The Traveling Artists Roadshow Holiday Shows

We're a small group of Metro Detroit artists doing smaller shows at a much, much lower cost to artists than the big art fairs and we work together to promote each other. . . . We would love to have you join our group.

We have 2 holiday shows coming up; November 10 and December 1.
We will open up the space to our members and actively begin advertising these shows this week. If you're an artist, you may want to get on board before space is gone!

If you just love hand made goodies like jewelry, one-of-a-kind dyed and painted shirts, mixed media and digital collage art, 2D & 3D, knitted & felted treats, repurposed vintage fabrics into clothes, dolls, pillows and so much more, then mark your calendars and keep coming back to this blog for more info as it becomes available.

What better gift to give than something hand made. 

Support your Made in Detroit, Made in Michigan artists! Come to our shows. Become a 'Follower' of this blog and 'Like' us on our Facebook Fan page...

http://www.facebook.com/travelingartistsroadshow

For more info to become a member or just have questions, contact us at: travelingartists@yahoo.com

The Traveling Artists Roadshow was a hit!

This past weekend TARS held another 'art fair'. This time in Royal Oak, Mi.

The weather was great despite the reports all week long of rain all day on Saturday. We had blue skies, green grass, yummy treats, superb Made in Michigan art and even happy, singing and dancing artists and guests!

Here's just a sampling:

all photos by F. Kramer

What a great day... if you missed it, you will not want to miss another. Get ready for our holiday shows in November and December.

To keep up to date with the Traveling Artists, become a follower on this blog and 'Like' us on our Facebook Fan Page @ http://www.facebook.com/travelingartistsroadshow.

If you are an artist and would like more info please send an email to: travelingartists@yahoo.com

Traveling Artists Roadshow Hosts Royal Oak Show

This new group of local artists may be popping up in your neighborhood! Check out the show this Saturday in Royal Oak. By Jennifer M. Cline

   

Nine local artists will be selling an assortment of crafty items in the Traveling Artists Roadshow’s fourth show this Saturday in Royal Oak.

The Traveling Artists Roadshow (TARS) is a members-only group working to organize and promote traveling art shows throughout the Metro Detroit area. Each show is hosted at a different location, featuring a wide spectrum of art mediums. Members create and sell handmade items including paintings, jewelry, digital art, clothing creations and more.  

“The economy over the last few years has helped birth many more artists and crafters out of necessity,” said jewelry artist Patricia Spadafore-Fleischman, a member of TARS. “This group will enable many artists the opportunity to be in a show who would not otherwise be able to afford it.”

Because of the recent decline in the economy, many artists are no longer interested in the financial risks associated with traditional art shows. Seeking an affordable alternative, several local crafters formed the TARS group to continue promoting their work while creating an inviting atmosphere for customers.  By hosting shows at homes, churches and other low-cost locations, the group is able to offer a cost-effective alternative for local artists interested in selling their work.

“We want the customer to feel at home. Hang out, have some food, drink and enjoy,” mixed media artist Marsha Filipiak said.

Large-scale art shows often host a hundred or more artists while attracting thousands of potential patrons. However, high participation fees and low sales have resulted in little to no profits for many local vendors. This new group allows artists to sell their work at various low-risk locations while expanding their customer base.

“It’s fresh and new for us to continually meet people in different cities. And it’s convenient for our customers who don’t have to travel very far to come to our shows,” digital photography artist Felicia Kramer said.

The group formed earlier this summer after a conversation among artist pals revealed that they all shared a want for a more intimate way to sell their work. With nearly 20 participating artists, TARS members said they are optimistic for the future of group and plan to continue expanding.

To encourage its growth, TARS is accepting applications for local artists who are willing to actively contribute to the group’s efforts. Members meet once a month to discuss upcoming sales, venue possibilities, news in the art community and more.

“I would like to see 50-100 members within the next five years,” fabric artist Kathy Jacobi said. “With that many, we can do multiple shows in different geographic areas around Metro Detroit simultaneously.”

The Traveling Artists Roadshow will be open 

10 a.m. – 5 p.m this Saturday (Sept 8) at 

2107 Rochester Road. 

Also, if you are a Michigan artist interested in more information about joining TARS, send an email to travelingartists@yahoo.com

             

This article was reprinted from The Royal Oak Patch, September 6, 2012.

TARS first Artist Garage Sale!

For those of you that didn't make it to the TARS first annual artist garage sale, you missed a fun time with great art at even greater prices!

Who doesn't love jewelry at any price!

With the sun shining and catching the light, Jennifer's jewelry of course attracted a lot of attention. She puts really cool beads and colors together so the end result is something sure to bring compliments every time you wear them.

This work is done by Breathing Moments.

 

Then Pam Hilldibrand brought her colorful hand knitted goodies. The purses were beautiful, well made and very well priced. I have seen felted wool purses in stores for up to $200! These were no where near those prices.

If you are a crafter of any sort, Felicia Kramer had papers for scrapbookers, bags of button for sewers, hand made paper for book makers, and lots of books and finished art! 

Wow. What a great assortment. And finished art, too!

The first table you came to when entering the sale was Janet Hamrick's. She had gorgeous hand screened note cards for sale and lots of supplies, like paint, beads, etc.

Then 'Made by Marsha' brought unbelivable work. . . finished stained glass art, mixed media and digital collage work. 

Holy cow. We have an awesome group of talented artists and to think that not only do we all create work that makes up happy, but we sell it to you to make you happy as well! And the cherry on top of the cake is that at this sale, everything was a deep discounted prices.

Mark your calendars for the sale next year. Last Saturday in August. Or better yet, fill out the comment section with your email address so we can notify you of future sales!

(your emails will not be made public. They will be used solely to notify you of group events) 

The next show is Sat., September 8 at 2107 Rochester Road, Royal Oak, MI

TARS Artist studio/clearance show Aug 25. Ferndale!

Don't forget. .  THIS coming Saturday. . . the 

Traveling Artists Roadshow Clearance sale.

Sat, Aug 25

10 am - 5 pm

486 Withington, Ferndale, MI

(1 block n/9 Mile - 2 blocks w/Woodward)

Cash only

jewelry, beads, stained glass, finished art, fabric, quilting magazines, rubber stamps, scrapbooking & lots more . . .

Quote of the Day:

"I'm creative...you can't expect me to be neat too!"

Anybody feel the same way??

 Share your tips with us for keeping an organized creative space or

what prevents you from doing so. . .

Feature artist of the month: TEXTILE RECYCLER

Textile Recycler started sewing at a very early age. With scraps of fabric from an aunt and  cut off hems from dad's pants, the love affair with fabric began. She managed to get her hands on a sewing needle and thread and would sit for hours on the basement floor cutting, pinning, then hand sewing and ending up with really cool doll clothes. By the second grade it became clothes to wear and finally after getting a wonderful sewing machine lesson from a cousin, making all her own clothes by machine. As a recycler way back then, she couldn't stand to throw out a scrap. The scraps were too good and too pretty to toss. The mounding pile of garbage bags stored from 2nd to 12th grade had to get used or they'd be thrown out. So, the transition began, from clothing to quilts. Now all these many years later Textile Recycler is still making quilts, though now smaller art quilts, but still using scraps.. . her own and anyone else's that can't stand to see them by the road side on garbage day. In addition to the sewing, she packs a bigger bag of creative tricks these days . . . dyeing fabric, painting, stamping, silk screening, discharging, embellishing. . . you get the idea. . . It's been many decades since her love affair with fabric began, she is finally using up all of the bits and pieces of stuff that has been carefully and lovingly collected over the last 50+ years, all to create something that brings personal happiness. That is her spiritual and creative journey. Please join her on the journey and see her work at any one of the Traveling Artists Roadshow events. Please feel free to share how you use fabric in your art work.

New show - July 28 - Ferndale

As you can see from the photos below, the last show was great! Aren't you sorry you missed it? Well, you don't have to miss another one. Mark July 28 on your calendar now so you don't forget. . .  the planning has begun. . .

We'll have some really cool jewelry made from bottle caps . . . yes, I did say bottle caps! Plus jewelry with a vast array of beads, baubles, metals to suit every taste from conservative to funky. 

We'll also have pillows & dolls from vintage textiles and painted shirts.

Oh, let's not forget the mix media sculptures, digital collage items and hand dyed fabrics.

There will also be upcycled clothing, tea cup night lights, hand dyed baby onsies, and really cool glass lawn ornaments that will catch the light at just the right angle and really dress up your garden.  

This is just a partial list, so if you want to learn more, I guess you have to keep checking back and hmmmm, maybe there will be some photos, too!

Sat, July 28

272/274 East Oakridge

Ferndale

10-5 rain or shine

To join the group or for more info, please send email to: travelingartists@yahoo.com

Next show: Aug 25 . .  Artist Garage Sale. . .  art & craft supplies, discontinued items, books, magazines and more at sale prices. . .

Please leave a comment below to let us know if you are planning to attend. . .

Roadshow Recap

June 9 was our first show. Wow. It was fun and hard work, and fun and hot, hot, hot - 90 degrees, ouch ... and - it was fun. We talked and showed our work and sold our work and decided that we can't wait for our next show. Our friends came to support us, strangers came after seeing our signs. Everyone had great things to say.

Here is just a bit of what we had to offer:

 

Cathy Kay had her really cute dresses, skirts, tops, pillows and dolls.

You can see more of her work at future Traveling Artists Roadshow events and occasionally at the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale.

David Lamberti showed some very cool tiles.. .  faces & masks in rich colors like deep teal greens and browns.

                                                            

Nell makes nightlights and more from vintage cups and saucers.

Shoppers found lots of goodies for themselves and gifts!

 

Textile Recycler dyes fabric, shirts, baby clothes and uses fabric and other items that might end up in the trash or landfills to create art quilts, pillows, dolls and more.

Twisted Couture makes jewelry with wire wrapping. Very pretty! Who doesn't love jewelry . . .

 

Dawn, AKA the Pink Lady makes cool jewelry as well, but at the show she brought her crocheted dolls. These babies are rather long and large, big enough to hug every day.

Dawn can also be found weekly at the Rust Belt Market in Ferndale. 

 

Made by Marsha offer the coolest digital collage work, dolls, bookmarks, prints, cards, etc. Marsha can be found at shows around town and on her website. 

 

Thanks to Marsha for the Roadshow idea and hosting the first show. Keep your eyes open for our winking artist signs. The arrows will point you to a show. . .  and you never know. . . we may be in a your neighborhood soon.

  

In the near future we'll be offering chances to win some original art and how-to tips for creating it. So sign on as a follower of the blog to keep up to date with the group and be sure to like our Facebook Fan Page as well.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Traveling-Artists-Roadshow/168605706600644

Comments about the Roadshow and artists work is welcome!

Roadshow . . . Just a few days away!

Tell all of your sewing buddies that there will be hand dyed fabric at the first Traveling Artists Roadshow.

June 9. . . 420 W. Hudson, Royal Oak

10am - 5pm

~rain or shine~

Cool stuff at the June 9 'Roadshow'

Dolls by Cathy Kay

Pillows from vintage textiles by Cathy Kay

Shirts hand dyed & painted by Textile Recycler

Shirts hand dyed & painted by Textile Recycler

Card Images for Sale June 9 !

All cards are original designs and images . . . from my own photography and vintage collections.

Come check out all the wonderful original, handmade goodies at our art show June 9 in Royal Oak. There is something for every taste and budget.  

Just follow the 'winking artist' signs.