DesignerCon 2014 -- with links

This is an annual convention held in Pasadena. I'd never been before, but learned about it from the Flatbonnie team when I met them at WonderCon. This show is a blast! Lots of variety and so inspiring to see artists work in all these media. Here's how the Designercon website describes the show ...

Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer apparel with urban, underground and pop art!

Here's the program

First I visited with some of the artists that I already knew ...

half of the Snorffles & Meeps team was there .. Jeannine Schafer at her Neenerbot Shop booth, #602, holding the kickstarter funded Snorffles & Meeps vol 3, hot off the presses! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/204657744/snorffles-n-meeps-vol-3

more on the book and team here ...

Steph Laberis ...

https://www.facebook.com/stephlaberisart

Jeannine's blog

http://jeannineschafer.blogspot.com/

and her FB page ...https://www.facebook.com/neenerbotshop

next up.. Flatbonnie and Friends! http://www.flatbonnie.com/

Her handmade plush items are so irrestable .. and all for a great cause.. learn more on their website, or facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FlatBonnie

 I picked up more buttons ... and a batbun keychain..

they are super smart to have their Flatbonnie.com WEB ADDRESS on the edge of their buttons!

IMPORTANT TIP FOR ARTISTS ... be sure to BRAND all your items with your name and website address or other contact info. Don't make your small items under perform in this area. They can also help establish your brand and provide referrals. Your image that sells to one customer will likely go on to others .. give them a way to find you!

DesignerCon is huge .. with rows and rows of booths ...

also there was the adorable felt fun at the Squshies booth ..

I added more buttons .. 

and love how their Otis the cake troll card .....

..... has all their contact info on the back...Another great example of including important marketing info with items :)

Meanwhile, also at the show ... Furry Felines Creatives http://furry-feline.com/

surprises around every corner at this convention ...

and lots of fun new finds ... here are a few..

I don't usually go to the dark side, but I enjoyed these "nightmare inspired" graphic t-shirts from Aukumu Ink http://akumuink.com/

 can't show my "swag" from here... as they were gift purchases :)

Back on my familiar terrority with the charming buttons and pins I scored at Audrey Miller Art ... http://www.audreymillerart.com/

 will be putting these little gems to good use on another project ...

 Still holiday shopping .. and found more loot here at the ExBoyfriend Collection clothing booth  http://www.ex-boyfriendcollection.com/

 picked up this clever take on Wonderland as mass transit map (I put the Fuzz Aldren sticker on top)

There's always lots of ways that artists explore superhero themes and icons. These clever designs at the Michelliezoid booth caught my eye ...she's on instagram  http://instagram.com/michelliezoid and pintrest http://www.pinterest.com/michelliezoid/michelliezoid/

There was a wide range of tastes and subject matter at this convention ... I just tend to gravitate towards booths like this one .. who wouldn't love one that mostly unicorns???  http://unicorncraftsart.com/

after too many years of collecting .. I really need to stick to small items these days. Buttons and pins and magnets .. oh my...

Even so .. these unique soft sculpture "fancy rats" at artist Colleen Campbell's Threadcat booth were really tempting!!!!

There's a photo series of one of the rats on her flickr page
 https://www.flickr.com/photos/dragonsquared/15222314475/in/photostream/

you can see more of her costumes, illustrations and soft sculpts at her Dragonsquared website  http://www.dragonsquared.com

DesignerCon is a two-day show .. and it's a LOT to see. 

 All sorts of random wonderfulness .. like these cards by designer Christopher Lee ...http://www.thebeastisback.com/

 such unexpected fun on the interior of these little greetings ....

You can see Christopher's booth in picture below, on the right, and in the background, the sign leading you to the other big room full of booths ....you can wander to your hearts content ...

and if your SO (Significant Other) isn't quite that into it .. they can enjoy the outdoor mall and movies across the street  http://www.paseocoloradopasadena.com/  .. or cool their heels by ice skating at the Pasadena Convention Center! http://www.skatepasadena.com/

These design conventions are an opportunity to meet some of the artist behind the designs and logos you see at stores and companies you know. Also.. it's great to see the many ways artists are using these events along with social media to expand the market for their art. Nearly all the artists can accept credit card payments at their booth now with the "square" devices on their cell phones. It's come a long way baby since our early days at the book fairs at the same venue!