I really like doing arts & crafts shows.  I enjoy the people, the questions, and of course making new customers.  One of my favorite shows is coming up this weekend, the Gravenstein Apple Fair in Sebastopol, CA.  It is a pretty large show for our area, attendance is about 10,000 people for the weekend, but it feels like an old fashioned friendly community kinda place.  Sure there is live music and lots of things to do, but the food is old fashioned and yummy.  Apple and berry turnovers, that kinda stuff.  It is spread out over a nice park under the oak trees, so is enjoyable for all.  Mixed in with the latest in trends is old fashioned items like hay bales, story tellers, apple peeling contests and the like.  It is a family event, in fact we used to take our son to this event when he was young.
  So, my husband and I will be out there having fun this weekend, and hopefully making a few new friends.  If you happen to also attend this show, please come by and say hi... you can always reach me by email since I have my phone with me (isn't technology grand!).  Or you can check out more about this fun event on their website www.gravensteinapplefair.com.

Ann@AnimalCoin.com
 
 
Don't get me wrong. I have been loving making the pendants.  I will keep making them with great joy.  But, an artist can't live on pendants alone! (groan...sorry!).  Anyway, I am back in the "mad scientist lab" trying to come up with new items to offer.  Last week I got some cool bookmarker gizmos, and glued a small animal coin on each one.  They turned out so cute!  So I will be taking these to the Gravenstein Apple Festival next week to see if people like them.  Well, I like them, so I hope someone likes them enough to buy them.
   I have also been experimenting with bracelets.  Different styles and ideas.  Finally found one I like and am starting to put them together.  Another fun project that I am falling in love with, and hope others like as well.  So soon, I will get some photos takes and post them here to share.  Would love to hear from anyone who has any great ideas of other things that coins might look good on... animal coins, that is.

Thanks!
Ann of Animalcoin.com
 
 
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Some coins are NOT created equal.  That is how I felt when I decided to paint this coin.  I was at my local coin club last month, and we had a little coin "flea market."  Harold was telling a few items at his table, and one of them was this coin. Ok, so it doesn't have any animals on it, but I couldn't resist.  So, I took it home and just went with whatever I felt like... and this is the result.  Did I ever share that that is the secret to all "artistic" people, in my opinion anyway.  We throw caution to the wind and go with it.  No planning, just see what happens.  That is when I usually get my best results.  Maybe it is like taking tests in school... go with your instincts because if you think too much you will talk yourself out of the right answer.  Anyway this is a German coin, 1975 5 Mark.  It is made of silver and it is for the European Monument Protection Year.
 
 

It seems fitting, somehow, that my first time selling my Animal Coins is in the town of Paradise, California at a Chocolate Festival.  Two of my sisters moved to this pretty town a couple of years ago, and I decided it would be fun to participate in the craft show, do some visiting, and eat some very delicious chocolate.  I must say I was pleased with the reaction and attention I got.  I found it wonderful that people stopped at my booth and spent quite a bit of time exploring the countries and animals I had on display.  I surprised myself and had about 100 different coins on display, most of them as pendants, which gave us plenty to talk about.

I was surprised at the number of people who asked me if I had American coins, in particular the 50 state quarters series.  As a coin club member, I may have understimated how many people have enjoyed collecting and followed this series of coins.  So, for anyone who may have asked, I am going to start working on painting some of these.  My husband, who was a great help at the booth, has quite a few in his collection that he is going to let me have to paint...  it will be interesting to see if we have all 50 states. 

I also wanted to thank my two sisters, Ginny & Corliss, for all their help and support, but most of all for thinking to show up mid-day with a supply of very cold ice tea for me.  I knew there was a reason I loved them!

Things went so well, I will be looking for more events to participate in.  If you have a favorite event that you would like to suggest to me, let me know...  I can always be reached at Ann@AnimalCoin.com

Thanks, Ann