The beau and I went to St. Joseph, Mich., for the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff this weekend. It was a beautiful event in a beautiful location and even the heat on Sunday wasn't too miserable with the lake breeze.

As we walked among the 200 artists booths, I kept hearing a common theme among people: They couldn't justify paying what artists were asking for their work.

I've seen and heard the same comments made about local art fairs and it's had me thinking. How much would be too much for me to pay for an original piece of art?

The answer is, quite honestly, I don't know. I mean, I saw some fantastic items that were just too far out of my budget to even consider. That doesn't mean they aren't worth the asking price, just that I do not have the budget required to purchase them. We were pleasantly surprised that the Krasl Art Fair (like so many others) had price points to satisfy the art lover of just about every budget.

How much is too much for you to spend? Remember, many times, the artists you see at these events make their livings do just that: preparing for art fairs and traveling the country to show their wares. These events are not to be mistaken with the craft fairs you see around the holidays (or as part of some festivals, etc.). For example, I could never make it into an art fair with what I make, but I sure could make it into a craft fair.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.