This is such a fun event, and the proceeds go to a great cause. We’ll be vending there again, and I’ll have some cool new hair accessories. Swing by and say hi! http://www.punkrockfleamarketseattle.com
One week till Punk Rock Flea Market
Category: vending
When life hands you lemons…
“When life hands you lemons, say — I like lemons, what else you got?”
~ Henry Rollins
~ Henry Rollins
I’m back from my trip to sunny southern California. It was beautiful, and I had a wonderful time with my friends. The show that I was planning to do did not pan out as expected …. apparently, there were permit issues and the event was cancelled moments after we arrived to set up. I was beyond let down, as I’m not really in the position to take extended vacations like that unless they’re working vacations. In addition, this event took place on Mother’s Day weekend, which is typically a big day for craft shows and festivals. With that said, this last minute cancellation translated to a pretty big loss for me.
 |
| Village Grind, Wrightwood CA |
Fortunately, my hosts have connections! Allison creates wonderful handcrafted soap and polymer clay jewelry, which she sells at a local coffee house called The Village Grind. She gave them a call to see if they’d let a few of the displaced vendors set up our wares on their deck, and they graciously agreed. It just so happened that they had an event planned for that day — their “Hedonist Days” event, which was a full on toga party.
They had singers and bands, and even a bellydancer. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and the friendly, tight knit community showed up in full force. I had a few good sales (which at least helped me to recoup a portion of my travel expenses) and I met so many great people! Seriously, I cannot say enough about our kind hosts Greg and Linda, or about the people of Wrightwood. It is a beautiful town with a friendly, vibrant community. If you’re ever in the area, I strongly encourage you to stop by and check it out for yourself ; and if you do, be sure to pop in to the Village Grind — they have fun events and music all the time.
As you can tell, I quickly fell in love with this beautiful mountain town and the awesome people who live there. I’m considering heading back down in July for their Mountaineer Days Festival. I’m undecided at the moment, but the event that I’d originally gone down for has been relocated and rescheduled around the same time, so it could work out. I would certainly welcome the chance to visit this town again.
California I’m Coming Home…
 |
| “Day of the Deadheads” Calavera Mask |
Hopping on a plane tomorrow to go visit one of my oldest friends down in southern California. Kim and her daughter are crafty too — Kim makes beaded jewelry and really cool wine bottle decor, and Alli does a little bit of everything (poly clay, gourds, henna, soap making) — so we’re going to share a booth at one of the local festivalson Mother’s Day weekend. The show is called “Dead on the Mountain” and it’s a great big hippie fest with tons of Grateful Dead cover/inspired bands.
I’ve been beading a lot the past week or two, which is a nice change of pace since I’ve been so focused on leatherwork for the last several months. So I’ll have plenty of beaded jewelry for this event, as well as a good selection of leather barrettes, fascinators and hair slides. Not sure how well the masks will do, but I’m bringing a bunch for good measure. Hopefully, we’ll do well there as I’d love to have a reason to visit more often. I miss the sunshine, the redwoods, the ocean and mostly, my peeps. I’m very excited for a chance to see them!
April happenings at Beadmask
Wow, I’ve got a lot going on this month! Some of the highlights include the Beading for a Cure Charity auctions, a gorgeous new Fae Team Exhibit, vending at the Spring Fairy Festival in Auburn and of course, more school. Reading it back to myself, that list doesn’t look anywhere near as big as it feels… but regardless of how it looks, it’s enough to keep me hopping. Hopefully, some of this will be interesting and exciting to you as well 🙂
This year’s Beading for a Cure auctions have been live for a couple of weeks now. There are several lovely item listings ending tonight, including a gorgeous bracelet made by my friend Nikia Angel, a beautiful beaded mask, an incredible beaded dragonfly wand and so much more!
The mask that I donated (pictured above) has been listed today, and the auction will end on 4/18. In case you’re not familiar with this charity, Beading for a Cure is an annual art challenge and fundraiser. Participating bead artists each purchase an identical kit and create something with the materials. They can create anything they choose, as long as they follow the same ground rules. Starting in March, the items are auctioned off and the proceeds are donated to the National Colorectal Cancer Research Association in memory of bead artist Layne Shilling, who lost her battle with colorectal cancer in November of 2002. It is an amazing gift of love and talent. This year’s participating artists went all out, so please visit BFAC’s eBay page and show them some love.
Annnddd, the new Fantasy Artists of Etsy (or Fae Team) exhibition is live! These exhibitions showcase the artwork of the team’s talented members, and they’re a real feast for the eyes. The theme for the current exhibition is “Faeries, Elves and Pixies, Oh My!”, and it is truly fabulous. Please take a moment to visit the site, and tell them that I sent you!
Last, but certainly not least, we will be vending at the Spring Fairy Festival in Auburn WA this coming Saturday, April 16th. The event takes place at the Green River Community College in Auburn WA — please visit the website for details and directions (cause I assure you that you never want to get your driving directions from me 😉 Besides an impressive array of talented vendors to shop from, there will be fun workshops, exciting performers, a kid’s corner and a costume contest! It promises to be a fun show — hope to see you there!
Vampire’s Masquerade Ball
 |
| one of my painted domino masks |
We traveled down to Portland Oregon this weekend to vend at the 9th annual Vampire’s Masquerade Ball. It was a fabulous experience — despite the fact that I had a raging migraine the entire evening, we had a blast! The show’s producer, Lady Raven really goes all out to create an elegant event. Her careful planning and attention to detail are evident everywhere you turn.
The crowd was amazingly well dressed, colorful and friendly. I foolishly forgot to bring my good camera, so I’ve only got these blurry camera phone photos to share. Sorry about that, folks! Hopefully they at least hint at the elegant characters and vibrant costumes at this event.
 |
| one of my “Fae” masks |
Oh! And I got to meet my fellow Fae Team member, Susan Tooker (of Susan Tooker’s Spinning Castle). I have long admired her amazing jewelry and costume design skills, so it was a real treat to see them in person. I wish I’d taken a photo of her (the vampire pirate to the left is not Susan) but the aforementioned migraine really put a damper on my thinking/social skills. So, for now you’ll miss out on photos of Susan as a dark and mysterious faerie queen; however, we had such a great time at this show that I hope to make it down for more Oregon costume events. Maybe I’ll get another chance to connect with her and share some photos on this blog — in the meantime, do check out her store link above. You will not be dissapointed!
 |
| red and black “Imp” mask |
Another very talented artisan that I met at this event was Laura of Taken by the Sky. She creates exquisite corsets and fantasy clothing. In getting ready for this show, I realized that R & I are in desperate need of new costumes! When we quit smoking, we both gained an absurd amount of weight and nothing fits anymore … I am working on losing the extra pounds, but of course it’s a slow process. I think I will set aside money for one of her cutaway pirate dresses (or a fancy coat?) so that I can reward myself when I’ve made some progress toward weight loss goals.
 |
| “Cat” mask |
As fate would have it, I was set up close to Cindy of Portland’s Mystique Artisan Gallery. She and I had traded a few emails before the show, to discuss whether my work would be a good fit for her gallery. Almost as soon as we met, we realized that it certainly seems like a good fit! Robb and I stopped by the gallery the next morning on our way out of town, to check out the space and deliver a selection of masks. She’s got a great eye for quality, and she represents some of the most talented mask artists in the US. I am thrilled to have my work included there, and I hope you’ll stop by and say hi if you ever find yourself in the Portland area!
Punk Rock Flea Market this Saturday
From the folks at PRFM:
“Hey! The Punk Rock Flea Market is only 26 hours away! Don’t miss your best chance all year to drink beer and buy presents! Plus we got music! And chili dogs! And that strangely pale guy in the corner who sells only Vampire-themed pez dispensers! Tell your friends and neighbors…”
We’ll be vending there — come say hi!
Canterbury Faire – November 6th
Saint Dunstan’s Canterbury Faire is this Saturday, November 6th from 9:30 – 3:00 pm at 722 N. 145th St. – Shoreline WA 98133.
This community event features a variety of local vendors. It’s a great chance to take care of some early holiday shopping, and support local artists. We’ll be downstairs in room 5 – please stop by and say hi!
EtsyRAIN’s Pre-Holiday Show at the Intiman Theatre
Seattleites, I’d like to encourage you to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather today … if the weathermen are right, it’s quite possibly the last of the season. I’ve been curled up on the couch with a flu bug all weekend (Grrrr!) but if I could move, I’d be visiting the EtsyRAIN pre-holiday craft show at the Intiman Theater.
It runs from 11am – 5pm today, and it’s a great way to support local artists and get a jump start on your holiday shopping! The first 50 shoppers will receive free “swag” bags stuffed with goodies, treats and samples from some of the over 850 etsyRAIN member artists and craft makers residing in the greater Puget Sound area.
EtsyRain’s Spring Craft Show
.
Please stop by and visit me at EtsyRain’s spring craft show at the Intiman Theatre on May 8th. It’s the day before Mother’s Day, and you’re sure to find some great gifts for Mom – and yourself! Check out the press release for more info:
SEATTLE, April 22, 2010 – EtsyRAIN announced today that it will host its second annual Spring Craft Show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2010.
Please stop by and visit me at EtsyRain’s spring craft show at the Intiman Theatre on May 8th. It’s the day before Mother’s Day, and you’re sure to find some great gifts for Mom – and yourself! Check out the press release for more info:
SEATTLE, April 22, 2010 – EtsyRAIN announced today that it will host its second annual Spring Craft Show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2010.
The EtsyRAIN Spring Craft Show will be held in the lobby and the fountain courtyard at the beautiful Intiman Theatre, located at 201 Mercer Street in Seattle.
Arrive early for swag bags:
The first 50 customers through the door will receive free swag bags full of handcrafted items by Seattle-area artists.
Support local artisans and crafters:
Choosing to support our area’s small businesses helps in so many ways! Buying local is more than just the hottest trend. From reducing your carbon footprint to keeping your hard-earned dollars right here in Seattle, purchasing locally produced items benefits our city and our planet!
Spring Craft Show benefits local charity:
In the spirit of keeping it local, EtsyRAIN has chosen a Seattle-based charitable organization to support at its spring craft show.
Lifelong AIDS Alliance is a group that strives to create “a world without HIV or AIDS, where every person living with illness is treated with dignity and respect.”
Representatives from Lifelong AIDS Alliance will be at the show, sharing information about their organization, selling raffle tickets for gift baskets filled with EtsyRAIN member merchandise, and collecting donations of canned food.
Admission to the event will be a suggested donation of $1 that will go directly to Lifelong AIDS Alliance or a canned food donation for their meal delivery program.
About EtsyRAIN:
EtsyRAIN is a local collective of over 700 artisans and craft makers from all over the Puget Sound region who operate online shops on the international handcrafted shopping site called Etsy (etsy.com). EtsyRAIN’s mission is to create a local creative community that nurtures, supports and educates artists who currently have or are interested in opening their own independent e-commerce shops on Etsy.
The group’s website features an event calendar of local craft-related events that is quickly becoming the “go-to” place to find out about crafty happenings in the Seattle area. Check it out to learn about all things crafty going on locally, such as classes, shows, application deadlines, networking events and more. You can even create an account and post your own crafty events!
.
I Heart Handmade Gift Show
.
I’m getting ready to head out for a short vacation, but I wanted to let my Seattleite friends know about the I <3 Handmade Artisan Gift Show going on this Saturday (February 6th, 2010) from 1:00pm – 6:00 pm at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue.
I’m getting ready to head out for a short vacation, but I wanted to let my Seattleite friends know about the I <3 Handmade Artisan Gift Show going on this Saturday (February 6th, 2010) from 1:00pm – 6:00 pm at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue.
The show will be held in Spring Hall, in the education building on the church’s campus, which is located at 12700 SE 32nd Street in Bellevue. Free parking is available in the church parking lot, as well as along the neighboring streets. Handicapped parking and access are also available.
This event is being put on by one of the members of the local arts group that I mentioned before, EtsyRain. This is a powerhouse group of talented artists, so you’ll definitely find some cool stuff. If I hadn’t already made vacation plans, I would certainly be selling there this weekend.
A portion of the booth fees paid by each artist will be donated to Eastside Domestic Violence Program, (EDVP) an organization that has been providing domestic violence services since 1982. Please get out and support this event – it’ll keep your valentine happy, support local artists and contribute to an important community resource, in one fell swoop ;o)
.