This post is about something I'm not very good at: making a schedule. I've been doing okay with this blog but I did miss Monday's post this week is a good example of this.

I've decided on using Google Calendar for a couple reasons, one is that since it's web based I can access it from both of my computers. The other reason is that there is a firefox extension called Google Calendar Notifier that will pop up reminders of my events for me and since I've got firefox open most of the day this is a good idea.

So why the schedule?

Well if you are good at remembering to do things you may not need one but if you have a lot to do, a less than stellar memory, or are easily distractable (my problem) you need one. I've avoided doing a formal schedule for a while because I don't like them but as Noadi's Art has grown it's become clear to me that like it or not I need one.

What sort of things are going on my schedule?

Posting for the Handmade Business Blog has entries for the 3 posts I do each week, art shows, etc. Stuff like that is pretty obvious. A few less obvious things are scheduling a day for contacting blogs about featuring my work, times for Etsy Virtual Labs chats that I'd like to attend, goals that I want to achieve like maybe X number of sales.



Sorry this was a bit of a short post this week, I'm having a bit of writer's block lately. If you have any suggestions please leave a comment in the Suggestions thread.

I really like the combination of textures here with the book and dried plants.

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Next week things will be back to normal with posting because I will be done with art shows for a bit. Since I don't have time to write a long post this week I pulled up a few great videos from YouTube.

This is something I did just on a whim this weekend at the art show. I draped a couple of my bracelets over large sea shells and it really looked amazing.

A day early this week so I can spend tomorrow packing up for my art show.

I like the softness of the photo with the cute packaging. The ribbons are such a great touch.

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Just a short post today, I'm preparing to do two art fairs in two weeks so I'm incredibly busy. Since I'm working on the show preparations I thought I'd share some ideas to make shows go smoother.

• If you're selling jewelry or other wearables have a mirror handy, people want to see how something will look on them.
• Prepare your packaging ahead of time. I've pre-filled paper bags with my brochure and a business card, the fabric gift bags I use all have a little bit of tulle stuffed inside, and I have pieces of bubblewrap cut to the sizes I use most. I can pack up a sale in just a few seconds.
  
• Have a full cooler of stuff to eat and drink, especially lots of fluids so you don't get dehydrated on a hot day.
• Do a test run setting up your display, take your time to work out the details so the day of the show you can set up quickly.
• Take note of important locations for your own use and to give directions. Bathrooms of course, also the location of the organizers, food vendors, and the nearest ATM. Hopefully you won't need them but also find out where security and/or medical personnel are.
• If the show is likely to have parents with children in tow, consider having some small items like bookmarks for $1 that kids can buy for themselves. You won't make much money off them but it's worth it for the smiles.
  

Here's a collection of links to sites where you can find craft shows to participate in.

State Arts Sites - Your state likely has an arts commission or similar agency to help out artists, most also have event calenders to help you out.

Indie Craft Shows - Indie Craft Shows is a directory of indepedently-run craft shows featuring handmade goods.

Festival Network Online - Find music festivals, craft shows, art festivals & fairs in the US and Canada

CraftLister - EventLister.com lists 50,000+ events year

Lovely use of a model.

Submit your photos for consideration as a Weekly Inspiration by adding them to the Flickr Group.

As promised here are two DIY displays that are very easy to make with just a few tools and materials that are easy to find. I'm using these for the two upcoming art fairs that I'm doing.

Fish Bowl Display

I made this display for my hair sticks but it could be adapted to display other items.

Materials:
Small glass fishbowls or votive bowls
Floral styrofoam (the dense kind you used in gradeschool not the soft kind that absorbs water)
Pebbles
Seashells

Tools:
Hot glue gun
Pencil

Step 1: Give the bowls a good wash, even brand new ones probably sat on a store shelf for a while gathering dust.
Step 2: Hot glue the piece of styrofoam into the bottom of the bowl. Allow the glue time to cool.
Step 3: Carefully fill around the foam with pebbles. I used some lovely moss green ones I found in the floral department. If you are collecting pebbles yourself try around a stream or river to get nice smooth ones and give them a good wash before using them.
Step 4: Decorate around the top with sea shells.
Step 5: Using the item you're displaying or a sharp pencil poke evenly spaced holes in the foam. I put some on the outside edge of the foam at an angle for more visual interest.

Variations:

• Get some of those plastic card holders for flower arrangements and stick those in the foam to display small prints or cards
• For a garden/woodland theme use pebbles and top with moss instead of shells
• Use glass marbles in colors that compliment for work for a more sparkley fanciful look

Frame Trays

Materials:
Cheap yardsale picture frames
Spray paint
Cardboard (use the backing for the frame if it still has it)
Flannel or other thick fabric

Tools:
Scissors
Newspaper, drop cloth, etc.
White glue
Hot glue gun

Instructions:
Step 1: Remove glass and cardboard backing from the frames.
Step 2: Taking the frames and your newspaper or drop cloth outside, spray paint them the color of your choice. This may take 2-3 coats of paint. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Step 3: Cut the fabric to fit the frame backing. Run white glue along the edges of the backing and glue to the back side of the fabric. Allow to dry.
Step 4: Apply hot glue around the inside edge of the back of the frame and insert the fabric covered backing. Once cool you have an attractive display try for your jewelry.

Tip: Use a small block of wood under the top of the frame to tilt it rather than laying flat. If you have several frames you can do display them at different tilt angles.

My long post for Wednesday is going to be how I made some pretty displays for my art show booth. So to lead up to that here are some links to other ways to make your own displays.

Indie Craft Shows - DIY Displays: An ongoing series of posts with display ideas such as a greeting card earring display, DIT display risers, and using a vintage truck to make a jewelry display.
Ring Display - Using a wooden tray, soft foam, and fabric.
Pendant Display - Cute idea using pieces of tile
Wire Earing Display - Made larger and with hooks rather than loops it could be used for bracelets, necklaces, etc.

And a few quick ideas for re-purposing objects as displays I've come up with:

• Use terra-cotta pots as risers.
• Lazy susans make nice displays that people can rotate
• Small wire trashcans can be flipped upside down and used to hang earrings, ornaments, etc.tura
• Large sea shells can be used to hold business cards or small items (I use this one)
• Branches can be used to hang items like necklaces
• Baskets come in so many sizes you can find them to hold almost anything from small jewelry items to large prints.
• Connect 3 old doors together with hinges (think folding screen) and use for hanging paintings, frames photos, etc. I got this idea from the Shy, Novice, and Closeted Art Show

For more inspiration here's the Show Me Your Booths Flickr group