We made a decision this year not to apply for the Texas State Arts and Crafts Show (Kerrville).This decision came as a part of our LIFE planning to begin to cut back on a few shows so that we could travel more. Skipping this show is a hard thing for us. Kerrville is very close to where we live, so this has always been a convenient endeavor. And we have a long history with the State Show.
We have been at the State Arts and Crafts Show since 1980!! Here is a picture of Philip's exhibitor badge from that first year.
We have been there so long that most of the other exhibitors who started doing that show with us have died (we miss you all), quit doing art shows, retired completely or changed their lifestyle/art/focus.
In our first several years, as some of you may remember, the show was actually on the campus of Schreiner College. It was huge. There was a whole section of the show devoted to the education of folk arts and crafts of Texas. There was a large area devoted to art education/participation for kids. The food was diverse. It was great. People traveled from all areas of Texas, often staying in Kerrville for several days, perhaps also attending the big folk music festival during the same visit.
Our first year, the exhibitors were asked to dress in pioneer costume. We accommodated this request. Philip wore overalls and the girls (age 3 and 5 at the time) and I wore long dresses and bonnets. We MELTED in the heat! I found a picture of Jenny in her pioneer ourfit.
Our booth was a long table with a false front and we were under a big oak tree. The girls took naps under that table and the tree provided our only decorative aspect to our display.
But, that first year in Kerrville was the start of a long relationship.
The State Arts and Crafts Show has evolved as you long time attendees must know. Directors have come and gone. The show moved off of the Schreiner campus. The number of days the show ran each year changed like crazy. We had two weekend shows, four day shows, three day shows, shows with preview parties, shows with performing artists, animal exhibitions, shows with exhibition pavillions and shows without.
In those early years, there were not as many art/craft shows in Texas as there are now. The competition has taken its toll on the Kerrville show. Attendance has gone down and many artists have moved on to try other shows. We aren't sure of the future of this show, just as we aren't sure of our future show choices, but for this year, we are saying goodbye to this old friend.
We certainly do encourage customers to keep attending if this was a show you enjoyed and a time of year that a visit to the Hill Country is good for you. If you need a bell from us, don't let our non-attendance cause you grief - just go to the website or call.
We hope the festival will be great and hope all who go have a great time. Here is the link for this year's show.
http://www.tacef.org/arts-crafts-fair/about-the-fair/
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