Anabel Pichler and me at the PMA Craft Show

 (Anabel Pichler and me ... thirty years apart but SISTERS at heart.)

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is in full swing.  I'm spending every day on my feet, in my booth, talking about polyester stretch velvet and how it is the foundation for my artwork ... but this year's show is different!  This year Anabel came to visit!

Once upon a time, my family and Anabel's family arranged a private "student exchange program".  It was an arrangement between the Lenz family in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and the Pichler family in Radstadt, Austria.  I wasn't part of the program but my younger sisters Wanda and Erica were ... they went to live for a half-year or full year abroad.  Anabel and Bettina came to the USA for a year or a year-and-a-half.  We all became "sisters".  (By the way ... Wanda now lives in Munich and is married to a guy from Radstadt.  Anabel made a wonderful life with a great guy here in the USA ... and they have three gorgeous daughters ... one who came to the show!)  Steve and I haven't seen Anabell since either Wanda's or Erica's wedding.  (We can't exactly remember which ... because it's been something like 30 years).  But, Anabel and I are Facebook friends. She knew I was going to be here at the PMA Craft Show.  She lives within driving distance ... and came to the show.  It was WONDERFUL to hug my "sister" again, to meet her husband, and hug one of her daughters.  Today has been amazing!

Behind the Scenes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

(Above:  Booth 107 ... MY BOOTH ... at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show 2017.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

Yesterday morning Steve and I arrived at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  By the afternoon, we had unloaded and set up our booth.  I snapped three photos ...

... including this one!  Here's Steve standing in our space.  We hadn't unloaded a thing.  It didn't take much time for the area to look like ...

... this!  Quickly, I put together the interlocking carpet tiles that become our floor.  Several of our carpeted wall units are shown here ... standing up as "corners".  It took a couple hours of unpacking, arranging, and struggling with the track lighting until we were ready.  I posted these first three images on Facebook and got all sorts of positive comments.  Many people said my booth looks quite sleek and professional (Thanks!)... but the truth of the matter is that my booth is rather straight forward.  It is basically just a ProPanel "readymade" gray booth.  That's when it occurred to me that I ought to share some of the amazing designs that showcase the best crafts from across the nation and ...

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... a "behind the scenes" blog post.  First, this is the way our booth looks "behind the wall".  We requested this booth area.  It is in the first of seven long rows.  We request this space because there's plenty of space for storage behind our wall.

The same can be said of the 700 aisle.  Lots and lots of space for artists whose work comes in crates, tubs, giant boxes, etc.  Behind the scenes there are ladders, rolling carts, extra artwork, bubble wrap, and chairs for spouses.

Behind the end walls the convention center has fork lifts ...

... and everything ready to roll in place for this evening's fancy gala ...

... including dozens of tables and scores of chairs.  Being at a high end craft show is an amazing opportunity.  It is also a way to see a year of organization coming together seamlessly.

It is also a chance to see how different artists use a multitude of materials to create 10' x 10', 10' x 15', and corner locations together in ways to showcase their artwork to best advantage.  Please remember, almost every booth came in a vehicle and will be dismantled and put back into a vehicle on Sunday evening.  Today, I walked the aisles and snapped these photos of "empty booths" as a way to share the ingenious ways artists create their spaces.  Above is the booth directly beside mine.  Brilliant!  It is constructed from 1" black foam-centered board.  I can't wait to see the work that fits into the lit enclosures.

Please continue scrolling down ... just to see the unique settings before the artwork is installed!  By this evening, it will all look quite differently ... even regal.  As I walked the convention center floor, red carpeting was being rolled into all the aisles for the fancy gala.  Enjoy this "behind the scenes" look!

I am linking this blog post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Fridays", a site for sharing fiber arts.

Lots and Lots and Lots!

 (Above:  Wooden thread spool Christmas ornaments.  Click on any image in this post to enlarge.)

The life of a professional artist is often just plain HARD WORK.  There's lots to do all the time.  Today and yesterday were such days. 

First, I finished the last of my wooden thread spool Christmas ornaments.  These wool wrapped spools were embellished with hand stitching and threaded with shank and 2- or 4-hole flat buttons, beads, and a ribbon.  They are headed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show where they cost $15 each or four for $40.  Last year they sold very, very well until only twenty-five or thirty were left.  It seemed to me that people really wanted to sort through the selection and have plenty from which to pick.  Once the supply dwindled, the sales disappeared.  I knew I needed A LOT MORE!  So, I've been spending at least three or four evenings every week since July making hundreds of them.  I've made a bet with my husband Steve ... that I could almost earn our booth rent with these little gems.  That's a bold statement to make.  Why?  Well ... my booth fee was $1700.  That doesn't include the electricity (another $150).  Have I stitched enough pretty ones to cover the cost?  Well ... you do the math!  It's just too much for me to think about right now! LOL!  That's A LOT OF CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS!

 (Above:  Anonymous Ancestors is back in storage.)

Why is my brain a little fried?  (Well ... math was never my strongest subject!)  Seriously, yesterday was the day to dismantle my solo show Anonymous Ancestors from USC Upstate's "Gallery on Main" in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  The show closed at 5:00 PM.  We had it in the van by 7:30 and got home nearly two hours later.  It was too dark and we were too tired to unload.

 (Above:  Anonymous Ancestors is back in storage.)

We tackled the van this morning.  The two photos here show how it will be stored until late December when it goes to Fairhope, Alabama for a month.  Of course, I've put the Grid of Photos, the three sculptural garments, and the big rug in other locations ... but this is all 230+ framed pictures and all the furniture.  This is A LOT OF ANCESTORS!

 (Above:  Three leaf bags full of unraveled sewing thread ... storage for my installation Threads: Gathering My Thoughts.)

Before we could move all the "ancestors" into this location, we had to move the three leaf bags of unraveled thread out of the way. All this thread came down on Wednesday after my solo installation at the South Carolina State Library.  It will not stay in this closet forever.  I've got this hair-brained idea for it ... involving epoxy!  Can't wait! One way or the other, this is A LOT OF THREAD!

(Above:  The back of our utility van packed for the Philadelphia Museum of Art Show.)

As soon as the van was empty, we started filling it.  (First, the wooden shelving unit got literally tied to the interior roof!)  There's just enough space for our overnight bags ... I think!

This is A LOT ... of art, fixtures, lighting, booth panels, interlocking rug tiles, and everything else that will hopefully mean A LOT of sales (To be honest, I'm not sure I can fit it all back in the van if I take it out!  Some of it better find a permanent home someplace else!)  Wish me luck next week in Philly!

Third time's a charm

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV, detail.  Click on any image in this blog post for an enlargement.)

Tomorrow afternoon Steve and I will load our van with all the artwork, Pro Panel booth, track lighting, customer bags, bubble wrap, and everything else that is on a very long "packing list".  Bright and early on Monday morning, we head north to the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show.  Our load in time is Tuesday at 9:00 AM.  I'm nervous (as it is exceptionally expensive and sales are not guaranteed) and extremely excited (as this is widely regarded one the the two top fine craft shows in the nation.)  Obviously, we've been planning for this opportunity for months.  We also know that the way our van packs best requires an even number of Large Stained Glass pieces.  They sit side-by-side on top of the the booth walls.  Together, they create a nice, flat surface to support additional, packed artwork.

 (Above: Large Stained Glass LXXXIII. Framed: 63" x 23".)

All along, I've planned to take four Large Stained Glass pieces.  I finished the fourth one in September.  I never imagined that I'd need more of them.  After all, there are five in my solo show at Waterworks Visual Arts Center, a regional museum in Salisbury, North Carolina.  These five will come home in January ... in plenty of time to take to the ACC (American Craft Council) show in March.  So, I made four to take to Philadelphia.  Then two weeks ago, one sold at IAGO Gallery in Blowing Rock.  It's high season in the mountains of North Carolina and the gallerist wanted another ASAP.  I "jobbed Peter to pay Paul" the next day.  Then, I made Stained Glass LXXXII to replace it.

  (Above: Large Stained Glass LXXXIII, detail.)

Months ago, I was invited to be part of the Winter Show at GreenHill Center for North Carolina Arts.  It is quite an honor ... since I'm not actually from North Carolina.  I was invited four or five years ago.  It's a great show.  All my work sold and the gala was fabulous.  They wanted a Large Stained Glass piece and two smaller pieces.  The show doesn't open until December 3rd ... so we planned to drop off pieces when returning from Philadelphia.  Well, that plan didn't work. Last week I learned that they are hanging the exhibition next week.  We will now be delivering on the way up to Philadelphia.  Thus, I needed another Large Stained Glass piece ... which I started right away.

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV. Framed 63" x 23".)

As luck would have it, I got a great email on Wednesday.  Large Stained Glass LXXXI was accepted into Art Quilt Elements at the Wayne Art Center.  This is a really awesome international show.  I know!  I actually got into the show in 2010.  (Click here to read about it!)  I've generally applied every year since then ... but got rejected.  To be honest, I didn't really think I stood much of a chance this year either.  I thought to myself, "Susan, you were once a flash-in-the-pan with your Grave Rubbing Art Quilts.  Now, you're old hat."  When I submitted this piece, I thought to myself, "If you get in, you can always make another one for Philadelphia."  I never thought I'd be making "the last piece for Philly" three times!  Especially not two of them in a single week!

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV, detail.)

This is not the speed with which I generally work.  It's been almost exhausting but exciting.  Of course none of these pieces are actually SOLD, but one might find a permanent next week.  Fingers and toes are crossed! 

 (Above:  Large Stained Glass LXXXIV, detail.)