Handmade Happenings, May 11-13, 2012

Around the Triangle and beyond, let our team of artists & crafters help you with gift ideas & fun outings for Mother's Day weekend!   

Friday, May 11
Artists & Crafters Market - Fuquay-Varina  
Part of the 2nd Fridays Art after Dark series in Downtown Fuquay-Varina, meet & shop with local artists, enjoy the Open Mic / Talent Showcase, participate in a community mosaic project, and more!

Where: 600 E. Broad St. Fuquay-Varina, NC (next to Aviator Tap House)
When: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Artists to visit: Bordeaux Lane Studio
More info: http://fvartscouncil.blogspot.com/ 

 

Saturday, May 12

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/
 
Heritage Day Spring Fling - Asheboro
Music, exhibits & demonstrations, horse drawn wagon rides, master gardeners & bee keeping, arts & crafts, and Pumpkin Chunkin!

Where: Sunny Slopes Farm, 2994 Fairview Farm Rd., Asheboro, NC 27305

When: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm

Artists to visit: Twice As Loved, Simply Notes & Totes

More info: http://sunnyslopesfarm.com/

Trunk Show at A Southern Season - Chapel Hill
Orange Cat Art brings their fine art photographic prints and note cards to the region's landmark gourmet market. Their images of scenic North Carolina and favorite local campus landmarks are perfect for Mother's Day & graduation gift shopping!
Where: University Mall, 201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill
When: 10:30 am - 5:00 pm
Seller to look for: OrangeCatArt
More info: http://www.southernseason.com/info.asp  

The Handmade Market - Raleigh 
Shop for hip, handcrafted goods from more than 50 of the best and brightest independent artists, designers, and crafters from North Carolina and beyond.
Where: Cobblestone Hall (downtown City Market) 215 Wolfe Street, Raleigh, NC 
When: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sellers to look for: Trende Femme, metamorphosis metals, Melsie Glass, Flytrap
More info: http://www.thehandmademarket.com/

Bloomin' Wine Festival - Trinity 
Celebrate the annual rite of grapevines in bloom! Wine, live music, a wide variety of arts, and more!
Where: Zimmerman Vineyards, 1428 Tabernacle Church Rd, Trinity, NC 27370
When: Noon to 6:00 pm
Sellers to look for: Forrest Photography NC 
More info: http://www.zimmermanvineyards.net/#/bloomin-wine-festival/4559394624 

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 coming up next weekend, send your information to Orange Cat Art by Tuesday night to get onto next week's calendar!)

Local Featured Seller: Twice as Loved

Hi, My name is April Murray. I am the owner and creator of Twice As Loved. I live in Asheboro, NC. I up-cycle old things to create new, one of a kind, pieces such as Silverware & Tool Wind Chimes, Cheese Grater Earring Stands, Fork Ornaments, and Fork Business Card/Recipe Holders.

My favorite place to visit is in the extended “triangle.” I love to visit the NC Zoological Park. We have a family membership and we love to take our daughter there to run around and explore. We go there often to check out any new animals or exhibits. I could sit all day and just watch the chimps if my daughter would let me

I started creating silverware wind chimes in September, 2011. I was looking for a creative item for my sister’s birthday. I saw something similar in a local craft store and thought “I can do that!” I had so much fun making the one for my sister that I just couldn’t stop thinking about how I could make different ones.

My most cherished handmade item is probably the one that I made for a give-a-way that a friend in Pheonix, AZ won. It was around Valentine’s Day, so at the top is a heart shaped cookie cutter. Hanging from it are measuring spoons decorated with red beads. It was the smallest I had made but so special. My three year old was very fond of it and told me how beautiful it was.

I chose to up-cycle items to create new and unique items for couple reasons. I believe we all have so much “stuff” already on this earth. Stuff that we don’t use anymore. So, why not create something new out of it and give it a new “life” instead of just letting it sit around not being used or have it be laying in landfill somewhere.
My aunt, Becky inspires me to be creative. She is the most creative person I know. Not only is she creative but she is a teacher just like I am. While I was growing up she was always teaching me something new whether it be about manners, history, math or a craft. Over the years I have spent much time in her kitchen where we have talked about cooking, baking, and even just about life in general. Therefore, making wind chimes and other unique gifts using items related to the kitchen remind me of her.

I create in my kitchen, den, office, mudroom, outside, really wherever I can find a quite space sit and focus.

I chose the name “Twice As Loved” because all the items I make have been loved once, and will be loved again (just in a different fashion). Therefore, they are getting twice as loved compared to other things that get thrown away when they are finished being used.
I am a mom, wife, youth leader at my church, and teacher. When I am not creating (or teaching) I am playing with my three year old daughter. She keeps me on my toes and loves to be adventurous.

My personal goal is to be successful enough in my business to not have to teach anymore. My goal in my business is to be able to open up a Craft Consignment Shop. In this shop I would rent out space to other vendors as well. All items would be created out of something that has already be loved once. My hope is to be able to open up a shop like this in the next couple years.

After you have visited Twice as Loved's etsy storefront, you can follow her on facebook and read up on her blog.

NCTriangle Team members who would like to be featured, please contact Shore Debris.

Handmade Happenings, November 10-13, 2011

We have a full calendar for you this weekend, with trunk shows, craft fairs and markets indoors and out.  So many great opportunities to shop local & handmade this holiday season! See you there! 

Thursday, November 10
Trunk Show at We "3" Thrift Shop and More... - Sanford
Meet jewelry artist Vicky Brown during "Ladies Night Out" in Downtown Sanford, NC. See a wire coiling demo and browse a selection of handmade jewelry and Christmas ornaments.
Where: We "3" Thrift Shop and More..., 131 Wicker Street, Sanford, NC
When: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Artist to visit: Shore Debris
More info: www.facebook.com/pages/We-3-Thrift-Shop-and-More/146842455382078

Friday, November 11

Trunk Show at Circa Gallery - Asheboro

"Pure Vintage" jewelry from designer, Mamie Wilkins (Cockamamie Jewelry) and "Clearly Defined", the art of Susan Harrell will be featured at Asheboro's Circa Gallery. Please come out and bring friends!
Where: 150 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro
When: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Artists to visit: Cockamamie Jewelry 
More info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Circa-Gallery-NC/133520880050481

Friday - Sunday, November 11-13
Fall Craft Fair - Raleigh
Arts and crafts of all types will be featured at the State Farmers Market this weekend! 
Where: I-40 and Lake Wheeler Road, exit 297 
When: Friday 10 am - 5 pm; Saturday - 10 am - 5 pm; Sunday - 10 am - 5 pm 
Artist to visit: Designing Impressions
More info: http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/promos.htm

Saturday, November 12
The Handmade Market - Raleigh
Shop Raleigh, NC’s The Handmade Market for hip, handcrafted goods from more than 50 of the best and brightest independent artists, designers, and crafters from North Carolina and beyond. This one day, indoor designer craft market features fine art, apparel, jewelry, accessories, housewares, paper goods, and more. Find unique, handmade gifts or treat yourself to something special.
Where: Cobblestone Hall (City Market/Moore Square)
When: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Artists to visit: metamorphosis metals, Trende Femme, Flytrap, Michelle Smith, Turtle Grass Body
More info: http://www.thehandmademarket.com/

Highland's Bazaar Holidays - Raleigh
More than 40 artists and craft vendors, a bake sale including soups & sandwiches, silent auction and more!  To benefit the Stop Hunger Now project.
Where: Highland UMC, 1901 Ridge Road, Raleigh
When: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Artist to visit: Bordeaux Lane Studio (formerly OldBroomStreet)
More info: http://www.highlandumc.org/article309560c4970138.htm

Sunday, November 13
Trunk Show at A Southern Season - Chapel Hill
Meet photographer Jill Davis at Chapel Hill's landmark gourmet market!  Orange Cat Art's complete line of NC photographic prints, cards will be there, plus 2012 calendars and holiday card sets.
Where: A Southern Season, University Mall, Hwy 15-501 @ Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
When: 10 am - 5 pm  
Artist to visit: Orange Cat Art 
More info: http://www.southernseason.com/

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 holiday season!

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

Etsy Around the World: McCoys Toys

Our next shop on our world wide shopping spree is very close to home. McCoy Toys makes toys like we used to play with at my grandmother's house. If you are looking for a local handmade gift for a child, this is your shop.


Who are you?
John & Emily of McCoyToys

Where are you located?
Asheboro, North Carolina

What do you create?
Hand crafted wooden toys, games & puzzles.


What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown?
We enjoyed our recent visit to a new gallery in Asheboro, Circa Gallery. Our toys will be featured in the gallery before Christmas.


What inspires you?
We enjoy making toys that will put a smile on the face of a child or an adult and we are content using our God given gifts/talents.

Why did you choose your company name?
Our last name is McCoy; therefore we chose to name our company The Real McCoy, Inc. and we chose McCoyToys as our etsy shop name. With our motto being: No Batteries Required - Just Imagination.

What is your favorite place to sell your items?
We enjoy selling online, but nothing beats being able to “show & tell” children and adults about the toys. We love to see the expressions of joy, surprise & fascination on the faces of children of all ages.

Do you have any advice to share on how you have made your business grow?
We attended small business courses at the Randolph County Community College, these are sponsored by the NC REAL program (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning). We learned much about starting a business as well as how to target & attract your market share. Our business was also one of those chosen to be featured in the NC REAL publication to be printed later this year (2008).

What types of things do you do to turn first time buyers into repeat clients?
Our toys, games and puzzles are made one at a time, and we strive for & take pride in quality. We ask our customers to let us know if they have a problem with an item & ask anyone who has made a purchase in the past if the toy is still working and if they had any problems with it we want to know!

We are members of the ACE Team (Amazing Carolina Etsians) and we have a team blog too. We are also members of The Handmade Network.

Local Show: Art on Sunset

WHO: Randolph Arts Guild

WHAT: Art on Sunset

WHEN: Saturday, April 19, 2008; 9-4 pm

WHERE: Bicentennial Park, Asheboro, NC

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NCTriangle Vendors to look for:
~ aekeith
~ simplynotesandtotes
~ sweetgum