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!