Craft Show Tip of the Week

When doing an indoor craft show try to visit the location before the show to see the access in and out of the building as well as what you may encounter once you are inside to get to your sales space. There have been occasions when we have arrived and found several staircases that needed to be climbed (with your display, tables, and inventory) to get to the sales area. If you cannot see the space, ask very specific questions about access before you apply. With handicapped access more common now this is not always a problem - BUT not all shows are run in accessible areas.

Featured Artist of the Week

This week's featured artist is a jeweler. Her shop is called dandelionblu.


Here is our interview with the artist and owner of the on-line shop.

Describe what you make?
Jewelry- I like to use vintage Lucite for color, and lots of different metals. I just got into enameling so check back for some new enameled work!

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?
Metal!

How long have you been creating craft?
I have always made things, be it painted seashells I sold on the side of the road as a kid, to photographs, to jewelry.

How did you get started?
I started making beaded jewelry a couple of years ago to give as gifts. Then started taking metal smithing classes last year after getting thoroughly burnt out by my event photography business.

Where does the name of your shop come from?
I like how it sounds and the words look together. My husband came up with the graphic. There is a double visual meaning to "blu" in the graphic.

What would you most want people to know about your work?
That it is ever changing, I love to explore new materials, and ways of designing. I am interested in how things hang and often try to work with asymmetrical designs.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?
Don't get discouraged or stop making- and you are brave for putting yourself out there!

Visit this shop. You will find some great jewelry there. And while you are there come and see the new additions that we have added at

Craft Show Tip of the Week

When you arrive to do a craft show do not arrive so early that by mid-day you are already exhausted and just want to leave. Your space is reserved for you. You should know in advance how long it takes to set up and arrive with enough time to set up your booth and displays. For some reason many arrive at 6 am for an 11am starting show - by 1pm they are ready to leave complaining how tired they are.

Featured Artist of the Week

This week we feature a fiber artist who calls her shop Kunklebaby. Here is our interview with the artist -

Describe what you make?
Unique, Luxurious, Handmade items tailored to babies and toddlers. Custom Slings, Clothing, Blankets and great gifts.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?
I love colorful, fun fabrics. Prints that excite me, texture-I only sell things that I would personally use, and love! I like to use 100% cotton, because I think it's important to use soft fabrics for new sensitive skin, and it's easy to care for.

How long have you been creating craft?
My entire life. I'm also a painter and cannot remember a time in my life that I wasn't drawing or finding new uses out of objects. I started creating my baby line after my children were born about four years ago. I had always loved sewing, but it became so much more important to me then. Personal.

How did you get started?
After the birth of my children, I could not find children's items out of the pastel range. I wanted vibrant, fun, unique and elegant. Many of my friends were starting families at the time too, and I was tired of having all the same clothes and accessories as them. Just because I had children didn't mean I was no longer stylish. I wanted to stand out and started creating my baby line then.

Where does the name of your shop come from?
My two children are very important to me. They are 12 months apart and have this super close relationship. When my oldest was two, they started creating and speaking their own language. Kunkle was one of their words. They used to tell me you could buy anything from the Kunkle Store-bread, toilet paper, even mermaids. My line started because of them and I knew the name needed to reflect that.

What would you most want people to know about your work?
They are easy to clean and will last through all the baby messes and toddler mishaps! I know how tired and busy mothers of young children are. The last thing you want to worry about is dry cleaning or hand washing. No time for that! I take great pride in the quality of my pieces.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?
Love everything you make. This love will set you apart. When people see how devoted you are to your creations, how cherished they become-they will see the quality you bring to the work. Also tell everyone you know, promote everywhere!

An artist and a mom - go over to her shop and see the great things for children and moms!
Then go on over and visit us at

Craft Show Tip of the Week

Bring change. You are going to need small bills and possibly coins (depending on the prices of your pieces). Stores often start with $40 in the cash register in ones and fives. That is the minimum that you will need at the start of the craft show day. If you sell high price tag craft you may need a lot more to start. You are better off with fives than tens and twenties. You can always use the fives to make change for anything larger. Never rely on getting change from the booths around you - they need their change for their sales!

Featured Artist of the Week

This week's featured artist of the week is Dragonfly Gems. Here is our interview with the artist, Sharleen:

Describe what you make -
Mostly one of a kind hand made jewelry.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?
Sterling silver and semi precious stones. I have been branching out into Gold filled lately.

How long have you been creating craft?
Since High School

How did you get started?
I took a Jewelry and Metal smithing class in high school.

Where does the name of your shop come from?
I love dragonflies and I use beautiful gems so it just seemed to go together.

What would you most want people to know about your work?
That I do mostly one of a kind items and I try to make each piece unique and interesting so that someone feels glad to own it or to have given it as a gift.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?
Hang in there and continue to create away!

_______________
Well, direct and to the point! The work is beautiful. Take a look at the shop!

And while you are there come on over to

Craft Show Tip of the Week

When you sell your craft you are a business. You have left the world of hobby behind. Businesses - especially businesses that sell - must comply with State and local regulations. Don't think that if you are "just selling at a craft show" and you don't have the business documents that you need, you will not get into trouble. Many shows require these documents to apply. Some local authorities visit craft shows just to check on proper sales tax collection, posting of authority to collect sales tax, etc. Do what you need to do before you do a show - avoid costly penalties.

Featured Artist of the Week

Our featured artist of the week is Poorlulu and she is a needle felting artist. She creates great little dolls and critters with needle felting. For those who do not know what needle felting is - it is the manipulating of wool fibers to stiffen and grab together. The wool can be molded like clay into shapes with the punching of needles or the agitation of the fibers. It is an old and again new craft that is becoming popular.

Here is our interview with Poorlulu -

Describe what you make and what mediums do you enjoy working in most?
I make needle felted collectibles like dolls and bears. And so as you can probably tell that means I love working with wool roving but I have a soft spot for felt as well.

How long have you been creating craft?
I have only been doing this for about 5 months and I am entirely self taught.

How did you get started?
I got started being interested in this craft believe it or not because of ebay. I did a search for outsider art and loved the needle felting stuff that came up and decided to give it a go.

Where does the name of your shop come from?
Poorlulu is the nickname my husband gave me when we first met - it's the name of a character in a comedy show (Harry Enfields show) from the UK. She is a baby constantly being set upon by her jealous toddler little brother, bad harry.

What would you most want people to know about your work?
I would like people to know that I make everything by hand and with lots of love and thought...and that I can make something just for them if they have an idea.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?
My advice probably isn't the best as I just started but I would say if you love what you do stick with it, don't let anyone belittle your work.

Poorlulu has a website in addition to her Etsy shop. Please give that a visit to:
www.stabbies.com

Take a look at her Etsy shop as well and while there stop by and see us!

Craft Show Tip of the Week

When you do a craft show, it is best if you do not go alone. You need to take a friend, relative, anyone who will stay with you for the day. There is going to be a time during the day that you need the restroom, need to get lunch, need to take time to eat. Some who go alone ask the next booth to watch their booth while they are away - not really so good! Not only are their eyes not always on your things, but if you get customers, they are not going to leave their customers to come and help yours, take money, etc. And if you tell them to just say that you will be back and to wait - forget it. No one is really going to wait for you to return - and rarely do you get people coming back later. Once they walk away, most sales are lost.

So my advice this week - don't go it alone!