Another art filled weekend.....

This Fall sure has been busy with fun art events to attend! Kristen and I enjoyed a full Friday night and Saturday this past weekend!

Friday night was Battle Creek's annual Fall into the Arts. Even though our downtown is still undergoing it's major renovation, it was still possible to make it to all of the stops (businesses) that were featuring artists. Surprisingly, the weather turned out to be very pleasant too since we had feared it was going to rain all day. We had a great time meeting and chatting with people - some newly met and some familiar acquaintances.

We have to remember to order some cards from The Candlewood Grove. We loved their stained glass drawings - check out the peacock!

I got Richard a cute car book by Hot Rod artist Chad Lampert.

Our very own Binder Park Zoo was represented with some very unusual artists - the animals! Many of the animals are having fun walking through paint and making abstract prints. I asked if any of their peacocks did any work and unfortunately, they did not. I told them I sure would buy one if they did! Since my husband loves goats, I got him this cool piece. The colors in person are a lot better than this picture shows - lots of metallic hues, and even some goat hair! What a unique gift!
Jewelry artist Tracy Bell, creates with copper, glass and other recycled items. Check out her blog here, where you can see her beautiful table from Friday night, modeled after that popular display setup I've come across on Pinterest a few times. I bought one of her little leather bound book pendants. I've long admired these when I have seen them at Anthropologie and Etsy, and I love her little button closure. I plan to add a few more charms to personalize it. I already have an ink pen tip charm that I am thinking of since I love to build on a theme when it comes to jewelry.
Saturday, I had the opportunity to have a booth at a new event called Arts & Eats: A backroads tour of art, food and farms. I was at one of the stops - the Gilmore Car Museum - with other artists from The Art Center of Battle Creek. I am very familiar with Gilmore, as we make it out there several times a summer for different car shows and events. Here is the view from behind my booth, in one of the buildings we were in. Too bad Jon was out of town and couldn't enjoy it..... Kristen was such a big help to me all day - I couldn't have done it without her since we had Richard with us.

Here's a view from the front of my table (darn wrinkled fabrics). I packed light, due to my circumstances, and planned to have everything on one table. It was a slow day, but we did sell a few things and I made a good contact with the gift shop manager so there's a possibility of getting some of my automotive themed pieces in there. As with any first year event, it will take a while to build it up. I am interested to hear feedback from other locations on the tour.

I debuted my vintage suitcase display. This is my Mom's luggage that I brought back with me from Wisconsin. There is a larger suitcase, this one, and a shoe bag all in magnificent olive green! She got the set from her parents as a graduation gift. I remember it going all over with us when we traveled when I was young. I got to use this case in particular for our annual trips to Spider Lake in Hayward, WI.

In the week leading up to the show, I played around with how I was going to hang necklaces from the top. I didn't want to damage the material at all. I remembered these rings with clips we found in our basement when we moved into our house, meant for window treatments. I had always wanted to use them for a jewelry display, and had always envisioned attaching a rod to one of my old doors and having them all hang. But since I've never done that, they were perfect to turn upside down and clip onto the fabric ruffle lining. Then I just hooked the necklaces through the rings. I laid a wood tray in the bottom for more necklaces. Now that I am looking at my table, I have both of my parents represented - my Dad's old toolbox, and Mom's suitcase! And the cool thing about both pieces is that they can be packed with items to travel to the shows!

Here is Jennie Hepler-Taken's of The Prim Pumpkin with her beautiful art dolls! I was so excited to take a new pumpkin home with me - you'll see her further down.

Here is Jennie's new husband Joe, demonstrating his glass blowing. I could sit and watch forever!

And without further ado, here is my new lady making herself comfortable among the different bottles of potion on my dining room table, all ready for Halloween! Once I got her home, I kept discovering new little details!

She came with a bottle of arsenic.......

...... and upon her dress is says "and old lace"..........

She sits upon a vintage teapot, with the lid serving as her hat!

I just adore her face!

Whew! We are full filled, but exhausted from our adventures!