Llano Art Bazaar

01/01/2020

08/16/2019

This is stunning!

Ocean Song by Jessica Perlstein

https://jessicaperlstein.com/collections/artwork/products/copy-of-the-rise-of-sachamama

08/06/2019

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. As a crochet artist, primarily, I often get overlooked or ignored by the art community. Or, occasionally, encouraged to focus on sculpture, which I also enjoy, to the exclusion of all other forms of expression. But traditional art is deserving of being preserved, appreciated, and passed down to future generations. It is a meaningful part of the story of humanity.

Was da Vinci an artistic genius? Sure, but he was also born in the right place at the right time -- pre-Renaissance, Western artists got little individual credit for their work. And in many non-Western cultures, traditional forms have always been prized over innovation. So, where do we get our notio...

08/05/2019

After a weekend like we experienced as a nation, I think we all feel a bit like this!

08/02/2019

Today is Lammas, the halfway mark between Summer Soltice and Autumn Equinox. A sun seemed fitting!

10/25/2016

Sigh. I keep getting notices that this page will be unpublished, and I was willing to let it go. Not ready to shut it down, but it's getting there. It's been one brick wall after another trying to start this thing, and I'm almost willing to admit defeat. It's hard to face, though.

03/15/2016

So, we worked a booth at LEAF (Llano Earth Art Fest) this weekend- Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Makes for a long weekend, but it was a fantastic experience and I learned a lot! Yes, there were a lot of things that could've been done better, but isn't that always the way? Most importantly, what could be done better was on the side of vendor communication. Customer care was perfect! I'm exhausted, working a three day show with daylight savings happen in the middle was pretty harsh, but elated and more motivated than ever!

03/12/2016

Inside or outside? Such a difficult question! There are benefits and drawbacks to both.

For example, the Llano Earth Art Festival today was a rainy, soggy, dreary day (although I secretly enjoyed sitting in the rain, but I'm weird like that). The worst part is that customers don't want to come out in the rain, and vendors run a higher risk of product loss. An inside show can minimize that, but if it's raining really hard, most people avoid unnecessary driving. Having a market in Summer in Texas, inside, as long as it's climate controlled, can be much better for everyone involved!

However, the biggest obstacle to inside venues is that they do tend to be a bit off the beaten track. An outside market is easy for passers by to see and often they're in view of the main road. If customers have to travel too far out of their way, and it can be surprising to learn how far is too far (2 miles is too much for most), they simply won't spend the effort to even get to the market.

It's certainly a conundrum. So, I want to be totally up front with what I'm thinking for the LAB. Right now I'm looking at an outdoor market. Eventually, I'd love to move it indoors if we start having a good customer following who will actually make the market their destination, not a side trip. Anyway, it's a plan...of sorts. :)

03/11/2016

"Why would you ever want to run a craft market? Do you know how stressful that is?" Yes, I do. I want this because I want a market where artists can rest assured they are the focus and someone is fighting for them. I want a market where even in this unstable economy, it's not impossible for artists to cover their costs and hopefully make a profit. I want a market where both artists an consumers can relax and have fun. And maybe it's naive of me, but I believe I can make it happen. That is, if I can get it off the ground. I found a place, but it's $750 a day! Hmm...

PS If there's someone out there who's created a market and can give me a few pointers on the nitty gritty of getting started, I REALLY appreciate any help I can get!

03/10/2016

Well, it's been a while since I've posted here, but I'm still slightly obsessed. Trying to get started, though, has proven more difficult than I anticipated. However, I had a "brilliant" idea last night- start small! Yeah, I know, Earth shattering, right? So, I've just sent off an email to a few government offices in Llano asking what it would take to start a monthly craft market. Once I've got that started, it'll be an open call to local makers.

If you are an artist or crafter- handmade only!- get in now! Send me a message to be the first to get more information as it becomes available. Let's make this a success together!