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Featured this month on the AdkNCcrafts.com home page - Tired Iron Sculptures and Valley Artisans Market
New Booth Spaces in downtown Burlington
Starting this year Craftproducers has
secured 20 exhibit spaces in the Burlington Town Center on the Church Street Pedestrian Mall for five weekends starting Nov. 23. Cost per space per weekend ranges from $300 to $400.
Spending Trends
According to the National Retail Federation survey of 7,837 consumers completed on Oct. 2-9, 2007, consumers will be increasing their expenditure amounts during the 2007 holiday season as compared to last year. On the average, they expect to spend on family $480 (+4.3%), on friends $113 (+9.9%), and on co-workers $62 (+10.9%). They will also be spending more on the following non-gift holiday items: candy/food $103 (+4.5%), decorations $70 (+6.7%), flowers $41 (+6.9%), and cards $38 (+6.4%). They plan to buy at the following types of stores: Discount store 68.4%, department store 58.2%, grocery store 44.6%, online 44.3%, clothing store 36.1%, electronics store 34.3%, specialty store 21.7%, catalog 20%, drugstore 19.1%, and craft/fabric store 17.4%.
NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli stated in a routine cash report that business tax revenues for the first half of the fiscal year were $93 million below forecast level. Revenues have exceeded projections every year over the last 12 years, except for the two fiscal years following the 2001 terrorist attacks. 10.29.07.
Color Trends and Color Matching Techniques
The Color Association’s fashion and home forecasts and the Pantone View Color Planner, used as guides by industries as varied as cosmetics and automative, can be useful for artisans developing and/or revamping product lines. The Color Association’s three-year color forecasts (as of January 7, 2007) were; for 2007, pearl gray and slate blue for fashion and pewter gray and heritage brown for the home; for 2008, peacock blue and apricot for fashion and sea glass blue and lacquer red for the home; and for 2009, emerald green and antique gold for fashion and vineyard green and tamarind orange for the home.
The PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE three-book set (coated, uncoated and matte) depicting some 1,000 plus colors, at $125, is probably the most reasonably priced collection of color swatches available. There are a number of helpful articles that non-members can access posted on the left of the shopping pages, ie., how to select complimentary colors for a flyer starting out with the colors found in the photo.
The Color Association's resources can only be accessed by members ($600 fee).
Croghan Candy Kitchen Expands to Carthage Fine Chocolates
In June 2006, Jeff and Rise Roose expanded their Croghan Candy Kitchen open since 1992, to add a second shop, Carthage Fine Chocolates. The expansion provides them, in addition to the new storefront, additional manufacturing space to make the 30 handmade chocolates sold in their shops and to some 25 wholesale and corporate customers and through mail order, to all 50 states. They use about
200 pounds of bulk chocolate a week. Their caramel treats are their most popular items. Absolutely Business, July 2007, p. 27.
Oldest Artisans Cooperative in Region, Maybe Country
For 26 years, a group of regional artists have owned and operated their own gallery The Valley Artisans Market (VAM). It is on the first floor of Hubbard Hall in Cambridge just to the east of Saratoga Springs. There are currently 26 members who each are required to take a shift and work on a committee. They do not have to pay a membership fee. "For the visitor, Valley Artisans is a kaleidoscope of fine art and craft, with original works by more than 50 individual artists." Those who are not members sell their work on consignment.
Sales have increased over the years with fine craft being the reason for their sales success. October through December are their busiest months. One of their most popular events, the 17th annual Pottery Seconds Sale is held on the third Saturday of August. Beginning on Nov. 16th, the members’ holiday show features handmade Christmas ornaments and one-of-a-kind gifts. VAM collects a commission on every sale which pays for the rent, electricity, phone bills and marketing. The Daily Gazette, August 16, 2007. Life & Arts, p. D1.
Printed Woodworkers Showcase Available at TAUNY
Carvers, Turners and Burners: A Showcase of North Country Woodwork produced by TAUNY and Jill Breit, features the work of 19 woodworking businesses from the region; decoys by Robert Baker and Rhonda Thompson, trucks by Sharon and Joseph Benesch (long time exhibitors at Buyer Days, logging toys by Sheila and Ed Carpenter, sculpted bowls by Dave Crosby, turned bowls by William Drinkwine, chainsaw animals by Allen Dupree, intarsia portraits of Native Americans and animals by Judy Green, carvings of animals by Janet Greenhill, animal and bird carvings by Mike Helmer, decoys by Bob Jones, paddles and model boat building by David Kavner, chainsaw carvings of animals by Terry McKendree, souvenir paddles by John Miller III, bird carvings by Don Morley, carvings by Ronald Riley, storage pieces by Bill Smithers, walking sticks by Bob Taillon, decoys by Clint Taylor, carving by Jack Taylor, and hand turned items by Steve Weldon.
The funding from the Northern Forest Partnership program created this brochure booklet of descriptions with each wood carver’s work photographed in color on the front panel and in the back, the wood carvers each are photographed holding one of their pieces. Also included on the back panel is their contact information with a brief description of how they became interested in wood, the woods they use and what product lines they create. A complementary exhibit at TAUNY featuring several works by each of the above woodworkers runs through November 24.
Renowned Costume Designer Lives and Works in Lake Placid
Parmelee Welles Tolkan, probably one of the most well-known Broadway costume painters of our time, has been working out of the Lake Placid Center of the Arts since 1987. Tolkan is now creating, by hand, costumes for the Tony award winning "Lion King," "Little Mermaid," Radio City Music Hall’s 75 year old "Christmas Spectacular", and Mel Brook's musical "Young Frankenstein."Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Oct. 27, 2007
Adirondack Art Moves to Larger Space
Adirondack Art is relocating from their present site in Barneveld, NY to a new, larger facility just up the road. The space has been renovated inside and out, and was ready for use in late October, 2007.
Sign up for Regional Promotional Publication for Shops and Studios by Nov. 31 and Save
The Art, Crafts and Foods (ACF) Driving Tour Guide, according to a recent survey of participants, seems to work the best for those who have a mix of product lines and media and good signage. This year, in order to submit ACF participant descriptions in a timely manner to ILNY, AmericanStyle and other promotional outlets which appeal to visitors shopping for handmade, Art, Crafts and Foods will only be accepting applications until December 31.
Intricate Bas Relief Wood Carvings Attract Clients Nationwide
Mike Trivieri’s intricate bas relief wood carvings, usually depicting nature in the North Country have, via word-of-mouth, attracted a nationwide high-end clientele to Tupper Lake. His latest piece, which he shipped out recently, is an oak table more than 10 feet long. The customer from the Carolinas wanted it engraved with detailed carvings of dozens of fish, starfish, shellfish and seaweed, all life found in the waters surrounding the island he lives on. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Oct. 17, 2007
PhotoShelter Offers Online Market for Photographers
PhotoShelter Inc. launches the PhotoShelter Collection — the first online marketplace to provide professional and amateur photographers an opportunity to sell their images to commercial buyers. The PhotoShelter Collection delivers a simple sales platform, fair prices, and photo editors to professional photographers and Flickr users. Photographers receive 70% of sales which are completely transparent. Good reviews! Todd Bissonette’s blog links, Sept. 18, 2007.
New and Relocated Shops and Studios in St. Lawrence County
The 20th annual Artists’ Studio Tour organized by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council for the first weekend in November showcased a number of new and relocated businesses. Wayne Brown, Tired Iron Sculptures has relocated from the Hudson Valley to Heuvelton, Irja Boden, Clay Shed, has moved from Dexter, in the Thousand Islands, to Colton, and Tim Strong and Fred Peryer, The Birch Bark Bookshop/Rustick Creations, 315.265.4350, has moved into a second location, upstairs at Evans and White’s in Potsdam. Two shops which have opened in the last two years to sell regionally made product are the Adirondack Artisans (50 artists) in South Colton, 315.262.2117 and the Artworks Gallery Gift Shop (50 artists) in Waddington, 315.388.4000. The St. Lawrence Co. Arts Council (150 artists), Potsdam, welcomes inquiries by new artists from across the Adirondack North Country region.
Over 1,800 craftspeople, food producers, retailers and service organizations receive the Adirondack North Country Association’s news and announcements. Newsletter compiled and edited by Nadia Korths, Craft Programs Coordinator/ANCA. Email korths@northnet.org with your news. Look for it in future e-newsletters and, inbetween newsletters, at the .
AdkNCcrafts.com is your regional crafts and retailer resource portal!
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