Support Local Artists…Shop at the Garden City Art Festival.

This sampling of work is from four artists that will be at Festival Fete’s Garden City Art Festival on June 8th and 9th from 10am to 5pm daily. Please join us for two jam packed days of unique shopping, food and fabulous entertainment! And don’t forget that there is plenty for the kids too – our Creation Station will offer a variety of creative, hands on art projects for the kids to make.

The above artists, from clockwise from left:

Joseph Strong, Photon Fabrications

Patricia York, Glass Monkey Arts

Lauren Hopkins, Bead Twins

Tonna McGuinn, Tonna McGuinn Photo Art

Garden City Art Festival 2013

Many thanks to our sponsor:

Art Happenings 5/16-5/19

What’s happening in the arts in Rhode Island this weekend?

Thursday, 5/16 Gallery Night Providence 5-9pm: My friend Ruth Clegg still has a show “Sky & Water” at the Providence Art Club in the Dodge House Gallery with Barnet Fain.

Ruth A.B. Clegg, “With the Waters Flow VI,” 2012, linocut print on arches paper, 28″ X 36″

Saturday, 5/18 the Providence Artisans Market featuring Handmade art and fine crafts by local artisans (including local painter Mike Bryce, who will also be at Festival Fete’s Garden City Art Festival on June 8-9). The market will run every Saturday from now until 10/26 10am – 2pm at Lippitt Park in Providence..

Sunday, 5/19 Opening Reception for “The Blues” show at the Wickford Art Association 1 – 3pm 36 Beach Street, Wickford.

Also on Sunday: Recycle, Refresh and Revitalize event at the Lincoln Mall 10am – 1pm Sunday. This sounds like a very cool (free) event! Meet Maxman – RI’s Recycling Superhero! He’ll teach you all about waste reduction and recycling, Enjoy rock climbing courtesy of Rock Spot Climbing, ENTER TO WIN a family 4-pack to see Disney’s Beauty and The Beast at the Providence Performing Arts Center, Refresh your jewelry! Bring your old gold jewelry and trade it in for something special at Firenza Jewelers.

You can also bring your gently used clothing and old electronics to donate to Goodwill Industries. Donate your old computers, TVs, small electronics, anything with a cord!

And coming up soon! Festival Fete’s Garden City Art Festival on June 8th & 9th. Some friends recently asked me about the specific location of this event – it will be in the upper parking lot within Garden City Center Shopping Plaza – you can’t miss it!

Garden City Art Festival 2013

Many thanks to our new Garden City Art Festival sponsor:

Tinkered Treasures: Making Projects in Your Own Style

Elyse Major

Today we have another guest blog post from Elyse Major, author of Tinkered Treasures:35 Simple projects to bring charm to the everyday . Elyse will be at the Garden City Art Festival on June 8th and 9th with signed copies of her book available for purchase. She will also be bringing a craft project for us to make with her!

Making Projects in Your Own Style: With simple switches of color or pattern, it’s easy to make craft projects your own.

One glance at my book tinkered treasures more than 35 easy-to-make projects to bring charm to the everyday and it’s obvious that I am drawn to pale pastels and faded floral prints. However, if you do not share this pretty persuasion, it doesn’t mean that the crafts in the book are not for you. All it takes is a simple paper switch.

Exhibit A: Paper lanterns made with pale patterned paper (say that 3x fast) can add shabby-romantic flair to a room but the very same project can be made with say, a take-out menu or plain ol’ construction paper. Begin by collecting paper that looks interesting to you.

Tinkered Tip: Photocopy favorite shirts, album covers, comic books

Note from Danielle: Elyse gave me one of these up-cycled soup cans that have been prettified with her signature rose buds. She also shared with me her secret tip – that she photocopied her favorite rose bud patterned fabric for the background on her Tinkered Treasures blog. Pretty clever!

A favorite project of mine is shabbifying soup cans and wooden clothespins but you can also skip the paint and use yesterday’s news instead.

Tinkered Tip: Cover bottles and jars

Even lunch sacks, whether in trusty natural or assorted colors, can make handy gift bags when coupled with cupcake liners, office supply tags and baker’s twine.

Tinkered Tip: Instead of baker’s twine use yarn, jute, shiny twist ties from produce

The addition of small flags make any mound of sand seem like a castle and any food seem festive. All it takes is a fold, two snips and some glue and you’re good to go.

Tinkered Tip: Add an unexpected twist by using gum wrappers, receipts or play money

Find Elyse at the Garden City Art Festival where she will be signing and selling her book tinkered treasures more than 35 easy-to-make projects to bring charm to the everyday at her make-and-take tinkering table or find her online at her blog: tinkeredtreasures.blogspot.com

Get your signed copy of the book at the Garden City Art Festival

Garden City Art Festival 2013

Many thanks to our sponsor:

Garden City Art Festival Artists – take a peak at who will be there!

Take look at this amazing talent that will be at Festival Fete’s Garden City Art Festival in only 4 weeks!! June 8-9 from 10am to 5pm daily…it’s going to be a beautiful day just like today (we just know it).

The artists in this collage from left to right:

Starry Eyes Stained Glass Designs, Debs Designs, Daniel Read Glass

Anne Made Designs, Jonathon Almond, Anne Made Designs (Anne Scotti)

Perwinkle Designs (Linda Wojtasinksi), TT Totes (Toni Tubridy), Inglin Crafts (Rebecca Inglin)

Garden City Art Festival 2013

Many thanks to our sponsor:

Art Happenings 5/9 – 5/11

Festival Fete’s pick of the weekend for artsy things to do:

Wendy Baker

Thursday, May 9th

The Newport Art Museum

At The Newport Art Museum 5-8pm: Newport Gallery Night: The Museum will be open 5-8pm, FREE of charge on Gallery Night.

6pm: Gallery Talk – “What About Digital Media?”: An informal gallery talk on the increased presence of digital media, featuring exhibiting artists from the Newport Annual Members’ Juried Exhibition.

5-7pm: MUSE Opening: Our Museum Studies (MUSE) program for local high school students culminates in this student curated exhibition. Join us to celebrate the show’s opening and these talented young artists.
Friday, May 10th

Unlimited Potential Studio North Kingstown

Art & Wine at Unlimited Potential in North Kingstown. Enjoy one hour of wine and beer tasting provided by The Savory Grape Wine Shop in East Greenwich, and a one hour painting lesson.

The Details: Cost is $50 and you must register in advance.Unlimited Potential offers lots of different classes and is located at Shady Lea Mills in M Studios, suite 205. There is a Groupon available for the class ($39 or two for $75). Visit their website for more details and to register.

Saturday, May 11th

One of Festival Fete‘s faithful and fabulous artists, Wendy Baker will be at the Smyle RI store in East Greenwich on Saturday from noon – 4pm for a trunk show! If you RSVP to hello@smylestore.com you’ll receive a $5 gift card.

The Good Earth Garden Party: While gathering gardening supplies, enjoy free demonstrations on seed starting, garden design, and food preparation. Meet local artists and browse a stunning array of artwork, clothing, jewelry, and handmade gifts. Sample fresh, local food and shop for certified organic produce! RiverzEdge Arts Project (who  you will also see at Festival Fete’s Garden City Art Festival on June 8th & 9th) will have exciting activities for kids and on-site screen printing! Bring a t-shirt, tote bag, or clothing item and get it screen printed with a Good Earth Garden Party design. There is free parking and free admission, so bring the whole family to kick-off the growing season at The Good Earth from 10am – 5pm  at 1800 Scituate Ave. Hope, RI 02831

Also don’t forget to check out the calendar of events for our friends at the Jamestown Art Center. They are currently taking registrations for summer camps and still have the fabulous “Ceramics Spectrum” show going on. If you haven’t been to the Jamestown lately, you’re missing out on a gem! You don’t have to pay to get over the bridge! Go now!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Garden City Art Festival 2013

Many thanks to our sponsor:

Featured Artist: Raelinda Woad, Storyteller Creations

Raelinda Woad is an imaginative storyteller turned jewelry maker and she’s got a pretty interesting story to tell.

For the past twenty years she has been captivating audiences at coffee houses throughout New England with her “True Stories that Haven’t Quite Happened Yet”. Unfortunately, gifted storytelling doesn’t necessarily pay the rent so she needed to come up with a business…and here is how she began making tiny little books as jewelry with her stories tucked inside.

“I started my jewelry business as a storyteller. Back in the 90′s, I was a coffeehouse storyteller, often booked as the opening act for folk musicians. I noticed that at the end of their sets the musicians would announce that they had cassette tapes of their music for sale. I needed something to sell and since I also worked for two different jewelry companies I used my jewelry skills to create a line of miniature book-shaped pins with my own stories folded inside them.”

“At the end of my sets I would pull out a tray of my Storybook Pins and say, “If you liked hearing my stories, you might like wearing my stories….” Apparently it was a slow year for news because I started getting a lot of press for my tiny books. Stores began calling me and…suddenly I had my own jewelry business.”

“Fast forward to today. I’ve come full circle and returned to my beloved storytelling. I’ve just published a book about cupcake fairies. (Do not underestimate the power of these tiniest of all fairies!)”

And I’ve created a comedy book trailer that can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKhdmo_CrIQ

The cupcakes that appear in this video are all professionally trained stunt-cupcakes. No actual cupcakes were harmed.

Raelinda also makes earrings and other fairy inspired jewelry. You can read more about her story and shop on Etsy (she’s very funny!), or meet her in person at Festival Fete’s Garden City Art Festival on June 8th & 9th from 10am – 5pm daily.

Garden City Art Festival 2013

Many thanks to our Garden City Art Festival sponsor:

Who should you have at your next party? Smashing Photo!

When you come to the Garden City Art Festival on June 8th and 9th, please make sure that you stop by and say hello to Vicki and her peeps at Smashing Photo Booth.

Festival guests enjoying the Smashing Photo booth

Not only have they have been participating in all of Festival Fete‘s events bringing their kooky hats and glasses and inviting people to step into the booth for lots of laughs and a great picture, but they have been donating their proceeds directly to Art is Smart!

Smashing Photo supports Art is Smart!

Vicki setting up at Festival Fete’s Holiday Market in Garden City 2012

Smashing Photo & Video Booth is perfect for all events because they love to celebrate!  They believe in high quality images, video and service.  Each photo is of the highest quality because they use only professional grade equipment.  Owner, Vicki Comfort is a photographer and has extensive knowledge of the equipment and lighting to make sure each photo has the quality you’re looking for.

Your guests will love taking photos, creating your guest book and recording video with Vicki’s outgoing and energetic team there to assist.

Some of the props you get to choose from!

Smashing Photo have an incredibly busy schedule and they consistently donate their time and talent to the community. Yesterday they donated four hours to a student who was hosting a fundraising event at Bryant University. When I asked Vicki what they have scheduled for this coming weekend, here is what she has on the docket…

Middle school outing at Mulligan’s golf course
Mount Hope JR class Prom
Weddings both Saturday and Sunday
Social Dance in Gloucester
On Sunday we will be donating our time and services to the Towers for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (which is an event open to the public at the Towers in Narragansett)

A sample of your photo print out

Festival Fete would like to extend a big huge THANK YOU to Smashing Photo & Video Booth for their tremendous support of Art is Smart! So come by and see them at the festival!

Garden City Art Festival 2013