Downtown Business Seminar

We are so lucky to have such a proactive staff at the City of Clarksville! Just look at this program they have put together to the benefit of downtown and of course to Clarksville! If you are interested in opening a business - in Downtown Clarksville or ANYWHERE in Clarksville - this is the event to check out. It is free - just need your name to pre-register! Click the image to see it larger

FiLo - First In, Last Out Antiques

First In, Last Out Antique booth is a fun one to visit! I love these very decorative chamber pots! How funny are they? I have more kids say "Look Mom, a pretty pot for soup!", giving their Mom's (and me) a big chuckle! I won't be making any soup in there - but they are fun, pretty, and frankly a most amusing talking piece! It would be a fun thing to put your extra toiletries in - maybe even your toilet scrub brush or plunger! I bet you would be the only on your block with such a decorative piece for your plunger! Gotta have fun, right?!

Now First In, Last Out Antiques is a great eclectic collection of vintage pieces, from bread boxes, to old antique school desks, old pickle jars and old butter churns. But there is just something about the brown pottery that I am so drawn too. These two pieces in particular. I love the print on the side of the jug style piece and I can see the larger piece on a potluck table this summer keeping the baked beans warm. Come see them for yourself.

The final piece I want to look at is this really cool bed. It is an original Clarksville piece of furniture - taken out of a house right around the corner from here on Union St. A real piece of history. I would love to put it on my sun porch...but alas, I don't have one. So maybe you do? Maybe a covered patio? It would be so cute just up against a wall and made into a daybed settee

Survey for the City

Please visit this website to complete a survey about the types of businesses you'd like to see in the downtown area. An informal survey was completed on Hodgepodge's blog, and the results got alot of attention. Now the City is looking for something a little more "official." They are arranging a seminar for anyone interested in opening a business of their own (May 19th)--we want to be able to say, here are the results of a survey and these are the businesses Clarksville residents will support. This will show you why Clarksville is Tennessee's Top Spot for Small Business. Please help us out by completing this survey.

Also, this is a special link that I hope every checks out - it talks about how we all as individuals can save our local economy ...three stores at a time.

Rivers & Spires this weekend

Everyone downtown is getting excited about this weekends big event! RIVERS & SPIRES. The huge annual event sponsored by the city of Clarksville. For full details, schedule of events, etc - check out the official website http://www.riversandspires.com/

Then come on down! ARTifacts will have an outside booth, and of course we will be open through the entire event; Thursday 10-9, Friday 10-9, and Saturday 10-9.

Hope to see you there!

Bob "the Builder" - Featured Vendor

Bob "the Builder" Williams designs and builds just about anything you may need! Currently his booth has all kinds of benches, side & end tables. I sold a bench to a lady the other day that was so excited about putting it next to her potting shed so people can visit with her while she is potting plants and working in her garden.

Bob also has a couple pieces that are old headboards and other old salvaged pieces that he re-purposes and make into a new piece just for you.

He also will do custom pieces.
The photo shows one of his benches - most of which have a slot cut out on the top for easy picking up and moving it around. Of course, we have to talk about the beautiful headboard bench that is painted white. This particular piece would look great in a long hallway or at the base of a queen size bed. I love it.

Bob's daughter, Jillian, also features her photographs in this booth. Jill uses images -mostly from Venice - and manipulates them creating truly intriguing images - they are just beautiful. Jill also does an amazing job framing her pieces - many have very unusual mats and frames that really highlight the art inside the frames.

Come see what pieces Bob & Jillian have in their booth right now.

Sales at ARTifacts

We have several sales happening right now at ARTifacts.

Junky Monkey is having an Easter sale in their booth. She has taken discounts on select items, some with the Easter theme - some not! (HINT: she even has marked down some of the framed artwork).

The camera doesn't do it justice at all - but Anne Kelle Designs has her notecards, notebooks, doodle pads and bulletin boards all on 50% off Spring Cleaning Sale! Come check out what great gifts you can add to your Easter baskets this year!

Finally, in one of the front booths, Kate Johnson has a sale on her handmade wallets & coin purses. The fabrics on these are very colorful and popular patterns right now.

Come see what new things have arrived this past week too! You don't want to miss out on something special for your home!

How Do They Do That? Extravaganza - Sponsored by Hodgepodge

Hodgepodge's

"How Do They Do That?"
Extravaganza

Announcing a day of crafts & creativity! Saturday, May 30th

Hodgepodge is looking for instructors for a day of crafts & creativity. We are planning an all day crafting event offering a total of 16 classes taught in four– 2 hour sessions. You may teach one or all four sessions. Crafts must be completed during the 2 hour time limit. Class size will be limited to 12 participants. Instructors set costs, to cover expenses and instruction. Participants must pre-register and pay for the class prior to event.

The instructor will be responsible for purchasing & providing the supplies for each class. Recommended maximum for a class is $25, but this is just a recommendation. A $10 registration fee will be charged by Hodgepodge to cover advertising, light refreshments and the use of the space.

Hodgepodge will be responsible to taking registrations and advertising this event.

If you are interested in participating as an instructor, pleased submit a description and sample photo of your project by Wednesday, April 15th. Please submit to me at kendall@artifactsemporium.com – the quick turn-around is necessary to allow for plenty of time for advertising.

Those who just want to come and craft, help us find instructors. If you are interested in participating in any way, please contact me, Kendall Welsh, directly at kendall@artifactsemporium.com

Announcing ARTifacts Workshop Space

ANNOUNCING ARTifacts Art Studio Rental Space

ARTifacts is excited to now be offering a space for you to rent for all your artistic needs. Use the space for teaching classes, design work, or whatever your artistic muse dictates .

This space boast over 1900 square feet of wide open space with fabulous exposed wooden beams & brick to create a fun environment for all kinds of projects.

Included in the rent of this space we have 6 – 9x3 tables, 30 chairs and some storage shelving. Rent this space any time, day or night, 365 days a year. A dedicated bathroom and sink will be available in 1 month as will ceiling lights and fans.

Rental fees are as follows:
$25 for half day
$40 for a full day

If you are interested in reserving the space on a regular bases to offer weekly classes, etc we can work out a package rate also.

Interested? Contact Kendall at kendall@artifactsemporium.com or 931.249.0454 to check availability.

7th Annual DAC Art Auction

7th Annual DAC Art Auction
Smith-Trahern Mansion
Saturday, April 4th
6 to 8 p.m.
Live and Silent Auction
GOOD FOOD AND GREAT ART
Tickets $15 at the Door

Join us Saturday for this amazing event. This is the only fund raiser that the DAC does during the year. Come support the arts in our community.

Easter Time

And I am excited about tomorrow nights ArtWalk tomorrow night and see what new stuff our vendors have brought in while I have been on a quick Spring Break get away for a couple days. Before I left, I put on my spring bonnet (not really, just a metaphor) and took some pics for you all of some of our Easter/Spring items. I hope you enjoy them.
This darling little bunn would be so cute on a mantle with fresh flowers cut around him or just as a center piece for your Easter table.

One of the best ways to liven up your living room or bedroom without changing out everthing is to add new throws. This amazing quilt in Meyvn Designs booth has loads of spring colors. Just add this quilt to the top of a wing back chair, or the arm of your sofa and you have already invited spring in.

I love this verison of the traditional bunny & Easter basket display. The color and textures are so inviting - I just love them.

Another subtle change you can make to your home to invite in spring is to make changes to the art you have on our walls. The beautiful tulips by Gabriele Wardiener are perfect! As is the lavender fields oil piece by one of our featured vendors this month, Gail Meyer. I don't have the photo with me right now, but it is on a previous post so just check that out.

And I can't miss saying something about these fun vintage images that are found in Junky Monkey booth. Not are they amazingly affordable, but so sweet and a great collection to choice from.

I wasn't much of a holiday decorator before having kids. Now I really do it, and say I am doing it for the kids. Now it is more of a creative challenge for me to come up with new looks that are classy, yet fun - and still adult enough. I hope the ideas above you to do the same for your home.

Featured Vendors & ArtWalk Tomorrow!

Please click for full size images!