~*~*~* Summer Shades *~*~*~

With summer coming up just around the corner we just wanted to keep you up on the sunglasses savvy!  


Remember everyone is vulnerable to UV rays.

Surprise!   Surprise!   Surprise! 

The darkness of the lens has nothing to do with how well sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays.

Just remember to pick sunglasses that specifically say they absorb UVA and UVB rays.

So remember, get sunglasses for the whole family and don't forget to look around the shop for that perfect hat to go with them.

What Are You Doing this Weekend in Michigan?

June 10 & 12
Flint       

44th Annual Flint Art Fair     
on the grounds of the Flint Institute of Arts
Friday: 6-10pm Sat: 10am-6pm Sun: 11am-5pm  
160 Artists

The Flint Art Fair has been a summer destination for over 20,000 art fair lovers throughout Michigan and Canada for the past 40 years. Presented by the Friends of Modern Art, a fundraising auxiliary of the Institute. 

June 11
Berkley       

     Berkley Art Bash    
     on 12 Mile    
     10am-6pm
     100 Artists
It's not just an Art Fair - It's a Street Party! 12 Mile will be closed from 6 am until 7 pm between Tyler and Wakefield Streets.  

June 11

Jackson
     Ella Sharp Art and Wine Festival

     Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History,  

     3225 Fourth Street
     11am-7pm
For more info: www.ellasharp.org/ 

June 11

Fremont
     NCCA Art Festival
     Market Place Pavilion,
     corner of Merchant and Dayton Streets
     9am-4pm
     50 Exhibitors

June 11 & 12
Royal Oak       

16th Annual Royal Oak Clay, Glass Show & Metal Show  
on Washington Avenue & Fifth Street   

downtown Royal Oak    
Saturday: 10am-6pm;  

Sunday: 11am-5pm    
125 Artists
Great pottery, metal, and that ever increasingly popular collectible, glass, in fashionable downtown Royal Oak with great restaurants nearby.
For more info: www.royaloakchamber.com

So all you Michigan people with all this nice weather we're having get out and see what the artists have been up to. Don't forget to share what you think of the fairs.

Art Fairs across the country

June 9-12 Salina, Kansas Smoky Hill River Festival Fine Art & Fine Craft Festival, Four Rivers Craft Market 135 artists & craftspeople For more info: www.riverfestival.com June 10-12 Santa Monica, California Contemporary Crafts Market 1855 Main St. 250 artists June 10-12 Omaha, Nebraska     Omaha Summer Arts Festival downtown 135 artists  For more info: www.summerarts.org June 11 & 12 Chicago, Illinois Old Town Art Fair Old Town neighborhood 260 artists For more info:  www.oldtownartfair.com June 16-19 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Boardwalk Show 17th St. & Atlantic 320 artists June 17-19 Nashville, Tennessee American Artisan Festival 165 artists June 17-19 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lakefront  Festival of the Arts on the grounds of the Milwaukee Art Museum 170 artists June 18 & 19 LaJolla, California    LaJolla Festival of the Arts Genesee Ave. & Regents Rd. 190 artists June 24-26 Des Moines, Iowa     Des Moines Arts Festival     Western Gateway Park 180 artists For more info: www.DesMoinesArtFestival.com Find more art fairs around the country: www.ArtFairCalendar.com We would love to hear from our readers if they attend any of the art fairs.

June's Jubilant Art Fairs in Michigan

June 3 & 4 Kalamazoo      60th Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Art Fair           Bronson Park downtown  New Hours:      Friday: noon-7pm;  Saturday: 9am-4pm      210 Artists      Due to demand from art patrons and artists this popular event opens on Friday and again on Saturday. What a great place to spend time and money!  Visit the fine restaurants that surround park when you are finished shopping. June 3-5 Mt. Clemens            Mount Clemens Art Fair             downtown Mt. Clemens      presented by the Anton Art Center and the Mount Clemens        DDA Friday: 3pm-9pm; Saturday: 11am-8pm; Sunday: noon-6pm 80+ exhibitors For more info: www.TheArtCenter.org June 4 & 5 Midland             Summer Art Fair                Grounds of Midland Center for the Arts      10am-5pm          160 Artists June 4 & 5 Lapeer             5th Annual Lapeer Celebrates the Arts      Chatfield School, at Prairies & Ponds of Oakdale in Lapeer      Saturday: 10am-5pm; Sunday: noon-5pm      50 juried artists Expect a fine arts festival, music and food June 4 & 5 Chelsea             Chelsea Painters Art Fair      Chelsea Community Hospital Campus      10am-5pm      30 painters June 4 & 5  Farmington Hills               Art on the Grand      Grand River Avenue in the middle of town     Saturday: 10am-7pm; Sunday: 11am-6pm For more info: www.fhgov.com/CulturalArts/ So all you Michigan people with all this nice weather we're having get out and see what the artists have been up to. Don't forget to share what you think of the fairs.

Memorial Day is a . . . .

Memorial Day is a US federal holiday that honors the soldiers. It is observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, which begun as a ritual of remembrance  it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. 

Memorial Day has now become an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as people visit the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not.

So we here at Expressive Collections 
would like to tell everyone to have a 
Happy and Safe Memorial Day weekend!

~~~~~*~~~~~~Happy Easter~~~~~*~~~~~~

We here at Expressive Collections would like to say

Have a safe and wonderful holiday ! ! !

Hot New Item ! ! ! The Pocket Footies

We are at it again, making new exciting handmade items for you. With the weather warming up and the snow melting, things are looking kinda slushy and muddy. 

So what are you going to do when you visit friends and take off your shoes. Well you don't want to walk around with nothing on your feet.

This is where we come in, just slip on a pair of Pocket Footies. They fold up small and neat into your purse or your pants pocket. Now you never have to walk around in bare feet when you're visiting family and friends.

They're also great to have on hand, for when something unexpected happens to the socks you're wearing.

Available in our store soon ! !