Showing posts with label indie shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indie shopping. Show all posts

Sunday, March 15, 2009

A new way to promote your crafty business!

I received the following email regarding the Happily Handmade Giveaway. Definitely a great way to promote your business!:

"I wanted to let you know about a great promotional opportunity for indie business, called the Happily Handmade Giveaway. You might have heard of it, as we've had many craft mafia members participate in the past. We've just relaunched this event after a two-year hiatus, with a spiffy new website and a team of fabulous volunteers ready to make this giveaway bigger and better than ever before.

Even in trying times like these, we are confident that this giveaway will be more popular than ever. I mean, free stuff? No one can resist the prospect of that. And the cost to participate is minimal. Only $20 plus a donation for the gift boxes. It’s a small investment for a huge return - I think past participants will agree, there is no other tool more powerful to grow a mailing list than the Happily Handmade Giveaway.

A quick backstory:
The Happily Handmade Giveaway began in 2004 as the result of a brainstorming session among a handful of indie artists looking for a unique way to promote their businesses and reward their customers. Since then, it's grown to surpass our wildest expectations. Our last event gave away nearly $15,000 worth of indie merchandise to 51 lucky shoppers around the world. This event, our 8th, is shaping up to be incredible for all those involved.

The goal of the HHG is twofold:
- To promote indie businesses with an affordable promotional opportunity, allowing them to reach new customers and build their mailing lists.
- To reward shoppers for their continued support of indie business, for making the conscious decision to purchase from an independent crafter and not a big box retailer.

We're currently in our sponsor registration period, which lasts through March 20th, and are looking for indie businesses who'd be interested in sponsoring the giveaway. For a small fee (only $20) and a donation to our prize boxes, Sponsors will be listed on our website as an official hhg entry site. Contestants can enter the giveaway by visiting any the participating Indie Shop Sponsors' websites. Each website will feature a separate entry form, allowing entrants to increase their chances of winning by simply visiting more of the Indie Shop Sponsors. Each Sponsor will also have the full list of sponsors on their entry page, creating an active stream of traffic from site to site to site. Businesses participating in the giveaway report a huge increase in traffic to their site and subscriptions to their mailing list (often a requirement for entry).

For more information about the giveaway, our website is the place to go:
http://www.happilyhandmade.com/

Our most recent press release can be viewed here:
http://www.happilyhandmade.com/2009/03/the-happily-handmade-giveaway-a-valuable-tool-for-promoting-indie-business/

I'm also always available should you have any specific questions.

Thanks so much! :)

- Lindsay Landis
Webmistress and Event Organizer
The Happily Handmade Giveaway
http://www.happilyhandmade.com/

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The San Diego North Park Craft Mafia is looking for vendors for the Holiday Hit List 2008!

Time flies when you are having fun crafting, and the holidays are approaching fast! We are already busy planning the spectacular 2008 Holiday Hit List and we are looking for vendors! This will be a super HUGE event -- to be held at the NTC Promenade at Liberty Station in Point Loma on Sunday, December 7th. If you have a crafty independent business and are in or planning to be in the San Diego area the first week of December, then you don't want to miss out on this opportunity! All of the details can be found here on the San Diego North Park Craft Mafia website. Hurry -- you only have until October 3rd to apply! This is going to be an epic show with entertainment, giveaways, craft demos, fashion show, and more!

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Sunday, Crafty Sunday !

san diego north park craft mafia Sunday crafty Sunday

The San Diego North Park Craft Mafia is now hosting monthly craft shows the first Sunday of each month! For every show we will be featuring various local indie vendors for plenty of shopping enjoyment. Our next show is June 1st from 12-5 at Filter Coffee House at 4096 30th St. in beautiful North Park. Coffee and shopping -- what a lovely way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon!

If you are in the San Diego area, and would like to participate in the next Sunday, Crafty Sunday event, check out our FAQ's page with the link to the application.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Handmade Parade has a brand-new site!

Yep, you heard it right, Handmade Parade has a brand spankin' new site, at www.handmade-parade.com.

Handmade Parade Site


Handmade Parade started out as a neighborhood craft show. There's also a Handmade Parade blog, where we brought you the best of handmade holiday shopping this past holiday season. Now Handmade Parade has evolved into a virtual Craft Show of sorts, where you can purchase handmade merchandise from all over the world!

There will be new artists added all the time, so check back often! And if you are interested in joining the Handmade Parade revolution, email thehandmadeparade@gmail.com.

P.S.) I designed the site. Do you like it???

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Spring Line Up in San Diego March 30th -- call for vendors!

Hello fellow mafiosas! The San Diego North Park Craft Mafia is ecstatic to be announcing our huge spring spectacular show—the Spring Line Up! It will be held on Sunday, March 30th at the Silver Gate Masonic Hall in North Park. This event promises to be enormous, and of course will be completely entertaining. Are you are planning on being in the San Diego / Southern California area on March 30th, and are interested in joining us to be one of our many fabulous vendors? Then check out the online application here . The deadline for applications is February 22—don't delay! We would love to have you be part of our Line Up!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Tiny Yarn Animals: Amigurumi Friends to Make and Enjoy

I am really excited about the new book Tiny Yarn Animals: Amigurumi Friends to Make and Enjoy by Tamie Snow of Roxycraft! Tamie's little yarn animals are so darn cute, I'm going to have a hard time waiting until it comes out in August! The good news is, you can pre-order your book now on Amazon!

Roxycraft patterAnd if you still can't wait, Tamie still has plenty of patterns that don't suck on her web site: www.roxycraft.com

The Sacramento Craft Mafia is planning to throw Tamie a book release party. So stay tuned for details!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Holiday Gift Guide

Don't forget to check out the holiday gift guide on www.handmadeparade.blogspot.com!

Don't miss out!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Get Crafty in the Kitchen with the Sacramento Craft Mafia!

The Sacramento Craft Mafia cookbook is finally here!

Crafty in the KitchenCrafty in the Kitchen
Get Cookin' with the Sacramento Craft Mafia

$10 donation + $1 shipping & handling gets you over 50 tantalizing recipes, including:


  • Black Cat Cocktail
  • "Sangre de Craftita"
  • Creamy Creatress Dip
  • La Yoli's Sacred Baked Brie
  • Artichoke Crostini
  • Worth the Wait Crock Pot Barbecue Beef
  • Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
  • Mexican Cornbread
  • Chick'n Tortilla Soup
  • Shonda's Kitchen Sink Soup
  • Rain's Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers
  • Sugar and Spice Candied Sweet Potatoes
  • Vegan Chocolate Pie
  • Vegan Powdered Pecan Cookies
  • Sacred Tres Leches
  • Peptogirl's Peachy Keen Peach Pie
  • Naughty Fondue
  • And MUCH MORE!

Impress your friends and family with a mob-style feast this holiday season. Crafty in the Kitchen also makes a great gift!

*********************************************************************

Recipe Teaser
The Sacramento Craft Mafia Pink Pucker
Submitted by Shonda of Ignition

1 can of frozen pink lemonade
regular or your favorite citrus vodka
pink sugar (find flavored and colored drink rimming sugars at better liquor stores)
ice
lemon wedges

Scoop frozen pink lemonade into blender. Add one can of your vodka. Fill blender with ice. Blend until smooth. Rim glasses with pink drink sugar-pour in drink. Add lemon wedge for garnish if desired.

BUY IT HERE!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The UnUsual Suspects Holiday Craft Show!






I shudder at the thought, but the holiday shopping season is almost upon us (unless you are OCD & finished your shopping in January)! The DC Craft Mafia is proud to host "The UnUsual Suspects Holiday Craft Show" Saturday November 3rd from 12-8PM at 5020 Battery Ln in Bethesda. The show will take place in a great space & will be filled wtih crafty people from across the country! We are thrilled to host many of our fellow Mafia members including Louisville CM, Pittsburgh CM & members of Richmond, Wilmington & Charm City Craft Mafias. There will be $1 door prize tickets available that will benefit the Washington Humane Society. We will also have FREE gift wrapping available! See our door prizes and the AWESOME crafty vendors at DC CRAFT MAFIA.

Don't forget your shopping list!

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Stitch Rock Roundup

The Hollywood Craft Mafia packed up and headed north this weekend for the Stitch Rock indie craft fair and bazaar in Delray Beach, FL -- and we're so glad we did! The show was a real testament to the thriving indie arts scene in the Sunshine State, with a line of shoppers forming outside even before the doors opened. The show was also a great chance for all of us to meet in person many of the designers and businesspeople who we'd been admiring from afar on Etsy or other online outlets. Add in a fashion show, rockin' music throughout the day, and truly exceptional catering (with cupcakes!), and you've got the equation for one of the best craft fairs in the area. Check it out:


Stitch Rock = packed
A really, really full house in downtown Delray

Kelli's Lovely Table
Kachina Herbs' sweet-smelling setup

Rebecca's Gorgeous Setup
Journals, jewelry and more from Dragonfly Crafts

My goodies, my goodies
Ciara Loves You!'s cat toys and clutches (and hey, is that free candy?)

Here's hoping the awesome Amanda (http://withsugarontop.etsy.com) organizes yet another successful event next year!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

North Park Craft Mafia's first event!

Greetings fellow Craft Mafiosas! We are the North Park Craft Mafia, a brand new group founded this past summer by independent entrepreneurs Teresa Salazar of Velvet Klaw, Penni Hawkins of p-starr products , and Svea Komori of Belle Pepper Couture. We represent North Park, one of the most beautiful and diverse of the historic neighborhoods of San Diego, CA. The North Park Craft Mafia will be participating in our very first craft fair this weekend. Oktoberfest 2007, put together by the International Dance Association of San Diego County, will be held on September 22 and 23, in the Balboa Park Club Ballroom, 1450 El Prado in fabulous Balboa Park. The fun starts Saturday, September 22 from 1-4 pm with free beginner’s dance lessons. Then on Sunday, September 23, from 12:30 to 4:45pm, the entertainment will include costumed dancers performing traditional folk dances. Dancing, vendors and great German food—fun for the whole family! If you are in and around the San Diego area this weekend, feel free to stop by and say “Hi!”

Friday, September 14, 2007

Stitch, version 5.0

Stitch is drawing closer and closer and we, the little Stitch elves, are slaving away. As with every year, this Stitch is going to be bigger and better than every year before. We're so excited that we can keep growing - and we've made it to our 5th anniversary! Hooray! So what's on the agenda for this year??

A NEW LOCATION
Yep - we've moved again! Stitch 2007 will be held right downtown at the Austin Convention Center at 500 E. Cesar Chavez Street. This new location is much larger than last year which means that this year we're bringing you about 100 vendor booths and some amazing sponsor booths. The Convention Center serves food too so you can stay and shop for hours and not worry about any gnawing hunger distracting you from the fun. We'll have some of Austin's best DJs spinning, the Super Sonic Soul Squad will be dancing again... and I've heard something about a double dutch team performing??? For real. You'll want to be there all night because we're capping off the evening with a runway show featuring about 20 of the best designers we could find. We've got folks flying in from around the country to show so you won't want to miss it.

YOU SAY IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME, BUT PROVE IT
Okay - we will prove it! Go here and check out our booth and runway line-up. Now would we lie to you??? Our sponsor booths are not to be missed either. We've got a make and take booth again from Duncan Paints, Carlo Rossi and Jug Simple will be there with their fantastic furniture and much much more, the ladies from the Indie Craft Documentary will be there (and we're showing a new preview of the upcoming film, featuring your favorite crafting superstars!), Simplicity will be there with their new Built by Wendy pattern line, Etsy's making an appearance.... and too much more to mention. Oh but wait.... I will mention the....

RAFFLE AND STITCH GRANT
The Stitch grant is making it's second appearance this year. We're hunting down two very deserving Stitch participants to win one cash grant and one grant in the form on crafting supplies from a host of sponsors including Dremel and Babylock. Are you participating in Stitch and think you deserve this grant? Well check it out here.
How do we plan on raising this grant money you ask?? Well holding a majorly kick-ass raffle. We'll be raffling off prizes from many of our vendors and runway designers as well as several Babylock sewing machines (these babies are top of the line!) and other prizes from local businesses. In the past we've raffled off prizes such as spa gift certificates, dinners for two and skydiving lessons... so this you will not want to miss.
If you would like to donate raffle prizes, grant prizes or money that will go directly to the grant winner please email info@stitchaustin.com. Your donation will be welcomed with open arms and you'll receive a special thank you in our program.

TICKETS!!
Oh - of course - tickets! Tickets will be on sale at our website a few weeks prior to the show or you can purchase them at the door. We'll send out a note once they're available for sale. In the meantime just know, we did sell out last year so even if you do purchase tickets online, plan to arrive early. Plus, we've got goodie bags donated by our vendors and stuffed to the brim with treats from our participants and sponsors for the first 500 folks through the door. You wouldn't want to miss that, now would you.

I CAN'T ATTEND BUT I STILL WANT TO PARTICIPATE!
No problem - we love sponsors. We get to chat you up in our program, stuff your things in our goodie bags and more. To read all about it go here. As mentioned above, we also would love to add your products to the raffle or grant prize in exchange for a thank you in the program. Let us know: info@stitchaustin.com.

VOLUNTEERS ANYONE? ANYONE?
We already have a ton of volunteers signed up but we could use a ton more since this show is going to be huge. To volunteer for set-up or helping out during the show please contact info@stitchaustin.com and we'll fill you in.

In the meantime - thank you all again for all the support.... and a big thank you to all of our sponsors, some of whom are Carlo Rossi, Duncan Paints, Babylock, Bust and 31 Corn Lane.

See you at Stitch!!
xoxo
Jesse, Jennifer, Karly and Tina

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Fun Kitschy applique

I love buying from other crafters. This is going to sound weird but I especially love buying stuff I COULD make myself but find the time/aggravation levels to do them too high. I love getting something I want to make, but never find the time or motivation to do it. I just place and order, and WHOOSH, there it is-all fresh and beautiful.

Last year I was needing some new FAB kitchen towels, I had embroidered ALOT of them in the past but they take so long. And a couple of rounds of barbeque sauce or mole sauce and they are trashed. I just wanted to buy something cute, durable and atomic. And I found them from Jessica at http://www.in-hope.com/.


This past week while sick, I was perusing Etsy and I got this FAB little clutch purse from her as well. I love it, its the perfect 'small bag' size, where I can fit my wallet, phone, keys, makeup bag, tissues and not have it bulging at the seams. She's super quick to ship and will custom make stuff (like my towels!) if you ask.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Indie Shopping

I went to Brooklyn this past weekend & while I was there I showed my wares at the Brooklyn Indie Market on Smith St. This cute little outside market features different emerging indie designers each weekend. When I was there I was most impressed by the work of Kisha Turner, ethnic clothing designer. You can see her work at http://kishatawaladesign.com.



The Brooklyn Indie Market will be open every Saturday & Sunday through December.

http://www.brooklynindiemarket.com