Call To Artists -Seattle Washington

Seattle City Light Facility
Budget: $300,000

The Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Seattle City Light (SCL), seeks an artist or artist team to develop permanent, site-integrated artwork for SCL's proposed new Denny Substation.

Help Buyers of Handmade Crafts
Imagine Themselves Using Your Crafts

Buyers at craft shows pickup, touch, feel and inspect your handmade crafts for looks, feel and quality.

Buyers online can't touch the items and try them on to see how they will look in your hand sewn dress or handcrafted jewelry.

Christmas Moment Gift Fair -Kennewick WA

Visit Christmas Moments in Kennewick, Washington happening Nov. 16 to 18, 2012.

Contact LaVette Mehess at 971-600-3281 to reserve your booth for this Un-Juried Art and Craft Show now. Please thank her for listing this show with The Extravaganza Craft News.

Want more information on this and other art and craft fairs in Washington each month subscribe to The Extravaganza Craft News at 

Drop by 45th Annual Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival in Ketchum, Idaho happening Aug. 9 to 11, 2013 for a fun day.

Contact Britt Udesen, Festival Director at 208-726-9491 ext.19 to reserve your booth for this Juried Art and Craft Show now.  Please thank her for listing this show with The Extravaganza Craft News.

Want more information on this and other art and craft fairs in Idaho each month subscribe to The Extravaganza Craft News at 

How to Display Crafts at a Craft Fair

The secret to displaying crafts at a craft fair are shared here by Erin Proctor Herb of LinkedIn group Handmade Jewelry.

How to Display Art in Art Galleries

Thinking about displaying your art in galleries? Wondering what to do before meeting with art gallery directors?

Gary Boyler of Gary Boyler Fine Art shares 6 Important Things To Do Before You Approach an Art Gallery.

Create a Clear Artistic Vision

This is the big one.

Gallery directors are looking for mature artists and mature artists have a clear artistic vision.

Holiday Craft & Bazaar Gladstone Oregon

Visit 3rd Annual Holiday & Craft Bazaar in Gladstone, Oregon happening Nov. 9 & 11, 2012.

Arts and crafts festival vendors contact Sue at 503-621-8921 to reserve your booth now. Please thank her for listing this show with The Extravaganza Craft News.

Are You Using Pinterest
To Sell Your Arts And Crafts?

Who Are Pinterest Users?

Pinterest users are generally young females busily pinning and repinning images of hand crafted works of art to their favorite boards. Females are known for being purchasers for their families making this the perfect place to meet your target market.

Sign up now according to the brainyard

The Extravaganza Craft Productions wants to help your art or craft business grow.

In an effort to stay in touch with you better we have started a page on Facebook.

Join us at https://www.facebook.com/ExtravaganzaCraft.

Come tell us about yourself and your business. Ask the questions that have been plaguing your art or craft business. The group can help answer your questions. Tell us what you think about the art and craft show business, how the economy is affecting arts and crafts, tell us what you’re hearing on the streets regarding arts and crafts etc.

Ask companies for references of other artists they have worked with. Reputable companies should have many references to share with you.

Art Licensing Contracts

Don't license art work to companies without a contract. A contract protects both parties it's in your best interest to have one.

How to Sell Handcrafted Art on Etsy

Susan Little of the Etsy Members group on LinkedIn shared this tip for making more sales on Etsy.

David Salerno of one of my LinkedIn Groups shared the tip below.

Putting Links on Ebay, Etsy and Handmade Selling Sites

"... your idea of putting an Etsy link in your eBay listings is a great idea and certainly something I would not consider "unethical" but unfortunatley eBay will not allow it.

Handmade Jewelry Sizing Charts

I've been searching for information that would help you create handmade jewelry. Here are jewelry sizing charts so you better understand what sizes to make your handcrafted jewelry.

Bracelet Size Guide-From How to Make Beaded Jewelry
Reeds Jewelers-Bracelet, Necklace and Chain, Ring, and Watch Size Guide

Wholesale Craft Show Do’s and Don’ts – Tips for Artists

This is a companion piece to my article, “Fine Craft Wholesale Shows: A Review of the Philadelphia Buyer’s Market Visiting Artists Program,” also on this site.

In June, 2006 I attended the Philadelphia Buyer’s Market of American Craft Visiting Artists Program. The presenters offered lots of wisdom and nuts-and-bolts tips on wholesaling for artists just starting out in the wholesale market.

Craft Vendors Don't Lose
Craft Craft Show Sales

I could have walked them through the process. I should have guided them through the purchase rather than leaving them to visit the site on their own.

Packaging Your Craft Show Products

Need ideas for packaging crafts at craft fairs?

Packaging crafts has always been a simple concept to me it never occurred to me to share. This wonderful post inspired me to share this packaging idea. Most scrapbookers and rubber stampers probably use this concept already. How many of you have thought to use it to package your handcrafted arts and crafts for sale?

How to Sell More Jewelry with Volume Discounts

Customers love to feel like they’re getting a good deal, so offering some items at “volume discount pricing” can net you a lot of extra sales and repeat buyers.

For example, I have a big selection of very simple gemstone bead earrings with sterling silver earwires. I price them at $16 for 1 pair, $14 each for 3 pair, and $12 each for 5 pair. You’d be amazed at how many people automatically spend $60 buying 5 pair just because that’s the best price per pair.

How Your Art or Craft Business
Is Like Playing Facebook Games

I admit it! I’m addicted to Sorority Life on Facebook. It's a game where you do things like the girls in a sorority would. You must add a certain number of new friends every level or you are bound to be beat. You send your friends gifts and vote for them etc.

What does this have to do with my art or craft show booth?

You only have so many friends you can invite each day.

Is Facebook and Social Media Selling Art?

Social media is working for my art business but...

I have gone to where my customers (artists and crafters) are on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. and that is where I post.

Search keywords related to your product in the Facebook search box.

Want to know how many people like fine art? Type in fine art in the Facebook search box and go to fine arts-interests.

Check out your competitions pages from the search above.

Great Organizational Ideas for Art & Craft Supplies

I was looking for Blogs to comment on, link to, write guest articles for etc.

I found this post on organization of art and craft supplies.

http://pixiepaperarts.blogspot.com/2008/06/show-tell-sunday.html

Hope it helps you get some ideas for organizing your art & crafts.

Places to Sell Handmade Arts and Crafts Online and Off

Where do you sell your hand-crafted arts and crafts?

Do you sell crafts online at places like Etsy, Artfire, Ebay or have your own website?

Do you sell your crafts at art and crafts shows, fairs, festivals, bazaars, boutiques? Do you license your art to companies or sell it in specialty shops like gift stores?

Places to sell your works of art include:

• art fairs, festivals, craft shows, bazaars and boutiques, flea markets (not a good choice for higher priced crafts), antique markets
• local restaurant and hotel lobbies
• local gas stations
• small hometown grocery stores
• libraries
• gift shops, visitors centers, and other tourism sites
• specialty stores including Bridal shops, flower shops, salons
• Online places like Etsy, Artfire and more.

Are You Pricing
Your Original Art Too Low?

Price your original art too low-You are doing yourself and others a huge disservice.

Pricing handmade crafts too low implies low quality decreasing sales. Don't wrongly assume if you sell crafts for what they are worth you wouldn't sell any.

Get Jewelry Buyers to Purchase at Craft Shows

Found this fun idea for getting customers to buy jewelry (or any art or craft) at craft shows.

How to Get Your Jewelry Customer Buy at Craft Show Event.

Why Add Art and Craft Buyers
to Mailing Lists

Are you collecting the contact information of the people who enter your Art Festival booth and buy your one of a kind works of art? If no, why not?

Collecting a customers contact information is simple and makes it so much easier to make sales increasing profits greatly.

How to Add Art and Craft Buyers
To Mailing Lists

First read Why Add Art and Craft Buyers to Mailing Lists.

Collect Art Buyers Contact Information

Decide what information you need to mail and email your customers useful information that will encourage them to buy your one of kind handcrafted art work. Information that is generally collected includes:

First Name Last Name Address City State Zip Code Phone Number Email Address Birth Date

Interview with Artisan Blacksmith
David Robertson

Interview with artisan blacksmith David Robertson
www.artistblacksmith.com

Shasta: Tell us a little bit about yourself i.e. how old you are? Where you grew up etc.?
David: I grew up just outside of Hamilton Ontario Canada and I turned 44 this year. Once you get into your 40′s time seems to pass pretty fast.

Shasta: How long have you been doing arts and crafts?
David: Ever since I was a kid I have worked with my hands.

Art and Craft Supply Storage-Wire Cubes

My adjustable shelves are really deep (18 inches) and my craft supplies are much smaller. Even 12 x 12 paper doesn’t use the space well. One thing really made the shelves much more versatile for me – Wire Storage Cubes

Reasons Your Art or Craft Business
Needs Social Marketing

The idea behind a blog (and other social media) for your handcrafted arts and crafts is if someone comes to your craft show booth or online craft store but isn't ready to buy for any reason such as they don't have money right now, planning for a future purchase or occasion, love your product but don't need it right now, or are just looking...

They follow you and you can continue to market to them.

You need to be a great salesman to make money selling arts and crafts. The problem is how do I become a great salesman without becoming the pushy salesman?

I have to admit I haven’t been the best example of a good art and craft salesman. Why, because I was always afraid of being too pushy.

Crafts that Sell-Selling Customized Crafts Online

Karen Hornsten of my LinkedIn group The Extavaganza Craft Productions shared this tip for listing customized crafts for sale in your Etsy shop.

"If you go to your Etsy shop settings you can Go to the left side and look for Options.

Do Sales and Discounts
Hurt Craft Show Sales?

Sales are tools in your tool box used correctly they will only help your craft show business, used incorrectly they can hurt.

Use sales to push undecided buyers into buying crafts. Does this hurt your art business?

The answer is based on many things:
Everyone loves a bargain

1. You get a sale you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Advertising Art Festivals is Everybody’s Business

I struggled as craft show promoter figuring out the perfect mix of advertising for shows. Nothing is guaranteed with cable TV, internet, and satellite radio advertising has become more difficult. My advice to vendors and art festival promoters alike is this:

Advertising craft shows is everybody’s business.

Artists and crafters remember the more advertising promoters do, the more festival booths cost.