Mount Horeb and Fishes!

This past weekend was hot and stuffy! The whims of the weather is the biggest drawback to doing outside art fairs. Nice thing about Mount Horeb is that people still came out :-)

It is such a nice town. Mount Horeb still has a functioning downtown. It is great! You can tell the residents take keeping it alive and kicking seriously.

My Booth

Oh...my new collages now include FISH!!!

Forget the backgrounds! I cut game boards cut into bird and fish shapes, collaged, and painted

Green Lake Fine Art Fair

As you can see we weren't really busy.
It did pick up later but I still had a disappointing weekend.
Getting stung on the finger (my whole hand ended up swollen) didn't help! ugh!
What a beautiful day.

Emma really enjoyed spending the day by the water.

Duckies!

A couple mini mixed media houses I've been playing with.

This was my last scheduled sale of the year. Now I'm going to concentrate on
other venues and projects.

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.

Dragon Art Fair

Off I go....

Dragon Art Fair
Deforest, WI
9am to 4pm today only!!!

I'm baaack!

Ok, yes I left blogger and yes I now have a website----but I couldn't figure out to add comments to my blog in iWeb so-- I'm back and I'll try to be a better blogger!!!!!

In Sturgeon Bay this past weekend, I won my first ribbon, "Honorable Mention".

I feel like a prize pony! *grins* According to my mom "it's about time!" Isn't that what mom's are for?

It was abnormally hot --90's both days. Almost no wind to boot! As always, I met some very nice people. Since it was slow, I had time to talk to other artists. My neighbor Lala is so funny and my new creative friend, Joy, is very talented and very nice. I also got some info about self publishing and about licensing for the gift market from two other artists.

It may be summer break for my kids (almost-fri is their last day), but school is in session for me. I signed up for Kelly Rae Roberts class on running a creative biz. That is the info I need. I sometimes wonder if I should have gotten a biz or marketing degree instead of in art. I figure I'd still be making art, but then I'd know what to do with it all! So far Kelly has shared a lot of good info and insight...and it is just the first week!

Some TTv pics I took in beautiful Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay

Moo Crew Feature

I am the featured WIST member (Wisconsin Street Team on Etsy) over on the Wist blog. Stop by my Etsy shop and look at what prints I have and then leave a comment here. One winner will be picked at random to receive their chosen print!

Yay! Free Art!

This weekend I'll be in Mount Horeb. My booth will be accross from Moonhill Mercantile, just before 3rd Street. Stop by and say "Hi!"

Dragon Arts in Deforest WI

6x6 inch on cut game board

8x10 inch on recycled container board

approx 9 x 12 inch on hardcover book

6x6 inch on a cut game board

I have been so so busy the last two weeks! The kids had a bunch of school field trips and other end of the year fun. I sold so much at Sturgeon Bay, I had to work like a mad woman to get ready for tomorrow! I have a bunch of new work showing for the first time Yay!


In addition to the art fair there is a car show, a plant sale, library book sale, and more! Fun for everyone! Stop by and say "Hi!" if you are in the area.

Off To Sturgeon Bay!

I'm all packed and ready to go! I love this art fair, but it can get a bit windy being right on the water! If you are anywhere near Sturgeon Bay stop by and say "hi" Have a great weekend everyone!

Last weekend

The Fine Arts Building is such a nice venue! And look at all the shoppers!!!
Thank-you to everyone who came out to support handmade!!!

I finally had a chance to post about last weekend. St Paul Craftstravaganza was so much fun...again. Weather was nice, though the building stayed a bit chilly. Sales better than last year...I made my goal plus. Oh and I did buy a bunch of stuff!

My booth

All My Own Booth

i like you Booth

From Nora at Bodylish I had to buy this soap! It smells like cinnamon redhots. Yummy!
I got a super cute bib from Lisa at Sheppard Girls. No, I'm not having a baby, but my Brother's wife is :-) YAY! For the baby, I also got a cute stuffed rattle and monster doll from All My Own.
Emma picked out 2 Fuzzbutts (cute name huh!) from Christina Ward. They look like mutant guinea pigs! And she got armwarmers from i like you.

Fuzzbutts on the loose!

See Me At Craftstravaganza!

4th Annual St. Paul Craftstravaganza

Saturday, May 2 2009, 9am to 5pm
Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Fine Arts Building
Free parking and admission!

Swag bags given away to the first 100 shoppers



******************

New Goodies!

Photos from last year...it was cold so everyone is bundled up!

1. DSC_0174, 2. DSC_0161, 3. Craftstravaganza 08, St. PAul, MN, 4. Craftstravaganza yarn, 5. DSC_0050, 6. DSC_0130, 7. DSC_0102, 8. T-shirts by With Remote, 9. DSC_0224, 10. DSC_0079, 11. DSC_0014, 12. DSC_0049, 13. DSC_0053, 14. DSC_0157, 15. DSC_0203, 16. DSC_0010, 17. Craftstravaganza 08, St. PAul, MN, 18. IMG_5823, 19. Craftstravaganza 08, St. PAul, MN, 20. DSC_0133, 21. It was cold!, 22. craftstravaganza craft fair, 23. Craftstravaganza, 24. DSC_0098, 25. DSC_0171

Artta This World Art Fair

I think Sputnikfest was a hit. I know I had fun. The weather cooperated for us even though we had a bit of a wind. Next year I'll bring the kids. As always, I met some really great people. 

I tried something different. I set up a small table at the front of my booth to work on a painting/collage during slow times. It worked out pretty well. I had a lot of kids really interested in what I was doing.    :-)

Busy busy

Wow, This week has gone by so fast!

Kids started school again. It's very exciting for Emma is now in middle school with a locker and everything. Ethan is in 1st grade and unfortunately the poor little guy is sick today and will be absent on the 4th day of school! 

I've spent the week trying to get ready for Sputnik Fest in Manitowoc, WI. So if you are in the area, stop by the Artta This World art fair and say "hi!". Check out the blog here to see the list of artists and crafters that will be there.

Don't worry about the weather, I ordered up a terrific day....please no rain!       :-)

Baraboo Summer Arts Classic

Look at all of these trees! 

What a nice area around the Sauk County Courthouse. 

The ground was a bit dusty, not enough rain recently.

This was the kids craft area right behind my booth. 

I loved listening to the little excited voices working on their art!

I'm a couple days late, but last Saturday I was in Baraboo, WI. I have never set up at or shopped at the Summer Arts Classic so I didn't know what to expect. Wow, what a nicely put together art fair! The organizers and volunteers were the best. The day was perfect, people were really nice, but sales were slow. I guess this will not be a record breaking year *sigh*

I just don't think people have as much extra income to spend on art....I sure as heck know I don't! Either way I was glad I went and I will apply again next year. My next art fair is in Iowa for Artapalooza on Saturday September 13th in Cedar Falls. 

South Shore Frolics pt 2

I had a nice breezy Sunday in South Shore Park. Here I am (right) with my "personal assistant"and fellow WIST member Julie! Actually this wonderful woman has helped me set up, tear down, and booth sit for me during my last 2 shows. What a friend!

The afternoon before, we spent time trying out some fun new techniques! An art play date! I need to do that more often.

South Shore Frolics

Well this weekend I'm off to the MIlwaukee area again! This Sunday I'll be in Bay View at South Shore park for what is supposed to be a beautiful weekend.

If you are in the area, stop by and say "Hi!"

I have to admit I have nothing new made to show you other than this doll I made for a Swap-bot swap. I had a lot of fun with this little thing. What fun. I really like to hand sew and these use up those little scraps of this and that. I got a few books from the library on embroidery so I can make better faces. I'm learningI finished one more and have three others in the works. I haven't photographed the other one yet. It's done, but not... I needs something else. I still haven't figured out what.

I've been working on a brilliant idea I got about 11pm the other night. of course, I couldn't sleep. I was up until 2 am working out some things. My idea is good (great even, if I do say so myself) but I need more practice. I'l unveil it when I'm ready ;-)