Getting Ready for lots of shows!

On Friday evening, come to what is sure to be your new favorite yarn store and support your local artisans at the 5th Annual Soft N Sassy Holiday Boutique.

Soft N Sassy Holiday Boutique
Friday, 12/4/09
5-9 pm
8047 Broadview Rd
Broadview Hts., Ohio 44147

and then on Saturday, I will be at Normandy. It has got to be one of the largest shows in the area. The gym, the cafeteria, and I swear all the hallways are chick full of crafty goodness.

Normandy Arts & Crafts Fair
Saturday, 12/5/09
10 am - 4 pm
2500 West Pleasant Valley Parma, Ohio 44134

And last but not least, I finally have a fan page on facebook, and I even managed to link my etsy shop up with it. So please, take a look!

New facebook fan page

click here
to be kept up to date with all the crafty going-ons.

Remember, buy local!

Etsy Etsy Etsy!

Yay, my plates made it into another treasury:

Christmas 2009
I really really really hope this feature leads to a sale. Although I do have 2 upcoming shows I will be bringing them to. My etsy shop has been open since February of 2009 and my goal was to make 52 online sales, or one per week. So far I am at 46. Will I make it? Next sale, I will be treating myself to this awesomeness:



It is not that I dislike my office job...ok maybe it is. I would just love to create all day long, and still be able to pay the bills. So, in essence, each sale brings me one step closer to my dream. Baby steps, baby steps...

Happy Festivus!

Spending the day at local holiday craft fairs got me thinking about my favorite holiday songs. Of course my absolute favorite would be the original Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer by Gene Autrey. We knew it was Christmas when my Grandpa would break out the old record and put it on. Here it is on youtube, in all it's crackily glory:



TOTALLY brought a tear to my eye...but enough sappy talk, on to the ROCK! Hands down, Billy Squier is my second favorite. In this video, the ORIGINAL MTV VJ's appear. You might remember them, Martha, Nina, JJ, Alan & Mark:



Remember when MTV played music? Crazy I know.

And just because Hall & Oates are too funny, their version of Jingle Bell Rock:



How does Jon do it? Hot after all these years...



Chuck Berry, Run Run Rudolph:



How can you not love it?

Last but not least, the Kinks:



NOW I'm really in the holiday spirit, time to shop. I think I'll start on etsy. My Christmas special is buy a bar of handmade soap and a soapdish, the soap will ship FREE! Check it out:

http://www.craftygurll.etsy.com

I've been stalked!

But in a good way! Etsy stalker picked my handstamped dessert plates to feature on their blog. The plates have also been featured in an etsy treasury and the try handmade website. Good news, they are still for sale on etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34447185

Upcoming shows...

I am so looking forward to a hectic Holiday season! So far I have 2 upcoming shows, and possibly a third in the works. A local yarn store, Soft N Sassy, is hosting their 5th annual holiday boutique. Local artisans will be displaying their handmade goodness, everything from pottery to soap to of course hand knit deliciousness. Door prizes & appetizers too, so do not miss!

Soft N Sassy Holiday Boutique
Friday, December 4, 2009
5:00-9:00 pm
8047 Broadview Rd
Broadview Hts., Ohio 44147

Then a few hours later, I will be at the local high school for perhaps the largest show in the area.

Normandy Arts & Crafts Fair
Saturday, December 5, 2009
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
2500 West Pleasant Valley
Parma, Ohio 44134

I also have a new Facebook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/CMSDesigns

Follow me to see what new items I have in the works!

Now that Crafty Goodness 2009 is over...

it's time to discuss other crafty things! Crafty Goodness 2010 is in the works, we are currently searching for a suitable venue. Any ideas, shoot me an email at cmsdesigns@yahoo.com. The main goal of the show was to help promote the great artists from all over Northeastern Ohio, and in turn support the handmade movement. I could not have been more pleased with the turnout, from both the shoppers and the artisans. The vision we had came to fruition at the show, and we hope to make 2010's version even better.

This leads me to a new movement I recently found out about: the 3/50 movement. In a nutshell, pick 3 local businesses and spend $50. It doesn't get easier than that, does it? Have dinner at a local restaurant, buy your fruits and veggies from a farmers market, shop local on etsy, the possibilities are endless. With Christmas coming up, this is so important. When you shop local, 60% stays in the community, as opposed to a measly 6% if you frequent one of the evil big box stores. Want more info? They have a facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/The350Project?ref=mf

with over 20,000 fans. Spread the word!

I deem the inaugural Crafty Goodness a complete success!

The little Calvin Park Rec Center was rocking on Saturday, November 7th! The main room was packed with amazing artisans, with everything from abstract art:



to beautiful jewelry:



and warm fuzzy goodness:



plus handsewn lovliness:



to stoneware pottery:






and a little bit of everything:



The demonstrations were fabulous, there was wheel-throwing:



and fiber arts too:



Thanks to everyone who participated, demonstrated or shopped, you guys rock! \../

Watch out for Crafty Goodness II coming soon!