Keep it local & handmade, Triangle!  We've got some great events for you in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Clayton this weekend.  Keep your eyes open for Father's Day and end of year teachers' gifts. Our diverse group of artists and crafters has something for everyone!

Friday, June 2
First Friday - Raleigh

Join us for a fun-filled introduction to Raleigh's exciting art, music and dining scene with local art galleries, art studios, museums, retail, restaurants and alternative art venues!
Where: Downtown Raleigh
When: 6:00 pm - ??? (times vary by venue)

Artists to visit:
* Bordeaux Lane Studio will be at the Morning Times Market on Harget Street. Local art vendors, live music and more!  7:00 pm - 11:00 pm.
* metamorphosis metals has an open house at her studio in The Carter Building- 14 Glenwood Ave, Studio #24 from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
More info: http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/firstfriday/index.htm

Saturday, May 5
Durham Craft Market 
A fun outdoor market which offers a rotating slate of approximately 35 artisans. They represent many different categories of craft, all of which are hand-made in the Durham area and are of outstanding quality. You'll enjoy browsing our various booths and meeting our friendly artisans eager to talk about what they do.

Where: Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham (across from the Farmers Market Pavilion)

When: 8:00 am - Noon

Artists to visit: 2 Crochet Hooks

More info: http://www.durhamcraftmarket.com/  

Downtown Cary Farmers Market
Locally hand made arts & crafts join traditional produce, baked good, poultry & eggs, bath & body products, plants, and more!
Where: 301 S. Academy Street, at the corner of Academy and Park
When: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Artists to visit: Bordeaux Lane Studio
More info: http://caryfarmersmarket.com/ 

Millstock Music & Arts Faire - Clayton
Enjoy live music, dance, and dozens of artists downtown in Horne Square, features include a sidewalk chalk art contest, art trading cards, and a children's art booth! 
Where: Horne Square, at the corner of Main and Lombard, Clayton, NC, 27520 

When: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm 
Artists to visit: Designing Impressions Crochet 
More info: http://www.townofclaytonnc.org/news/millstock12.aspx 

Flea Market at the Historic State Fair Grounds - Raleigh 
Enjoy the variety of wares on display, and see handcrafted jewelry made using natural gem stones.
Where: 1025 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
When: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm 
Artists to visit: Ginger Pink 
More info: http://www.raleighfleamarket.net/

Special Sale Info:
Team member Dinner Time Chimes has listed several Boot Birdhouses in a Father's Day Auction on Facebook. The auction is open through Sunday, June 3, and it's a great opportunity to get a deal for Dad! 

We hope you'll visit our NC Triangle Etsy Team members and say hello.  Check in each week for more handmade arts & crafts festivities throughout the summer!

(Members, if you have an event or sale coming up next weekend, send your information to Orange Cat Art by Tuesday night to get onto next week's calendar!)

Local Featured Seller: Li Sashay

Who are you? We are Dara and Nash, we run Li Sashay. Sashay is a French word for a model's walk down a runway.

Where are you located? 5825 Triangle Drive, Raleigh, NC

What do you create? Nash does metalworking and woodworking while I sew.

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"? Our favorite place to visit in the Triangle is this little cheap sushi restaurant in downtown Raleigh called Sushi Blues. We started going going there in college when we were broke and it was all Nash could afford because they had Buy One Get One Sushi after 10 pm. We'd do there late on Friday nights once a month when we got paid. Now we're out of college, but we still like to go back for the food.


Big Daddy Shop Apron

When did you start creating?
Dara: I started sewing when I was 5 years old. I made a handmade pillow for my father of a giant heart for Father's Day. He loved it.
Nash:  Ironically, my first craft was also for my Dad, it was a custom paperweight for him I fashioned from found electronics parts.

What is your most cherished handmade item?
Dara: My most cherished handmade is a handmade cedar bowl Nash got me for cooling sushi rice in for our first Christmas together. Every time we have company over to eat Asian food, the warm smoky rice makes our company smile those full-eye crinkle grins where you unexpectedly put something simple in your mouth and the flavor explodes leaving this small bit of happiness behind. I love simple handmade items like that for everyday living that surprise you by adding happiness to your day and the day of those you love. Nash: My most cherished handmade item is a wooden sword I made as a costume prop for a masquerade party.

Why did you choose your medium?
Dara: My family was in the clothing business growing up so I have a lot of warm memories from childhood of a favorite shirt, pair of pants, or other piece of clothing. Clothes weave their way through your life like good food making an every day backdrop of happiness.
Nash: I like metal because it feels right in my hands, especially when I'm working blacksmithing. My great-grandfather was a carpenter and it feels as if I'm going back to my roots when I work with wood and metal.


Animatronic Ear Form with Black Cat Ears

 Where do you create?We both create out of our shared studio space. We like working together every day.

Why did you choose your shop/company name?The name comes from our two favorite clothing words in French and Japanese fashion. I love how meticulous and beautiful their clothing is, the attention to detail, and quality. Li means length and Sashay means a swaying walk, normally reserved for a woman who is happy walking down a runway. We wanted to create clothing and art that made people feel happy when they walked through life. That little boost in your day.

What are your goals?Dara: Well, right now I'm planning our wedding in October which is a lot of fun and I'm using the excuse to catch up with a lot of friends. It's so much fun to see the paths that people take through life. Long-term, we'd love for the company to be a success and help grow jobs here in North Carolina.
Nash: Getting more time to work with my hands and growing our company. Running a business has a lot of paperwork most artists don't realize when they get started, especially in the beginning. I'm looking forward to being a few years further down the road with a small house with Dara and 2 dogs.

Apple Garden Hat

What do you do when you are not creating? We love to cook homemade meals together and watch our favorite tv series. We tend to go through a series, one episode a night/week. Also, we like to go for walks together with our dog. We're pretty boring in many respects as we enjoy each others company a lot which makes the simple pleasures in life really rewarding.

After you've checked all of the wonderful items at Li Sashay on etsy, don't forget to check out their website, blog, and facebook page!

Memorial Day weekend in North Carolina - Treasury

Celebrate the holiday weekend with this beautiful team treasury, created by Heather from uglytomato!

Memorial Day weekend in North Carolina

 If you make a team treasury, convo Hermosa84 to have it shared on the team blog!

Handmade Happenings, May 26-27, 2012

Start your Memorial Day weekend with a trip to the Farmers Market! You can pick up fresh local produce for your cook-out, AND visit a few of our team artisans. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Saturday, May 26
Downtown Cary Farmers Market
Locally hand made arts & crafts join traditional produce, baked good, poultry & eggs, bath & body products, plants, and more!
Where: 301 S. Academy Street, at the corner of Academy and Park
When: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Artists to visit: Bordeaux Lane Studio
More info: http://caryfarmersmarket.com/

Wake Forest Farmers Market
Fresh-off-the-farm produce; pasture-raised beef, poultry, and pork; free-range eggs; honey, jams, and preserves; delicious baked goods; natural bath & body products, and more!
Where: 110 S. White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
When: 8:00 am - Noon
Artist to visit: Tracey Gurley Bath & Body
More info: http://www.wakeforestfarmersmarket.org/ 


We hope you'll visit our NC Triangle Etsy Team members and say hello.  Check in each week for more handmade arts & crafts festivities throughout the summer!

(Members, if you have an event coming up next weekend, send your information to Orange Cat Art by Tuesday night to get onto next week's calendar!)

A Pop of NC Color Treasury

Check out this colorful spring treasury created by Precious Lambs Gifts!

A Pop of NC Color

If you make a team treasury, convo Hermosa84 to have it shared on the team blog!

Handmade Happenings, May 18-20, 2012

It's going to be a great weekend, with events in all corners of the Triangle - Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, plus Wake Forest and Greensboro! The fun starts tonight and runs through Sunday. Come out and see your local team artists! 

Friday - Sunday, May 18-20
St Barbara's Greek Festival - Chapel Hill
Fun for the whole family, with food, arts & crafts, live music, dancing and more!

Where: East Chapel Hill High School, 500 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
When: Friday, 5-8 pm;  Saturday, 11 am - 9 pm; Sunday, 11 am - 7 pm
Artists to visit: Bordeaux Lane Studio
More info: http://www.stbarbaranc-greekfestival.org/Pages/default.aspx 

Saturday, May 12

Durham Craft Market
A fun outdoor market which offers a rotating slate of approximately 35 artisans, representing a variety of crafts, all hand-made in the Durham area! Come enjoy browsing our various booths and meeting our friendly artisans! 
Where: Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham (across from the Farmers Market Pavilion)

When: 8:00 am - Noon

Artists to visit: 2 Crochet Hooks

More info: http://www.durhamcraftmarket.com/

Wake Forest Farmers Market
Fresh-off-the-farm produce; pasture-raised beef, poultry, and pork; free-range eggs; honey, jams, and preserves; delicious baked goods; natural bath & body products, and more!
Where: 110 S. White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
When: 8:00 am - Noon
Artist to visit: Tracey Gurley Bath & Body
More info: http://www.wakeforestfarmersmarket.org/

Spring Craft Fair and & Bazaar - Greensboro

Handmade arts & crafts, supplies, antiques & more, to benefit the Southwest North Carolina Food Bank.

Where: First Christian Church of Greensboro, 900 West Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27403

When: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Artist to visit: Twice As Loved

More info: http://fccgreensboro.org/news-and-events/events/spring-craft-fair-and-bazaar-may-19/

Saturday & Sunday, May 19 & 20
Artsplosure - Raleigh
Raleigh's annual downtown arts festival is back! The Art Market is in the streets surrounding Moore Square & south on Blount Street. Many downtown locations are hosting special events in conjunction with Artsplosure, so there's lots to do!
Where: Moores Square & City Plaza, Downtown Raleigh 
When: Saturday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm; Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm 
Artists to visit: metamorphosis metals, Melsie Glass, Trende Femme, Gilded Lily Glass
More info: http://www.artsplosure.org/artsplosure2012/index.html

Insplosure - Raleigh
The Pour House Music Hall is hosting artists indoors, too, as part of the weekend's festivities.  Stop in to listen to some live music and shop from more local artists & crafters!
Where: 224 S. Blount  Street, Raleigh
When: Both days, Noon - 5:00 pm
Artists to visit: La Te Da Jewels & Adornments, Flytrap, Ara Leigh Studios, Cockamamie Jewelry
More info: http://www.newraleigh.com/article/sixth-annual-insplosure-returns-this-weekend/
 
We hope you'll visit our NC Triangle Etsy Team members and say hello.  Check in each week for more handmade arts & crafts festivities throughout the summer! 

(Members, if you have an event coming up next weekend, send your information to Orange Cat Art by Tuesday night to get onto next week's calendar!)