Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival, 2019

This year's Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival, on Sept 8, was held at a new location-- the Catonsville Community College.The parking lot where the festival was held provided overhead protection from the weather,  which was great.  The campus provided more, closer, and easier parking which the customers liked.  There seemed to be more people who came to shop and my sales for the day were better than the last couple of years.  With the new location, the sponsors were able to schedule a rain date for the following Sunday in case of really bad inclement weather.  A rain date is not possible for the long time Frederick Rd location because it is actually a state highway which cannot be closed down to traffic for 2 dates.
The only downside for the day, was the loss of the Catonsville street and community ambience-- particularly the restaurants along Frederick Rd which have participated in the festival for years.  The festival might have also lost a turnout of neighbors.

Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival

The annual Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival will be held Sunday, September 10th on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD.  10:00am- 5:00pm.  There are always more than 100 vendors selling a wide variety of handmade items, plus food, children's activities, and entertainment.

Come out.  Spend a leisurely day.  I will have 2 vendor spaces.  Watch the sidebar for more details as they become available.

Pine'eer Arts & Crafts Festival

I will be selling at the Pine'eer Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean Pines again this year.  If you are in the Ocean City area, visit the festival and my booths 61 & 62.  See craft show details on the side bar.

Bloomin Arts Fest

We have had a very rainy spring this year, including the two weeks before the outdoor Bloomin Arts Fest in Reisterstown.   Thankfully, the sponsors were able to move the Fest inside at the last minute and notified us on Thursday.  The down side was that our vendor space(s) were downsized; so we had to downsize our displays.  The bright side was that the Fest would be inside with the prospect of having a good show after all.

At the end of the day, the Fest was a success.  Miraculously, the weather cleared up and we had no rain that day.  It was cooler than previous years; but; we still had a nice crowd of shoppers.  I give kudos to the sponsors who did their part to save the day.

Craft Shows

We are beginning to set our vendor schedule for 2017

The 11th Annual Blooming Arts Fest in Reisterstown, MD on May 13 has moved to Franklin Elementary School. Vendor spaces have not been assigned yet .

The 44th Annual Catonsville Arts and Crafts Show in Catonsville, MD will be September 10.  Find us at our usual vendor spaces- numbers 84 and 85.

Watch the updated side bar for more details about shows.

Reisterstown Bloomin Art Fest

After days of continuous rain in the area; the weather cleared up for the show.  The sun even made an appearance.

The outdoor show was small; but good- only 40 vendors, including food vendors. Nicely organized. A variety of entertainment on stage throughout.

I had a new experience.  I registered for the show just before the closing deadline.  Rather than reject my application, sponsors asked me not to bring my handmade jewelry because they already had enough jewelry vendors; but please bring all of my other handmade items.  I was told after the show that no other vendor had items like mine which probably explained why I had such a good day.  It was the day before Mothers Day; so, a lot of my sales were intended for gifts.

I can appreciate that the sponsors wanted a variety of items for sale.  I would do this show again.

Reisterstown Bloomin' ArtFest

Spare Time Creations and Eldersburgembroidery will be vending at the Reisterstown Bloomin' ArtFest in Reisterstown, MD for the first time.  The craft event will be held outdoors at the Franklin Middle School.  I'm looking forward to the show.  Stop by if you are in the area.

Howard County Crafts Spectacular

I've been meaning to report on my experience at the Howard County show.

Well, I made additional inventory in anticipation of this being a great show.  I was not disappointed.  For early November, the weather was a tad bit warmer than usual.  With my display booth being in the barn with no protection from wind or coolness, I learned a couple of lessons for next year-- use sides on my canopy to block the wind, wear more layers, and bring a thermos of coffee to warm the body.  Other than that, the show was great.  Nice way to end the craft year.

Howard County Crafts Spectacular

It has been quite a few years since I participated in this show; and I'm looking forward to returning.  The show will be held at the Howard County Fair Grounds (MD) on November 6, 7, and 8-- Friday thru Sunday.  Hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm each day.

This show is known for hundreds of vendors with quality merchandise.  It normally draws a large crowd all weekend and attendees are usually holiday shopping.  My booth will be located in Barn #4, space #2.  Please stop by if you are in the area.  In the meantime, I'm busy making new inventory for what should be a great event.  I'll let you know.

Parkville/Carney and Catonsville Craft Shows

The Catonsville Craft Show was great.  For those not familiar with the show, it's held on Frederick Rd from Bloomsbury Ave west about 5 or 6 blocks.  Always lots of vendors- 256 this year.  The show always draws a large crowd, some are holiday shopping for interesting or unique items.  This year, there were more food vendors at the western end of the road- convenient to vendors at that end.  As usual, the show was well organized with plenty of volunteers and there were boy scouts and other youth eager to help set up tents and unload vehicles. The show has always been held on the second Sunday in September.  Put the date on your calendar.  I'll let you know my vendor booth number for next year.

Now, the Parkville/Carney Show on Saturday.  It was a total bust.  To be perfectly fair, it showered or rained all day.  A few people ventured out between the weather; but they weren't shopping.  There were only 2 blocks of vendors on Harford Rd.  The unusual thing is that there were maybe a dozen craft vendors. The other vendors were overwhelmingly local businesses and organizations.  Regular local vendors assured me that when the weather is nice, the street is crowded with attendees.  I'm not convinced that that would make a difference in shopping.  With the weather and no one shopping, I started packing up early.  Once and done for me.

Parkville Town Centre Fair

I'll be vending at the 31st Annual Parkville Fair on Saturday, September 12, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.  The street fair takes place on Harford Rd in the center of Parkville, branching north and south from Taylor Ave.  My space location is #40.  There will be music on the Main stage, food, and a Kids Arena at Dubois Ave. with a magic show and story telling and more.

 This will be my first time participating in this event.  I'm looking forward to it.  Sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday.

Pine'eer Arts & Crafts Fair

Last weekend's Pine'eer Arts & Craft Fair outside of Ocean City, MD received mixed reviews depending upon where your booth was located and what you were selling.  I heard that those vendors who were located inside in the comforts of air conditioning did not have a good show due to less foot traffic. On the other hand, those of us who were located outside in the park under the trees were more successful. Thankfully, it did not rain just before or during the show.  We were dry.  It was a hot day- 90 degrees with an occasional breeze.  We had more foot traffic as usual.  Crafters and artisans with unusual creations did more business.  There seemed to be foot traffic this year.  Many people were shopping for holiday gifts.  The one downer for me was there were fewer food vendors.  Over the years, we have always depended upon food vendors for a variety of offerings in the morning and at lunch time- Italian sausages and other goodies.  I'll be there again next year.

My next show is a little closer to home in Parkville, MD in Baltimore County.  It will be my first time vending at that show.  I'm looking forward to the opportunity.  Stop by the show if you're located in the Baltimore area.  More later.

Open House

The Sunday after Easter, I will be hosting an Open House featuring my hand crafted jewelry and all of my other craft items- colorful hand knitted year-round scarves, hand knitted shawls, handmade canvas tote bags with machine embroidery designs on the pocket, and fingertip guest towels with machine embroidered designs.  Plus, I am busy making new items for the spring- most of which will not be available for sale on my website- I won't have time to post them on Etsy. 

Details about the Open House are on the "Show Schedule" in the right hand column.  Stop by to see me if you are in the Baltimore area.

Catonsville Arts & Craft Festival

The show is next Sunday, September 8.   I've been busy making new items for this event.  My booth is #84.  Stop by to see me if you're in the area.

Catonsville Flower Fest and Garden Party

More information.  The festival will be held on May 5, 10:00 am to 3 pm on Egges Lane in the heart of Catonsville.  Exit #13, 1/2 mile west of the I-695 Beltway.  Spare Time Creations will be exhibiting at booth #18.  Stop by if you're in the Baltimore area.

Floral Fest and Garden Party

Spare Time Creations will be exhibiting- and selling- at the Catonsville (MD) Flower Fest and Garden Party in May.  I'll have a new floral collection for the show.  Watch for more details.