PrintSource Pattern Design Show in New York

Wow, this show is really not one to miss. A Pattern Designer, Daisy Janie, listed the show in a flickr group, and said she was participating. As a graphic designer and fabric lover myself, I really wish I could attend this fascinating show!!!
" Printsource New York, The Premier Market for Textile and Surface Design in the USA, holds three shows a year at 7W NEW YORK, located at 7 West 34th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. As the hub for the world’s top creative talent, Printsource showcases hundreds of collections by international textile and surface design studios and agents. England, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and the U.S.A. are just some of the countries featured each season at the Show.
As the first buying stop of the design season, Printsource is the cornerstone event for thousands of apparel, paper goods and home textile manufacturers and retailers."
See Daisy' Prints, and also her neighbor's (samantha hahn).

ZAPP Show Deadlines Available Here

Upcoming Deadlines - APPLY TODAY HERE!

Art & Air 2009 - Webster Groves, Missouri
DEADLINE: 1/30/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/5/2009 - 6/7/2009
St. Louis, Missouri - The 6th Anniversary of the "Art&Air" Fair will be held June 5-7, 2009. This one-of-a-kind fine arts fair is set on the beautiful park setting of Eden Theological Seminary grounds in the heart of historic Webster Groves, Missouri; conveniently located between Downtown St.Louis and Clayton, Missouri. Art&Air, continually noted as an Artist's favorite fair for unmatched hospitality and amenities, will continue to focus on the artists and their work, while offering delectable food, top-notch music performances and unique creative activities for the whole family. The Art&Air Fair's board, the Webster Community Arts Foundation, the hard-working Art&Air staff and dedicated volunteers will once again aim at making Art&Air a successful, yet fun art fair for both the artists and the many art-buyers coming from far and wide. Be one of the 100+ artists who will fall in love with the Webster Groves charm and hospitality at what has quickly become one of the best ar t fairs in the Midwest.

Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts - 8th Annual (Hobe Sound, FL.) 2009 - Hobe Sound , Florida
DEADLINE: 1/30/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 2/7/2009 - 2/8/2009
Hobe Sound is located in affluent Martin County just north of Palm Beach County and south of Stuart and Jupiter Island; the wealthiest hamlet in the county.
The show has built quite a reputation among our artists, and is quickly becoming a “must do” show on our winter tour. Held along four blocks of A1A/Dixie Highway, this show attracts a discriminating buying crowd.

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts 2009 - State College, Pennsylvania
DEADLINE: 1/30/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/9/2009 - 7/12/2009
The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts was founded in 1966 by Penn State University’s College of Arts and Architecture and the State College Chamber of Commerce. Drawing over 125,000 people to State College each summer, the Festival includes, in addition to the nationally recognized Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, a gallery exhibition, Children and Youth Day, educational opportunities, and music, dance and theatrical performances in a variety of traditional and non-traditional venues.

Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair 2009 - Bellevue, Washington
DEADLINE: 1/30/2009
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 7/24/2009 - 7/26/2009
The 63rd Annual Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair is July 24-26, 2009 in Bellevue, WA. This is the largest and most prestigious juried arts and crafts fair in the Pacific Northwest. The Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair is the largest fundraiser for Bellevue Arts Museum. In 2007, artist sales were estimated at $2 million and the audience increased to 350,000 in 2008. For additional information logon to http://www.bellevuearts.org.

East Lansing Art Festival 2009 - East Lansing, Michigan
DEADLINE: 1/31/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/16/2009 - 5/17/2009
Established in 1964, the East Lansing Art Festival (ELAF) is a two-day outdoor celebration of culture and the arts and is mid-Michigan’s first major art show of the summer season. Known for featuring the highest caliber fine art and fine craft, this highly anticipated festival attracts 70,000 knowledgeable art patrons from the region. The event includes live music and performances on two stages, a children’s arts activity area and an international-style food court. The ELAF is a non-profit community arts and cultural event.

NICFest - Nicolaysen Community Festival 2009 - Casper, Wyoming
DEADLINE: 1/31/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 6/26/2009 - 6/28/2009
NIC Fest is an outdoor community festival that incorporates many forms of art, including an art show and sale, live music, childrens art and activity areas, a car show, and exhibitions within the museum. This festival brings out the entire community and many visitors, with total attendance of 15,000 in 2008, its third year. Bigger every year, we are expecting 18,000 visitors and shoppers.

Renaissance Fine Arts Festival - Ridgeland, Mississippi
DEADLINE: 1/31/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/30/2009 - 5/31/2009
Your fellow artists Dale Rayburn (www.dalerayburn.com), Mamie Joe (www.mamiejoe.com) and I, H.C. Porter (www.hcporter.com), invite you to be among the first artists to exhibit at a contemporary fine art show that we hope will become a staple event for the best of the best! We need your help to give an affluent and unexposed community, Ridgeland, Mississippi, the opportunity to collect your outstanding artwork.
We are working hard to promote this event and to create an exceptional show experience for you, our friends and fellow exhibitors. The show is limited to 100 talented artists to give us all a concentrated buying public. We are offering cash prizes, reduced rates at a new hotel within walking distance and parking is easily accessible.
We realize the name of the show may be confusing, but the event is not a medieval faire. It is a contemporary fine arts festival where artists and patrons can meet, mingle and conduct business. The name Renaissance refers to the name of the premier shopping and lifestyle center in the area, and the site where the festival will be held, the elegant Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland, Mississippi (www.renaissanceatcolonypark.com).
The Renaissance Fine Arts Festival is presented by the Ridgeland Tourism Commission, a tax-exempt, state-chartered agency.
H.C. "Chris" Porter (www.hcporter.com) is our Artistic Director. Chris has exhibited at festivals across the U.S. for more than 15 years and is a long-standing member of NAIA.

Boardwalk Art Show & Festival 2009 produced by Contemporary Art Center of Virginia - Virginia Beach, Virginia
DEADLINE: 2/1/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/18/2009 - 6/21/2009
The Boardwalk Art Show and Festival is one of the oldest and best outdoor fine art shows on the Eastern seaboard, and this year will mark our 54th year. The show is consistently ranked in the top 40 of Sunshine Artist Magazine’s Top 200 Art Shows. With an average attendance each year or more than 300,000, this four-day festival is one of the most popular in Virginia, attracting collectors and artists from across the nation. The show runs along the Virginia Beach boardwalk from 17th Street to 32nd Street, overlooking the sandy beach and Atlantic Ocean.
Through the support of the local community, the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia (CAC) offers a total of $28,000 in prize money with a “Best in Show” prize of $10,000.

Frederick Festival of the Arts - The 16th Annual - Frederick, Maryland
DEADLINE: 2/1/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/6/2009 - 6/7/2009
Celebrating it's 16th year, Frederick Festival of the Arts, Inc. returns to the heart of Historic downtown Frederick, Maryland along the newly developed Carroll Creek Parkway. This juried fine arts and fine craft venue invites discerning art-lovers from the surrounding areas of: Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pennsylvania, and Northern Virginia. The Festival organization is committed to presenting the finest of juried national artists and continuing their longstanding tradition of serving these invited artist's immediate needs, while providing a festive and enjoyable outdoor venue for all! Unique to this venue is its waterway and bridge crossings, and downtown location. Not only does this site provide water activity to keep children busy while parents shop, it seems somehow to spring the spirits of the summertime as well, on June 6 & 7. The community-supported organization is also committed to presenting the finest national artists in an exceptional arts venue bringing the best of quality fine art, performing opportunities, and providing for education in the arts. Join the high caliber Creekside Celebration!

Great Lakes Art Fair - Spring 2009 - Novi, Michigan
DEADLINE: 2/2/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 4/17/2009 - 4/19/2009
PLEASE NOTE CORNERS ARE NOT SOLD OUT!
The Great Lakes Art Fair offers fine artists and their patrons an expansive new regional marketplace that promises to bring a fresh energy to the artistic community. This bi-annual show was launched when a long running and well renowned indoor art fair left the Midwest region. The reaction from artists and attendees alike, led the Rock Financial Showplace, in consultation with Constance Mettler, a doyenne of the national art show circuit since 1979, and Mark Loeb, an art fair producer of over twenty years, to produce the GLAF. Make us the first show of your season on April 17 – 19, 2009!
The juried component of the fair will feature 200 local, regional, and national artists. The Great Lakes Art Fair will also feature select epicurean items, educational demonstrations, art based entertainment, and community outreach efforts. GLAF's mission is to deliver a top quality experience for patrons and artists that will assure targeted buyers, return visits and exponential event growth. Support from the regional artistic community is already exceeding expectations, setting the stage for the GLAF to become a bi-annual destination event for fine artists from all mediums and their patrons.
Please visit our website at www.greatlakesartfair.com for additional information!

King William Fair 2009 - San Antonio, Texas
DEADLINE: 2/5/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 4/25/2009 - 4/25/2009
The King William Fair is a 40 year old neighborhood street fair attracting approximately 50,000 visitors to our beautiful downtown historical district. This family-friendly one-day event is part of the ten day "Fiesta" held each year in San Antonio, Texas and includes art, music, dance, historical re-enactments, parade and more. The 2009 Fair will be held on Saturday, April 25.
About 150 Art & Craft vendors are only one of the five equally important components of the Fair. Art & Craft, Entertainment, Food, a Parade, and the Kid’s Kingdom all combine to create a truly unique event. The Fair is not strictly an Art & Craft festival. Proceeds from the King William Fair support the libraries and provide art instruction programs in neighborhood schools, offer scholarships for inner city students, and create revitalization and preservation efforts in the King William Historic District.

Coconut Point Art Festival - 3rd Annual (Bonita Springs, Fl.) 2009 - Bonita Springs, Florida
DEADLINE: 2/6/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 2/14/2009 - 2/15/2009
Ranked as one of the top fine art festivals in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
Coconut Point borders Estero and Bonita Springs, which are located between Naples & Fort Myers. The population exceeds 290,000 people and the average household income is over 91,000 a year.

Summerfair Cincinnati 2009 - Cincinnati, Ohio
DEADLINE: 2/6/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/29/2009 - 5/31/2009
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO APPLY… to the 42nd Summerfair - Cincinnati, Ohio's Annual Fine Arts and Crafts Fair.
Summerfair has consistently been identified as one of the 200 best shows in the United States by Sunshine Artist magazine during the last decade - most recently (September 2008) it was ranked the 21st Best Fine Art and Design Show. In addition, since 1999 Summerfair has received three Artists' Choice Awards from the National Association of Independent Artists.

New Events

La Jolla Festival of the Arts - La Jolla, California
OPEN DATE: 1/7/2009
DEADLINE: 3/21/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/20/2009 - 6/21/2009
The La Jolla Festival of the Arts ™ is a spectacular two-day event held outdoors in the coastal San Diego suburb of La Jolla. It features approximately 195 artists, vendors, unique food booths, musical entertainment, authors, and other events designed to attract higher-income patrons.

Durango Arts Festival 2008 - Durango, Colorado
OPEN DATE: 1/24/2009
DEADLINE: 4/24/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 8/8/2009 - 8/9/2009
The Durango Arts Festival is an outdoor juried show presented by the Durango Arts Centr, a non-profit arts organization serving the Durango, and Four Corners region. The Durango Arts Center's mission is to advance the visual and cultural arts for the enrichment of the individual and the surrounding communities.

AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park - Lexington, Kentucky
OPEN DATE: 1/26/2009
DEADLINE: 3/31/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 8/15/2009 - 8/16/2009
Lexington Art League and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government's Division of Parks & Recreation present the 34th annual AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park, formerly known as the American Founders Bank Woodland Art Fair, located in scenic Woodland Park in Lexington, KY. The Fair is central Kentucky's largest, FREE cultural event with an average attendance of over 65,000 people and has been recently voted at Top 15 Fine Art & Design Fair by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Berkshire Crafts Fair 2009 - Great Barrington, Massachusetts
OPEN DATE: 1/26/2009
DEADLINE: 4/7/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 8/14/2009 - 8/16/2009
Welcome to the Berkshire Crafts Fair. We invite you to apply to exhibit in our Fair. We will be celebrating our 36th year in 2009. The Berkshire Crafts Fair is a juried fair and features a wide range of contemporary and traditional crafts. Over the years the Berkshire Crafts Fair has developed a reputation as a high quality, well-run show. Our show is located in a nationally known tourist area and is nearby Tanglewood, the summer home of the world-fmaous Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Avon Fine Art & Wine Affaire - 16th Annual - Avon, Colorado
OPEN DATE: 1/27/2009
DEADLINE: 4/6/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 7/10/2009 - 7/12/2009
The Avon Fine Art & Wine Festival is produced by Thunderbird Artists, in conjunction with the Town of Avon and the Eagle Valley Humane Society.
Thunderbird Artists Mission Statement: to promote fine art and fine crafts, paralleled with the ambiance of unique wines and fine music, while supporting the artists, merchants and surrounding communities.

Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts 2009 - Montana
OPEN DATE: 1/27/2009
DEADLINE: 3/27/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 8/7/2009 - 8/9/2009
The Sweet Pea Festival of the Arts takes place in scenic Bozeman, MT every first full weekend in August. Events include art shows, a parade, theatre, music and dance perfermances, children's activities, and the Arts and Crafts Sale. The festival typically attracts approximately 19,000 people.

Morristown Craftmarket 2009 - Morristown, New Jersey
OPEN DATE: 1/27/2009
DEADLINE: 4/1/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 10/16/2009 - 10/18/2009
Now in its 33rd continuous year, the Morristown CraftMarket is one of the top juried, longest-running and most successful fine craft shows in America. We showcase extraordinary, one-of-a-kind and limited edition crafts in all contemporary media. Highly gifted artists from over 20 states throughout this country, and from Canada as well, exhibit in this nationally acclaimed show.
This beautiful in-door show is held on the spacious ground level floor of the Morristown Armory located in Morris County, New Jersey - consistently rated as one of the 10 most affluent counties in the country in recent years. The show attracts a high income and loyal craft-buying audience. Pipe and drape are included in the booth fee. Also provided are easy drive-in/breakdown and plenty of free parking.
We know our artists make this great show. That's why we put a great deal of value on our relationships with you and treat you as artists.
Thanks for all you do to create and promote beautiful, imaginative and exciting crafts that are unmatched in quality.

Edwards Fine Art & Wine Festival - 10th Annual - Edwards, Colorado
OPEN DATE: 1/27/2009
DEADLINE: 4/10/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 7/17/2009 - 7/19/2009
The Edwards Fine Art & Wine Festival is produced by Thunderbird Artists, in conjunction with the Town of Edwards and the ????????.
Thunderbird Artists Mission Statement: to promote fine art and fine crafts, paralleled with the ambiance of unique wines and fine music, while supporting the artists, merchants and surrounding communities.

Renegade Craft Fair 2009 schedule!!

LEAF Festival in Black Mountain, NC

This looks like a truly earthy gathering. A festival of arts, crafts, and outdoor activities, this looks like a family friendly event where an artist could meet lots of other cool people with similar interests...Their site says:
"ARTS express so many cultures, traditions, and forms of creativity. Browse the all original JURIED FINE ARTS and CRAFTS SHOW. The FOLK ART exhibits give new directions to creativity. HEALING ARTS create the path towards discovery and total relaxation. POETRY is the outspoken art form. MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, and more. At LEAF, you are able to experience so many expressions of ART."
So, they are talking about art in every sense of the word. It is nice to think about it that way, because I tend to focus on visual art and crafts more than performance. Music is a favorite of mine though. My art could not happen without it playing in the background.
Anyhoo, I found this festival from GAIACONCEPTIONS...
See the LEAF Fest Page HERE.

Zapp Show Updates

Many new shows have joined ZAPP™, and many show application deadlines are approaching. See what new shows you can apply to below.

Upcoming Deadlines - APPLY TODAY!

Art Fair at Laumeier 2009 - Missouri
DEADLINE: 1/21/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 5/8/2009 - 5/10/2009
Now accepting Student Applications ONLY
The annual arts and crafts fair at Laumeier will be held on May 8, 9 and 10 in the beautiful outdoor setting of Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis, Missouri. Laumeier is one of the few major contemporary sculpture parks in the world, where over 80 sculptures by internationally-acclaimed artists can be seen year-round. Each year the park comes alive during the Art Fair with 150 of the nation’s best exhibitors. The jury will select artists who are tops in their field. Please submit your application and join us for one of the best fairs in the Midwest.

Saratoga Rotary Art Show – 2009 52nd Annual – 1st Sunday In May, Saratoga, CA - Saratoga, California
DEADLINE: 1/22/2009
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 5/3/2009 - 5/3/2009
We invite you to exhibit at our 52nd Annual Art Show, the Largest One-Day Juried Art Show in the Western United States. Held the First Sunday in May since 1959, the Saratoga Rotary Club has hosted one of the finest outdoor shows in the West. More than 20,000 Art Collectors come to see and buy works from the finest local and national artists. Saratoga and the surrounding Los Gatos/West Valley area are among the top 100 wealthiest zip codes in the country. The Saratoga Rotary Art Show presents original works of art of 200 artists in beautiful surroundings on the campus of West Valley College, Saratoga, California.

St. Armands Circle Art Festival - 6th Annual (Sarasota, FL.) 2009 - Sarasota, Florida
DEADLINE: 1/23/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 1/31/2009 - 2/1/2009
Ranked one of the Nation’s top shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
This festival is located in the Heart of St. Armands Key in the affluent St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Fl. The show is nestled among some of the finest restaurants and retailers. This is not one to be missed.

St. Pete Beach Corey Art & Craft Fair - 15th Annual (St. Pete Beach, FL.) 2009 - St. Pete Beach, Florida
DEADLINE: 1/23/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 1/31/2009 - 2/1/2009
This busy show consists of an art festival on Corey Avenue and a craft marketplace to the side of the art show.
The show runs along Corey Avenue where you will find many unique shops, restaurants and galleries. St Pete Beach is a beautiful community located on the Gulf of Mexico on the western edge of Tampa Bay.

Tulsa International Mayfest 2009 - Oklahoma
DEADLINE: 1/26/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 5/14/2009 - 5/17/2009
In 2007 and 2008 many artist saw record sales at Tulsa International Mayfest and we invite you to apply to be one of our exclusive artists! Surrounded by Tulsa’s historic downtown, which features world renowned art deco building, Mayfest attract over 300,000 visitors. Created to promote the arts and humanities, this four-day Tulsa tradition invites approximate 100 fine artists and 20 craftspeople to exhibit their work. We are now seeking applicants from artists and crafts people wishing to show at Mayfest 2009. Entries are professionally judged according to strict guidelines.

Sugarloaf Craft Festivals - Spring Shows 2009 - Mid-Atlantic
DEADLINE: 1/23/2009
Jury Fee: $45.00
Event Dates: 1/30/2009 - 5/3/2009
Find the customers you need this spring at Sugarloaf’s established shows in markets proven to deliver sales year after year. Our upcoming show in the Mid-Atlantic area has limited openings in all categories except Jewelry!
* Chantilly, VA, Dulles Expo Center, 11th year, January 30, 31, February 1, 2009.
Check out Sugarloaf’s other 6 spring 2009 shows in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Northern Virginia too, and apply to as many as you’d like for only one application fee!

King William Fair 2009 - San Antonio, Texas
DEADLINE: 1/28/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 4/25/2009 - 4/25/2009
The King William Fair is a 40 year old neighborhood street fair attracting approximately 50,000 visitors to our beautiful downtown historical district. This family-friendly one-day event is part of the ten day "Fiesta" held each year in San Antonio, Texas and includes art, music, dance, historical re-enactments, parade and more. The 2009 Fair will be held on Saturday, April 25.
About 150 Art & Craft vendors are only one of the five equally important components of the Fair. Art & Craft, Entertainment, Food, a Parade, and the Kid’s Kingdom all combine to create a truly unique event. The Fair is not strictly an Art & Craft festival. Proceeds from the King William Fair support the libraries and provide art instruction programs in neighborhood schools, offer scholarships for inner city students, and create revitalization and preservation efforts in the King William Historic District.

Hobe Sound Festival of the Arts - 8th Annual (Hobe Sound, FL.) 2009 - Hobe Sound , Florida
DEADLINE: 1/30/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 2/7/2009 - 2/8/2009
Hobe Sound is located in affluent Martin County just north of Palm Beach County and south of Stuart and Jupiter Island; the wealthiest hamlet in the county.
The show has built quite a reputation among our artists, and is quickly becoming a “must do” show on our winter tour. Held along four blocks of A1A/Dixie Highway, this show attracts a discriminating buying crowd.

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts 2009 - State College, Pennsylvania
DEADLINE: 1/30/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/9/2009 - 7/12/2009
The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts was founded in 1966 by Penn State University’s College of Arts and Architecture and the State College Chamber of Commerce. Drawing over 125,000 people to State College each summer, the Festival includes, in addition to the nationally recognized Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, a gallery exhibition, Children and Youth Day, educational opportunities, and music, dance and theatrical performances in a variety of traditional and non-traditional venues.

Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair 2009 - Bellevue, Washington
DEADLINE: 1/30/2009
Jury Fee: $40.00
Event Dates: 7/24/2009 - 7/26/2009
The 63rd Annual Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair is July 24-26, 2009 in Bellevue, WA. This is the largest and most prestigious juried arts and crafts fair in the Pacific Northwest. The Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair is the largest fundraiser for Bellevue Arts Museum. In 2007, artist sales were estimated at $2 million and the audience increased to 350,000 in 2008. For additional information logon to http://www.bellevuearts.org.

Renaissance Fine Arts Festival - Mississippi
DEADLINE: 1/31/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/30/2009 - 5/31/2009
Dale Rayburn, Mamie Joe and H.C. "Chris" Porter invite you to join them in Ridgeland, Mississippi for the Renaissance Fine Arts Festival.
The objective of the Renaissance Fine Arts Festival is to provide an opportunity for artists from across the United States and patrons from across the Southeast to meet, interact and conduct business.
Ridgeland is a suburb immediately north of Jackson, Mississippi, the state capitol, and located in Madison County which is one of the wealthiest counties in the state. Ridgeland was recently named one of the "Top 100 Places to Live" by Money Magazine.
The Renaissance Fine Arts Festival is not a medieval faire. It is a contemporary arts festival that takes its name from our host, the beautifully elegant Renaissance at Colony Park (www.renaissanceatcolonypark.com). Opened in 2008, Renaissance at Colony Park is a lifestyle center masterpiece for shopping, dining and entertainment inspired by the old-world beauty and grace of European and Mediterranean architecture.
The Renaissance Fine Arts Festival is presented by the Ridgeland Tourism Commission, a tax-exempt, state-chartered agency.
H.C. "Chris" Porter (www.hcporter.com) is our Artistic Director. Chris has exhibited at festivals across the U.S. for more than 15 years and is a long-standing member of NAIA.

NICFest - Nicolaysen Community Festival 2009 - Wyoming
DEADLINE: 1/31/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 6/26/2009-6/28-2009
NIC Fest is an outdoor community festival that incorporates many forms of art, including an art show and sale, live music, childrens art and activity areas, a car show, and exhibitions within the museum. This festival brings out the entire community and many visitors, with total attendance of 15,000 in 2008, its third year. Bigger every year, we are expecting 18,000 visitors and shoppers.

New Events

Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival 2009 - Illinois
OPEN DATE: 1/16/2009
DEADLINE: 3/6/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/13/2009-6/14/2009
A jewel in the western suburbs of Chicago! Located in the heart of historic downtown Hinsdale the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival is a traditional favorite. Set amongst the shady trees of Burlington Park, the show hosts 150 artists. Adjacent to Hinsdale’s upscale shopping district and the Burlington Northern rail system this show is easily accessible for all.

Sedona Arts Festival 2009 - Arizona
OPEN DATE: 1/16/2009
DEADLINE: 4/16/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 10/10/2009 - 10/11/2009
Please join us this year for a fabulous Arts Festival. Participate in the show and stay a few days to enjoy the beauty of the Red Rocks!!!
Rated one the nation’s best by American Style Magazine, the Sedona Arts Festival showcases 150 fine artists and craftspersons in a beautiful outdoor setting surrounded by the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. In addition to the spectacular artwork, the Festival offers continuous live entertainment featuring a range of music from southwestern ambient sounds, contemporary jazz and the blues; an interactive KidZone with Guest artists; a fabulous Raffle, and fine food. We hope that you will catch some of our “Red Rock Fever” and join us this year!!

Saint Louis Galleria Art Festival on Clayton Rd. (Saint Louis, MO) 2009 - Missouri
OPEN DATE: 1/16/2009
DEADLINE: 6/13/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/20/2009-6/21/2009
Howard Alan Events is excited to bring a first class art fair to the City of St. Louis. The show will be hosted at the Saint Louis Galleria, located at the intersection of Brentwood & Clayton. This high end retail area is located in the affluent area of St. Louis and boasts perfect demographics. The show is also only a 3 hour drive from our Kansas City event the following weekend.
We feel we have a great event in the making and hope to see you in St. Louis.
Venue: St. Louis Galleria on Clayton Rd.

Frisco Art Festival (Downtown Frisco, CO.) 3rd Annual - Colorado
OPEN DATE: 1/10/2009
DEADLINE: 3/16/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 8/8/2009-8/9/2009
Summit County will be the recipient of a very special juried art fair the second weekend in August. City of Frisco is closing down Main Street for this great event. Downtown Frisco is nestled between Breckenridge and Copper Mountain, close to Denver. Last years event was a huge success. Historic Main Street has upscale, quaint and eclectic shops, galleries and eateries that line the streets. 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 150 fine art exhibitors and the publicity this event will receive and you get a fabulous art fair!

ArtFest of Scottsdale 2008 - Scottsdale, Arizona
OPEN DATE: 1/18/2009
DEADLINE: 7/31/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 11/21/2009 - 11/22/2009
ArtFest™ of Scottsdale is a two day celebration featuring fine art, continuous live music, a variety of international food, and an interactive family area featuring hands-on art activities for children.
Over 200 select artists and craftspeople from across the nation will show and sell one-of-a-kind artwork. These works include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, fashion, furniture and jewelry. The festival is held in a spectacular setting of rolling green lawns, sparkling fountains, gorgeous flowers, stately trees, and meandering walkways.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
10AM-5PM
Sunday, November 22, 2009
10AM-5PM
Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza - In historic Old Town Scottsdale 7380 E. Second Street.
FREE ADMISSION & FREE PARKING
www.888ARTFEST.com

Inland Crafts 2009 - Spokane, Washington
OPEN DATE: 1/20/2009
DEADLINE: 4/3/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 11/6/2009 - 11/8/2009
Inland Crafts is Spokane Washington's most treasured juried craft exhibition. Currently in its 27th year, it is organized by a board of directors who are also participating artists. The Inland Crafts sale & exhibition provides a wonderful array of pottery, glass, basketry, jewelry, fiber arts, furniture, wood works, metal design, mixed media and photography. In 2007 the Spokane Arts Commission honored Inland Crafts as the Best Arts Organization in the city. Sales for the 2008 show were approximately $133,000, with average booth sales of $2,145.00. Purchases made per patron averaged $48.49 each. There is a $7 admission charge that is good for the weekend. More information is available at www.inlandcrafts.org.

Westhampton Beach Festival of the ARTS 2009 - Westhampton, New York
OPEN DATE: 1/21/2009
DEADLINE: 6/1/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 8/22/2009 - 8/24/2009
Saint Mark’s Church is sponsoring their first Westhampton Festival of the Arts on the Great Meadow, Main Street, Westhampton, New York. While not a new location for art events on Long Island, this is a new addition to Paragon’s event management. We intend to approach this as a “new” event with our characteristic thoroughness and aggressiveness in advertising and promotion so the event will be restored to a ranking within the top “100 Best Fine Art Shows”.
The Village of Westhampton Beach is located on the scenic south shore of Long Island, in the eastern end of Suffolk County. It is located approximately 78 miles from midtown Manhattan so readily accessible to New Yorkers. 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, yet has still managed to maintain its laidback reputation. Trendy shops can be found on Main Street and celebrities routinely observed walking about town. Westhampton is easily accessible without infamous “Hampton” traffic jams. Lodging rates are expected to be considerably more reasonable than in the East Hampton area. These are the demographics most sought after by Artists. Coupled with our EXTRAORDINARY MEDIA EXPOSURE, this show is bound to be one of the Northeast greats.

39th Annual Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival - Syracuse, New York
OPEN DATE: 1/21/2009
DEADLINE: 3/27/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 7/24/2009 - 7/26/2009
The largest and most prestigious show of its kind in the area.
This spectacular 3-day showcase by 165 of the country's most talented artists, craftspeople, and entertainers is centered on historic Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse. More than 60,000 visitors will shop and browse among the art and craft exhibits and enjoy a wide variety of music, multi-cultural performances, summer refreshments, and participatory activities.

Midwest Salute to the Arts 2009 - Illinois
OPEN DATE: 1/21/2009
DEADLINE: 5/1/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 8/21/2009 - 8/23/2009
Come and be one of the select 100 artists exhibiting in Everett Moody Park at Longacre in Fairview Heights, Illinois, for the 22nd Annual Midwest Salute to Arts, a festival of fine art, August 21-23.
The nationally-recognized art fair features cash awards over $18,000.

Moss Street Market in Victoria, BC (Canada)

These images above reflect both the market and dressmeup.
A very cool etsy artist (dressmeup), who is a true inspiration to me, had this link on the side of her BLOG.

Moss Street Market is a BC Craft Fair and Farmers Market. If she is a participant, I can only imagine what other goodies are there!!

This market features...
# womans clothing,
# bags or purses,
# pottery,
# woodwork,
# beeswax candles,
# beaded jewelry,
# cards,
# soaps,
# botanicals or body products,
# t-shirts and
# glass works

Go HERE to see their cool photo gallery! This market really takes a lot of time to promote themselves and help enrich their community. I believe more weekly markets should do this...

Lark Books is Looking for Artist Submissions

Lark Books produces some really nice how to books that I really enjoy. They are practically taking over the how to section in Barnes and Noble too! How awesome is that?!
Since they produce so many books, they often need fresh, new talent to appear in their books. Also, they pay over $100 for each submission in some of their books, so please check this out if you have the time to.




"Artist Submissions

Are you an artist who would like to submit some of your work for consideration? We are always looking to feature new and established artists and hope you’ll join us!"

"Mixed Metal Jewelry
Author: Mary Hettmansperger
Editor: Marthe Le Van
Entry deadline: March 16, 2009

Author Mary Hettmansperger’s newest book, Mixed Metal Jewelry, will be interspersed with beautiful gallery images, and we hope you’ll submit images of your jewelry for consideration! We’re looking for pieces that mix metals—silver, gold, copper, iron, bronze, aluminum, etc.—in interesting and creative ways. Combinations of all forms of metal, such as sheet, wire, clay, and recycled materials, are welcome, as are all techniques. Your work will serve as an example and as inspiration for readers. Mixed Metal Jewelry is due for release in April 2010. Submission to the book is free

500 Found-Object Works
Juror: Suzie Millions
Editor: Suzanne Tourtillott
Entry deadline: March 15, 2009

Lark Books seeks one-of-a-kind images of found-object art to publish in a juried collection representing the most creative examples in this exciting genre. While material options are endless (recycled/repurposed wood, paper, plastics, electronics and the like), we will accept only professional quality photography. Due to trademark
considerations, very few works featuring recognizable brand names or logos will be accepted. This publication is scheduled for release in Fall 2010. There is no entry fee.

500 Vases
Juror: Julia Galloway
Editor: Suzanne Tourtillott
Entry deadline: February 2, 2009

Lark Books seeks high-quality, one-of-a-kind images of ceramic vases to publish in a juried collection of works from around the world. We will consider both functional and decorative submissions as well as diverse designs, materials, and techniques ranging in style from traditional to modern. We accept high-quality transparencies, 35-mm slides, and high-resolution digital images. 500 Vases, to be released in the spring of 2010, aims to be an inspiring collection for beginning and professional ceramics workers, as well as collectors and enthusiasts. There is no entry fee.

Jewelry Design Challenge: 30-Minute Earrings
Editor: Marthe Le Van
Entry Deadline: January 26, 2009

Are you a skilled and imaginative jewelry designer who is up for a challenge? Great! Your mission is to design a pair of earrings that can be made in 30 minutes flat.

30-Minute Earrings will showcase more than 50 incredibly stylish step-by-step projects that can be created without investing too much of a valuable commodity—time! The selected earring designs will be modern and sophisticated and encompass many different styles and techniques. The common denominator will be fast projects that look terrific!

PS: In 30-Minute Earrings, we won’t be teaching fundamental jewelry making techniques. Designers can assume that their readers are already proficient (and quick!) at skills such as sawing, soldering, and finishing.

Accept the challenge!"

See the site HERE.

An Unofficial Guide to Etsy from Piddix

The latest "Quit Your Day Job" artist on etsy is PIDDIX. See this Website for her tipsHERE. And see this Etsy Storque Article HERE.

Some advice from this site...
"Here's some of my favorite advice that I've kept as a text file on my computer over the past few months (yes, I know, may sound a little lame but it's worth it). Big thanks to my mom for her expertise in EBay that's also applicable to Etsy!:

* List as frequently as you can so you'll always have something for a person to click through to in the first several pages of your category.
* Always use Flat Shipping boxes if you're sending things to Alaska or Hawaii.
* Always use Delivery Confirmation on packages, period. You can skip the cost of it if you print out the shipping label through the USPS Site and then bring it to the Post Office rather than waiting in line.
* Overseas rates are reduced through the USPS site, as well. Direct from the site: "You'll receive a 10% online discount on Global Express Guaranteed, and 8% discount for Express Mail International, or a 5% discount on Priority Mail International shipments when printing and paying for postage online using Click-N-Ship®!"
* Try unconventional marketing. While actual internet ads are always fantastic means of driving hits to your store, consider supplementing it with profiles on networking spaces like MySpace, Indiepublic, and Facebook. Blogging and exchanging links are also great alternative marketing strategies. It may seem a little more obvious, but many people also forget that local Etsy Street Teams and groups related around crafting or your specific business are a great way to get your name out there."

Ok, I am off in cyber space finding out what turns buyers on and off. More to report later...

Shop Makeover Series: Google PageRank Tips for Your Etsy Shop

I am quoting this article directly from the Etsy Shop Makeover Series Found HERE... I smiled when I read this because I have previously reported on TimothyAdam's advice on Better and more complete titles for your etsy shop and items.

"The following article on Google PageRank was originally written by Aprilrobin for TimothyAdamDesigns' blog (a great resource for Etsy sellers!).

I've seen the question so many times on the Etsy forums, "Why isn't my Etsy shop showing up in Google when I search for XYZ?" While that is actually a very complex question, in a nutshell: to get seen, you need to optimize your Etsy shop for Google and increase your "PageRank".

Google's PageRank is the designation from 1 - 10 of an algorithm that assesses how important your website is (10 being the most important). Here's the kicker: it’s machines making this determination. You may have heard these machines referred to as "spiders" or "robots". I prefer to think of them as robot spiders merely because it amuses me. These robot spiders crawl the web hunting for information and bring it back to the Googleplex. This is known as indexing. If your information is good and full of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), the robot spiders will come back often and give you a higher PageRank, therefore greatly increasing your chances of top search results.

PageRank for any website can easily be viewed by installing the Google's Toolbar. How do you get this PageRank?

If you search the web for SEO techniques you'll find plenty of them — too many. Unfortunately, a lot of the information you'll find is either not applicable to current versions of the algorithm, spam techniques, or not applicable to Etsy. Etsy is not the same as your regular personal website and I'm not going to suggest you obtain a personal website today either. Baby steps.



Inside Your Etsy Shop

The best thing you can do on Etsy is provide good titles and descriptions and use all of your tags. When writing your titles and descriptions, think of key terms. “Key terms” in this sense simply means that you are using descriptive language that includes words and terms buyers might use to find products like the ones in this listing.

If you were searching for items such as yours in Google, what kind of language would you use? Put yourself in the mind set of the searcher and write accordingly. Keep in mind that Google likes change. If you re-list the same items again and again, change your titles and descriptions up every once in a while. Try some slightly different verbiage and new key terms each time.



Outside of Your Etsy Shop

Link, link, link! As in, get people to link to you (inbound links/ IBL). To start, use links to your Etsy store in your signature on any blogs, forums or message boards you belong to.

One of the biggest factors in boosting your rank is inbound links from sites with a high PageRank. Not only is Google more likely to index these high ranked sites quickly and repeatedly, but you're more likely to get click though traffic to your site and more people linking to you. Site click through rate (the people following these IBL to visit your shop/CTR), is another important factor to determining your PageRank. Inbound links from a low ranked site won't necessarily hurt you, so don’t freak out on your friend for linking you from his low ranked site. Ignore reciprocal link services and engines that litter the web. These are spam and Google hates spam.

Relevant Links

There is some argument among web developers on the topic, but many, myself included, agree that your IBL should be “relevant” whenever possible. Relevant refers to the relevancy of your IBL to your store.
An example of relevant IBL: If your Etsy shop containing crocheted face scrubbies is linked to by a cage fighting website, Google is going to see that and be sort of “Ok, what the...?” If your Etsy shop containing crocheted face scrubbies is linked to by Martha Stewart, Google is going to see that and be all “WORD!” Your store is now associated with high-ranked information on crafts and handmade goods. You’re also bound to attract higher click through traffic. Consider how relevant IBLs are to your shop before investing time pursuing them or paying to advertise.

Hyperlinks

A hyperlink is when you use words to link to your Etsy store instead of graphics, or in addition to graphics. Remember, the robot spiders can’t see pictures, so do not rely solely on graphics when you link to your shop. Use descriptive key terms in your hyperlinks. Creating a link to your shop that says “buy handmade crocheted face scrubbies” is going to be more valuable than a link that‘s your shop’s name. “Daisydoodle’s Boutique” might be the perfect shop name for you, but how the heck is Google supposed to figure out that has anything to do with handmade crocheted face scrubbies?

Tips

1. Don't try to trick Google.
Google’s main purpose is to weed out spam and garbage content and organize legitimate content. Google also carries a grudge. Even though we’re dealing with robot spiders here, they’re a lot smarter than you may think. Filling descriptions and links with nothing but irrelevant key words and trash can get you on the blacklist or “sandboxed”.

2. Be realistic and don't obsess.
Get this through your head right now. Say it out loud… “I WILL NEVER RANK A 10”. Say it again and believe it. PageRank is global compared to all other websites in the world. At the time I’m writing this, Etsy’s homepage has a PageRank of 7 and Amazon ranks a 9. Those would have to be some very magical face scrubbies for your shop to have a PageRank like that!

Find other Etsy shops to look up to and compare yourself to those. Figure out what it is that they’re doing right. Your ultimate goal might be a 4. That’s completely OK and likely very appropriate. As part of my business — I run very popular statewide real estate websites — if I can rank a 5, I’m over the moon.

3. Be patient.

New shops might take a while to be indexed at all and jumping an entire number is an enormous job.
Keep up with ethical SEO: write organically, be thoughtful, network for relative IBL, DO NOT SPAM, and in time you’ll get there. The cream always rises to the top.

4. Keep your eye on PageRanks.

Download Google's Toolbar to find out the PageRank of any site your browsing (including your own!)"

Application Deadlines from Zapp...

Many new shows have joined ZAPP™, and many show application deadlines are approaching. See what new shows you can apply to below.

Upcoming Deadlines - APPLY TODAY!

FireFly Fine Art Festival - Dickson, Tennessee
DEADLINE: 1/14/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/26/2009 - 6/28/2009
The Firefly Fine Arts Festival invites you to apply to be one of 125 visual art exhibitors at the 2009 event: a cosmopolitan celebration of the arts also including music, theatre, and dance. Over the three-day event, Firefly expects an attendance of 25,000 visitors to the custom designed festival grounds at the Renaissance Center in Dickson, TN. Patrons from around the region will have the unique opportunity to meet talented exhibiting artists and purchase their work. The goal of Firefly is to provide our local and regional audience and our exhibitors a cultural experience of exceptional quality. Proceeds from the Arts Festival will help to fulfill year-round community art education and outreach missions through programs such as scholarships, unique art experiences in Dickson County Schools, and special projects enhancing the general awareness for the arts in and around Dickson County, TN.

NICFest - Nicolaysen Community Festival 2009 - Casper, Wyoming
DEADLINE: 1/15/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 6/26/2009 - 6/28/2009
NIC Fest is an outdoor community festival that incorporates many forms of art, including an art show and sale, live music, childrens art and activity areas, a car show, and exhibitions within the museum. This festival brings out the entire community and many visitors, with total attendance of 15,000 in 2008, its third year. Bigger every year, we are expecting 18,000 visitors and shoppers.

Decatur Arts Festival 2009 - Georgia
DEADLINE: 1/15/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/23/2009 - 5/24/2009
The Decatur Arts Alliance invites you to apply for booth space in the 21st annual Decatur Arts Festival, The festival will be held on the square in historic Decatur, GA, just minutes from downtown Atlanta. The Artists' Market will be open on Saturday, May 23 from 10am until 6pm, and on Sunday May 24 from 11am until 6pm.
The festival features continuous entertainment and performing arts in the Community Bandstand adjacent to the Artists' Market. Food vendors, a Fine Arts Exhibition, the ArtWalk, Literary Arts, New Dance and a Children's Festival are also part of the festival activities.

Estero Fine Art Show - April 4 & 5, 2009 (Hot Works, Patty Narozny, located between Naples & Fort My - Estero (between Naples & Fort Myers, near Bonita), Florida
DEADLINE: 1/15/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 4/4/2009 - 4/5/2009
Located between Naples and Fort Myers. This is a high quality juried fine art & fine craft show - produced by Hot Works, the same company that produces the award-winning Orchard Lake Fine Art Show in Michigan! Director: Patty Narozny. Reaches same cosmopolitan community as Bonita Springs!

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original 2009 - Ann Arbor, Michigan
DEADLINE: 1/15/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/15/2009 - 7/18/2009
Established in 1960, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is the Original of a collective of four concurrent art fairs that bring four days of outstanding visual art to downtown Ann Arbor. The Street Art Fair takes place around one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, the Burton Carillon Tower, located on the tree lined central campus of the University of Michigan. Collectively the Ann Arbor Art Fairs draw more than 500,000 fairgoers from across the nation. Join us as we celebrate our 50th year of Originality in Ann Arbor!

Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff 2009 - St. Joseph, Michigan
DEADLINE: 1/16/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 7/11/2009 - 7/12/2009
Apply to the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff where estimated crowds of 70,000 converge annually on this beautiful resort town on the shores of Lake Michigan. Our mission is “Bringing people and art together.” Our goals include:
providing high quality art to the Midwest,
providing a nurturing environment for the artists,
to be considered one of the best fine-art-fine craft fairs in the country and
to provide jurying by judges who are experts in their fields.”
The Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff is the largest fund raiser for the Krasl Art Center's general education programs and exhibitions.
Once a “clothesline art fair” in the early 1960s, Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff has become a nationally recognized and critically acclaimed event by artists, experts and patrons. The Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff continues to attract high-quality artists.

Art & Air 2009 - Webster Groves, Missouri
DEADLINE: 1/16/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/5/2009 - 6/7/2009
St. Louis, Missouri - The 6th Anniversary of the "Art&Air" Fair will be held June 5-7, 2009. This one-of-a-kind fine arts fair is set on the beautiful park setting of Eden Theological Seminary grounds in the heart of historic Webster Groves, Missouri; conveniently located between Downtown St.Louis and Clayton, Missouri. Art&Air, continually noted as an Artist's favorite fair for unmatched hospitality and amenities, will continue to focus on the artists and their work, while offering delectable food, top-notch music performances and unique creative activities for the whole family. The Art&Air Fair's board, the Webster Community Arts Foundation, the hard-working Art&Air staff and dedicated volunteers will once again aim at making Art&Air a successful, yet fun art fair for both the artists and the many art-buyers coming from far and wide. Be one of the 100+ artists who will fall in love with the Webster Groves charm and hospitality at what has quickly become one of the best ar t fairs in the Midwest.

St. Petersburg Art Fest at BayWalk - 2nd Annual (Downtown St. Petersburg, FL.) 2009 - St. Petersburg, Florida
DEADLINE: 1/16/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 1/24/2009 - 1/25/2009
The show is located on the Downtown streets near Baywalk, steps from Vinoy, Straub Park, and minutes from downtown museums and the St Pete Pier. St Petersburg is located in the Tampa Bay area, home to more than 2 million residents and 7 million annual visitors.

Broad Ripple Art Fair at the Indianapolis Art Center 2009 - Indianapolis, Indiana
DEADLINE: 1/20/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 5/16/2009 - 5/17/2009
Now celebrating its 39th year, the Art Fair attracts more than 27,000 visitors and offers an opportunity for the public to meet more than 225 fine art & craft artists from the U.S. and Canada, sample a wide variety of various foods, enjoy live entertainment on four stages, learn about the Indianapolis Art Center, and—for the kids—create their own works of art.
The Art Fair is located on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center designed by Hoosier Architect Michael Graves and its 12-acre ARTSPARK, plus the adjacent North Side Optimists Opti-Park, a recreational park. Located in the Broad Ripple Village Cultural District— a cultural arts, shopping, night club, and dining district—the Broad Ripple Art Fair is next to the popular Monon Trail urban greenway.
Voted Indy’s Best Art Fair, voted by NUVO Newsweekly Readers (2007, 2008)

Saratoga Rotary Art Show – 2009 52nd Annual – 1st Sunday In May, Saratoga, CA - Saratoga, California
DEADLINE: 1/20/2009
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 5/3/2009 - 5/3/2009
We invite you to exhibit at our 52nd Annual Art Show, the Largest One-Day Juried Art Show in the Western United States. Held the First Sunday in May since 1959, the Saratoga Rotary Club has hosted one of the finest outdoor shows in the West. More than 20,000 Art Collectors come to see and buy works from the finest local and national artists. Saratoga and the surrounding Los Gatos/West Valley area are among the top 100 wealthiest zip codes in the country. The Saratoga Rotary Art Show presents original works of art of 200 artists in beautiful surroundings on the campus of West Valley College, Saratoga, California.

Art Fair at Laumeier 2009 - Missouri
DEADLINE: 1/21/2009
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 5/8/2009 - 5/10/2009
Now accepting Student Applications ONLY
The annual arts and crafts fair at Laumeier will be held on May 8, 9 and 10 in the beautiful outdoor setting of Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis, Missouri. Laumeier is one of the few major contemporary sculpture parks in the world, where over 80 sculptures by internationally-acclaimed artists can be seen year-round. Each year the park comes alive during the Art Fair with 150 of the nation’s best exhibitors. The jury will select artists who are tops in their field. Please submit your application and join us for one of the best fairs in the Midwest.

St. Armands Circle Art Festival - 6th Annual (Sarasota, FL.) 2009 - Sarasota, Florida
DEADLINE: 1/23/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 1/31/2009 - 2/1/2009
Ranked one of the Nation’s top shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
This festival is located in the Heart of St. Armands Key in the affluent St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Fl. The show is nestled among some of the finest restaurants and retailers. This is not one to be missed.

St. Pete Beach Corey Art & Craft Fair - 15th Annual (St. Pete Beach, FL.) 2009 - St. Pete Beach, Florida
DEADLINE: 1/23/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 1/31/2009 - 2/1/2009
This busy show consists of an art festival on Corey Avenue and a craft marketplace to the side of the art show.
The show runs along Corey Avenue where you will find many unique shops, restaurants and galleries. St Pete Beach is a beautiful community located on the Gulf of Mexico on the western edge of Tampa Bay.

Park Silly Sunday Market 2009 - 15 Sundays June-September - Park City, Utah
DEADLINE: 2/15/2009 FOR JEWELERS ONLY
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 6/14/2009 - 9/27/2009
The Park Silly Sunday Market, runs 15 weeks June -September on Park City, UT's Historic Main Street. It is an eco friendly, open-air market and street festival. We feature unique and eclectic-local, regional, national and international arts and crafts, music and performance art, antiques, imports and one-of-a-kind finds, delicious gourmet foods, and farmers market fruits and vegetables. It is as unique as its town.
*Park Silly Sunday Market is a partially juried event.

New Events

Hutchinson Arts and Crafts Festival 2009 - Hutchinson, Minnesota
OPEN DATE: 1/10/2009
DEADLINE: 3/30/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/18/2009 - 9/19/2009
This show is noted as a "must see" in Southwestern Minnesota. The festival offers a charming downtown park setting, a wide selection of artists, crafters, and food vendors, and thousands of new and returning shoppers. This successful event has been attracting vendors and shoppers from all over the Midwest for 35 years!

Sedona Arts Festival 2009 - Arizona
OPEN DATE: 1/10/2009
DEADLINE: 4/30/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 10/4/2009 - 10/5/2009
Rated one the nation’s best by American Style Magazine, the Sedona Arts Festival showcases 150 fine artists and craftspersons in a beautiful outdoor setting surrounded by the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. In addition to the spectacular artwork, the Festival offers continuous live entertainment featuring a range of music from southwestern ambient sounds, contemporary jazz and the blues; an interactive KidZone with Guest artists; a fabulous Raffle, and fine food. We hope that you will catch some of our “Red Rock Fever” and join us this year!!

ARTFEST 2009 - Dallas, TX, Texas
OPEN DATE: 1/12/2009
DEADLINE: 2/27/2009
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 5/22/2009 - 5/24/2009
The 40th annual ARTFEST will be held on Memorial Day Weekend in May 2009. This Memorial Day Weekend tradition is presented by The 500, Inc., a nonprofit group dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the arts in the Dallas area since 1965. ARTFEST is the flagship fundraiser for The 500, Inc. We continue to develop and improve the event, as we strive towards our goal of making ARTFEST one of the top-rated fine arts shows in the country. An artist jury consisting of gallery owners, art critics, artists and other prominent community representatives will review all applications. Accepted artists exhibit their work for sale during the entire festival. The show will have space for over 200 artists to display their work.

CityArts 2009 - Dallas, Texas
OPEN DATE: 1/12/2009
DEADLINE: 2/27/2009
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 6/12/2009 - 6/14/2009
A free arts showcase with multiple outdoor stages featuring a juried art show, dance, a variety of music and cultural performances, culinary demonstrations and wine tasting, complimentary admission to world-class museums, exciting exhibits, interactive children's activities and much more!

Free Things To Do In St. Louis, Missouri

My wonderful friend, Amanda is now an editor/writer for an online Woman's Magazine called Bella Online. She is a great writer, so check out her articles HERE...
"Wondering where you can go for some cheap thrills? How about free? Head on over to Saint Louis! There is more than enough to do in an afternoon or a week-long visit. And, though it is hard to believe, none of it requires a penny from you!

The Saint Louis Science Center is jam-packed with information for young and old alike. The facility includes different galleries, a planetarium, and an Omnimax theater! It is open daily from 9:30am-4:30pm (staying open until 9:30pm on Fridays).

The Saint Louis Union Station is a wonderful place to go to gather information about the history of the city. Free tours of the station are offered but require reservations. There is shopping and restaurants all throughout the interior of the building. It is open daily from 10am-9pm (closing at 6pm on Sundays).

Cahokia Mounds harbors the remains of the civilization of Cahokia which existed from A.D. 700 to 1400. Free guided tours through the mounds are available. They have events planned year round. Their hours are 9am-5pm Wednesday through Sunday.

For the art lovers out there Saint Louis provides the Contemporary Art Museum. They have new installations and events going on frequently. Their hours are 10am-5pm Wednesday through Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday.

Grant’s Farm is a wonderful retreat into the world of animals! It is home to over 1,000 animals from all different continents. They offer tram rides through the park and shows free of charge. They are open spring through fall from 9:30am-3:30pm.

The Holocaust Museum and Learning Center provides information and images of the Holocaust and its survivors. The museum shows series of films. It also has writing and art contests with the winning work put on display. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30am-4:30pm (closing at 3pm on Fridays).

The Laumeier Sculpture Park is a great place to go and witness an open-air art gallery. The exhibitions include pieces from a wide range of artists. The park is also home to a large annual art fair. They are open year round and their hours are 8am-sunset daily.

No trip to Saint Louis would be complete without a visit to their famous Zoo! It houses hundreds of animals from around the world. There is an insectarium and a bird garden housing the winged creatures. And all around the zoo there are animals large and small to treat the eye and increase wonder. The zoo is open year round from 9am-5pm daily.

There are so many more free things available in the Gateway City. So take some time out of your schedule to educate and inspire yourself!"

How do they do it? Etsy supply sellers...

I just don't know what to think here. Maybe this is a good idea???
♥♥Deby0 4,332 sales
♥♥PinkBirdBeads 2,536 sales
♥♥urbanrose 5,934 sales
♥♥caramelos 4,188 sales
♥♥FabBeads 3,214 sales
♥♥jwlrysupply 7,202 sales
♥♥yukidesigns 1,874 sales
♥♥fabricsupplies 13,363 sales - My goodness!!!
♥♥dimestoreemporium 7,077 sales.
Basically EVERY Supply Seller I clicked on was like these! CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Etsy Success Tips n Tricks : Poor Economy a Stewin'

I found this article from an etsy email I got. I am quoting th earticle I found HERE.
"After wrapping up a very busy and sometimes lackluster holiday craft show season, I have come to a few grand conclusions about the economy at the moment, and – no surprise – it sucks! Though the jury is still out on how the craft community will be impacted by our nation’s (and world's!) crashing markets, it's always good to prepare for tough times when in the midst of uncertain ones. As independent artists and crafters with scarcely a safety net in sight, we are vulnerable in many ways, and I sometimes worry that we may be hit the hardest. Sadly, many customers are now opting for the lower quality, cheaper priced, large chain store gifts over our handmade masterpieces. While sitting there for hours at my booth at various craft shows contemplating this fact, I dwelt on what I could do better next time in order to combat the holiday season of lookie-loos...

1. Be flexible: It might be time to think outside the box with special promotions, painstakingly hunt for a cheaper supplier, or work on a fresh new idea that you may have been stewing over. The more items you carry and the more price points you have, the wider audience you can appeal to and the more sales you will make.
2. Learn to tighten your own belt: Do not under estimate the smaller, more local craft shows, such as the ones run by craft mafias or Etsy Teams. Since many of these shows are well-run and attract a specific audience, they are some of the best and cheapest ways for you to get your items out there. The simple fact is that the more money you spend traveling and paying for tabling, the more money you need to make in order to break even.
3. Network, network, network: Get to know other crafters, and listen to the wisdom they have to share about specific craft shows, cities, and markets. Why waste your time sewing purses for craft show in a city that is really into housewares and already flooded with handbags? You are just wasting your time and supplies. I know it takes time and can be tedious, but check out the Etsy forums, Craftster.org forums and the switchboards for some real talk about the business end of things. It does not cost anything to be friendly!
4. Promote intelligently: I think I find this the hardest part of this business, because I tend to just sit around and think the customers are going to come to me. However, in these tough times, we all know that is not the case. Stop just giving everyone a plain boring business card or an elaborate promotional item that costs way more to make than you have to comfortably spend. This year I started giving people buttons, magnets, and pencils with cute images of items in my shop. Not only do the customers love to get free gifts, but when I got home, I had tons of new hearts and orders from people who got my promo items at a show. These promo items were cheap and easy to get and got me a much better response than a plan business card. Also, get creative and friendly with your local print shop – you will save money doing the printing yourself.
5. Be realistic: Although some of us (like myself) really depend on the money made from crafting to live, it's time to get realistic about potential changes that you may need to undertake in order to stay afloat during these lean times. If buyers are thinking twice about their purchases, then you need to think twice about the best, most cost effective way to run your business. Be smart and in the true spirit of D.I.Y., do it your damn self…it is cheaper anyway ; )
6. Don’t underestimate the quality of your own work: Many people might not understand the time-consuming process or expensive materials that go into producing your items. However, once made aware of the time, effort, and love you put in, buyers will be more apt to fork out the cash. I noticed this a lot at craft shows. A person would pick up a yarn from me and admire it, but when I told them about the almost 6 hour process that goes into making every one, I think they felt more comfortable paying almost triple what they would for it at a large chain store. Don’t be afraid to market your process. Describe it in your Etsy listing and profile; include it on the back of your price tag, or chronicle it on your blog.

Mahar Dry Goods Round 2

I recently featured this same artist, but just saw that they attended the felt club in December. Mahar Drygoods had a smaller setup, but it was still very cool, and filled with awesome goodies!! I love their stuffed lime green monsters too :)

Adorned by Robin - booth display

This jewelry maker has a beautiful eye for quality and approachability. See her flickr photos HERE. She has a very impressive and high quality diaplay/booth. In this set of images, she was practicing doing an indoor booth display. Since many crafters get used to relying on the EZ Up tents, it becomes difficult to visualize or even approach an indoor booth setup swithc. This artist practiced in her basement before the show itself. This practice run also allowed her to have a decreased stress factor while setting up for real, and also gave her very nice images to send into the jury process. Nice work!!!

A Traveling Skethbook Show to Join

I found this invitation here...from THIS LADY.
"The Sketchbook Project is coming to Soulard Art Market

The folks at Art-House Co-op agreed to exhibit the Sketchbook Project at Soulard ART Market on March 11, 2009 from 6 to 10pm. The Sketchbook Project is like a concert tour, but with sketchbooks. Art-House sends you a sketchbook, you make the art. Then Art House is taking all the sketchbooks on a 6 city tour to galleries and museums across the U.S. The goal of the exhibition is to encourage anyone to create artwork and build a collective of sketchbooks made by artists from all over the world. The sketchbooks will be plastered across our wall and on tables , free for people to flip through. Art House in Atlanta Georgia is bringing artists together and giving everyone a chance to show in museums and galleries around the country. It's all about community.

You can participate by requesting a sketchbook from Art House Co Op. The deadline is February 22, 2009 for submission. Visit Art House website at www.arthousecoop.com/sketchbookproject

Soulard Art Market
2028 South 12th Street
St. Louis, MO 63104
www.soulardartmarket.com

Hours: Thur/Fri 6pm to 10pm
Sat//Sun noon to 6pm"

BIZ SERIES : Marketing on the Cheap

I fond this wonderfully helpful article HERE. Stay Tuned for More to Come!!
It's every new business owner's Catch-22: getting word out that you have set up shop, but not having any money to do it. You need customers to create the money to market the business, but to get customers you need to tell them you exist!

Before you do any sort of marketing, you need to work out your strategy by answering the following questions:

• What do you want to achieve through your marketing? For instance, is it to build your brand, attract customers, or tell potential customers you are there?

• Who is your target market? Such as fellow business mums, teenage boys, men aged 25-40 years.

• What is the best marketing method for your business? For example, brochures, website, direct mail or networking.

• What are you going to say? Will your marketing include a special offer, opening specials, or your business tagline?

• What makes you special? Work our your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) that makes you stand out from your competitors, such as "We are a networking group for business mums" or "We only sell Fairtrade products".

Once you know what you want to say, to whom and how, you are ready to get started on the marketing itself.

There are many marketing techniques you can use to build your business profile. Some will just cost your time and others may involve a small outlay, but the results are worth your effort and money.

• Give something away for details - it could be a free pen with every purchase, your monthly newsletter or a free e-book, but make sure you use the opportunity to get their information at the same time. In return for the item ask them to supply their name, email address and phone number so you can add them to your list and market to them in the future (with their permission of course!).

• Think local - find out who your local media is (newspapers, magazines, websites, radio, newsletters, TV stations) and tell them about your business's grand opening, new product line or new service. Local media always like local stories so make sure you promote the local angle prominently.

• Competitions - give away something of value to your target market and before long you will have a healthy list of interested prospective customers.

• Team up with other businesses - cross-promote each other to build customer lists for both. You can offer a prize from one of the businesses or discount vouchers as an incentive and share the cost.

• Editorials - make a list of your industry magazines, appropriate sections in metro newspapers, radio and TV shows that cover your industry and tell them when something important happens with your business. Remember that while editorials carry a lot of credibility with the public, you are not paying for the media space or time and you have no say over what is included or when.

• Online PR - after sending your press release to the media, upload it on the free PR websites, like Free Press Release and 24-7 Press release, to increase your search ranking.

• Be an expert - use the knowledge you have in your industry to position yourself as an expert by writing for an industry magazine, website or newsletter, speaking at industry events and information sessions or publishing your own blog or e-book.

• Use the Internet - list your business on free industry websites and business directories like Aussie Web, Hot Frog or Linked In. Make sure your listing contains all the key words potential customers are likely to type in to search engines so you come up in searches.

• Network - find out about your industry associations and networking groups, as well as complementary groups, like Business Mums, and become a member. All you need is your business card and a willingness to talk about your business.

• Don't forget your existing customers - keep in regular contact with your customers through an email newsletter. This is a great way to tell them what is going on in your business and keep you at the top of their minds. A good content mix is an informative article, special offer or giveaway and tips or tricks to help.

• Word of mouth - an often forgotten marketing method, but the one that I think is the most valuable. If someone is happy with your product or service ask them to tell their friends.

All these tips involve some research on your part, but very little (or no) money. They are a great way to get your name out there and get customers clambering for your product or service.

Johanna Baker-Dowdell is a freelance writer and public relations consultant. She owns and manages Strawberry Communications, a consultancy that helps businesses tell their stories through great words and PR. Johanna is based on the NSW Central Coast just north of Sydney, Australia.

For more information on Strawberry Communications, log on to http://www.strawberrycommunications.com.au or email Johanna at johanna@strawberrycommunications.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johanna_Baker-Dowdell