Hip Sips Recap

Ok, a week later, FINALLY, the recap of Hip Sips.
Sorry that I've neglected the blog a bit, but I've been marathoning. Not literally a marathon--just running around between three states, trying to accomplish EVERYTHING: Work stuff, family stuff, art stuff, and I still probably have a good week to go through before I drop.

Anyway.

Hip Sips was...an interesting experience. It was my first outdoor art fair, and in my nerves, I forgot my camera to take pics of the booth set up. Boo. I also forgot all my easels for display, but hey! Nerves! But, it did all set up and work out just the way I wanted, so yay. I had a coworker help my by putting glue on the connectors and gluing them to some pvc pipes that, when I stuck on the vertical 5 ft. pipes, made 5 1/2 ft. panels that I lined the back of my booth with. There are some bugs that will need to be worked out before next time, such as connecting them to the tent and all that (I used duct tape, but I want it to look better). I made some, basically, big giant grey pillow cases to put over them and used mirror wire and some chain link fence connectors to hang art work along the panels. That worked REALLY well. I was really proud of how that all worked out.

The key to the planning was that I had to fit everything into my Toyota Yaris hatchback. The Yaris is kind of...itty bitty. Mine is one of the three cars in the work parking lot allowed to park in the sub compact spot in the lot. I had a 5 ft height maximum. The tent folded into a case that was 5 ft., the pvcs were no longer than that when disconnected, and the artwork was no bigger than 3 ft. x 4 ft. That entire thing was an intricate Jenga puzzle and it worked really well. Even on take-down, which occurred an hour early because a mondo ugly storm was rolling in. We rushed. I shut the last car door JUST as the first drop of rain fell. Success.

Sales? Not so success. Lotsa lookers, one lady swore she wanted my train tracks painting...but...she wanted to also spend all her money on wine. Eh. There were maybe 100 people there. The Wilson Winery people, especially Debbie Wilson, were really really nice and helpful. This was the first year for a, hopefully, annual event, and turnout showed it. Maybe next year word of mouth will spread a bit, and it won't be 90+ degrees with 90+ humidity and people will WANT to come out and have some wine. They had some good jazz bands! And, big time thanks to my friend, Tim Booker, for helping me set up and man the booth before he ran away to Ohio to get drunk. Thanks Booker! You survived the Boondocks (no, really, there was a billboard nearby directing people to tour the Boondocks Farms!)

In the meantime, one of the artists from Art & Soul by Phoebe Gallery, Debra Dragoo, set me up with Paige at Cortex, a hip hair salon in downtown Muncie, and I met with Paige yesterday after dropping some art off at Phoebe's. My work will now be on show at Cortex, I'll probably switch them out monthly, and all work will be for sale as well! So yeah, need a hair cut? Need a painting? Go to Cortex.

Next up, my trip home to Kewanee, a coffee shop, and windmills. Soon. I promise.