Gainesville Art festival pictures

It was a beautiful and busy time last weekend at the Downtown Festival and Art show!  I enjoyed talking with so many people and getting the opportunity to help people with their holiday gift giving needs.  Here are a few random pictures from the event:

I painted bulletin boards to be used as display pieces for the jewelry.  I used those this time because I could load them with jewelry the days before the show then just hang them in my tent once I got there.

This time, I included a table out front for people to easily sign up for my mailing list.   I also had a basket of jewelry for people to peruse.

Once again, I went without glass over the jewelry.  It felt like I was 'nekkid' as I had used it for so long, but I think customers really enjoyed being able to see the jewelry without waiting for assistance.

This show also marked the debut of the recycled bottle caps with resin.  These cute little caps are the perfect refrigerator accessory.

I had more colors of the resin and silver pewter jewelry to show off.  I've been going a bit crazy with the colors lately.

While the earrings looked great on the colored flower trees, I displayed the pendants on the table. The displays looked a bit too crowded hanging on the displays.

I'm working on a video of the event too, to give you the 'full effect' of the weekend.  Thanks to everyone who stopped and shopped! 

P.S.  I'll be a Linda Blondheim's loft studio at Paddiwhack this Friday evening, 5:30 PM to 9 PM and Saturday noon to 4 PM.  Come and enjoy art, jewelry and Christmas cake!!

Resin jewelry pendant pictures

I haven't been making new pendants so much this week as I have been attaching the silver bails to the pendants I have made.  Here's the assortment that will be at the Thornebrook Art Festival next week.

Birds.  Pretty fall colors.  My kids love birds.  But I don't have cardinal pendants...yet anyway.  Those are their favorites (mine too).

Geometric pendants.  A neat little way to be funky without people thinking you've lost it.

Wow, almost looks like a tray of cookies.  With sprinkles.

Still thinking cookies.  Must focus on jewelry.  No cookies until September 26.


There were three more batches of these.  I hope I will be covered.  I never know these things.  All I know is that I will run out of one or two patterns and those won't be the same one or two patterns at the next show.  (Note to self -- invest in a good crystal ball). 

See you next weekend!

Preparing for Thornebrook Art Festival

My next art event is at the Thornebrook Art Festival, September 24 and 25.  I've actually been getting inventory ready for the past month (including Halloween jewelry), so I just need to get my game on and get organized.  I probably wouldn't be thinking about this too much at all, but for all intents and purposes, I'm going to be unavailable the week prior to the event.  Yeah, I know that doesn't sound like a good idea, but an incredible opportunity with my other line of silver jewelry presented itself and I couldn't pass it up.  I'll be out of town selling that jewelry almost the entire week before.

No worries.  I'm getting ready this week and next.  Here's what I have to do:

1. Since I'm redoing the booth to make it as easy as possible for one person to set up and decorate, I need two new tables and two tablecloths.  I might also go with some organza table covers.  Not sure.  Still thinking about that one.
2. Since I have my only sale of the year in conjunction with this show, I need to get that jewelry packaged.  It has worked out well to have that jewelry packaged and priced in a basket for people to sift through.  
3. I will also have wireless access in order to process credit card information at the show this year.  That will be a big time savings and I don't have to worry about declined credit cards later.
4. Of course, I need to get focused on having enough finished jewelry.  That means that I had to be finished with pouring resin LAST week in order for me to finish it this week.  I'm actually doing the best on this one.

Stay tuned for picture updates.

Getting jewelry ready to sell at art shows

Part of getting ready for an art show is more than just showing up. It actually requires the same planning as opening up a retail shop, except that this one is only open for 48 hours. When an artist applies for an art show and gets accepted, all he/she gets is an empty space.  No tent, no tables, no outside help from the show staff. 

Here's a little bit about what I have to do to get my jewelry ready to sell at an art show:

The week or so before I have the art show, I concentrate on the business side of things.  I might work on new jewelry, but I don't do so with the intention of needing to have it ready for the show that week.  It's much less stressful that way.

I make sure I have plenty of cards and cello bags to package jewelry in.  I also have gift boxes available for an small additional charge.










For this show, I decided to prepackage the majority of my sale jewelry.  It's such a mixture of pieces, it just doesn't display well.  It looks better packaged and placed in a basket.









All the sale jewelry is in the basket.  (There's also something about digging through and looking for a bargain.  Does that go back to the sandbox days?)  I also take the time to go through all the jewelry I'm selling and make sure it is polished and tarnish free.









I always have an assortment of chains and cords for necklaces available.  People have their preference for styles and length of chains, so I try to be prepared with a variety.  I also find that as I'm getting these items organized, it gives me the opportunity to reorganize and get rid of items I no longer need or are outdated.








I also have my preprinted materials ready to go.  This includes any signage, business cards, bags, and artist information cards.









With the next post, I hope to show you a little about how I manage to shove so much stuff into a vehicle for a weekend show!

Handcrafted jewelry on sale

These are more pictures of jewelry I have on sale between now and the end of the Thornebrook Art Festival. If you see something you want, please contact me to place an order.

In case you missed them the other posts will sale jewelry and bali beads:
Artisan jewelry on sale
Bali beads on sale post 1
Bali beads on sale post 2

Sterling silver and nu gold discs with semi precious stones and glass beads.

Originally $50, will be $20

Semi precious stones on high polish sterling silver loops.

Originally $50, will be $20

Charoite and rhodonite pendant on patterned sterling silver and nu gold

Originally $85, will be $20  (This pendant also includes the chain)

Patterned and pressed sterling silver dome with a red jasper bead accent.

Orignally $40, will be $5

Assorted semi precious stones in diamond and oval shape sterling silver settings.

Originally $35, will be $15

Oxidized and polished sterling silver diamond shape earrings with semi precious stone briolettes.

Originally $50, will be $15.

Glass cat's eye cabochons with patterned sterling silver accents.  Assorted colors.

Originally $35, will be $10.

Assorted color semi precious stones set on patterned sterling silver with glass bead or semi precious stone hanging accents.

Originally $50, will be $20

Sterling silver loop earrings with aurora borealis finish glass chips.

Originally $28, will be $10











Sterling silver earrings with copper and nu gold accents.

Originally $35, will be $10

This fairly well covers everything that will be there.  See you this weekend at the Thornebrook Art Festival, booth 15 (green zone).  For those of you who have been coming for awhile, it's my same spot as previous years.

Handmade jewelry on sale

We're almost to the Thornebrook Art Festival!  I'm preparing jewelry for my annual sale in conjunction with the show.  All my sale jewelry is the end of a series, when I'm just down to the last few.  There are no seconds or imperfects.  I've photographed the first batch and have them shown here:

Vintage cabochons in sterling silver.  Approximately 7/8 inches wide.

Normally $75 each, will be $25








I have a few of my infamous vintage cabochon pendants and earrings left.  The pendants are approximately 1 inch wide and the wire earrings 3/4 of an inch.

They are normally $18 and $30, respectively, but will be marked down to $5.

Melon coral and hematite (left) and pink coral and unakite (right).

Normally $75, will be $20.

Copper (top left), sterling silver (top right) and 14K gold fill (bottom).  All with a hammered texture.

Normally $18, $32 and $40 respectively.  Will be $10, $20 and $25.












Textured/patterned sterling silver with 14K gold fill accents.

Normally $30, will be $15










Sterling silver beads with nugold accents.

Normally $40, will be $10














Dichroic glass bezel set in sterling silver.

Normally $60, will be $10.














Patterned brass earrings, oxidized to highlight the detail.

Approximately 1 cm wide.  Normally $15, will be $5







Pearl hanging from a sterling silver loop.  (These have been some of my best sellers).

Normally $28, will be $10.

Sterling silver abstract designs.

Normally $25, will be $10











If you see something here you would like to purchase, please contact me.  I will be happy to take a credit card over the phone and hold your order for pick up at the show.  I am also happy to ship items via U.S. postal mail.  Shipping prices is $3 for the first item or $6 for two or more items.

KMS Designs fall art show schedule

I'm only doing two art shows this fall.  Save the following dates:

• Thornebrook Art Festival, October 2-3, 10 AM to 5 PM both days.  Thornebrook Shopping Center, 2400 block of NW 43rd St., Gainesville, Florida
• Downtown Festival and Art Show, November 6-7, 10 AM to 5 PM both days.  The festival takes over downtown Gainesville, intersections of University Avenue and Main Street.

Stop by and say hi or come by to get some Christmas shopping done.