Getting ready for the art shows

by Kerri Norman

This time of year is when most of us who do art shows are waiting for the jury results – Rejected or Invited. It’s hard to get that the Rejected notice but you’ve got to let it all float by. Keep working, learning, creating and improving my skills and try again next year. That’s what I’m telling myself. Convinced?

2010 Poppyesque cuff and ring

Part of the improvements I’m currently facing, apart from the jewelry making itself, is remodeling my booth. In the first year you get by on what you’ve been able to see in other’s booths and what you can afford to build/buy . Like the $100 tent that leaks and is so low that anybody over 5′8″ hits their head on the roof frame. Fabulous liability issue.

With time (and you have lots of that sitting in your booth during the shows) you get better at fantasizing ways to, for instance, keep your earring cards from blowing away in the wind while continuing to keep them on display .

So, my first largish show is April 16 – 18, here in MN and I’ll be spending the next 2 weeks making jewelry, building a new booth table, sewing new cloths, constructing risers and reconfiguring the booth so that it looks more inviting and keeps customers out of the rain when they’re trying to shop. Hopefully I’ll be able to get a great new booth photo too. See below.