November's Featured Artist: Marti Williams

Our featured artist this month is the a-z crafter, the fabulous Marti Williams!  Marti is a jack of all trades, and crafts tirelessly, coming up with a new project every 10 seconds.  She's also a very active member of the local artist group, Handmade in Vegas, and aids in team leadership to connect artists all over the Vegas metropolitan area.  You can find her online shop at Happy Bug Designs

Here's Marti's explanation of her crafting craze:

I have the crafting form of ADD, known as CADD. I find myself working furiously on a project, sometimes from dawn to dusk. And then the next day, when I need to finish up with the project, I see something shiny, sitting over in the corner of my craft room. It beckons me. I try my hardest to concentrate on the project at hand, but alas, it is no use. The shiny object calls my name, defies my resolve, and tempts me to come hither. And then I am lost. Lost again in another day of materials flying, scissors cutting, and some random gluing or taping or such. I get in a fervor, working tirelessly as I am oh-so-captivated by this new project. And then, sadly, yet gloriously, the cycle repeats itself. 

There was a time when every year I found a new craft to try. I love learning new things, and there was always a new craft on the horizon. Just waiting to get it’s tentacles wrapped around my crafting heart. And as many of you know, that means not just one or two stamps or templates, but a whole array products that will support me in mastering this new love of mine.

And now I find myself in the present, where my craft room is not just full of wonder, but also of supplies for a wide array of crafts. I find it easy to move from one project to another. My CADD allows me to move along without a hint of guilt. I know that in a week’s time, I will have moved back to the craft which I just dumped like a toddler, moving on to her friends’ toys, which always seem more shiny and new.

In my store, you will find many different items in the nooks and crannies. A pendant here, a bracelet there and fabric items woven in between. Along with all of this, you will also find the remnants of my crafting life, like treasures found on a beach. I’ve realized that while it is a happy occasion to move on to a new craft every few days as my attention travels, that I need to narrow down the places my mind has to go. It is getting older, year by year, and we can’t have it wandering too far away. It might not find it’s way home someday. So I am divesting myself of many of my craft supplies. I know that they will be able to bring inspiration to other friends that they meet. But don’t worry about me or my wandering mind. There are still plenty of opportunities to dabble….hey, what is that sparkling over in the corner, underneath the fabric shelves, next to my mosaic supplies….

Become a fan of my Facebook page for updates and FB-only specials. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Las-Vegas-NV/HappyBugDesigns/200952075186

Artist Help Wanted: Miley Achievement Center

Any artists wanting to give back to our community should consider the request recently received from the Miley Achievement Center:

Miley Achievement Center is a school within the Clark County School District.

We do not have a large student body or PTA/PTO support system. Our funds

have been cut. We need to earn enough money to supply the Birthday

Project, Lunch Salad Bar Program, and provide added support for our science

and art classes.

We will host a silent auction on October 22 during the Harvest Festival.

5:30 to 8:30 pm. 245 N. Pecos Road 799-5631. Please donate items to

auction and come join the fun at an old fashioned school auditorium event.

I guarantee it will bring back old memories. Kelly will grill, so come hungry.

Be sure to tip large! It all goes to the school. 100%

Click here for the flyer that you can share regarding this opportunity.

Meet Our Event Coordinator: Mikel Conrad

Meet Mikel Conrad. He has volunteered to coordinate the Water Street
District art education outreach project, ARTsWALK. Members of the Water
Street District Business Association are invited to participate. This is a free
event for our WSD merchants. There are plenty of opportunities to involve
your business, earn free publicity, and help your community offer an art
education outreach. Everyone wins.

Opportunity Knocks!
You might want to host a free table at the Events Plaza and display, sell,
or distribute coupons.

You could host an artist within your business and be featured in the
ARTsWALK.
Create Third Thursday specials or coupons
Keep your business open for the event and place a display table outside

Contact Mikel mikel@mikelsfineartphotography.com

August's Featured Artist: Ashleigh-Michelle Popplewell

For those of you who attended our August ArtsWalk, you hopefully were able to see one of our favorite vendors, Ashleigh Popplewell.  A true renaissance artist, Ashleigh is always experimenting with in new mediums and has a insane talent.  Look for her at upcoming ArtsWalks and other art events around town.  

What inspires you? 

I am inspired by everything around me.  Movies, books, television....it's all a sort of visual stimulus that gets my mind going.  Of course, being around other creative and crafty people is extremely inspirational, and being a member of the HandmadeinVegas team is a great help to that :)

What is the hardest thing in creating your art?

The most difficult thing is choosing which type of project to work on.  I am constantly jumping around back and forth between different media and subject matter, but I think this is a good indication that I'm multifasceted (and insures I don't get bored).

Where can we find your stuff?  Do you have any upcoming events?

I have my artwork online at http://ashleigh-michelle.deviantart.com as well as http://ashleighmichelle.etsy.com.  As far as upcoming events, you can always bump into me at downtown First Friday events and upcoming Third Thursdays in Henderson.  I also sell sketch card work on ebay :  

http://shop.ebay.com/xbadxfaeriex/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

One weird thing about Ashleigh:

I have a strange obsession with "little" things.  Pillboxes, figurines, coins, keys, pendants, stamps....all sorts of small "holdinyourhand" items.  My collection has gotten quite large, and to most people appears as a lot of junk spread across a dresser or shelf, but I feel a great sense of calm whenever I am cleaning that area and get to handle them all. 

Latest creation?:

I'm starting a new set of wall hangings that are collaged fabric, sewing, embroidery, painting, beaded, ribboned, sequin designs.  They will hang on the wall like paintings, but will be displayed on the embroidery hoops.  I'm getting a group of them together for an exhibition at the Arts Factory in February 2011.

Thanks for participating in ArtsWalk, Ashleigh!  For those wanting more, please visit her online shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ashleighmichelle

Our Event Just Keeps Growing!

Tonight was our August ArtsWalk and we had even more vendors, and a great group of both community members and artisans enjoying the beautiful evening.  A big thank you to all who ventured out to picnic on the grass with us, splash in the water pad, listen to beautiful guitar music, enjoy the galleries and watch our artisan demonstrations.  Picture will be posted soon.  We are all eagerly awaiting cooler weather and expect September to be a fantastic month to finally get people outside and enjoying the live performers and enjoying all that downtown Water Street has to offer.  Performer information for September to be announced soon.

The group of vendors at the monthly handmade craft fair continues to grow thanks to the efforts of local group, Handmade in Vegas, and other community supporters.  We hope to enlist even more locals to come and display their art, show off their musical talent, and sell their handmade creations.  If you are interested in joining us as a vendor, please read this.  If you are a musician or performer and would like to share your talents with the community, please read this.

Call for Vendors - August's ArtsWalk

All artisans or crafters who would like to participate in the August 19th Artswalk, this is the time to speak up!  The vendor fee for August remains at $5 per table.  Please click on the "Vendor Info" tab at the top of this page for specific information about the event.  Please email handmadeinvegas with your name, two pictures of your handmade item(s) and an email address we can contact you at.  See you on the 19th!

July ArtsWalk - A Hot One!

The heat was no match for Henderson locals who took to the Events Plaza splash pad to cool down and drip the night away while soaking in some culture as well.  Along with a wandering accordionist, flutist, free craft tables and over 14 different artisans displaying their wares, it turned out to be a picture perfect evening.  The open receptions at our local galleries provided a cool place to hang out as well and sip champagne while chatting up the local talent.

Thanks to all those who enjoyed the evening with us and encouraged our local Henderson artisans.  Our featured craft fair artisan this month is Marlene with Island Girlz Jewelry.  Marlene creates pop culture charm bracelets made from upcycled materials as well as beautiful origami jewelry.  Some of her current popular items are her Twilight themed charm bracelets as well as Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, and other pop phenomena accessories.  She also sells online at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/islandgirlzjewelry

June's Event Newsletter

Click here to view the event newsletter for the month of June.

And here to view the children's events flyer