Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Hill.
Hi Kathy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Redbud Artisan Market was started in 2017 so that I would have a show to do regularly full of handmade art and that I could look for and choose amazing artists for the show, in all mediums of art. It started out in Dripping Springs, Tx but I moved it to Fredericksburg, Tx west of Austin, in 2020, where we will remain. Fredericksburg is a charming town, with a rich German heritage, wineries, art and it has a basic wonderful feeling just walking around in it. My show has been very successful there with tourists pouring through the Marktplatz, which is the location on Main St where we have all of the shows – three each year.
I love curating and running the show. I do most of it myself with a few helpers now and then and for the live music, I have a local musician, Cam King, to run the sound for me.
My artists are the best. I have about 200 artists that rotate in and out, and always a few new ones to add in for each show, but I’d say I have about 40 out of 50 returning artists for each show. We have a great reputation as a real art show, with everything being handmade by the attending artist – no imports, kits, re-selling of store bought merchandise, no AI generated art or CNC work. Fabulous art! We also are one big happy group, sometimes dealing with not so perfect weather under the large pavilions, but we manage to have a good time regardless. Everyone’s favorite show is the Holiday show, coming up Dec 12 & 13 and I am looking forward to another great success!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As with any business, there are sometimes issues. The first issue was Covid, 2020. I had to cancel a full show, refund the fees and wait. At the end of 2020, I had a one day show and tried out the venue in Fredericksburg, masks etc. It was Great! I decided then and there, that I would always hold the shows in Fredericksburg at the Marktplatz, which is a city park right on Main with two great pavilions to have the show under, so the weather doesn’t take you out if it gets bad.
The weather is the only other struggle. In Texas it can be 60 one minute and 100 the next. Sometimes it is just too hot, as during the Labor Day show, but we manage. In December now and then one day is freezing and the other perfect. May is generally the best weather, but not always, so there is THAT. I cannot control the weather, no matter how hard I try!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say that I am more of a craft person. I have always loved making thing, artsy things, but would not put myself in a category with so many of my amazing artists. The craft that I have decided to do for now is glass windchimes. Not a difficult task that takes training, but something I came up with that I enjoy and it makes me happy to do and I sell hundreds of them a year.
I make them from vintage glassware, that I buy, break, tumble, drill and put together. I am one of many glass artists at my show – others do stained glass, fused glass, jewelry from glass etc.
They are very pretty with the many colors available out there and using the old, vintage glass assures me that they won’t fade out over time but will remain bright and colorful for the buyer. I love making them!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My shows all take place in Fredericksburg, Tx, a large town, west of Austin, known for it’s German heritage and tourism. People go for the shopping, wineries, restaurants and fun vibe it has. There really isn’t anything that I do not like about it. It feels safe and it is charming and I could easily live there!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @redbudartisan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064515859657
