As you know it was my first trip up the NYIGF.  I had a complicated decision making process to finally pull the trigger and do the show.  It’s a big, expensive proposition but the rewards are just as good.  The last big show I did was years ago in Baltimore at the American Craft Council shows.  While those were good for me and had good exposure and sales, it never quite met my expectations.  Going up to the NYIGF felt like yet another step in finalizing our move to Austin.  It was really a debut of my work on a larger stage than it had been on before.

While I have worked hard in the studio bringing this body of work together, my main sales outlets have been in and around Austin and Texas in general.  Texas is large but I needed to connect with a larger audience and NY definitely offers that.  I was in the Handmade Designer/Maker section and it was the perfect spot to be.  The Handmade community is a wonderful place to be and the buyers that came through were committed to carrying well designed and well crafted work.  Both Mom & Pop stores and larger stores are looking for new work by individual designers and it was nice to be part of that buzz.

One of the best parts of the show is that I made some great new friends and found some time to catch up with some old friends as well.  Here’s some work from some new friends.  There was so much more work that I loved from so many more designers but I’ll save that for another post.  Here are some links to just a few that are worth taking a peek at.

Kosoy+Bouchard

dbO Home

Dolan Geiman

Molly M Designs

Paper Wings

Perch Design

As I’m sure you could see from the photos I posted during the show that I had focused on a minimalist booth design to highlight the simple nature of my work.  All in all it was a great experience.    It was a successful show on many levels and I’m already hard at work filling orders for stores across the country.  I’ll be updating the website to reflect the new locations as I ship the work.

After reading as much as I could from other designers who had done the show I prepared as best as I could.  This included ; a well thought out booth, the right amount of samples (I brought too many but didn’t display them all), a press/media kit, a line-sheet, a notebook so I could write reminders about who I spoke with and most importantly, a clipboard with order sheets on them.  The best case scenario is to write orders directly at the show and I’m happy to have done that.  Orders are also beginning to trickle in from buyers I’ve met at the show and I’ve tried to schedule my studio work out so that I’ll have some time to fill in those orders.  With my other spring events including the Art of the Pot Studio Tour, I’m coming close to having to cut off new orders as I’m just reaching the capacity of what my studio can handle.

So…I’m thrilled that I went and am already planning my next trip up for the August NYIGF.  Not that I need another excuse to head to NY but I’m glad that I have found one.

I do still try to do something small for my wife and I noticed on the internets via Camille Styles that the amazing Ashley from The Byrd Collective was doing custom arrangements at By George, a local clothing boutique.  I decided to swing by with one of my centerpiece vases and let Ashley work her magic.  She did and it’s nice to see the full potential of this vase in action.  You can stop off at By George tomorrow to grab your love some flowers but get in touch with me first and you’ll have a vase that will outlast the arrangement.

Flowers by The Byrd Collective in a Vase by Kreeger Pottery,

And this trip was amazing.  To say I enjoyed my first time at the NYIGF is an understatement.  All of the stress and all of the work and all of the unknowns leading into the show were worth it.  I met some really wonderful people both on the artist/designer/maker side as well as on the buyer side.

Not only that, but I got to enjoy 8 days of living in Hell’s Kitchen with all of the awesomeness that the neighborhood offers.  It’s good to be home with my family and I’ll be heading right back to the studio shortly.  In the meantime, I miss Yoo Nork.

The Skyline from Gate 97 at EWR

This trip is even more exciting because my first trip to the NYIGF is going so well.  I’ll fill you in on all of the details when it’s done but here’s a sneak peak of what my time has been like so far.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I still have a few more things to do tomorrow to finish up my booth at the New York International Gift Fair.  I’m sure you all know that it’s my first time at the show.  I’ve been welcomed in warmly by some of my wonderful fellow Handmade Artists.  Dana from DBO Home and Dolan Geiman have organized a nice little party to feature some of the great work in our section of the show.  I should have the booth finished up by early tomorrow afternoon and I’ll report on my progress and the show in general.

Click here to view the embedded video.