Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide


This weekend is packed with handmade fun! Ditch those over crowded malls and disappointing super sales, and head out to experience some of Dallas's unique festive fun and creative art. Diorama O Rama
It’s a collective art happening and fundraiser where everyone is invited and encouraged to make and donate a diorama to be auctioned. Event proceeds will benefit Resolana, a Dallas-area nonprofit that assists incarcerated women through psycho-educational and creative programs that provide the skills, tools, and inner resources for self-improvement.

The first 50 attendees to pay the $5 admission will receive a cool Armhole.com tote screened with an illustration by Dallas artist Tania Kaufmann—and it’s loaded with goodies from neighborhood businesses.

Ten trophies will be awarded in categories that could include, but are not limited Linkto, most rad, low rent, fluorescent, kinetic, teepee, peaceful, anarchic, illuminated, unicorn-esque, and clever. Or, whatever. It’s irrelevant. It’s about having fun, creating good karma, and raising lots of money for Resolana.

When: Saturday May 23rd
Time: 4pm - at least 7pm
Where: F is for Frank Studio, 1216 Manufacturing, Dallas, TX
Cost: $5 (kids are FREE!)
Web site: www.diorama-o-rama.blogspot.com

Artfest
ARTFEST is one of the premier Fine Arts shows & festivals in the nation, integrating fine art, kids arts, music, performing arts, artists demonstrations and fun for everyone. Over 200 artists will showcase fine art for every taste, fancy or budget, including paintings, sculptures, wood working, iron works, jewelry and much, much more. There will also be a Live Music Stage featuring local & regional musicians and a Cultural Arts Stage featuring artists demonstrations by ARTFEST artists and performances by cultural arts organizations from all over the Metroplex.

Don't miss Bead Genie and the Kessler Craftsman displaying their handmade goods.

When: Saturday, May 23rd - Sunday, May 24th
Time: (S) 10am - 7pm, (Su) 10am - 6pm
Where: Fair Park, Dallas, TX
Cost: $6 for people, $1 for pooches
Web: www.artfest500.com


Glam Bam Thank You Ma'am!

Put on your going out face and that new gorgeous dress you’ve been dying to wear and rush out to the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash this Saturday. Forgot your favorite hat in the mad dash to the Bash? That’s okay because the lovely gals from Vanity Stand will be there to assist you and bring your look to fabulousness!

Vanity Stand is a two-girl beauty conquerors comprised of Christina Shoto, a Denton stylist and owner of vintage shop Circa 77, and Kimberly Berba, a DFW photographer. Both these gals have impressive history in the indie fashion and style industry, are armed with professional photography equipment and ready to shoot.

Whimsical hats, funky wigs, and costume accessories will be at your disposal to make your very own personalized photo shoot with you and your friends.

Get shot with glam at the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash from 1pm-5pm. Photos are printed on site and will be available in size and price ranges from $6 to $10.

Etsy Dallas Spring Bash: featuring the Vanity Stand

When: Saturday, May 16th

Where: South Side on Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar Dallas, TX

Time: 11am-5pm, Vanity Stand hours: 1pm-5pm

Deco Squad in Action

The Etsy Dallas Deco Squad spent last Thursday meticulously making origami birds from recycled phone book pages. Look for them all over the Artisans Quarter at the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash tomorrow!

We also stuffed the goody bags that will be given to the first 50 shoppers. There are magnets, pendants, fused glass rings, stickers, earrings, coupons and so much more!

Thanks to all the team members who helped out:

Kessler Craftsman
Two Hills Designs
Designing Diva
Bonny Beads
Artfull Expression
Sanctum Design Studio
Scribble Scrabble

Weekend Guide

Celebrate the spring season with the 1st Annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash, a festive arts & crafts extravaganza in the heart of The Cedars neighborhood just south of Downtown at South Side on Lamar.


The Spring Bash will feature:

- Over 50 artists, designers, and crafters selling their handmade wares. Full vendor list here:
www.bashvendors.blogspot.com
- Music by local DJ John Durbin
- Free crafts at the now-famous Etsy Dallas Make & Take Booth with help from Irving Girl Scout Troop #1637
- The Vanity Stand where shoppers can dress up in an array of crazy costumes, get their photo taken and go home with a snapshot of the fun time
- Free raffle featuring handmade items donated by Etsy Dallas members
- Special guest: La Reunion, a non-profit arts program located in Oak Cliff
- Cash donations accepted benefitting Family Place, a local non-profit domestic violence shelter serving women and children in Dallas.

Free Goody Bags for the first 50 shoppers - so get there early!

There is no cost for admission or entertainment, but please bring plenty of CASH as most vendors cannot accept credit cards. There is an ATM near the main South Side entrance.

This event will be family-friendly with a hip vibe of handmade love and good times. Think of this not just as an arts & crafts show, but as a party! For more info visit www.etsydallas.com.

Date: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 11am-5pm
Where:
South Side on Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas, TX
Cost: FREE
Raffle: FREE
Make & Take: FREE
Goodie Bags: FREE
for the first 50 shoppers. Get there early!


Hot Rods and Heels – Dallas, TX
The largest pin-up event in Texas! Come see the best of the best in burlesque, pin-up modeling, artists, photographers, vendors, and hot rods at Hotrods and Heels! Make sure to visit
Tara to the T and Texas Tarts out in full style at the show.

Date: May 16th
Time: 4pm-12am
Location: 3025 Main, Dallas
Price: $15
Web:
myspace.com/hotrodsandheels


Wild Flower Festival – Richardson, TX
Festival programming includes two main outdoor performance stages, the Acoustic Café, the award-winning Singer/Songwriter Stage, the family friendly Kidz Korner, Teenz Zone, strolling entertainers, buskers and acrobats, the Taste of Texas Food Garden, the City of Richardson Petting Zoo, the Art Guitar Auction, and lots of interactive displays and exhibits.

Date: May 15-17
Time: (F) 6pm-12am, (S) 11am-midnight, (Su) 12:30pm-8pm
Location: 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson, 75082
Price: $7.50-$25 (see ticket pricing here)
Web:
http://www.wildflowerfestival.com/

We Made Daily Candy (OMG)

Do you want to make a bunch of handmade crafters hyperventilate? It's easy. Just feature them in the Daily Candy Weekend Guide.


HOLY COW!!!

And not only did we make it in, but we are the FIRST item, and this includes a photo of the new unofficial Etsy Dallas mascot - an owl pin by member Silla Soup.

Are we bragging? Oh yes. Do we want to see you at the Bash this Saturday? You betcha.

posted by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Etsy Dallas Spring Bash Make & Take Table

Don't miss out on the Make & Take Table at the Bash! We'll have supplies on hand for you to make mini shrines (like the ones pictured here) -- little dishies, tins, silk flowers, beads, colored paper, fabric scraps, glue, glitter, scissors and the list goes on and on. Bring your imagination, creativity and those little pictures of loved ones, pets, friends and cutie babies. Make a mini shrine, a ring or whatever your crafty heart desires.


The Girl Scouts will be on hand to help with this year's M&T Table and take cash donations for the Family Place in Dallas. We're excited to have Girl Scout Troop 1637 back again this year.




COME GET YOUR CRAFT ON!
When: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 11am-5pm
Where: 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas
Cost: FREE!
Website: etsydallas.com

posted by Alicia of La Alicia

Member Spotlight: Pamela Michelle



She's fabulous! She's extraordinary!
She's Pamela Michelle!


Pamela Michelle works a full-time job, crafts up a storm on her lovely necklaces, and stepped forward to co-organize the 2008 Jingle Bash and the 2009 Spring Bash. Wow! Not only am I impressed with her enormous talent, I can't believe that she has the energy to help organize our fabulous Etsy Dallas craft shows. She is my own personal super hero.

Pam's unique style is a mix of hand-carved pieces of wood, her own special color palette, her imaginative illustrations which are inspired by nature, modern design and Scandinavian art with an end result in fabulousness.

You too can check out our Etsy Dallas craft hero at our next show this weekend, May 16th at the lofts on the South Side of Lamar.


Blog: pamelamichelle.blogspot.com

Thank you Pamela for being such a great inspiration and wonderful leader.
love, b.liscious

Cash for the Bash

Free admission? Yes!

Free raffle? You bet!

Free Make & Take crafts for the whole family? Certainly!

Free goody bags for the first 50 shoppers? Of course!

Free handmade vendor items? Uh...no.


In that case, please plan to bring plenty of good old-fashioned C notes (a.k.a. CASH). Most vendors will also accept personal checks and some are able to take credit cards. But in this game of making and selling handmade art, cash is king.

And if you forget to stop at the bank? Fear not. There is an ATM near the main entrance at South Side. Ca-ching!

[Pictured above: Lola Mini Zip by LolaFalk, Good Fortune Cat by Jodi von Rotten, Angry Denim Guy by Anklebiter, Green Shrug by Modest Ambition. Meet the other Bash vendors HERE.]

posted by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Press for the Bash

We were thrilled to see two articles about the upcoming 1st Annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash!

Many thanks to Jenn Emerson for her article in Hello Dallas, which features Etsy Dallas members Designing Diva and Silla Soup, and guest vendor adaptive reUse who comes to the Bash all the way from Austin!

We also tip our crafty hats to Lyndsay Knecht Milne for her article in NBC DFW About Town, featuring Etsy Dallas member Scribble Scrabble and Tefi Designs, and guest vendor Laura Davis Design Lab.


Thank you, lady scribes! We love the support of the Dallas area media. To read more press the team has received, go HERE.

posted by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Dallas Observer Splash

Whoo-hoooo! We're so thrilled to see our first ever Spring Bash splashed across the masthead of the Dallas Observer web site. Super mega uber thanks to South Side on Lamar for setting this up for us. Since it can't be there forever and ever, we're including a couple of screenshots below.


Support your local handmade collective by stopping at the Bash and spending some time and dollars on great handmade goods. Free crafts! Free admission! Free raffle! Free goody bags! Free good times! Smiles by the gallon!








Uber thanks to Patricia and Susie for taking these screenshots for the team. Thanks dolls!
posted by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

V.I.P. - Bash Volunteers

Thank you a million times over to the following Etsy Dallasites who have signed up to volunteer and help with the Spring Bash decorations. Think: origami birds and bright colorful Maypoles...

Mandi of Scribble Scrabble - Our fearless Deco Squad Leader
Larry of Kessler Craftsman
Jenna of Wrap Couture
Patricia of Karma Crochet
Maggie of artfull Expression
Susie of Sanctum Design Studio
Liz of Lizardo Art
Caroline of Pink Lemonade Bags
Jill of Rimrock View Studio
Deb of Anklebiter
Katie of Two Hills Designs
Mia of Miamaria Design

And thank you to the volunteers doing check-in and planning the day of the Bash (and also setting up their own booths as well!):

Pam of Pamela Michelle
Randi of Designing Diva
Dylan of Dowdy Studio
Stephanie of Tefi Designs
Alicia of La Alicia
Carrie of One-Up Designs
Brenda of B.Liscious

posted by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Member Spotlight: Color Box Design

For the past couple of years, Rhonda has been honing the craft of letterpress printing. She works on an antique Vandercook 4 letterpress from the 1950s.



She was recently a part of the Art of Circus: A Letterpress Slideshow at Studio 204 in Arlington which is currently highlighted on the Felt and Wire blog.

She designed and printed a wonderful collection of circus-style letters and uber cool animals including; a monkey, a lion, and an elephant. She is third from the left with fellow letterpress artists at the show – clearly, a fun time was had by all!

With a graphic design background, Rhonda designs everything from logos and posters to baby announcements and greeting cards -- she does her own illustration and printing. Click on the images below to read more about her work and to visit her etsy shop.






Her work can be found locally at Paper & Chocolate in the same shopping center as the Inwood theater as well as The Soda Gallery in the Bishop Arts District.

Rhonda joined Etsy Dallas this year and will be a vendor at the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash on May 16 -- stop by and see her work in person!

Posted by Alicia/LaAlicia

Eco•Ideas: Bead for Life

It's always feels good to purchase something beautiful that can help someone else in the process. This is part of what makes Bead for Life such a great idea. It's a program that connects U.S. consumers with a group of women beaders in Uganda who are working at escaping poverty. Check out their site and be sure to read the "meet the beaders" section of the site to get to know those multifaceted hard working beaders.

Before the Bead for Life program, many of the beaders were unemployed or worked for very low wages in rock quarries -- living on less than a dollar a day. This program provides a way for them to make a living and afford things we take for granted like a home and uniforms to send their children to school in. These women undergo training to learn how to make paper beads as well as how to run a small business. Bead for Life is a Fair Trade Federation member working toward equitable and sustainable trading partnerships and creating opportunities to alleviate poverty.

Check out this how-to-roll-paper-beads tutorial on their site - learn to recycle magazines and out of date calendars into beads.

posted by: Alicia of Alicia Colina-Ashby

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide



"Pop Art" Letterpress Show
The Coffee Haus Downtown, in Arlington, is pleased to present the "Pop Art" Letterpress Show. The collection, which opened Arlington's own Studio 204, delightfully plays with retro soda pop advertisement and features four local printmakers . Each prints is beautiful, unique, and would make an affordable Mother's Day gift. Featuring Etsy Dallas member Color Box Designs.

Where: The Coffee Haus Downton, 208 S. Mesquite Street, Arlington
When: Anytime during normal business hours through May 30th
Time: Monday -Friday 7am-7pm, Saturday 7:30am-7pm
Cost: Free

Mother's Day Art Sale
When: Saturday May 2nd
Where: North Haven Gardens, 7700 Northaven Road, Dallas, TX 75230
Time: 1o:00 am -7:00 pm
Note: From 6-9 pm, "Plant the Town Pink" will be held. This is a very special event benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation. There will be food wine, great giveaways, topics on healthy living, in-store specials and so much more!
Cost: The Art & Craft sale is a FREE event. The "Plant the Town Pink" event requires a $10 donation at the door. The first 50 people get a goodie bag filled with products and gift cards from local businesses.
Website: North Haven Gardens
Please stop by and say hi to Etsy Dallas member Patricia of Karmacrochet will be at the Art & Craft sale event!

Bishop Lynch Spring Market
Stop on by the 2nd annual BL Spring Market hosted by parents of the BL Brigade Drill Team. There will be 50 vendors selling arts and crafts at this fundraiser. Stop by the atrium and say hi to Etsy Dallas member Susan Saunders of Signature Scentsations
When: Saturday May 2nd
Where: Bishop Lynch High School-9750 Feruson & Peavy, Dallas, TX
Time: 9am-5pm
Cost: Free
Website: BL Spring Market

Central High School Lightning Dancers Spring Gift & Craft Show
Note: As of May 1, 2009 this show has been postponed!
In addition to up to 200 great vendor booths there will be food, frozen drinks, a free Kiddie Korner, free face painting, free bounce house for the kids, cool door prizes, school performances throughout the day. The SPCA of Texas will be holding pet adoptions in the parking lot. Scrapbookers are invited to attend National Scrapbooking Day's Crop 'Til You Drop.
When: Saturday May 2nd
Time: 9 am-5 pm
Where: Central High School, Keller -click here for map directions
Web site: www.lightningdancers.com
Stop on by this 6th annual show and visit with Etsy Dallas member Maggie of Artfull Expressions.

Posted by Randi/DallasDesigningDiva

Member Spotlight: Midnight Snack

This week's Etsy Dallas Member Spotlight is on Midnight Snack, your source for handmade pillows, clothing & accessories.

Christina is the creative brain & talent behind the scenes. She has lived in the Dallas area all of her life and has created for as long as she can remember. She made her first "craft tower" when she was just 5 years old. It was full of glitter, popsicle sticks, fuzzy pom poms, and all the fun kids' craft supplies. Wow, Christina....crafty & organized...we are impressed!


In college, Christina used crafting as a way to de-stress and take her mind off of school. Hmm, when I was in college, I could have really used her "Hands off My Chocolate" plush to avoid the "freshman 10"!!

She really started to enjoy making hand made gifts around this time. Christina and her husband have been a part of the handmade movement for a while. They have exchanged handmade gifts with each other ever since they started dating - even when most of her friends thought it was weird. Yeah, Christina we know...y'all were hip before your friends even knew it!

Christina likes to surround herself with creative people whenever she can. It really helps her understand her own process by witnessing how others work out their own craft. Her husband is creative and artistic, and they help each other constantly with projects and bounce ideas off of each other. Christina says, "It is fantastic to have someone around who constantly pushes you to perfect your ideas."

Midnight Snack was started out of a desperate need for a dog bed to keep Christina's chihuahua, Stanley, away from her nice sofa pillows. She made him a giant steak shaped fleece floor pillow and he loved it. That sparked her interest in making plushes and since Stanley didn't need an abundance of beds she started putting her other creations online, marking the beginning of Midnight Snack.

The business has since evolved into hand sewn, appliqued clothing and accessories, and most recently into decoupaged jewelry. Sewing is Christina's true love. "I'll always feel most satisfied after making a new plush creation!" Well Christina, this "Piece of Cake" plush couldn't satisfy my sweet tooth more!!



Christina will be at the Spring Bash on May 16th and hopes you'll stop on by the Midnight Snack table and see her amazing creations.

Posted by Randi Deckard/DallasDesigningDiva

Spring Bash: Make & Take Craft Table!

When you come by the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash -- don't miss out on the Make & Take table where you can let your imagination run wild. We'll have fun crafty bits of all kinds for you to play with -- so stop by, get crafty! This year we'll also have materials available to make your very own mini-shrine, among other things, so be sure to bring those little pictures of your pets and loved ones to incorporate into your creation.

We're delighted to have Girl Scout Troop 1637 back again this year to help us out at the Make & Take and accept cash donations benefiting the Family Place.

COME GET YOUR CRAFT ON!
When: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 11am-5pm
Where: 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas
Cost: FREE!
Website: etsydallas.com

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide


This weekend is picking up speed. It might be a good idea to go ahead and clone yourself to make it to all these amazing events going on in the DFW area this weekend. There's everything from indie shopping, to bike riding, to music, to free foods and drinks, and even oppertunities to bring along your little furry fido friend.


The Denton Arts & Jazz Festival is a FREE 2 1/2 day event held in the heart of the city, beautiful Quakertown Park . Over 2,200 performers on 6 stages, fine arts and crafts, children's art activities, food and games, and four hundred festival members volunteer their time each year for this exciting annual event on the last, full weekend in April.

In the North Part of the Park, you'll find Etsy Dallas Member Beading Genie selling her fine jewelry, along with 70 other artists and crafters. There you will find clothing, metal & wood crafts, jewelry, paintings, candles, masks, puppets, dolls, etc. Artists will also be set up in the Denton Civic Center, and the surrounding areas outside the building.

When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Time: (F) 5-11pm, (S) 10am-11pm, (Su) 11am-9pm
Where: Quakertown Park, Denton, TX
Cost: FREE!
Website: dentonjazzfest.com


Let's get Funky! It's finally time for the highly anticipated Spring Fling in Fort Worth, brought to you by our friends over at Funky Finds. The indoor event will showcase the work of over 130 talented artisans providing consumers the opportunity to find hand-crafted one-of-a-kind gifts, unique accessories, fashionable attire, home dècor and more.

The Spring Fling is a terrific way to celebrate Earth Day as many vendors create recycled and upcycled goods. Eco-conscious shoppers will appreciate having over 100 shops in one location eliminating the waste of time and gasoline driving around town. Attend the Funky Finds Spring Fling on April 25 and celebrate handmade goods and independent artisans.

There will be a flood of Etsy Dallas members out in Fort Worth this weekend for the Spring Fling. Be sure to stop by and say hello, and get your shop on.
Link
Also visit the Etsy Dallasites online shops for a sneak prewiew: Cut Out & Collect, Dowdy Studio, F is for Frank, Harrilu, Kessler Craftsman, Lolafalk, Little Cookie, Man Handled, Mia Maria, Michelle Cook, Modest Ambition, Nerdbomber, Pink Lemonade Bags, Pamela Michelle, Pin Up Pixie, Rimrock View Studio, Sadie's Things, Scribble Scrabble, Superchica, Sherry's Crafts, Tara to the T, Texas Tarts, Tefi Designs, Three Yellow Starfish, XY Factory

When: Saturday
Time: 10am-6pm
Where: Will Rodgers Memorial Center, Fort Worth, TX
Cost: FREE!
Website: funkyfinds.us


For the First Annual Oak Cliff Art Crawl, several Art Galleries and Artist studios will open their doors for receptions and festivities in Oak Cliff. This event is free and a map of destinations will be provided at each venue. Participating galleries include Cube Creative - a brand new gallery on Tyler St., Ice House Cultural Center, Soda Gallery, Decorazon, Texas Theater, 9th Street Town Homes, Bishop Arts Studio Co-op, Mighty Fine Arts and more!

A few of the things you can expect at this fun filled art crawl are live bands, free refreshments and beverages, a unique art experience at each venue (including a Beatles themed reception at the Soda Gallery), a large group of bicyclists visiting each location, and of course, quality art available for purchase.

Make sure you stop at the Soda Gallery to listen to Etsy Dallas artist and musician DJ Tigerbee spin the Beatles music and see our very own Kessler Craftsman's glass recreation of Yellow Submarine.
Link
When: Saturday
Time: 4pm-9pm
Where: Oak Cliff (click for map of venues)
Cost: FREE!
Website: oakcliffartcrawl.com


Arlington's Studio 204 will have their second gallery show April 25th from 6pm-10pm with a circus flair (rumor has it there will be pop corn and balloon animals). They're located at 204 S. East Street, near J. Gilligan's and Bird's Copies.

You can also drop by Coffee Haus to view the Pop Art collection before heading to Studio 204 on your way home from the Funky Finds Spring Fling! Both the Pop Art and Art of Circus feature Etsy Dallas's own Rhonda Warren of Color Box Design.

When: Saturday
Time: 6pm-10pm
Where:
Cost: FREE!
Website: Art&Seek

Coming Up! - Saturday, May 16th

Get out your big red sharpie and circle May 16th on that calendar, then cancel any appointments, and have your secretary hold all calls that day, cause you're gonna be bashing it up indie style with Etsy Dallas.

The 1st Annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash will be held at the historic South Side on Lamar, the old red Sears Building, on Saturday, May 16th from 11am to 5pm. The show will feature over 50 local handpicked artists and crafters, hand spun tunes from DJ John Durbin, Make & Take crafts for the kiddos or yourself, a free Etsy Dallas-sized raffle, a picture perfect Vanity Stand and 50 free swag bags for the first 50 shoppers chock full of handmade Etsy Dallas goodies.
Link

While this show will be family-friendly, the vibe will be a fun bash full of handmade love and good times. Think of it as a party - not your typical craft show! Get ready to Bash!

When: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 11am-5pm
Where: 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas
Cost: FREE!
Website: etsydallas.com

Visit These Treasuries TODAY!!

Visit these Etsy Dallas treasuries today and click on each item featured. This will make our status "hot" and get us closer to making the FRONT PAGE of http://www.etsy.com/.

Both of these treasuries celebrate the upcoming Spring Bash. Don't miss it! Support your local craft collective with a few simple clicks!

They Did the Bash


Etsy Dallas EXPOSED