New Art Festival Booth Display Part II

The evolution of my booth...
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out this year. I plan to keep it set up pretty much like this next year. I may add a box to display more ornaments, but other than that, it worked pretty well. We received many compliments on it at War Eagle. It has changed quite a bit since my first one in Georgia. My first Art Festival booth was pretty sad. You can see my first pitiful booth here.

Setting Up Process
Last week I wrote about surviving my first War Eagle (see that post here) and said that I would talk more about my booth set up this week.  I will share photos from the start of set up to finish. It was quite a chore to put up, but we had 2 days before the show to set it up.

Since this event was under a large tent (4 large tents actually), and our space was 8 x 13, we had to modify our set up. In outdoor shows we used an EZ-up tent and use the frame to hang things from.  But that wouldn't fit in this space, so we had to come up with something else for support of my backdrop.  My trusty Assistant, my Hubby, Asst. Sam, came up with the idea for the backdrop frame. (That's him on the ladder) He used electrical conduit to create the frame. We used that to hang the curtains for my backdrop.

Since we didn't have the EZup tent sides, I bought some white curtains to fill in and used the pink curtains that I bought last year, for the corners. I think it adds a pop of color and makes the booth stand out and easy to find! I used the turquoise curtains and table cloths last year, along with the white table skirts.

We added the white shadow box displays to the stair-step display this year.  That worked well to display my little houses in little groups to show customers examples of how they can be used.  We also added the tall white cabinet to display groups of houses, decorated plates, and larger houses.  It all came together, just as I had envisioned. Next year will be much simpler since we have all of the display worked out. I just need to concentrate on creating enough to sell over the four day show.

Thank You
Thanks to my Hubby for all of his work putting this together and sticking with me the entire show. I couldn't have done this without him!

Thanks also to my Mom for sewing the pennant flags for my bunting across the front of my booth and on the back wall. It added so much and many people commented on it also!

And thanks to my Dad for building my stair step display for my houses a few years ago. They work great!

I am so blessed to be surrounded by family that are supportive and talented. 

Click here for links to:
I Survived War Eagle ... Part I
Booth Changes 2010

Beth♥

My Talented Mom

Sewing is not one of my skills. Probably because my Mom holds the title for excellence in sewing in our family. Anytime I have an idea for something that needs to be sewn...pillows, dresses, shirts, wall decor, curtains...whatever I can think of, she can sew it...and paint on it, if needed.  I consider her the source for my inherited artistic/creative talent.

A few months ago, I decided I wanted a cute pennant style decoration for my Art Festival booth.  I already had some fabric that I purchased 2 years ago (so I could sew something...ha), but I decided these were perfect for my flags for the booth.  I asked my Mom if she would want to make them for me.  As she always does, she said yes. So I printed out a pattern for her and explained what I wanted. Sometimes delegating is difficult, but I knew this project was in good hands and I would be pleased.

Fast forward a month and Mom delivers these beauties. All I had to do was string them up. They are perfect and I can't wait to hang them in my art booth!

Thanks Mom!
Beth♥ 

Preparations for an Art Festival

My Art Festival booth has evolved quite a bit since the first event we participated in. The first show that we went to (see it here), our booth was pretty sad looking, looking back, it's pretty embarrassing. It was our first show and didn't really know if it was something we wanted to invest a lot of money in. I had no clue how my things would sell.
By the fourth show we did (see it here), I think the booth looked much better.  But it is still evolving. Our next show is going to be inside a large tent. So far, all of the shows that we have participated in were outdoor shows, in our own individual tent.  This fall we will be going to a new (to us) show, that is outdoors, but we will be under a large tent with other vendors.

We are reworking our booth some to fit in the space and changing up some of our display furniture. We are going with white and turquoise on the furniture displays, which matches the table cloths and curtains.  The tall cabinet was just a stained wood cabinet when my husband found it on Craigslist.  He painted it white and added the blue door knob.  It is perfect for my little bowls and houses to display, both in my art festival booth and in my art studio. It is doing double duty!

Thanks to my Assistant, Sam...my new sign is turquoise with the black chalkboard. This is an old classroom/child's chalkboard easel that we found at a vintage store in Fayetteville. It was also just plain wood before my Assistant (hubby) took it apart and repainted it to match my color scheme.  I wanted one side of it to be a magnetic white board, but we haven't found a magnetic white board to fit. We painted it with a magnetic paint, but that did not work. (Save your money, don't use the magnetic paint!)  So, for now, it is going to be a chalkboard on both sides. I will draw or paint my sign on it for the show.

We are still trying to figure out a new way to hang our backdrop (curtains).  My trusty assistant (my hubby) has been working hard getting these new pieces ready for the show. I think when we get it all together, it will look good and hopefully be a good showcase to display all of my art...both clay and paintings.

More updates to come!

Beth♥

Checking My List...

Norcross...done!  Last weekend we traveled to Georgia to participate in the Norcross Art Fest for the

second time.  I really enjoy going to Norcross. The people are so nice and it is so nice to be a part of such a well organized show.  The other artists are so nice and helpful. The weather was great and the crowds were large. The only thing I do not like about it is that it is so far away and so expensive for us to attend.  I really hope to find a show that is closer to home and just as organized and whimsical and creative as the Splash Festivals in Georgia.  I'm still learning this whole Art Festival business and still have a long way to go.  My booth is looking a little better each time we go.  I think it looked better this time, but I still have some ideas to improve on my display on the right side of my booth.  If we can find another good show, in Arkansas, I may have to try it out.
So, I can check off this event off my to do list for this fall.  Now I need to concentrate on working on commissions that have been waiting patiently for me to return and listing new items in my Etsy shop.

Next on my to do list.. some paint, some drawing, some clay....have some fun.

Beth  ♥