Handmade Happenings - April 19-22, 2013

Owl Shoulder Bag by Designing Impressions Crochet

We have another neighborhood farmer's market opening this weekend, on the south side of Cary, plus a fun event to support area animals in Apex. If your weekend is packed, treat yourself to a studio tour in south Glenwood on Monday. See you there! 

Saturday, April 20
Waverly Farmer's Market - Cary
The opening weekend of the Waverly Market! Featuring NC local fresh from the farm fruits, vegetables, and more, plus the Waverly Artists Group!
Where: In the parking lot off of the Waverly Promenade on the lower level, at the corner of Tryon and Kildaire Farm Roads, Cary, NC
When: 9:00 am - Noon
Artist to visit: Bordeaux Lane Studio
More info: http://waverlycary.com/waverly-farmers-market-launch-this-saturday/

Artists for Animals Faire - Apex
More than 50 local artists will be gathering this weekend to support area animal charities at the Artists for Animals Faire. Live music, performing artists, wine tasting, snacks animals to visit & adopt round out the festivities.
Where: Cloer Family Vineyards, 8624 Castleberry Road, Apex, NC 27523
When: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Artists to visit: Designing Impressions Crochet
More info: http://www.apexartscouncil.org/Artists4Animals.php

Sunday, April 21
Pop-Up Sunday - Raleigh
Mamie Wilkins of Cockamamie Jewelry fame will be bringing a selection from her new vintage line, among other great vendors. She says, "I'll have frippery, whatnots, bibelot, gimcrack, bagatelle, and maybe even some fandangle! You know you want to see! Tell your friends!!!"
Where: Ornamentea, 509 N West St., Raleigh, NC
When: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Artists to visit: Mamie, aka From Lillian
More info: https://www.facebook.com/ornamentea/

Monday, April 22
Shop Mondays - Raleigh
Local artists gather for a special Monday open house at Lil Sis Studios, in the south Glenwood area.
Where: Lil Sis Studios, 508 St. Mary's St. Raleigh, NC
When: Noon - 8:00 pm
Artist to visit: Bordeaux Lane Studio
More info: http://www.annmarieprintart.com/

Shop Local Online! Team Member Etsy Shop Sales! 
- JDFootloose - Mother's Day SAle ~ Coupon Code Momma for 15% off!
- Celia Currin Art - New customers save 15% with code: NEWCUSTOMER
- Flowerthyme - Mother's Day Sale! Discounts on multiple bouquets, up to 25% off! See shop announcement for details.
- Prickly Paw Crafts - Use code "Ribbon10" for 10% off Ribbons
- The Gift Garden - 20% off your purchase with coupon code "SpringCleaning" 
- Orange Cat Art - 10% off our watercolor blanks & scraps! Great for ACEOs, tags, handmade paper & more! No coupon code needed.  

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 spring! 

(Members, if you have an event or sale coming up, send your information to Orange Cat Art to get onto the calendar! )

Local Featured Seller: ChatterBlossom

Who are you?  Jamie, "ChatterBlossom"

Where are you located?  Raleigh, NC

What do you create?  Accessories with a Story to Tell

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle?"  Market Restaurant in Downtown Raleigh because they are a local joint serving fantastically delicious food that is sustainable, organic, and locally sourced whenever possible. The place is relaxed and comfy and my husband and I love to go chill together over a glass of wine.

Floral Button Ring

 When did you start creating?  I've been creating in general for years, but I've only recently opened my Etsy shop in May of this year.

What is your most cherished handmade item?  A hair fascinator that I made for myself out of my grandmother's old brooch

Why did you choose your medium?  I love things with history and a story, so vintage baubles were an easy choice.

What inspires you?  Anything and everything romantic. I love old books, gardens, delicious meals, beautiful views, tea and sweets.

Peony Flower Hair Clip

 Where do you create?  I make everything right in my living room on a vintage leather topped coffee table. I have a big patio window that I keep open to view the forest of trees by my apartment while I work.

Why did you choose your shop name?  I really wanted something that evoked both flowers and stories and I just played with synonyms of those words until it sounded right to me. ChatterBlossom

What are your goals?  I would love to continue making accessories and hopefully grow my business steadily. I also want to have a large flower garden in the future where I can sell cut flowers for local businesses and weddings alongside of my etsy shop using the same name.

Button Bobby Pins

What do you do when you are not creating?  Dance, Dance, Dance! I love swing and blues dancing. I also really really like eating good food and spending that time with my husband.

After you've viewed Jaime's beautiful accessories on etsy, you can also find her on facebook, twitter, pinterest, and blogger.

NCTriangle Team members interested in being featured, please contact Shore Debris.

Shop Guide: Clothing & Accessories

AdorableOriginals

Afternoonowldesigns

AmethystLane

BareHandedPress

Besoz

Bethanys5

BlueCuddly

Brooksboutique

Cartergrey

CreativelySupplied

CuddleCanvas

DarlinDetails

DesigningImpressions

DreadHeadThreads

DressReHERSal

FantasyPhotography

Flytrap

Hippiechixfiber

Hleadsdesigns

Hooksandeyes

IcePendants

Izzsgma

Joeireedhats

Joeyandaleethea

Jusshar

Knitwithkt

Kurlicues

LittlePurpleDragonfl

Megrnc

Musicteachah

NonnaChic

PeaknitGallery

Phroggydee

Pinkpixieboutique

Quitecrafty

Rhettscandy

Rocketbetty

Sassybees

Shoptoadopt

SimplyNotesandTotes

StickStaffCane

Sweettreatboutique

TrendeFemme

Ultimateaccessories

WisdomAndChaos

Yourmomdesigns

Zoegirldesigns


Sellers, please note If you think you are in the wrong category, your inventory has changed, or you would like to be added, please contact Michelle at Thegiftgarden

Handmade Happenings - May 6-May 9, 2010

Looking for a unique gift for Mom? Or the graduate in your family? How about handmade for something really special!

Thursday, May 6
Trunk Show at A Southern Season
A special opportunity to meet Orange Cat Art in Chapel Hill. Just in time for Mother's Day and graduation shopping!
Where: A Southern Season, University Mall
201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
When: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sellers to look for: OrangeCatArt
More info: http://www.southernseason.com/info.asp

Friday, May 7
indieNC First Friday Market
Shop local North Carolina. Now you can shop in person from emerging designers selling their wares each First Friday! From the producer of The Rock & Shop Market. See you there!
Where: 131 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh
When: 6:oo pm - 10:00 pm
Seller to look for: joannasphotography
More info: http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/indienc-first-friday-monthly-market-debuts-this-week/

Saturday, May 8
Designers Downtown Market
This is a terrific event that attracts a wide variety of talented artisans! (Coffee & Crepes will be there, too - yum!)
Where: 509 N. West Street (Ornamentea parking lot) & surrounding area, Raleigh
When: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sellers to look for: latedajewels, LindaSearcyJewelry, metamorph, olivethebeach, piecefullyhome, smutopia, TrendeFemme
More info: http://www.designersdowntownmarket.com/


We hope you'll visit our NC Triangle Etsy Team members and say hello!

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

Handmade Happenings - March 12-14, 2010

At long last, spring has arrived in the Triangle! There's more happening this weekend than just ACC basketball, take a break from the action, and join us at some of the great handmade arts & crafts events happening in Raleigh this weekend!

Saturday, March 13
Designers Downtown Market
This is a terrific event that attracts a wide variety of talented artisans! (Coffee & Crepes will be there, too - yum!)
Where: 509 N. West Street (Ornamentea parking lot) & surrounding area, Raleigh
When: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sellers to look for: AlloverArt, CuriousGoodsCurios, GildedLilyGlass, LatedaJewels, LindaSearcyJewelry, LORiOLA, metamorph, scentfullydelightful, smutopia
More info: http://www.designersdowntownmarket.com/

Wearin' 'O the Green Festival
The St. Patrick's Day parade starts at Noon, then stay to enjoy the Irish themed food, music, vendors & more!
Where: Moore Square, downtown Raleigh
When: Noon - 4:00 pm (?)
Seller to look for: OldBroomStreet (featuring Celtic/Gaelic/Medieval-themed items)
More info: http://www.raleighstpats.org/

Friday - Sunday, March 12 - 14
State Farmer's Market Spring Craft Fair
Head to the Market for fresh, local produce, as well as fresh, locally-produced arts & crafts!
Where: I-40 EXIT 297, Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh
When: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm all three days
Seller to look for: ellesbeads (Saturday only)
More info: http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/promos.htm


We hope you'll visit our NC Triangle Etsy Team members and say hello!

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

Etsy Around the World: WindTwirler

For our next Etsy Around the World Holiday shopping, we are visiting a shop full of things for her -- mom, sis, friends. If you admire those artists who can turn a sheet of paper into an amazing origami piece and the jewelers who make earrings out of anything, you are going to love Windtwirler. She is able to combine the two into some very stunning items.

Who are you?
Heather Taylor
Windtwirler

Where are you located?
Corpus Christi Tx and Rockledge Fl

What do you create?
Paper Performances: miniature origami usually in the form of earrings, radish earrings both beaded and crochet, unique purses and bags

Have you ever visited North Carolina?
I have been to North Carolina many times. My favorite time this summer was walking to the top of Clingman’s Dome and remembering all the times my dad took me there when I was a little girl. Actually I love everything about the mountains in North Carolina.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown (Rockledge Florida)?
My favorite place to visit in my hometown is my home because my mom is there. I also enjoy the manatees and windsurfing in the Indian River Lagoon.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by the qualities of a particular paper or bead. When I hold a piece of paper I will get a vision of what that paper is "meant" to be.

I am just as often inspired by a customer's request. Sometimes this is even more fun and productive. I suppose customer's ideas light a fire in my imagination.

Where do you create?
Almost everywhere, I always have bits of paper with me. “Never and idle moment.” My passion for origami has gotten me through many long waits.

Why did you choose your shop name?
I chose the name Windtwirler because I love to windsurf and my daughter loves to twirl a baton.

What is the most time consuming part of your craft?
The most time consuming part of my craft is learning to fold new designs. As far as the actual production of the origami earrings, the most time consuming step is always the folding.

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?
I have a vision of my creations hanging from people’s earlobes.

When did you start creating?
I have been folding origami since I was 4 or 5 years old. I began making earrings almost a year ago when the bottom fell out of the radish earring market.

I have been making radish earrings since I was 15 years old. I went on a trip to Germany and the mom of my host family asked me to make her veggie earrings. I began crocheting when I was 4 years old- my grandmother taught me and I had taken some bedspread cotton and crochet hooks to Germany with me.

I have been making beaded jewelry since I was 11 years old. Every summer I went to stay with my aunt and uncle in the suburbs of Chicago. My aunt would not leave the house so she would put me in a cab and one cabbie took me to a craft/beading shop and I have done beading sporadically ever since

What types of things do you do to turn first time buyers into repeat clients?
I ship my items immediately in pretty packaging with a thank you card.

What do you do when you are not creating?
I windsurf and spend time with my children. Well, to be honest, I spend a lot of time driving them from one activity to another. So I actually spend a good deal of time driving in circles. This is when I think up new designs.

What is your favorite or most cherished handmade item that you own?
I own so many handmade items that are dear to my heart. I have blankets that my mom and grandma crocheted and knitted. My mom refinished much of the furniture that my aunt left me. Everywhere I look I see a handmade heartfelt memory.

Etsy Around the World: A Stitch in Dye

Etsy Around the World is back in the US to visit a textile shop from Texas who dyes her own fabrics for her creations.

Who are you?
My name is Malka Dubrawsky and my business is a stitch in dye.

Where are you located?
I live in Austin, Texas.

What do you create?
I make hand dyed and patterned fabric, quilts, pillows, coasters, camera straps and pretty much anything else that can be sewn on my machine.

Have you ever visited North Carolina?
Unfortunately, I've never visited North Carolina.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown?
Austin is famous for its swimming holes and one of the best is Deep Eddy pool. It was built back in the 30's as a WPA project and it is spring fed.

Where do you create?
I have a studio in my house and a dye studio in my garage.

What is the most time consuming part of your craft?
I think the most time consuming part is actually dyeing and patterning the fabric before I craft it into something.

When did you start creating?
I've been crafting most of my life. I studied art in college and have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art.

What is your next project going to be?
Along with continuing to add new items to my store, I'm currently working on a book about my dye process. my book is slated to be published in the Fall of 2009.

What do you do when you are not creating: I'm an avid swimmer and swim on a competitive adult swim team. I also knit( I like to call it my fiber hobby that's distinct from my fiber business) and I love reading fiction.

What is your most cherished handmade item that you own?
I think the most cherished handmade item I own is a skirt that my mother made for me as a little girl that my eldest daughter wore for a time as well. That item inspired me to keep a lot of the hand sewn clothes that I made for my own children so they could pass them on.

You can read more about a Malka and a Stitch in Dye at her blog

Etsy Around the World: funwallart

This week our Etsy trip takes us to Toronto to find some Fun Wall Art.

Who are you (actual name and/or shop name)?
My name is Janice and my shop name is Funwallart.

Where are you located?
I live and work in the fantastic city of Toronto, Canada.

What do you create?
I create a little bit of everything. I just love to work with my hands. When my hands are idle I can assure you that I am asleep. Mainly I love creating functional art, but I do dabble in a lot of different areas.

Have you ever visited North Carolina (if so, what was your favorite part of the trip)? I have been to North Carolina and I thought it was beautiful and elegant just like the people who live there. True hospitality.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown (and why)? Toronto is very multi cultural and a true joy to experience. One of my favorite places to visit is the St. Lawrence Market where you enter into a world of fine foods and fresh produce like nowhere else. This is one of many fabulous Toronto landmarks that make this city so great.

What inspires you?
I get inspired by the beauty of texture. I love it so much. The look of cement and time weathered metals are my favorites. Copper patinas, old brass, peeling paint are all among my favorites.

Where do you create?
I am lucky enough to have an office in my home that has been transformed into a studio. I am surrounded by everything that I might need should an idea arise. I feel so comfortable in this room, sometimes I just don’t want to leave.

What is the most time consuming part of your craft?
For me the most time consuming can be shopping for supplies. I don’t really enjoy that process very much and I usually can’t wait to get home so I can start creating. I wish supplies could magically appear. I do however tend to buy enough to tide me over for a while, making it a little less painful.

When did you start creating?
I have always loved crafting. When I was a little girl I would spend countless hours making things, it always made me feel good and always made me happy. As I got older and had a family to raise I was not as involved. I recently stopped working and have had a lot more time to use my creativity and I have never been happier.

What is your most popular item that you create?
My trinket boxes are loved by a lot of people. They are pretty and elegant and can work in pretty much any décor scheme. They are also the most fun to make.