If you stay current, it's easy to find an arts/crafts contest or show to enter just about every week of the year. The newest one I've received info about is the Absolut Art Award. This year, Absolut Vodka decided to fund a yearly award to international young artists exploring creativity through the integration of art forms.

The first-ever winner is Keren Cytter who will receive the award in a ceremony at Lydmar Hotel in Stockholm. In addition to the cash prize and trip to Stockholm, the artist has the opportunity for a collaboration or an underwritten work with the Absolut Company in the upcoming year.

FYI - Andy Warhol was the first artist to collaborate with Absolut Vodka.

Image courtesy of Absolut Vodka

While researched my latest article on paper mache, I came across a gallery representing fiber artist and weaver Kay Sekimachi. Moving into a logical tangent to her fiber arts, the gallery is exhibiting paper bowls by the artist.

Crafted from handmade Japanese paper, these bowls range in price from $750 to $900. So if you think there's no money in paper crafts - think again. And I can totally see a paper mache application for these paper bowls.

For more examples of her designs (she also crafts jewelry), check out Sekimachi's exhibit online at Velvet da Vinci Gallery in San Francisco, Ca. The exhibit runs through November 29th.

If you need a light-weight flexible tripod for your arts and crafts business, I highly recommend you check out the Joby Gorillapod. It looks like a child's toy gone crazy, but it does an excellent job of supporting your camera in places where a 'normal' tripod just won't work.

Balance a tripod on a rock? No problem. Need to wrap your tripod around a railing? Gorillapod is ready! At $21.95, it's a no-brainer purchase for any photographer or artist/crafter who shots their own images. Plus, it makes for a great inexpensive holiday present.

The November 2009 issue of ARTnews has a very interesting article about the branding of Andy Warhol. Warhol died in 1987 however as a testament to how well he branded himself the demand for his work is stronger than ever.

I know it seems to be anti-arts/crafts to be talking about branding but establishing your company/body of work as a brand is one of the best ways to generate blockbuster sales and be able to charge higher-than-market for your products.

Branding doesn't mean the handcrafted nature of your products has to be compromised; merely that your business' name becomes synonymous with the type of product. For a broad example, think wrap dresses and Diane von Furstenberg, wild prints and Marimekko, or the twisted cable jewelry of David Yurman. Arts and crafts example - Myra Burg and her silent oboes

For more information about branding, the article, Warhol, Inc., is available online and this excellent Guide to Branding by About.com Marketing Guide Laura Lake.

Image of Andy Warhol artwork: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images