Notes from the BMAC show

Well I'm almost back home from the Philadelphia Buyer's Market of American Craft show that ran from Feb. 12-15. Right now I'm stuck in the Milwaukee airport due to a de-icing delay so thought I'd check in to give an update on how it all went. Despite weather delays getting to the show (I had to move my flight from Wed. to Thurs. afternoon), I was able to get to Philly by 5:30 Thurs. night and work til around 11:30 that night to get my booth set up. Alot of the other artists and buyers weren't so lucky and ended up getting to the show on Friday or Saturday. Anyhow we all persevered and the show ended up going really well. One of my dream goals was to get my work in the American Folk Art Museum shop in NYC and I'm happy to say I met that goal as they ordered some of my pieces for their store! All in all, I met some wonderful buyers and artists and got several new gallery accounts as well as maintaining the ones I already had so I'm really glad I didn't cancel when the weather reports were sketchy. Travel is hardly ever without hitches but all in all it's pretty fun to get to hang out for a few days with people who create what they love for a living.

Balance, Equilibrium and Juggling

As I've mentioned previously, it seems I've become even busier than when I had a full-time job and at times I have trouble juggling it all. Thinking about how to balance everything-work, family, time with friends, and time for myself-has been on my mind alot. Part of the issue with being self-employed is that you're always at work and having an unfinished project or order in the next room is hard for me to ignore. I just can't shut it off at 5 or 6:00 in the evening and so spend alot of evenings with wire in my hands while I hang out with the fam. I have a feeling I'm not the only one who does this! When my lovely friend Wendi suggested that I include the word "balance" in one of my trapeze artist pieces because so many of us struggle to find it, I realized that she was right--I've been working on trapeze artists and jugglers without realizing how they were an illustration of my own life. Here are the new pieces-they'll be at the BMAC show in Feb. and at the wonderful Lizzie Lou's in Roundtop, TX in March.

Philadelphia Photos

Just got back from the BMAC show in Philly and it went really really well! I'm going to be busier than ever filling orders now while getting ready to do the Plaza art fair at the same time-but it's a good busy.

Here's some snaps of the city, my booth at the show, a lovely boat that we had a party on one night, and some of the wonderful people I met at the show. They're eating breakfast at the Reading Street Market-what a cool place that is!

anyone know anything about Philly?

I'm off to Philly tomorrow for the Buyer's Market of American Craft! I am going it alone however due to cost considerations, so if anyone has ANY suggestions of good but cheap restaurants, or places I just have to see, please let me know asap!

I will be taking my laptop with me and will be checking in and posting photos of my booth--thanks for all your kind and thoughtful comments on my work-you have helped up my confidence tremendously. TTFN!!

work wOrk WOrK!

I've been a bad little blogger lately but only because I've been burning the candle at both ends to get ready for the upcoming Buyer's Market of American Craft in Philadelphia, PA. I'm traveling by myself to this big show for the first time so wish me luck...it scares me a bit but is the most cost-effective way to do an out of town show. I'm excited to be seeing a new city for the first time though and meet some other artists and potential clients! Here's some of the pieces I've been cooking up for the show-the cake toppers will be available in my Etsy shop for custom orders. The small wire tents that hang from found wood are new pieces for me-I'm "branching" out-(ok sorry but I can't resist a good pun...or a bad one) and I'm selling these little guys here in KC at Latteland til late August and again in September at the Plaza Art Fair.