makes it one of the most festive.
• Dates: Nov. 5–Jan. 2; Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

(Photo: Courtesy of Grand Central Terminal)

Grand Central Holiday Fair
Lexington Ave., at 42nd St.; 212-340-2583
First, check out the kaleidoscopic light show in the main concourse. Then, sneak over to Vanderbilt Hall for the station's 12,000-square-foot impromptu mall.
• Dates: Nov. 15–Dec. 24; Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving)

(Photo: Courtesy of Mardi Gras Festival Productions)

The Holiday Gift Shops at St. Bartholomew's
325 Park Ave., at 50th St.; 212-378-0200
Not only does the scene look like a Currier and Ives print, but you can also pick up enough cold-weather gear to look like you've just walked out of the artwork.
• Dates: Nov. 15–Dec. 24; 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

(Photo: Courtesy of Urban Space Management)

Holiday Market at Union Square
14th St., at Broadway; 212-529-9262
The red-and-white tents are resurrected with winter accessories, Christmas-y trinkets, and some less predictable, more interesting merchandise.
• Dates: Nov. 15–Dec. 24; 11 a.m.–8 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving)

Holiday Market at Columbus Circle
Central Park S., at Central Park W.; 212-529-9262
Some of the best booths are devoted to foodies: gift baskets stocked with snacks and sweets, and decks of coupon cards with discounts to Suba and the Tasting Room.
• Dates: Dec. 1–Dec. 24; 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

(Photo: Courtesy of Winter's Eve)

Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square
Broadway from Columbus Circle to 68th St.; 212-581-3774
For one night at least, Upper West Side merchants turn a pocket of Manhattan into Small Town, USA, with music and (for a nominal fee) food tastings.
• Dates: Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m.–9 p.m.

Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar
N. 7th St., at Wythe Ave.; 917-301-5765
Artists & Fleas debuts an additional holiday market space, showcasing a festive twist on the wares of their regulars and more.
• Dates: Dec. 4–5, 11–12, 18–19; noon–8 p.m.

Made in Harlem Art & Gift Festival
Casa Frela Gallery, 47 W. 119th St.
Hand-crafted gifts at the Casa Frela’s one-off weekend market will include jewelry, quilts, decorative items, and holiday ornaments.
• Dates: Dec. 4–5; 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Gifted: A Holiday Market presented by the Brooklyn Flea and Design*Sponge
Skylight One Hanson, One Hanson Pl.
More than 100 of the Brooklyn Flea’s vendors will fill three floors with delightfully kitsch holiday gifts and miscellany.
• Dates: Dec. 15–23; 11 a.m. –7 p.m.

Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Market
Littlefield Performance Space, 622 Degraw St. and Textile Arts Center, 505 Carroll St.
Browse the stalls at two separate venues filled with seasonal crafts and hip wares, sample artisanal food and drinks, and pick up DIY tips from instructional demos.
• Dates: Dec. 18–19; Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Farmer's Market went great!

2011-05-15T10:49:00.001-07:00

Although it was rainy and a bit chilly, the Market went great yesterday! I think the SIUC Graduation brought more people into town, and a lot of them stopped by! I met some great people and saw some of my C'dale faves too!
I am doing the C'dale Downtown Art and Wine Fair (DAWF) next weekend, so I will be making as much as I can this week! whew :)

Handmade Im Gempack - a cute show!

2011-04-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

See their Flickr Pool HERE...

Sorry, I can't find a website for this event. If you have any info, please comment below. Thanks!

First show of the year! Carbondale - Murdale Farmer's Market

2011-03-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 2 from 8 am - 12 noon!
Murdale Shopping Center, near The Neighborhood Co-Op!
Hope to see you there :)

Hip to Piece Squares - a total inspiration!!

2011-03-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

Please visit her BLOG
and her ETSY SHOP to see all of her gorgeous goodies!
She also has a Flickr PAGE.
She is an incredible seamstress and has endless ideas and talent!

The Old North House Tour and Home Grown Street Festival - May 14 (from 10-4)

2011-03-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

What: The Old North House Tour and Home Grown Street Festival
When: May 14, 10am-4pm

This info was found on Facebook from Holly Schroeder. She knows a LOT about the STL craft scene!

The Details: The Old North St. Louis House and Community Tour is expanding this year. Crown Square, formerly the 14th Street Mall (right across the street from Crown Candy), is a two-block area of refurbished historic buildings which reopened to street traffic last year. To celebrate, we are throwing a street festival, and are looking for arts and crafts people, as well as truly local businesses and those who would like to give some sort of demonstrations...cooking, gardening, artist demos, music, dance etc. Kids' activities would also be very much welcomed. Booths are free for neighborhood residents and $65 for those outside the neighborhood.

If you would be interested in participating, or know someone who would, please contact Kathleen Parvis at parvimail@sbcglobal.net.

See their BLOG too!

volume 25 - her first craft show was great!

2011-03-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

these images are all from the volume 25 blog. she is an incredible inspiration to us all!!

See her awesome blog HERE. It is filled with TONS of great ideas for planning a craft show. Looks like this was for her first show, and she really did it right!

This is a credit card imprinter or "credit card kit" on Ebay for under $20. I guess you take the impression of the customer's card, then when you get home, you go and pay via Paypal. I think I would want to make sure Paypal is easy to use in this situation before I got the imprinter. But I bet this is a great way to accept cards at shows.

Craft-O-Matic Show - Registration Opens Today!! Event is June 4 from 11am-11pm in the Loop

2011-03-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

APPLY HERE.

"Craft-O-Matic (Craft Show). A St. Louis Craft Mafia Production. Guaranteed to reduce stress, increase happiness, and fulfill all your handmade desires!

A St. Louis Craft Mafia Production. A department-store-style indie craft event on June 4 from 11 am to 11 pm at the Regional Arts Commission on the Loop.

This is a juried show - all local crafters are welcome to apply when the application goes live. The application will be up from March 1 to April 1 and it will be free to apply.

This show is sponsored by Tenth Life, a local nonprofit cat rescue organization, and MADE, a crafty community collective."

Wakarusa 2011 June 2-5, 2011

2011-02-28T10:38:00.000-08:00

Held in Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, AK
Not exactly a craft show, but a big music festival
Their Site HERE.

Paper N Stitch {online} Vendors wanted for their Spring Showcase

2011-02-28T10:25:00.000-08:00

Deadline: March 4th, 10pm
This upcoming exhibition will run from March 7th through April 3rd.

If you'd like some help promoting your work, become an exhibitor now. All the details on being an exhibitor can be found here. And you can read over our testimonials and press mentions to help you decide. Papernstitch was recently featured in Country Living magazine (March 2011 issue) and there is another pns feature in a magazine coming up very soon. Please note there is a small fee to participate and not all shops who submit are chosen to participate. We are seeking shop submissions in every category.

Submit now.

Already been an exhibitor on papernstitch before and want to return? Just respond to this email or email Brittni at brittni@papernstitch.com with a "count me in". No need to fill out the submission form again.

The submission deadline is this Friday, March 4th at 10pm EST. So, submit now if you're interested.

See Current Exhibitors
See their Home Page

Lou Fest in St. Louis, MO August 27-28, 2011

2011-02-27T18:49:00.001-08:00

"On August 27-28, thousands of music fans from across the country will descend on St Louis for the 2nd annual LouFest Music Festival.

The all-ages event features 18 national and local bands on 2 stages, great food, cool retail, and a greening effort that includes recycling, composting, free valet bike parking, and a refillable water station.

For our youngest fans there’s the Kids Village, a special area filled with music, magic, kid-friendly food, a rock climbing wall, and more.

See you in August!"

A DAWF Vendor, Just Liv/Elizabeth Hahn-Lawrence vended at LouFest in 2010. That's how I found out about the event in the first place...

"RETAIL SCENE

How better to top off a weekend of great music in the park than with a little retail therapy? Need a new pair of sunglasses? A guitar strap made of recycled seatbelts? Check out the area's hippest vendors at the Retail Scene.

2010 vendors included:

CLEAR 4G
Fun in the Sun
Just Liv
LilyWhite Designs
Miss Ohio Vintage
Pairabelles
Retro101/CherryBombVintage
Souldier
STL-Style

Interested in being a vendor in the 2011 Retail Scene? Contact Natalie Lakeman". I bet if you have an edgy style that would fit in with their crowd, you could vend your hand-made wares there. I would imagine tshirts, cute dresses, hats, anything to keep you cool and the sun off you, and the like, would go over well there....

Later :)

Chatty Crafty Show in Chattanooga, TN on June 25-26, 2011

2011-02-27T17:46:00.000-08:00

Or, find them on FACEBOOK...
Call for Vendors – Because it’s fun to be Crafty with Chatty. Miss Chatty requests the honor of your presence, nay, demands your crafty goods served at her waterfront location of the Tennessee River. Chatty Crafty is a juried bi-annual DIY/Indie craft show in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga, Tennessee – February 18, 2011 – Applications are now being accepted for the June 25-26, 2011 Chatty Crafty on the Chattanooga Green. Applications due March 6, 2011.

Miss Chatty prides herself on serving her community, and providing Southern Hospitality to patrons and artisans alike. To show her vendor love, Miss Chatty offers oodles for the $150 show fee:

* 10×10 booth for 2 days of awesome selling adventures – booth sharing allowed; guidelines on application
* Overnight security to protect your hard work! – insert obvious disclaimer here: use commonsense in what you leave in your booth overnight!
* Volunteers to help unload upon arrival and load up at the end of the show or just give you a moment to catch your breath and grab a bite
* Promotions galore – Miss Chatty will take Chattanooga by storm with a media blitz of print/radio, posters, fliers, internet campaign and promotion packets at downtown hotels – yes, even the Chattanooga Choo Choo!
* Complimentary breakfast and vendor VIP tent with healthy snacks and drinks for vendors. We know you need your coffee, water and a quick bite so it will be there throughout the show!
* A Party! Saturday night meet-n-greet with fellow crafters and local retailers – and Mojo Burrito will be on deck again this year to fill your belly before you collapse for a good night’s rest before a busy Sunday.

2010 marked the debut of Chatty Crafty, to the tune of 70 artisans exhibiting from 14 states. Vendors sold their wares from cities large and small, including the surrounding southern cities, Atlanta, Nashville, Greenville, Asheville, as well as Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Austin and Brooklyn. 2011 is expected to experience some healthy growth, with a few new nuances and perks.

Besides an ideal location in a city that loves the DIY/Indie spirit, what makes Chatty Crafty unique is the founders’ commitment to providing a memorable, successful and “sane” vendor experience. They, know firsthand what makes a harried show vs. happy show. Miss Chatty herself says, “Extra attention to detail and supporting vendors through personal service can go a long way in facilitating a successful, seamless show experience, or one of those super-duper stressful shows that leaves us overworked, cranky, or just plain hungry – we’ve been there!”

So why are you still sitting there? All this and service with a smile brought to you by Miss Chatty – truly an event not to missed! Hit that APPLY button.

Deadline is March 6th….get on it!

Saltaire Vintage Home & Fashion Fair

2011-02-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

This show is held by The House of Rose and Brown. It looks like a really great idea, and I really wish it were closer so I could go visit!! VISIT THEIR WEBSITE HERE...

The next Saltaire Vintage Home & Fashion Fair is in 2011! On Saturday 5 March from 9.30am - 4pm at Victoria Hall, Victoria Road, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, UK BD18 3JS. There will be more than 40 stalls of vintage loveliness for you and your home. With refreshments served by Interlude Tea Room & Emporium, and music from the 20s to the 60s, it's a day full of vintage fun! Tickets £3 on the door (full price) or £2 (concessions). Under 16 get in free.

Saltaire Vintage Fair dates for 2011:

Sat 5 March 2011

Sat 2 July 2011

Sat 29 October 2011

Sat 10 December 2011

(Check out our Events page for news of other fairs, markets and exciting vintage events!)

Contact Rose & Brown if you would like advance tickets. And get in touch if you are interested in booking a stall at future fairs. Call Caroline on 07985 181120 or email roseandbrownvintage@yahoo.co.uk

Perth Northbridge Festival

2011-01-17T21:08:00.000-08:00

I just found an amazing blog who features local events in Perth, Australia. Looks like there is a heck of a lot of stuff going on there too!

This blog post was titled: "Perth Marketplace - Support Our Local Design Industry" by Jen Hiller. She seems like quite an awesome lady too!

From the official site: "The City of Perth Northbridge Festival explodes in a kaleidoscope of brilliant sound, colour and flavour this November 14-21.
Eight full days of free entertainment spanning music, culture and the arts... plus much, much more.
Continuing Northbridge's tradition as the heart and soul of WA culture, the Northbridge Festival brings the best in music, theatre, street art, markets and more."

**Looks like this is more of a music fest than a craft fair, just an FYI...

The dates and times of these shows for 2009 were:
Fri Oct 30: 6pm – 9pmSat Oct 31: 9.30am – 4.30pmMiss Johnson’s Vintage & Handmade MarketsGuildford Town Hall, GuildfordSun Nov 1: 10am – 5pmSat & Sun 7 & 8: 10am – 5pmPerth MarketsPerth Cultural Centre, NorthbridgeWhilst there check out the Northbridge Festival running from November 1 – 8.

Sat Oct 31: 9am - 4pmOxford Street MarketsAranmore Halland then the summer market season starts:Weekly from Nov 14 to March 27: 9am – 4pmOxford Street Markets100 Oxford StreetSat Nov 7th - 10am to 8pmSun Nov 8th - 10am to 5pmDarlington Arts FestivalDarlington Hall and Oval, cnr Owen Rd and Pine Tce, Darlington.Sun Nov 8: from 11amPICA Artist Car Boot SalePerth Cultural Centre, NorthbridgeSat & Sun Nov 14, 15: 10am - 4pmMade on the LeftHyde Park Hotel, West PerthSun Nov 15: 10am – 2pmJunior UpmarketWinthrop Hall undercroft, UWA,Sun Nov 29: 10am – 4pmPre-Christmas UpmarketPerth Town Hall, PerthSun Nov 8: 12pm – 5pm $3 entryRetro Market267 William St, NorthbridgeEach market has a variety of local artists with an emphasis varying from independent fashion designers, jewellery designers, vintage, accessories, home décor, photographers, painters, fair traders, collectors to the aspiring creative and more.

www.northbridgefestival2009.com.au

homako

2011-01-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

WOW! There is a lot to learn from this crafter :) see more at the paper pastries blog HERE...

Table Centerpiece Inspirations (Wine Fair)

2010-12-28T22:18:00.000-08:00

Our 2011 Dates for DAWF have been decided: May 21 and October 1, 2011. I am super excited for this next year's events. I think that we did a great job this past year, and more and mroe people know about the event. Visit us if you're in southern Illinois!

Make It! A Handmade Production

2010-12-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO MAKEIT: (See their site HERE)
"Make It is the largest event of its kind in Western Canada. It is an upbeat experience that gives enlightened shoppers the opportunity to buy directly from Canada’s top urban artisans and designers!"

This Canadian Craft Show looks really amazing. I find that people are writing pretty great reviews of the show as vendors too. The event happens in November. You missed it this year, but next year, this seems like a new "Renegade-type show", which happens in bigger cities in the US.

Dates for 2010.

Thursday November 25, 2010

4pm to 9pm
Friday November 26

noon to 9pm
Saturday November 27

10am to 5pm
Sunday November 28

11am to 5pm
@ Alberta Aviation Museum

11410 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton AB view map
Pay once, Shop 4 days! $5 at the door - click here for $2 off!

Kids 12 & under are Free!

Events in Illinois for the nest 2 months {Thanks to Festival Network Online}

2010-12-12T21:21:00.000-08:00

Here are a few events happening in the next couple of months in Illinois. Looks like most of them are up around Chicago and Northern Illinois, but they will surely be well worth checking out... I found ALL of this information (here).

12/15 to 12/17 2010 - Holiday Art Spree
James R. Thompson Center Atrium - Chicago, IL
12/18 to 12/18 2010 - Wheaton Antique & Collectible Market
DuPage Fairgrounds - Wheaton, IL
01/07 to 01/09 2011 - Westfield Hawthorne Art & Craft Show
Westfield Hawthorne Center - Vernon Hills, IL
01/08 to 01/09 2011 - Grayslake Antique and Collectibles Market
Lake County Fairgrounds - Grayslake, IL
01/12 to 01/13 2011 - The Northern Illinois Farm Show
NIU Convocation Center - Dekalb, IL
01/14 to 01/16 2011 - Westfield Chicago Ridge
Chicago Ridge Mall - Chicago Ridge, IL
01/14 to 01/16 2011 - Lake County Home Building & Remodeling Expo
Lake County Fairgrounds - Grayslake, IL
01/14 to 01/16 2011 - Cherryvale Mall Home Base Business Show
CherryVale Mall - Rockford, IL
01/15 to 01/15 2011 - Wheaton Antique & Collectible Market
DuPage Fairgrounds - Wheaton, IL
01/16 to 01/16 2011 - Chicago Music Awards Thirtieth Anniversary
Excalibur Chicago - Chicago, IL
01/21 to 01/23 2011 - Golf Mill Center Art & Craft Show
Golf Mill Center - Niles, IL
01/21 to 01/23 2011 - Home Improvement & Remodeling Expo
Prairie Stone Sports & Wellness Center - Hoffman Estates, IL
01/21 to 01/24 2011 - Transworld Jewelry, Fashion & Accessories Show
Donald E Stephens Convention Center - Rosemont, IL
01/22 to 01/23 2011 - Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Show
White Eagle Banquets- Victoria Room - Niles, IL
01/22 to 01/25 2011 - Beckman's Handcrafted Show Chicago
The Merchandise Mart - Chicago, IL
01/28 to 01/30 2011 - Northwoods Mall Art & Craft Show
Northwoods Mall - Peoria, IL
01/28 to 01/30 2011 - Lake County Home Improvement Showcase
Libertyville Sports Complex - Libertyville, IL
01/29 to 01/29 2011 - Algonquin Home & Business Expo
Jacobs H.S. Fieldhouse - Algonquin, IL
01/02 to 01/30 2010 - Logan Square Indoor Farmers Market
Congress Theatre - Chicago, IL
02/02 to 02/04 2011 - Valentine's Art Spree
James R. Thompson Ctr. - Chicago, IL
02/04 to 02/06 2011 - Fox Valley Art & Craft Show
Fox Valley Mall - Aurora, IL
02/04 to 02/06 2011 - Cherryvale Mall Health & Wellness Show
CherryVale Mall - Rockford, IL
02/05 to 02/06 2011 - Antioch's Winter Arts and Crafts Faire
Antioch High School - Antioch, IL
02/12 to 02/13 2011 - Grayslake Antique and Collectibles Market
Lake County Fairgrounds - Grayslake, IL
02/06 to 02/27 2010 - Logan Square Indoor Farmers Market
Congress Theatre - Chicago, IL

Howard Alan Events & American Craft Endeavors in Florida

2010-12-12T21:13:00.000-08:00

This show happens on certain weekends in sunny, beautiful Florida.

Here are the details:

*-----------------------------*
March 5th & 6th, 2011
23rd Annual Las Olas Art Fair Part II (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
*-----------------------------*
December 26th & 27th, 2010
7th Annual Historic Roser Park Art & Craft Festival (St. Petersburg, Florida)
Located in St. Petersburg. Free visitor parking is available at Bayfront Parking Garage with golf cart transportation to the festival.
*-----------------------------*
December 11th & 12th, 2010
7th Annual Historic Roser Park Art & Craft Festival (St. Petersburg, Florida)
*-----------------------------*

Sign up to win The 2011 March Las Olas Art Fair Getaway! To see a list of prizes, sign up and full details visit their site here.

Stonehouse Studio at The Artisan Fair

2010-12-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

I found this ultra-amazing photo {HERE}. I love the use of vertical space! This artist seems to really know how to draw the eye to look right at her earrings and other works in the back.
If you wanted to do something similar, you would have to own an EZ-Up Tent and do something like this...

1.) Get or make/embellish 2 Burlap Curtain Panels. Make sure they are only as long as the height of your table. Meaning they should stop a bit under where the top of the table stops. To embellish these, hot glue or sew ribbon/trip to the long edges.

2.) Purchase 2 medium circumference (1/2" or more so it doesn't bend) dowel rods and leave them their natural wood color.

3.) Feed curtains onto dowels. Attach ends of dowel rods to EZ-Up Tent Frame with bungee cords or twine/rope.
**You can also drill holes into each end of the dowels to feed rope through them to create a hanging bar. Then, making sure the dowel is level, tie the ropes to the EZ Up Frame.

4.) Punch holes in your earring cards, and fasten them to the burlap curtains by using S-shaped paper clips or mini S-hooks. Feel free to mark where you want these hooks to be with a ruler and T-square with a marker.

5.) Hang all earring cards onto the hooks and watch your sales increase!

You could also use this hook and curtain method with necklaces, hair clips, clothing items, small purses, lightweight paintings/photos, and more! What would you use with this type of display?

Here are 10 signs you might be cut out for entrepreneurship:

2010-11-18T16:01:00.000-08:00

I wanted to spotlight this cool blog, The Blissful. She has loads of good information about entrepreneurial happenings. Check her out HERE\.

Here's her other site. (here)

And Abby Kerr Ink (here)

1. You're an idea person. And not just a dreamy, impractical idea person, but someone who instinctively knows how to give an idea legs. You don't just sit around and say, wouldn't that be cool? You actually get out of your chair and make a plan to see if it's cool.

2. You're an incurable optimist. You believe that things generally work out for the best--even when things work themselves out in a way that others would perceive as a fail. You believe that every deep experience lends itself to learning.

3. You like change. You might even crave it. You'd rather shake things up than wallow or stagnate.

4. You're willing to sacrifice more than the average person would to take a chance on a dream working out. This means you see short and even medium-term sacrifices such as preferred housing, discretionary income, stability in some relationships, and a nice budget for clothing and groceries as all part of the bigger picture. You are willing to forgo some comfort and joy today to get to what you might be able to attain later.

5. You're a self-starter. And a good self-manager. You don't need someone looking over your shoulder--or dangling a paycheck--to get a job done. You don't even really need praise or encouragement. Your satisfaction comes primarily from the process of creation.

6. You bounce back easily. Your setbacks are very short-term and you somehow always find a way to rise again. Or, things always just seem to work out okay for you, even better than okay. Others might say you seem to have good luck, or good karma.

7. You don't dwell on things and people that are out of your control. {Or you get really mad or frustrated and then use it to fuel your next move or decision in a healthy, productive way.}

8. You speak as though the outcome you want already exists. You don't have delusions of grandeur and you're not a liar or a bull*hitter. But you know how to position yourself in the today to apprehend what hasn't happened yet in the time-space continuum most people can see. Whoh. That sounds a little crazy. But you're okay with that, because that's how you think. You don't have to be all loud about it, but it works for you.

9. You're your own toughest critic--and your own best friend. At different times, you need to be both.

10. You have an uncanny sense of when it's time to shift or make a change. You identify what's not working and are intent on finding a solution. Or you know when to quit, as so aptly described in The Dip, a book by one of my marketing heroes, Seth Godin. This trait can sometimes creep your friends and acquaintances out, as you jump from one Big Thing to another Big Thing without so much as a backward glance. But you always seem to know what you're doing.

Candy Giveaways at Shows

2010-11-04T12:59:00.001-07:00

I have been using dishes of candy to lure people into my booth for a while now, and it really works! I often use brightly colored candies in a cute vintage dish. I put a little pink serving spoon in the dish, and people come back repeatedly to visit for more. Whether they buy something or not, that's fine - at least they are viewing my work for a second while they munch.

I wanted to feature some candy ideas for you to use, let me know if this works or you have an opinion on the matter :)

Goodies from Vintage Markets and Beyond...

2010-11-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

See more of Contented Sparrow's images on Flickr HERE. Thanks for the inspirations!!

(17) Patrick Ryan

2010-11-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

I posted a tiny bit about this designer HERE, but wanted to learn more. So, I asked him if I could feature his words and his work on the blog...

I have truly learned a lot of new concepts just from reading Pat's answers. He has turned on that little light bulb in my head, making me further understand that your booth is not just a 10' x 10' space, it is actually a 10' cube. Please read on to hear words of wisdom from a master artist, engineer, and designer. He builds a lot of custom display pieces, counter tops, desks, and other furniture for upscale buildings. I believe that building your own displays for craft shows is really a great option if you have the skill set. If you own a store front, it is incredibly important to have a some sort of counter that is interesting and functional. This way, you can have you register there, a work space, and a place to store packaging materials and other supplies without the customers seeing your mess.

1.) What is your name and occupation?

My name is Patrick Ryan but friends call me Pat or Patrick. I don't have a preference about who I am name-wise. Patrick Ryan is a common name. Kind of boring really. I make my living using art, design, and engineering.

2.) Your website/business?

I have a lot of websites based on my ideas for that day, but my main website is probably www.patryan.com

3.) How did you get into this line of work? Do you work for yourself?

I graduated from San Francisco Art Institute with a BFA in Fine Art. Then I got a BSEE in engineering from the University of Colorado. I didn't really want to be just an artist or just an engineer so I found a happy world of "design" that fell right in the middle of those two fields. I have created my own career by bridging these worlds, and I have worked for myself since 1994.

4.) What types of things inspire you?

Interesting people who make objects - not necessarily the objects themselves, unique workspaces and studios, authenticity, natural materials, evidence of hard work, color used unexpectedly, complexity within simplicity

5.) Can you tell us a bit about Visual Merchandising?

Visual Merchandising is creating a feeling that the item on display is real. A successful display allows a customer to intrinsically understand that a product can somehow just work for them. Or fit within their personal needs and desires.

6.) Is it best to stick with one color scheme with our main displays, or should we use a mix of colors that work well together?

I like color that is naturally occurring. Using color to mask or detract from the obvious is not necessary and will create displays that cannot be easily changed or modified. This is not to say that color, if part of a brand strategy should be ignored. But consumers have also grown weary of brand thugs.

7.) How much of our display should be at eye level, bend-down-level, and reach-up level?

A good example of conventional, boring display can be seen in jewelery stores. Ninety percent of the product is presented in a flat case you lean over and look down into. But jewelry is actually dynamic and moves with the body in different ways. Lighting angle effects jewelry. Whoever creates a new way to display jewelery will create a whole new and effective way to sell it.

8.) Any major words of advice when setting up a craft booth in a space that is roughly 10' x 10'?

A 10'x10' booth actually contains around 800 cubic feet of potential 3D display space. This is very large in most circumstances. Customers only "see" about 3 to 4 feet into a booth as they walk by. A display should concentrate on the initial 320 cu. ft. of "active" display to engage and draw the customer in for a closer look. This includes the floor, walls, and even the perceived ceiling that makes up the cube. Rented, lightweight display fixtures that are cheap and wobbly should never be used at the front of the booth. Nor should there be a traditional-looking "check-out counter" look that sets up a boundary most customers won't cross. Incredibly creative displays and booths are usually the ones built with the most limited budgets. Limited budgets are a blessing in disguise for display design.

Thanks for opening my eyes to some really important concepts Pat!

Cow Mountain Creations : How to Display Clothing at Shows

2010-11-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Wow! I am totally enamored by this awesome seametress. She and her husband are a team of crafters who really know how to set up a nice craft fair booth. It looks like she is always really stocked up, and has unique items that no one else has.
Her cute aprons and pajamas are surely crowd pleasers.
I saw her booth recently on Flickr, and have been thinking of it ever since.
It looks like they use a gridwall system as well as wooden walls to display this large amount of clothing. Clothes are so hard to display, and they really seem to have a clothing store inside their tent.
I would be at this booth for hours, looking at all of these nice items and displays.
It's like stepping into a huge closet and never wanting to leave :)

Make sure to check out Cow Mountain Creations on Flickr HERE.

Pat Ryan Displays

2010-11-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

Pat Ryan's Things - This designer builds fascinating interior displays for shops around the country. He is quite amazing!

Art + Science Salon in Chicago, IL

Craft Show Inspirations!

2010-10-27T13:20:00.001-07:00

Craft Show Inspirations!
Originally uploaded by HappySolez on Etsy

Some true inspirations!!
I love the look of bunting...
And I always like to have a bit of free candy to giveaway for the little ones and the adults love them too.
Next show, I will have some animal crackers, Tropical Mike and Ikes, and what else??

Renegade Design Harvest...Pictures to follow!

2010-10-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

On October 2nd + 3rd, 2010, from 11am – 7pm, many of Chicago’s best designers and distributors of handmade, sustainable and refurbished home + garden furnishings will descend on Chicago’s new ‘Design District‘ – Grand Ave. (between Damen and Wood) – for Design Harvest: Chicago’s 1st Annual Celebration of the Home!

Renegade Handmade, the brick + mortar storefront of The Renegade Craft Fair, will be hosting the D.I.Y. Home Decor Pavilion, featuring handmade home + garden goods by over 20 of our favorite indie-craft designers!

We’ve cultivated a curated selection of artists to feature an array of ceramics, clocks, art, pillows, frames, mirrors, kitchen-accessories, kids decor, small furniture items and more – all gloriously affordable + expertly handmade! Check out the artist line-up at the bottom of this page!

We couldn’t be happier to be furnishing our Pavilion with the help of the fantastic ladies behind Wicker Park’s best vintage home-goods boutique – Lenny and Me! We’ll have several pieces of gorgeous mid-century furniture, ranging from armchairs to bistro-sets, culled from Lenny and Me’s vast, treasure-filled inventory of downright dapper housewares!

Design Harvest has a lot of terrific features all weekend long, including musical acts organized by our favorite local venue The HideOut, beer + wine for sale, an Intelligentsia Coffee espresso bar, and all sorts of deals on modern, vintage + handmade home furnishings! We hear there’s even going to be an outrageously festive Barn Dance!!

Find out more, and preview all the outstanding Chicago talent appearing independently at this festival, here!!

We hope to see you there!!

LINK TO THIS ARTICLE

APPLY TODAY! New St. Louis Indie Craft Show on October 30

2010-10-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

From the super creative curator of Strange Folk Fest, comes another show. Sure to be well attended and fun...The St. Louis Rally to Keep Sanity Alive!

"Hey Strange Folkies!

I thought I would get a nice long break after Strange Folk, but when it came up to host a satellite event for Comedy Central's Rally to Restore Sanity/March to Keep Fear Alive at the Gateway Arch, I jumped at the opportunity to help plan it! This is totally independent from the D.C. event organizationally and financially, although The Daily Show has already begun endorsing us. We have been doing our best to raise money through donations for a JumboTron to run the DC feed as well as paying for all the permits,port-a-potties, etc. without getting any political parties involved. Comedy Central has taken a bipartisan stance, and aims to dispel hyperbole on both sides of the political spectrum. Organizers of the St. Louis rally are committed to "taking it down a notch for America". We have aimed to make our satellite event a celebration of wit, local independent business, and the spirit of finding common ground. And in that spirit, we are inviting local artisans to set up shop on the riverfront as part of our "Small Business Stimulus Plan"! We think everyone can agree that indie entrepreneurs are a positive trend in our country.

WHEN: October 30th, 10am-4pm
WHERE: The St. Louis Arch (The stage, JumboTron, concessions, and artisans will all be next to each other on Sullivan Blvd along the river)
FEE: $100 per 12x12ft space. You may split the space/fee with fellow artists!
SPACES AVAILABLE: 40
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: 10,000+
WHY IT WILL BE AWESOME: We have lots of great local restaurants, including Pi Pizza, Holy Crepe, and more in the works. We also have booze (provided by The Handlebar) and an ATM onsite!
We are featuring a "Threatdown" Costume Contest, local bands and comedians before beginning the live stream of the DC rally on a JumboTron at 11am and continuing comedy acts after the DC rally ends until 4pm. The JumboTron will be on a stage on the East side of the street, in front of the river, and concessions/artisans will be on both sides. We believe it will still be viewable, and definitely audible, to anyone walking around on the street, but it wouldn't hurt, if you have room and a laptop, to have the online feed of the rally running and facing out to the crowd (there is WiFi). Turn-out is expected to be fantastic. We have already had press mentions in the RFT, Post Dispatch, Business Journal, and the central satellite rally website where we are listed has been mentioned on dozens of national news sites and TV stations including the NYT, Politico, and St. Louis was mentioned specifically on CBS nightly news. We have over 600 RSVPed on our Facebook event page alone (and this is still 2 weeks out, in comparison, Strange Folk had about 400 RSVPs up until it started). We are starting to promote the crafty aspect of it big time too! Check out our shnazzy graphics! We'll also put a link to your shop on our website.
HOW TO APPLY: Fill out this form: http://stlouissanity.net/artists.php
Then, follow instructions to pay the fee via Paypal.
DEADLINE: ASAP! When we fill 40 spaces, the app will be taken down! Otherwise, this Friday, October 22nd is when we will cut it off."

Visual Merchandising

2010-10-14T23:58:00.000-07:00

I have been reading and thinking a bit about Visual Merchandising....

Fun Packaging

2010-10-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for unique and fun ways to package my items. some of these items include onesies, baby booties, organic sachets, and other goodies. Most items can stand on their own, but it is sure fun to give certain things a greater purpose and therefore better saleability. Also, if packaging is eco-friendly, reusable, recyclable, and/or biodegradable, that is key!

Coffee Bags, a great idea!

Wood Excelsior, a great shred-fill alternative! I bet it has an amazing smell and texture too.
Acid-Free, Recycled Kraft Tissue Paper. It's so nice to wrap your items in tissue and ribbon before you send them off to customers. A nice, elegant touch. Customize the colors to your own too!

Collage of yellow, blue, green

2010-10-11T12:33:00.001-07:00

Collage of yellow, blue, green
Originally uploaded by citychiccountrymouse

This collage is stunning. Click the image to be taken to even more of her pretty work...

Rockwell Crossing Artwalk in Lincoln Square (Chicago. IL)

2010-09-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

This looks like a fun event in Chicago. I know there would be lots of traffic too...
Here is their Facebook Page
"Takes place in Lincoln Square along Rockwell Ave. between Leland & Eastwood Ave. on Sat., 10.09.10! Come out and support local artists/crafters and get yourself some lovely DIY goodies!!"

Zapp Show listings!!

2010-09-29T10:54:00.001-07:00

I received this information via email from Zapplications.

Southwest Arts Festival® 2011 - Indio, California
DEADLINE: 9/30/2010
Jury Fee: $55.00
Event Dates: 1/28/2011 - 1/30/2011
You are invited to apply for the Southwest Arts Festival® presented by the Indio Chamber of Commerce in Indio California! Featuring over 255 acclaimed artists showing traditional, contemporary and abstract fine works of art and quality crafts, the festival is a major, internationally recognized cultural event and was attended by nearly 10,000 people in 2010.

As an invited artist you will enjoy one of the most exciting and hospitable festivals anywhere. Because we make a special effort to connect patrons with our artists, we require that all artists, regardless of weather, be present every day of the festival. Festival hours are 10 am to 5 pm each day.

We provide easy check-in and check-out procedures with safe and secure access to festival grounds for set-up and breakdown. We allow advance set-up for artists with special requirements (very large art requiring the use of cranes, forklifts, etc., or artists with special needs.). Artist parking is free. Disabled artist parking is available.

Tempe Festival of the Arts - Spring 2011 - Tempe, Arizona
DEADLINE: 9/30/2010
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 3/25/2011 - 3/27/2011
Scheduled for March 25 – 27, 2011, the Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts is among the oldest, largest, and best-loved traditions in the Desert Southwest. Held over a 3-day weekend, more than 250,000 visitors shop from the Valley’s best selection of fine art and craft, from more than 400 artists who come from nearly all 50 states and beyond. The Festival occurs in a festive street fair atmosphere in the Mill Avenue District of downtown Tempe, Arizona.

This juried show does not admit buy-sell artists, and promotes original art with all artists on site to engage visitors. The event is held semi-annually, taking advantage of the “snow bird” high season in Arizona. Fully one third of the Festival’s visitors are escaping the winter blues and come from outside Phoenix and outside Arizona, shopping for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift.

It’s fun for the whole family, too, with live entertainment, special kids’ activities, and the Arizona Wine Festival. The Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts offers a wide variety of amenities for artists including hospitality carts, booth sitting services, a large-art delivery assistance program, and a 24-hour security patrol.

Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts 2011 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DEADLINE: 9/30/2010
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 4/26/2011 - 5/1/2011
Presented by the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, the Festival of the Arts is now in its 45th year. This fine art show draws over 750,000 visitors annually and averages $1.2 million in art sales each year.

Waterloo Center for the Arts Annual Holiday Arts Festival - Downtown Waterloo, Iowa
DEADLINE: 9/30/2010
Jury Fee: $15.00
Event Dates: 11/13/2010 - 11/14/2010
In it's 40th year, this long-running and well-established fine arts festival falls at the perfect time to kick off the holiday shopping season!

Mesa Arts Festival 2010 - Mesa, Arizona
DEADLINE: 9/30/2010
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 12/11/2010 - 12/12/2010
Located in the heart of downtown, the Mesa Arts Festival is an excellent opportunity for artists to display and sell work to thousands of visitors looking to purchase unique gifts. Mesa Arts Center offers customized packages to fit the needs and desires of individual artists. Artists will be provided with the option of renting a tent, tables, and chairs, which will be set-up in advance. Two artists may purchase a booth together and share the space. Ample volunteer and promotional support is provided to all artists.
The Festival also features live entertainment showcasing local talent on two stages, live artist demonstrations, as well as children’s activities and a variety of food from local restaurants and vendors. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.

For more information
www.MesaArtsCenter.com
Shawn.Lawson@MesaArtsCenter.com/
(480) 644-6627.

Winterfest Arts and Crafts Festival 2010 - Center for the Arts Evergreen - Evergreen, Colorado
DEADLINE: 10/1/2010
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 11/13/2010 - 11/13/2010
The Winterfest Arts and Crafts Festival is an annual juried fine arts and crafts festival nestled in the lovely mountain town of Evergreen, Colorado. Winterfest is in its 31st year and it takes place at Evergreen High School.

Winterfest has approximately 100 artists with over 2,000 attendees during the one day event.

Center for the Arts Evergreen and the town of Evergreen provide support for the wonderful two day event. Volunteers and board members contribute many hours to make Winterfest one of the outstanding fine arts and craft shows in Colorado.

All proceeds earned during Winterfest are given back to the mountain community in the form of grants and donations to various artistic, musical, and theatrical groups. In addition, funds are used to support the "Arts in the School Grant Program".

Inner Harbor Art Festival 2nd Annual - Baltimore, MD. - Baltimore, Maryland
DEADLINE: 10/1/2010
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 10/9/2010 - 10/10/2010
Nestled on the Waterfront in downtown Baltimore along the Inner Harbor is the Power Plant area. We will be setting up on the Inner Harbor between the famous National Aquarium in Baltimore and E. Pratt Street.

In the fall time this area attracts major traffic from both affluent visitors and residents alike. Given the incredible venue and are major media co-sponsors and the developers, The Cordish Company, we are building one of the premier art events in the greater Baltimore Area.

Craft As Art Festival at the Nassau County Museum of Art - 14th Annual 2010 - Roslyn Harbor, New York
DEADLINE: 10/2/2010
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 10/9/2010 - 10/11/2010
Due to the request of many craftspeople, we are extending our deadline.

The Craft As Art Festival at the Nassau County Museum of Art have all of the benefits and impact deriving from a large and very affluent community of more than 1 million people at the single most prestigious cultural institution on Long Island. The Nassau County Museum of Art is well known and conveniently located with a large, educated and upscale audience. This is one of the wealthiest areas in America, called the “Gold Coast”.

Northville Christmas Market 2010 - Northville, Mi., Michigan
DEADLINE: 10/4/2010
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 11/19/2010 - 11/21/2010
A traditional European Style Christmas Market. Fine Arts and Crafts in the streets of Northville. A Greens Market, Christmas Parade and other activities assure a large crowd.

Sugarloaf Craft Festivals - Fall Shows 2010 - Various Nationwide Locations, Maryland
DEADLINE: 10/5/2010
Jury Fee: $45.00
Event Dates: 10/1/2010 - 12/12/2010
For more than 30 years Sugarloaf has provided a low overhead market for artists and crafts people to sell their work. Sugarloaf's Fall 2010 season includes seven great shows in some of the nation's best markets: Chantilly, VA, Gaithersburg, MD, Oaks/Philadelphia, PA, Timonium, MD, Hartford, CT and Somerset, NJ.

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts 2011 - Florida
DEADLINE: 10/5/2010
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 3/5/2011 - 3/6/2011
Recognized as one of the top-rated outdoor fine art festivals in the country, the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts celebrates its annual festival on March 5 and 6, 2011, in beautiful downtown Tampa. Since 1979, the Festival has been presented by Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Inc. - a non-profit, entirely volunteer organization. Each year several hundred artists exhibit their work for over 300,000 art enthusiasts and vie for the $15,000 Raymond James Best of Show Award as well as an additional $55,500 in award money.

Art in the Park Myrtle Beach - Chapin Park - October 9, 10 - 2010 - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
DEADLINE: 10/7/2010
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 10/9/2010 - 10/10/2010
Art in the Park has been going on since 1973. As a judged show It has always been in a beautiful treed park two blocks from the ocean and in the center of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Special Note, all of our jewelry categories are full for this show.

New Events

Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale National Art Festival - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
OPEN DATE: 9/17/2010
DEADLINE: 10/27/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 1/29/2011 - 1/30/2011
In 2008, after a hiatus lasting several years, the Museum re-introduced the original Las Olas Art Festival to the area. The festival was originally conceived in the early 70’s by the Museum support group, Beaux Arts. For over 30 years, this community favorite known by its acronym L.O.A.F. (Las Olas Art Festival), returned to Las Olas Boulevard and the park previously named Bubier Park. Today the park situated across from the Museum has changed its name to Huizinga Plaza and the event name has changed to the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale National Art Festival, but its roots are deeply planted as a noteworthy art event.

Since its resurrection in 2008, this prestigious event has established itself as an Art Festival of the highest caliber by participating artists and patrons alike. The National Art Festival attracts artists from around the nation and parts of the world. Not only does this grand outdoor event host award winning artists in mediums such as, painting, drawing, photography, ceramics, fiber arts and jewelry, but visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about area cultural organizations, enjoy live music, experience culinary delights, take in Museum exhibitions and all for a great reason. . . fostering creativity in our youth!

Mulvane Art Museum's Mountain/Plains Art Fair - Topeka, Kansas
OPEN DATE: 9/24/2010
DEADLINE: 1/15/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/4/2011 - 6/5/2011
Discover a visual feast for the eyes at the 19th annual Mulvane Art Museum’s Mountain/Plains Art Fair June 4 & 5, 2011. Enjoy the Museum’s welcome-to-summer event pairing the finest artists with hands-on art making activities, musical performances and food!

Long Island Fine Arts Festival 2011 - East Meadow, New York
OPEN DATE: 9/25/2010
DEADLINE: 3/17/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/21/2011 - 5/22/2011
We are honored to be hosting the second fine art event ever held in Eisenhower Park. In discussing our inaugural event in their August 2010 edition, Sunshine Artist reported that: “Given that Nassau County is a generally wealthy area, artist could expect to do well at this show. And they certainly did”.

Eisenhower Park is a stunningly beautiful 930-acre park located in the heart of Nassau County only 20 miles from Manhattan. Not only does Eisenhower Park have easy access from every major highway that surrounds the park but easy accessibility to all portions of Long Island.

As of 2008, Forbes reported Nassau County to be the second richest per capita in the State of New York and 10th wealthiest county per capita in the nation, with a median household income of $86,000. In 2005 it was also reported to be the “safest place in the nation” in the Forbes listing of “Best Places for Business and Careers”. Combined with the proximity to New York City where we will be doing extensive advertising for the event, we expect the event to draw the higher end art patrons and business clientele artists seek.

North Shore Fine Arts Festival - Roslyn, NY , New York
OPEN DATE: 9/25/2010
DEADLINE: 4/14/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/18/2011 - 6/19/2011
The North Shore Fine Arts Festival will be held in Christopher Morley County Park in Roslyn, New York. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, Christopher Morley Park is readily accessible to all portions of Long Island, located less than 0.25 mi from the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and about a mile south of the Miracle Mile on Northern Boulevard. The "Miracle Mile" in Manhasset is well-known for its high-end shopping center called the Americana Manhasset (Miracle Mile). The show site is on the very visible and heavily-traveled Searingtown Road.

The North Shore of Long Island in Nassau and western Suffolk counties that border Long Island Sound are referred to as the "Gold Coast". Historically, the area is one of the most affluent area in the country. Neighborhoods such as Manhasset, Roslyn, Great Neck, Sands Point, and Kings Point contain significant wealth dating back to the late 19th century. Christopher Morley County Park in Roslyn is a wonderful location for a fine arts festival offering unprecedented demographics.

Maryland Festival of the Arts - Silver Springs, Maryland
OPEN DATE: 9/25/2010
DEADLINE: 7/13/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 9/17/2011 - 9/18/2011
Once again we return to the same location as the Downtown Silver Spring Fine Arts Festival held in May. The show will run through the center of Silver Spring on Ellsworth street. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, Silver Spring is a major business hub situated at the north apex of Washington, D.C. The community has recently undergone a spectacular renaissance adding major retail, residential, and office developments.

Ellsworth Street typically draws 20,000 visitors on a non-event weekend in May. The downtown combines a vibrant, laid-back atmosphere with fabulous dining and shopping, hosting outdoor concerts, patio dining and an interactive fountain. The Downtown Silver Spring shopping district features an eclectic mix of entertainment, restaurants, retail, offices and a brand new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. Downtown Silver Spring is in a league of its own: upscale retailers offering a diversity of eateries and retail brings a new level to shopping, dining and entertainment. The show’s proximity to the Washington DC markets and built-in local audience make this an ideal location for a festival.

Long Island Art & Wine Festival - East Meadow, New York
OPEN DATE: 9/25/2010
DEADLINE: 7/21/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 9/24/2011 - 9/25/2011
We are honored to be hosting the third art festival ever held in Eisenhower Park. Located on The Kite Field where the spring Long Island Fine Art Festival is held in May, the event will create a venue of high-end fine art and craft complemented by wine tasting from local, national, and international wineries along with selected gourmet foods set up under a separate tent. As artists have long since learned, connoisseurs of art and connoisseurs of wine are typically one and the same. In discussing our May event in their August 2010 edition, Sunshine Artist reported that: “Given that Nassau County is a generally wealthy area, artist could expect to do well at this show. And they certainly did”.

Eisenhower Park is a stunningly beautiful 930-acre park located in the heart of Nassau County only 20 miles from Manhattan. Not only does Eisenhower Park have easy access from every major highway that surrounds the park but easy accessibility to all portions of Long Island via major interstates and parkways.

As of 2008, Forbes reported Nassau County to be the second richest per capita in the State of New York and 10th wealthiest county per capita in the nation, with a median household income of $86,000. In 2005 it was also reported to be the “safest place in the nation” in the Forbes listing of “Best Places for Business and Careers”. Combined with the proximity to New York City where we will be doing extensive advertising for the event, we expect the event to draw the higher end art patrons and business clientele artists seek.

Westhampton Beach Festival of the Arts 2011 - Westhampton, New York
OPEN DATE: 9/25/2010
DEADLINE: 7/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 9/3/2011 - 9/4/2011
The Westhampton Beach Festival of the Arts will be entering its third year, returning to the Great Lawn of St. Mark’s Church on Main Street in Westhampton Beach. 2010 was a stellar year for the festival, experiencing steady crowds and buying energy past the close of the show. Sales recorded by artists in 2011 confirm that the Westhampton Beach Festival of the Arts will be among the top fine art venues in the nation.

The Village of Westhampton Beach is located on the scenic south shore of Long Island in eastern Suffolk County. Being only 78 miles from midtown Manhattan, the show is readily accessible to New Yorkers with many of the patrons to the event maintaining residences in Manhattan. Westhampton Beach is considered by many to be the “First Hampton”. Since its origins, Westhampton Beach has been one of the fastest growing communities on eastern Long Island while maintaining its laid-back reputation. Trendy shops abound on Main Street and celebrities are routinely observed on the streets and in restaurants. Westhampton Beach is easily accessible without experiencing the infamous “Hampton” traffic jams and lodging rates are considerably more reasonable than in the East Hampton area. These are the demographics most sought after by artists.

Edina Art Fair 2011 - Minnesota
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 2/26/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 6/4/2011 - 6/6/2011
The Edina Art Fair is celebrating its 45th year as one of the most prestigious outdoor fine art fairs. The Edina Art Fair is first outdoor fine art fair in Minnesota and is held annually in the streets of 50th & France, the pre-eminent shopping destination in the Twin Cities.

ARTRIDER's Spring Summer Fall 2011 Events - NY/NJ/CT
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 1/10/2011
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 3/18/2011 - 9/18/2011
Artrider Productions Inc. has been nationally acclaimed for producing innovative events in the Northeast since 1982 and produces shows that maintain the highest standards and reflect an unwavering commitment to excellence. Artrider is now accepting applications for its Spring, Summer and Fall events: ••• ••• Spring CraftMorristown - New Jersey - March 18, 19, 20 ••• Spring Crafts at Lyndhurst - Tarrytown, New York - April 29, 30, May 1 ••• Guilford Craft Expo - Guilford, Connecticut - July 14, 15, 16 ••• Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst - Tarrytown, New York - Sept. 16, 17, 18 •••

Fairfax Fine Arts Festival - Fairfax, Virginia
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 2/25/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 4/30/2011 - 5/1/2011
The Fairfax Fine Arts Festival will be held in Fairfax Corner in Northern Virginia, part of the Washington metropolitan area. A beautiful mixed-use development offering main street style shopping at both national chain stores and local boutiques, Fairfax Corner also features a state-of-the-art movie theater and the best mix of restaurants in the area. Combining retail space, office space and residential living make it the ideal location for a fine arts festival.

Fairfax County is the most populated community in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Fairfax was the first county in the United States to reach a six-figure median household income and boasts the second-highest median household income of any county with a population of at least 250,000. The average income within a ten mile radius of the Festival is over a $125,000 and over 30% of the population have graduate degrees. In 2009, Forbes Magazine rated the City of Fairfax as #3 in the "Top 25 Places to Live Well”. Fairfax Corner is a premiere location for a fine arts festival.

Downtown Silver Spring Fine Arts Festival - Silver Springs, Maryland
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 3/3/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/7/2011 - 5/8/2011
The Downtown Silver Spring Fine Arts Festival will take place on Ellsworth Street in the heart of downtown Silver Spring, MD. Located in Montgomery County, Silver Spring is a major business hub situated at the north apex of Washington, D.C. The community has recently undergone a spectacular renaissance adding major retail, residential, and office developments.

Ellsworth Street typically draws 20,000 visitors on a non-event weekend in May. The downtown combines a vibrant, laid-back atmosphere with fabulous dining and shopping, hosting outdoor concerts, patio dining and an interactive fountain. The Downtown Silver Spring shopping district features an eclectic mix of entertainment, restaurants, retail, offices and a brand new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. Downtown Silver Spring is in a league of its own: upscale retailers offering a diversity of eateries and retail brings a new level to shopping, dining and entertainment. The show’s proximity to the Washington DC markets and built-in local audience make this an ideal location for a festival.

Scarsdale Fine Arts Festival 2011 - Scarsdale, New York
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 3/11/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/14/2011 - 5/15/2011
The Scarsdale Fine Arts Festival returns for its second year to central Westchester County again hosted by the Scardsdale Chamber of Commerce. The show takes place on the downtown Village Streets amidst elegant Tudor architecture, surrounded by numerous parks and extensive green spaces. The median income for a family is over $200,000. We expect this festival to be the crown jewel in Paragon’s lineup. Within a 25 miles radius of the site are Manhattan, Armonk and Greenwich, CT. We are adding valet parking for this event to accommodate our high end buyers.

Jersey Shore Fine Arts Festival 2011 - Long Beach Island, New Jersey
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 4/8/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/11/2011 - 6/12/2011
The Jersey Shore Fine Arts Festival returns for its third year to Long Beach Island, more familiarly known as LBI. Located just a few miles north of Atlantic City off the Garden State Parkway, the show is only a short drive from Philadelphia and New York City. June brings summer crowds seeking pristine beaches, soothing environs and quality shops, services and dining. Thousands of corporate leaders and celebrities from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania bring their families to LBI to savor the beauty that this barrier island provides.

In its first year the Jersey Shore Fine Arts Festival ranked in the top 100 fine arts festivals with both the Art Fair Sourcebook and Sunshine Artist. In 2010, severe thunderstorms threatened the show and our attendance on Sunday resulting in the show being closed early. We believe 2011 will see the festival restored to it’s top 100 ranking!

Gaithersburg Fine Arts Festival - Gaithersburg, Maryland
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 4/21/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/25/2011 - 6/26/2011
The Gaithersburg Fine Arts Festival will be held in the Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland in the heart of Montgomery County. Located adjacent to the District of Columbia, Montgomery County is the most populated and affluent county in Maryland. The Washingtonian Center, opened in 1998, combines with the Waterfront and Rio Entertainment Center to create a 530,000 sq ft environment of retail stores and restaurants and over 200,000 sq ft of entertainment uses. Residential communities such as The Crossing developed nearby have attracted high-end clientele. During summer, free concerts are held at the Waterfront of the Washingtonian Center. The median household income for residents of Montgomery County is $106,000 as of the 2007 census. Great demographics and a wonderful venue combine to create the foundation for a great art festival.

Cooper River Fine Arts Festival 2011 - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 5/27/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/30/2011 - 7/31/2011
The second Cooper River Fine Arts Festival is sponsored by the Philadelphia Inquirer and will take place along the scenic Cooper River. Cooper River Park (347 acres) runs through Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Collingswood and Haddon Township, among the country’s most affluent suburbs. The park is bounded by North and South Park Drives, Route 130 and Grove Street. Being a "bedroom community" within one hour's commute to Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton, and Princeton, the show draws heavily from all these cities. Camden County has a large college-educated population of doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, nurses, pharmacists, and scientists. In 2006, Cherry Hill was named among the 'Best Places to Live' in the United States by Money Magazine and was ranked eighth safest place to live in the same survey.

Cape Cod Fine Arts Festival 2011 - Hyannis , Massachusetts
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 5/12/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/16/2011 - 7/17/2011
The Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District is sponsoring their third Cape Cod Fine Arts Festival on the Village Green on Main Street in downtown Hyannis, the commercial "Capital of the Cape". Hyannis contains the town offices and two important shopping districts plus the historic downtown Main Street and the Rt. 132 commercial district.

For 2011 the event will be moved from its August date to the middle of July. This will offer heavier tourist traffic, being more mid-season. For those that have attended this event previously, the Village Green is a delightful location: close, intimate, and easily accessible to the patrons.

Hyannis is an important tourist and resort destination for the Northeast attracting wealthy families, celebrities, and prosperous tourists. It’s the primary ferryboat and general aviation link for passengers to Nantucket Island. The seven villages of Barnstable include Hyannis, Centerville, Osterville, Cotuit, Marstons Mills, West Barnstable and Barnstable Village. Together they offer historic homes, beautiful beaches, fabulous golf courses, exquisite dining and numerous attractions including the JFK Presidential Library located adjacent to the festival. These are the demographics most sought after by artists.

Greater Charleston Fine Arts Festival - Mount Pleasant , South Carolina
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 8/25/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 10/29/2011 - 10/30/2011
The Greater Charleston Fine Arts Festival will be held at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, less than a 10-minute commute from downtown Charleston. Patriots Point is on the east side of the Ravenel Bridge that spans the Cooper River linking downtown Charleston with Mount Pleasant. Patriots Point commands breathtaking views of downtown Charleston and Charleston Harbor and is currently home to World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, an extremely popular tourist destination.

The Charleston community has long been known for its support of the arts, home to over 40 art galleries. AmericanStyle magazine recently named Charleston a Top 25 art destination. Charleston is also a major tourist destination with numerous luxury hotels, bed & breakfasts, and award-winning restaurants. Mount Pleasant is centered in an expanding arts community and boasts the largest urban redevelopment project ever undertaken in the United States. Mount Pleasant is ideal location for a fine arts festival offering unprecedented demographics and a superb, visible location.

Charlotte Fine Arts Festival - Charlotte, North Carolina
OPEN DATE: 9/27/2010
DEADLINE: 9/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 11/5/2011 - 11/6/2011
The Charlotte Fine Arts Festival will be located in Symphony Park adjacent to the upscale SouthPark Mall, a Charlotte landmark and premier destination. SouthPark Mall, opened in 1970, is the largest shopping mall in North Carolina and first combining retail, dining, and residential living, creating a unique lifestyle for the residents. The SouthPark mall is anchored by Nordstrom, Belk, Dillard's, Macy's and Neiman-Marcus and luxury stores offer fashions such as Burberry and Louis Vuitton to casual staples such as J. Crew and Tommy Bahama. The newest addition to SouthPark, referred to as "The Village" is a 48,000 sq ft specialty store complex. During October and November SouthPark Mall traditionally attracts over two million visitors. Symphony Park, currently home to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's Summer Pops series, also hosts several other outdoor festivals and concert events. It is a perfect location for a Fine arts festival.

Lakefront Festival of Arts 2011 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
OPEN DATE: 9/28/2010
DEADLINE: 11/23/2010
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 6/17/2011 - 6/19/2011
Considered one of the nation's premier art festivals, the 49th annual Lakefront Festival of Arts features the jury-selected work of artists from across the country and world. Presented by Friends of Art as a fund raiser for Milwaukee Art Museum. The festival takes place inside the museum’s spectacular Santiago Calatrava-designed building addition, as well as on the adjoining outdoor museum grounds featuring our state of the art Clearspan tents. Enjoy the festival rain or shine indoors AND outdoors!

(16) Fantastic Toys

2010-09-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #16!

I am so impressed with this crafter. He has some absolutely stunning, stuffed creatures. He has such a whimsical aesthetic too. I was luck enough to get a bit of his time, and learn a lot about his work and how he prepares for shows, both indoor and out. Once you see this bright, colorful setup, you will probably be re-thinking your whole display! I know I am :)

1.) Please tell us a bit about yourself:
Name/Company Name:
Timothy Haugen/Fantastic Toys
General Location:
Minneapolis
Website or Contact Info:
http://myfantastictoys.com
His Flickr Site.
2.) What form of art/craft do you make?
I'm a toymaker. I design kawaii inspired paper printable toys and soft toys.

3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first?
Craftstravaganza 2007 was my first show. It was one of my most successful shows to date.

4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why?
My first craft fair I vended at was my favorite. My head was spinning from all the nice comments and gifts I received from other vendors. I couldn't sleep at all after the show. A representative from Etsy was there to film the event. I was filmed demonstrating a quick needle felting tutorial. The demo was later available on Etsy to watch which was really cool.

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why?
My least favorite fairs are the ones where the feature the same artists year after year and none of them inspire me. If I can find one artist that I like, the fair was worth going to. The worst fair I vended at was the one I lost my tent to high winds. After that I decided no more outdoor shows. :(

6.) Who tends to be your target audience? What tends to be your best selling item(s)?
My best buyers are people who love and appreciate all things CUTE. Although after doing craft shows I found out that my toys appeal to a much broader demographic then I thought. Young children go bananas over my toys and grandparents often consider purchasing my soft toys as baby gifts.
Buyers have learned to spend less with the current economy. As a result I've developed a lot of items under $10.00. These items seem to sell better than the higher priced items.

7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc...
I'm pretty bad about promoting my shows. In the past I've posted photos on flickr and mentioned it on my blog. I've never had a giveaway at my shows. I prefer to do those on my blog. I usually have a giveaway for the holiday season to promote my Christmas Collection. I've given away thousands of business cards at shows and surprisingly I don't get many sales because of it. For me online sales have always been better than local craft shows.

8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)?
I've thought about organizing a local plush show but I just don't have the time to put into it.

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business?
Without Etsy I'm positive I wouldn't have half of the sales I've made today. Etsy is truly the best thing ever to happen to crafters. Without it I wouldn't have collectors from around the world. Both Flickr and Etsy have been great to expose my work to a much broader audience then I ever expected. In the past year I have put a lot of focus on my blog. Blogs are great because they're easy to customize and add new info daily. I've added tutorials to my blog to gain exposure for crafting as well as my toys. I find Facebook and Twitter boring so I don't spend that much time there.

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference...
I think there is a big difference. I've participated at both and I prefer the Indie Craft Fairs. The buyers at those shows seem to get my work and appreciate it more. The art shows tend to focus on the fine arts: painting, pottery and photography. None of which I have any interest in. I find the artists at indie shows to be more creative. The work at those shows are usually more fun and whimsical.

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond.

Textile Center Holiday Show and Sale
November 1 - December 30
Textile Center, Minneapolis, MN

Peggy's Holiday Boutique
November 6-14
Roseville Skating Center, Roseville MN

HandmadeMN Market
Saturday November 20, 10 am - 6 pm
Ballentine VFW, Minneapolis, MN

12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want.
The best advice for setting up a booth is to go to a fair and look around at what others are doing and ask questions. I find that most artists are more than willing to give advice and help you out. I don't think any layout is specifically better than the other. I used to think the U shaped layout was the best but at the last show I did I went with a V layout. Because I wanted to display less I found the V layout showed off my work a little better. No two booths are the same and different layouts work better for different items. You wouldn't display pottery the same way you would paintings. Every artist displays and decorates their booth according to their personal preferences and personality. Your booth will not appeal to everyone that walks by. It really depends on weather or not they have the same aesthetic as you. Just be yourself.

The Creative Connection Event from 2010

2010-09-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Learn more about their event from this year in their Flickr Group HERE. This event looked amazing. It seems there was a kind of shabby chic aesthetic about the booths. The attendees also got to create jewelry in workshops, listen to famous, crafty ladies, and bond! This would have been an experience of a lifetime!! And, close to the Mall of America :) whoo hoo!

Hello MeMo: Fine City Friends {hellomemo.com}

2010-09-18T14:21:00.001-07:00

Fine City Friends 1
Originally uploaded by Joey's Dream Garden (formerly Joey 7)

Cute Cute Cute! Gotta love those vintage suitcases and linens:)
www.hellomemo.com

Gemma Nemer Booth

2010-09-18T14:13:00.001-07:00

Gemma Nemer 3
Originally uploaded by Joey's Dream Garden (formerly Joey 7)

REALLY sweet way to incorporate Vintage Items into your crafty display!

Steppie's Setup (event: mini-mart.)

2010-09-18T14:08:00.001-07:00

event: mini-mart.
Originally uploaded by steppie

Cute ideas for displaying unique items!! A great way to get items up and off the table for all to see!

11m2 - 1st craft show - Bags rack

2010-09-18T13:14:00.001-07:00

11m2 - 1st craft show - Bags rack
Originally uploaded by 11m2

Really cool ideas here! Fresh, Clean, Modern! Love it!

Zygomatics Booth in August of 2010

2010-09-18T13:12:00.001-07:00

Kermesse 29.08.2010
Originally uploaded by Zygomatics

Wow, this setup is filled with tons of fun items and display pieces! I love how everything is really girlie and purple/pink! So sweet!
Location: Kermesse 29.08.2010

Upcoming Shows for September 24-25 and October 2

2010-09-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. The end of the hot summer, the beginning of the cooler nights of Fall. The lovely weather also makes more people want to get out, buy art :) and just enjoying the outdoors. I will be in two upcoming events in the next few weeks.
Strange Folk Festival in O'Fallon, IL (their site HERE)
& our Carbondale Downtown Art and Wine Fair (DAWF) (our site HERE)

Both of these events are filled with wonderful, indie art, food, and good drinks! I would LOVE to see you there!!

Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago THIS WEEKEND!!

2010-09-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

See their Facebook Event HERE.
Location:
Division St. (Between Damen + Paulina) in Wicker Park!!

See their site HERE. And be at the show!!

The Big Crafty in Asheville, NC

2010-07-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

I found out about a really neat-looking show (The Big Crafty)from a lovely artist on Flickr named Katie Daisy.
I believe that Asheville is quite an artist's paradise anyway, so when the town comes together to promote indie art shows, you can't beat it!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganlibrarian/sets/72157621383762416/show/

lakeview festival of the arts

2010-07-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Near halstead st. In chicago. Look for this show on September 11-12! More info soon...

Selvedge Summer Fair (happened June 26)

2010-07-10T16:28:00.000-07:00

This event was probably a blast! The magazine Selvedge is one that I love browsing while at Barnes and Noble. The stories, images, and even advertisements are just such great resources. I am just now beginning to explore their website, sand you should too! My favorite part of the magazine is probably the ads to be honest :)

Below is an image of their current cover...

You may want to sit down for this one: Creative Connection in Minneapolis, MN

2010-07-07T14:00:00.001-07:00

This show looks amazing! It would be totally worth buying a plane ticket for!

"Nancy Soriano and Jo Packham of Where Women Create are pleased to announce the joint venture and launch of The Creative Connection, a new type of event that brings together creative women and women entrepreneurs in one setting. THE CREATIVE CONNECTION is all about being inspired on every level. We believe that every class, every panel, every meal should be creative and inspirational. To that end, TCC is featuring designers and their work at each of our event meals.
Read below to learn whose creative touches will delight you as you enter the Nicolette Ballroom for your Keynote Dinner, your Boxed Lunch with Entrepreneurs, your Editorial Panel Breakfast, or The Cupcake Farewell.
We are all about the finishing touches …"

See Their BLOG
and Their FACEBOOK

Some of the featured artists include:

AMY BUTLER
Our Welcome Keynote Dinner will be a literal garden of color as you find your seat at tables COVERED in cloths created from Amy’s newest fabric. You will be LOST in Amy’s world of BRIGHT, BOLD, BEAUTIFUL colors.

LISA LEONARD
If you look closely when you are seated for dinner, you will find gift boxes FILLED with the SURPRISE of an exclusively designed, elegantly handcrafted, Lisa Leonard piece of jewelry for each of our CREATIVE CONNECTION attendees.

KAARI MENG
Kaari is the design inspiration behind the French Country flavor of our BOXED LUNCH with ENTREPRENEURS. The tables resemble a picnic with brown boxes sealed in Kaari’s stickers and embroidered French table runners sitting underneath your fruited iced tea served in ball jars wrapped in twine.

SUZANNE MACCRONE
Our Italian Girl in Georgia is all handmade, crisp country whites and natural cotton home goods. When you enter the all white Shabby Chic decor of our EDITORIAL PANEL BREAKFAST you will discover Suzanne’s gift to you: her handmade Millinery Flower Pins . . . Perfect for your summer T-shirts or lapels.

If anyone goes to this event, I would love to hear about it and see some images. Thank you all!

Festivalet

2010-07-01T18:12:00.001-07:00

So, I just found out more information about the Festivalet. Earlier this year, I posted their super cute video HERE.

Anyways, on Flickr today, I found a few more photos! This indoor event seems to be held in a store front location, not outdoors. That is sometimes nicer doing an indoor show, even in the summer. You always know the weather conditions will be favorable for you and the visitors!

Anyways, here are a few images from the Festivalet, and you can find their website HERE. Also check out duduadudua for more info as well. It is not in English, but still filled with great photos!!

Thanks to Alicia, a Flickr member, for some of these images!! Please view her work HERE...

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How To Organize A Craft Show by Etsy!

2010-06-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Etsy wrote a fun article about how to organize a Craft Show. I have had the opportunity to help with our Carbondale, IL DAWF this year, and I have had a great time experiencing the volunteering and the behind the scenes stuff.
If you ever have a chance to help organize a fair, or start a show of your own, you are going to need a few other like-minded people to help, and also some city officials who also support your cause. Having food and drinks is a big plus to any community event. And there are so many more things you need to know....
Here is a bit of the Etsy Article, which I found HERE.

"Every year the summer season blooms with craft fairs and markets showcasing the handmade work of independent designers across the country and the world. In this week's edition of How-Tuesday, Julie Meyer from HandmadeMN, a team of Etsy sellers based in Minnesota, shares a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the organization and process of their first craft show, the HandmadeMN Spring Market. Read on for tips and inspiration for how your team might go about organizing a successful show.

The HandmadeMN Team members are no strangers to the craft and art show circuit in and around the Twin Cities. With local shows filling up with more and more team members it was only natural that the idea of hosting a team show came up. If your team is ready for a show, here are a few tips to get you motivated.

1. Who, What, Where, and When?
Gather a small steering team to meet in person and online several months prior to your show. Members from our team met this past January to begin the process of organizing an exclusive Etsy team show held in May.

* Select the venue and map the space to determine the maximum number of vendors.
* Draft the show application. We chose to jury the show, but you can fill a show on a first-come, first-served basis.
* Don’t forget to collect all the required tax forms needed for your city and/or state from each vendor.

2. Recruit Help
When the venue was booked and applications were coming in, the next thing we easily agreed on was that we needed a lot of help from the team to make the show a success!

* Set up committees to manage different aspects of the show and ask your vendors and team members to volunteer their time when they can. Keep track of each committee’s progress online so the team can see what needs to be done.
* We created committees for graphics, advertising, and show hosting.

The graphic committee selected show poster designs submitted by committee members. Courtney of justanotherday had the winning design for our show marketing materials, which included a show poster, postcard and HandmadeMN blog banner.

The advertising committee got the word out by putting together a press release for local newspapers, set up a Facebook event page, and negotiated print and online ads with local magazines. The show host committee got to work on the last-minute tasks that needed to be done as the show drew nearer. This committee canvassed the show’s neighborhood with flyers the week before the event, worked with the venue to make sure tables were set, and helped vendors during set-up. They were also in charge of setting up the team Information tables and greeting customers once the show started.

3. Creative Budgets
You’ll need someone to loan the down payment for the venue and handle all of the finances, including vendor payments coming in and print and advertising costs. Hit the streets and ask your local supply shops, garden shops, fabric stores, etc., to purchase advertising spots in your show program. These paid advertising spots helped to offset the printing costs, plus our advertisers spread the word about our show to their customer base!

4. Shout It Out!
Ask your team members to network with everyone they know. Blogging, tweeting, and Facebooking are an easy way for vendors and team members to help promote the show. Encourage team members to collaborate with their connections to creatively get the word out.

For example, one member of our team connected with one of her shop fans from Metro Magazine and the team received a beautiful spread in the May issue. Two other team members also had the opportunity to chat up our show and Etsy on FM 107’s Get Real Girls show. (You can hear the podcasts here and here.) Our advertising committee was able to team up with Articulture, a non-profit arts education center, to provide a make and take project for our customers during the show. The added bonus was the advertising that they did about our show to their customer base.

5. Follow Up
Putting on a show is hard work, so you’ll want to find out where your efforts best paid off. Offer a giveaway for your customers. Use the drawing slip to gather information from your customers about how they discovered the show and let them opt-in to receive emails about future team events. Ask your vendors for their feedback post-show so you’ll know what went right and what you might do differently next time.

Our first HandmadeMN Show was a great success, thanks to the entire HandmadeMN Street Team! Forty-six vendors rocked the show with a wide variety of amazing handmade items. Our customers showed their appreciation for handmade goods and left with packages in hand, asking, “When will the next show be?"."

A Few Shots from Yesterday (@ Art Around The Square 2010)

2010-06-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

1. Pretty Birdie Tees (@ Art Around The Square), 2. Wall of Onesies (@ Art Around The Square), 3. Birdies, Ornaments, and Vintage Displays (@ Art Around The Square), 4. Candy! (@ Art Around The Square), 5. Butter Dish (@ Art Around The Square)
I had a great time last night at my indoor show. Carbondale Mainstreet and The Chamber of Commerce provided a lovely, old train station for me to host my show in. I used a lot of vintage props this time! I am finally kind of happy with my display. Now to figure out how to set up for an outdoor show.

Table Displays from Outside Sources

2010-06-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

It is a good idea, as Caitlin is NICE says, to carry around a notebook of some sort, and jot down unique display ideas. You can really grab ideas from anywhere and everywhere. And, the more outside-the-box you go, the more appealing your table setup will be to customers. If a customer feel engaged and in a little unique environment, it is likely they will stay longer and hopefully buy more :)

Please comment below and tell us where you find these types of inspirations??

So, I have been using dottie angel as a source of inspiration. She uploads a lot of photos of her home and she is an avid blogger. I LOVE how she sets up these little vignettes of vintage items, sometimes inside, sometimes outside.

Another great inspiration for me lately has been party decorations. Especially when whimsy and vintage appeal are involved. Whether it be for a child's party or a wedding, the decorations and the setup of the food tables and treats themselves. One outstanding example of this would be the New York City Party Planner named Amy Atlas (Events). Be prepared to be amazed at her "Eye Candy". I cannot get over how amazing she and her photographer are!! Also, feel free to read her post about the Behind The Scenes/ Design Phase at her business. Quite interesting!

It's the little things that really catch my eye, and props are very important in setting up a crafty table, or taking photos of your items for online use. I love the way cake stands look as well. Even if you have just one item on them, they look so stunning. Tasty candy in fun bowls are always nice too! Make sure the candy won't melt or get messy in the summer months, though!

(15) Caitlin is NICE

2010-06-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Today, a very wonderful artist is featured! Caitlin is such an amazing woman! She has talent out the wazoo, and my goodness, she can sure set up beautiful vignettes for pictures. I could see her working for Anthropologie as a catalog display gal, or somewhere cool like that.
On top of that, she sure knows how to set up a cute craft fair booth! She tends to attend larger shows near Chicago, like Renegade, Art vs. Craft, and the like. She uses vintage photos and objects in her work, and for inspiration of subject matter.
I love the blue and white plaid background in her booth, it reminds me f vintage fabrics I have! And, it appears a lot of her work has a light, almost pastel appearance to it. She seems to be able to create something beautiful out of items some people might pass right by. Her deer plaques are so sweet! I also adore the wood-burned images she does, where she paints from old photographs. What a talented woman! Read more of her story below.

1.) Please tell us a bit about yourself:
Name/Company Name: Nice - Caitlin Holcomb
General Location if you want: Chicago
Website or Contact Info: www.nice.etsy.com, www.nice-etc.com

2.) What form of art/craft do you make?

I've been making my own style of banners out of vintage fabrics, Mini Deer Plaques and clocks, light shades with vintage doilies and lace, jewelry, and wood burned paintings. One reason why I chose to work under the name Nice is that it allows me to evolve and expand my craft interests!

3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first?

The first show I did was the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair in 2006. My booth set up was very minimal and not very great- but I did very well and was hooked on the whole experience! By the following year I had more confidence and a better vision, so my booth display improved tremendously and so did my success.

4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why?

My Mom is very creative and I grew up doing crafts and various projects with her. She often sold her work at local boutiques and she did a few craft shows. I did one with her when I was in 5th grade. I sold headbands and ink pens wrapped in embroidery floss and beads. I was very particular and didn't want to sell just friendship bracelets, haha. As an adult, the first show I attended was the Chicago Renegade in 2005. I went alone to check it out and it was so exciting! I remember having butterflies in my stomach going from vendor to vendor! I knew I had to be a part of it, and since 2006, I've done every September show. I am so, so fortunate to have the Renegade fairs in my city. They are absolutely amazing and draw people from all over the country- even world! As a shopper it is simply fantastic, and from a vendor's perspective it ends up feeling like a family reunion!

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why?

So far I haven't had any bad show experiences. I've just recently started doing shows outside of Illinois. I've done Art vs. Craft in Milwaukee, and the Craft Revival show in Detroit. They were both different from Renegade, but both great in their own way. I'm really hoping that I'll be able to do other Renegade shows outside of Illinois!

6.) Who tends to be your target audience? What tends to be your best selling item(s)?

My target audience seems to be young (and young at heart), creative people, which perhaps is a given in the handmade craft movement. My biggest sellers have been the Mini Deer Plaques, and my banners which have been featured in weddings and baby nurseries.

7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc...

The people in charge of the shows I've done have always promoted very well, but it's important that I do, too. I have a blog ( www.nice-etc.com ), a Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/NiceByCaitlinHolcomb ), and I also maintain a mailing list. I always try to have a few business cards in my bag, and I always encourage people to take a card at shows.

8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)?

I have not. It is a huge deal and I think you have to have a special talent to do that. I think it would be fun to volunteer, but so far I haven't had the time.

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business?

Etsy was life changing for me and has really made having a handmade business possible. It's a great community and is very helpful with exposure. New customers find your shop every day due to browsing around on Etsy.
Flickr is a wonderful way to display your work and organize it into a sort of portfolio. This comes in very handy when you apply to shows or are in contact with wholesale buyers.
I am still getting the hang of my Facebook Fan page. I want it to be a place where I can show my appreciation to the Fans. I'm trying to discover a good balance for posting- I don't want to post too much and end up being an annoyance! It's kind of tricky!

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference...

I think sometimes there can be a difference in things like aesthetic, price points, clientele.. But importantly, they both provide the opportunity to meet the maker, experience their vision, and I'm sure that the work at both art and craft shows come from the creator's heart.

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond.

I'll be at the Vintage Bazaar ( www.thevintagebazaar.com ) on August 22nd at the Congress Theater.
Hopefully I'll be at the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair ( www.renegadecraft.com/chicago ) on September 11 and 12 - acceptance emails go out in a week or so!

12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want.

Plan, plan, plan! Keep a little notebook with you and jot down ideas. If you're like me, you'll be anywhere from a flea market, bookstore, or a restaurant when you suddenly see something that offers display inspiration. I often set up my booth in the house or yard, and I always set up my tent and make sure it's still working.Think about your crafts and the aesthetic you want to achieve, and don't forget that you want to make it easy for your customers to see everything you have to offer!
My most favorite booth set up was at last year's Renegade show. I spent a lot of time thinking about it and it worked out very well! You can see it here: www.nice-etc.com/2009/09/ok-man.html

13.) Any closing remarks?

Thanks so much for the chance to be on your blog!

P.S. Other places you can find Nice:
-- Nice.Etsy.com
-- Like Nice on Facebook
-- Flickr
-- Follow Nice on Twitter
-- Renegade Craft Fair
-- Renegade Handmade brick & mortar
-- Asrai Garden
-- FredFlare.com
-- Douglas & Hope stores
-- PoppyTalk Handmade Market
This sign is so eye-catching! LOVE IT!!!

The Modern Pop-Up Flea Market IN CHICAGO!!

2010-06-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

{nice work featured above}

This event looks really cool! I learned about it from NICE (while searching the ever wonderful Flickr). She is also a master of setting up cute booths, so I may see if she wants to be interviewed here too.

Here is what their site says:
"ABOUT:
A vintage and antiques marketplace for the thrifty set, filled with reasonably priced vintage and antiques décor, furniture, clothing, and accessories.

Created and executed by Katherine Raz (BackGarage.com) and Libby Alexander (Alexander Salvage), The Vintage Bazaar had its first successful show at the DANK Haus in Chicago's Lincoln Square on Feb. 27, 2010.

The next Bazaar takes place at the Congress Theater on August 22, 2010.
Have a question? Just email Katherine (katherine@thevintagebazaar.com) or Libby (libby@thevintagebazaar.com)."

VIEW MORE IMAGES HERE...

Renegade show in Brooklyn this weekend!!

2010-06-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

June 5th and 6th (11am - 7pm) Oh, how I WISH I could visit!!! If anyone goes, leave a comment and let us know how it went. Good luck to all vendors!! See the site HERE.

Sowa Open Market in Boston NOW SHOWING!!

2010-05-23T11:07:00.001-07:00

Some of my absolute favorite crafters are vending at the Boston SOWA. My fave is Little Girl Pearl. She will be there June 13 and June 27. I would LOVE to see her setup :) Click the Play button to view their Flirkc Slideshow right below...

Downtown Art and Wine Fest Inspirations

2010-05-17T20:23:00.001-07:00

So, we are having our 3rd annual DAWF in Carbondale, IL this Saturday. I am gathering inspirations...Click on the images to go to their original Flickr pages...

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #14 (Sarita Baby)

2010-03-30T11:34:00.001-07:00

Since I love sewing for babies SO much, this seamstress is right up my alley! Sarita Baby creates some of the cutest items for babies, like bibs, quilts, toy tethers, binky clips, and much much more. She uses mostly designer fabrics, which is such a good idea - the prints are recognizable to even those who do not sew themselves. The quality of these nicer fabrics also is great, since the materials hold up after many many washings! Perfect for an item like a bib which you will be washing A LOT!! Sarita Baby uses quite a nice and colorful display. She hangs some items, while folding others in cute baskets with signs on them stating the price and name of the items. Since her prices are very reasonable, this is a great and welcoming idea!

Please read on to learn more about Sarita Baby...

1) Sarah Gaylor/Sarita Baby, I live 30 minutes outside of Toronto, www.saritababy.etsy.com
Flickr Page Here.
See her Facebook Page Here.
Don't miss her items at The Cuddly Bunny Here! She has been a busy lady :) This setup is astonishing! I can't get over it...What an honor!

2) I make modern funky baby accessories out of designer fabrics. The line includes: Bibs, toy tethers, pinafore dresses, quilts, pacifier clips and more.

3) My 1st show was the Heart of Country Craft Show, it was a 3 day event and very successful. I have done some shows that had a very poor turnout which can be hard.

4) My favorite show to date was the Better Baby Expo in Peterborough. There was a lot of people and a lot of advertising done for the show.

5) My least favorite was a show in Lindsat that was at a lodge. (it shall remain nameless) There were no signs, advertising people at the show!!

6) My target audience is young modern moms who are not interested in the disney/cutesy animal baby products. My best sellers would be my bibs and my pinafore dresses.

7) I always put an ad on Kijiji for the city I will be doing a show in (it's free) I put the event of my Facebook page, and my blog. I hand out a lot of business cards at every show and make sure to check out my fan page which is on the card.

8) I am in the process of organizing my first show with another local Mompreneur, Crazy Baby. We are deciding on the venue, advertising, dates. It is a lot of work.

9) Facebook has brought me a lot of business just from my fan page a lone! I lets people see what you are up to and new products. Etsy was where it all started though, I love that website! Flikcr is a great place to put your photos on and people from all over the world can see them, it's amazing.

10) Difference between Art and Craft Show? When I think of an art show I think of painted pictures, sculptures and things of that nature. When I think of a Craft Fair I picture anything and everything handmade.

11) My upcoming shows are: The Kid2Kid Sale this weekend Sunday March 28th in Peterborough, Ont at The Evinrude Centre,
from 10-2, Saturday May 15th ath the Ajax Convention Centre, Ont for the Mom2Mom Sale, The Heart of Country Craft Show in Oshawa, Ont. October 22-24 at the GM Centre, and last The Christmas Craft Show in Oshawa, Ont. Nov 28th at Kinsway College. I am always looking to book more though :)

12) I think the best advice would be is to make it a shopper friendly as possible and show how your item would be used. I am selling Sophie Leashes/Toy tethers and I have them displayed with one around Sophie the giraffe and one around a sippy cup. I sold out at my last show! Display some things at eye level, and at different layers. I am forever tinkering with my display.

13) My advice for doing shows is to have fun and make as many contacts as possible. It will show in future sales.

This is quite a fun video!! Take a Gander and be impressed.

2010-03-27T11:47:00.001-07:00

This video is very inspiring!!

Festivalet from Víctor Martínez Escámez on Vimeo.

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #13 (Good Girls Studio)

2010-03-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Today, we will learn a bit more about Johanna Ely from Good Girls Studio! I am pleased to hear that she participates in quite a lot of trunk shows and other fun, fashion-related events. I love the photos from this show: Good Girls Studio @ Durham Art Walk. The table covers are a cute addition too! It is great how the table display tends to always have 2 layers/levels to it. This wonderful artist really considers putting her work into a magical little environment of its own, perfect for a shopper to get lost in!! The vintage jewels, and also the vintage looking displays mesh perfectly together!!! Here is her fun interview:

1.) Please tell us a bit about yourself:
Name/Company Name: Johanna Ely/ Good Girls Studio
General Location if you want: Raleigh NC
Website or Contact Info:http://goodgirlsstudio.com
Her Etsy Page.

2.) What form of art/craft do you make? I am an eco-friendly jewelry designer & I revamp vintage jewelry & found objects into modern one of a kind wearable art.

3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first? I've been at it for 3 yrs now. My first 2 markets I barely covered my booth fee!

4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why?I love selling at the Rock & Shop markets in Raleigh. Beer, bands & shopping...what more could a girl want!/!

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why? Don't really have a least favorite but I do NOT like outdoor fairs. Your best bet for rain or 100 degree heat would be if I was working a tent ...always!!! Not even kidding! I've stopped working outdoor festivals!

This plate display is genius!!

6.) Who tends to be your target audience? What tends to be your best selling item(s)? 24-40 yrs. who are vintage hoarders or fashionistas. My best selling items are my Backstabber Collection which feature vintage pocketknives & hearts. There story line is "we were best of friends until you told everyone my secrets " !

7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc...
I promote any & all events I attend through Facebook, twitter & my blog. The last show I did was a fashion show /fundraiser & I met quite a few FB fans that I hadn't met in person! Never thought of having a giveaway at a show, something to ponder!

8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)? Not yet (aside from hosting my own home or store trunk shows) but it is a goal of mine for this year!

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business? I've met & made soo many great connections via Etsy & FB. The support of fellow artists means the world to me! It's great to be able to bounce ideas off like minded craftistas!

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference...I personally feel that the major difference is the perception of the words art vs. craft & that gives the buyer a price point in their mind. I personally do terrible at any show labeled "craft" as I have a higher end jewelry line. Most people who go to those shows expect to purchase most items under $20 & my median $ amount is $56. That being said, you all know the saying "opinions are like..." ; ) Just my own 2 cents!

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond.
On the schedule thus far are 2 back to back fashionshows...
CouturEvolution April 16th (put on by the fashion dept. @ UNC) & Redress Raleigh April17th (an eco-friendly fashion show). I'll be selling at the Green Bazaar as part of planet earth day on the 17th as well.

12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want.
It's all what you make of it Let your personality shine. I love the use of vintage props with my jewelry as it compliments the aesthetics of my designs. Use what inspires you & if all else fails, a black tablecloth can be your best friend & let your work shine out & stand alone!

13.) Any closing remarks? Research, research ,research! Don't apply to just any 'ol market/fair. Do your HW first & find out a bit about it. How long have they been around, how do they promote? Get feedback from other vendors who have worked it before. It pays to do this rather than waste your time at an event that no one attends or showing up to an event that isn't for your target market.

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #12 (The Mouse Market)

2010-03-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

Today I am featuring someone who has a really good attention for details!! I have no idea how in the world she makes things so small, but she can manipulate clay into looking like ti is fit to eat! She makes foods and pastries in 1/12 scale, which is the size needed to make your dollhouses really come to life! I know that recently on Etsy, many many people are now starting to collect these types of goodies! Dolls and Dollhouse miniatures are really starting to make a comeback in a big way.
Please read below to see how this creative mind thinks and learn more about her thoughts related to craft shows!

1) Mo Tipton/The Mouse Market
Columbia, MO (USA)
themousemarket.com/
www.etsy.com/shop/mousemarket

2) I create unique polymer clay food and floral jewelry and 1/12 scale dollhouse miniatures.

3) My first craft show was the Beaux Arts Bizarre in Columbia, MO, in November of 2009, and I was pleased with both my sales and customer feedback from that show. It was so much fun to interact with buyers face-to-face and hear about their polymer clay crafting experiences, dollhouse stories, etc.--things that I don't often hear from people buying through my Etsy shop.

4) So far, my favorite craft show was the Indie Craft Revolution in St. Louis, MO, hosted by the St. Louis Craft Mafia. They did such a great job of publicizing the event, so there was a steady stream of shoppers both days, and the mix of artists was phenomenal. It was really fun to be a part of such a talented group of people!

5) If I had to choose a least favorite, I would probably say the Beaux Arts Bizarre, mainly because it seemed that there would have been a much higher shopper turnout if they had arranged other activities, such as live music or a wine bar, and I don't feel that they used the space as well as they could have. I know that there were a handful of rather disappointed vendors who had hoped that a pre-holiday sale would have enjoyed a better turnout.

6) My food jewelry pieces seem to attract girls and women between the ages of 10 and 30, and the dollhouse miniatures appeal to collectors of all ages. As for my most popular pieces, I suppose my pretzel earrings and cupcake accessories have both been hot sellers, but the trends seem to change constantly, and the most popular item in my shop is rarely the same item at a show, and it varies from one week to the next.

7) I have always tried to promote my upcoming shows as much as possible by emailing everyone I know, blogging about it, putting up flyers, Twittering, etc., and while I'm at the show, I always give out plenty of business cards. If the show coordinators have put together a goodie bag, I also try to contribute something to that, and I've started giving out coupons for my Etsy shop to show customers.

8) I have not had the opportunity to put together a show yet.

9) Etsy has been a great way for me to get my work out there, although it has taken quite a bit of effort to make sure that my shop doesn't get lost in the sea of fantastic sellers, and I'm still figuring out new ways to promote my work. Listing new items regularly and Twittering about those items seems to draw a lot of visitors to my shop, and my Flickr galleries have turned out to be one of the best marketing tools available. My stats show a number of visitors coming either to my website or my Etsy shop from Flickr, so I always make a point to post new items in my galleries.

So far, I haven't taken the Facebook plunge, and I'll likely hold out as long as possible. I spend so much time online as it is, listing new items, uploading photos to Flickr, blogging, etc., which, while these things are important, they also represent time that I'm not making new pieces, and I can't imagine adding one more online thing that I have to attend to regularly. All the promotion in the world isn't going to help me if I don't have new pieces to sell, so I have to draw the line somewhere.

I have also experimented with paid advertising on blogs, and the cheaper ads available through Project Wonderful have generated a good amount of visits, but I'm not sure that I will be paying for more expensive ad space on popular blogs in the near future. While those ads have drawn a decent amount of visitors to my shop, it wasn't an overwhelming number, so I might be better off spending less money on a greater diversity of Project Wonderful ads.

10) It seems that many of the craft shows offer more reasonable booth fees, and their application process is a little less stringent than the art shows, which is not to say that they don't attract top quality artists, but they seem to be a little more flexible. I've certainly been discouraged to apply to a few art shows by their incredibly steep fees and the lengthy, overly specific application requirements, which, while I'm sure they have good reasons, sometimes seem a little silly (i.e. sending an application in a padded envelope with precise dimensions--is that really necessary?).

11) The most current listing of my upcoming shows can be found on my shop/shows page: themousemarket.com/shop-2/

12) I am constantly tweaking my booth set up, and I learn something new at every show. I think one of the main pieces of advice that could be applied to most types of wares is to make sure that your booth layout makes it easy to pick up items for a closer look (unless your stuff is super expensive, in which case that might not be a good idea!). My first booth layout looked cute, but it was a pain for shoppers to remove the jewelry from the displays, especially if one hand was already laden with bags, so I keep modifying the set up to ensure that everything looks neat and tidy, but people can easily grab stuff to hold earrings up to their face, to try on a bracelet, etc. (Which reminds of another tip for clothing or accessory artists: Bring a mirror!)

I also think that it's important is to have your prices neatly and clearly displayed. When I'm shopping, I sometimes don't like to ask how much something is for fear that if it's too high for my budget and I don't buy it, the artist will think that I don't feel their stuff is worth the price. In a similar vein, having neatly printed, eye-catching signs that give less talkative customers information about your items can be helpful. The number one question I get at shows is, "Do you actually make these?" and when people find out that everything is handmade, not only are they more impressed, but they're more apt to buy.

Don't assume that your customers know anything about your work. Try to think about your pieces as you might if you were seeing them for the first time, and enlist the help of friends if necessary. Come up with a list of questions you would want to know about your work (i.e. what is it made out of, is it machine washable, etc.), and consider turning the most important questions into signs without cluttering up your booth with every possible question and answer. That way, if a buyer is shy, they're still getting the most pertinent details in order to make an informed purchase. At the very least, you should be ready to answer those questions should someone ask.

Last but not least, a tip from my friend Lisa of satsumabug.etsy.com: Pay attention to traffic flow! One of the biggest challenges I face with my booth set up, which is one single banquet table, is how to direct shoppers to different parts of the table so that more people can browse my booth simultaneously. It's not possible to solve this problem 100%, but if all of your items that require more time to take in, such as highly detailed pieces, things that require trying on, or your mailing list sign up, are focused in one area, you might see curious shoppers giving up and moving on if they can't find any elbow room. It will take experimentation, but play around with different layouts, try setting up satellite tables or displays, anything that will give shoppers more spots to spread out and browse.

13) It seems obvious, but judging by the number of artists who don't do this, perhaps it's not: Smile and look friendly! Say "hello" to people as they wander past your booth. You'd be surprised how many shoppers will stop and browse simply because you're the first or only person who has greeted them.

Don't hide behind your booth with a book, or worse, with a bored scowl on your face. People who go to craft shows with the intention of spending money often do so because they have an interest in supporting artists, because they like to know where their purchases are coming from, because they want a personalized shopping experience that big box stores can't provide--you get the idea. It seems that people are more apt to buy from someone whom they feel a connection with, however small, and if they enjoy talking with you, they're likely to spend more per sale. Striking a balance between being friendly/available and pushy/overbearing is important, and it sometimes helps to bring a friend along to give you constructive pointers on your selling technique.

Making yourself available to your customers also means that you get to supply them with personalized answers to the questions previously mentioned, answers that help your customers see how much time and talent goes into each piece and gives them more reasons to buy from you! It also helps to have little stories about your various pieces, perhaps what inspired you to make the piece, any specific techniques that you use, for whom it might make a good gift, etc.

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #11 (Sweet Plum Vintage)

2010-03-23T19:21:00.001-07:00

Today, after much waiting (which I am very sorry about!!!), I am proud to present Sweet Plum Vintage. It is fun to see her progression of her show setup through the images she graced me with! I love how colorful her items are, and I also love the great variation of goods that she offers.

Sweet Plum Vintage offers super cute, one of a kind jewelry like earrings, fancy necklaces, and the like, adorned and embellished with beautiful vintage buttons and reclaimed vintage pieces. These pieces are all statement pieces, and if you wore one to a party or to work, all the girls would have to comment how cute you look, and ask where you got your goodies!! My favorite item in her shop right now are the Lucky You Vintage Button Earrings, which are cute blue/periwinkle earrings with little mushrooms and lucky horseshoes on them!! I don't know where she finds such amazing vintage pieces, but she sure has an eye for details and color!!

Lucky for us, Cara would like to offer a 20% discount to blog readers in her shop! Anyone who mentions the Craft-Friendly Blog during their first purchase at SweetPlumVintage on Etsy will receive 20% Off their first purchase!! How great is that!Please make a comment in "Note to Seller". Hurry over to her shop!!

Here is her fun interview!!

1.) Please tell us a bit about yourself:
Name/Company Name: Sweet Plum Vintage
General Location if you want: Ann Arbor, MI
Website or Contact Info: www.sweetplumvintage.com
tel: 650.814.7796
email: sweetplumvintage@gmail.com

2.) What form of art/craft do you make?
Whimsical handcrafted vintage and antique button jewelry

3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first?
I first started selling at fairs in 2009 (only in the past year) and I would say that my sales have been hit or miss. I think a lot of it at first is making sure you have great branding, great presentation, and good price points and style that market to your target audience. I'm constantly designing new products and fairs are a great testing ground to see what speaks to people.

4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why?
Thusfar, my favorite Fair was the Saratoga Art & Wine Festival in Saratoga, CA. It is one of the smaller ones that I have done, but it was in my previous hometown on our little Main Street, close to home and around people I love.

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why?
I would also say the Saratoga Art & Wine Festival was also my least favorite, because it is such a small town, and it doesn't attract a wide audience. Also, the audience didn't really fit my target audience. It's really important that they are a match. I did the San Francisco Union Street Eco-Urban Festival which was a much better match, targeted at young, well-to-do urbanites with a passion for all things "green".

6.) Who tends to be your target audience? What tends to be your best selling item(s)?
I would say my target audience is women with a whimsical, playful sense of style between the ages of 25 and 60 who like to invest in one-of-a kind pieces. My best-selling items are my new "Bubble" Fabric Vintage Button Necklaces and my vintage button rings.

7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc...

You are your best marketer. I think it's really important to ask if there are opportunities with Show coordinators for marketing, but to rely on yourself to generate the major marketing campaign for the show. I usually do a give away at my shows whereby when you sign up to receive my monthly newsletter, you are entered to win a piece of jewelry. I also make postcards with my story on them, and the vision of my company, and of course hand out tons of business cards! I'm in the process of working with a great web design firm to create my new website and a new logo, and plan on printing new stickers, t-shirts, and other fun marketing materials.

My first few shows were done in conjunction with an eco-friendly company, FairTribe, who sell eco-friendly clothing and accessories that pairs well with my jewelry. It was mutually beneficial for both of us. This can be a great way to go, because as long as your target market is the same, your booth will likely attract more people (with more merchandise), and cost you a lot less (fees can be very expensive!).

8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)?
No, but I was thinking about doing one in my hometown of Ann Arbor and joining forces with some of the fabulous local jewelry artists and some local chocolatiers and wineries for a night of art, food, and wine.

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business?
I started with Etsy to see if I though I could really make a go of being a jewelry artist. Now that I am becoming more confident with my skills, and more aware of my target audience and where I want to go, I am working on creating a site separate from Etsy to distinguish myself a bit more. Etsy is wonderful in that it allows everyone to post all their creations, but it doesn't allow you to interact with your customers in all the ways you might want to as a professional artist. For example, there is no where to have a portfolio, to adequately market to potential wholesalers or retailers interested in consignment, and so on and so forth.

Flikr has been great as a way for me to show my portfolio to the web world and in particular to Flikr groups that focus on jewelry, buttons, and jewelry marketing and PR. In fact, I met the writer of this blog on Flikr and was asked to be featured! You can post pictures to your own Flikr account as well as to these groups for more directed advertising. It is also a nice way to quickly browse through other people's work and get inspired! It is very heavily populated though, so you really have to make sure you tag your items well, take great pictures, and join groups that would be interested in what you have to offer so that they will take the time to look at your art.

Facebook has been a great avenue to connect with Fans, get their opinion on new ideas, offer special sales and promote all facets of my business: workshops, recent press, interesting "behind the scenes" tidbits and pictures of work that has been put into various retail locations among other things.

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference...
I think there are many differences between the two. First of all, the type of work they are looking for: craft fairs tend to populate with artists with a "folksie", "down home" kind of feel, while Art shows are looking for work that is very refined. I'm wouldn't dare say that one is more "art" than the other, I just think they have a different feel to them. I also think they attract a different demographic. I would say that in general Art shows tend to attract an older, wealthier crowd than craft fairs, and I think it is because of the price point and the style.

Also as an artist, the application process is very different. Art Show jury members are looking for very "professional", uncluttered, clean photographs that center on the work of art itself. All of the photographs in the set you apply with should flow together. They expect to see a booth shot, without anyone it it, that clearly shows 3 sides of the tent and set-up you would have. From what I understand the booth should really highlight your work, and be clean to the eye.

I think the application process is different for craft fairs. Some people might say they are less competitive. In a certain way they are. I think they are interested in not only the work, but the context you put it in. It seems there is some more leniency on the background in photos, and booths can be a bit more eccentric and colorful.

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond. I have applied to many and am waiting to hear back! Cross your fingers!

12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want.
I would say, whatever you do, make sure it is the pieces at your booth that you are highlighting. You art should be the centerpiece, not the stuff around it, though done in the right way props and the like can be used to augment the story your art is telling.

I would also say it's nice to do something a bit different. For some reason the white and black velvet busts get really boring to me. I've seen countless booths with tons of these lined up with beaded jewelry on them, and I don't remember them. I like to see something a bit different. They now make really cool wood and linen busts in all kinds of natural tones which I personally love. I would invest in good lighting and good, clear, signage so that people can easily spot you out of a crowd of tables and will remember you. Don't expect yourself to have the perfect booth the first go around. I have plans for a completely different booth set up for the next time I am in a fair or a show.

13.) Any closing remarks?

The most important piece of wisdom that I got recently from my aunt, a professional photographer, was to remember that you are not your art. Remembering that I do many things in my life, not just my art, is really important, and that if someone rejects my art, they have not rejected me. When I remember this, it's easier for me to put my work out there, get advice and feedback (positive and negative) and improve. I hope for everyone out there trying to make a living from their art that have the courage and humbleness to keep putting there work out there-because it truly is a gift!

Craft Fair Extraordinaire Feature Interview #10 (Beyond Her)

2010-03-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

I found this amazing artist from another person I interviewed. I am proud to introduce Beyond Her. Paule Hewlett makes an assortment of goods including calendars, apparel, mugs, note cards, textiles, tablets, and books. I am super impressed with her organic style when it comes to her booth setup too. Having beautiful items in the booth is of course the main challenge to success at any show. But the overall look of her booths are just beautiful and I would give her an A+! I love the way her booth really looks like a store filled with her personalized, screen printed items. I can't believe how full the booth is, but your eye is never confused. She also seems to use very natural materials in her work, which is echoed by wooden displays and an airy feeling.
Paule was kind enough to answer a few questions, and I am glad to share her answers with you...

1.) Please tell us a bit about yourself:
Name/Company Name: Paule Hewlett / Beyond Her Productions
General Location: Texas / California
Website or Contact Info: www.beyondher.com / paule@beyondher.com

2.) What form of art/craft do you make? I think of myself as an "imprint artist," which means that I find ways to put my art onto different surfaces. I started out producing calendars and note cards featuring my watercolors. But then I got interested in screen printing. I changed mediums, started working in pen and ink. And now I have something like 40 products, ranging from paper to ceramics to all kinds of textile items with my original images either silkscreened or printed on them. The selection is always changing, but the idea is to create functional, beautiful objects for the office, home, wardrobe. I call it Art for Every Day.

3.) When did you start vending at Craft Fairs? Were you successful at first? My first booth was at the holiday fair at my church, and from there I went to country clubs. The sales were fair, but after a while it was clear this wasn't my clientele. I tried some of the Texas Craft Fairs, but again, about one out of every 15 people liked my style of products. I started doing a small First Saturday Arts Market in a funky neighborhood in Houston, which is small but more my cup of tea. I'm reading now about "indie entrepreneurs," and "alternative wares," which means that people are recognizing that there is a difference. It's getting easier and easier to find appropriate spaces.

4.) What is/was your favorite Art/Craft Fair you have ever attended/vended at and why? I have two: one is a holiday show in Austin called Blue Genie Art Bazaar. A group of artists rents an event venue and provides 8 x 8 x 2' vertical space for 100 artists. The show runs for three weeks in December and they handle all sales - artists simply re-stock. They run a great show and everyone does well. The other is Renegade Craft, which I did in San Francisco. It was more of a lark than a business venture, but I was SO impressed with the crew - total professionals. Everything was uber-organized. Plus, the wares were unusual, high quality and priced accordingly. It was a great atmosphere.

5.) What was your least favorite Fair to attend/vend at? Why? I did a show called Unique LA one spring that was just too big. Shoppers got disoriented and bored, and as a vendor it was easy to get stranded in the outback. It was also in a downtown space that didn't have a community to draw from. Everyone went home disgruntled, although the show continues. It might just have been too young a crowd for me.

6.) Who tends to be your target audience? What tends to be your best selling item(s)? I love my customers! They're usually art-oriented and a little bit of an outsider. I have some apparel that appeals to youngsters, but most of my buyers are 30 and older. They do museums rather than malls. They like my dishtowels and napkins, because they cook; they like the cards because they write thank-you notes. If I ever get a man in my booth, he's either lost or very cool.

7.) Do you ever do marketing for your upcoming shows, or do you leave it to the Show Coordinators? If you do promotions, how do you do them, and do they seem to work well? Do you ever do giveaways at shows? Give out lots of business cards, etc... Even if the show is out of town, I do my own marketing. Sometimes I print postcards and send them ahead to local retailers to get them to come out. For local shows I usually do an eblast - I've found people like to be invited to events and for me it's nice to see a friendly face. Most of these people are great customers.

8.) Have you ever helped put a show together or run a show? Which one(s)? Right now I'm helping to organize a monthly event at my studio space. There are about 30 artists -mostly fine artists and photographers. I'm looking for some way to NOT have to load in and out of a show, so I'm the most motivated to make it work. It's pretty casual right now, but we can see the numbers improving. All these things take time . . . . I'm very patient.

9.) How have Flickr, Etsy, Facebook, etc helped you expand your crafty business? I love the convenience of Facebook - one announcement and your show is advertised! I also use it to preview new products and announce new outlets. Etsy is still mysterious to me: I can't figure out why some months are so much busier than others. But I keep posting. . .

10.) What do you think the difference is between an Art Show and a Craft Fair? If there is any difference... Art shows are really more like gallery openings - the focus is on chatting and viewing more than selling. My joke is that I bring the "merch." Fine artists are amazed at my set-up and inventory. My booth might have 200 items, and they might have six paintings. But it's a good mix for me.

11.) If you wish, please list your upcoming shows for 2010 and beyond. I'm thrilled to be doing the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin May 15-16, 2010. I do the First Saturday Arts Market in the Houston Heights almost every month. And of course, I'm putting out a personal invitation for everyone to join us at the Third Saturday Open Studios at the Hardy/Nance Street Studios through August.

12.) Any words of advice for people who do not think their setup is as good as it could be? What is your most successful layout for a table or booth. Be as general or specific as you want. I set up differently every show, much to the annoyance of my husband. But the dynamics change depending on who's next to you and where you are in the floor plan. If you're small enough, setting up with the table up front is most comfortable for shoppers - no commitment. But I have so much stuff, I have to make it inviting to come in. I try to make it look as boutique-y as I can, similar to a nice shop. I put clothes and bright colors inside, to draw attention. And I've used everything imaginable to utilize the vertical space. My entire house and studio have come into play as display items!

13.) Any closing remarks? Couple of things. To simplify for me and my customer, I'm experimenting with taking fewer items centered around a theme such as a holiday, or cooking, or summer. I'm still evaluating if this is a good idea or not. The other thing is I have flyers from all my shows at every show to give out. It starts the conversation. Which, by the way, is HUGE. Talking to people in the booth makes the time go faster for you, but it also warms people up and enlists their support. Don't be shy! {Thanks for such a lively interview!!!}

If you want, feel free to browse more of her beautiful images HERE.