ART, STORMS, ROADTRIP, OH MY!

Yesterday the kids and I spent the whole day in the van! all! We went to Eau Claire and Minneapolis and back to restock stores. I kept putting it off, so now I had to do it in one day with the kids. Emma and Ethan were OK and beside I bribed them with food *grins*
We stopped at one of their favorite restaurants, Dino's. MMMMM Greek food! There are worse ways to spend a rainy day.

Alright, I never got around to recapping this past weekend's art fair. Well, the Dragon Art Fair was a bust. The day began promising....no rain. A good start, warm and that is OK. There just wasn't too many shoppers. As the morning passed it got nice and sunny, but with that the heat. Still I don't have a problem as long as the heat doesn't keep people away. at one point it seemed to get busy but without buyers. Hmmm.

I do realize that there are a lot of people that go to art fairs to get out and look. I'm totally fine with that, but since I am trying to make a living it is nice to have the "just looking" mixed with the "I'm here to buy". The business end of art can be difficult. Sometimes I wonder if I should just chuck it for a guaranteed pay check. Not to put tons into a show, only to loose money. I guess that is the inherit risk is being self employed in any area. So I keep plugging away and realize that every show is an opportunity to learn something new.
I keep on keeping on....

As usual, I met some very nice people that I otherwise would have never met if I didn't take the risk and put myself out there. I talked to other artists and most of us are in the same boat....except maybe the people with the copper yard art. I always see customers carrying them around! In fact, I saw a pieces I'd like in my garden!
To be honest, I didn't have my first sale until 1pm and by 2pm it was thundering and raining. By about 2:15 the tornado warning siren went off (right next to us, very very loud) I'm very paranoid about tornadoes so you don't need to tell me twice! I started packing art into a tote along with my money.
Art fair staff and firefighters from next door told everyone there was a funnel cloud sighted in a nearby town and we need to evacuate to the basement of the public library. Emma and I took shelter until the all clear was given. Afterwards, everyone just packed up and left. I know some people had things damaged since they didn't have walls up on their tent. Since it didn't get too blustery all the tents stayed up.

Whew! to recap; low sales, nice people, tornado nearby, but no wind damage.

St. Paul Craftstravaganza

Another year and another Craftstravaganza. Whew I am tired! I had a lot of fun, but boy the weather did not cooperate. The gals at "i like you" were nice enough to let me stay in the studio above the shop. Comfy enough couch, but I am not used to city life anymore. I had such a hard time sleeping, I tossed all night. Too many lights outside, buses and cars running all night. I woke waaay too early. So my day started with me scraping ice and snow off my windshield. I was freezing since I was too dumb to bring a warm coat, all I had was a rain jacket. With a quick breakfast of cold leftover pizza (from Goloony's), I headed over to the MN State Fair grounds. I will soon regret that cold breakfast. 

I think the Fine Arts building is a great venue, but it has no heat. All day we, shoppers and vendors alike, froze. It developed a type of comaraderie, we were all in the same boat. We were all freak'n cold! *grins* I'm afraid the poor weather kept quite a few shoppers away. Still I'm glad I went.

I met so many nice and interesting people, like my booth neighbor "Hi Lisa!" *waving* And also people who have purchased from me online. Nice to put a face to a name. By the time 6pm came around though I was more that ready to leave. I packed and loaded the van in record time and cranked up the heat. I was so chilled to the bone, I couldn't stop shivering for almost two hours. I got a warm bite to eat and started the four and a half hour drive home. I woke up this morning so sore. 

Amazing the difference a day makes. I felt tons better by this afternoon and spent a nice warm sunny Sunday weeding the garden, doing a bit of painting, and riding the go-cart! Now it is bedtime and I'm enjoying the quiet. Outside it is dark, really dark and I know I can sleep.

For a full vendor list:

http://www.craftstravaganza.com/2008/vendors.html

Handmaidens MPLS

I forgot...yes I went to Minn last weekend. I had fun and met some very nice people. Sarah and Angela at "i like you" were great! So even though it was very (and I mean Very) cold last Sunday, we had a good turn out. The VFW had a bar that made great bloody marys and many shoppers (and artist/crafters) were seen enjoy a drink or two.

I know these are bad photos...I was too busy to worry about a great pic!

Minneapolis, Mn

I'll be in Minneapolis this weekend for a sale on Sunday at the James Ballantine VFW post. Sounds like fun! Stop by if you're in the area. I know it will be ccccccooooold but you can always warm up with handmade goodies!

Ok I know I am horrible at posting. I want to, I find myself writing blog posts in my head. Actually sittting down and doing it is another story. I signed up for the Thing-a-day challenge. so far I've made more than one thing each day. Again, the problem is photography and posting. Hopefully I can get my butt in gear and play catch-up.