Tinicum Arts Festival: Weekend Review

What a wonderful weekend at Tinicum Arts Festival.  

As some of you may know (if you follow my blogs or Facebook) sales at shows have been really down for me.  Like, REALLY down.  I was getting quite discouraged.  

I had considered not doing Tinicum Arts Festival at all this year.  And that is huge, because I have been doing that show for around 13 years.  It is like family there, great vendors, its in a shady park, the folks that run it are like family too.  Anyhow......

Instead of not doing the show, I did some thinking and decided to change directions and add some art prints (linocuts) and hand dyed and printed purses to my booth- and that gave me a nice distraction.

So for the first time in a long time I was EXCITED again to do a show.  If for not other reason, then to show off my stuff.  

But then I started to follow the weather for the weekend, and sure enough it was chance of storms and temps in the mid to high 90's!  Now, I don't do well in the heat anymore.  And I don't mean, like, it is uncomfortable, I mean, I feel ill.  My heart races, I ache.  It really effects me.  So I spent the week praying for better weather (no storms) and lower temps.  I also got a bigger batter operated fan, a small hand fan / mister, and brought an extra cooler of water and a bowl to fill and dip my feet in should I get too overheated.  I have a bunch of neck coolies in the cooler which I rotate too.  They really help. (neck coolies has something in them that absorbs water, so you can keep it in the cooler once you activate it with water, and then tie it around your neck.  Cools you down instantly!!!

Here is the woman I buy from, I add a new one each year to my collection!!!

Here is my newest batik fabric one (not activated yet)

http://relaxpak.com/products

I am so happy to say, the storms broke up, with I think only one overnight on saturday while we were gone (looked as if there was only one tent casualty from that, and she didn't have weights on her tent, so......................)  Instead of the temps being in the 90's for Saturday as the weather said, they didn't even crest 70!!!!  With it being misty out it was actually chilly.  I didn't use any of my "cooling" kit.  Instead I put a shawl over my shoulders part of the morning.  Sunday was gorgeous, high 70's low 80's, sunny.  I broke out my fan for that day, and used a neck coolie for pack up, but it was not bad at all.  It is amazing how much better I felt after the shows with it being in oppressive heat. 

Another thing that helped me to feel better, is that I invested in a nice chair to sit in.  I need to sit up high, since I sit behind my tables.  I used a stool forever, because it was cheap, and collapsible, and I stand most of the time anyhow.  But the last year my body has protested this (not to mention, slower shows mean more sitting).  I found this one on amazon, and could NOT believe the price.  Not to mention, it is roomy (I am not a little woman) and sturdy (must be able to be thrown in the back of a vehicle with multiple things piled on it, repeatedly and survive.  Well, I love it.  It takes up a bit more room in the vehicle, and the booth (its very wide), but I felt wonderful and relaxed.  I was just what I needed.

Here is the link to the listing on Amazon.

My son Aiden (14) was my helper all weekend at the show.  Set up, tear down, sales, booth watching.....fetching me food.  He was wonderful.  I love spending time with him and he enjoyed catching some new Pokemon in a new location (yep, he is into Pokemon go!).  He got to walk around with a fellow artist and dear friend who didn't do the show this year too, and I think he really enjoyed spending time with him and having that freedom.  I am so thankful he enjoys shows and the arts!!!

I had to play with the display since I had new items.  The first day, with it being misty out, we had to keep the prints inside and the bags.  

First they were tucked in a corner (nope- didn't work well) 

and then we moved them up more (better). 

 But on Sunday when it was sunny, we moved them out front as I had wanted to have them, and they got soooo many people looking through them, which was nice. I sold a few as well!

I also brought extra hangers for the bags, since they were soooooo clustered together  on Saturday.

You couldn't see the designs or root through them well because they were piled on top of each other..

Sunday they were more spread out, and I even put the tote bags out front.  They got more fondling and I even sold some of them.

I also ditched my shutters for the earrings and used closet shelving we had in the basement.  Worked better because I could have them inside for bad weather, and didn't have to take them down at the end of the day to lower the tent or to have the sides on.  

I think sometimes I love setting my display up as much as creating!!!!  I still think I need some sort of coat tree for out front to display the bags.  I think they need that.  Eventually I will do that!  For now, this is my last outdoor show till September.  So today is cleaning up, rinsing off the tent, drying walls and table cloths and packing it up till fall.

Another thing I want to mention, because, you know, polymer- is my friend Mary-Lynne Moffatt, who took BEST IN SHOW,  at the annual Art Barn art show, which brings artists from all over Bucks County and NJ as well.  Out of all the entries, in all mediums, she got the Best in show.  Go Mary-Lynne and go polymer!  I love seeing polymer taken more seriously as an art form!!!

Her chess set is something to behold, and I wish you could see it in person.  Each piece hand sculpted.  

You can find her on Facebook here.

Anyhow, I am glad I did the show.  There is such a feeling of family there.  Even a slow show there is nice because there is good company and lots of artist to visit and chat with. 

I wish I had taken more pictures.  I am so busy talking I always forget!!!!

   

Getting my Hands Dirty

It has been a whirlwind around here.  Lots of fun and exciting things going on.  The kids had a week of fun days at school, including crazy sock day, crazy hair day, future career day and hat day.  It was a week of fun to honor Dr. Suess!  So we had fun being creative all week!

 My Little Pony Socks

 crazy socks

Crazy Hair, Julia had a faux hawk with buns, and collin wore a wig

Future Career Day

Julia as an artist and Collin as an explorer

Hat Day

Then the hubs and I got away to NY to visit friends and spend some time on their organic farm, just relaxing and with no kids in tow.  We also got to see Enter the Haggis while we were there, which is always a treat!  

On the way up to NY, I found out I would be doing a jewelry show the next Saturday (the North Penn Select Craft show).  It's quite a nice show, and I didn't want to miss the chance to participate.  I needed to create some sort of pipe and drape, since it was an indoor show, AND make jewelry, since I was low.  

I had a great time figuring out my booth and making lots of new jewelry.  My hands were dirty and happy as I worked antiqued copper and soldered silver.

Thank goodness I had an old pipe style tent to work with.  There were size constraints, so it was a bit rigged.  Here it is in my family room being worked on

And here it was at the show.  I was really happy it all came together nicely.

Here are some of the new pieces I made for the show

 I didn't get a good pic of the finished bracelets.  I made a ton of them!  Oh my dirty sore fingers!

This pieces is sterling silver, crystal, polymer clay, fossils, bezels, pyrite, rutilated quartz.....its a show stopper!

This piece below is rockin' copper choker with ceramic, bronze, kyanite, 2 pieces of leeland blue!!!!, and turquoise (ceramic by marsha neal, bronze by me)

More polymer clay, ceramic and stone

I made more but just didn't get pics of everything due to time contraints.

My oldest son, Aiden, came to the rescue and helped me all day at the show.  My hubs and I had tickets, again, to see Enter the Haggis that night in Philly, and we had to get out of the show ASAP when it was over.  

We kicked butt with a 1/2 hour tear down and load.  I ran home, changed and was right back out the door.  Aiden and I also had a great time laughing and hanging out all day.

And got to see these guys again!!!!

These guys are just an amazing group to witness live.  They cross genre's, and have a wonderfully diverse following of people who just appreciate wonderfully written and executed music!  (they are extremely nice people too!)

Check out their Facebook page, and go and see them if you can!

https://www.facebook.com/enterthehaggis/?fref=ts

or you can just listen here to their newest release Mrs. Elliot here

Turn it up, cause its good!

http://www.enterthehaggis.com/

Yesterday I recovered.  I ran non stop for two weeks!  Oh yeah, we had our tax appointment in there too!  (both self employed).  

My kids and the dogs were all feeling the stress of the busy weeks and time away.  So yesterday after lots of snuggles and hugs, my Julia and I spent hours painting and she learned some new techniques to add to paintings.  She learned to start on the background first, we talked about varying shades, and blending colors.  She learned to stencil.  And she painted her own Pony on top so it would POP off the background.  She was hesitant to go in the order I was telling her, but she did it and now she is really proud.  I love that she got to work through the process of a painting start to finish, so she could see that it doesn't always look how it will in the end when you start, or are even in the middle.  

 (Julia loves My Little Ponies and draws her own versions endlessly.  She has made pony versions of all her friend and family too!!!)

I feel so refreshed after so much creative time, time spent around other amazing artists, time with friends we only see once or twice a year, time enjoying music I love and time with the family.  Now, I MUST finish a class, and prep for my April Bead Fest classes as well.

Have you signed up? Carving is going to be SOOOO FUN!

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/content/teaching

Thank you to everyone who participated in my destash event as well.  You guys are awesome!  Hopefully I will get to make some more beads in the next few weeks as well and have a HUGE sale!  I will also be bringing beads to sell during my class at Beadfest.  I hope to see you there!

Bethlehem House Gallery

So, I have the honor of participating in the current show at Bethlehem House Gallery.  This gallery is pretty amazing.  My silly pictures do not do it justice.  If you are local, please stop by the gallery and take everything in, in person.  

(this picture is by the Bethlehem House Gallery)

Here is a video about Ward, the gallery owner, his art, and his vision for the gallery.  I really hope you will watch it so you too can see what an amazing concept this is.
(this video was done with on the first show and grand opening...the music room you see is now where my jewelry is)

He completely changes artists every 3 months, as well as re-does the gallery, to better accent their art.  He does an amazing job of showcasing the artists as well as finding a wonderful variety of talent.

So the opening of the current show was Thursday November 6th and runs through January 1st.  The current artists:

Artists include: Jessica Bastidas, Erin Anderson, Khalil Allaik, Thomas John Shillea, Vivian Fishbone, David Sommers,Doug Kozo, Stephen Metz and Staci Louise Smith

  So Justin and I cleaned ourselves up a bit, and went out to see how everything turned out (since we had only seen the place during set up).

What a fun time!  I got to meet a few of the amazing artists that Ward had there, had a few glasses of wine, and talked about art with artists and art lovers.  What could have been better?  

This is the amazing painting that you see when you walk in the door...and that is Ward sitting in the chair- minus that pipe I think he should have had for the pic...lol

I got to see "my room" all done.  I still cannot believe the detail and thought Ward put into this room.  Everything in there is so perfect and accentuates my jewelry style.  He wanted to have it set up sort of like a jewelry studio.  So he had come and taken pictures a week or so ahead of time, of my studio.  

a really bad selfie with my pic and artist statement

He got these little cabinets with windows, 

a large glass top piece of furniture to put more of my work in

he used shutters for my earrings like I do

he got all these tools and stuff to make it have that studio workbench feel

he had this old workbench as a table

he got this mannequin which I may have to purchase after the show

and best of all, the art in the room is all stuff I just love, including this carpet which is made by the sculpture in the gallery, because he wanted to mimic the doodles I did on my floor.  It was made by Khalil Allaik.

Seeing my work like this makes me want to have my own store!!!  I am so excited to be a part of this and have the chance to see my work displayed like this.

This room is the front room too, so people on the street can look in and see my jewelry and some of the paintings by Vivian Fishbone, the ones hanging over the workbench and tools.

The gallery was so packed I didn't get pictures of all the rooms...because I had to wait until later to get pictures....and i was sooo tired!!

Here is Jess (Jessica Bastidas) and one of her paintings.  She brings a life to her work, that i find hard to give words to.  There is a visual texture in her brush strokes, and the colors just glow with life.
Oh, and she is really nice too- and so young.  She sold two of her paintings that night!  I am not surprised at all.

 Here are a couple of sculptures by khalil that I adore as well

Ward and his family talking in the "sitting room"

the dining room

the most fun people working the drink table!!!

all tired out at the end of the night, but happy, oh so happy

I learned a couple things: I love art and being around creative people even more then I thought, and two, I need to get out more!

I am totally humbled to be a part of this show.  I never thought my jewelry would be showcased in such an amazing way.  

Please make sure to stop by for this show if you are local.  It is worth the time.  I cannot wait to see what is next!