Well, just a few comments on the season finale of Launch My Line. It's not much of a surprise that the one designer with fashion industry construction and cost of goods sold estimation was the final winner. You can never disregard the value of having good practical experience in the type of arts or crafts business you choose to operate.

Personally, I preferred the convertible designer's garments. I hope she continues on the path to market them. However, this is a case of not realizing the retail aspect of the garment's design. The full out convertibility is fantastic for a boutique operated by the designer but the garments would be a nightmare for any type of mass-market retail.

Can you imagine going to a shop like Banana Republic with the zippers flying, the mess it would be to put the garments back together after the customer finished in the dressing room? I really think this designer would have won had she throttled back on the conversions for the final runway show.

Lessons learned: secure practical experience in your art or craft and carefully consider your marketplace when designing your arts and crafts.

I always find inspiration and a renewed appreciation for work of my fellow artists and crafters when I attend shows. If you feel the same way and you live in or plan on visiting Manhattan, the 1st Annual Harlem Fine Art Show is being held on February 20 and 21. Over 60 of the world's most celebrated African-American artists will be at this new addition to Manhattan's annual Black History Month celebrations.

The event will be held at the 369th Armory, 2366 Fifth Ave., between 142nd and 143rd Streets. Prices for the artwork start at $100. Adult admission to the show is $20, $10 for children 12 and under. Hours: Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To launch the Harlem Fine Art Show, The New York Times, the event's media sponsor, will host a preview party at their new headquarters on Feb. 19 as part of the publication's salute to Black History Month.

Image courtesy of PRNewsPhoto / Harlem Fine Art Show.

I'm always in awe of the skills shown by artists and crafters in fields that I'm unfamiliar with. The February/March issue of American Craft magazine has two fantastic articles on the craft of hand-making shoes and felting. While I've never deliberately felted, I have inadvertently felted by washing and drying a wool sweater. As the article states, you will loss up to 40% of the volume.

It also has a beautiful, approximately 20-page full-color ad for artists and crafters attending the Baltimore American Craft Show at the end of February. For more info about the Baltimore craft show check out the craft council internet fact page.

American Craft magazine is complimentary for members of the American Craft Council. For any artist or crafter that is not already a member, I highly recommend membership in this very useful organization. The annual membership of $40 is worth every penny. Some articles from the current issue of Amercian Craft are available online.

I have to admit, I've been somewhat fixated on surface design of fabric and construction lately because I am considering going back to my roots in arts and crafts which is fabric design. My grandmother was a textile designer and made wedding gowns in her spare time to keep food on the table. Luckily, I had a chance to learn a bit about this art from her before her death.

So I was thrilled to find information about companies allowing you to upload designs which they will replicate on fabric. To find out more in general, check out the article, DIY Textiles Let Everyone Create Their Own Designs on Fabric by Jennifer Forker. And here's a link to one service specifically mentioned in the article: Spoonflower.

I plan on using one of these services and will report back after my first attempt.