Just when I begin to wonder if I should take a year off from shows,
I take a little time to wander the aisles...and remember why I love
participating. Inspiration at ACC Baltimore this year came especially
from Thomas Harris's work pictured above and below. His hand
built work's form, texture and color drew me in...of course
that he had reliquary jars with creature heads and a dragon
head protruding from the wall didn't hurt. I treated myself
to one of his functional mugs. Check out his website: clayoh.com
to see the full range of his work.
Several artists had wall mounted heads this year - including this
intriguing one by Allen Littlefield I keep encouraging him to show at
Arisia. I think folks there would really appreciate his work.
And then there were surprises -like this large chair from Simon
(Semyon) Kaplan "Artist sculpture in wood" who brought 30
years experience from the tribal and folk art worlds. Unfortunately
I was never able to connect with him in person at the show. Trained
in Alaska, he lives in Brooklyn now.
I left the fasion scene years ago, but appreciate artists like
Starr Hagenbring who are really pushing the limits..
and having a great time in the process!!
Starr is one of those energy filled artists who ask us what do we
have to lose by exploring new ideas, stretching ourselves and our
customers! Next time I'm in New Orleans, I'm definitely checking
out her store on Magazine Street - optical shop and art -leave it
to Starr!!
Wholesale started off rather slow for me this year, but bit by bit grew
including nice orders which have been called in since the show. The
weather was great for retail days, no snow storm like last year...which
curtailed crowds. The result was much better retail sales...including
a very special sale....Pageante and Roland the traveling librarian
dragon duo found a new home...one with a VERY appreciative and
persistent young person who fell in love with them...and promised to
keep their stories going. Another fun sale was to a couple whose son
does not like books because of his dyslexia...they decided to give him
one of my large flying dragon books with a story...customized to
include his name. Thought he might love it. They guessed correctly.
When it arrived, they sent me a photo of him beaming. Seeing
imagination and story sparkle in customers' eyes is worth every hour spent.
Finally - you never know what ideas a customer might have. One
asked if I could make a leather ipad cover with more than just one
eye. Certainly, I said and gave her a box of eyes from which she
could choose....not expecting her to pick out 13...and ask for two
red ones to be added to those!! This was the result - 12 eyes on the
front, 3 on the back...
Next time I might suggest the number of eyes...but it was fun to make
and has inspired some new ideas....maybe some sea creature covers?
Octopi? squid?....stay tuned.
For now I'm thinking spring...beginning to get some planting of greens
in the raised beds down at our community garden..filling orders...and
dreaming up new ideas...all while waiting for my hubby to get a new
hip so that we can travel again to far off limes together..
My next show is the Paradise City Arts Festival, May 28-30,
Memorial Day weekend...out in Northampton.
Adventure on! Wendy
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