Handmade Happenings - May 6-8, 2011

Downtown Raleigh is the place to be tonight for great First Friday events! Join several of our team members in Apex on  Saturday, for Peakfest! Great opportunities to treat Mom to a special time out, or do some last minute shopping.

This week we also have 2 team members with sales in their online shops, so be sure to check them out for some great deals!

Friday, May 6
First Friday - Raleigh

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

Sellers to look for: 
Metamorphosis has an open house at her studio in The Carter Building- 14 Glenwood Ave, Studio #24 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
OldBroomStreet (aka Bordeaux Lane Studio) will be at the Morning Times Market on Harget Street (between Fayetteville & Wilmgington. ) 15 Local Art Vendors!  Local Beer Tent! Fire Hooping! And more! In front of the Morning Times Coffee Shop & the Raleigh Times Bar from 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm.
More info: http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/firstfriday/index.htm

Saturday, May 7

Peakfest - Apex 
Salem Street in historic downtown Apex will come alive for a day of fun, food and fellowship at this annual arts and crafts festival. Visit "The Peak of Good Living" for the 31st year of Peakfest!

Where: Historic Downtown Apex (map)
When: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sellers to look for: BeyondWords12 (Booth #33A), LindaSearcyJewelry (#48A), Liv'nGoodJewelry, Loriola, OldBroomStreet (#38A)
More info: http://apexpeakfest.com/

Team Sales!
Mother's Day Sale by WhimsyPics! 20% off through Saturday, May 7. Pick out something special for Mom, and enter coupon code MOTHER upon checkout. 

Graduation Sale by OrangeCatArt! 10% off everything in our NC Universities section through Sunday, May 15.  Note card sets & prints featuring campus photography from UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, Duke, UNC Greensboro and Davidson College.  (Current prices reflect discount.)

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

(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!)

One for grandma...two for me... Gift ideas for the friends and family...and for yourself!

Look at the treats I discovered while perusing the collections of our talented NC members! From grandma, to the kiddos, to the mother...and yes, even a treat (or two or three) for myself.... What amazing finds for the upcoming holiday handmade season!

I love this stunning decoupage book box for my poet grandmother by Old Broom Street. It has such an air of mystery and beauty, and I know my grandmother would gently tuck her poetic musings into the velvet lined box: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34286835

And doesn't everyone love a happy blood drop? My director at the blood bank would adore this lovely wallet by hippofabulous: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10787331

And of course for the boys in my life, a racing heirloom quality quilt by Carolina Patchworks: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10433854

And be still my heart! The colors are so happy and bright! My lovely flamed-haired niece would look amazing in this outfit by The Laughing Giraffe! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10433854

And this one is for me! It honors strong women, and I know my mom would adore it... but hopefully my husband will read this blog and take the hint! :) Cowgirl Up Collage by LuLuSandbar http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14355721


This is a perfect hostess gift, and I love the idea of using them as placecards too. Way back in the day (pre 6-and 3-year old boy days ..) my husband and I actually hosted parties that didn't revolve around Spiderman! Owl Mini Notecards/Placecards by Whimsypics: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34261732

And for the sister that is finally going green, but will only carry her groceries in style, is this adorable market tote from PurpleDaisies: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19206952

And for the hubby..the man who swore he was fine with Zest soap. However, the funny thing is that my handmade soaps keep disappearing quickly. I have a thief in my shower, so it's time we added to his own collection! Also, I adore this scent so I'll be able to borrow it! The Nag Champa soap by Karenssoaps: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31822844

Have fun browsing our fantastic collection of artists! Happy Holidays!

Giveaways

DinnerTimeChimes has teamed up with her mom to offer a giveaway on "Things Moms Like"

WhimsyPics' giveaway on Twitter is still happening too!

Good luck!

WhimsyPics is hosting a giveaway on Twitter!

WhimsyPics is hosting a giveaway on Twitter! She's offering one of her scrapbook albums as a prize to the 777th person who re-tweets her promo. You can see the albums to choose from her Etsy Shop.

Re-tweeting is super easy. If you're already a member of twitter, you can follow her by going to www.twitter.com/WhimsyPics and clicking on the 'follow' button. If you're not yet a member you can sign up at www.twitter.com and then follow WhimsyPics. All you have to do to play is type: @WhimsyPics #GIVEAWAY RT this and #WIN any 1 album in my #etsy shop http://twtn.net/qtDV 777th RT wins, max 1 RT p/hour as your status. It's that simple!

The 777th person to do it will win their choice of albums from her shop. The more people participate, the faster it'll go. So, start re-tweeting and get your friends/followers to re-tweet and you could win!

WhimsyPics will also be choosing a random re-tweeter for a small prize from her shop, so enter often - it could be YOU.

Team Treasury: NC Triangle Team

JoannasPhotography created this treasury and filled it with items from the team...

Team Treasury: Sweet...

craftsbyalice created this treasury and filled it with items from our NCTriangle team...

Put your hand in my pocket...

LynnsCrafts created this team treasury...

Team Treasury: OH BABY! It's hot outside...

LynnsCrafts had noticed the high temps in the triangle too...

Team Treasury: Go Green with the NCTriangle Street Team

CraftsbyAlice created this lovely green treasury for the team! Thanks for supporting the NCTriangle team.

Where We Create: Behind the Scenes of NC Triangle Etsiers

Behind the scenes of Etsy Shop: WhimsyPics

Describe the space in which you create. Currently, I share my space with my son and his toys (the playroom). When my husband offered me the downstairs office I thought it would be better for me to be close to our son while he played. Fast forward 10 months and I’ve decided I want the office after all! I like pretty things and I want a room all my own so that I can decorate it as I wish. My workspace is my escape.

What is your favorite thing about your space? I love everything I have but my absolute favorite thing is the 7.5’ desk w/shelves that my father in law made for me. My husband and I shared an office in our apartment in NY and my father in law made this desk for that space. I’ve outgrown it as my only workspace and have commissioned my husband to build me yet another table but this will always be my favorite.


How do you keep your space organized? I don’t. While I’m working on a project my space is an absolute disaster – it’s obscene. However, after each and every project I put EVERYTHING away; scissors, adhesive, paper – everything. Then I clean up (vacuum, dust, goo-gone) and get started on the next thing.

Do you have inspiration pieces in your space? If so, what are they? My inspiration usually comes from the paper. I’ll see paper and know right away what the theme of an album or card or diorama is going to be. I’m not a planner and I don’t usually do well with sketches so really, I just sit and start something and hope for the best!

Is there something else you'd like to share about your space? I have a map of the US on one wall and a map of the world on another and I mark the countries/cities where my online friends and customers are. It's so watch the map fill up!

Check out Melissa's Shop: WhimsyPics

To read more behind the scenes about Whimsy Pics, check out Melissa's blog.