Perfect Gift Boutique is today, in Three Rivers at the Arts Center, from 10 AM – 4 PM. Tomorrow too. Eight of us will showing and selling our wares.
Three Rivers Arts Center, 41673 North Fork Dr, Three Rivers, California (first building on the left after crossing the Kaweah River on the North Fork Bridge)
The Kaweah Artisans’ Perfect Gift Boutique will be Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the Three Rivers Arts Center. The times? Oh no, I can’t remember!! 9-4? 10-4? Stay tuned. . . here are some leaf photos for you to enjoy while I look for the times.
10 AM to 4 PM!
Three Rivers Arts Center, 41673 North Fork Dr, Three Rivers, California (first building on the left after crossing the Kaweah River on the North Fork Bridge)
That backyard boutique day was an early early morning for this little gray duck.
First, the bad news: the most gracious and lovely hostess of the event announced that this is the last year she will be putting this on. Bummer.
Now the good news: All these paintings now have good homes (not that my studio was a bad home, but it was just a waiting room.)
At first, my space was inside the garage, since rain was predicted.
The rain didn’t come, so I dragged everything forward to the opening onto the back yard. Looks a little messier this way, but then people HAD to see me as they came into the yard. I met some wonderful people, reunited with some old friends, found a few new future drawing students (there’s a waiting list), and shared some resources with artists who needed a bit of help.
A good time was had by all, especially after the sun came out. Such a huge yard and this is only half!
Then, I got to go home. That’s always the best part. I can paint some of these leaves, or maybe just lie down with my feet up and my tongue hanging out like a tired dog.
Woof.
This a.m. I went to Visalia to set up for the backyard boutique. I GET TO BE INDOORS!! So, if it rains, no worries, no cutting and running. No wind, no uneven ground, and more space than anyone deserves. This is wonderful, so tomorrow I will take a few extra items – some original pencil drawings from the calendar and my biggest best painting of the Oak Grove Bridge, my favorite bridge, right here in Tulare County.
A necessary element of the business of art is showing and selling. Art fairs, craft festivals, backyard boutiques, speaking engagements, demonstrations (not carrying signs of clever rudeness while hoping for teevee cameras – I mean showing people how I paint or draw)–these are all ways of reminding people of my products and services.
Today I am setting up for tomorrow’s Backyard Boutique. (Not officially called that, but I like the name and remember, I am 58 and this is my blog.)
P.S. I think it should read “29 crafters and 1 artist”.
P.S.#2 It might rain. If it does, I’ll have to cut and run.
This is an annual backyard boutique in Visalia. I participated last year and was very impressed by the quality, variety, organization and attendance. If you like shopping, looking at handmade items, hanging around nice people, then this event is for you!
Kaweah is the name of the river (rivers – it is THREE Rivers) in town. Artisans are people who make specialty stuff; more precisely “workers in a skilled trade who make things by hand”.
For about 18 years I have been part of a group called “Kaweah Artisans”. We do shows, which we prefer to call “boutiques”, 2-3 times a year. We change venues, and our membership fluctuates.
The rules are one maker per medium, be different from the crowd, be professional, and know how to display well. So, if you make something cool but not cutesy, are professional in your conduct, approach to business and display, and we have no other item maker in your category, we’ll take it to The Committee and decide. If your items meet the criteria and our space is not too crowded, The Committee will probably say yes. (But not if you have a reputation as a jerk; this is a very small town within a small county, and life and business are hard enough without personality complications.)
When I joined, there was a florist, a jeweler, a jam maker, a photographer and a weaver. Only the weaver and I remain of the original group. For our next show, we will be joined by a jeweler, a gourdista*, a cosmetic maker, a photographer, a small sculptor, a potter, and a chocolatier.
We still have our original banner, looking tired and worn out. It was time to update things.
When the banner arrived, I unrolled it outside to see how beautiful it is. Samson helped.
I FORGOT TO ORDER IT WITH GROMMETS!! The local hardware had them.
THE VINYL WAS TOO HARD TO PUNCH THROUGH! Our neighbor lent a hole punch.
And, Trail Guy put them in!
Kaweah Artisans marches on with lots of help from our friends, neighbors, family and pets. Our next boutique will be on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
*Do you like the word “gourdista”? I just made it up.
Arts Visalia hired me to teach 2 beginning drawing workshops this summer. In June, there were 5 students. The time flew and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. In August, there were 5 new students, and once again, we all had a very good time of learning.
They learned about the basics of drawing, and a little about me. I learned a little about them, and that taking photos with the iPad isn’t a plan if I want to show you the photos on the blog.
After much techie wrangling, I found a way to show you the photos. Tech explained is boring; tech wrangled with is alternately frustrating and exhilarating. I’d rather be drawing, teaching drawing, or blogging.
If it appears that everyone is drawing the same thing, that is because everyone is drawing the same thing. It is much easier to demonstrate once for everyone than have 5 different things happening at the same time.
Here is your opportunity!
Did you wish you had been to the reception for Gray Matter, but you had to miss it because you have such a full life?
Here’s a second chance to see original pencil drawings by me and three of my very advanced drawing students.
There might even be some fabulous brownies. . . not promising, just saying maybe.
