Bead and Button Show - Milwaukee

Today I will be attending the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee, WI. Yeah!

In light of the Color Challenge, I will be hunting (yes, hunting) for yellow, red and pink beads to incorporate into the Challenge pieces. :) Wish me luck!

The day AFTER

Yesterday was the ART vs. CRAFT event in Milwaukee, and despite freezing temperatures, the show was outstanding!

I was able to meet a few new crafters and briefly catch-up with familiar faces too. At this event I was next to two wonderful upcyclers, Holly and Alex of GroveCraft. The duo is from Minnesota and create wonderfully warm and soft embellished mittens and hats from upcycled wool and cashmere sweaters. Toasty!

Also near me was Becky of MyMishMosh. Becky is from the Milwaukee area and specializes in making creations from bicycle parts (jewelry, collage and assemblages) and duct tape wallets and purses. Ingenious!

I was also pleased to meet fellow WIST (Wisconsin Street Team) member, Bobbi of KittyGrrls, Knits and Spins. She makes wonderfully soft and colorful hand-dyed yarns. Yum! Even Cari from MudandMint stopped by to say "hi."

A familiar face, or should I say faces, were Emily Frances and her husband, Pat. If you recall, they were my booth neighbors during the Summer version of Art vs. Craft. I am proud to announce they have joined Etsy and will be selling their silkscreened shirts, oil cloth aprons (my favorite!) and her wonderful capes. Visit their soon-to-be-open shop on Etsy.

I also must give some much-deserved praise to the promoters, Faythe Levine and Kim Kisiolek! They have always done a superb job of organizing and advertising the event. Thank you, ladies!

ART vs. CRAFT

For those of you in the Milwaukee area...come out and see me and other talented artists and crafters!

Details: Saturday December 8th from 10am thru 7pm. The new venue is at the Masonic Center on the corner of Wells St. and North Van Buren St.

For more info, including a map and other details, go here: http://www.artvscraft.com/

When it's all said and DONE

It's Monday, July 9th, 8:00am. I'm just rolling out of bed after a wonderfully long weekend in Milwaukee.

ART vs. CRAFT is one of the best shows I have ever participated in. The promoters did an outstanding job of organizing and advertising the show.

Unloading and setting up was painless, and tearing down at night was easy too. The crowds were plentiful and very diverse.

My booth was situated between MaryInk and a "newbie" clothing designer. I think her name was Emily. Next to "Emily" was RelishDress. MaryInk is from Tennessee and travels with her boyfriend to many of the Eastern and Midwestern indie shows selling their handmade silk-screened T-shirts. "Emily" is a newlywed and was there with her husband, Pat. She also made silk-screened tank tops and wonderful oil-cloth aprons and capes. "Emily" and Pat were locals from the Milwaukee area. RelishDress was also there with her husband and sold hand crocheted earrings and necklaces. RelishDress is from Flint, Michigan.

And then there was me. I did the show by myself and was selling my Argentium, fine silver, and copper jewelry.

As you can see, the vendors were quite a diverse bunch too.

I also met many wonderful shoppers, many of whom either had taken a jewelry making class or were currently enrolled in a class. As an artist it always makes my heart flutter when I here "I tried making jewelry and it's hard work" or "your pieces are so elegant" and my favorite comment of the weekend came from a gentleman who simply referred to himself as a Visual Artist, said, "your work is elegant, simplistic, with great lines." I just about melted. Nothing makes me happier than to have customers recognize the thought and intention behind my work!

Next: Tips I learned at the show...