Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Welcome Crafty Friends!

Hi there and welcome to The Crafty Friends Network Blog! My name is Kirsten Cole and I am a fiber artist from Providence, Rhode Island. I make a number of items, including reusable coffee sleeves, recycled fabric brooches, and unique hand-appliquéd onesies. Through my company, it's sew you...by Kirsten Cole, I have been participating in open air and holiday markets for two years now.

Open market selling has been so much fun. I really enjoy interacting with my customers and have been lucky to find a great group of colleagues and peer supporters. However, open market selling can be difficult. It is such a unique forum and thus, has its own unique challenges. For me, the most challenging aspects have been finding new venues and the logistics of running my own self-contained shop.

I am constantly polling my crafty friends about their strategies and have learned so much from them, so, I decided to create a place where we can come together and discuss these important topics. This blog will be a place where my crafty friends, and their crafty friends, can discuss, review, or recommend art shows, craft markets, and other events in the New England area. We will share what events have worked best in the past, and what future events we're interested in.

The Crafty Friends Network Blog will also be a platform for vendors and market organizers/promoters to engage in open discussion about open market selling and organizing. My hope is that the CFN Blog will be useful to both vendors and organizers.

Please post any questions that you would like to ask The Network, as well as any topic suggestions.

7 comments:

  1. Thanks, Julie! I've got high hopes for the blog.

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  2. Thanks, Kirsten! Looking forward to following, learning and sharing!

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  3. Hi, I have a question I will be doing my first outdoor market and just went over to SOWA and noted that a couple of vendors had this nylon material that they used to hang art work
    It was a mesh
    Can you tall me where that comes from and who makes it
    Thank you, Alexa Thayer

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  4. I'm finally signing on to the blog after meeting Kirsten at the Junior League Christmas Show. I'm wondering... can anyone give me any leads on Spring Shows (for jewelry) with a reasonably high end clientele? I can't afford to repeat another show in front of the wrong audience!
    Thanks!
    Jessica Hagen

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  5. Hi There,
    I'm new to your blog, it looks great! Does anyone have any feedback about the Newcastle, NH show at the end of July? I sell paintings, monoprints, photographs and handmade jewelry. Thanks!!

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  6. Hi I am new to your blog. Does anyone know anything about Holiday Arts & Eats at Assembly Square? We sell jewelry and was wondering if this would be a good venue. It's in early December. Thanks……...

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