No. NY Vendor-Recommended Craft Shows

Thank's to Terra's Chocolate Treats (name it - they'll dip it: 518.483.4431) and Nana's Creations (variety of crafts: 518.358.4192) for taking the time to recommend the following shows to other craftspeople. These shows are established with both good traffic and a large number of vendors.

Shows are sorted by date:

Last Sat of Oct/lst Sat of Nov. The Fort Drum Officers’ Spouses’ Club hosts its 23th Annual Craft and Antique Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Plains Physical Fitness Center. Admission is $4; children 5-11, $1, and 4 and younger, free. 70 vendors. Craft Fair Vendor Application P.O. Box 327 Fort Drum, NY 13602oscfair@yahoo.comPhone: 315-628-5407 or 315-519-1161

Nov. 1st 9:00a -4:00pm 23rd Annual Craft Fair The Jefferson Community College Women’s Organization (JCCWO). in the McVean Student Center, Building 4, at JCC. More than 100 vendors will have a variety of handcrafted items for sale including art, candles, ceramics,
flora, food, jewelry, and many different woodcraft items. Admission is $2.00 per person and includes the chance to receive one of twelve $10 gift certificates good for the purchase of any items from any vendor the day of the craft fair. Proceeds benefit the Jefferson Community College Women’s Organization which awards up to ten $500 scholarships annually.
For more information, please contact Melody Brenon of JCC at 315-786-2200.

Sat - Nov 08 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Moira Craft Fair
Moira's 29th Holiday Shopping Fair will be held Saturday November 8th at the Moira Methodist Church and the Moira Firehouse. The hours are 10-4, giving everyone a chance to get a head start on their holiday shopping. Many new items are available this year with vendors displays both inside and outside. The Candy Shoppe will have homemade fudge. Hot donuts will be available all day with the Holiday Kitchen serving homemade soup, chili, sandwiches, and beverages. The Bake Shop features pies, filled cookies, rolls, breads, baked beans, & more. come and enjoy! 518-529-6524

Nov. 22, Two shows same date in Malone:
18th Jack Frost Craft Festival, The First Congregational Church, 2 Clay St., 10 - 4 pm. Free admission.
Snow Angels Craft Show at the Holy Family School. People can walk from one show to the other.

November 22nd Ogdensburg Craft Show John F. Kennedy School 801 Park Street, Ogdensburg, NY 10AM to 4 PM (315) 393-4264.

Two shows in Akwesasne Sat and Sun: one established and the other at the Log Cabin new this year ($10/booth). At the Log Cabin can exhibit either day or both days. .

These shows will be added shortly to the show listing page at http://www.adknccrafts.com/.

A Family of Creators on Rte. 11 in No. NY

On Monday, Nov. 10th, on the way to Malone from Champlain to present the Marketing segment of the Business Planning Course at Comlinks I stopped at 8247 Rte. 11 at Holmes Made Art and Crafts. The sign, great play on words, is quite visible from the road and is in front of their home just to the east of Chateaugay on the north. Martin, a master mason, is tackling the huge work of recreating the traditional exterior stone walls of their house built at least 100 years ago which they have been renovating for the last 20 years.

Anne welcomed me into their living room where she showed me the many wood accessories and furniture her husband, Martin, makes. They hope to have a shop open by the fall of next year. They prefer to sell directly to the customer.

Martin has always made wood pieces for family and friends. Most of the pine and cedar is harvested on their land or nearby. At the annual summer craft show now run by the Foothills Art Society (518.483.9411) held on Chateaugay Lake this summer, he sold three of the birch/pine rustic style pieces which he just started making earlier this year. The pine Martin selects for the tabletops has knots which give them great character. They are very sturdy. I sat on a coffee table and wrote notes on the night stand and there was absolutely no movement. Martin also makes wall shelves, frames, towel stackers, boxes of all sizes and shapes with or without drawers, foot stools and more. Anne provides some of the most innovative design ideas and finishes the pieces. Simple, clean lines predominate.

Their daughter-in-law, Alison Holmes, has been selling her painted ornaments at craft shows in No. New York for 23 years. She customizes the bulbs at shows. Her scenes painted on skates, saw blades, etc. are also popular.

Anne and her sister makes geometric pattern quilts out of brightly colored recycled fabrics. Her jellies are delicious. Her grand-daughter, Megan, makes purses out of kid's jeans that she buys at garage sales. Everyone's work is well finished in this family of creators/makers/artisans. Look for them at craft shows in Northern NY. 518.497.6570.

Expanded Crafts Museum Recently Reopened in NYC

The American Craft Museum, now known as the Museum of Arts and Design, opened in its new location in NYC at 2 Columbus Circle near the entrance of Central Park in late September. With many more floors, the Museum will now be able to exhibit much more of its permanent collection. www.madmuseum.org.

Good News for Retailers and Producers, Particularly Those Buying/Selling Local

Credit Available Locally Despite National Trends
Unlike other areas where lending has all but come to a halt, most local banks have money to lend and are willing to do so. It's just harder to get a loan for customers who were already difficult in the first place. Banks and car dealerships interviewed for article are from Plattsburgh, Willsboro, Westport, and Saranac Lake. Tri-Lakes Today, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, p.5

Container Traffic Between Asia and U.S. Down
Container traffic is down by 6.9% in the first six months of 2008 as compared to 2007. The key trade route between Asia and the United States is now expected to show no growth at all through much of 2009, according to the Transpacific Stabliization Agreement (TSA), a U.S.-based research group of 15 major shipping lines. "The dry bulk freight market has been greatly weakened by a combination of slow growth of industrial production in China, stalling trade volumes caused by tighter credit conditions globally and an increasing economic slowdown in the world's developed economies," said Richard Hext, chief executive of Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd., Hong Kong's biggest dry-bulk carrier, in a statement. The Gazette, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, p. B3

South Mountain Photos Invites Customers to Shows with Google

Help your customers remember you, find you, and buy from you. I recently received an email invite from Terry Wyant of www.SouthMountainPhotos.com to attend the Indian Lake Christmas Tour and the Christian Academy Craft Show near or in Glens Falls. Terry and Ed are using Google's online email and calendar to invite their customers to the shows where they are exhibiting.

Craft shows, both because there are possibly too many of them, and the economic times, can be challenged to draw crowds of people, especially those with money to spend. Producers who use marketing tools to remind their customers where they will be showing will also help them decide which show to go to. Artisans with websites and/or studio shops may generate sales from those who do not have time to go to the show but know what gift they wish to buy. And it's your work!