Crunch time...North Market this WEEKEND!

My FAVORITE show of the year...and my last (for awhile at least). 

This Saturday and Sunday:  Dec 4, 8am-5pm and Dec. 5 from noon-5pm.  North Market, downtown Columbus (upper level).  Come see me and many other wonderful handmade vendors and buy local for Christmas. 

I better get sewing... 

Etsy Kids - Modern Handmade Child

There are so many ways to promote your work nowadays online. You can blog, put stuff on facebook or myspace, you can join virtual teams...the list goes on and on. I joined an Etsy team that promotes kid related items, hence the name Etsy Kids. I have not been super involved yet but I plan to be. They recently put together a publication called Modern Handmade Child that I think has a ton of potential to promote Etsy and handmade living.

The plan is to have this online magazine published at Modernhandmadechild.com and Issuu.com. The goal is to promote the folks that are part of Etsy Kids and provide an outlet for those who love to create (and sell!) handmade items. Stop by and check out the mock magazine and bookmark it for the future. I think it will be a great resource for all things handmade and for kids!

Upcoming Shows 2009

So the time has come to start doing shows! I was part of the Etsy Team Columbus planning committee that put on the Eco Chic Craftacular at Whetstone and it was a great success. Who knew that event planning was so involved!? It took lots of time but in the end it was all worth it and I am actually looking forward to 2010! There is a chance we will be doing a Holiday Craftacular in December as well....woohoo!

I was happy to help in the planning but I was not up for vending for 2 days in a row. Baby 3 is due any day now so I have been slowed down considerably. But I am really looking forward to some shows that will taking place this summer.

If all goes well, I am going to participate in the North Market Artisan Sundays....my first one being June 7! Then not again until post-baby. They are changing things up a bit this year and allowing vendors on both the first and third Sundays of the month. This is a great opportunity for local artisans, and really who can beat the North Martket? I am already drooling thinking about Jeni's Ice Cream and Pam's Popcorn!

Click here for a listing of all shows I will be participating in!

Eco-Chic Craftacular, May 16 & 17

So it's been a long while since I have posted on my blog.....I have wanted to, but I always struggle with something interesting and worthwhile to post. But today I am really excited about an arts and crafts show that I am actually helping to plan and bring to life! It is called the Eco-Chic Craftacular and it is put on by Etsy Team Columbus (ETC) and Whetstone Community Center.

If anyone knows me personally they know I live in the Clintonville area of Columbus, OH and I really like it here. I have pretty much lived here all my life. I have lots of family and friends that are close by, the neighborhoods are real neighborhoods with trees and the community feeling that you get here is just really cool. So that is why I was excited when ETC chose to hold this eco-friendly show right here where I live. The Whetstone Community Center is newly remodeled and in such a great location (High St) for folks in Clintonville to come out and check out this event. We are promoting this event as an eco-friendly show that will challenge vendors to come up with some "greener" options for customers to buy. Not all your items have to be completely "green" but we hope that it will get folks to start making eco-friendly choices when creating arts and crafts.

We hope to get 50-60 vendors, 5-6 food vendors and some educational booths to help educated folks on a greener way of life. I am excited to see the rain barrel demo myself. So save the dates... May 16 and 17 and come check out the Eco-Chic Craftacular!

If you are a vendor and want to participate in this event, please email columbuscraftacular@gmail.com .

Upcoming Shows and Classes

Fall always is busy for craft shows and this season is no different. Here are some events that I will be participating in. I hope to see you at some!

Friday-Sunday, September 5, 6 and 7: Hot Times Community Arts and Music Festival
240 Parsons Ave (Main and Parsons). This is the first year I will be participating in this event. I will be there on Friday evening with the Etsy Columbus Street Team. This festival is all weekend and the Etsy booth will be there selling all weekend long.

Sunday, September 7, 2008: North Market Artisan Sunday
This is always a great event. You can't beat the North Market!

Saturday, September 13, 2008: Old Worthington Market Days
This is a great outdoor event that brings over 300 vendors. Stop by and see all the great hand crafted items.

Saturday, September 20, 2008: Crafternoon on High
This event is a new one and will be held at United Methodist Children's Home Cafeteria, 1033 High Street, Worthington, OH 43085. It will be an upscale handmade arts and crafts show that benefits a cause!

Sunday, October 5, 2008 from noon-5pm: Artisan Sundays at the North Market
Last one of the season! Come on down and visit.

Saturday, October 11, 2008: The Worthington Fall Fair
Held on the Village Green in Olde Worthington from 9am-4pm. Worthington holds some great events and I expect this one to be a good one. Please stop by!

Saturday, October 18, 2008: Reynoldsburg United Methodist Bazaar
This event is indoors and it was a good show last year. Lots of variety in items and vendors. Stop by and pick up some Christmas gifts!

I am also teaching sewing classes at Sew To Speak in Clintonville/Columbus. If you have been wanting to learn to sew, now is the time! Classes fill up fast so call or stop in soon to Sew To Speak. Phone 614-267-3011 located at 4610 N High St.

Class dates are:

Thursdays, September 11 and 18 from 6-8pm. Sewing 101 - Make a tote bag!

Tuesdays, September 23 and 30 from 6-8pm. Sewing 101 - Make a tote bag!
if we finish the totes and time permits, we will make a matching wallet too.

Thursday, October 2 from 6-8pm. UFO's - Unfinished Objects. If you need that extra push or help in completing a project, register now for UFO and get it done!

Thursdays, October 16 and 23 from 6-8pm. Sewing 101 - Tote bags are so useful. Learn to make one!

Thanks so much to customers that have supported Baby Gee's business! I appreciate it. Christmas shopping is starting so think ahead and place your orders early. I have more items than are posted on my website and etsy shop (taking pictures takes so much time!) so if you are looking for something and you don't see it, please email or call! michelle@babygees.com or 614-507-5849

Thanks for reading!

Happy Father's Day

Wishing all those Dad's out there a great day!

I found some really fun Dad items on Etsy. Check them out:

For the Dads-to-be, a special t-shirt:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11801914

Steampunk cufflinks...a real conversation piece:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_3&listing_id=12464226

Aaaahhh... the beer soap:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_4&listing_id=12566859

A gorgeous print of Ireland. This one would be my Dad's fav:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_1&listing_id=12349568

Have fun looking! Have a great day and thanks for reading.

:)

Crafts - yippee!

I love making new and creative stuff. I have recently been making lots of baby items and I needed to refuel my creative side with something different. I have lots of scraps and old fabrics that are set aside for potential projects so I decided to put some of them to use. I needed a business card holder that I can throw in my purse or diaper bag and that was reflective of my business and style. People always ask me "did you make that?" and I love to say "Yes!". So I made the cutest little pouch with a velcro closure. Check it out and let me know if you like. I think I will make up some more and try to sell them on my etsy shop!