Festivals in Annapolis are not rare. Neither are events that celebrate art, like art gallery showings. However, events that bring together downtown Annapolis, eclectic vendors selling even more eclectic goods, and the joys of warm weather via completely free entertainment are things to be celebrated and heavily attended. In downtown Annapolis over the months of April through October, this type of event takes place once a month. That’s right–First Sunday Arts is here and in full swing! We headed to the intersection of West and Calvert Streets downtown for July’s First Sunday Arts and retell what happened here. Read about the local vendors selling everything from wire jewelry to books written locally and you’ll see why August’s First Sunday Arts needs to be on your calendar.
The festival lasts from noon to five in the afternoon, allowing you plenty of time to shop the vendor stalls set up. One of the first booths we came across on Calvert Street belonged to Revived Finds, a one-woman-show company that up-cycles anything possibly reusable. The owner had things for sale like rustic window panes with dried herbs, flowers, and sea shells in the glass and other unexpected items used for storage. You can purchase her items on Amazon or via her site, http://revivedfinds.com/index.html. Another artsy booth set up belonged to Beneath the Leaf, another female-run company that offers eclectic and sentimental treasures. The craft mastermind behind the company provides interesting, salvaged jewelry like necklaces with glass messages and other baubbles attached, and keychains with encouraging words. You can visit this company via www.beneaththeleaf.com.
Eco Armour, a company based out of Annapolis, was also in attendance, bringing a whole new perspective to the festival. Not quite artsy but certainly important, Eco Armour provides the greater Annapolis area with a better way to shave via Earth-friendly, non-aggressive ingredients in their shaving products. They assure fewer nicks and cuts, so it can’t hurt to try! Head to www.eco-armour.com to learn more.
Smelling good is important year-round, and stocking up with Scented Company at First Sunday Arts is easy to do. This smell-good business only uses green (or natural) ingredients like castor oil, cane sugar, beeswax, and dead sea salts. Experience the lack of chemical-ridden products with Scented’s bath salts, body lotions, and chap sticks. Visit the site, http://scentedco.com, to read more about this green product initiative.
First Sunday Arts is dog-friendly, as is Queen Tuna Fish Designs that was set up on West Street. This company run out of Stevensville features dog beds that unfold from decorated suitcases. Truly, this company functions to make your pooch feel like a queen (or king) as the name states.
Authors usually make an appearance at the festival and this July, a very talented and busy local mom and author was there. Children’s author Amy Misakonis showcased her two colorful, heartwarming books written about her son that can easily be shared with any child. Catch a sneak peak of the plot lines and illustration on her site, www.amymisakonis.com.
As Annapolis is so lovely and picturesque, you can imagine why there were so many photographers and artists there. Some lined up on West Street included Ramon Matheu, who is known for his bright graphic designs; and City Shapes Photography, notable for their stunning black and white photography. 
Aside from chatting with vendors about their products, we learned about some extreme methods for creating art pieces. These extreme methods are best evidenced by Greenwood Creations, a woman-run business that cranks out pieces of art made enticing via pyrography, or fire writing. That’s right, the artist makes designs on everything from wooden birdhouses to spoons by applying the power of an open flame. The designs can be swirled or depict an environment; see them online at www.greenwoodcreationsshop.com. Another interesting practice learned at the festival is what one shop-owner described as making ice-box cookies. To make her clay earrings, the artist forms the clay into a shape, lets rest, slices, and voila, an earring pendant. From Hull Street Studio, we learned that the process for creating custom wallets can be quite simple: place craft-store-bought plastic on both sides of a picture, sew, and then use. The young artisan at Hull Street also was there to showcase her silhouette pictures with colorful scrap-paper backgrounds. Visit www.hullstreetstudio.com to see the designs.
Some other worthy vendors we should mention include Jewelry That’s Art, a company that turns scraps of fabric, spare paint, and unused jewelry into art on canvas; and Paxis Place Pottery, a pottery company based out of Severn that creates a beautiful version of all the decorative and functional pieces in a house.
To beat the heat, stop into the shops and restaurants on West Street like Ram’s Head Tavern and Back Creek Books. There is usually a vendor selling drinks set up as well–this time, lemonade and Hawaiian shaved ice were offered. 
Activities for kids include face painting, portraits (see here), and especially the vendors that sell items like children’s clothing, toys, and trinkets.
If you missed the First Sunday Arts of July, never fear–the next is scheduled for August 4. Head to www.firstsundayarts.com to learn more. Keep in the mind, the vendors change from month to month.
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