Category: Events

The Exclusive Perfect Gift Boutique in Review

The Perfect Gift Boutique happened over the weekend. It has become a tradition for the Kaweah Artisans to hold this exclusive event on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Three Rivers Arts Center.

Exclusive? Well, the Arts Center is small, so we have to exclude any exhibitor who doesn’t say “Yes” soon enough to procure a space.

Exclusive? We are all folks who make what no one else makes. That could be more accurately defined as “unique”, but that is such an overused term.

Exclusive? We are from Tulare County, primarily foothill towns, primarily Three Rivers. If an artist from another town with a product that no one else was showing and selling asked, we would consider her. We are all California artists.

Exclusive? We aren’t a bunch of man-haters. We have included men in the past. Just turns out that we are all women.

Artisans? We all make our own products. That includes weaving, soy candles, soaps and lotions and perfumes, jewelry, photography, gourd art including ornaments, wood turned bowls and vases and platters, oil paintings on canvas, ornaments, journals and cards (that would be my work).

Care to join us next year, either as an exhibitor or as a shopper?

Perfect Gift Boutique

The Perfect Gift Boutique is an annual event put on by The Kaweah Artisans.

Can you see the Arts Center? It is over there!!

It is low-key. There are 7 of us showing and selling our work in an old converted house across the river from the main part of Three Rivers on North Fork Drive. I put all my Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music on, and we just hang out and wait for people to come. We talk to the guests, help them choose gifts or just catch up with them and enjoy one another’s company.

The participants this year are: Tina St. John – jewelry, Anne Birkholz – wood turning, Sam McKinney – gourd art/ornaments, Ginny Wilson – Blue Ridge Photography, Nikki Crain – handweaving/soy candles, Janene Laswell – Ja Nene Natural Body Products. and me.

Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24. Three Rivers Arts Center, North Fork Drive (just across the bridge, first building on the left), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kaweah Artisans Perfect Gift Boutique Three Rivers

Bazaar, not Bizarre

The annual Three Rivers Senior League Holiday Bazaar happened on a rainy day. This might be the third year in a row, which isn’t really bizarre. I am not complaining – the rain is always welcomed in this part of the world. Central California feeds the world, and it requires irrigation to grow all that food, which requires snow in the mountains.

This is what I saw when I pulled up in the morning. I never did make it outside to see what was under those tents. Hardy folks, those artists!

Since I set up the night before, I was greeted by this sight. Well spaced, missing a banner that says “cabinart” because the pole was sort of falling apart. Lots of space for people to enter and not get trapped by a hungry pushy saleswoman/artist. That wouldn’t be me. I am not hungry, pushy, or a saleswoman. Sigh. Perhaps I should learn how to be. Never mind. I’d rather paint. (I was a little hungry – forgot to eat breakfast that morning!)

Because I was set up, it gave me time to admire the view out the windows.

I was so pleased to have Creekside Yarns as my booth neighbor. They were pleased also, because I offered them the backside of my screens, hooks for hanging, and help hanging their merchandise. If I wasn’t such a disciplined artist, I would spend most of my daylight hours at Creekside Yarns. That is my favorite form of procrastination. They are my favorite shop. Knitting is my favorite thing to do outside of work. Happy sigh.

This is my friend and former drawing student, Nikki Crain. She is a weaver of awesome ability, an artisan extraordinaire, a first-class fiberist. (I just made that word up because I was on an alliterative role, sort of) Look at those trees!! She has the best booth space.

There was steady traffic, but the booths were seldom crowded. This gave lots of opportunities to really converse with the folks who stopped by. The Three Rivers Holiday Bazaar is one of the easiest shows that I do – close to home, set up the night before, one day only, not very expensive, well attended by people sincerely interested in Christmas shopping who are friendly and intelligent. This seems like it should be a common thing, but the more shows I do, the more I appreciate this little event, here in Central California in the rainy autumn foothills. Happy sigh.

p.s. All the calendars sold. I ordered 8 more, and they are now all spoken for. (Yes, Jon and Ralph, you are on that list!)

Three Rivers Three Rivers Senior League Bazaar

Holiday Bazaar

This used to be called the “Senior League Bazaar”. . . I was walking past the Three Rivers Memorial Building and on the marquee it said 17 HOLIDAY BAZAAR. This means it is happening on Saturday, November 17. The hours are 9-4. You are invited! There is no entry fee. This is a pleasant gathering of crafters, artists, artisans, handy creative folks with neat-o stuff to sell.

I will be there with paintings, cards, 2013 calendars ($15 while they last – just 8 left!) and blank journals with my paintings on the cover ($14 inc. tax). Such a deal! And what a way to combine art with usefulness. . . I amaze myself with own brilliance at times. 😎

You can shop inside and outside. It is a great chance to visit with various artists, learn a bit about their processes, and some years a booth has fudge for sale with little tastes.

three rivers memorial building — Even if you don’t feel like shopping, you might just enjoy being in Three Rivers, especially with the Chinese Pistache trees in full glorious fall color.

Chinese Pistache Tree at Three Rivers Memorial Building – will the leaves still be there on November 17? I guess you’ll just have to come see for yourself.

First Saturday November is Over

But First Saturday Three Rivers December is coming.

This is how my drawing table looked. I was working on a Wilsonia cabin.

This is the painting studio/gym/storage area/Trail Guy’s workshop. Please be impressed by my red chrysanthemums – I think the leaky hose in their barrel is the cause of their gloriousness. But wait! Notice the giant fruitbowl painting drying on the easel! When the three sides of the canvas are dry, I’ll flip it over and paint the bottom edge.

cabinart studio interior photo

This is the other side of the drawing studio. On the table are cards, journals (blank inside, $14 inc. tax), and the slightest corner of the 2013 calendar ($15 inc. tax). Too bad the air conditioner is so prominent. (So glad to have it during the summer.)

People came. They ate cookies. They bought art. It was good.

Want to come in December?

Three Rivers 1st Saturday

First Saturday, Again?

If you are over 50, you probably are experiencing the rush of time. I don’t mean “rush” as in thrill, but rush as in hurry, fast, speedy-gonzalez. Didn’t I just particpate in First Saturday about 2 months ago? Nope, it was in May. Or was it in February?

See? I sound like an old person, which over 50 used to be.

In addition to the change in how time passes, there are always those questioning conversations, plus the ever-shifting definition of “old age”.

But that’s not why I am blogging today. (See? all those conversational diversions also go with middle-age!)

First Saturday Three Rivers is happening in two days, on November 3, 2012 and MY STUDIO WILL BE OPEN.

Sorry for shouting. I get a little carried away sometimes with the enthusiasm of actually having folks come to my place of normally solitary and silent work.

You’ll have to go to Anne Lang’s Emporium to get a map to find me. I’m not posting directions or my address on the World Wide Web for all those weirdo spammers to see!

The theme is Oak. Or is it Oak Leaves? Maybe it is Oak Trees.

If you come, you’ll have the best selection of my new blank journals with my paintings on the cover ($14 inc. tax) or my first ever calendar with paintings for each month of 2013 ($15 inc. tax, special deal for you only this Saturday.)

Lone Oak, oil on wrapped canvas, 12×16″, $250

First Saturday three Rivers

Straight Talk About Art Fairs, Part Three

Yesterday’s post left off with a promise to tell about the good parts of the Visalia Taste the Arts show. Just call me List Lady. . .

Very very well organized
Great booth space
No charge for the booth
Shade!!
Unloading and loading right at the booth site.
Free lunch and bottled water
Booth sitting so the artists could have a break
My very dear friend spent the day there with me
I saw some former drawing students, some old friends, and received a HUGE surprise (stay tuned)
I sold some cards (I know, I’m really really trying to look on the bright side here)
Everything fit perfectly and easily in and on my Honda Accord coupe. (I ain’t driving no Mommy-mobile and don’t you forget it!)
They gave permission to pack up and leave before 6, so I was loaded and outta there by 5:30, all with hand signals because my 2 helpers and I couldn’t hear a single thing due to the loudest band of the day.

The HUGE surprise? My cousins from Sandy Eggo County have been teasing me about just driving up to surprise me at a show sometime. THEY CAME!!!

I’m still in shock and disbelief. We had a wonderful visit shouting at one another in the heat, and I will never forget the thrill and fun of suddenly realizing the couple standing outside and staring at me was my own family. (They had an unfair advantage because they both wore dark sunglasses while I was wearing a name tag.) When it was announced that a drumming group was up next, they decided it was time to go. They shall remain anonymous for purposes of privacy in this World Wide Web, but suffice it to say that this was definitely the highlight of a VERY VERY HOT and VERY VERY LOUD show.

Straight talk? Not doing this one again. We can figure out a family reunion some easier way.

Straight Talk About Art Fairs, Part Two

Yesterday we left off with a photo of my booth, which was both well-spaced and had a crooked Sawtooth oil painting with a worry about a large stage with very very large speakers.

Better – Sawtooth doesn’t show. But next time could you move that dumb-looking basket before taking the picture?

Enough paintings, not too many, well spaced with a crooked Sawtooth oil painting, open booth design so lookers don’t feel trapped, great location, wonderful organization, incredible staff of volunteers.

But that stage. Holy guacamole. It was the venue for one dance group after another, back to back, non-stop VERY VERY LOUD music, and loads of people standing in front of my booth so that lookers must really make an effort to come into the booth.

But they weren’t worried about getting tricked into buying anything (not that I have any earthly idea of how to do that), because we were completely unable to converse.

In addition to the VERY VERY LOUD music, it was VERY VERY HOT.

I soldiered on bravely, and at around 3 p.m. I remembered that I always keep a pair of earplugs in my purse. They helped, but I had to take out one so the occasional looker could shout into that ear while I tried to read lips.

Tomorrow I will tell you about the good parts of the show. There were good parts.

Straight Talk About Art Fairs

When I got to the venue for the Visalia Taste the Arts, I was very very impressed by the way it was set up. As I pulled into the fenced off area, I was handed a show packet that included a lunch ticket and directed to my booth. There were many huge canopies covering multiple spaces and I drove right up to the front of my space to unload.

My booth was on this end, the right side of that canopy. There was a “wall” separating me from the folks on the left end.

Everything is unloaded and my car is parked within view. This is shocking to me, because the show staff said, “Park right there” and I said, “But that’s really close – what about all the visitors?” He said, “They’ll be fine”. Umm, okay, thanks!

There was so much space for so many artists! All covered, and none of us had to pay AND they provided lunch and bottled water and help unloading and offered to booth-sit so the artists could take a break.

I was next to a very large stage with very very large speakers. It made me worry a little bit. I thought “uh-oh”, and proceded to set up my booth.

Visalia Taste the Arts cabinart booth

This is how it looked. Sawtooth is crooked. These things don’t show when one is hustling around, trying to get the right light, not have people pass in front of the lens, all the while worrying about that very large stage with very very large speakers. Notice how well-spaced the paintings are.

This is getting too long. Stay tuned for the next installment of Straight Talk About Art Fairs tomorrow.

Sawtooth

Taste The Arts

Taste the Arts takes place on Saturday, September 29 in Visalia, California. It is a little division of a week long event called “Taste of Visalia“. Maybe. I’m quite confused on the whole shebang.

What I am not confused about is that I will be one of many artists showing and selling my work at a former lumberyard in downtown Visalia from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The former lumberyard is encircled by Oak, Garden, School and Bridge Streets. I think the entrance is on Oak. I think it is free.

I am also not confused about the fact that I did several new paintings for the event. Here is one:

This is Sawtooth, in Mineral King. The painting is 16×20, the price is $375. Maybe people in Visalia aren’t as interested in Mineral King as people on this blog, in Mineral King and in Three Rivers. We shall see! (Who uses the word “shall” seriously??)

Mineral King Mineral King oil paintings oil paintings Sawtooth