September Meeting Results

Up for vote was whether or not Artisans of Houston will continue, in response to low interest in the last year. The result is that it will not, so this blog will most likely have no more updates and the group will have no more meetings.

Thank you for your interest and participation in the past, and good luck to everyone in the future!

July Meeting Notes

Sorry for the delay. July's meeting was sparsely attended (6 people). We discussed technology questions, mostly how things work on Etsy, and off topic subjects since there weren't many people asking questions. I left a little early so don't know if next meeting time was discussed, but perhaps plan for third Wednesday again? That will be August 17th. More info to be posted later.

Upcoming meeting topics are:

August: wholesale and consignment selling: how to do it and how to find opportunities. A number of our group members have experience with this and will be contributing their valuable insights! Will include how to market toward wholesalers and consignment stores.

September: Amanda Howe, a new member and amateur photographer, will be speaking on the topic of photographing your items, using a camera in general, and what to do with the photos after you take them.

If we're going to have a show, the planning needs to be happening soon! I have no information on that either, so more posts will probably be coming about that. Looks like the date is set for October 22, tentatively at Bethany Christian Church, the same place as last year.

AOH June Meeting Notes

AOH MEETING NOTES JUNE 15th

We had another close to record breaking attendance at the June meeting! With several new members and some returning newish members we had a really busy and productive couple of hours.

Mitch Cohen (owner http://FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com,
stopped in, much to our surprise and delight. He suggested we could go to www.gravyballs.com to sign up for his mailing list with Art Valet.

There were lots of questions and answers for our topic of Marketing our Business through Online Social Media.

Here are a few of the suggestions:
1. Start with two social media (instead of several) such as Facebook or Twitter and a blogspot or a newsletter format such as Constant Constant. Other suggested sites: The Hive – artisans from around - and the Tumblr (microblogging).

2. Utillize the widgets such as Google Analytics on Etsy, Open Graph (open posting) on Etsy, Feed Burner RSS which sends auto emails with real time comments/updates, QR code on Smart Phone (I hope I got that right).

3. Put yourself out there through your blogs, Facebook, Twitter, newsletters, etc. by showing who you are, what your interests are.

4. Various ways to do this: sharing experiences, giving how-to’s with your area of expertise, sharing your successes and failures, networking by involvment in other’s sites/blogs, promoting and showing interest in and promoting other’s businesses, offering/selling e-books. Many people will follow a blog which holds their interest: ex. Cat lovers, travel, social concerns, photography. For those who are allergic to blogging there are those who can be bought to do it for you. I think I fall into that category!

Thanks Amanda Howe, a professional in Social Media, for your very helpful advice and concrete ideas, and those other’s who were helpful.

We voted to have our Fall Show on October 22. I’ve reserved, tentatively, Bethany Christian Church (where we had it in 2010) for this date. If we decide on another place at the next meeting, I’ll cancel right away so as not to inconvenience Bethany. Café Boeme was suggested by several people to be preferable to a church setting – one reason being that the restaurant has their own following which translated into a fairly reliable art show attendees. One or more artisan at the meeting has experienced a successful art show at Café Boeme. Also the location is in an artsy area where there tend to be more art followers and buyers. Valerie will report on this possibility. Other places mentioned for the same reasons above: Griff’s Shenanigans Café, Antidote, Down House, Kitchen Incubator. If anyone else has a strong possibility for a prospective location it needs to be brought forward with details and availability at our July meeting.

Our next meeting will be Wed. July 20th at (again – Yay) The Black Labradore on Montrose, 7:00.

The Topic will be Technical/Computer help for your Online Business. The Black Lab has WIFI so bring your laptops, notebooks, I-Pads so we can be hands-on. If you don’t feel you need help please come to help others and to give input about our October Show! Examples of what we can learn/teach at the July meeting can be found above under Number 2.

Special AOH May Meeting with Guest Speaker: Mitch Cohen!

The fabulous Mitch Cohen, Manager and Founder of the First Saturday Arts Market (FSAM), will be joining us at our May Meeting!

Mitch will be there to talk about his future plans for the FSAM(http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/), and for world art domination! Don't miss this chance to ask his advice, and to hear some great anecdotes from FSAM years past and present...

Meeting Information:

Tuesday, 17 May 2011
7-9:00 pm

Cafe Express Uptown Park
1101 Uptown Park Blvd (Galleria area)
Houston, TX 77056

We generally gather in the side room to the left as you're facing the ordering/serving counter. This is an informal meeting, and you are of course welcome to eat- we encourage it!

Here is the link to the Facebook Invitation:https://www.facebook.com/culturedcrittercollective#!/event.php?eid=142981925772958

Guest Speaker at our May AOH Meeting!

Great news everyone!

Mitch Cohen, Founder and Manager of the First Saturday Arts Market, has agreed to be our featured speaker at the next Artisans of Houston Meeting. Please save the date and time:

Tuesday, 17 May 2011 from 7-9:00 pm. Location is TBA- more info soon!

April Meeting Reminder

The April meeting of Artisans of Houston will be held at Uptown Cafe Express, April 19th at 7:00 p.m. We generally gather in the side room to the left as you're facing the ordering/serving counter. Hope you can join us. If this will be your first Artisans meeting, reading the post entitled Artisans 101 will be helpful.

We do not usually make an actual reservation with Cafe Express, so employees there are unlikely to be able to give you information about our meeting - it doesn't mean we won't be there!

CAFE EXPRESS
April 19th
7:00 pm
1101 Uptown Park
In Uptown Galleria area.

March 15th Meeting Reminder

The March meeting of Artisans of Houston will be held at Uptown Cafe Express, March 15th at 7:00 p.m. We generally gather in the side room to the left as you're facing the ordering/serving counter. Hope you can join us. If this will be your first Artisans meeting, reading the post entitled Artisans 101 will be helpful.

We do not usually make an actual reservation with Cafe Express, so employees there are unlikely to be able to give you information about our meeting - it doesn't mean we won't be there!

CAFE EXPRESS
March 15th
7:00 pm
1101 Uptown Park
In Uptown Galleria area.

If you have an etsy shop, and have joined our team inside etsy, the minutes of the last meeting have been posted in the discussion area. Thanks, Pam!

If this will be your first meeting with the Artisans group, please read the post Artisans of Houston 101 linked from the top of the right sidebar to be better ready for the meeting.

February Meeting Reminder

The February meeting of Artisans of Houston will be held at Uptown Cafe Express, February 15th at 7:00 p.m. We generally gather in the side room to the left as you're facing the ordering/serving counter. Hope you can join us. If this will be your first Artisans meeting, reading the post entitled Artisans 101 will be helpful.

We do not usually make an actual reservation with Cafe Express, so employees there are unlikely to be able to give you information about our meeting - it doesn't mean we won't be there!

CAFE EXPRESS
February 15th
7:00 pm
1101 Uptown Park
In Uptown Galleria area.

Meeting Reminder for January 18th 2010

January meeting for Artisans will be held at Uptown Cafe Express, January 18th at 7:00 p.m. We generally gather in the smaller room to the side of the restaurant. Hope you can join us. If this will be your first Artisans meeting, reading the post entitled Artisans 101 will be helpful. We are returning to our original location. Many of us eat a meal during the meeting. Don't worry if you are late arriving. Be sure to sign the sign-in sheet, so that we can get your email address.

CAFE EXPRESS
7:00 pm
1101 Uptown Park
713-963-9222
77056 - In Uptown Galleria area.

New Team Page on Etsy ~ Link to current team

http://www.etsy.com/teams/5517/artisans-of-houston

Links to our team page on Etsy, so you can see current members shops. We are always interested in finding new members for our team, or vendors who don't wish to join the team, but live in the area. We are currently in the early stages of developing a show for this spring and next fall.

To join our team page on Etsy, you must have attended at least one meeting, and paid your yearly dues($25.00). These dues help us to have the operating funds necessary to pay for the facility, and buy insurance for the events. We do give team members a reduced fee for booths at our shows.

November Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 16

Our next meeting is Tuesday, the 16th, at 7pm at the Forum.
777 N Post Oak Rd
Houston, TX 77024

map

Here are the more detailed directions:
Once you turn into the driveway of the Forum, drive straight and pass a red building on the left and a small white building on the right. After that is a parking garage and a parking lot - the garage gate sometimes does not work, so parking in the lot seems better. The meeting is in the red building, on the fifth floor in the room called the Bistro (immediately outside of the elevators). The person at the front desk where you sign in can direct you as well, just tell them you're there for Artisans of Houston. Please feel free to bring things to show around!

We will be discussing the show that we had in October.

A Successful Show!

Yesterday, October 23rd was our second annual A FAIR TO REMEMBER. It was a beautiful day, we had a nice turnout, and the Fellowship Hall at Bethany Christian Church was filled with happy Artisans and shoppers. Our miniteam is very eclectic, with jewelers, graphics designers, party ware banners, mobiles, monsters, apparel for women and children. Reclaimed and Recycled part pieces, Handmade pens and boxes, and fiber arts...

The staff at Bethany did a great job assisting us get ready for the show, and were super to work with. A number of vendors donated items to the silent auction held by the school, so we hope that will add to the items offered this year. Last year we auctioned off chances at baskets at our other church and raised a bit over $100. for their youth ministry. This year items donated to the silent auction were worth more in their value, so how much they actually raise will depend on the bidders. :)

A special thanks to Doug Threeton, who was our contact at the church. He was a pleasure to work with! Celina our on the day of custodian, fulfilled every request, and did a great job too. If you were one of our shoppers at the Fair, we hope you'll look for our next A FAIR TO REMEMBER. First word of it, will appear here on this blog. We hope you'll come back to see us again, and tell your friends to come too.

Second Annual Artisans of Houston Show

Our second annual show, A Fair to Remember, will be on Saturday, October 23rd, at Bethany Christian Church from 10am t0 3pm.

All information posted about the show can be seen by clicking here.

Artisans Confirmed For our Show

A great day to get an early start on your Holiday Shopping! We hope to see you there!

www.amaria.etsy.com/
www.doodlink.etsy.com
www.vmgceramics.etsy.com
www.serendipityrose.etsy.com
www.acute-accent.com
www.cottoneyedjo.etsy.com
www.ahhwow.etsy.com
www.DVineLittleDivas.etsy.com
www.TatusWelle.etsy.com
www.armedwithstyle.com/
www.starcatdesigns.com
www.frilledandfeathered.com/

We have other Artisans as well,
Ginnie Murphy Jewelry
Kay Herndon Jewelry
Nan Stombaugh Jewelry
Emily Hall Stationary and greeting cards
Jenifer Kirby Baby and Children's Clothing
Melissa Quinones Everyday Accents
Jerry Harmsen Handmade pens and toys
Natthan Mack Discovery Green Sunday Market - Recycled Art

Next meeting of Artisans of Houston is October 19th! Show on 23rd!

The Forum, an assisted living center located right at the intersection of I-10 and 610. Map here:

October 19th, 7 pm in the Bistro Room at the forum. We will be discussing final planning for the show on Saturday, October 23rd. If you are a vendor at the show, who is considering joining, this would be a great meeting to come to.

Here are the more detailed directions:
Once you turn into the driveway of the Forum, drive straight and pass a red building on the left and a small white building on the right. After that is a parking garage and a parking lot - the garage gate sometimes does not work, so parking in the lot seems better. The meeting is in the red building, on the fifth floor in the room called the Bistro (immediately outside of the elevators). The person at the front desk where you sign in can direct you as well, just tell them you're there for Artisans of Houston. Please feel free to bring things to show around!

September Meeting Reminder

Our next meeting is this Tuesday, the 21st, at 7pm at the Forum.

Here are the more detailed directions:
Once you turn into the driveway of the Forum, drive straight and pass a red building on the left and a small white building on the right. After that is a parking garage and a parking lot - the garage gate sometimes does not work, so parking in the lot seems better. The meeting is in the red building, on the fifth floor in the room called the Bistro (immediately outside of the elevators). The person at the front desk where you sign in can direct you as well, just tell them you're there for Artisans of Houston. Please feel free to bring things to show around!

We will be discussing the upcoming show.

Forms and Information for Show

Here are the Registration form, the Rules and Information document, and the promotional flier (internet sized) for the Fall 2010 A Fair to Remember!

Registration Form (.pdf)

Rules and Information Document (.pdf)

Promotional Flier (.jpg)

Inquiries may be directed to artisansofhouston [at] gmail.com

Press Release: 2010 A Fair to Remember

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday August 28, 2010
Artisans of Houston presents: A Fair to Remember
Contact: artisansofhouston [at] gmail.com
HOUSTON, TX


Come shop early for all of your holiday gifts at the 2nd Annual "A Fair to Remember", hosted by the Artisans of Houston.

This artisan market extravaganza will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at a new location: Bethany Christian Church, at 3223 Westheimer Road between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway, next to Lamar High School. The parking lot is behind the church off Bammel Lane.

Both admission and parking for this event are free. Participating artisans will be donating some of their handmade creations for silent auction to the church.

All items for this event have been handmade by the artisans, and include: fiber arts, handbags, jewelry, mixed media art, paintings, photography, sculpture, stationary, stained glass, wallets, decor, and more.

Artisans of Houston is a group of artists and crafters in the Greater Houston Area. Members of the group have individual online shops on sites such as Etsy.com and sell their handmade goods at shows throughout Texas and the United States.

Don’t miss it!

Next meeting of Houston Artisans is scheduled for August! :)

The Forum, an assisted living center located right at the intersection of I-10 and 610. Map here:

We will be announcing information about the date and location of our fall show after that meeting, and discussing it there. So if you attend, you will be among the first to know. We have adopted some bylaws, which will make it possible for our group to be a non profit. This has many advantages to us as a group and as individual members.

Third Tuesdays in August(17), September, October, and December will begin at 7:00 pm at:

The Forum
777 N Post Oak Rd
Houston, TX 77024

We are allowed to bring food in to this location, but it is not a restaurant, so brown bag or drive through on the way. :) After a long summer break, we'll all enjoy seeing each other again. Be sure to bring along new creations to share after the business portion of the meeting is completed. We will begin planning for the fall show, which will be at a great location!

If this is your first meeting to attend, please read the Artisans of Houston 101 post so you can have an idea of how the meetings run. You do not need a personal invitation from a current officer or member if you are a Houston area artist or artisan with or without an Etsy shop.

Look Outside the Box!

Good morning all! My Part 2 article about the amazing artist, Deb Hil is up and this one is about her studio! Yall will LOVE it!!! The main picture was donated my a wood artist where the box is all wood as well as the ribbon!!! I sure do hope yall mosey on over there and I'm leaving yall a link where you can go directly to the comment section. I had so much fun making this article and going on location. I felt like Alice in Wonderland, it's that gorgeous!!!
The link is:
http://www.indiesmiles.com/think-outside-of-the-box-part-2/#respond
Happy reading and visualizing!
Linda :)