crafting the small business

crafting the small business is a 9-week series of panel event sessions that cover a wide range of topics focusing on small businesses, namely the handmade side of things. organized the fabulous maker works, the series meets every thursday night in ann arbor from june 7- august 2. each event session covers a different topic hosted by local crafters and small business owners, and features panels and hands-on workshops.

this is a wonderful resource for artists looking to make the next step, or who are in the midst of running a small craft business and need some direction. it's also a great opportunity to check out the maker works space! registration for crafting the small business sessions is required and you can do so anytime. 

session topics include:

• visioning 
• pricing and revenue 
• your marketing toolbox 
• art of giving great service 
• pop up events and shows 
• photography and styling 
• into the online marketplace 
• the brick and mortar store 
• ethics of handmade: taxes and insurance

argyle sighting, lake style

the seasons are doing amazing things! which means it's time to hang out at the lake in the sunshine, and frolick on the beach with small cute things. this past weekend featured some ARGYLE sported by my nephew. (remember argyle sightings?)

oh, and just for fun, here's his adorable new puppy daisy, on her first boat ride. she looks really enthused!

fun things that start with F

the ann arbor film festival! this year was extra special because it was the 50th anniversary of america's oldest experimental film festival. i went several times, as per usual. it's held at the historic michigan theater, and opening night is always quite the event.

foolmoon! in its second year, this evening event is the friday before festifools, and happens downtown. folks build luminaries during the month leading up to it. the night of the event, they start parading from one of three "constellation points" and meet up downtown for a night of music and drinks and dancing and LUMINARIES.

Festifools! this was the 6th annual parade, which happens the first sunday in april. it's a raucus event filled with foolishness and GIANT puppets that parade down main st. everyone is invited to participate. this was my 4th year leading a bunch of robots in the parade.

it is entirely too much fun having such great events happening in town!
and all in the same week!

local spring shows

it's that time of year! spring craft fair season! birds tweet, grass starts to green, buds bloom, and crafters come out of a post-winter craft fair hibernation to bring their handmade goods on the road. while dang argyle won't be participating in any spring shows (we're on a break), there are some good ones in SE michigan to put on your calendar:

whip stitch art & craft fair

april 15

corner brewery

ypsilanti, mi

craft revival 

may 12

the loving touch

ferndale, mi

 (cute poster design by sloe gin fizz!)

flint handmade spring craft market

may 5

masonic temple

flint, mi

tiny cross stitch for me

a few years ago i started a cross-stitch camera series based on some of the cameras that i own. thanks to a recent staff art exhibit, i finally had the motivation to make another piece, so i could submit a triptic. i stitched up the ansco shur-shot jr. now i'm trying to decide what camera to make next!

winter break & occupying love

hello dangsters! it's been a while. i suppose the dang and the argyle have been on winter break. working on personal projects and magical wintery happenings.

one beautiful thing that happened recently was a fancy dinner celebrating the fall wedding of two friends. my talented friend olivia baked a cake in their honor, and created a cake topper cross-stitch piece of the happy couple. how great is that? (as a vegan, i did not consume said cake, but everyone else was raving about it. because olivia is a fabulous baker.)

in addition to the cross stitch, she also created paper flowers and hung bunting to create a beautiful wedding decor to fill a small fancy dinner party with the perfect ambiance.

i too have been working on some cross-stitch again, finally! i'll post the final project when completed.

*there may or may not have been too much wine consumed. there may or may not have been an "occupy the loft" portion of the evening.

DIYpsi recap

last weekend was our final craft fair of the year... DIYpsi at corner brewery in ypsilanti. what a fun show! after scrambling all week to restock the dang goods to have plenty of new goodies at the show, the show was somewhat low key and a super good time. it was great neighboring with heather of bettula, nicole of sloe gin fizz, and courtney of nests. the weekend was a wonderful end to a great crafty year! the last show of the year is always bittersweet, but i'll take it- as there's christmas stuff to prepare for.

there was a fabulous group of 35 local vendors, filling the place with handmade goods and christmas cheer. 

i was SUPER excited that my local favorites, the lunch room, was selling their delicious vegan food there. i consumed many spring rolls, corn chowder, cookies, and hot chocolate over the course of the weekend! 

++++

a bunch of new goods have been added to the dang shop! check 'em out for that last minute gift.