Recognize this handsome man? He's Joe Ruiz, the Executive Director of the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation. Our Joe is the cover artist for the Georgia Department of Economic Development's brand new Creative Economies Database.

Tuesday at Tourism Day at the Capitol in Atlanta, the Georgia Tourism Foundation introduced its Creative Economies database. Take a look at it at www.gamadegagrown.org.

Today, I used it to search for quilt makers and for woodworkers. And I was able to find some good prospects. 795 Georgia artists, craft makers, art associations, authors, galleries, shops, festivals and food products creators have registered. Have you?

You may find it a bit complicated. Here's some instruction: Go to www.gamadegagrown.org Click on Register/Login at the end of the toolbar directly under the masthead. DO NOT try to make a username/password. Click on Register Your Business. On the pulldown menu in the middle of the page, try Things first. See the file folder tabs? See if your work fits any of those categories. If not, search People and Places, too.

When you've chosen where you'd like to register, start filling in your information. Be sure to give as much detail as you can. List ALL of your contact information, especially your website and social network addresses. And load your images.

When you are finished loading your information, fireworks do not signal that the data has been accepted. But, you should receive a notice from your regional tourism rep that the entry has been approved in a few days. After that, you should receive a username & password from the super admin.

Use that username & password to go into your file and update your entry often. If you introduce new work, tell about it. If you are having an Open Studio Tour, tell about it.

This database has many capabilities... individuals, businesses and festivals looking for a certain product can find you. And it is no cost to you! It's a great sales tool for your tool box. Register today and see what happens!