I want to thank a few people for a wonderful weekend in Wilmington. 

First off, our members who are what makes the show what it is.  Without them, we are nothing and I had a particularly enjoyable time joking and catching up with everyone.  A big thank you for those who volunteered hours and helped us get things setup or managed load-in, load-out, ticket sales, greeting guests and running the information desk.

Second, our ‘fans’ who came out in crowds and had wonderfully kind things to say about the show and our exhibiting members.  I saw a lot of new faces along with some familiar ones.

Lastly, our dedicated staff.  There’s only three of us on staff, but we run 50 workshops annually, 3 large craft fairs, 3 exhibitions and 2 stores plus all of the other membership programs and benefits.

This show just ended and our sights this morning are already on the next craft show on October 17 & 18 and In the Kitchen coming in September).  We’ll see you there if not before.  Have a great rest of the summer.

Today is the day Mindy (our program coordinator) and I head to Wilmington, DE to get things moving for this weekend’s craft fair.  We’ll spend about 4 hours marking booth spaces at the lovely Chase Center then we need to place directional signs this evening (hopefully after rush hour).

Then tomorrow is load-in, which is always chaotically fun as craft artists from around the region descend with their work and booths to get setup for a great weekend.  I’ll try to keep you posted on Twitter for all things to do with Wilmington.

By the way, if you’re attending the show this weekend, admission is $7.  Just say you heard about it on our blog and you’ll get $1 off your entry (no coupon necessary, go here if you want more coupons). 

Visit www.pacrafts.org/summer to plan your trip including discounts on Amtrak, local restaurants and hotels.

Linda Billet’s fused glass makes me think of summer.  Maybe it’s the crisp, bright colors or the subject matter but it’s a welcome departure from the usual abstract world of fused glass.

She’s joining us for the first time at our July 25 & 26 craft fair Wilmington, DE in booth #331. 

There’s still time to enter our contest for free tickets to the show OR a $65 gift certificate for handmade crafts.  It’s easy to enter, just comment on our blog, Facebook or Twitter.  You’ll certainly want to make a stop by Linda’s booth if you win!

It’s our third year at the Chase Center on the Riverfront for our July Fine Craft Fair on July 25 & 26.  The last two years have been spent developing marketing strategies for getting the word out.  Now that we’ve planted our feet, we wanted to build a little community of partners.

We received a warm response from Delaware Art Museum, Delaware-by-Hand and Biggs Museum.  A special thanks to Danielle Rice, Gail O’Donnell, Ryan Grover and Deborah Appleby as well as the presenters Dr. Mary Holahan, Beccy Cooper and Linda Danko.

From the discussions with each of those three fine Delaware art institutions, we’re launching a new educational program called Local Craft Conversations.   It is a platform for local art groups to speak directly to our members, patrons and show attendees.  It gives the group a chance to say what impact they have on the local art scene and allows craft-lovers to discover new exhibitions in their backyard.

So when you’re at our show on July 25 & 26, make sure you stop by to hear from Delaware Art Museum, Delaware-by-Hand and Biggs Museum on their ongoing commitment to local artists.  Talks are Saturday at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm and Sunday at 11:30 am.

‘Why is the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s show in Delaware?’

Around this time every year, before our July (25 & 26) craft show in Wilmington, DE, we get calls asking questions about the hours and directions and cost of admission and if a particular artist will be there.  Then there’s usually the question ‘why does the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen have a show in Delaware?’

Well, why not?  My response usually explains our needed move from its 30 year home at Franklin & Marshall College (due to construction and parking).  In the process we researched 53 sites in Pennsylvania and one in Delaware because we had heard it was gorgeous. 

Of the 53 sites in Pennsylvania, we physically toured over a quarter of them that would be large enough for our largest event.  The whole time thinking about the logistics of parking, easy of access, booth spacing, lighting, ease of entry, amenities, etc.  And then we toured the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, DE and were truly blown away.

The facility itself is the biggest reason but also there’s a few side notes to it.  We are the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen but we have members in 33 states because if someone wants to join in support of handmade crafts, the more the merrier.  And our followers and members’ customers are from throughout the Mid-Atlantic including Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Delaware. 

We have people attend our shows from as far away as California.  And really, it’s not like we’re having a show in Montana.  Montana is a lovely state but if the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen were having a show there, I can understand the raised eyebrows.

Our friends in Ohio, the Ohio Designer Craftsmen have a show that crosses state borders as well (Kentucky).

This year, three art groups (Delaware by Hand, Delaware Art Museum and Biggs Museum) will help welcome us for our third year in Wilmington.  

I personally feel at home while at the Chase Center for that weekend, and if you’ve attended the show you know what I mean.  The place is gorgeous, the staff are friendly, there’s tons of free parking and there’s little shops and restaurants to explore after you’ve had enough handmade craft for the day.  And admission ($7) for the show gets you in both days, so stick around (and get a coupon).  I’ll see you there in two weeks.

We’re giving away a $65 gift certificate good for shopping at any booth at our Fine Craft Fair on July 25 & 26 and eight sets of tickets combined.

So how do you enter to win this drawing?  It’s easy.  Just talk about us online.  Here’s the how to enter…

1. On Twitter…  Go to www.twitter.com/pacrafts and tweet about us (@pacrafts).  Talk about your favorite craft or your favorite memory of a past show or what you would buy with the $65.  If you go to our profile page on Twitter, you’ll be able to find our standard tweet about the giveaway that you can just RT (short for retweet: learn how to retweet).  Make sure @pacrafts is in your tweet because that’s how we’ll track it.  Each tweet increases your odds, so tweet away.  Tell your friends to enter as well.
2. On Facebook…  Go to www.pacrafts.org/facebook to get to our page.  Become a fan, if you aren’t already.  Then comment on the giveaway post.  Be creative, talk about whatever, include photos of you wearing designer clothes or using your favorite mug.  Creativity is key for the giveaway on Facebook.  Tell your friends to enter as well.  The more you comment about the Guild on our page, the more chances entered to win.

What if you win the tickets?  Well, we’ll announce the weekly winners on Twitter and Facebook on Thursdays or Fridays.  You’ll respond, ‘I won tickets to @pacrafts fine craft fair on july25&26′ or something similar.  Privately (through email, you’ll give us your name and address and we’ll hold the tickets for you at the will call desk.

What if you win the $65 gift certificate?  We’ll send you four free tickets for you and your family to attend the show on July 25 & 26, and when you arrive we’ll have a $65 gift certificate to be used at the booth of your choosing (preview the crafts here).  So why $65?  It’s our 65th anniversary.

Oh yeah, and there’s extra points thrown in if you start commenting on our blog, so get started below.  And I suppose if you want really BIG points, reference this on your own blog (let me know if you do).

Our postcard image for our July 25 & 26 Fine Craft Fair in Wilmington, DE, is a bracelet by Ricky Boscarino of Luna Parc (go on and click the link, it’s a whole other world!!).  I’ll let his site explain him for you because it’s a wonderland.

Our largest and most inspiring craft fair is only one month away!  

On July 25 & 26, the Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair returns to the beautiful Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE.  180 of the finest craft artists in the country descend for the region’s most anticipated craft show.  Among other things that are new this year, we’re partnering with the Delaware Art Museum, Delaware by Hand and the Biggs Museum to provide seminars on local craft stories.

Rather than tell you more about it, I thought I would include some choice photos of our members’ work that will be exhibiting this year.  Enjoy and mark your calendars now!

Larry Lefever's photography is stunning

Michie Taylor does amazing things with polymer clay

Technology and craftsmanship meet with Rona Fisher

The heron garden tool by Mike Patterson. Must have it!

Angela Shope's porcelain is destined for your home!

I’ll expect to see you there.  Admission is free for members.  Sign up to our e-newsletter and get a $1 coupon!

Karen Howell is a tile and mosaic craftswoman from Pittsburgh.  Her imagery focuses mostly on animals and wildlife.  An avid outdoor adventurer, she draws her inspiration from nature. 

This particular tile mosaic ’Streak the Cat’ is part of ‘from Raw to Refined’ at the Reading Public Museum (July 18 to October 31).   She also exhibits at various craft shows including our July 25 & 26 show at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE.

Have a suggestion for a future Member Monday showcase? Email nick -at- pacrafts.org.

Armond Scavo is a skilled photographer and juried Guild member from Philadelphia.  The piece above is from his series titled Imaginary Landscapes.

Armond is exhibiting this year at our Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair on July 25 and 26 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, DE.   This year, we’re partnering with the Delaware Art Museum, Biggs Museum and Delaware by Hand to provide seminars on local art projects.

Stop by and check out Armond’s booth in person.  I especially enjoy his photographs of Rittenhouse Square and Tuscany.