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From the lens Preparing for an Art or Craft Festival.

  • MissMalaprop Apr 18, 2012 @ 11:58 am | delete
    I do craft shows & festivals on a regular basis (especially during this time of year!) and this is a very thorough and informative list for someone who wants to get into it!
  • waldenthree.net Mar 28, 2012 @ 8:18 pm | delete
    Like festival with music add on when possible. Appreciating your topic. Congrads on Squidoo level 60. Conversations helps with deeper insights. Thanks.
  • GreenGiraffe Mar 26, 2012 @ 8:12 pm | delete
    This was great! Thank you!
  • SeaglassReinvented Mar 24, 2012 @ 7:47 pm | delete
    Thanks so much for the tips on setting up at a craft show!
  • ChrisShaefer Mar 20, 2012 @ 9:57 pm | delete
    This is an excellent lens, thank you for the hard work and effort you put into this.
    I always love an informative publication that has some substance.
    I have a few coffee articles of my own. Please stop by and share a little love.
    Thanks again, 2 thumbs up and a LIKE for you!
    Shaefercd
  • TheWhimsicalPeacock Mar 19, 2012 @ 12:48 pm | delete
    So informative, I have enjoyed each and every lens of your I've read, you've got a fan!
  • SimplyTonjia Mar 15, 2012 @ 11:30 am | delete
    Great information. Thank you.
  • Marcella Mar 11, 2012 @ 12:25 am | delete
    It was very helpful, thank you for sharing!
  • daria369 Mar 8, 2012 @ 7:42 am | delete
    Very helpful and nicely done lens! :)
  • cffutah Mar 7, 2012 @ 7:28 am | delete
    Enjoyed my visit on your article about arts and crafts.
  • Richard3331 Jan 25, 2012 @ 7:57 am | delete
    I love your lens TY
  • bames24 Jan 10, 2012 @ 6:35 am | delete
    would really love to enjoy the event ... maybe the next time it happens :)
  • bradhughes Dec 13, 2011 @ 9:34 am | delete
    Interesting! Events like this is a big opportunity for a business to stand out and reach out to people with same interest.
  • jtbmetaldesigns Dec 9, 2011 @ 7:47 pm | delete
    I really would like to get out there and do this but I just do not have the time right now.
  • waldenthree.net Dec 9, 2011 @ 1:49 pm | delete
    add a local music element to art and craft festival to strengthen community outreach. can discuss more. great topic ! Thanks.
  • Genjud Oct 6, 2011 @ 1:39 am | delete
    Wonderful lens. I have done hundreds of festivals and crafts shows. You have covered the subject very thoroughly. The best idea is to have a niche and provide something unique. My husband and I worked for over 12 years doing shows to sell our products. We were able to support our family of 7 the whole time.
  • Bellwood-Antiques Aug 19, 2011 @ 12:22 am | delete
    We do shows once and a while, we have an antique shop also. Your information is very helpful, with some good tricks. Thanks for the great lens
  • StefanieJapel Aug 15, 2011 @ 5:57 pm | delete
    Great information on getting ready for craft fairs! Thanks for compiling all of this! :)
  • studyaids Aug 9, 2011 @ 6:39 am | delete
    A very good lense indeed. Well done.
  • GardenCherub Jul 6, 2011 @ 10:34 pm | delete
    There's only so much you can sell on eBay. I love shows, but the work is formidable. This wonderful lens is sooooo helpful. Thanks for all the great info.
  • Retro_Loco May 9, 2011 @ 12:08 am | delete
    This is an awesome lens on how to prepare for an art or craft festival. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing all your great tips! I can't wait for my first show, but I've got a while before I reach that point. I am bookmarking this lens and some other lenses of yours for reference. You covered a lot of different aspects of art festivals. You rock!
  • purpleslug Apr 2, 2011 @ 11:27 am | delete
    Wonderful info and thanks so much! I have been in a few shows, but gave up because, like you said, it is a lot of work and I would only break even. You said that is how it is in the beginning, so guess I need to stick with it. Again, thanks so much for the great info.
  • Lulu's Tutu Boutique Mar 26, 2011 @ 10:40 am | delete
    I am in need of a canopy but do not want to spend so much money. Where can I find one more towards $40?
  • Noadi Mar 26, 2011 @ 6:10 pm | delete
    You can find cheap canopies at Walmart and most home and garden stores. You can find some around $40, my first canopy cost around that but I will warn you that for that price they tend to be very flimsy and hard to set up. Mine only lasted about 3 shows before it was ruined by a heavy rain. I would suggest going a step up to the Easy Up knockoffs that are about $80-$90, it's really worth it to get something sturdier that will last you several years.
  • Jessica Stratton Ceramics Feb 15, 2011 @ 7:34 am | delete
    Hi there,

    I create ceramic pieces and I was wondering where I could buy things to display them. I recently have been using boxes so they're on different levels but they're not very professional and I would like to find some clear plastic stands. Does anyone know where I can get something like this or a shop for this kind of thing - if you have any other ideas of how I can display my peices it'd be great to hear them.

    thank you
  • Noadi Mar 26, 2011 @ 6:07 pm | delete
    Amazon has some acrylic risers that you can get here http://amzn.to/eJamQU you can also find them on Ebay and at some office stores.
  • ArtFestival Nov 10, 2010 @ 4:21 pm | delete
    Nice post!
  • artyfax Oct 20, 2010 @ 4:40 pm | delete
    A well put together mine of information. Thanks you for such a good read.

    I have just posted a lens (http://www.squidoo.com/display-board) which describes an inexpensive display stand which was designed and built by the art group I belong to. If anyone is interested in somwhere to hang 2-D art or smaller items for display, it may be worth a peek
  • turner-bob Sep 14, 2010 @ 1:18 pm | delete
    great lens!!
  • Michael Aug 20, 2010 @ 10:23 am | delete
    Any thoughts on if the canvas should be framed if you're doing paintings and getting ready for a first show?
  • MTLwordsmith Aug 10, 2010 @ 3:45 pm | delete
    This is fabulous! Really comprehensive, thank you!
  • Courtney Dirks - Meylah May 17, 2010 @ 4:37 pm | delete
    Great post, I'm bookmarking it for future reference for my next event!
  • jennabee25 May 11, 2010 @ 1:40 pm | delete
    I'm looking into start doing this with photography, so thank you for the valuable information!
  • WeddingZazzle May 3, 2010 @ 2:49 am | delete
    Great tips. Nicely done. Blessed by a SquidAngel :)
  • GonnaFly Apr 8, 2010 @ 11:40 pm | delete
    Wow! What a fabulous lot of tips!
  • Senora_M Mar 12, 2010 @ 4:36 pm | delete
    Good thoughts and a good lens. I planned a craft show last year at my church. Lots of work!!
  • Geekness_FortWorth Feb 20, 2010 @ 12:04 pm | delete
    My pet peeve: no prices on items. I cannot buy it if I do not know what it costs. If not on each item, at least a prominent sign. Good luck with your show carreer.
  • Noadi Feb 20, 2010 @ 9:13 pm | delete
    I totally agree. No one wants to ask what the price is. You're going to get more sales if everything is very clear.
  • Laura Jan 13, 2010 @ 4:23 pm | delete
    when preparing for the amount of business cards you should bring, is there a math mathematical solution for this. IE - if they are expecting 10,000 how many cards should you bring?
  • Noadi Jan 14, 2010 @ 6:20 pm | delete
    That's a very good question. I don't know.
  • ArtsyShark Jan 7, 2010 @ 7:17 am | delete
    Enjoyed your article - good basics. I'd add one important suggestion - SMILE!
  • lasertek Dec 8, 2009 @ 7:18 pm | delete
    Very helpful lens! There are a couple of creations that I would really like to share to the public but I always hesitate because I have no idea how to get started.

    This lens really helped me. Thanks so much. Hope you could visit my lenses as well.
  • Surfie Nov 14, 2009 @ 8:32 pm | delete
    Great lens! I would LOVE to be able to do this someday. This lens will be very helpful for making that happen.
  • mgaines Nov 10, 2009 @ 6:02 pm | delete
    This really gave me some awesome ideas for next year to sell some of my crafty items. Thanks for sharing this info.
  • wenalyn L. F. Sep 14, 2009 @ 9:37 am | delete
    hello... i am a latest artist i have a coming arts & craft show in my town Albuquerque but i don't have a formal stand for display all i have is table. where we can buy that stand for my matted prints & to hang the original framed? please help me. i love to hear from your wonderful tips. thank you very much...
  • OhMe Jul 30, 2009 @ 9:38 am | delete
    Back again to this very helpful lens and hope you will add it to my new festivals lens. Thank you
  • Noadi Jun 1, 2009 @ 6:51 pm | in reply to Rosebud | delete
    My items are all sculpture or jewelry which is displayed on tables. You could get some tabletop or standing easels to display your collages or you could also build a display wall. I saw a nice one at a show that was 3 door sized rectangles of 2x4s with wood lattice over them painted white and connected by hinges so it looked like a big folding screen. I've also seen them made from old doors as well (probably cheaper if you have access to some old doors but a lot heavier).
  • Rosebud Jun 1, 2009 @ 5:42 pm | delete
    I am thinking of selling my collages but don't know how to display them. Since the walls of the tent are fabric, how did you exhibit your work?
  • Apr 16, 2009 @ 3:48 pm | delete
    Nice job here. We have many art and craft festivals here in Flagstaff during the summer, but I've never participated. I'm one of those who never has enough to sell. Working on that, though, so maybe I'll eventually give one a try. Thanks for the information.
  • aj2008 Apr 10, 2009 @ 7:07 am | delete
    This is another excellent lens. Great tips and helpful links. Blessings to you!
  • LeftHandMan Apr 9, 2009 @ 10:45 pm | delete
    It's a gypsy's life. I did it for several years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I sold a lot of my collages and met a lot of wonderful people. Your lens give good advice to anyone thinking of taking on the road.
  • Noadi Apr 7, 2009 @ 9:52 pm | in reply to CCGAL | delete
    Absolutely. I took four old 10lb weights from my brother's weightlifting set that I use to keep my canopy down.
  • CCGAL Apr 7, 2009 @ 5:31 pm | delete
    Great information here - the only thing I can add is to be sure that you have something with which to anchor your tent. I learned this the hard way when my donut tent nearly became a kite on a very windy day. Milk jugs filled with water work well, and I've seen people use coffee cans filled with cement or sand, and in a pinch, I saw somebody use duct tape and 20 lb bags of kitty litter.

    You can also use tent pegs if you're setting up someplace that will allow you to pound them in. However, if you use tent pegs, be sure you have a carpenter's hammer and not just a ball peen hammer. I drove our tent pegs in at one festival up in Oregon, and didn't realize I'd pounded the peg into a tree root. Being far from home on a Sunday in a very small town without a toolbox, we like to never got our tent down because of that darned peg in the root. My family will NEVER let me live that one down.

    Great lens! 5*
  • Mtodd Apr 4, 2009 @ 7:39 am | delete
    I'm an arts & crafts festival participant and you've got really good info here. It is a lot of work, and I usually wonder why I'm doing it while I'm getting ready, but then I have a great time at the festival and I'm ready to do it again. I'm going to be sure to come back and read this before the next one. Thanks
  • melmail44 Mar 10, 2009 @ 9:19 am | delete
    Thanks for all the great information. Very organized and helpful. I'll definitely come back and use this info again!
  • OhMe Jan 26, 2009 @ 10:54 am | delete
    I am featuring this lens on my Spring Jubilee lens. Thank you.
  • OhMe Jan 22, 2009 @ 8:24 am | delete
    Wonderful lens and a great resource for artisans. Lensrolling to Spring Jubilee in Pendleton SC.
  • ArtsyTartsyJewels Dec 28, 2008 @ 8:21 am | delete
    I just can't get enough of your wonderful lenses. They're all so helpful!

    - Candice of Artsy * Tartsy * Jewels
  • Nov 13, 2008 @ 9:03 am | delete
    I love going to an Art Festival and meet different kind of artist. Wonderful lens Sheryl.
  • Jimmie Nov 8, 2008 @ 8:15 am | delete
    You're officially blessed!
  • ashleymia Oct 14, 2008 @ 3:33 am | delete
    Nice lens. I am agree with you. Festivals make your creations open to all the people. 5*s.
  • Mortira Oct 12, 2008 @ 10:50 pm | delete
    This is a great introduction to craft fairs! I've been a member on a pretty serious crafting forum for a lomg time, and although this question always comes up, no one ever covers it this well! Thanks for all the great tips! *****
  • RichardPT Oct 10, 2008 @ 6:52 am | delete
    Great info. I used to do shows and I am considering picking this up again. I will use your tips in this lens. Thanks! **Make Your Own Jigsaw Puzzle**
  • Marcia Sep 9, 2008 @ 9:16 pm | delete
    Thanks for using pictures of my display!
  • paperfacets Aug 15, 2008 @ 1:34 pm | delete
    Excellent! I wonder if I will get thru your lens list today?
  • jetleg Jul 11, 2008 @ 12:21 am | delete
    This is great....I am doing a free art festival for a local hospital and I was kind of at a loss as to what to do.
    Thanks for sharing...
  • bbug Jun 19, 2008 @ 9:28 am | delete
    Great tips, picking the right show is the most difficult.
  • funwithtrains Jun 16, 2008 @ 10:23 pm | delete
    Nicely done!
  • bdkz Jun 9, 2008 @ 8:59 pm | delete
    Excellent lens! 5 Stars and a Squid Angel Blessing!
  • makingamark Jun 3, 2008 @ 1:30 pm | delete
    Excellent lens - very helpful - I'm giving you 5*
  • triathlontraining May 29, 2008 @ 3:08 pm | delete
    Very nice lens! You've got great tips even for people not selling arts or crafts, but other things too. :) 5*

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Noadi

Hi! I'm Sheryl, a sculptor and jewelry designer, I create in polymer clay and mixed media, please visit Noadi's Art to see my work or my Etsy shop to buy.
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