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

Good news if you live in the Manhattan area: Michaels, North America's largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, just opened a storefront in Manhattan.

Located at the Columbus Square development at 808 Columbus Avenue at 97th Street, the grand opening celebration runs through October 31 with free craft workshops and product demos. Martha Stewart will be at the location October 26 at 5:00pm for a book signing.

If you have a child between the ages of one to 12 who is following in your creative footsteps, you'll be interested in finding out more about the Lands' End annual Kids Holiday Art Contest.

From now until November 20, artwork will be accepted in three age categories: 1-6, 7-9 and 10-12. First prize winners in each age group will receive a $500 Lands' End gift card, second prize winners receive a $250 Lands' End gift card and third prize winners receive a $100 Lands' End gift card.

To enter, mail a completed entry form and the holiday artwork on a vertical piece of 8 1/2" by 11" paper postmarked by November 20.

Image courtesy of PRNewsFoto: Morris Animal Foundation Holiday Card. Artist: Steven Bauer, "Penguins at Sea".

I recently received an email from a reader regarding how to tax the craft business S-Corporation distributions versus C-Corporation dividends. Distributions are tax-free when you received them while dividends are taxable. Although in the final analysis you pay tax on both.

Check out my quick tip about taxing dividends and distributions and why dividends are one instance of double taxation.

The latest issue of W magazine gives details on the first annual W:The Art Project, a photography contest whose theme is obsession.

The grand prize package includes a Voltz Clarke consultation, Nikon DSLR camera, PhotoSHelter Pro website and best of all for fashion photographers - a W Magazine promotional feature.

You have until December 1 to enter. In addition to the image, you'll also have to submit an essay not to exceed 250 words describing your entry along with your biography that may not exceed 500 words.

Check all the details at The Art Project website.

Good news for all the Dremel fans out there. The model 4000 is hitting craft, hardware and home improvement stores this month and has the following features:

• Variable speed range of 5,000 to 35,000 rotations per minute.
• Use it to carve, engrave, grind, sand, cut, clean and polish.
• New two features are a pistol grip making it easier to hold and use and a sanding/grinding guide

Check out the Dremel 4000 product page for complete details.

Dremel also has a pretty interesting arts and crafts projects page that you may find worth a look.

Image courtesy of Dremel®

If you sell or promote your arts and crafts business on the internet, you know how important SEO optimization is to drive traffic to your site.

I use Google many times daily. I found a great article on how to become a more savvy Google user both for researching vendors and other arts and crafts business related topics and finding popular keywords.