Folk Art Market Wrap Up, Farewell Friend and Hello Rue Magazine

It seems as if an age has past since I last wrote anything.  It's a funny thing once you start blogging, (at least for me), I can't keep up with all of the creativity and things to write about.  I am going to go backwards and update you via Charlene Cerny, the executive director of the Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe .  In her words below is a brief wrap up! To see the full article head to their blog.

Photo by Roni Jaco

Wow! There is so much to say and to tell you now that the 2010 Market is over, but I thought I should at least share some highlights with you.

This year’s Market saw some wonderful new developments and great success “by the numbers” (these are preliminary figures and subject to change):

• Collectively, artist sales totaled over $2 million, a 7% increase over last year
• Attendance is estimated at nearly 25,000, a increase of 6.1%
• This year, for the first time, we inaugurated “International Folk Arts Week” in collaboration with the Museum of International Folk Art and many businesses around town.
• The Friday night Market Opening Party was attended by over 1,500 eager buyers and partiers.  
• The Million Hearts for Haiti booth, all proceeds of which are going to Haitian artisan initiatives, was wildly successful—and by the end of the weekend had earned over $32,000. Overall, Friday night buyers spent close to $450,000—supporting artists all the way! 

Last week I wrote a blog "Travel Fever", about missing Turkey and my friend Albert who that same day was loosing his battle to cancer in Istanbul, Kismet?  He loved life, his friends, family, food and wine, I am not sure which order.  He will be missed.

The Face and T-shirt say it all

I want to end this post with enormous optimism and congratulations to a brilliant group of (women) bloggers, all of whom I am sure you are familiar with for their sense of style mixed with great writing.
I wish them the best of luck with this huge and exciting endeavor they are collaborating together on a new online magazine called Rue Magazine. Look for the premiere issue this September!
Break a leg ladies!

Photo by Emily Anderson

I heard it through the grapevine that a few of The Loaded Trunk Pieces might have made the cut for one of the 1st issues.  I am crossing my fingers.