If you've never ventured out to an art and craft show, give it a try; you're in for a real treat. Whether it's a local club event, statewide extravaganza, church bizarre or a show put on by promoters, you can be assured that you will have an assortment of creative goodies to choose from.
I have been to two large shows in the past year. Both had everything from candle making to quilting, painting to pottery and beadwork to woodwork. Of course, I'm immediately drawn to the booths displaying dried flower creations. You can get many new ideas for ways of using the flowers, types of containers and display ideas as well as the techniques used by the creator. Seeing other designs and uses of color and flower combinations, is extremely useful information to me. You can take what you see and build your own idea around it. I have found that the designers of crafts are always willing to talk about their creations and willing to share useful information. If you're interested in selling your own designs, you can check the prices of comparable items. This will help you to determine competitive pricing of your own crafts.
If you're not familiar with upcoming show events locally in your area, I thought it would be helpful to share some sites that will enable you to find a show or festival close to home. Or, if you're planning on traveling and would like to sample some craft designs unique to a region, you can find out which events are scheduled and make your plans to attend.
First is the searchable database for Art and Craft Shows at http://www.artandcraftshows.net. This database contains over 2000 events. Search for shows by date, city, state or region. It is a very helpful site, with many of the shows listing individual information about the exhibits as well as additional links. I found several upcoming craft shows in Tampa that I didn't know about.
The Festival Network http://www.festivalnet.com offers a free newsletter for those of you interested in showing your own work. The newsletter is filled with tips and information on how to book a show. With over 4000 events throughout the U.S., check their featured front-page events covering cities coast to coast. From California to New York and stops in-between, it covers seafood fests, music fests, wine fests and all the rest.
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