The Fruit of my Labor

All of this has finally resulted in my first tomato of the season.

Last Class

My last class at Mobot was the Victorian Garden walk. Very interesting to learn about the origins of Victorian Gardens and the plans that went behind making our own version. This is the most traditional spot in the Victorian Garden and features a statue of Juno from the days of Henry Shaw.

Distraction

Made a big silver jewel ring, instead of working on what I should be doing.

New ring

Available in the shop!

Perks of the job.

At the Botanical Garden, I also work at the Little Shop Around the Corner, which is an upscale resale shop that raises money for the Garden. It's an interesting place because we get such a variety of things donated.
The best part of working there is that I can get first dibs on some cool stuff, like this fun quilt. I love the kitschy embroidery and it's entirely hand stitched!



Junebug likes it too.

Trails and Tribulations

I mentioned in a previous post that I tried a new display at my most recent craft show. I have struggled alot with craft show display for several reasons. First, my work is small, but not jewelry so I can't display it like jewelry, and copper can be kitschy if one is not careful. I also have some requirements for my displays, which are that they must be inexpensive, versatile, easy to transport and store, and easy to set-up/tear down. Of course, I would also like it to look good.

The first thing I tried were these folding screens that I bought from Store Supply Warehouse. They were inexpensive and easy to store/transport.

But they fell over in the wind too much. My main problem with them is that they simultaneously made my booth look cluttered, because you can see through them, and empty, because you can see through them.

For my next attempt, I used the screens in combination with pedestals and wall panels we built. This looked better, I thought, but the pedestals were a pain to assemble at the show and they were tippy. It was also difficult to hang the panels from the tent sides.

So this time I tried probably the most obvious solution that for some reason, I had never considered before. We used folding tables on risers, covered them with fabric and built small pedestal-like shelves for the table top to create levels. It was inexpensive, easy to set-up and take down, versatile, and the booth didn't look empty. I was pleased.

There will always be room for improvement, but I feel like we got alot closer to a solution with this display.

Circus Flora!

Last night N and I went to St. Louis's own Circus Flora, a not-for-profit, locally run circus that has been going on every June in St. Louis for 24 years. It was fantastic!

Above are the St. Louis Arches, a group of acrobats that run the only circus school in St. Louis.

This year's circus has the theme of Don Quixote. It really was everything a circus should be! If you live in St. Louis I hope you will help support this fantastic event.

*All photos taken from the Circus Flora website

More Awesomness

The other cool thing I got at the craft show this weekend, though this was not a trade, was this cute and funky bud vase by Pennsylvania artist Jake Johnson. I put some dried lavender and globe amaranth in it and it makes me happy.

Awesomness

So the craft show this weekend didn't break any sales records, most likely for anyone involved. But I did get to try out my new booth display and met some great people, including the super-adorable jewelry artist Janice Ho of Hannibal, Missouri. The best part is that she and I traded and I got the awesome earrings you see above and this fun necklace:


All in all, a successful weekend!

Craft Show!

I will be selling my copper metalwork this weekend at Webster Grove's Art and Air.

It is FREE to attend, begins Friday evening from 6 to 10 p.m., then Saturday 11 to 10 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. There's music, food, art and again, it's FREE!

Hope to see all my St. Louis friends there!