Summer time!

So for the rest of June I am just going to be home and hopefully completing a couple of new pieces. Then I'll hit the road once in July, twice in August, and twice in September. Of those five trips three will be to cities I've never been to before. So should be fun and different. Here's where I'll be:

  • State Street Art Fair. July 21-24 - Ann Arbor, MI. (First time to Michigan! It's only a 16 hour drive...haha!)
  • Piedmont Park Art Festival. Aug 13-14 - Atlanta, GA. 
  • Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival. August 27-28 - Cary, NC.
  • Arts in the Heart. September 16-18 - Augusta, GA. (First time to Augusta!)
  • Festival in the Park. September 23-25 - Charlotte, NC. (First time to Charlotte!)

Dogwood Festival

Atlanta is such a wonderfully diverse city. And it was definitely on full display this past weekend in Piedmont Park - families, individuals, couples, groups of friends - they were all there in every possible combination that exists in America today. I loved it. Can't wait to go back - which I hope to be in August. 

One of the best pics that came home with me was the parking lot attendant holding a opossum. Talk about a funny moment for sure. :) 

Update: Fairhope and Mandarin

Over the past two weekends I was in Fairhope, AL and then the Mandarin neighborhood of my hometown Jacksonville, FL. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had something to say during both weekends!

In Fairhope we arrived late and just as we were finishing up a terrible thunderstorm rolled in off the bay. To give you an idea of how bad it was, we saw multiple tents demolished by the combination of wind and rain. Some were just flipping, rolling and tumbling down the street. Luckily, we were able to secure my tent and my work. My father's tent, which was right next to mine, fared slightly worse but there was no major damage done. So, in the end we survived. The rest of the weekend turned into very pleasant trip. Fairhope is a wonderful little town. Go visit if you can. :)

In Mandarin there was no wind but there was rain followed by stifling humidity. But really, the rain didn't last long and since I am from Jacksonville, I survived the humidity. :) And I must say that it's so nice to participate in a show and sleep in my own bed. Lastly, I'm honored to have won Judges Choice award for mixed media!

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

This weekend – March 5th and 6th - is the 46th Annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa. Over the last few years it has really become one of the more prestigious festivals in the country. I was thrilled when I received their invitation to participate in this year’s show. It should be a super weekend. :)  

The hours are Saturday 9 am – 6 pm and then Sunday 10 am – 5 pm.  My booth number is #83 which seems to be pretty central – maybe slight closer to the river that runs along the park. There will be so much good art there I am sure a walk around the whole thing would be well worth it. 



Mandarin Art Festival - March 26-27

I've added the Mandarin Art Festival in Jacksonville, FL on Easter weekend, March 26 and 27. The festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. I've had to change some of my normal Easter traditions but I am looking forward to being out with my art and chatting with folks who will probably be in a relaxed and happy mood (as Easter tends to be).  And it's a hometown show for me which is actually very rare. So being home in the evening instead of at a hotel will be more cozy and nice. :)

Here is their website http://www.mandarinartfestival.org/ and the address of the festival is 12447 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223.

Mount Dora (and report from New Smyrna)

This weekend will be my second annual trip to the Mount Dora Arts Festival. It's a big show and I'm pretty optimistic. It'll be sunny and cool and I'm sure the crowds will be out. I'll give you a report next week on how it went. Here's a link to their website if you are interested. http://mountdoracenterforthearts.org/arts-festival/

Last weekend New Smyrna was great. I more than doubled my sales from last year. That's always a good thing. And since it was my first show of 2016 I'm going to use that result as a good omen for the whole year. Why not right? :)

Oh and I also was lucky enough to win an award. Another good sign. The official name was an "Award of Commendation". I think it was a tie for 8th place? But out of 240 talented artists I will definitely take it. :)

Images Art Festival - New Smyrna Beach

This coming weekend I am heading back to New Smyrna Beach for the Images Art Festival. This is my second year participating in the show which has definitely added to my excitement. There are several reasons for this but primarily it's because of their art patron program. Last year there were so many patrons who came out and who were dedicated art lovers and buyers...many even came out all three days. 

Aside from the art I am looking forward to the weekend in this quaint central Florida beach town. The weather should be nice and the venue is so awesome. It's really just a super place to spend a winter weekend. 

 http://imagesartfestival.org/

2015 ends. 2016 begins.

So I went to post my 2016 winter and spring festival schedule and it made me think back on the passing year. It some ways I can't believe 2015 is ending. In other ways, it was a long year and it seems about right. :) 

Here is my 2016 schedule thus far...til summer anyway. :)

  • Images: A Festival of the Arts - January 29-31 - New Smyrna Beach, FL

  • Mount Dora Arts Festival - February 6-7 - Mount Dora, FL

  • Gasparilla Festival of the Arts - March 5-6 - Tampa, FL

  • Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival - March 18-20 - Fairhope, AL

  • Atlanta Dogwood Festival - April 8-10 - Atlanta, GA

  • Magic City Art Festival - April 22-24 - Birmingham, AL

  • Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival - May 20-22 - Raleigh, NC (tentative)

Atlanta Arts

The Atlanta Arts Festival is awesome. The people, the artists, the venue - it's all great. My favorite artist this year was Sloane Bibb. Very creative work so check out his website.

http://www.sloanebibb.com

In two weeks I'll be in Hoover, AL at the Moss Rock Festival. I've heard good things and I am looking forward to it. My last trip to Birmingham was super, so of course that makes me optimistic. :)

Here is a picture of Piedmont Park on Sunday morning at the festival. Overcast and beautiful 

Blue Ridge, Georgia :)

I'm in Blue Ridge GA this weekend. It's lovely. I am participating in their Arts in the Park Fall Festival. I have a feeling that it's going to be great.

The best thing about it is my sister lives here. :) So I get to stay with her and her husband all weekend. And their home here is a dream. Seriously. Well, this whole area is just so nice. I feel fortunate to just be here.  Here's to a good weekend! 

St Augustine - and a thank you to NC

I've added St Augustine to my festival list for the fall. It's the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. The specific dates and times are Nov 28th 10am - 5pm and Nov 29th 10am - 4:30pm. I've never participated in this festival but my dad has. It's should be fun and it's local for me. So I'm excited and happy about it! :)  Here is a link to their website. 

http://www.staugustineartfestival.com/

Other than that I wanted to provide an update on my two recent trips to North Carolina. Both Lazy Daze and Centerfest were super awesome. I really love the area and I always do well in terms of selling my work. So it's a good fit it seems. :) Thanks to all who came out! I am sure to be back in the spring. 

 

 

Summer's end

Summer is ending and I've had a relaxing break. I hope you have too. I now find myself looking forward to the coming months. And as much as I love the lull of summer I also love packing everything up and taking my art on the road. So here is my schedule for the late Summer and Fall. Pretty good I think. :)

  • Piedmont Park Arts Festival - August 15-16 - Atlanta, GA
  • Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival - August 22 - Cary, NC
  • Centerfest Arts Festival - September 19-20 - Durham, NC
  • Fall Arts in the Park - October 10-11 - Blue Ridge, GA
  • Atlanta Arts Festival - October 24-25 - Atlanta, GA
  • Moss Rock Festival - November 7-8 - Hoover, AL 

Spring Forward

I have five festivals on my calendar this Spring. Fun and exhausting! I feel like it will be a nice mix of returning to the cities and towns I went to last year and venturing off to brand new places where I've never been. Here is the list:

  • Mulberry Street Festival, Macon, GA, March 28-29. I admit I've only driven through Macon on my way to Atlanta. But I do love southern towns and I am excited to be participating in this event. I have a feeling it will be special.
  • Magic City Art Connection, Birmingham, AL, April 24-26. Birmingham is a large southern city that I've never been to. So basically, it's perfect.
  • Shrimp Festival, Fernandina Beach, FL May 2-3. I had such a good show last year I had to return. Plus it's only an hour up the road. :)
  • Chastain Park Spring Arts and Crafts Festival, Atlanta, GA, May 9-10. This show was a truly overwhelming success for me in 2014. I still get goosebumps thinking about it! So, I am excited to be going back. It's a lovely park and a lovely part of Atlanta.
  • Artsplosure, Raleigh, NC, May 15-17. Last year I did a show in Cary, NC and it went great. I've never done this show but I love North Carolina and I'm super hopeful. 

Mount Dora

Mount Dora: the quaintest small town in central Florida. :) Seriously. I hope to return at some point when there would be time for me to just walk around, shop a bit, and enjoy some food and wine all at my leisure. Sounds so nice. 

About the festival - It was tremendous. So many wonderful artists, lots of art loving people, and plenty of sunshine. I look forward to returning next year!  

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