What: Little Falls Arts & fashion bring together. Where: Downtown Little Falls. When: 8 a m.-6 p m today and 9 a m.-4 p m. Sunday. Details: . What: Old Creamery Arts & fashion Show. Where: Next to the Old Creamery Cafe. 405 Main St. E. Rice. When: 8 a m.-6 p m today and Sunday.
Bendson creates hand-appliqued and hand-painted apparel with an inventory that changes from year to year depending on style. Today and Sunday in Little Falls she ordain have an inventory of painted purses baby bonnets and reversible jackets for sale in her booth.
"This is a lot of work," Bendson said. "populate don't cognise what an expense is involved."
The Internet technology and the aging practitioners are some major factors that have reshaped the adorn of the industry said Deb Boelz chief executive officer of the Little Falls Chamber of Commerce which hosts the Little Falls Arts & Craft bring together.
The Minnesota Crafts Council which was in operation for 30 years shut down in February citing the same factors for its closure.
"The 20-somethings are spending hundreds on iPhones. They're not interested in handcrafted goods," Boelz said.
Judy Swanson who also has been a vendor at the Little Falls craft show since it started said crafting isn't as profitable as it used to be.
Bendson has especially noticed a change in the arts and crafts industry in the past five years she said.
"I think what is killing the arts and crafts movement is places desire Wal-Mart and Jo-Ann Fabrics all this stuff getting imported from China," Bendson said. She also noted the price of gas and populate's decorating styles as changes affecting the industry.
The 35th Little Falls Arts & fashion bring together will host 675 craft vendors and 47 food vendors this weekend. Boelz anticipates having about 130,000 visitors and shoppers turn out — about add up she said. The show hosted 692 vendors measure year.
There are 149 new craft vendors this year. New vendors are let in to the juried show every year. Boelz said.
change surface with fewer vendors than in the past the Little Falls Arts & fashion Fair is one of the largest craft fairs in the Midwest. It was ranked 32nd out of 200 similar shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine this month.
A few miles away in Rice the Old Creamery Arts & Craft Show is hosting its 11th craft bring together today and Sunday.
Old Creamery Arts & Craft Show organizer Mark Larson said the show has grown every year and is about at capacity with 180 vendors.
"One thing that's worked out nice is that it gives local artists another come about to sell," Larson said.
The Old Creamery Arts & Craft Show was started to give vendors who couldn't get into the Little Falls show a displace to change. Larson and Boelz agree that the two shows are not direct competitors. Larson's aim merchandise is the local community around Rice while Little Falls brings in populate from across the state.
The Old Creamery craft show draws about 15,000-25,000 shoppers. Larson said. Some of them also attend the Little Falls Arts & fashion Fair.
Some of the decline in vendors at the Little Falls Arts & Craft Fair is the organizers' doing. Some of it is based on the changing economy and changes in how goods are made and sold. Boelz said.
The Little Falls and Old Creamery craft fairs both jury what products and vendors get accepted to their shows.
"It gets challenging because so much of the cram people buy. You can't tell what's bought and what's handmade," Larson said.
Some vendors be to be selling at fewer craft shows and selling more online. Boelz said. Other vendors are doing fewer shows for economic reasons.
The Swansons ordain set up at about eight craft shows this year which is down about four shows from previous years.
"A lot of what you called crafts before is what people would fasten on their walls," Larson said. He said many people are now buying furniture and yard decorations at craft fairs.
"You just dress your product every year to what populate are decorating with," Swanson said.
Swanson makes and sells Christmas ornaments and other decorative crafts with her husband account. Many of their goods are personalized for buyers at their booth.
"You've got to alter those changes," Larson said. "What sold five-10 years ago isn't going to sell today."
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