Learn to embroider

Have you always wanted to learn hand embroidery but weren't sure where to start? Then this class is for you! Team member EarlyBirdSpecial and friend CraftyMinx are holding a beginners' class in Oklahoma City on November 15. Cost is just $32.50 and includes a goody bag full of supplies. You can then use your new skills to join in on the Okie Stitch Along!

Space is limited to 10 students, so visit this blog post to sign up and learn more.

Indie Emporium TONIGHT!

It's finally time for Indie Emporium! Head to Tulsa tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. or tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to get your shop on. It all goes down at the VFW Post No. 577, 1109 E. 6th St. (two blocks west of Peoria). You don't want to miss this!

Tune into OklaTravelNews today around 12:40 to see me promoting the show.

We hope to see you all at Indie Emporium tonight!

Deluxe Craft Weekend -- final call

Time is almost out to sign up for this weekend's Deluxe Craft Weekend. We're talking three full days of crafting, food and tons o' fun. You don't want to miss it. Hurry over to http://www.deluxeok.net/ for details and to register!

Craft show bonanza!

I'm excited to use our 100th blog post to discuss some truly exciting team news.

Tulsa's most rockin' craft show, Indie Emporium, has accepted a whole slew of Disciples of Etsy team members to its line-up. Check out the Vendor page over the next couple of weeks for the full list. Remember: Indie Emporium is October 9 and 10 in T-Town. Check out the web site for times, ticket information, and more.

On November 6 and 7, the BUST-approved Girlie Show will again showcase some of the finest independent female crafters in Oklahoma City. This year, an impressive crowd of team members will be representing, many for the first time. The 2009 vendor list is not yet available, but keeping checking back. You don't want to miss this great event!

Go ahead and dig out your pens (or your smart phones) and mark your calendars for both of these phenomenal shows. Holiday shopping has never been so much fun! Congrats again to all the team members who wowed the show directors with their unique, high-quality, handmade goods.

The Felt Bird Grand Opening

Tomorrow is the grand opening of The Felt Bird, a new store in Enid featuring many locally made items. The store owners, StelaBird and musician Riley Jantzen, have created a haven for handmade, original and sustainable items. The shop will be selling many items created by team members. If you're able to reach Enid tomorrow evening, then go! The fun begins at 6 p.m. and will feature the music of Ali Harter. The Felt Bird is located at 124 E. Broadway Ave. in downtown Enid.

Dustbowl Arts Market

Don't forget to head to Norman tomorrow (Saturday) for the Dustbowl Arts Market. The fun starts at 10 a.m. with crafts and kids' activities. The live music begins at 2 p.m. and continues until 11 p.m. Make sure to arrive before 6 p.m., though, to do some shopping. Lots of team members will be selling or buying, so go say hello!

South Tulsa Music Fest

If you're looking for a fun way to spend the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, then head to the Jenks Riverwalk for the South Tulsa Music Fest. Starting at 2 p.m., enjoy great music and the handmade goodies of some great local crafters, including Audrey Eclectic, Sweetheartville, and members of the Tulsa Craft Mafia. Admission is totally free, so come out and enjoy the local arts and the first inklings of fall.

Register for Deluxe Craft Weekend!

Registration is now open for Deluxe Craft Weekend and each of the special educational sessions. There are some great classes for launching an art business, increasing your creativity and learning new skills. Several team members will be teaching, so it's sure to be a fun, informational experience. Space is limited in each class, so register soon! Also, if you want to register for the whole weekend -- which includes food, interaction with other crafters, and plenty of space to get your creativity on -- click here. You only have until September 1 to get the early-bird discount.

Deluxe Craft Weekend

The masterminds behind Deluxe are now providing us all with another chance to craft up a storm. Sara and JD bring you the Deluxe Craft Weekend! Coming to Oklahoma City this September 25-27, the event will offer classes, creativity and conversation with fellow artsy folks. So sign up for the whole weekend for a chance to make great stuff, learn something new and maybe even gain a new friend. Both your co-leaders are teaching classes, so look out for those.

To register for the fantabulous weekend, click here. There is a limit of 30 campers, so sign up soon. We hope to see you there!

Downtown DIY This Saturday

Crafty ladies and gentlemen! You are all invited to attend this month's Downtown DIY event at the Oklahoma City Coworking Collaborative, 723 N. Hudson Ave. in OKC, this Saturday, July 25. Between 7 and 11 p.m., we'll be making stuff and chitchatting, so don't miss out on the fun. This month, we will also be swapping supplies, so if you have some rickrack, beads or ephemera to unload, put it into the car. Both of your team leaders are planning to be there, so if you have ideas for the group, bring those as well.

We hope to see some of you there!

Audrey Eclectic Opening

Last Friday night, Heather of Audrey Eclectic opened her month-long show at Shades of Brown Coffee and Art, a delightful coffee shop in Tulsa's Brookside area. Her paintings looked amazing on the walls, so I wanted to share a couple of photos:

For more pictures and details, go read Heather's post.

If you're in the Tulsa area, drop by to check out the exhibition. Get there soon before everything sells!

Reminder: Downtown DIY

Don't forget! The team's monthly crafting night usually held at the home of Miss JDStar has transformed. Attend the first Downtown DIY this Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. The fun will take place at the Oklahoma City Coworking Collaborative. Come one and all! If you take any pictures, send them to me, and I'll post some on the blog.

Downtown DIY

Our monthly Church Night at the home of Miss JDStar has become Downtown DIY! Everyone who is interested in an evening of crafting in the company of others is welcome to attend the events. They will be held the last Saturday of the month from 7 to 11 p.m. at Oklahoma City Coworking Collaborative. Come one and all for crafty fun with great guys and gals. Contact JD for more information.

Blue Dome Arts Festival

Those looking for great handmade items and fun, friendly artists should look no further than the Blue Dome Arts Festival in Tulsa this weekend. Around 200 vendors in 123 booths will be set up to delight you with their unique goods all made by hand. While you're there, make sure to say hello to JDStar and saralynnmo in Booth #55 and the Tulsa Craft Mafia gals in Booths #104 and 105. Here are the details, folks:

Where: Blue Dome district downtown, 2nd and Elgin area

When: Friday noon to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free free free!

Why: I just told you!

Blue Dome runs at the same time as Mayfest (i.e. that other festival), just a few blocks away. I highly recommend going there for a giant cinnamon roll and the student art exhibit, then come by Blue Dome for 100% awesome, local art for sale. Make sure not to miss the Art Car Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday starting at 2nd and Elgin!

Friday Finds: Deluxe Edition

Deluxe will be opening its doors tomorrow at noon! As you enter the Centennial Building, your senses will be enchanted by the offerings of lots of Okie artists, including some of our fabulous team members. This week's Friday Finds are just a few of the great things you'll be able to purchase in OKC on Saturday.




What are you most looking forward to seeing at Deluxe?

Deluxe is almost upon us!

Hear ye, hear ye! Deluxe is only days away from delighting Oklahoma shoppers with amazing vendors and their unique, handmade goodies! Have you marked your calendars yet for this indie crafting extravaganza? If not, here are the details once again for you sweetie pies:

Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar

Saturday, May 9, 2009

noon to 6 p.m.

Centennial Building, State Fairgrounds

Oklahoma City

FREE admission!

www.deluxeok.net for more info

There will be a ton of amazing Okie sellers (and some friends from neighboring states, too) trading cash for their goods, goodies and greaties. If you miss it, you'll regret it. It's possible some really cute babies will cry, too. And kittens -- kittens the world over will be sad. You don't want to be responsible for that.

When you're there, make sure to say hello to all the wonder Disciples of Etsy members who will be both shoppers and vendors!

OklaTravelNews today!

Hey there friends! I'll be on OklaTravelNews today around noon (CDT) to promote Deluxe. I'm so excited to help spread the word about this awesome event. If you can, watch it live by tuning into the Web site right at 12:00 p.m. If you can't, head to the site any time between 1:00 p.m. today and 11:59 a.m. tomorrow to watch the magic happen. Just click the "Last Show Archive" button on the viewer. I'll be wearing my Deluxe T-shirt and a few pieces made by awesome Deluxe vendors, including a team member or two, so look out for them.

Thanks to Sara and JD for trusting silly little me to help out. :)

Funky Finds Spring Fling

We all know craft fair season has descended upon us, so why fight it? Instead, I urge everyone who can get away this weekend to head down to DFW for Funky Finds Spring Fling. The show boasts some of the finest indie crafters in the area, including members of the Dallas Craft Mafia, the Etsy Dallas Street Team, and -- yep! -- some of our very own fine folks. Funky Oklahoma vendors include Claudia's Burning Ink, QUiD, Stelabird, and Weather and Noise.

The show will be this Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth. It's free to get into, and pets are welcome. What better way to spend a gorgeous Saturday than shopping for great, handmade items in that big state south of us?

Cleveland County Show

Come out to the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Norman this weekend for the Spring Creative Craft Festival! The doors open at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the 90+ sellers will have their goods available for purchase until 4 p.m. While you're there, look out for Disciples of Etsy member NickAnny who will be set up. Parking and admission are free, so stop by if you're in the area.

Swap-O-Rama-Rama 2009!

Last Saturday was Swap-O-Rama-Rama in Tulsa, and I'm pleased to announce that it went amazingly well. A hundred or so people came out to trade clothes, use their creativity, and come home with totally unique pieces of wearable art. All six sewing stations stayed busy, and when all was done, a ton of clothes were left to donate to Youth Services of Tulsa. It was a big success, and Christine plans to do it again next year.

There have been some great blogs posted about it, so instead of repeating myself, I'll link you to places to see pictures and read about the festivities.

• Caffeinated Radio -- Adventures in Swapping
• Tasha Does Tulsa -- Look What Tasha Did Today
• Rhymes With Grunt -- Sew Amazing
• Grey Eye Designs Studio -- Swaptastic Weekend
• Hollyrocks -- Swap-O-Rama-Rama Came to Tulsa!
• Tara's Swap O Rama Rama photos
• Justin's Swap O Rama Rama and Swap O Rama Rama 2 photos
• My Swap-O-Rama-Rama 2009 photos

If you know of other blog entries or photos from the event, let me know and I'll link them here.