Santa Monica Contemporary Craft Show

Hello all!!! Lots of changes in the past couple of weeks. I’ve been working furiously on pieces for the Santa Monica Contemporary Craft Show which occurred this weekend.  This was a huge milestone for me as it is my first show. I was apprehensive going into the show for several reasons: a) response to my work from customers, b) I’ve never created a display before, c) getting my website completed by Friday, and d) working all day (10-6 P.M.) Friday-Sunday on Halloween weekend. It turns out that although the show took a lot out of me it was beneficial in that I sold pieces (yay!), met a lot of great artists, got good feedback from customers and galleries, and completed my first show!

Here are some pics from the show:

Here I am sitting at the booth #143

MPR and SK Riley at my booth

Here is the ring and necklace display

Here is my bracelet display

Here is my earring display

Here I am helping clients at my booth

Of particular interest at the show, I met a lovely ceramicist, Sally Jaffee, who has beautiful work. Additionally, I met the president of the Bay Area Metal Arts Guild, Allison Antelman who was encouraging and so nice! I think that meeting artists and hearing their interpretations of the show in comparison to other shows, their views on the economy and responses to my work was of huge benefit to me regardless of sales. All in all a worthwhile experience.

American Craft Council

Lookie here: www.craftcouncil.org!

I’m checking this out this weekend. All sorts of amazing jewelry artists…I’m on pins and needles. There are several demonstrations as well which I hope to attend.  I’ll report back with my faves.

Contemporary Craft Fair

Recently, I went to the Contemporary Craft Fair at Fort Mason (http://www.contemporarycraftsmarket.com/). Here’s the view from the parking lot:

Gawd, that’s so ugly, huh? Hello Marin! Anywho, the next view I saw as I walked into the fair was:

Wow! It was daylight savings that weekend and a reporter accosted me and asked my opinion on the new, earlier daylight savings time. So, of course I said I loved it…who doesn’t love more sun?

Here’s the view of the start of the fair:

It’s a nice space with plenty of room and good light. My one complaint would be that it’s a bit off the beaten track for SF’ers. You have to trek to Fort Mason and then it’s waaaaay at the end behind the main buidings.

The highlights of the fair for me were:

http://cynthiadowns.com

http://www.bdjdesigns.com/springCollection.html

http://www.yansdesign.com/products.html

This is all done with embroidery…I love it! Reminds me of:

http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/turnerprize/history/raedecker.htm

I luuuurrvve me some Michael Raedecker, shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2000. A bit of a darker take on embroidered landscapes than Yans Designs.