What are you doing this weekend (Sept. 5-7, 2014)?

What? It's Friday already ... it IS the weekend.

I've just returned from a nine day trip to Portland, OR, for the Zapp sponsored Arts Festival conference and Art in the Pearl and then a stop in the LA area to visit kids. Luckily it is still summer here in southern Michigan. I hate it when the seasons change when I'm away.

On my radar for this weekend:

THE BIG ONE:

Saint Louis Art Fair in Clayton, MO. Many artists who were in Portland told me they would be on the road this week to appear at St. Louis, including photographer Chris Dahlquist who is exhibiting and her husband Kyle who is a musician and will be appearing on one of the stages. More details about this very excellent show.

THE BIGGIE IN THE EAST:

53rd Annual Armonk Outdoor Art Fair in Armonk, NY. This show is one of the few places in the East where artists can sell 2D work, as a lot of the big shows in the east are "craft fairs" excluding the 2D guys. More details here.

CHICAGO AREA:

La Grange West End Art Festival - http://lagrange.suntimes.com/2014/09/02/arts-and-entertainment-things-to-do-art-will-fill-the-senses-at-la-grange-west-end-art-festival/

Downtown Downers Grove Art Festival: http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2014/08/29/downtown-downers-grove-art-festival-returns-this-weekend/atlc0m4/

PITTSBURGH:

An oldie but goodie in Mellon Park: http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2014/09/03/110-artists-gather/stories/201409030001

INDIANAPOLIS:

Billed as "Indiana's Nicest Day", the Penrod art fair returns for the 48th year. More here.

DETROIT AREA:

Beloved by the entire metro area, Rochester's Art and Apples has been one of the top-ranked show for a long time. Even though hard times in the Michigan economy has taken away some of its luster the shoppers show up: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140902/ENT01/309020021/Annual-Art-Apples-fest-ranked-one-best-fairs

How about you? Do you have a show? September is a good one for making money in the business. Hope you'll be having that experience.

Changed ISPs last week and have had big hassle getting Gmail to work once old outfit shut down. Finally dumped Gmail and set up two new emails with yahoo and outlook for personal an business use. Spending time notifying people and websites. Some how all of my bookmarks for saddlery suppliers disappeared-argh! I finished inventorying about 900 belts and have all of the show inventory put away. Now to get caught up on special orders and studio work before rebuilding for next summer. Oh, forgot all of the household projects coming up that I never have time to do during show season: repair fences, repair arena, lay hardwood floor, skim coat ceiling, new front door, reseed pasture, spray fall weeds, pull T posts, paint worst part of house, oil barn, oil boardwalk ........ Oh when will it snow so stuff can be put off until spring LOL.

Replies

Richard L. Sherer September 7, 2014 at 11:17am

Changed ISPs last week and have had big hassle getting Gmail to work once old outfit shut down. Finally dumped Gmail and set up two new emails with yahoo and outlook for personal an business use. Spending time notifying people and websites. Some how all of my bookmarks for saddlery suppliers disappeared-argh! I finished inventorying about 900 belts and have all of the show inventory put away. Now to get caught up on special orders and studio work before rebuilding for next summer. Oh, forgot all of the household projects coming up that I never have time to do during show season: repair fences, repair arena, lay hardwood floor, skim coat ceiling, new front door, reseed pasture, spray fall weeds, pull T posts, paint worst part of house, oil barn, oil boardwalk ........ Oh when will it snow so stuff can be put off until spring LOL.
- Connie Mettler > Richard L. Sherer September 9, 2014 at 9:45pm
  
  I'm happy for you, Dick, that your show season is short so you can do the other projects!
  
  Finished for the season?
  - Richard L. Sherer > Connie Mettler September 9, 2014 at 10:29pm
    
    Yes, done until next spring, 2015. Got ideas from clients for new products and looking forward to building them. Two teachers from Colorado Springs, one who I met at a show, came up to the studio and took several boxes of scrap leather for a leather workshop they will be teaching to 8th graders. So glad the scraps are going to kids rather than the tip ( mining term for the dump). Jean got her "if we have a good show" promise of a 75 minute massage today. Mine is next week.
Matt Estrada September 7, 2014 at 9:28am

I was in Indianapolis for Penrod Arts Fair yesterday and will post a blog later in the day after some coffee and time to decompress a bit.
- Connie Mettler > Matt Estrada September 7, 2014 at 10:38am
  
  We did this show once, Matt. Very classy. Didn't make a ton of money but met a rep from a publishing company that turned into an excellent licensing connection. You just never know who is standing in your booth.
  
  Such a nice setting and I think you had good weather ... looking forward to the review.
Cindy Welch September 5, 2014 at 10:12pm

If the rain holds off long enough tomorrow we hope to get new fully stocked photos of our booth wiht our new pipe and drape feature. It rained today so the ground is wet. It is not supposed to rain tomorrow till the afternoon (40% chance) but around here we can get pop up showers even in the AM. There is at least a 50% chance of rain starting Sunday through the next several days. I really need these shots for apps for the spring. Crossing my fingers!
- Cindy Welch > Cindy Welch September 6, 2014 at 2:45pm
  
  Well, we got it done! We beat the rain, it has held off though the clouds are increasing. We got it all set up and got our photos done and brought it all back in. We ahve not put everything away yet because we were just trying to get it in out of the heat and before the rain starts. After while I'll post some photos but first we have to clean up ourselves and fill our bellies! LOL It is almost 2 PM here and nothing for lunch yet. More later.
- Connie Mettler > Cindy Welch September 6, 2014 at 1:00pm
  
  Right, drippy drapes do not impress jurors.
Scott Pakulski September 5, 2014 at 1:21pm

Mundelein Arts Festival my second time doing this fair...
- Connie Mettler > Scott Pakulski September 6, 2014 at 12:59pm
  
  I know these folks were putting in a big effort to make this show work for everyone, hope it pans out.

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