Zappo's wants our team to be part of the First Fridays experience...FREE spaces...

Hi fellow HMIV members. I’ve recently been offered a great opportunity for our team during First Fridays. Zappo’s, the organization that has taken over the FF events previously managed by Whirlygig, would very much like to include The Handmade in Vegas Group among the venders that showcase on Casino Center. The main First Friday hub.

• They are offering us FREE 10x10 spaces for our team members who bring their own tents.
• $20 table spaces. (They provide 6ft table and chairs.)
• $50 10x10 tent spaces. (They provide the tent, 6ft table, chairs and three grid walls)
• All spaces include access to electricity.

Since most of us have our own tents and set up, this means we could each be selling in the highest traffic vending area downtown for FREE for the next three months. The fees after March are yet to be determined, but I am told they are likely to run $50 or less.

The other reason I’d like us to try this is to lift the financial/legal burden off Marlene’s shoulders. The permits are taken care of via Zappo's so all we need to do is show up, set up and do our thing.

The catches are these...it's juried, but our team crafts some of the finest items ANYWHERE so I’m not overly concerned about that.

Marlene and I have discussed this and we felt the best thing to do would be to bring this to the team and see what you all think of this opportunity. The deadline for participating in January is fast approaching and so time is of the essence.

ALL opinions, feedback and questions are welcome.
For more information please contact me here or on Ametista’s fan page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ametista-Artistic-Offerings/147799335816

ALSO – be sure to check out the New and improved First Friday website at http://www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/
Vendor info at http://www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/get-involved.htm

Thanks! I look forward to hearing what you think!
Carrie

Las Vegas Handmade Team

To all the Team Members!

I am so happy that this team has grown so much and I've made so many wonderful friends.

I can see us making a big change in Las Vegas. Thank you to all who work so hard to make us what we are today!

Proud to be a Member!

Kellie

Art Box Creations

First Friday

Hello all,

Prior to Whirlygig, Inc. announcing that they would not be producing the Street Festival portion of First Friday, I had secured permission from 3 business owners on Casino Center for the Handmade in Vegas Team to display/sell goods during First Friday. Also at that time, a written proposal was sent to Cindy Funkhouse, President of Whirlygig, Inc., with proposed terms for the group's participation, as two locations were inside the barricaded/fenced area. Since one of the locations was outside of the barricaded area, I also placed calls to the City of Las Vegas to determine what permits or licenses would be required for that spot.

Today, I received a call from the City's licensing department. If the group wants to proceed, the City is willing to meet and discuss the matter as well as provide detailed information on what they would require.

My question to the group is: Does the group want me to proceed with this or not. If you would like me to proceed, how many of you can I count on to participate as artists/vendors in August and Sept.

Before you respond, you should also know that there is an effort underway by various studios and galleries in the 18B arts district to proceed with the First Friday event for August and September even without the participation of Whirlygig, Inc. If all the details can be worked out, this is a golden opportunity for Handmade in Vegas to contribute to keeping the First Friday event alive.

Please respond here or on our Facebook page ASAP as the City is expecting a response today or tomorrow regarding whether the group would like to go forward.

Thanks-Marlene

There's still a bit more time to get in...

 

THERE ARE STILL A FEW SPACES AVAILABLE FOR TEAM MEMBERS

INDOOR / OUTDOOR

ONLY $10 A MONTH FOR 3 MONTHS

Contact Carrie & Kathy at ametista_etsy@live.com for more information...hurry!

We're excited to announce...

Our work is NOW Available at 

 

 Located at 107 E. Charleston, Suite 225, Las Vegas, NV

(Inside The Arts Factory) 

First Fridays at Studio 8 Ten - Info as promised...

Info from meeting on Saturday, March 5^th, 2011- 1PM

Studio 8 Ten Contacts:

Andreana Donahue (event coordinator)- 644-9418

Angela Esler-Whelan (secondary contact)- 218-2179

Attended by Handmade in Vegas Members:

Carrie & Kathy- Ametista, LLC (ametista_etsy@live.com)

Laura Graham- Desert Star Creations (bonebag@cox.net)

Marie Jones- Artesia (marie@artesiaproducts.com)

Lizzie Simmons- Lizzie and Company (primitiveatheart@yahoo.com)

Discussion:

• We should have about 10 vendors who will for sure commit to a 3 month stay at First Fridays at Studio 8 Ten (April, May, June).  We will think about resuming for another 3-4 months in the fall if our efforts are successful.

• We will take a maximum of 15 vendors total to start, if space is available we will consider growing as much as we can.

• The cost will be $30 for the 3 months (if someone joins for only 1-2 of the months after we start, they will still pay $30 to be fair to the other vendors).

• Deadline to submit contracts and money to secure space is March 14^th.  Money and contract forms must be brought to Andreana at Studio 8 Ten.  First Come, First Served.

•  We will extend our current First Friday hours to 6-9, with set up for vendors starting at 5PM.  Bring your own lights.

• With the money we collect we can do marketing and purchase glow sticks to assist people who are walking to other areas of the arts district.

• Carrie will create a flyer advertising the strong points of making Studio 8 Ten the best first stop at First Friday and share the following bits of info:  Live Music, Kids Craft Activities (possibly using the glow sticks/bracelets?), Family Friendly atmosphere, Ample parking in the adjacent law offices and abandoned development office on Gass), walking escorts to assist people to get safely to other areas of First Friday.

•  Angela will follow-up on media marketing in local publications such as the View newspapers, BLVDS magazine, the Desert Companion, Seven, and other family friendly publications, as well as channel 33 event posting.

•  We will all also make efforts to announce often on Facebook, email, Twitter, etc.

• If we all make serious efforts to get at least 10 people to come we should see a lot of potential for growth and success!  We all have to work together to make it very successful and become our own awesome First Friday venue!

• We will schedule another meeting after we have secured all the spots so we can all get together and discuss more ideas about the evening itself. (probably an evening the week of the 14^th).  

 Again - any members who are interested in participating please contact Carrie or Kathy at ametista_etsy@live.com

Thanks!

 

Follow up from Saturday's Meeting

Hi again team! Thanks to all the members who have expressed interest in setting up space at  Studio 8 Ten and to those who were able to attend the interest meeting last Saturday. For those of you who don't know Studio 8 Ten  has offered our team an amazing opportunity to have a presence at Las Vegas' premiere monthly art event, First Friday

Angela, the Studio's event coordinator, will be sending us more info about the event and we will be passing that on to you as it comes. 

Here's what we know now, this would be excellent opportunity to provide our team much needed exposure and sales. We would begin with the First Friday in April of 2011. The Studio is offering us unbelievably inexpensive vendor space - $30 for a 3 month commitment (The first Friday of April, May and June). There are 10x10 tent spaces, 6ft table and 5ft table spaces still available.

It appears we have enough vendors to proceed, but there is still room for a few more so please contact me (Carrie or Kathy from Ametista) soon if you are interested at ametista_etsy@live.com

Vendor space for our team members during First Fridays!!

Mayor Oscar Goodman officially opens Studio 8 Ten

Hi team! I have recently been in touch with Angela Esler-Whelan of Studio 8 Ten who has offered our team an amazing opportunity to have a presence at Las Vegas' premiere monthly art event, First Friday
 
We think this would be excellent opportunity to provide our team much needed exposure and sales. We would begin with the First Friday in April of 2011. The Studio is offering us unbelievably inexpensive vendor space on their property.

There will be an informative interest meeting with Andreana, Supervisor/gallery/event coordinator

to determine if we have enough participants to make this a successful event. So if you'd like to be set up were Las Vegan's are coming to check out art and shop then please be at the meeting.

WHEN: Saturday, 3/5/11 at 1pm

WHERE: Studio 8 Ten -  810 South Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89101
(some of you may recall the location as we had a team meeting there last year.)

In addition - We are ALL invited to the Studio's First Friday show on March 4th, from 6-8PM. This will give you a good idea of where they currently are at with First Friday participation. It's going to be a fun event!

Please contact me (Carrie from Ametista) soon if you are interested at ametista_etsy@live.com

First Friday Opportunities at Studio 8Ten...

Hi group!  As some of you may know Angela from Studio 8Ten provided an opportunity for the members of the HandMade In Vegas group to rent space at the gallery for only $30.00 for the months of October, November and December.  I don't know about you, but to my mind $10.00 a month for a booth space during the city's largest monthly art event is a screaming deal and not one to pass up lightly.

Unfortunately, I've been informed by Angela today that the event has been canceled due to lack of interest.  Kathy & I are still scratching our heads over it.  I have contacted Angela to see how many people she would need to have involved in order to carry on with the event.  I'm looking forward to hearing from her soon and will let you all know on Friday at the meeting what she has said.

I think it would be a shame not to take advantage of  a potentially profitable event that could also offer a great deal of exposure.  If there is anyone here who would be interested in this event and perhaps didn't know about it, please post here and let us know.

First Friday: An Art Lover's Paradise!

So I've been saying some bad things about the Vegas art scene, but I didn't even know there was an arts district until a week ago.  And now I've got some apologizing to do. 

Tonight was the First Friday event down by the strip, and I decided to go check it out. Four of our team members were selling there (Funky Recycling, Liza Amor, Lynne Adamson and Vegas Henna).  I left my little girls and husband at home and roughed it solo so I could take my time and enjoy all the art.  And man, there was endless art!  All the galleries were packed with locals enjoying the paintings, the artists sat in every corner answering all questions and accepting all compliments, there was great live music every 10 feet, tons of crowds, and a great overall community vibe.

 For any of you who have not been to First Friday, they'll be doing it every month throughout the summer and it's a must for any local who wants to feel like they actually live in a community of living people rather than strip malls.  I had a wonderful time and bought way too much great art that I'm totally in love with.

Also, dear Christine with Funky Recycling donated a few of her funky necklaces  (this and this) to be used as prizes in our current contest!  I snuck a shot of her doing business tonight at First Friday - the place was hopping!  Thanks so much, Christine!

I got to have a great chat with Melissa of Vegas Henna as well whose henna work is really quite divine.  She was pretty busy painting henna designs on customers, but had a great display as well.  Melissa, you need to list that deer painting of yours so I can buy it!

I tried to meet Liza Amor but just missed her at her gallery.  Rather than cry into my soup, I picked up one of her Judaica-inspired original works of art on canvas for only $10!!  That's right, folks, artists are still charging too little for their work.  Will we ever learn?  I'll catch you next time, Liza.

And finally, I got to see the amazing art of Ms. Lynne Adamson.  Like most art, it's impossible to fully appreciate until you see it in person.  Lynne has an amazing eye for color and contrast.  She's even just finished illustrating a children's book.  I was fortunate enough to purchase a print of one of my favorites of hers, Simplicity.  I think it will be a perfect gift for my mom on Mother's Day!

So Vegas, I apologize.  We've got quite a little art community right here in the middle of Sin City.  The real sin was that I didn't know it until now.