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Archive for August, 2008

GRIMSBY FESTIVAL OF ARTS-SAT., SEPTEMBER 6TH

August 26, 2008 | Filed under: Uncategorized

The Grimsby Festival of Arts is fast approaching!  I will be on Nelles Blvd again (spot 41)-a beautiful tree lined avenue with very attractive homes.  Last year was very successful and certainly a gorgeous day.  I hope that this year is just as fine.  This is my last outdoor show.  Next up are several events in private homes and the Beyond the Valley Tour in Dundas. (Oct. 18 and 19).  Do check my events page for updates.  My friend Elaine who helped me last year will be in England on a cross country hike!  Very exciting and in some ways I wish that i could be doing that too. 

I was reading the blog of Jewellery Goddess who noted that she did not have a good year last year and that the festival was full of resale items.  Her work is certainly well done and attractive and i do understand what she is saying.  It is very frustrating to be part of a show and find out that poor quality and resale are the mainstays of the show.  I think that the Grimsby Festival is trying to bring in artisans with quality work.  It is in the festival’s best interests.  If there is no true craftmanship then the public will stop coming or will simply treat the event as a go see.  The Huronia Festival of Arts and Crafts in Kempenfest was certainly suffering from a large number of booths with resale items.  It was a pity!!

In preparation for Grimsby, I am creating jewellery using vintage pieces.  I have gold tone chanel beads, and many interesting pieces from Saudi Arabia, as well as vintage stampings.  Also at this time of year I am inclined to get glitzy–and I have to say that I do love glitz!!  My selections this year will be totally different from what I presented last year!  Last year’s pieces are all sold I am happy to say.

So I hope that I do see you and be prepared for lots of new designs-I think that you will be pleased!!

 

Posted by Stephanie @ 10:50 pm | Comments

Art In the Alley! at the Cactus Festival in Dundas

August 18, 2008 | Filed under: Uncategorized

I exhibited my pieces at Art in the Alley at the Cactus Festival in Dundas Ontario this past week end.

This is the third year that I have participated in this show and every year it has gotten better and better.  June and Ivor Lynch who own Picture Perfect Galley in Dundas are great boosters of this town.  They are the ones who make all the arrangements for participants in Art in the Alley, which is located on Ogilvie Street just down the road from the Dundas Valley School of Art.  This year there were more booths than usual with dichroic glass, paintings, photographs, woodwork, and of course jewellery.  June and Ivor work hard to make this a successful venue and are seeing the number of artisans grow each year.  Art in the Alley was the first place that I exhibited (talked into it by one of my daughters) and so I have quite an attachment to the venue where I had my debut!

Unusual for the Cactus Festival was the fact that there was no rain!!  I had 2 hugely successful days and am happy to say that I sold many pieces.  This year quite a number of necklaces went to happy homes.  What was especially  wonderful for me was the fact Saturday morning several people were there right at opening because they had come specifically to see me and wanted the best choice.  Is this not what we aim for?  Appreciation!!  I am also happy to say that the rest of the week end was spent meeting new people and having previous clients come by.  It means a great deal to me to know that another person appreciates and likes what I create.  A purchase becomes a bonus–icing on the cake as it were!!

I have to mention my sister-in-law who was a great help.  I could not have done it without her.  Not only is she willing to spend her valuable time with me but she is a great salesperson and really fun to be with!  My daughter who lives in Dundas made our meals 3 days in a row.  This was a great help and as she is a great cook, especially enjoyable.  I am very lucky to have such a wonderful, and caring family!!

My next event is the Grimsby Festival of Art on September 6th-On Nelles Blvd. in Grimsby.  More about that later.  Now I must rest!! 

Posted by Stephanie @ 7:57 pm | Comments

What Now?

August 12, 2008 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Huronia which was a three day event is now over. We had a new tent which was a godsend. On Saturday, with black clouds looming over the water, we decided to zip up the sides just in case. But once that was done, I thought that the clouds seemed to have changed direction and were heading our way, and decided to zip us in totally. (my niece was working with me). No sooner had I finished zipping when the heavens exploded and torrential rain came blasting down. We were actually worried that we would lose the tent with the high winds. Then I remembered that tornados had visited Barrie. So needless to say a bit scary. We were encased, as it were for about 45 minutes, until it stopped raining. This is a new tent and was I grateful. A few raindrops on us and my jewels and that was about it. Once we came out (it was about 4:45 p.m.) we decided that there was no point in staying and left for the day. The next day was sunny albeit windy. There were thousands of people so it was a lot of fun people watching. I am amazed at what people wear-from slacks and sweaters on a hot day to bikinis.
The Huronia Festival of Arts and Crafts is a huge event with over 350 vendors. Altho the application says that resale items are not permitted, I was sorry to see that in fact there were many booths with such items. My sales were average and there were an extraordinary number of compliments-“Your pieces should win a category award”, “Glad to see some thought and creativity put into your designs”, “the finest jewellery here”, and so on. I know that a number of people did not sell enough to even make their rent-but there were about 54 vendors selling jewellery and this is somewhat less than last year (I think about 6). But I thank everyone who purchased a piece of jewellery from me. It was an earring and bracelet sort of week end. And I thank everyone for their compliments. There can never be enough of those. Artists are like sponges!
I noticed a very attractive chalcedony bracelet on a woman that came up to my booth. It looked quite familiar and I commented on its attractiveness. She answered that she had had a lot of compliments even from other designers, wore it frequently and loved it. She had purchased it at the Distillery Show. Of course you know where this is going-it was a piece that I had designed and sold to her at that show in May. I love bumping into people who are wearing my pieces. It definitely makes my day!!
My next event is ART in the ALLEY in Dundas which is this week end. So far the weather looks good altho that rain is ever threatening this season. I am just finishing what I think is a fabulous faceted Onyx and Raw Amber Necklace. I just love it when an idea works out totally!! Do come and see it this week end.

Posted by Stephanie @ 5:53 pm | Comments


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