Another Show under my Belt …

I participated in my second art show yesterday. Actually it wasn’t so much and art show as a craft fair. The last two shows I have done have been nothing more than a learning experience. I have not shown my art in forever and like I had said before my art is so different from what I used to create it really is like two different worlds.

Here is a list of the things I have learned from the past few shows.

I think one of the biggest things I learned is that I really enjoy showing my art. I love talking to the customers about my creations and the inspiration behind them. I love hearing the comments and the reactions I receive when they walk into the stand. I really enjoy what I do and I am passionate about the pieces I create and every painting, collage, and drawing is part of who I am. I am not great with words, and not terrific at expressing how I feel but when I create a piece of art expressing my emotions and my thoughts come easily. It is amazing to see someone get as excited about my work as I do.

I can pull it off. I can go out and show my work. I can set up a display I am happy with. I can meet a deadline and be organized. I can communicate with costumers without completely stumbling over my words and I can do it all with a tiny bit of confidence.

I have to find shows where I fit in a little better. I learned this lesson yesterday. I have to be a little more selective about the shows I participate in. I am not saying I was better than anyone yesterday or I want to be in a show that has art that looks like mine, but I do need something that fits my style a little better and a show that will draw the type of customer who is looking for something unique and handmade. The customers who went to the show yesterday were looking for cookie cutter cut out pumpkins, flower arrangements and yard ornaments. They were also looking for inexpensive items. Unfortunately many of the crafters at the show do not create their own pieces but buy them made or semi made and then add a little of their own touch. They can sell their work cheaper because they do not put the time and energy into making their craft and I simply cannot compete with that. I put hours upon hours into my work and they put in minutes and I just can’t sell my art for what they can. I need to find shows with unique handmade items that draws a crowd looking for that and not items that come off an assembly line.

I have had fun at the shows I have done and have met a lot of nice people. I have no regrets and I am so glad I am able to show my work.

My goal is to do more unique shows. To keep creating and learning. I would love to travel to different areas and different states to show my work. So if any you live within four hours of eastern Pennsylvania and know of any fabulous art shows, street fairs or craft fairs I would love to hear about them.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Big Eyes ...

Hi I have been super busy getting ready for my show on Saturday. So far I have finished 3 new collages, 3 new paintings, and a couple of ornaments. I am really excited about the ornaments because they are made of 100% recycled materials. The card-stock is recycled paper; the backing is cardboard from cereal, tissue and other boxes. The ribbon and the string I am using were all purchased at flea markets or given to me. I was a little nervous about the paper quality but it is really beautiful. They can be used as ornaments, gift tags, or a little extra decoration on holiday gifts. Last year I used them to decorate my cookie bags that I gave to the kids teachers. I will be adding them to my Etsy shop after the show!

I wanted to share one of the paintings I completed Sunday. I love owls, obviously, but my favorite is the Saw Whet Owl. They are adorable. I saw a couple at a conservatory in Maine and fell in love. I wanted to grab one and bring it home with me. They are so tiny and they have the biggest eyes. I am hoping to do a series of paintings featuring this cute owl and this is my first. I love this painting so much I want to keep it.

I hope to stop by later in the week and share some more creations. Today I hope to finish a painting I started working on and begin my final one for the show. Tomorrow I am hoping to print out all my cards and package them, and Thursday I want to finish the ornaments and paint my display. I would love to squeeze in one more collage but I am not going to stress about it. Have a great week!

What a find …

A couple of months ago I was contacted through Etsy by a women to see if I would be interested in taking part in an environmental fair in September. I have not participated in any type of art or craft fair in over five years. I have wanted to do a show but because of my little angels I have not had the time to get enough inventory together to do anything but Etsy.
My plan after Abigail starts kindergarten next year is to throw myself into my art full time. And along with building my online presence and placing art in local galleries I want to travel the east coast and do a couple of art fairs. I would love to travel to New England or down south to sell my art. Since beginning to sell my art online I have sold more items to people who live below the Mason-Dixon Line than anywhere else. Maybe somewhere very deep, deep inside me I have a little southern bell. If I told my husband that he would just laugh at me.

So back to the environmental fair, I have decided that it would be a great show to get my feet wet. It is only four hours, 12 to 4 which are great hours, the set up time is not at 6 in the morning which is a plus, it is Free, and it seems like a great event to go out and share my art. Since I have decided to definitely do the fair I have been racking my brain to come up with a fabulous but easy, unique but easy, eye catching but easy way to display my art and be able to set it up by myself.

I came up with the idea to display my cards and some of my paintings in vintage suitcases. My thought was I could safely transport the art in the suitcases and then when I got to the show I could pop them open and quickly arrange the cards in a nice display. I had found some vibrant and funky suitcases on Etsy and the prices were reasonable but when you factored in the shipping they were a little to steep. On Monday the kids and I had a bunch of running to do so I decided to stop at Goodwill and the Salvation Army to see if they had any vintage suitcases. The first stop was Goodwill that is where I found the cute green suitcase with the pretty green ribbon inside. It was marked $3.99, I thought that was a great price. The suitcase is a fabulous green; it is very clean and pretty on the inside. Next was the Salvation Army. The first suitcase I found was another green one. It was in great shape and it was only $2.99. Then I spotted this huge white suitcase on the top rack. I thought it would be perfect to hang banners in or display paintings. I stood on my tip toes and pulled it down, it was really heavy. When I opened it I had a big surprise, stuffed in the big suitcase was two smaller ones. A little blue one and one of the fabulous flowered ones I had been searching for. None of the suitcases were marked with a price. When I went to check out the store manager gave me all three for $6.99, I was so excited what a find. The flowered suitcase is a little weathered but it is perfect for a display piece at a show. So for $13.97 I found five fabulous suitcases to be part of my show display.

Along with the suitcases I have also found some great pieces to use in my display including, a beautiful old table, sides from a baby crib, old fence, ironing boards, and an old dresser that I am going to paint a flamingo pink! I have a month to get some amazing pieces completed and I am excited about the ideas I have. If all goes well I am hoping to do a couple of small shows before the holidays.

Oh, before I go I also wanted to show another fun find. I purchased these pretty pictures at Goodwill for only .97 cents.

Also I am joining Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday. There are always some wonderful vintage finds over on her site and today a recipe for Pink Cake! http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!