Etsy Team Columbus Gift Basket Giveaway!

Check out the Etsy Team Columbus blog for easy directions on how to get a chance to win!

http://etsyteamcolumbus.blogspot.com/2009/12/win-gift-basket-from-etc.html

Papermaking photos

From top to bottom: The setup, pre-soaking green paper, green & brown pulp ready to go, poured Christmas tree tags.

North Market Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza

It’s that time of year for holiday entertaining, cookie baking, pie making, turkey basting, present shopping, gift-giving and celebrating all of the reasons for the season. The North Market Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza is the perfect place for both inspiration and acquisition of all of your holiday trimmings. We’ve decided to give you twice as much of a good thing this year and we have expanded the event to last both Saturday, December 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 6 from 12-5 p.m.

Our merchants will be armed with an array of samples to tempt your taste buds and help you formulate your holiday feasts. As always they are endowed with the wisdom of years of experience to give you excellent advice. The second floor will be devoted to forty-five local artisans and crafters for a weekend of shopping for distinctive handmade gifts. Jewelry, glass, textiles, bath and body products and knitted items are just a few of the categories represented by the local artists in our craft fair.

Scheduled Holiday Open House Activities include:

Saturday, December 5
• 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., North Market merchants and Craft Extravaganza vendors on second floor open for business
• 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Christmas tree sales on the farmers' market plaza
• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., holiday music by Willie Phoenix
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., holiday music by Suite Strings
• 1 – 3 p.m., Joyunspeakable, the living statue as the Nutcracker Toy Soldier
• 1 – 3 p.m., holiday music by Miss Molly
• 3 – 5 p.m., holiday music by the Eileen Howard Jazz Trio

Sunday, December 6
• 12-5 p.m., North Market merchants and Craft Extravaganza vendors on second floor open for business
• 12 -3 p.m., holiday music by Willie Phoenix
• 3-5 p.m., holiday music by Island Breeze

Etsy Voter - Holiday Cards

I made the Etsy voter! Every week, Etsy chooses a category (like holiday cards) and people nominate their favorite things from that category. My recycled handmade paper Christmas tree gift tags got nominated and chosen!! Please go vote if you can (you might need an Etsy account (it's free)) - and pass the word along. Voting is open for 6 more days.

http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=78

Eco bags workshop at the OSU Urban Arts Space

Bring your unwanted disposable plastic shopping bags and transform them into beautiful and sturdy handbags at the OSU Urban Arts Space from 5-6 p.m. Thursday (11/12). Accommodating both beginner and advanced participants, artisan Marcia Trakas will work with guests to crochet the bags into masterpieces, keeping them out of the landfill. Bring a crochet hook J- 10, scissors, and plastic bags. Free and open to all. RSVP to mailto:uas@osu.edu. Read more: http://uas.osu.edu/program/eco-bags-workshop

New work, new retail location

I love my newest creations - super-wide & soft headbands! Made at the request of the best local yoga studio in Columbus - Yoga on High - I've used organic cotton headbands made by Prana and added botanical decorations made from recycled sweaters!

Also coming soon to Yoga on High - eye pillows from recycled/repurposed silk!

(Full disclosure - my wonderful mom is a YoHi co-owner. That may have given me something of an 'in'. : )

Wanderlust abroad . . .

It's been a busy month! Craft shows and business meetings and custom orders - whew!

But I'm thrilled to announce that some of my work is now available in . . . . Belgium! Back in the begining of September, a lovely woman named Elaine visited my booth at Artisan Sundays. She spotted the Wanderlust pins, and promptly found a pin showing her husband's hometown in France. She told me that she lives in Belgium and works at a gift shop, and would love to buy some Wanderlust to take back with her! Long story short, her husband brought over some maps, I spent a few days button-making, and now there are Wanderlust magnets in Belgium.

If you're ever there, check out:
The Gift Boutique
Avenue des Erables, 1-1640 Rhode-St.-Genese, Belgium