It was a windy day at the Peoria Heights Art Fair yesterday. Windy, cold, overcast, and decidedly un-lovely weather-wise. That was really unfortunate, both for the artists and the shoppers. At least it didn’t rain. And I have extra love for all the people who were willing to brave the weather, after a week of gorgeous, warm, spring-like weather, to come out and see what everyone has been creating. One of the organizers came around halfway through and told me if I wanted to pack up and go home, because of the cold, I could and other artists were doing just that. Amanda and I stuck it out and stayed until the end, though, and I think it was worth it.

Anodyne Design at the Peoria Heights Art Fair (click image to see a larger version with notes)

Despite the cold and the wind (for which I finally had to figure out how to put the sides up on my tent), I had a great time meeting and talking with new people throughout the day. And I love knowing that some of them left with with a new Little Hootie Owl mobile to hang in their baby’s room, or a journal to give a friend. As usual, the general consensus was that Little Hootie Owls are terribly adorable, and that tiny things are cute.

Of course, today the sun is shining and the wind is gone and it would be a lovely day for a street fair. But it will be summer soon, and I expect there will be lots of lovely days like today at the Farmer’s Market, First Fridays, and Rhapsody in Bloom. And next weekend, just to be on the safe side, the Fancy Schmancy Market, will be indoors, where the weather is always perfect.

I’ve been busy preparing all week for the Peoria Heights Art Fair, and it’s tomorrow! There were will be fine art, jewelry, fine crafts, and food in Tower Park and running down Prospect St. in downtown Peoria Heights from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rumor has it that Anodyne Design will be located on the street near I Know You Like A Book, which is a fabulous little book shop and wine bar. (Seriously, is there a better combination than book store and wine bar?) I’d love it if you’d come by and say hello, and really, it’s just going to be a lovely day for art, craft, shopping, and maybe a glass of wine.

There are going to be a LOT of artists there, but a couple of the ones that I know of for certain, and whom you definitely should not miss, are Joan Furilla, who makes beautiful fine silver jewelry, Razorberries, whose watercolor art never fails to impress, and Yellow Dragonfly Designs, who makes lovely and unique necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, and awesome tables from vintage suitcases.

I have been working on a lot of things, but here’s a peek at some of the new mini journals I’ll have at the fair tomorrow:

Fabric Covered Mini Journals

One of my favorite things about selling online is when my customers tell me what they plan to do with what they’ve bought. Better yet, some of them even send me a photo of their Anodyne Design item in action. I love these photos. They’re so gratifying. Thank you, awesome customers, for sending a little love back to me.

On top of the warm fuzzies I get from seeing an action shot, it has recently occurred to me that some of these shots might be useful to other potential buyers, too. For example, I have a friend who thinks the Little Hootie Owls are cute, but can’t seem to imagine what they are for. So it would probably be extra-helpful for people like her to see some of the owls being used by actual people. Another local friend recently told me that the owls are much cuter in person, and that they are smaller than she realized based on my product photos. Again, action shots could help a lot in this sort of situation.

And so, may I present to you a few customer-taken Little Hootie Owl action shots. This is what these little guys do in the wild:

Little Hootie Owls "nesting" in an orchid

Little Hootie Owl as a small hat

I keep an album on Anodyne Design’s facebook page just for action shots. If you have something from Anodyne Design, I’d love it if you would share a picture! In fact, I love action shots so much, I think I may be announcing an Anodyne Design Action Shot contest soon. Stay tuned for that. Until then, I would love to hear your thoughts on action shots. Do you love them and save them like I do? Never thought of them? Have a better use for them that just keeping them for warm fuzzy feelings? Let me know!

I’m participating in an event that has a billboard. I feel so fancy!