Fall Shows & People (posted belatedly March 3, 2010)

Here it is March, with shows just around the corner and I'm just now getting around to posting photos from my fall shows. Life got in the way of doing a lot of things that I intended to do last fall, so here goes . . .

MOsaics in St. Charles MO

Here I am with ceramicist Sharon Jackson, my booth neighbor

Sharon with David Haight

Me and photographer Todd Shaak

St. James Court Art Show - Louisville KY

Customers in and out of my booth

Admiring customer in my booth

My booth neighbor William Greenwood, Jeweler

Winterfest - Springfield MO

One of many helpful Runners!

My childhood friend Lyn McKenzie

A young customer in my booth

Bari Precious and Mom about to go off cruising!

Jeweler Extraordinaire Pat Zieche

Hey, I Won Another Prize! (posted September 10, 2009)

I exhibited at the Art Fair at Queeny Park in St. Louis last weekend and was awarded a second place ribbon in 2-dimensional art. The show was going along a little slowly for me on Saturday, and juror John Dyess stopped by to chat with me about my work, introduced his wife Carolyn, a graphic designer, and I appreciated the care they took to talk with all of the 2-D artists. On Sunday morning I walked over to my booth to see a big beautiful red ribbon hanging there! Too wonderful! It came with a cash prize and then Sunday turned out to be a great sales day, so all in all I was very happy with the show. I drove home that night with the ribbon on my passenger side visor.

I also received the gift of a sweet little "lucky" necklace from jeweler DeeDee DiFabio, just because, and made some wonderful trades with jeweler Marguerite Vonesh and Best of Show winner Jerry Brown. As usual I enjoyed catching up with many artist friends and made some new ones. Shows always seem to fill me up with positive energy--from artists as well as customers--and this one was no exception.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, chatted, bought stuff . . . All of that is SO appreciated!

My Books on Amazon! (posted August 16, 2009)

I have finally taken the step of posting my books on Amazon.com. Woo-hoo!! I suppose I still had some weird nervousness about doing that, but I'm all over it now, and I am pleased to report that I'm putting my books way out into the great big world at last.

While I'm very happy to sell my books directly to you and others, I am hoping that some of you who already have either or both of the books might take a few minutes to write a glowing customer review for Amazon. It would really be great and it would help me out a lot to have some fabulous rave reviews posted right there. You can do this by going to the page for the book and scrolling down to a button that says Create Your Own Review. (Unfortunately, I have found that there is another Kay Foley out there who's writing books! AND there is a toy company called Merrythoughts! So you should search for the books by title AND author, if you want to find them quickly. OR you can just follow the links below.)

Thanks so much and thanks for giving me the confidence to do this!

Shows, shows, shows (posted June 22, 2009)

Still coming off of the high of two wonderful shows--Arts Fest in Iowa City and the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina Kansas. Iowa City is one of my favorite, hip and groovy places to go, and my great friend Patti Z, the nearly famous quilt artist lives there, so I have many reasons to go back. Patti is one of the people who helped me through the recovery period after my car wreck in 2007, and I had not seen her since then. She was so great about telling all her friends about me that many of them came up to me asking how I was feeling since the wreck, etc. So there's a great homey feeling to going there.

And then last weekend, Salina . . . Well, there MIGHT be a warmer, more welcoming town someplace, but I don't know where it is. That show is put on by the greatest bunch of people, with loads of friendly volunteers, and the customers are wonderful, coming back each day to say hello, take another look, or just to tell me, "I read your book last night and I just wanted to say thank you" or just to say, "Thank you SO MUCH for coming and I hope you come back next year!" Boy. A gal could get spoiled. And the artists who are chosen to be in that show are truly among the best and nicest I ever run into on the show circuit. It was a magical weekend.

BOTH weekends the weather forecast was dire and BOTH weekends the bad weather and rain skirted around us, or only happened at night. I was fervently asking God/the Universe/Mother Nature to please please please make the rain wait until Monday and sure enough . . . we were so very lucky! THANK YOU and thank you to all the great people I met and talked to.

Here are some photos from those two WONDERFUL shows! The first two are of my booth in Iowa City. That next nice photo of me was taken by Rodney May, from Florida, who took some great photos of the whole festival in Salina. Next is my friend Bari Precious, potter extraordinaire of Marshfield MO, then Heinrich Leonhard, gifted ceramicist from right here in Columbia MO, joking around with Al Clement, another great potter from Springfield MO. And finally, Tracine Saulters and crew, the best positive energy bunch of people in the world. Tracine is a jeweler and I am wearing one of her gorgeous necklaces!

All That Glitters . . . (posted May 23, 2009)

Well, I suppose the faltering economy has taken a bite out of the National Stationery Show, for it was not quite as busy or as grand as I had expected. The big companies' booths were, of course, quite grand and beautiful (here's a photo of my little booth), and it was amazing to see the work of many wonderful smaller card makers. I can honestly say that I gave this show my absolute best and am only hoping for lots of good things to come. I met some great people and made some very nice contacts, and who knows what may still come of it? Many thanks to all of those who stopped in the booth and appreciated my work. And a million thank yous to my son Cole, without whom I could not have done this at all. Cole lives in Brooklyn and we had wonderful times together, traipsing all over Manhattan. I LOVE New York City and all that it has to offer--the incredible diversity of its people and places, beautiful architecture, amazing food, and gorgeous Central Park. Can't wait to go back!

Here I am in New York! (posted May 15, 2009)

Hi, everyone! Well, I've made it to New York for the HUGE National Stationery Show. And my stuff has made it here, too! This is my first big wholesale show and so lots of the preparation was new to me--shipping and flame retardant and press kits and price sheets . . . I've hit a few low points along the way but it has mostly been exciting and certainly a learning experience. Only once in awhile have I thought, "WHAT was I thinking??" and now I'm here, exhausted but happy, with my son, Cole, who helped me all day today to pull the booth together. I have more to do tomorrow but I envision the whole thing looking beautiful by end of day. I've entered my Birthday Month Cards and new book in the Best New Product Competition and I've got my dancing shoes ready for the big opening night party Sunday night at the Rainbow Room of the Rockefeller Center. Look out!

Another Prize!!! (posted October 20, 2008)

I was given an Award of Recognition at the MOsaics Festival of the Arts. The arts festival took place September 19, 20, and 21 in beautiful downtown St. Charles, Missouri. The show's juror, John Dean, a landscape painter and teacher of painting who is a featured artist at The Foundry Centre for the Arts in St. Charles, was quite enthusiastic about my work. I was thrilled to receive both a certificate and a monetary prize, as well as his wonderful, kind comments. Awards were given at our booths, with lots of clapping and cheering, and a listing of prize winners was handed out at the artist's breakfast on Sunday morning. There were five Awards of Excellence and ten Awards of Recognition.

I am feeling quite validated lately!

2D BEST OF SHOW At Arts Fest on Walnut Street! (posted May, 2008)

On May 3rd, I was thrilled to receive the award for Best of Show in Two-Dimensional Art for my work at Arts Fest on Walnut Street in Springfield, Missouri. My work was compared with that of painters, printmakers, mixed media, and other two-dimensional artists, and I was flat-out flabbergasted to receive the prize! The award came on Saturday afternoon, just as I was hoping to grab a boothsitter to give me a break. Show organizers drove up to my booth in a golf cart, and I assumed they were just in time to offer me a bottle of water or a short food/bathroom break. But no! They were bringing this marvelous award! I hung the sign in my booth and went running around the show to let my artist friends see the groovy plaque. I didn't stop grinning all weekend long.

Judges this year included a watercolorist, mixed media artist, and professor of art history. I am very thankful to the sponsors of the award, Jim Stout, Neanie Squires, Virginia Bussey, and Cliff Cottage Inn, for the monetary prize that came with it.

This prize, on top of gorgeous weather, great sales, a very well-organized show, and a visit with my childhood girlfriend, made for a perfect weekend in Springfield MO. I will definitely be back next year!

(Photo courtesy of Anna Squires)

KAY FOLEY T-SHIRTS & GIFTS

I hope you've noticed that item in the menu bar that reads T-Shirts, Etc. Click on it and you will be taken to Cafepress.com, where you can purchase my designs on T-shirts, mugs, bags, magnets, hoodies, coasters, and even dog shirts and baby's onesies! I've just been working with a few designs so far, but there are more to come. And I'm selling magnets and t-shirts at a few upcoming shows. Hope to see you, but if not, check it out!

Thanks To All! (Posted May 2007)

You may have noticed that I haven't posted many show listings this year. Well, some of you may know that I had a terrible car accident in February, resulting in five broken vertebrae. On February 12th, I was taken to two ERs, where the concensus was that I was extremely lucky to have escaped paralysis. I had a pretty scary looking x-ray. Anyway, I had surgery on February 13th, and was sent home a few days later in a neck brace.

My family and friends really came through for me, and I am forever grateful to all of them. My sister Pat arrived from California the day after the accident, stayed with me in the hospital, and took care of me at home. Then Eileen, from Tucson, flew in and took over. Mary came later, and helped me get my studio into shape. My friend Claire organized a silent auction on my behalf, and many friends donated and/or purchased items. My mom, siblings, and sons pitched in with financial support as well. And our wonderful arts organization here in Missouri, the Best of Missouri Hands, took up donations.

I heard from many artist friends around the country, and received cards, notes, and letters from all over. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude at the kindness and love showered on me by so many.

After twelve weeks in a neck brace, I've just been set free and am back at work! I am one lucky gal to have escaped much worse injury and to have so many wonderful friends and family that came through for me. Thank you all so very much!

Kay Foley Rubber Stamps

The gals at River City Rubber Works reproduce some of my verses as the fabulous Kay Foley Dilettante rubber stamps, so if you want to try making your own cards with my words, here's your chance. (Of course, everything is copyrighted, so they should be reserved for personal use.)

Everything they make is available wholesale and retail, and you can order a catalog through their website. The catalog itself is loads of fun to read, as it reflects the zany humor and abundant energy of these three great gals, Mary, Dana, and Leeanne. I know you'll love it! Go to their website and order one right now! www.rivercityrubberworks.com

River City has been manufacturing their products at The Big Red Barn, but life changes are calling for a new location, so they have moved operations to Haysville KS. But you can find them online anytime (below).