Those were some long holidays, stretching more than two weeks! Hope you had some fun, got some hugs and are rested and ready for what comes next! I got so distracted by all of it I forgot to ask, What are you doing this Weekend?, last week because I was pretty sure there were no art fairs.
Lo and behold the Florida shows started up with a vengeance, including:
Ft. Lauderdale, 27th Annual Las Olas Art Festival: Art enthusiasts converge on Las Olas Art Fair, story from the Sun-Sentinel that includes a video: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-lauderdale-las-olas-art-fair-20150103-story.html
and on the other side of the state
Naples New Year's Art Fair, downtown on 5th Avenue, from the Naples Daily News, http://www.naplesnews.com/entertainment/naples-new-years-art-fair-2015
Did any of you take part in these shows? Did the New Year start off in the right direction for you?
Comments
Cynthia, did you listen to the podcast I did with Nawal Motawi of Motawi Tile Works this fall? I'd think her experiences would be inspirational to you. What a good plan to put together an off season business. Few of us have only one stream of income. You can do this.
We often did home remodeling between the end of our art fair season and when we'd go to Florida, but I went over my limit remodeling last year so taking a year off.
Hey Jacki, This is the perfect time of year for home repairs and remodeling, I've got a few things in mind myself. Your sons got the project started for you, now there aren't any excuses...just do it and enjoy the results! There really are no distractions this time of year...I need to create a second bathroom in our finished basement and I've been dragging my feet, waiting until after the Holidays, so I need to get going too. Happy New Year and happy redecorating!
Cynthia, head on over to www.CallsforArtists.com. Right there is a nice big list of shows needing your apps. Your spring show schedule could be bigger than ever.
As for me, my Christmas company left but not before ensuring that I have a huge remodeling job ahead of me. I have a bathroom that I know needed much work. I have been dragging my feet because I always seem to get C- work instead of A+ work. So, if you never start a remodeling job than you can't be upset with any contractors.
Well, one of my sons was having a hard time with our old shower doors and he decided that they needed to be removed so that no one got hurt. My oldest, who is handy, went in with him and they began removing shower doors. Then they tried to get the door frame off and much more came off with the frame than they were planning on. Two big gasps came out of the bathroom. I knew it wasn't going to be good. I now have missing and broken tile. They both felt bad. The hand one said he would come and gut the room for me and help me pick out the new supplies and all the contractor would have to do is the labor. The other one said he would send me a check. So, I think I have some planning to do. Here is a photo of their handy work.
If I didn't have another bathroom to use this would have really been bad.
Our celebrations are over and the decorations are down, been down since Christmas day. They had already been up for a month, since Thanksgiving weekend so it was time for it to come down!
I am in the process of trying to expand my base so to speak. I have talked with one real estate broker to offer 4 particular designs of my coasters to agents. These would be used as thank you gifts for clients who buy/sell property through them. I have another one I need to set up an appointment with to get the same deal going with her.
I am also working with the flooring place where I get my tile. I am going to do some samples of designs in 4"x4" tiles that have could be used on a back splash. The number of selections will be limited to make my life easier and less stressful. I need to get the sample to them this week.
I am hoping those 2 avenues will bring in some income during slow months for the craft show season. I also hope that it will get my name out there for the rest of my products.
I sort of let the spring season get away from me. I am late getting in some applications so the number of shows may be reduced this spring. However it may force my hand in finding other ways to get my product out there. There can be a silver lining or a forced challenge in anything, right? <vbg> However it is also a learning lesson to keep up with my calendar better. It will give me time to concentrate on getting apps in at the earliest date possible for craft shows.
Speaking of apps, that reminds me I have some deskwork for my business to attend to I better get moving!
Happy New Year, Connie! Well, almost everyone in my immediate family has had the flu bug for the last two weeks, so we haven't even celebrated Christmas yet! I guess that means I'm behind on everything as I'm leaving the tree up and all that goes with it until they can get here...hopefully next week-end. In the meantime, I'm sort of in limbo but continuing to work on projects for The Rust Belt Mkt., where I'm booth sharing and waiting for checks and inventory statements from my other venues before starting on what I need to replenish in those markets. I am curious as to what others are doing this time of year, so I hope they'll weigh in.