Fun Times in OKC

The weather is finally turning nice?  Dare I hope it lasts?????

If you're looking to get out and about in this nice weather, maybe experience something you've never done before, Sara, from Ms Megalos Workshop wanted to share an interesting museum she visited back in July.

She spent some time at the OKC: Museum of Osteology.  Hmmm...the wha'?  Check out her review here. It sounds interesting and worth a visit.  :)  


You can check out the Museum of Osteology site here.  :)


Have a great weekend!  Get out and see some sites...and then maybe hop on over here to let us know where you went and if it's worth the rest of us checking out.  This weekend we're headed to the park. But, I see a visit to the Railroad Museum (It's Thomas the Tank Engine month) and the Orr Family Farm (hay rides, corn maze, and pumpkin patch) in the near future.


-Amanda-

Hi! It’s Danielle again. One of my last posts was about the Treasure Boat Antique Thrift Shop up by Tulsa. This week I want to share with you one of my favorite places close to where I live now, in Oklahoma City.

Mary’s Swap Meet is a large flea market that takes place outside every Saturday and Sunday morning, year round. It is located at the corner of Midwest Blvd and NE 23^rd St. It’s so good because it’s like fifty little garage sales all crammed into one place, and you can find all kinds of things there.

The trick with Mary’s though, in my experience, is that to get the good stuff you have to be there right when they open – which is at dawn. There’s still a lot of stuff there later, but for the really good deals it helps to get there as they’re opening.

They also have a fake old western town built where you can walk around for free and take pictures! Overall, it’s a pretty cool experience, and it’s worth waking yourself up before dawn to check it out at least once.

OKEtsy Featured Seller: Luksi Creations

Please introduce yourself and your shop.
Luksi Creations (family owned mainly run by me Kiamichi Goodbear) -Oklahoma City - Traditional Native American and non traditional beadwork, jewelry, illustrations, plush dolls, woodcarving, custom painted clothing, sewing (quilts, pillows, bags). There are 4 of us, and one apprentice, though right now most of everything is mine. I run this craziness with my mom Catherine and my sister Mauli and my husband Frank also make things for us. We are training my daughter in various things so she is also involved.

What is/was your inspiration?
When I was growing up, my grandmother was always making something. She was sewing me doll clothes for my barbies, she made my clothes, she made dolls, her and my mom would quilt, my mom taught me how to bead. It was just always part of my life. I love doing it. Which is why I think my business has such a wide variety of things. I learned to make doll patterns and clothing patterns from my grandma and my mom and I love making dolls. Doing that and the beadwork just make me happy. Plus I love to draw.

What is your favorite media and why?
Beading is mine. It is calming to me, plus it is part of my heritage. I do lots of beadwork for my family for their dance regalia and I also do it for other dancers as well. I have recently started doing more non traditional pieces for other people. It is very time consuming though. I think people don't understand the time that goes into it.

Where would you like to see yourself 5/10 years from now in this project?
I would love to be doing this full time and making a decent living from it. I wouldn't mind having a little storefront, someplace to sell things and maybe teach classes on how to do things. I would really like to teach beading classes.

Do you have any keys of success to share?
Keep working, build up an inventory. Get out there to shows, even if they are small ones. I set up in the Plaza District once a month and it has been a great experience. You meet people and you never know what kind of opportunities you can get out of it. I also market like crazy on twitter and Facebook and Tumblr. Just keep at it and don't get discouraged. Eventually sales pick up, they just started to for me! It's kind of exciting.

Tell us one thing crazy about yourself.
I can't sit still. I have to be constantly doing something. I get really fidgety if I am not making something, reading something, anything. It drives people crazy lol.

What is something you would love to learn how to do?
I would love to learn how to make stained glass. It's something I have always wanted to do.

What is your favorite color?
Mine is red, my mom's is yellow, my husband's is green, my sister's is purple, and my daughter's changes between purple and pink.

What is one thing you love about Oklahoma?
The people really are very helpful in a crisis. It always astounds me how the community comes together here when it is needed. I think it's amazing.

Check out this great local seller at the following:
Blog: luksicreations.blogspot.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/LuksiCreations
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Luksi-Creations/245385691533
Tumblr: luksicreations.tumblr.com/
Deviant Art Page: luksicreations.deviantart.com/
Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/luksicreations
Zazzle Store: www.zazzle.com/luksicreations
My Portfolio: kiamichigoodbear.carbonmade.com/

Black Friday, handmade-style

Known affectionately as Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving is one of the biggest shopping events of the season. Most big box stores will be offering special savings that shoppers will have the joy of earning by snatching, grabbing, running each other over with carts, and other things our mothers certainly taught us not to do. There is another option, though: get your handmade shopping on!

On Black Friday, lots of Etsy sellers will be offering discounts throughout their shops. The biggest bonus? You don't even have to leave the house. Remember to search OKEtsy Team to find great items made by our friends right here in the Sooner State.

If you don't mind the crowds, you can shop handmade in person throughout the state.

• Head up to The Felt Bird in Enid for savings on tons of amazing goodies, many made right here in Oklahoma.
• Tulsa folks can hit up the Fresh Blend Handmade Gift Boutique at Fresh Roast Coffee House for items made by the Tulsa Craft Mafia and friends while leisurely sipping a cup of locally roasted coffee (mayhaps the Tulsa Craft Mafia blend?).
• If you're in Oklahoma City, Collected Thread will be offering deals and steals on art and gifts.

Do you know of any other handmade stores to hit up this Black Friday? If so, leave a comment. Remember: buying handmade, locally produced goods supports independent crafters, boosts the local economy, and keeps your hard-earned money out of the pockets of corporations whose values may not line up with yours.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Deluxe Deadline Extended

Hey there, procrastinators! Our friends behind Deluxe have extended the deadline for late applicants. You can still apply to sell at Deluxe between now and November 1 by filling out the information here.

The first round of acceptance letters have already gone out. Late applicants will hear by November 15. Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar is coming your way December 12, and you don't want to miss it!

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.

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!

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.

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!