Handmade Happenings - September 10-12, 2010

There are plenty of exciting events happening in and around the Triangle this weekend - there's something for everyone!  Stay in Raleigh for arts & music, road trip to Wilmington for arts & the beach, or if you like it hot, check out all the spicy North Carolina goodness happening in Oxford.  If you're really in to handmade shopping, you can even trek to the Indie Craft Parade in Greenville, SC.  Enjoy!

Saturday, Sept. 11
Five Points Street Festival & Block Party
The Merchants at Five Points are hosting a Street Fair and Block Party! The 20 plus Street Fair Vendors include Queenies Weinies, Local Yogurt, Locopops and Carolina Popcorn, and all restaurants and shops will be open for lunch and shopping.  Kid’s Zone & Live Music all day provided by The Kudzu Ramblers, Stackhouse, Jean Jolly and Mebansville.
Where: Fairview Road & Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh
When: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Seller to look for: OldBroomStreet
More info: http://events.triangle.com/raleigh-nc/events/show/140975045-five-points-street-fair-block-party

Morning Times Market (Hopscotch Music Festival)
The Morning Times Market is back and better than before! This month, you get to shop while listening to live music from some great local bands during the Independent Weekly's Hopscotch Music Festival! Ten local artists and fine crafters will be selling their handmade work, including jewelry, pottery and art. Look for us near the parking lot of the Mechanics & Farmers Bank at the corner of Hargett and Wilmington streets.
Where: corner of Hargett & Wilmington 
When: 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Seller to look for: OldBroomStreet
More info:  http://raleigh2.com/the-morning-times-market-at-hopscotch-p2623-1.htm


Downtown Wilmington Art Walk
The Art Walk will showcase paintings, photographs, jewelry and sculptures, from artists in eastern & central North Carolina. This event will offer the best art from the region in one location. The entire event will be held on Front Street and will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the Walk. Downtown City parking decks will be free for the entire day.  Part of Wilmington's artBLAST festivities all weekend long.
Where: Front Street, Historic Downtown Wilmington
When: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sellers to look for: metamorphosis, Linda Searcy Jewelry, LORiOLA
More info: http://www.artblastwilmington.com/

NC Hot Sauce & Heritage Festival
Producers from all across the state of North Carolina will come together for an exciting day showing a variety of hot sauces, NC Microbreweries, NC Wines, NC barbecue Sauces, Firey Foods, Antiques, Granville Gardeners Plant Sale, Catered Foods, Granville County Museum Treasure Sale and so much more!
Where: Main Street, Downtown Oxford
When: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sellers to look for: Scentfully Delightful will be located at her shop, Made By Hand (113 Main Street), a store that features many North Carolina artists & crafters.
More info: http://www.rememberwhenantiquestore.com/hotsauceheritage.php

Friday, Sept. 10 & Saturday, Sept. 11
Indie Craft Parade
Indie Craft Parade brings the best handmade artists from the Southeast together under one roof. It’s a public market where you’ll find quality crafts, local food, and opportunities to make friendships and connections with the artists themselves.
Where: Huguenot Mill, 101 W. Broad Street, Greenville, SC
When: Friday - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Saturday - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Seller to look for: involution

More info: http://www.indiecraftparade.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 fall!


(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!)

Handmade Happenings - June 4-6, 2010

Several exciting events this weekend to keep you in the summer holiday spirit! The indieNC First Friday Market is part of the First Friday fun happenings in Downtown Raleigh. If you're a little farther south, stop by the Shops of Varina Merchantile or the Celebration of the Arts in Fuquay-Varina. Or, a little further north, visit the Granville Arts Festival, just this side of Oxford.
Hope to see you there!

Friday, June 4
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: LivngoodJewelry, LORiOLA, sissyandjacks
More info: http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/indienc-first-friday-monthly-market-returns-this-week/

Saturday, June 5
Trunk Show at the Shops of Varina Merchantile
A special opportunity to shop for handmade jewelry and loose beads/jewelry supplies with Vicky of Shore Debris!
Where: 601 E. Broad Street, Fuquay-Varina
When: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Seller to look for: ShoreDebris
More info: http://www.theshopsofvarinamerchantile.com/

7th Annual Celebration of the Arts
Music, great food, fun activities and more than 100 incredible art vendors! Part of the town-wide festival called Celebrate Fuquay-Varina, which includes the Run the Quay 5K.
Where: Main Street, Historic Downtown Fuquay-Varina
When: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sellers to look for: HopePhotoArt, LindaSearcyJewelry
More info: http://www.celebratefv.com/?page_id=105

Granville Arts Festival
A full day of live music, dance & theater performances, and a pavilion full of wonderful artists & crafters!
Where: Granville Athletic Park, 4615 Belltown Road, Oxford
When: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sellers to look for: indigoarts, scentfullydelightful
More info: http://www.granvilleartsfestival.com/index.html

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

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

Made By Hand

NCTriangle team member, scentfullydelightful is the owner of a local gift store. Check out today's article about Made By Hand in Oxford, North Carolina on Handmade Highway!

Etsy Around the World: Snow Fish

Are you ready to begin your Holiday decorating? This is the shop to start in. Our world wide shopping spree takes us to the UK for some handmade decorations and goodies.



WHO ARE YOU?
My name is Kirsty New and I run three Etsy shops:
SnowFish.etsy.com - Handmade Christmas goodies BigFish.etsy.com - Colourful Supplies
PaperFish - Unique bunting, brooches and badges

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
I am a UK designer and Maker. Blog: Kirstyfish.blogspot.com - i LOVE to blog and keep it regularly updated with my Crafty Life x

WHAT DO YOU CREATE?
I love to work mainly with felt, fabric and buttons!! I am addicted to buttons.
I make bunting, badges, brooches, decorations...

I have NEVER visited North Carolina, sorry x I did go to Disney World once though!
There is no place to 'visit' in my hometown - I live in the middle of rural countryside so i visit alot of trees and fields with my dog, a fat chocolate labrador.

WHERE DO YOU CREATE?
I work from a very chaotic Art Room in the English Countryside near Oxford. It is BIG with a huge 10 seater dinner table and loads of shelves. There is no spare inch in that room and it is crammed full of supplies. I keep meaning to tidy it.... I am also a Mom to the best little 4yr old girl so i do my creating wherever she is playing.

What do you do when you are not creating?
Truly, i only ever walk, yoga and create... all day, every day.
Creating is something i have to do. A project or idea springs into my head and i cannot settle until i have tried it out. My partner says I am 'obsessed' by crafting, but that isn't true! Crafting just makes me happier than almost anything else! It is the biggest part of who I am and I'm not happy unless I am cutting, sticking, sewing or selling!

When did you start creating?
I have always created. All my family are Business People, Inventors and Entrepreneurs. We all work for ourselves and not one person in my dads side or moms side works for another company. Even my partner just started his own business. We are all very creative people! AND, we must all be either very hard to work with or very wacky and un-controllable!

The key to success?
First decide what it is that you think is 'success'. Always be yourself.
Never copy what other people do or sell. Work hard and Play hard. Put the whole of yourself into a project and you'll get what you want in return. To me, work and play are the same thing and i love every minute of what i do x

What online activities have brought you the most noticeable success?
Etsy has totally changed my life and bought me so much business. It has given me a great base to work from and meet so many other talented crafters who have become friends.
Also, my blog http://kirstyfish.blogspot.com/ it is a great way to connect with people and i love to share my crafty life with people who are just as passionate about MAKING as I am.

The Most Cherished Handmade Item i own...
That is so difficult - having a 4yr old means i get cherished handmade crafts given to me every day, with dripping paint and loose glitter everywhere! But at this moment, it is a pair of knitted mice that i bought from a church craft sale last weekend. They are a pair ready to get married, knitted by a 92 year old lady! They are for daughters Christmas present and she will ADORE and cherish them

Etsy Around the World: Polly' s Dolly

This week's featured seller comes to us from the United Kingdom. I'm sure you will enjoy reading about her.

Who are you?

I’m Rachel Yates, the maker behind Polly’s Dolly.

Where are you located?

Oxford, UK.

If you have you ever visited North Carolina, what do you remember about your trip?

Unfortunately no, I’ve never even been to the States! But hope to one day!

What do you create?

Handmade jointed teddy bears, bags and other accessories.

When did you start creating?

When I was a toddler, I made a shoal of fish out of envelopes!

Why did you choose your medium?

I love fabrics, the colours, textures and patterns. I love the way careful cutting and sewing can transform a flat piece of fabric into something three dimensional and even useful.

What is your next project going to be?

Some lovely pink stripy teddy bears made from a shrunken jumper. (note: jumper = sweater)

What inspires you?

Nature, my daughter, music (especially Kate Rusby at the moment). So I suppose out in the garden with my daughter dancing around and music drifting out if the house would be my ideal inspiration!

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?

The teddy bears look great sat on a shelf or bed, gazing around with their thoughtful expressions. I imagine them being used as a friendly face to wake up to or come home to – not judging and always ready to listen!