Featured Sponsor: Comfort Inn of Downtown Greenville

General InfoElizabeth Ramos

For those of you coming to Indie Craft Parade from out of town and needing a place to stay, we want to tell you about our preferred hotel. Comfort Inn of Downtown Greenville has donated generously to our event this year and are welcoming vendors and attendees alike to stay with them. Besides their close proximity to our event--just a few minutes by car--their accommodations are comfortable, their staff is friendly, and their rates are affordable. Take the stress out of finding lodging and give them a call! For more information or to book a room with Comfort Inn Downtown, call (864) 283-0370.

Featured Artist: Softspoken

Artist ShowcaseElizabeth Ramos

With the hope of fall around the corner (and fall fashion in full swing), I think it is going to take great self control on my part not to get all my autumn accessories from Softspoken. I could buy out the booth. These crochet goodies are some of the cutest I've ever seen. They have it all: hats, scarves, sweaters, even crochet jewelry. With the funky designs and colors, Softspoken truly embodies the idea of indie craft--taking a traditional form and revamping it in a hip, new way. Can't wait to see this booth!

Check out more of the shop here.

Featured Artist: Marco Suarez

Artist ShowcaseElizabeth Ramos

Marco is primarily a graphic designer and branding specialist, but he has a phenomenal series of fine art collages and  photography. He is returning to Indie Craft Parade this year with another round of pieces inspired by nature and travel. Both trendy and timeless, Marco's work would be a perfect addition to anyone's collection.Besides the passion which is so evident in his art, I love the many layers and textures. I'm drawn in every time--discovering new elements each time I see one of his pieces.

To get just a glimpse of his many talents, check out more of his work on his website. He also has an etsy shop where you can see his fine art pieces for sale.

Advice for our Vendors: Taking Online Payments

Tips & TricksElizabeth Ramos

Although the world of craft fairs is largely run on cash, there are a few great ways for vendors to accept electronic payments from customers who just can't live without plastic. I want to share one of those with you today: Square App. I've personally used this method at art shows, and I can undoubtably say it's made made my experiences much easier. The Square App is simple, beautiful, and so easy to use. I really don't even need to say much about it. A portable credit card reader fits into the earphone jack of your smart phone or tablet, you swipe the customer's card for the amount of their goods, and you're paid the next day.

All of Square's vital information is located on their website, but that's about all there is to it. Payments are secure. You can even send email or text message receipts to your customers. And the best part about it, it's absolutely free to get started. Square charges a small fee per transaction made, but honestly, it's worth it to have the ability to take cards at your booth. Check it out!

Announcing the VIP Gala

General InfoElizabeth Ramos

On Monday August 1 you'll have a chance to snatch up a ticket for our highly anticipated VIP Gala. On Friday night, September 9, we're kicking off Indie Craft Parade with an exclusive evening of relaxed shopping, live music, and complimentary food and drink. At this event, ticket holders will get a preview of all the crafty goodness available this year--no crowded aisles, no waiting in line, and first dibs on artist work. If these perks weren't enough, Friday night is when we're hosting the Indie Craft Parade giveaway. Last year, our artists were very generous in contributing to our giveaway baskets--each worth over $75. Attendees will also have the opportunity to talk with the artists personally and watch live demonstrations by some of our crafters.

Tickets for this event are only $25, and they go on sale August 1! Check out the VIP page of our website for the rest of the details. We expect these tickets to go extremely fast, so be sure to stop by our website on Monday.

Hope to see you there!

Featured Artist: Rachel Feece

Artist ShowcaseElizabeth Ramos
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Rachel Feece's slogan is "creating clay conversation pieces," and you can see why. This is pottery you won't see anywhere else! I absolutely love the brilliant colors and carving technique of Rachel's pottery. Her inspiration comes largely from the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she has worked as potter for a number of years. Besides selling her pieces individually, Rachel also does commission work. If you want to view more of her pieces, check out her website!

Looking forward to seeing this at the event in just over a month!!

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Finding Inspiration: Interview with Annie Koelle

Tips & TricksElizabeth Ramos

We want the Indie Craft Parade Blog to be a helpful resource for everyone in the arts and craft community. So we've decided to include a series of posts that will help both developing and seasoned artists with a variety of topics. We want to discuss things like creating a winning booth, effectively selling goods in person, establishing an online presence and the like. To share this information effectively, we're going to the people who do these things the best. We'll be interviewing (mostly) local artists to get their tips for making your products, branding, or general presence in the art world even better. Today, we're starting with Annie Koelle. She's a painter who presents gorgeous scenes from the natural world. In the 7 years or so I've known Annie, her work has never ceased to amaze me. Everything about her work is inspiring, so I asked her to share some thoughts on the topic of finding inspiration. Sometimes artists burn out or get discouraged when trying to develop new ideas or styles. Annie is continually producing new pieces, and she has graciously shared with us her approach for keeping her work fresh.

To see more pictures of her work, check out this post from 17 Dove Street that features one of Annie's recent shows, hosted in a garden.

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Indie Craft Parade:

Frequently artists and crafters are at a loss for new inspiration--either new artists don't know how to branch out or seasoned crafters get burned out. You're always working on show material, how do you keep your work new and fresh?

Annie:

I'm always viewing the world as an artist, always on the look out for inspiring things--which is why my work is a reflection of everyday things I appreciate. I'm constantly searching for ideas to run with. I look in decorating magazines, the living breathing growing world, fashion catalogs and magazines (I have several binders of clippings), blogs, artists past and present, poetry, music, and antique stores. And a million other things I'm sure. I also make little composition sketches to remember a painting layout. Usually I will come back to them and decide they are silly. Most of the time I don't use them, but it ends up leading on to other great ideas. I have no regrets ever in recording fleeting ideas. Take an idea and run with it in all possible directions. Don't worry about playing it safe. Always be harvesting ideas!

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PIndie CraftParade: Although you do a wide variety art/craft genres and styles, every piece you do is decidedly "Annie." Can you share any tips for artists trying to show their personality or put consistency in their work?

Annie:

I think that's something that develops over time, so have patience. I had a little bit of a head start, having been given art lessons as a youth, long before college. I can't say that a few years ago I was as consistent, but now I am confident in the mediums I'm working with, so I know how to successfully experiment with them. Also, it may be the subject matter, everything I work into a painting has a very personal connection to my life, past and present. Little things I appreciate such as the birds in my yard, the fig tree I pick from, or perhaps something associated with my childhood.  Here is a good tip: whatever sort of art it is, it must be an absolute overflow of yourself, that you present in a skillful, creative way. It has to be what you truly like, and it has to be good enough that you would hand over money for it --as if someone else had made it. Any sort of handmade thing, it had better be something you'd buy yourself and put in your house, wear out to a party, or hang on your wall. Strive for that! Think about it while you are planning and creating. I think that's the key, I'm finally sure (after years of trying) of what I really like, and I am beginning to figure out how to make art I would actually love to hang on my wall. But not always--can't knock it outta the park all the time. Sometimes its just about getting something out of your brain and into your hands.

Indie Craft Parade:

 Can you suggest any resources for artists looking for new inspiration?

Annie: Like I said, I find resources in a million places, but here are a few of my favorites.

Decorator magazines: I don't really read art magazines. The decor ones actually show you what people hang on their walls.

Pinterest: Follow my art inspiration board.

Poppytalk Blog

Dear Ada: I love the book list she has on the side.

FFFFound Image Bookmarking

Simply Lovely Blog

Where the Lovely Things Are: New Fave!

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Garden & Gun Made in the South Awards

Craft NewsElizabeth Ramos

We always want to let people know about new opportunities to get involved in the art and craft scene, and today we have a good one! You must check out the Garden and Gun Annual "Made in the South Awards."  This is an awesome chance to show off your handmade goods.

Check out the official information from their website:

Artists and designers, don't miss this great opportunity to share your work! If you live in the South and make amazing things that fall into one of these categories — food, sporting, fashion, home — then you need to enter this contest! Garden & Gun hosts the Made in the South Awards each year to celebrate "the rich cultural traditions of Southern craft, design and ingenuity." The deadline to enter is August 1st, so make sure you get your work in fast. Winners receive a cash prize as well as being featured in the Dec/Jan issue of Garden & Gun.

August 1st is coming up quick, so if you want to enter, be sure to do it quick. Check out the application here.

Also, take a look at some of the featured winners from last year. Some seriously gorgeous stuff here!

Leather bags from Emil Erwin

Handcrafted Furniture from Holler Designs

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Lace designs from Gabrielle Jewelry

Featured Artist: Lightnest

Artist ShowcaseElizabeth Ramos

Anybody on the hunt for the perfect tote bag? I know I always am--which makes me doubly excited that Paige Maitland of Lightnest is going to be at Indie Craft Parade. Her pieces are streamlined, modern, and express chic simplicity. And I love her fabric choices and use of jute for carry straps. Can't wait to see this booth! Want to see more of her gorgeous handbags? Check out the Lightnest Etsy Shop.

CoCraft This Upcoming Weekend

Craft NewsElizabeth Ramos

Just wanted to let everyone in the Greenville area know about a super-fun crafting opportunity coming up this week. This Saturday, July 23, is a CoCraft night hosted by Mandy Blankenship. You can either learn how to make cloth napkins or bring your own crafting supplies to work on personal projects. The party will be held at 514 Glenwood Ave. in Anderson, SC. Please RSVP here if you can make it! For further details, check out the CoCraft page.

Featured Artist: Tilson Sister Terrariums

Artist ShowcaseElizabeth Ramos
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Today's featured artists are two sisters who create these beautiful little terrariums. I was so thrilled when I saw this entry come through. I LOVE terrariums! And these mossy little woodlands are absolutely adorable.

When making the terrariums, they make sure that each piece is unique. They collect the moss, find the perfect container for each terrarium, and then craft and paint each figurine by hand. Although they started out by giving terrariums as gifts to friends and family members, they're now sharing these little gems with everyone else.

I particularly love how they show off the strata of the terrariums by using the apothecary jars to display their work. I think they're like perfect parfaits of earth and moss. And I can't wait to meet these girls at Indie Craft Parade!

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Call for Musicians

General InfoElizabeth Ramos
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Last year Indie Craft Parade had the pleasure of hosting a number of local bands to entertain guests as they shopped at our festival. This was a such a successful part of the event, and we know we absolutely must have it again! As we did last time, we're opening up this opportunity to musicians who would like to join the fun of the indie art scene. Good music helps complete the atmosphere of Indie Craft Parade, and we're on the hunt to find some new performers.

If you think your musical group would be a good fit for Indie Craft Parade (or if you know of a good band or solo artist), please contact us at info@indiecraftparade, or leave a comment on this post.  Tell us a little about yourself and attach a link to a clip of your music. We're interested to see what you have to offer! Spaces are limited, and will be allocated at the discretion of our directors.

Check out last year's awesome musicians in this post from 17 Dove Street.

Featured Artist: Sara Lee Parker Textiles

Artist ShowcaseElizabeth Ramos

I'm so so excited because today is the first of our featured vendor posts for Indie Craft Parade. We've got such a talented lot, and I know you're going to love browsing the goods they have to offer. So without further ado, meet Sara Lee Parker Textiles. She's a textile printer and designer living just outside of Thomson, GA. She hand prints adorable designs onto sustainable fabrics which she makes into a variety of home goods such as aprons, napkins, and tea towels. (I am such a sucker for those.)

Sara Lee Parker also offers her fabric as yardage and in fat quarter form for sewing, quilting and other DIY projects. If you want to see more, check out her etsy shop. You might not be able to wait till September to purchase from her!

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Dinner Napkins

Fabric Samples

Tea Towels

Half Size Apron

It's Official! 2011 Participants Announced

General InfoElizabeth Ramos

Now that all of our accepted exhibitors are confirmed, we're so excited that we can finally share who's going to be participating in Indie Craft Parade this September! Our 2011 participants are a fantastic group with such varied goods, everything from letter-pressed paper goods to hand-spun yarn. Click here to see the exhibitor list and start exploring their individual websites. Stay tuned! Throughout the summer we'll be featuring a handful of these artists on the blog. You'll see a sampling of their work and hear a little more about them...just enough to get you excited about buying out their booths.

Thanks again to our jury for choosing such a fabulous lot!

Exciting Book Release

Craft NewsElizabeth Ramos

Here's some fun news from the world of design and crafting. Design*Sponge is releasing a book! For the past few years this enormously popular blog has inspired its followers with its posts on home decor, fashion, food, graphic design, and of course crafting and DIY projects. The new book features an entire section of Do It Yourself projects, providing tutorials on a variety of subjects. So, check out the book trailer below. It's beautifully produced. If you're already a D*S fan, you can imagine all the goodness that will come from this publication. If you're just now hearing about this blog, you'll want to check it out. You'll be amazed at the inspiration that's in store. http://vimeo.com/22861096

 

Featured Sponsor: Oh Snap!

General InfoElizabeth Ramos

Another reason to come to Indie Craft Parade this year--to join in on the fun provided by Oh Snap! Photobooth. They're another of our fabulous sponsors for the event, and we're so happy to have them back. Last year people loved using props and gathering friends to create the silliest and most creative pictures that captured the spirit of Indie Craft Parade.  We can't wait for all the fun pictures that will come out this year. The people from Oh Snap! were so great to work with. If you have an event such as a wedding or other party coming up, you should totally check them out here. You'll be so glad you did.

A couple shots from the 2010 Indie Craft Parade.

Meet the Jury: Michelle Radford

Interviews & ToursElizabeth Ramos

Michelle somehow manages to be an art professor, a serious artist/crafter, and full-time wife and mom (soon to be of three). Through all of this she still creates fresh, new works that have a flavor uniquely hers. And her fiber goods, such as her reworked fabric jewelry and pillows, are stunning. If jurors were allowed to have booths at Indie Craft Parade in September, she'd sell out quickly.  

Indie Craft Parade: In your art as well as crafts, you have a tendency to turn trash in to treasures. What's the oddest thing you've incorporated into one of your pieces?

Michelle: I don't know if these would seem particularly odd to people who practice mixed media: a little dutch boy had to give up his head to a brooch, and a little angel had to lose her wings...all for a good cause. I've stitched bones into a piece. The finished products look must less sinister than they sound. My work is anything but Halloween-ish, however.

Indie Craft Parade: The gap between art and craft is continually growing smaller. Is this a trend that you embrace in your own work, or do you think of your fine art work as a separate endeavor from your crafts?

Michelle: My paintings tend to look very different from my "crafts". I could see them merging more eventually, though. I don't think it is very useful or interesting to try to keep the arts and crafts apart if they want to intersect or blend. The most rewarding handmade objects to me--whether "arts" or "crafts"--are thought provoking, meaningful, well-executed, and have a little bit of wow-factor.

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Indie Craft Parade: Who is an artist that you currently find inspiring?

Michelle: As far as no-longer-living artists, I always really enjoy looking at the work of Rothko and Rauschenberg. I really like the way they used paint, and how their work makes you think of space, format, and materials. As far as living artists who make objects for everyday use, I'm always really captivated by the things the artists at ShopSCAD make. It's really fresh and fun.

Do It Yourself: Creative Wall Covering

ProjectsElizabeth Ramos

New DIY Project for you. I learned  about this one while at the craft night we hosted a couple of weeks ago. Melinda, one of our participants, recently moved, and she was looking for a creative way to fix an unsightly wall in her bedroom. The previous renter had torn up the some of the wall, and there were bits of peeling paint all over the surface. So Melinda came up with the bright idea of using this tutorial to make tissue paper flowers from vintage sewing patters. Compiling the flowers with other odds and ends from the thrift store, she put together quite a lovely display and managed to cover any ugly splotches in the process. Thanks for sharing the paper flowers and the finished product!

Making the paper flowers at the Etsy Craft Party.

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The Materials:

Various sizes of tissue paper flowers

Thrifted frames (contents and glass removed), spray painted a pearly off-white--some of the frames she filled with coordinating craft paper which turned out super cute!

Small nails for hanging the frames--1" nails for lightweight, empty frames work fine

Wall safe sticky tack--a tiny bit for holding the edges of the frames level

A level

Thumb tacks

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The wall, tastefully covered.

The Process:

First Melinda laid out all of the frames on the floor to see which arrangement she liked best. It's always a good idea to play with composition before you start nailing things to the wall. After she tacked the frames in place and made sure they were level, she thumbtacked the paper flowers over the nasty wall splotches to hide remaining evidences of peeling paint. The entire project was quite easy, about 4 hours from start to finish. And it looks absolutely great!

Indie Craft Parade Participants Chosen!!

General InfoElizabeth Ramos

The wait is over! The participants for Indie Craft Parade have been chosen! This past Saturday our jury reviewed nearly 350 applications for Indie Craft Parade. After many hours of careful discussion, they finalized the list of vendors accepted to represent their work this September. Our jury is a group of 5 professional artists with expertise in many genres, and we're very happy to hand over this difficult task to them. They juried each category separately and judged individual applications on how well they matched the vision of Indie Craft Parade, as well as their  originality, quality, uniqueness, and innovation. All applications were reviewed anonymously to avoid any bias. Each jury member viewed an applicant's description of their work, along with the 4 photos they submitted. They briefly discussed the merits of the application, and then voted whether or not it should be accepted. The jurying is a tedious process, but this thoroughness is essential for selecting just the right mix of exhibitors.

So what happens next? Today we're sending out email notifications to all of our applicants. If you haven't received yours yet, please be patient. We're writing individual emails, not a mass mailing, so it takes several hours. When applicable, we're including comments from the jury as to why a work was not accepted or how to refine work that was. The official list of accepted exhibitors will be posted on our website once they've all confirmed their reservations.

To be honest, this day is the hardest for us at Indie Craft Parade. We hate writing rejection letters! But we only have room for 70-80 vendors, and with nearly 350 applicants, there simply is not room for everyone. Many of our applicants showed great skill in their work, but they were not the best fit for our festival or we just had too many similar entries in some categories. Indie Craft Parade represents all the genres of art and craft--so we can't limit ourselves to showing just fine art or just jewelry, etc. So please, if you were not accepted for this year's event, don't let that discourage you from entering again. Keep working to make your goods better and more original, and we'd love to see your entry next year!

One other change to expect this year: Most of our applicants requested full-sized booths. Unfortunately, we can't accommodate that many full booths without significantly reducing the number of exhibitors represented. So, several applicants were asked to downsize their booths in an effort to fit all of the accepted artists--something we didn't have to do last year.

Thank you again to everyone who applied! Your work is vital to the Greenville and greater Southeast art community, and we're so grateful that you chose to share it with us.