Sewing my Butt Off for Holiday Handmade!

Holiday Handmade is coming this weekend! It's the only craft fair I've been to where people are lined up outside waiting to come in (tho shwag bags going to the first 50 people helps) This Friday and Saturday at the Sherman Events Center in Downtown Denver. Check out the organizers Fancy Tiger to get more scoop... I will be there with my fabulous recycled tote bags, and wonderful handspun yarns!

Report from the Ballyhoo!

We had a great day yesterday at the Ballyhoo! Check out the awesome sign our volunteers made for the event, and check out all the people checking out the 30 sweet vendors set up there. Even with the drizzly weather people came out to shop and create.

We had several cool deomos, there folks are sewing cell phone pouches, we also watched tatting, spinning, sock puppets and needle felting!


There was also a cakewalk, with some awesome cakes up for grabs to anyone who wanted to play. Flavors like toffee, peanut butter-chocolate, lemon and Thundercake it was hard for all the winners to choose!
There was also an interactive screen printing demo, people bought canvas totes and were guided through putting the cool Ballyhoo logo on it.
Last but not least we had the expert baristas creating latte art for our highly caffeinated judges, good way to warm up!
The Denver Handmade Alliance did an amazing job of putting together a fabulous event with lots of exciting things going on!

Crafty Ballyhoo Tomorrow!

Gather round folks, it's time for a Ballyhoo! Last weekend a bunch of crafty volunteers got together at my house to prep stuff for the Ballyhoo. We got out all our random bits and a glue gun and made some awesome letters for the main sign. I've been sewing the letters on to our big yellow banner!
What is the Ballyhoo you might ask? As part of Create Denver Week the Denver Handmade Alliance put together an awesome show with 30 local vendors, crafty demos, make and take crafts, a cake contest and cake walk, a latte art throwdown and more creative fun than you can shake a stick at! (dunno why you'ld be shaking sticks...)
Tomorrow, Saturday April 17th in Downtown Denver all this will be happening at the Flower Garage - 1490 Delgany from 11am to 7pm. See you all there!

I'm Thankful for "Shop Local"!

Shopping season is upon us, but don't go hit the malls! Those tired predictable gifts are feeding a boring economy. Support Handmade! I used the "Shop Local" feature on Etsy to bring up pages of people making awesome stuff in my own backyard. Here's some of my favorite picks in the colors of the season. Be sure you check out what's being made in your backyard!

Check out this sweet yarn creation from BeckyPotter! A warm fuzzy for these cold Colorado winters. An exciting design and nice colors you could wearthis in many ways and with many ensambles - casual to formal. Not to mention, nothing is more stylish than handmade!

How about some original Art for the food lover in your life? Bonus, it's technically christmas colors, but no one will notice that if you hang it year round! Sharonschock has a number of cute little original paintings just waiting to find a wall of their own. Art is classy, fun and will last a lifetime, a perfect gift!

Here's something to write down all those holiday memories in! Derrick from Disconsolator makes high quality beautiful hand bound books, in many colorful fabrics and styles. He'll even do custom work for you - how great is that?

How about something Eco-friendly? (I can hardly get through a blog post without one) Kimwhitecreations made this lovely sparkly cup cozy so you can say no to the cardboard sleeve in style. Extra points if you bring your own cup. Warm beverages and cute stuff... What a great way to celebrate the season!

Remember, when you shop handmade it allows us crafters to have a good holiday season too! No matter howmany gifts I give this season it's a great joy to know that some stranger is getting my goods with love. Cheers to all, and don't run up your credit cards too high...