Maker Faire - October 18-19, 2008

[Jamie Rood]

First of all let me congratulate all our artists who participated and earned Art Of Texas an 'Editors Choice Award for Maker Faire 2008'!

The promoters were impressed by the 'phenomenal quality of our artwork and the great demos and attitude of our artist. Couple that with good overall sales and everyone appeared to have a great time - Mission Accomplished!

Although we still had that dust, the paved walkways and harder surface for some of us made things a lot better I believe. Our info area could have been better although we had the Art Of Texas info poster up with cards and the Art Of Texas' signs scattered about. Since I spent just about all day out there Friday setting up and left after 11p last [Sunday] night, I'll give myself a break - this time The promotion was more 'decentralized' with each artist handing out cards and telling visitors about our group. I even saw someone holding a card that Bonnie had given out in the robotics area (noticed the marker color that marked out the old dates).

I think unless the space is pretty different next year, we need to have an aisle between us instead of just a block with our backs to each other. There was a substantial differential in the average take home of artists on the outside facing aisle compared to the inside aisle (granted two of our best selling artists were on the outside-facing aisle).

Of course Michiel Rushing's fantastic demos were a draw and that coupled with his enthusiasm for Maker Faire I'm sure plays a central role in the organizer's fondness for our group.

I saw very happy people sitting around with Julia 'Pixie' Chambers and Tracy 'Crystal Tinsel' doing demonstrations.

And Kudos to artists who had some personal bests showing with our our group this weekend. I wont say too much more, but I saw some big grins down around Brandy 'You know who that was Pigsy?' Davis and Kyle 'Silversmith to the Stars' Gross



Thanks everyone - let's do this again soon - alright?

Attendees 9: Michiel Rushing, Jamie Rood, Pauline Jacobson, Kyle Gross (Stonesthrow), Heather Harris, Brandi Davis, Julia Cambers, Crystal Tinsel, Kathy Sahagian

Music: Jan Pochop

Overnight Security: Kerry Jaggers - who also polished Michiel's glass while on duty overnight Saturday

[Jamie Rood]

I may use this as the cover for our Fall 2008 Newsletter, but we'd have to be very careful about anything else promotional

[Bonnie]

I really missed showing with you guys this year. I tried to visit as much as I could and I handed out at least 100 cards to people up at the Robot Group area. I couldn't do much demoing and didn't sell this year...next year the kiddos will be old enough to have a sitter all weekend and I'll hopefully show with you guys again! Glad that the people I was handing cards to made it down to your ear. I totally agree that this year's maker's faire was ten times better than last years!

[Pauline Jacobson]

Probably not much need to hide the identity of our celebrity, it pops up in a Google search and it's all over the internet blogs today, including one from our own Jana only 1 day after the show - here's some links:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/1 ... ginny.html
http://www.janapochop.com/2008/10/maker ... stuff.html
http://belleandburger.blogspot.com/

Congratulations to Kyle! You are so deserving of a big sale, you are one of the most loyal members of our group, coming out week after week, sometimes making good sales, and sometimes not selling anything, but not giving up. That's what it takes, consistently being out there - you never know who's going to pop in and drop a big chunk of change on your art!

Georgina, check out the pictures on the belleandburger blog - he's wearing that thing he gave you to ship for him! It's a scream!

[lucybluestudio]

Yeah Kyle! Was glad to see you bragging Your stuff rocks and it should be in shops all across the country.

Wish I hadn't been all the way across the show barn from you guys but I think it was a pretty good show for everyone.

[Jamie Rood]

Visitor shots of Heather & I with video of me stretching canvas.

http://sybarite13.livejournal.com/22637.html

[Pauline Jacobson]

Where?

[Kathy Sahagian]

Well I did about as well as I did last year which was pretty good. Enrique and I worked hard all weekend playing show and tell and it was fun as well as hard work. The dust wasn't nearly as bad as last year and that had something to do with the walkway being paved and something to do with the winds. Great to see you all again, I've missed you. Kyle you certainly deserve the great weekend that you had. Bonnie, Margret is cute as a button. Great food again on friday for set up.

[Jamie Rood]

sorry - forgot to paste the link - here it is again

http://sybarite13.livejournal.com/22637.html

[Stones Throw Jewelry]

Here's the picture I am going to use for my newsletter.
Anybody recognize the magnets in Bill Murray's hands?

[lucybluestudio]

Are they Collin's? I know he bought one of her magnets...

Again, I'm soooo excited for you!

[Jamie Rood]

Yeh, Collin came by excited that he had bought one of her magnets.
Much better picture - didn't know you took that.

Although I do like Brandy's face in the one I snagged super-quick

[joycecook]

OK, folks -- I'm in for next year. It is wonderful that you all did great. Congratulations!

[Jamie Rood]

Added our ribbon to the website with a link to our group on the Maker Faire site

http://ArtOfTexas.com/

[Kathy Sahagian]

Hey, Bill Murray is a sport taking the fan photo and all. Did I mention that the editor for make magazine bought one of my seed necklaces with the mountain laurel and wild plum seed. It was fun as ever. Seems like whenever I have one of these shows I have a tooth problem right after, not fun, guess I'm going to Mexico again!