Last fall in our Village, some scarecrows appeared one day around the picnic table in front of the local restaurant.

We observed several people doing a double-take before they realized that these were not real people sitting at the table in the cold drinking their coffees. These scarecrows did look like real people, dressed in plaid shirts, jeans or dark pants, some with hats.

It really was a hoot to watch the reactions.

The scarecrows were there for a couple of weeks, as I recall, before the same arrived.

Where did they come from and who placed them there?

A few weeks later Christmas wreaths appeared on a fence on the main street. Some may have thought it was the nursery school or fair board who placed them there, or the committee that has recently had the town clock installed and who had decorated that area for the season.

But I happen to know it was not either of those groups.

But there was more. Reindeers appeared on a strip of grass on the main street. You know the ones I mean; the Christmas deer that are all white and covered with lights. Only these ones no longer had lights, they were just the frames of the deers. Nonetheless they looked festive, as someone had added red ribbons.

No one left a calling card for any of these random acts of creativity.

But what nice ways to add some decor and a wee bit of fun to our little Village.

I wonder what the spring and summer will bring.

I have been a member of various arts guilds in the past, each with its definite benefits, including exhibits of the artists' works and opportunities to learn new techniques.

Today I find the arts & crafts shows are jam-packed with artists and crafters, especially at Christmas,  and it can be hard to not only be able to get space to exhibit,  but for those with guilds behind them, to move up the waiting list.

I recently had an opportunity to join a women's business network. And I quickly discovered this to be a great networking and referral resource. In just two months (one month as a member), not only have I gotten a couple of new clients, but may also have some leads on new shows, which I am quite sure I would not have heard about until it was too late, and also some businesses in which to promote my work.

So let's compare some of the benefits of joining a guild and joining a business network:

It's not easy for artists to market themselves. And with so many competing to get booths and tables in art shows and in craft shows, it's very important to find alternative, creative ways to get our goods out into the market. An online presence is critical too. Showing your work in person cannot be beat. Perhaps next month I'll talk about that online presence and some of the keys to creating art websites.