Peak Fest, Saturday, May 7, 2011

If you are in the Apex, NC, area this coming Saturday (May 7), be sure to come out and enjoy a gorgeous day at the 31st annual Peak Fest.  There will be lots of activities for the whole family - music, food and amazing creations by local artists (check the list for this year's participating artists)!


I will be at booth spot 48A (see map).  In addition to my new copper and resin jewelry, wire and mixed metal jewelry,  I will have more of my best selling glass tile pendants and earrings created with vintage international postage stamps!

Fall Arts Fair @ Sertoma Art Center, Oct 2 - Photos

Oct 2 was a BEAUTIFUL day for the Fall Arts Fair at the Sertoma Arts Center and Shelley Lake in Raleigh!

Tables and chairs were provided to all vendors (indoors and outdoors), and tents for outdoors!

The FAIR provided lots of opportunities to buy pottery, paintings, jewelry, note / greeting cards, soaps and fiber arts.

Pottery demonstrations...

Jill and her sister of OrangeCatArt, prints, notecards, calendars ... - don'tcha love the orange tent?

Jill of LivnGoodJewelry, chainmaille jewelry

My booth setup ... indoors at the Sertoma Arts Centers.

Cheryl of Cheryl Weisz Pottery

Andry Crafts, Artisan Design for Special Occasions

Alice DeLisle, Ceramic Art

Kimberly Clark Riddell, watercolors, ornaments...

Megan Clark, jewelry designer (also a fabulous metalsmith instructor at Pullen Arts Center)

JMarc Designs, fused glass designs

Buckey of Syko Skittzoid Art

Susan's Garden, Pressed Flower Art (Gingko Girl series)

Leigh of AraLeigh Studios, Merit Badge Jewelry

My purchase of the day - Blue Pine Cones bowl from Cheryl Weisz Pottery!

Fall Arts Fair @ Sertoma Art Center, Oct 2

Join us on Saturday, October 2,

from 10am - 5pm for the Sertoma and Pullen Arts Centers' Fall Arts Fair at Sertoma Arts Center and Shelley Lake!

Visit our indoor & outdoor art markets, enjoy live entertainment, watch artists' demonstrations, enjoy a kids area, fishing derby, try out a music together class or Nia class and much more!

If you are in the area, come by, visit me, and help support the local artists.

I will be indoors at the Sertoma Arts Center. Other artists to look for - Jill of LivnGood Jewlery, Christina of ChristinaBellaBeads, Jill of OrangeCatArt, and Elena of TrendFemme.

September DDM Show - Photos

This was my 3rd show with Designers Downtown Market and will be the last one for me this year. I wanted to share a few photos of this event.

And how my booth setups have evolved from the 1st DDM show. This was the first time I set up fabrics for sale - I had fabrics in plastic storage bins on a single 6' table. I saw that it was difficult for customers to really see what was available with all items folded tightly in those boxes!

So I invested in several grid walls, shelving and baskets from A & B Fixtures. I was able to spread items around where people could touch, feel and unfold pieces of fabric to see all the fabulous colors and patterns.

And my jewelry setup has changed, again! Before I used empty boxes as risers to create height. But I found that when nature's elements (gusty wind, specifically) made an appearance, my displays ended up on the ground. Not good for the jewelry!

Now, my displays have more weight, have a neater look (since I used some of my fabrics to cover the pads in the display trays), and is easier to pack and unpack (items are pinned in each tray, is covered in bubble wrap and stacked in a single box).

I was able to visit a few vendors near me -2 sisters, Elisabeth Ashlie Jewelry and Kate of CardsbyK8

Christy of Hoot Creations - handmade jewelry

Jennifer of Sweet JAM Designs - jewelry, sewing, paper crafts, and crochet

Ashlee of Hepcat Roux's - funky jewelry, pet tees, cards, and gifts

Beach and Wilmington Art Walk - Photos

View of sound-side marsh from back deck at Sunset Beach.

Morning visitors to our deck - juvenile night herons.

Ready for a walk on the beach - pretty pedicures and flip-flops!

And just a few photos of the 9th Annual Art Walk in Wilmington, NC.

Preparing for an Outdoor Show

I am preparing for my first outdoor show of the 2010 fall season! I will be at the 9th Annual Art Walk and Parade in Wilmington, NC on Saturday, September 11 (10:00am - 5:00pm). If you are in the area, please come by and say "Hi!"

Lots of stress and brainstorming for ideas on how to set up the tent display. Especially when you don't know where your assigned booth location will be or tent orientation. I've done several outdoor and indoor shows and I haven't set up the same for any of them. There is always something to cause a change in setup - perhaps a change in the size of the booth space, location, orientation, etc.

One task I do is to photograph my jewelry on displays to remind me where each item is to be placed. I didn't do this one time, got all of my jewelry set up and found that I had some empty slots. I had a moment of uncertainty - had I left some pieces at home, lost or misplaced some of them, or had I just put more items on a display?

Also I create a grid layout for many possible tent setups, print it and bring along so that I can quickly determine which would fit the situation.

The hardest part of preparing is the physical task of getting everything packed in the car! Start out with an empty car - I took out the 2 back seats to get as much space as possible.

AND .... fit all this stuff in - a tent with canvas, tent weights, 4-5 tables ranging in sizes (6ft, 5ft, 4ft), table risers, a chair, rubber flooring, step stool, table cloths/sheets, banner, bungee cords, jewelry displays, jewelry inventory, and miscellaneous items for actual sales (business cards, inventory list, signage, packaging, receipts, cash, change...). Plus, this time I have beach stuff to pack to since I will be spending a week prior to the show at Sunset Beach - more packing...