Boston Gift Show 2010

I had a fantastic 4 days at the Boston Gift Show, met with some wonderful people and as a result, there are many exciting things ahead for Dasken Designs!! It was icing on the cake to see one of my candleholders on the show directory cover. Sweet!!

I was in the "handcrafted" aisle.  And I'm pretty sure that I handcraft my items but I'm not so sure that other people actually understand what that term means.  And I won't continue my rant on this topic,  I'll just say, "Buy Handmade, Support Local Artists".

Trade Show - Mock Set Up

Today's activities included creating a new window display from two old windows: frost the glass panes, hinge the windows together and lastly, paint the frames.  Fresh paint can really transform an item that's seen better days, and since I had the paint on hand and was already a mess, I threw a fresh coat of paint on a few other display items too.  Then onto some other tedious items like waxing and polishing some stained glass goods. Frankly, not my favorite thing in the world except that I know it's the last step and then the item is good to go after that.

The last few hours I spent finalizing my set up for next weekend's Boston Gift Show.  Though I'd like to think my "new" set up is radically different than what I've done in the past, it's not.  It looks exactly like my old set up, with a fresh coat of paint and new lighting :)

Anyway, I'm using an 8' table which will be front and center (applying the 2' rule - everything will be visible and accessible) and instead of arriving on site and playing it by ear like I normally do, I decided to scrap that plan and map it all out today... will make set up easier and I can use today's photos as a reference.

Aside from a huge empty space on the left side of the table that I didn't account for and haven't resolved yet (can you say enormous candy bowl??), the only snag I ran into was with the new clamp lights I purchased yesterday... thank you Target!  They're kind of heavy duty which is great but I don't think they were designed to clamp onto a thin piece of glass shelving.  So as with most design problems, I used something I already have just hanging around to "fix" the enormous gap... and voila, a small gift box does the trick! 

Ok kids, this is called PROCRASTINATION!

So it's a grucky (new word: gross + yucky) Sunday morning and I'm sipping my coffee with silk soy, and now I'm going to talk about my cats.  I already know I'm going to regret this momentary lapse in judgment and one of the cats is even giving me "the look" (the wtf are you doing look) but here goes.  And so I've quickly composed this list of 12 things I've learned from observing these feline creatures.  Below is a photo of Buca and Cosmo NOT helping me fold laundry:

1. Do what you want, when you want, without compromise.
2. Sleep is essential.  Do it often and everywhere.
3. Licking yourself is acceptable.
4. Leave some sort of trail (crumbs, litter, fur, puke, etc) so you can be located in an emergency.
5. Chase some tail even if it's your own.
6. Provide affection in small, unusually timed doses.  It's disarming AND mysterious.
7. When excited, rubbing up against furniture is perfectly fine.
8. Be stealthy, but try not to freak out when a car backfires or your neighbor is testing his new rifle because fragile pottery tends to break when you dart unexpectedly from your post.
9. It's ok to eat your own vomit... oh wait, I meant DON'T eat your own vomit and try to avoid eating hair. It makes you vomit.
10. On recycling... sometimes a bottle cap is better than a fancy store bought toy.
11. Observe others.  Seriously, stare at them until it's uncomfortably awkward.
12. Last but not least... if you want to get someone's attention, just unexpectedly LICK or SCRATCH them.  It works every time, especially if they're asleep.

Nothing particularly new, I know.  But I thought since our relationship is getting more involved, this would be a good way to let you know that I have cats.  And now, you may run...

Preparing for the Boston Gift Show

In one month (yikes!) I'll be exhibiting at the Boston Gift Show, my first official wholesale show, and over the past few months I've been figuring out my game plan so: A. my head doesn't explode, and B. the show goes smoothly... as well as the days and months following the show!  To my delight, an item of mine was selected for inclusion in the 15-page brochure and I've already received a few calls as a result. yay! 

I'm exhibiting in the handmade section (versus one of the other larger sections: Made in New England, Souvenirs, etc) and it'll be interesting to see what other exhibitors are defining as handmade product.  I'm noticing that "handmade" is a term that's thrown around a lot.  For the record, handmade is defined as something made by hand rather than by a machine, and in the context of Art/Craft, I believe the handmade label is even more specific and should be applied to an item only if an artist both designs and creates his/her items. In other words, the individual artist actually had his/her hand involved in the process from start to finish.  Those with assistants or helpers, yes, you fall into this category too as long as the artist is present and involved.  Where I have the problem is when a particular item is designed by an artist and then manufactured in bulk by someone else entirely, possibly in another country on the cheap. Handmade? Really?  That's just a big bag of BS.  (Oh, and I have nothing against the process I just mentioned... please just don't call it handmade by artist so and so.)

On a painterly note, I visited my friend and fellow artist Sean Flood in his awesome studio in Abington yesterday.  He's working on several large scale, what I'll call 'urban landscape' paintings and I gave him some pointers...just kidding!  Sean is super talented and needs no help from me! Anyway I hear that his building which is filling up quickly with a variety of talented artists will be having a group show in a few months.  Go Abington! I'll keep you posted with the dates.

Sunshine Artist Magazine + West Side Lounge

So I have 2 exciting things to report... first, I was interviewed for the February issue of Sunshine Artist Magazine and I just got my copy in the mail.  Woohoo! The article called "It was Love at First Show" written by Art Ewards is about artists/crafters who participate in events all over the country.  It was nice to be included and quoted throughout the 4 page article (with a photo too!!). 

Second, for anyone interested in seeing my paintings in the flesh, there will be 11 paintings on display from January 26 through March 26 at West Side Lounge (1680 Mass Ave in Cambridge).  At some point during that 2 month timeframe I hope to have a little gathering to celebrate and will post the date once it's determined.  I hear they have fabulous cocktails and food...

That's all for now... back to the studio.

A good start to 2010

In the whirlwind that December was, I neglected to mention a nice plug I received in Dovetales magazine’s Holiday issue so here it is:Over the holidays, I got to do something I haven’t done in many months… paint! Below is a painting I just started (of my nieces). About 6 months ago, I actually took the photograph I'm working from and something about this particular photo grabbed my attention and made me take a second and third look. That’s when I know an image is one I’d like to explore in a painterly manner. I thought the contrasting body language of the two figures was interesting and I love all the patterns on the couch and the dresses. Hopefully I’ll be able to continue painting with more consistency throughout the coming year. But in the meantime, I'm scheduled for a painting exhibit at the end of January so the fire is under my behind to make some new work. Another important item that I actually completed last month was setting up an office. I now have a desk (and yes, I'm aware that it’s just a table I use at craft shows) but that’s not the point. I’m just dizzy with excitement to say that I have a flat surface free of paint, glass, metal, junk or chemicals where I can sit and do paperwork. Of course, it’s not neat or organized or free of clutter but in good time that too will come… In assessing my space usage in other areas of the domicile, I decided to create an official painting studio. Now all of the paints, stretcher bars, canvas, completed work, and requisite accessories are all in one space. There's even room for another painter AND it’s only steps from the kitchen and a million other distractions (insert deep sigh)

Time for a glass of vino...

The last 2 shows of the 2009 season are done. Yay! And these shows were ok... it's been a season of learning and experimentation and I'd summarize that if a show is in a 'hard to find' location or it's below 20 degrees out, it might have a negative impact on the number of people who show up... just a thought... Anyway, as usual, extensive hanging out with my artsy pals was the highlight of both shows, something that's not possible when a show is busy. It was a small group of vendors at the Chestnut Hill show including Trish from Idazz, Sue from SueBdo , Christine from Little Man, and my new bff, Hilary Crane-Stern of Hilary.
On Saturday, I did a show on Harrison Avenue in Boston and, fortunately, when I pulled into the parking lot I spotted my pal Nicole Deponte so I knew I was in the right place (btw, if you're a film scout looking for a totally sketchy building/parking lot for a murder scene, have I got a spot for you!). So we gave eachother a quick hug, moved our stuff into the building and hoped for a good day. Again, things were slow so I got to spend lots of quality time with my neighbors, twin sisters Heather and Kerry from Twigs + Heather: and Cadence of Cadence Innovative Designs.

Check out the inside of the venue/warehouse at BANG! (below) It's hard to see in this photo but there were animal crates stored above us... AND it smelled of cat + dog urine! Yum! The perfect scent for holiday shopping!All in all, a fantabulous year! Thank you to everyone for your support and I look forward to creating new and fresh things in 2010. Wishing all a happy, healthy holiday season!