Levels of Art

Earlier this week I wrote about craft fairs. I’m having a great time getting ready for the debut of my handmade soaps, cards and jewelry. The local fair is not until June but there’s no sense putting off preparations until the last minute.

If you’ve had the chance to visit EventLister.com, then you’ve learned something about how craft fairs are rated. I don’t mean reviews of the fairs, but actual rating of the crafts presented there. It turns out there are levels of art, at least in the world of festivals.

The levels range from L1 to L10. From EventLister.com’s guidelines:

L1 Art/craft Items NOT EVEN recommended.
L2 Retail items allowed.
L3 All items must AT LEAST APPEAR hand made.
L4 All items must be hand made or embellished.
L5 Table cloths required.
L6 Limited number of artists per category.
L6 All items must be mostly hand made.
L6 A single-person or more panel lightly screens slides or photos.
L7 Floor-length table cloths required.
L7 A single-person or more panel jury thoroughly reviews slides or photos and display.
L7 All product types to be sold must be listed on application.
L7 Pre-show inspection of items and booths will be performed.
L7 Vendors with items violating terms WILL BE asked to remove them -or-
L7 Vendors with items violating terms WILL BE asked to leave.
L8 All items must be entirely hand-made by the artist alone.
L8 A multiple-person panel jury thoroughly reviews slides or photos and display.
L8 Artist must be present day of show.
L9 No plain, flat table displays. Tiers, levels, or shelves required.
L9 All items must be fine craft or art -or-
L9 All items must be fine art.
L10 Photos of workshop, supplies, or works in progress required -and/or-
L10 Copies of supply invoices required.

Level 1 might be a swap meet or flea market, while Level 10 is gallery-style high art. I’d say that my work is good solid Level 4, and if I bring a tablecloth I can make the jump to Level 5! At first blush I found the rating system a bit strict, but on reflection it seems fair: it helps crafters (and fine artists) decide where to put their resources -- which fairs and festivals are a good fit.

I’m reminded of the time I visited a local art school’s campus store for supplies. I inquired about where I could find sculpting tools and an ultra-hip young woman asked me, “Oh, you’re a sculptor?”

“No,” I said, momentarily enthusiastic, “I make soap!”

“So you’re a crafter.” She nodded toward the sculpting tools and was on her way to help a real artist.

I’ve been thinking about it, and talking with an artist friend of mine (he paints, and his work is in galleries), and I really believe that whether we are gluing buttons onto picture frames or creating a painting that will be compared to a Gauguin, what matters is the creating.

Whether you work in oils or just mix them up to create glycerin soap, have fun with it.

Until next time,

Conna

Crafts Across America

Did you know that March is “National Craft Month”? I have to admit that I had no idea until I began researching this blog entry, because for me every month is craft month.

As I’ve written here before, I grew up in a very big family and one of the ways our parents kept us from getting into (too much) trouble was to keep us busy making things. I remember, fondly, the little leather wallets we strung together (it was a ’70s thing), making clocks on big slabs of natural wood and of course, tie-dye.

My first foray into the world of business was a local craft fair. My brother and our across-the-street neighbor and I painted our little hearts out. We’d start with plain ceramic figurines and signs, paint and seal them, and then sell them for a whopping $5 or $15, a fortune for a ten-year-old.

These days I make handmade, all-natural soaps. Everybody likes soap and hey – it’s a dirty world. I make the molds from vintage jewelry, tea tins, kitchen magnets… anything that’s three-dimensional with a solid backing works. Then I mix up the soaps and a few hours later I’ve got gifts for friends and family. The thing is, my friends and family are up to their ears in handmade soaps and I have plenty of supplies on hand.

The solution: I’ve applied to sell my soaps (and handmade cards and jewelry) at a local craft fair. I am so excited about this: a day in the sunshine, no computer, drinking lemonade and meeting new people. If I make some money, too, that’s the icing on the cake.

This is a good time to think about spring and summer craft fairs. Lots of people have a craft specialty – from woodwork to knitting to gluing buttons on picture frames (people buy those!). If you haven’t yet discovered your inner artist, don’t despair. Start at Joann.com’s website and click on the “Project Ideas” tab. You’ll find all sorts of free craft instructions, written like recipes: start with this, add that, and voila! While you’re visiting Joann.com’s website I suggest that you take advantage of the 40% off sale on Ott-Lite® lamps to brighten up your workspace and protect yourself from eye strain (we never worried about that as ten-year-olds).

I’ve found two websites that provide extensive lists of craft fairs across America. The first is EventLister.com. Use this site to apply for craft fairs and also post your online portfolio. I’ve just posted mine, and there’s something about seeing one’s creations “up in lights” (online) that is a real confidence booster.

Next is FestivalNet.com. I like this site because it includes not only arts and crafts shows but also music festivals and even a few food festivals and other types of fairs. Visiting fairs is a great way to get inspired, or just enjoy some tunes and freshly made ice cream.

Happy crafting and I’ll see you at the fairs!

Until next time,

Conna

House Party

I didn’t win the house.

I’ve been following a contest on HGTV where one lucky winner is awarded a new and gorgeous home. I don’t know what got into me, but I was absolutely sure that I would win. Have you ever felt that way – like your luck is about to change, in a big way, and you just know that it’s for the better?

So, last night came the moment when the winner of the house would be surprised on live TV. I tidied up my real-life home (which is just a fraction of the size of the custom-built prize home), put some flowers on the kitchen table, curled my hair and waited. I was that sure that I would win. No, I’m not delusional and I don’t gamble and I can’t remember the last time I entered a contest. For some reason, though, I entered this one. The house is stunning and I could easily see myself and my family spending happy times there.

Even though I did not win the house, I enjoyed watching the fellow who did, as he was surprised with the house, a car and a quarter-million dollars. Check out this video for his winning moment.

Back in my world, now that I know I’ll be staying put for a little while longer I’m going to make a few repairs. Later this week I’ll drive my Zipcar over to Home Depot and pick up some molding. I’ve been planning to install that molding for a while, and spring is always the right time for home improvement. A little molding, some updated countertops and I'll feel like I'm living in a new place.

Spring is also a great time for gardening; for the best deals online I recommend Gardener’s Supply Company. Their “Tomato Success Kit” will liven up any backyard, big or small.

You can create your dream house, no matter where you live. And as far as winning a custom-built home, there's always next year!

Until next time,

Conna

Spring Cleaning: From the Inside Out

Now that we’ve “sprung forward” it’s really beginning to feel like springtime. I love the extra hour of light – thanks again, Ben Franklin.

I’ve been writing here about spring cleaning, specifically about how to clear out the clutter in your home. Today I’m going to write about a different type of spring cleaning: internal cleansing. Spring is the right time to clean your system – people have been doing this for thousands of years with clay, fiber and of course all the fruits and vegetables that naturally appear in the springtime.

An internal cleanse can remove toxins from your body by cleansing your intestines and most important your colon. I know, I know, people don’t usually talk about the colon in polite company. Maybe that’s part of the problem! Our modern-day diet tends to lack the fiber we need for optimal health. Now, I’m not a medical doctor so please do the research yourself, and talk to your doctor before you begin any new regimen.

Recently I started taking bentonite clay (the Sonne #7 formula) every morning. It tastes like dirt, because in a way it is dirt (volcanic ash to be more precise). I’m speaking only for myself here, but I’ve got to say that within a few days I felt like a different person: more energy, a better outlook and a slimmer waistline. Internal cleansing helps your digestive system to work the way it is meant to work: getting rid of what you don’t need, and absorbing toxins along the way. Next, I’m going to start a 10-day cleanse. If feeling great sounds good to you, visit DoctorsTrust.com and use the search term “cleanse.” While you’re at DoctorsTrust.com, check out the prices on vitamins and you’ll switch from your local health food store to ordering online to save lots of money.

If you want to know more about internal cleansing, I recommend these two books: Internal Cleansing: Rid Your Body of Toxins to Naturally and Effectively Fight Heart Disease, Chronic Pain, Fatigue, PMS and Menopause Symptoms, and More by Linda Berry (long title, good information); and Gut Solutions: Natural Solutions for Your Digestive Problems by Brenda Watson (in Amazon’s top 500!).

Happy cleansing!

Until next time,

Conna

Emergen-C

In this case, “C” is for clutter.

Last week I wrote about the home wrecker that’s making my life far too complicated: clutter. I haven’t written here since because I have been busy wading through piles of stuff. And you know what? It’s hard work.

I thought about hiring someone to help me, but my clutter is personal – how would a complete stranger know which receipts I need and which to shred? What could an “organizing assistant” do that I can’t? Sure, it works on t.v. but my apartment is, well… too cluttered to invite a bunch of cameras in to chronicle the transformation.

So I took some advice from the de-cluttering experts who recently appeared on Oprah’s show, and started with one small space (in this case, my bathroom). I cleared everything out of the room, spread it all over every surface I could find, and cleaned until my heart was content. Then I felt really tired, so I left the stuff where it was and hit the hay.

The next day, the sun was out and I felt invincible. I gathered the bottles and jars that were all over the house, cleaned each until it sparkled, and began to restock the bathroom. I was amazed! I had seven jars of moisturizer, more than a dozen tubes of suntan lotion (and I live in Boston, not exactly a tropical spot), and a brand new hairdryer still in its box. This is what happens with clutter: you lose stuff, buy more, and lose that in all the clutter. A mean Catch-22 if there ever was one.

If you need help conquering your clutter, check out OrganizedHome.com. You’ll find some helpful free tips and more important you’ll see that you are absolutely not alone in your struggles.

For me, the next step will be sorting through paperwork. Here’s my dirty little secret: when guests are coming over, I tend to put whatever pile of mail is in site in an empty duffel bag. Then, when it’s time to travel the contents of the bag go into a plastic container (the kind meant to hold winter boots, not last month’s catalogs). The containers go into the closet… you get the picture. But the adage “out of site, out of mind” does not apply. I really believe the feng shui principle that clutter affects one’s ability to relax – there’s always that gnawing sense that there is something calling out for your attention.

If you want to read a fabulous (and fun) book about feng shui, read: Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life by Karen Rauch Carter. You can order it today on Amazon.com – but only if you promise to take it right out of the box when it arrives and put that box in the recycling (don’t fill it up with clutter!).

Until next time,

Conna