Upcoming Spring Craft Shows

Monday, December 31, 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!! Here's to 2008. I always love a new year the potential to start over, make some changes, do some things better.

Some things I would like to change in the new year are:
* declutter my home and craft area
* lose some weight
* be more organized
* update my Etsy site more often
* keep my blog uptodate

But then, I say this every year, if only we had a genie to help out.
_______

I took the dog for a refreshing walk this morning with the sun shining and all the new, fresh snow I just couldn' t resist taking some pictures. I think winter is the most beautiful time of year for picture taking, you just can't take a bad shot. Here are my pics...enjoy!



Sunday, November 25, 2007

One More To Go

Well I have one more craft show to go - in Red Deer December 1st. It has been a very successful run this year. With Holiday Stop and Shop my best show ever. Kudos to Jenna and Ally for making it so much fun. It has been exhausting and I am so in need of a good break in the month of December to enjoy the Christmas season. And to become inspired with some new items for the new year along with some old favorites. I will be putting some new pictures on my flickr account in December and new things for sale on Etsy in January.


Merry Christmas to all and Cheers to 2008.


Tuesday, November 06, 2007

8 Reasons You Should Buy Handmade Products over Commercial Products

1. Handmade products are unique. Do you really want the same scarf, mug, earrings, necklace or other item that 20,000 other people have? Of course not! Handmade items are always unique, even if they are the same type of product because they are not made by machines they are crafted by human beings so each piece will have its’ own unique characteristics.

2. Handmade items have personality. Life is not about being blah. Life is about expressing yourself and to do that your things need to have as much personality as you do. If you are happy with buying mass produced items that have no personality off a shelf at Wal Mart think about what that says about you. Don’t you want to express some personality?

3. Handmade items are special. When you get a gift don’t you feel a little bit more loved when someone gives you a handmade gift? Everyone loves getting handmade gifts or wearing something that was made just for them.

4. Handmade items last longer. Because they are made from high quality materials and handcrafted by trained artists items that are handmade last longer than low quality imported mass produced items.

5. Handmade goods are high quality. If you are a person who values the quality of an item more than the price then you already know that handmade items are far superior to mass produced items. While a mass produced item may be cheaper initially is it really cheaper when the item needs to be replaced a month later? When quality matters, go handmade!

6. Handmade items are not made by children in sweatshops in Third World countries making 10 cents a day. Experienced and trained craftspeople make each handmade item. So while you might pay a few dollars more for a handmade item it’s because you are paying for quality, experience, talent, and craftsmanship. Isn’t that worth paying for?

7. When you buy handmade you are supporting traditional arts and crafts techniques that have passed down through generations. In today’s high tech world the old arts and crafts traditions are being replaced by mass production but when you buy handmade you are saying that you prefer your items to be high quality pieces of art instead of mass produced trinkets.

8. When you buy handmade you are supporting local and small businesses. By paying artists and craftspeople for their goods you are supporting them and all the businesses that they do business with.

If you are a person who believes in supporting your community economically then buying from local artists is a great way to support your community and make sure that your money goes to support local businesses.

Keep these things in mind the next time you see a scarf, a bracelet, some great handmade soap or other item and think,” I could get that for half price at Wal Mart.”!

Buying handmade also means that you can spend the same amount you were planning on spending, or less, and you can get unique gifts for everyone on your list. Please, shop handmade this holiday season!

Original post by CozyCat here is her blog: http://www.cozycatscarves.squarespace.com/
We need to get the word out and support local artists and crafters.

Monday, October 29, 2007

CRAFT SEASON HAS BEGUN

I have just finished up my first craft show of the season. For me it was a huge success.
Sock monkeys were definitely a favorite. My mission is to populate the world with sock monkeys. Now I run the mad dash to make more sock monkeys by my next show which is this weekend in Leduc, Alberta.

Other favorites were coffee cozys and as always a wide variety of Christmas ornaments to suite everyone's taste. Sorry I have no pictures to display. My old digital camera refuses to work, so I need to sell a lot more sock monkeys to buy a brand new one by Christmas. (I'll borrow my daughters camera for next week).

And I wish to apologise to anyone one who has been trying to look at my Etsy site. I have not posted anything new and have put the shop in edit mode during this week. I hope to start posting new items next week after this show. Thanks for your patience.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

CHRISTMAS SHOWS

Well it's that time again. I am busy trying to get all my crafts finished for the upcoming Christmas season which is approaching just a bit too fast. Here is a list of Christmas shows I will be at this season.

Xmas in October
Festival Place, Sherwood Park
Fri, Oct 26 1-8 pm
Sat, Oct 27 10-5 pm
Sun, Oct 28 12-5 pm

Leduc Christmas Craft Sale
Christ the King School, Leduc
Sat, Nov 3 10-5 pm
Sun, Nov 4 11-4 pm

Holiday Stop & Shop
Edmonton Transalta Barns
Fri, Nov 16 5-9 pm
Sat, Nov 17 11-7 pm
Sun, Nov 18 11-5 pm

Westerner Park Xmas Bazaar
Red Deer Westerner
Sat, Dec 1 10-5 pm

Hope to see you there.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Stop & Shop


I just finished up a very successful Stop and Shop show this weekend. This was my first summer sale and was very pleased with the turn out and the organization of this event was outstanding. Kudos to Jenna and Ally for setting this event up.

Here are some pictures of my booth. My new items: Tee-Totes, Owl Pillows and Gadget Keepers were a big success as well as my ever popular Sock Monkeys.


Watch for another Stop and Shop event in October.




Saturday, March 10, 2007

New at Etsy

I have new items in my Radical and Retro Store on Etsy. To check them out you can look at the newly added Etsy Mini in my sidebar. If you like an item you simply click on it and it will take you directly to my Etsy store, or if you just want to browse what other items I have in my store just click on radical and retro on the bottom. Have fun and hope you get a chance to come visit.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

I'm Back

Wow it's been a long time since I posted. I was so busy with Christmas craft shows from October to mid-December, then Christmas. Then the doldrums of January set it and all of sudden it's the end of February already.
Hopefully spring is on it's way. Time to brighten up come up with new and fresh ideas for Spring.

My newest creation has been a sock monkey gadget keeper. It's so cute and can protect your cell phone, ipod, or small camera.

I've also been working on some new spring handbags. Here is my latest..



I will be working on more tote bags and some Easter items over the next 2 months. Check out my Etsy shop for my latest additions. http://radicalandretro.etsy.com
Things are looking up...Spring is on it's way!!