Thursday, December 8, 2011

Dirty Pears and Apples


2 Cups ground cinnamon
1/2 Cup ground nutmeg or cloves
2 Cups applesauce
Whole cloves
Small thin twigs

Mix spices and apple sauce well. It will form a stiff dough. Add more spices if needed to make firm...Shape dough into pear or apple shapes. For pears just add a stem; for apples add clove on the bottom and a short stem..Let air dry on cookie pans/sheets that are covered with foil then wax paper...The foil keeps the bottoms from turning black...until hard (up to 5 days)or bake on waxed paper lined cookie pan/sheet at 150%....Allow to cook overnight...I prefer the air drying...Note during the drying process dough may start to show small cracks. This is normal..
To wax dip the dirty pears/apples you melt beeswax adding essential cinnamon oil and spices....stir well when melted, then dip the fruit using a slotted metal spoon (pick one up at thrift shop or garage sale)...Allow to dry on the wax paper and dust with more spices...Remember to be careful melting the wax...never do it over direct heat....Make your self a melting pot....Take an old large can, put it in a pot with water and simmer till the wax melts....Use a large can that tomatoes come in or a pound coffee can....

How to make primitive soap balls

Have you ever been to some ones house and on the counter you see a basket filled with soap balls that just look and smell lovely? Sure, you could go out and buy your own but, if your into hobbies and crafts, then why not consider making your own.
These bars have the look and feel of old soap. For a more grungy looking soap ball roll them in spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or apple pie spice before they are completely set up. Once rolled in spices, they are for display only!

Ingredients:

1 cup of instant Quaker oatmeal
1 bar of ivory or dove soap
1/4 cup of water

Grind up the oatmeal in a food processor until finely milled but do not grind to flour, you want it chopped up enough to break up the oatmeal flakes but still be visible.

Grate the bar of soap into small slivers. Place the soap and water into a large microwavable bowl and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes. Stir the mixture once or twice making sure it does not bubble over.

When the soap is dissolved remove from the microwave and add the ground oatmeal slowly, stirring constantly.

Let cool enough to touch, then form into balls or bars and place on wax paper to set and dry. It will take about 2 hours for them to set.

Oatmeal soap balls/bars have a great old fashion look and can be displayed in old soap dishes, vintage jars, wooden bowls and baskets in primitive or country bathrooms or kitchens. If you make the soap bars, they look really cute tied with homespun!

Friday, December 2, 2011

MuddyPuppys All Natural Organic Dog Treats

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE places to get treats for my pups, and actually the ONLY place I buy treats for my pups now is Muddypuppy's. Her treats are AMAZING! They never have to be refridgerated, they have a shelf life of 6 months (however dog shelf life is about 2 days! LOL) She can custom make your treats how you like and is an incredible person to work with...........

Welcome to Muddy Puppys!

I am a dog groomer/chef/boutique owner. I am blessed to have a great shop (b&m), wonderful husband, and Beautiful Fur-babies.
My husband and I believe in only eating the best all natural, organic and we feed the babes the same. Before I decided I wanted to become a dog groomer, I worked as a chef for years. It seemed only natural to make homemade treats. My babies and friends and clients babies love them, and so will yours!

At Muddypuppy's you Truely get all natural and organic wheat free treats! These are the best quality and made treats you will find! Here are some of my pups favorites:


This is a set of 15 Natural unbasted rawhide's dipped in white Yogurt and drizzled with Red and Green Yogurt. Perfect for the holidays!
This is the Perfect treat for a small or med dog. (can also be made in LG. rawhides with special order, contact me)

Comes in a gift wrapped Christmas package ready to be a gift or an extra special gift. This package will be delivered in a 100% recycled content cardboard box or priority box. Items will be wrapped in earth friendly paw print kraft paper (maybe some tissue paper). Each package is Ready to be a gift, and can be sent with card and your special note (leave me memo with order). Or this is just ready to be something special for someone special in your own home. If you would like it wrapped with a special color ribbon or packaging please let me know otherwise it will be neutral, adorable colors!


These are Peanut butter and yogurt candy cups made just for your dog! They are all Natural and Organic. These are Peanut Butter and Carob with yogurt. They are easy to cut and perfect for any size dogs! My dogs and I have tried them! And we all Love them!

As seen in pictures they come in a set of 6 cups that measure 1.5 x 1. Your also welcome to tell me if you would like the layers different or a custom color paw Print.

Ingredients: Peanut Butter, Carob and Yogurt
*Will come Carob top with white Yogurt Paw Print unless you leave me a memo for something different.

They come in a gift wrapped package. ( Recycled kraft pin stripe box, tied with satin ribbon and includes a label of contents.) This package will be delivered in a 100% recycled content cardboard box or priority box. Items will be wrapped in earth friendly paw print kraft paper (maybe some tissue paper). Each package is Ready to be a gift, and can be sent with card and your special note (leave me memo with order). Or this is just ready to be something special for someone special in your own home. If you would like it wrapped with a special color ribbon or packaging please let me know otherwise it will be neutral, adorable colors!


Wheat Free
Corn Free
Soy Free

Holidays are coming and they make me think Pumpkin!, These Dog treats are handmade, all natural and gourmet.

Pictured you will see these treats made in Gingerman shape for the Holiday! Super Gingermen!

Crunchy Treats that each measures approx. 1.5" and come in a 5 oz gift wrapped package same as seen in pictures. This is a Gingerman theme gift bag filled with Gingerman shaped treats in Gingerman theme airtight bags. This package will be delivered in a 100% recycled content cardboard box or priority box. Items will be wrapped in earth friendly paw print kraft paper (maybe some tissue paper). Each package is Ready to be a gift, and can be sent with card and your special note (leave me memo with order). Or this is just ready to be something special for someone special in your own home. If you would like it wrapped with a special color ribbon or packaging please let me know otherwise it will be neutral, adorable colors!

Ingredients: rye flour, rice flour, pumpkin, oats, rice bran, flax, canola oil, dried eggs, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, yogurt

Wheat free dog treats are the best option for your dog. Along with corn and soy, wheat is the most common canine food allergen. Muddy Puppys enjoys providing nutritious, tasty treats that don't contain any of these potential allergy triggers will keep your dog's coat, skin, ears and paws healthy and itch-free.


Wheat Free
Corn Free
Soy Free

Perfect for the most tiny of dogs and larger dogs love them to! These treats measure .5 inches accross. Crunchy Peanut butter treats (all dogs fave) dipped in un sweetened carob and coated with chopped unsalted dry roasted peanuts.

This is by far the most perfect treat for any size dog, and comes in a paw print cello bag inside a matching organza bag with 4 dozen treats. This cute package will be delivered in a 100% recycled content cardboard box or priority box. Items will be wrapped in earth friendly paw print kraft paper (maybe some tissue paper). Each package is Ready to be a gift, and can be sent with card and your special note (leave me memo with order). Or this is just ready to be something special for someone special in your own home. If you would like it wrapped with a special color ribbon or packaging please let me know otherwise it will be neutral, adorable colors!

Ingredients: rye flour, rice flour, peanut butter, oats, rice bran, flax seed, barley flakes, canola oil, dried egg, peanuts, carob.


Now Hurry and Get your special 4 legged loved ones some of these AMAZING treats! There is still time to fill their stockings from Santa Pup! Let Muddypuppy know I sent you!!
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/muddypuppys or on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/muddypuppys

Pine Cone Firestarters

Starting a fire in your fireplace can sometimes be a little challenging, but starting fires with festive pinecones makes this process way easier!!

Recipe makes approximately 20 large fire starters..
Ingredients
Pinecones
Paraffin Wax - An easy cheap way is to get the pillar candles from the dollar store that you can get unscented or scented in cinnamon.
Choice of Fragrance Oil - If you are using a prescented candle you do not need to add additional fragrance oil.
Liquid Candle Dye (or if you buy pillar candles from the dollar store, you can get these already colored so when melted down you will have your desired color)
Cotton Wicks (62-52-18z)

Equipment
Waxed paper
Melting pot
Cookie Sheet

Directions
1. Gather pinecones from a pine tree. Remove any debris or dirt on them. Place the
pinecones on the cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Carefully, slide the
cookie sheet into the oven. Turn the oven off after 30 minutes. Leave the pinecones
in the in the oven for the duration of two hours. This will ensure that they are
completely dry.

2. Starting at the bottom end, wrap the cotton wick around the pinecone two or three times. Try to get the wick as far into the pine cone layers as possible. Leave 1 to 2inches of wick at the top of the pinecone.

3. Melt two pounds wax. Once the wax hits 195 degrees, add coloring if desired. Let the wax temperature drop to 180 degrees. Add 1 ounce of fragrance oil per pound of melted wax. Stir gently. (Additional fragrance oil does not need to be added if you are melting down a scented candle for use of wax.)

4. Now, you are ready to dip the pinecone. For the first dip you need to prime the wick. Holding the end of the wick, immerse the pinecone completely in the wax for 45
seconds.

5. Place the dipped pinecone on wax paper. Allow the wax to cool and harden. Repeat
step 4 until the pinecones are completely coated to your satisfaction.

6. Allow the pinecones to dry overnight, then store in airtight containers.

7. You are now ready to set the night a fire. Do not use these as regular candles! They are meant to start fires in your fireplace.

Bath Jellies

Foaming bath jelly for your shower or bath! How much fun is that! This recipe is for personal use. It does not contain any preservatives.

Recipe Makes 2 Cups of Bath Jelly
Ingredients:
1 packet of Unflavored gelatin 15g
1 tsp of Salt
1/2 cup of Liquid soap
3/4 cup of Boiling Water
Food Coloring
Fragrance Oils
Plastic Jars and Lids

Other Equipment:
Glass Mixing Bowl
Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons

Directions:
1. Empty the packet of gelatin into a bowl and add 3/4 cup of boiling water mix until gelatin is completely dissolved.

2. Add salt

3. Then pour the liquid soap into the gelatin mix.

4. Add 2 drops of food coloring.

5. Add 5 drops of fragrance oil (paying attention to IFRA recommendations)and stir it softly so it doesn't bubble too much.

6. Pour the mix into a clean container and allow to set for several hours in the
refrigerator.

7. Dispose of the jelly after several weeks.

8. Avoid mold by keeping it in an airtight container in a cool place at all times.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Black Friday Savings

EARLY BIRD SALE!! Friday from 12am eastern to 10am eastern use coupon code EARLYBIRD to save 40% off your purchase!!! If you don't catch the early bird sale you can Save 30% off Until Saturday 12am eastern by using Coupon Code BLACKFRIDAY at check out!!!

Shop us on Artfire or Etsy for savings!!

Monday, November 21, 2011

We are MOVING........




With the ever rising costs of goods and fees we pay with our etsy shop due to the high volume of orders, we have decided to set up shop and move to Artfire.com

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/CountryCraftsandCandies
By moving our shop to artfire we are saving the astronomical fees we pay to etsy each month, which in returns allows us to continue to provide you with the same amazing products at the same great price!

In other words; "NO RISE IN PRICES!!"

Make sure you come by check us out and bookmark so you can continue to get our great products!! By following us to Artfire, use coupon code CustomerLoyalty and receive 35% off your purchase!! Coupon may NOT be combined with current shop sales....

We Thank you for your support and passion for our creations, and wish you and your family a Wonderful Holiday Season!!

Wendy

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Winner is..................

Well it's that time to announce the winner of the Dino Bath Set Giveaway!!!
All entry's were assigned a number which were entered into a random generator to pick the winning number.

The winner of the Dino Bath Set is...

Drum Roll..........
Roseann Russo

Congrats on winning!!
I will be contacting you to find out if you would like it for a girl or boy :)

Please check back in the next couple days for our Christmas Holiday Giveaway!
You WON't want to miss it!!!!

Thank you for everyone who participated :)
Wendy

Friday, October 14, 2011

Candy Apple Boutique

As you all know I love to share incredible artists from Etsy. This next shop I want to share with you is an old time favorite for me and my daughter! I have been getting items from this talented creator for some time now. She custom makes my daughter so many amazing hats and wacky ideas I come up with! She is simply amazing with her talents.

How about you see for yourself:
Candy Apple Boutique
My name is Roxanne and I am the owner of Candy Apple Boutique, a shop on etsy! This shop contains items created out of a hobby and passion of mine, which is not so much crochet like you may assume at this point, but rather, the desire to create items that are cute and adorable and loved by those who receive them. Whether it be a hat, fingerless gloves, Mouse ears, scarf, hair clips or something else, it is my hope that you will love the items that I make. That is why I do what I do! Knowing that the pieces I create bring a component of joy to another brings me happiness. Some people head off to work each day, I head "in". As for the crochet part, yes, I do crochet. I do not knit. How many times have people asked me what I "knit" I knit nothing. Let me be perfectly honest: I can't knit to save my life:-) Really, it is a pretty funny sight to see me even attempt it!

I love to be inspired in this life. I find inspiration from anywhere I please...why limit myself to one defined answer such as "my kids" or "nature." While those things might inspire some of what I create, the spectrum is certainly broader than that. A movie, a character, an animal, a color, a book, a place, a food...you name it, I can likely inspire a creation after it. Would you like to test that theory? Contact me at candyapplebyrl@gmail.com or on etsy at www.candyappleboutique.etsy.com
Here are some of her adorable items!!





Here are some her adorable hats for boys. And as always, Roxanne welcomes custom requests and orders! I've had her do everything from a horse hat, chesire the cat, and even a squirrel!



Monday, October 10, 2011

Marbled Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies

Fall is my Favorite time of year! I love not only the leaves changing colors, but the smells of all the spices! Two of my favorite things are chocolate of course! Hey, I'm a woman! And secondly, Pumpkin :) mmmmmmmm Nothing like the taste of pumpkin and all the smells of the spices that goes with it! Well if you like both as well, you are going to love these!!

Marbled Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies
Makes: 36 brownies
Prep: 30 minutes
Bake: 1 hour

ingredients

3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin (I like to use organic, pure)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup butter, cut up
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)

directions

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over the edges of the pan. Grease the foil; set pan aside.

In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and the 1 tablespoon butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the 1/2 cup sugar. Beat until well combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in 1 egg, the pumpkin, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the cinnamon, and ginger until combined. Stir in the 1 tablespoon flour. Set aside.

In a small bowl stir together the 1 1/4 cups flour, the baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a large saucepan combine the chocolate and 3/4 cup butter. Cook and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Gradually add the 2 1/4 cups sugar, beating with an electric mixer on low speed just until combined. Add the 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk and the 2 teaspoons vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture just until combined.

Spread chocolate mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Spoon cream cheese mixture in several mounds on top of the chocolate batter. Using a narrow metal spatula, gently swirl the cream cheese mixture into the chocolate batter. If desired, sprinkle with walnuts.

Bake about 60 minutes or until center is just set when pan is gently shaken. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Use foil to lift uncut brownies out of pan. Cut into brownies.

To Store: Layer brownies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Children's Bath Set GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Well, the holidays are among us! Actually approaching way to quickly, lol So I wanted to do my first of the season; Holiday Giveaway.

What am I giving away? Well, this adorable Dinosaur Bath and Body Gift Set! It can be made for a girl or boy, and the winner can choose! In this adorable gift set, you will receive your choice of Pink Dino or Green Dino bath soap scented in Fruity Loops, Dino Body Spray scented in a Fruity Loops, A Dino Shaped Bottle of sugar cookie scented lotion, and a Dino Shaped Bottle of Fresh Pear Scented Bubble Bath! This amazing set retails for $18.95 and you could be the lucky winner!

So here are the rules:
1) The winner will be choosen by random. Each person will be assigned a number and then inputed into a program that will choose a number at random from the numbers submitted.

2)You will receive one (1) entry for commenting on this posting, please include how I may contact you if you are chosen as the winner. I do not spam, so you will not be sent a million and one emails.

3)You will receive one (1) entry for each item you purchase from my shop from October 10th - October 31st 2011

4)You will receive two (2) entry's for following the blog. If you are a current follower of the blog, you will have your two entry's entered for you automatically.

4)I will pick the winner on November 1st!!!

So what are you waiting for? Get to posting!

Customer Appreciation!!!

Over the years I have met some amazing people, and wonderful customers! Everyone of them brings a smile to my face; and for that I truely Thank You all! It's always such an honor to see how much my creations bring smiles and enjoyment to others; it lets me know that what I do is worth all the hard work that is put in to every item!

I wanted to share with everyone some of the adorable and wonderful pictures I've received of my products being used as photo props and more! Thank you all for sharing, and please continue, I love to hear how you have enjoyed your creations!

www.letmebe.etsy.com



Hi! My name is Inbar and I am an addict of all things CUTE (and preferably pink!).
I am a collector of 1980's Strawberry Shortcake dolls and of anything else that's well - Cute!!.
When "cute" began to take over all my storage space and was overwhelming my family (1 husband, 2 sons and too much pink...) I opened my little store on Etsy - LetMeBe Designs.
Etsy is a truly wonderful place - my Disneyland if you will, and I am having a great time being a part of its huge and incredibly creative family.
Please stop by for a visit!
Happily sharing the cute,
Inbar

The following is from a customer in California. She recently did a car show where her theme was "COOKIE MONSTER"! Such a wonderful theme! I was so excited when she asked me to create dozens upon dozens of different faux cookies for her as magnets, and others to be created into a chandelier! Yes, a chandelier!! Her car was all decked out with her spoiler having different variety of cookie names, she put the cookie magnets all over her car, and she made this amazing chandelier out of my faux cookies! How cute is this?!?



The following pictures are from an amazing display set up in one of my wholesale customers shops in California. How gorgeous is this display?!? Her shop is called The Shabby Confections Shoppe and sells all things Shabby Chic, amazing confection goodies of the edible type, and of course my creations! Check out her shop, it's truely adorable; http://shabbyconfectionsshoppe.vpweb.com/




This next shop you will absolutely fall in love with! If you love handcrafted, handcarved wood items, you have to check out Wood Expressions, there stuff is absolutely amazing! I was so honored when they approached me to use my cupcake candles as photo props for there cupcake stands. These are the most beautiful creations I have seen, and the prices are amazing!!





http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodExpressionsThank you for visiting my Shop. My wife takes care of the web site, shipping and paper work, I get the fun part of making a whole lot of sawdust.
I started working with wood making furniture and toys when the grandkids come along. About ten years ago I got started in woodturning after going to a woodturning show in North Carolina. Been hooked every since. Most of the woods I turn are from local trees that died, damaged by a storm or firewood piles. Woodturning is a creative outlet for me after working all week in Bridge Construction. I can't wait to pick up a piece of wood and see what the end results will be. The grain,knots,cracks,spalting of the wood all determines what will emerge.

Thank you all for sharing your amazing photos and your passion for my creations!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Kindergarten Basics......

It was a late night of making orders and I couldn't sleep. What else is new? haha So of course I jumped on the laptop and began surfing the web; mainly blogs. While searching randomly, I came across this great blog posting that I wanted to share. Lately it seems with all the changes etsy has been making that Etsy is the topic of choice. I often hear shop owners ask each other for advice on how to make their shop/business successful. Well, I'll let you read for yourself, but I thought this couldn't have been put any better!

Article by: Crimson Hill Soap

Would you believe me if I told you that everything you needed to know to run your business you learned in kindergarten? To a large degree, I find this to be very true. We learn educational, social and behavioral basics at the ripe age of 5 and carry these core values with us the rest of our lives.

Reading
Reading in the form of research is vital for the formation, implementation and successfulness of every business. I had to spend countless hours researching how to make soap, what natural ingredients I should use, FDA labeling guidelines, etc. By the end of my initial research, I felt like a chemist!

Writing
To have a thriving online business, you MUST become a good writer. Since customers can’t see, feel, smell or try-on your product, they have to rely on concise, smart and informative text to guide their purchase decision. When your customers are greeted to your website by incorrect grammar or typos, there is certainly no greater turn-off. Ya gotta kno what to say n’ how ta say it, ya no whut I mean?!

Color
Everybody remember the color wheel? Using color to grab a customer’s attention and direct their eye through your website is the key to pulling customers in to want to see more of your products. Vibrant, complementary and flowing colors will always win over a busy and disorganized color flow.

Play
Nicely With Others You will never hear me say a negative word about my competition. I find it to be tacky, unprofessional and shows that you lack confidence. Rather, if I am asked about a competitor’s product, I tell customers that I am confident in the quality and uniqueness of my products and that I won’t speak on another’s behalf. At craft shows, I chuckle when I see my competitors trying to “sneak” past my booth to view all my new products. Imitation is the best form of flattery.

Homework
You must strive for continuous education and improvement in your industry. If you think you already know it all, you are dead wrong. Markets, niches, trends and economic factors are constantly changing and staying in tune with these changes is the key to long-term success.

Recess
This is important and often overlooked by adults. Take time to HAVE FUN. There is a reason that 5-year-olds need to go run and play for a bit after a few hours of work! Schedule breaks, time off, trips, etc….whatever you need to do to re-charge, unload, rest and clear your mind. Trust me, you will be energized and better equipped to handle your business affairs after “recess”.


I don't think that I could have stated any of the above in a more simple and understanding manner :)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

More Views; by cleaning up your etsy tags

I do not claim to know all the answers, but I can only share what has worked for the success of my shop. Have you ever looked at your shop stats? Did you know you could? Check them out sometime, you will be able to learn a lot from this, including the top keywords that potential buyers use to find your items and shop.

There are many was to get more buyers into your Etsy shop. A few good examples are running sales, properly placing keywords, getting featured in more treasuries, and changing up your tags. Here some great tips for cleaning up and changing your Etsy item tags.

My views when I first started were very low, so I knew that it was a good time to stir the pot so to speak. Change is good. I now do this at least twice a year Spring and Fall or whenever I take things from my expired items. I do a much different group of tags if it hasn’t sold. I take matters into my own hands so at least if it doesn’t help I know I did all I could tag wise.

Does this work? By all means I am not bragging but rather showing you that this can work for you! In the past 7 days, my shop has had 2188 visits (and I do not participate in the ads). Out of these shop visits, 1788 of them are item specific! I've had 189 favorites as a shop, and 223 individual item favorites! Trust me if you put in the time and invest the time to keep on it, you can find yourself turning those views into sales like I have.

Here are several examples; make combinations of words and phrases by understanding what your potential buyer searches for. Take the time to search similar items, and see how they come up. Keep in mind that cutesy words and trade industry words don't always work best as others may not know the same "lingo".

Example when I search for jewelry, I search bracelet, ring, childs ring, necklace, diamond, cubic zirconia..... But I notice that a lot of shop owners use specific bead types, names, etc that I have no idea what they are even speaking of. These are okay to use as a couple key words, but do not use for all.

Example for soap:
cold process soap, homemade soap, scented soap, natural soap, childrens soap, shea butter, goats milk soap, ..... hopefully you get the idea.

With etsy's new relevency search, you can get penalized and thrown to the back by using non relevent search terms. So be careful not to do this; example for soap:
wedding showers, baby showers, birthday.... in the past many shops will use keywords for occasions or colors of an item. Using colors are fine, but add to the color such as lavender soap, lavender scented, orange soap, orange scented........

Ask yourself these questions about your item. These can make great search terms!

1. What is it?

Eg. necklace, jewelry, bowl, print

2. What is it specifically? What type?

Eg. Hoop (for earrings), v-neck (for sweaters), long sleeve (shirt)


3. Who is it for?

Eg. women, men, baby, children, boy, girl, adult, pets, dog, teachers


4. What is the main material?

Add the major material to your tags, if it is something you think a buyer might search for to find your item. Add minor materials or component materials to the “materials” box on page 1. Eg. leather, cotton, canvas, felt, metal, 14K gold, sterling silver, glass

5. What is the main color?
Buyers are not likely to look for minor colors in your piece, so stick to the main color(s) or important color combos! Eg. white, black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple

6. What method or technique did you use to make it?


Eg. hammered (for metal jewelry), burned (for woodworking), appliqued, embroidered

7. Where will the item be used?


Eg. kitchen, hair, office, beach, garden, car, nursery

8. What size is it?

Eg. small, extra large, 7mm, 18in, 8 x 10

9. What style is it?

Eg. goth, victorian, hippie, punk, impressionist, post-modern, feminine, sophisticated, southwestern

10. What Imagery or motifs that are on the item?

Eg. owl, landscape, nature, plaid, geometric


11. Are there synonyms?

Use these if the word means exactly the same thing as the tag you already used, it is accurate for your item, and you think it will be an important search term that buyers will look for. Eg. Infant for young babies, handbag for purses and clutches, toddler for children 18 months – 3 years, kids for children, drink for coffee, trousers for pants.

12. What is the scent or flavor?

Eg. sweet, spicy, salty (for bath and beauty and food items).

Etsy’s search and sort algorithm currently considers three main factors:
■Tags
■Titles
■Descriptions
Tags are the 14 keywords Etsy allows sellers to categorize and describe the item they are listing. This is the most heavily weighted part of the algorithm.

Finally, a keyword filled and lengthy description is the third key to ranking well in Etsy’s relevance search and sort. Don’t skimp on the description, because the algorithm is looking at the words and phrases you include here. What words you take out of the title should be included in the description.

Relevency Search - How to Succeed

Etsy caused quite a stir this August by switching the default sorting in search results to Relevancy instead of Most Recent. Etsy has attempted to help forlorn sellers with advice, videos and rule updates related to the change. The advice from Etsy is scattered over a dozen articles and hard to find, so I’ve attempted to gather it all in one place.

Relevancy is one of the major goals of search. Think about the last time you did a Google search and got a bunch of nonsense that wasn’t what you wanted – it’s frustrating. I’m surprised that Etsy wasn’t using this as the default until now. Etsy’s own test lab shows that users prefer relevancy search 15 times more than recency – that’s a lot!

Love it or hate it, relevancy search isn’t going away. If your shop stats are dipping since the change, it’s time to get serious and learn to work with it. You might just find that you like it – shops now have more power to affect their search position than just relisting.

Word pairs
Etsy has introduced a search feature for relevancy that gives word pairs a tremendous amount of weight. Word pairs are phrases of more than one word that people use to search – think “silver necklace” or “beaded napkin rings”. Items that match the searched phrase exactly are given priority and displayed above other search results. Exact matches in both the title and tags boosts an item even higher.

The word pairs are scored much better if the match is exact, but it doesn’t have to be. A search for “red desk” will favor a title of “Classic Red Desk”, but might also show “Red Sox Desk Set” or “Red Tulip Desk Lamp” further down in the search results.

Titles are King
There’s one message that Etsy has pushed about relevancy search – titles are the most important factor in your listing. Titles are more important than tags, descriptions, recency, attributes and views. Real estate’s mantra is “location, location, location” – Etsy’s is now “titles, titles, titles!”

Titles are king with good reason – besides the picture, they’re the best source of information customers have about your item in search results. Customers searching for “red desk” expect to see the words “red” and “desk” in the search results – otherwise the search seems broken. Tags and descriptions don’t appear in search results – and the listing date only shows if you purposefully choose the list view.

Etsy weighs the position of word pairs in your title. In our “red desk” example, an item with the title “Classic Red Desk” will be favored more than “Shabby Chic Primitive Antique Red Desk”, since the word pair appeared earlier in the title for the first item. Hindsight is 20/20 – if the customer had searched for “shabby chic desk” the latter item would have been positioned more prominently.

Most important is to use the best phrases for your item in the beginning of your title. How do you determine the best phrases? Etsy Shop Stats to the rescue! Log in to Etsy and go to Your Account > Shop Stats. This page will show you all sorts of interesting things about the people who found your shop – most importantly, the Top Keywords section will give you the best phrases for your titles and tags.

Another great source for keywords is the Etsy search box itself. Start typing a phrase into the Etsy search and you’ll see suggested search terms pop down. These suggestions are popular search terms from real users. Try a few combinations that relate to your item and see what pops up!



Lastly, Etsy recommends title variation - don’t use the same title format for similar items. Changing up the title will help diversify where your item appears in searches.

Tags are a sometimes food
In the last few months, Etsy has taken a stance against tag “stuffing” – putting multiple words into tags like “blue coral turquoise”. With the relevancy search change, Etsy has updated the DOs and DON’Ts to refine the rules about tags. The pertinent rules for tags now read:

You may use a short descriptive phrase as a tag if it accurately describes your item (for example: “sterling silver,” “messenger bag,” “steampunk cufflinks”).
You may not stuff multiple words into a single tag that do not comprise a descriptive phrase (for example: “beach water sunset,” “handbag purse clutch,” “green red blue black.”)
We’ve already covered “descriptive phrases” – also known as word pairs – that you’ll absolutely want to put in your tags. If you can manage to get a commonly-searched word pair in both your title and your tags, you’ll be ahead of the curve.

Recency still matters
Relisting is much less important with the search changes, but it hasn’t entirely gone away. There are still places that recency is a factor:

Category pages are still sorted by Most Recent. Customers that navigate to categories like Coffee Tables will see the most recently renewed or created items.

The Etsy home page still has a Recently Listed Items section. It’s the easiest way to get on the Etsy home page - although if you blink, you might miss it.

Broad search queries – searches that return more than 100,000 results – will use recency to sort the top matches. Etsy’s example is a search for “dress” that returns nearly 180,000 results – “jewelry” returns over 2 million. In these hotly-contested areas where so many items match exactly, recency will still put you on the top.

Searches – while defaulting to Relevancy for sorting, there is also a prominently-featured strip along the top of each search showing Recently Listing items that match the search. There are 4 items showing, but 40 total if you page through with the arrow buttons.

Naturally, the Most Recent sort option is still available on searches even though it’s no longer the default.

Even searches that aren’t broad enough to hit the 100,000 mark seem to factor in recency. Switch to the list view in a search and you’ll see that even though some items are a few weeks or months old, there’s no real dinosaurs hanging around at the top of search results.

What doesn’t matter
The Etsy search team has confirmed that these things do not affect search placement for relevancy search:

Descriptions – although Google scans descriptions, so these should still be written with SEO in mind.

Tag order – though Etsy recommends having the most descriptive tags first, since it may someday matter.

Item location (even for heavy items).

Number of views.

Number of listings in your shop.

Attributes – for now.
Etsy encourages sellers to fill out the attributes, as they are being given a serious look for inclusion in relevancy search in the near future.
Punctuation in titles – this is automatically stripped out for search purposes.
Pluralization – titles and tags are stemmed before indexing, so having both “earring” and “earrings” in your tags is not necessary, and verbs like “beaded” will also match “bead” in a search.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Passion for my Creations

As many of you know from purchasing my candles, my creations are your visions. One thing that I have always strived for since starting my business nearly 8 years ago now was not only customer service, but also allowing the customer to partake in their creations! This is something that you do not get when shopping other candle companies. I love putting every little detail on each candle, and creating those visions by hand, and not just pouring colored, scented wax into a mold! So when one of my newest customers sent me this link to a review they did on my shop, I have to honestly say my heart melted, and I felt so proud knowing that others have such a love for my creations!

I wanted to share this review, as I'm so proud that I have made someone just as happy as I am creating these visions.
http://glutenfreepotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/09/country-crafts-and-candies-review.html

Thank you so much to all my loyal customers who feel this way about my creations!
God Bless! Wendy

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Such a heart felt thought!!

It always means so much to me and warms my heart everytime I hear how much someone loves my creations; my little pieces of art that are my passion! So needless to say I was truely touched when I read this blog posting by one of my all time favorite shops on Etsy.

http://threadbarestitcher.blogspot.com/2011/08/three-little-candles.html
Please read, visit her store and show her some love. Her store is absolutely amazing! I LOVE these reusable storage bags!! I put my chips, flour, sugar and more in them, they are fantastic! And the little chalk boards; simply awesome!!! I invested in a chalk pen which is the greatest thing for these as it does not wipe off until you use a damp towel. They are great!

Trust me visit her shop you will not be disappointed!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Threadbarestitcher?ref=pr_shop_more

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Cocoa-Coffee Spiced Chicken with Salsa Mole

One of my passions is cooking and baking. I came across this recipe, and I have to tell you this has to be one of my FAVORITE chicken recipes of all times! You must try this!!!

Cocoa-Coffee Spiced Chicken with Salsa Mole

Ingredients
2 tablespoons ground coffee beans
2 tablespoons HERSHEY'S Cocoa 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
SALSA MOLE(recipe follows)
Cilantro sprigs(optional)
Black beans(optional)
Rice(optional)

Directions
1 Heat oven to 425°F. Grease baking sheet.

2 Stir together coffee beans, cocoa,brown sugar, salt and chili powder. Rub chicken pieces with vegetable oil; pat on cocoa mixture. Place coated chicken pieces on prepared baking sheet.

3 Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until juices are clear. Meanwhile, prepare SALSA MOLE.

4 Arrange chicken and salsa on large platter. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired. Serve with black beans and rice, if desired. 4 servings.

SALSA MOLE
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and diced
1 green onion, minced
1 tablespoon snipped cilantro
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Mini Chips Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 teaspoon lime juice

Stir together tomatoes, avocado, onion, cilantro, garlic, small chocolate chips and lime juice in medium bowl.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Upcoming Craft Shows

One thing that I always hear being asked online is, "Have you heard about any craft shows or fairs?" Well here is a list of some of the top shows in the country :)


Winter Springs Festival of the Arts 2011 - Florida
DEADLINE: 7/28/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 10/15/2011 - 10/16/2011
The Winter Springs Festival of the Arts will be presenting artists with total cash awards of $13,000. The Winter Springs Festival of the Arts is positioned as a signature event in an affluent Central Florida suburb, this fine art, wine and jazz festival will attract residents and visitors to the upscale village center. Patrons will stroll along beautiful Blumberg Boulevard enjoying the work of 125 fine artists, which will consist of juried and invitational, as well as music and a variety of food.
The Winter Springs Festival of the Arts is presented by The Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of Winter Springs.

Bar Harbor Fine Arts Festival 2011 - Bar Harbor, Maine
DEADLINE: 7/28/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 8/12/2011 - 8/14/2011
The 4th annual Bar Harbor Fine Arts Festival takes place on the grounds of the spectacular Bar Harbor Inn in the heart of Bar Harbor's waterfront commercial center. This show features top local, national and international artists exhibiting to a diverse mix of wealthy island residents and sophisticated tourists at peak season.

Arizona Fine Art EXPO - 8th Annual - North Scottsdale, Arizona
DEADLINE: 7/28/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 1/19/2012 - 4/1/2012
Thunderbird Artists proudly presents the 8th Annual Arizona Fine Art EXPO. This 10 week event nestled in the most affluent, upscale area of North Scottsdale is only 5 miles south of Carefree and 5 miles north of Loop 101. Patrons love watching artists work in studios, can purchase artwork, enjoy the café, artists’ marketplace, 2-acre sculpture garden, attending garden parties and other special events.

The Arizona Fine Art EXPO has two-thirds artists returning, therefore, the jury is an on-going process until the remaining studios fill. Limited space available. American Style Magazine readers recently voted Scottsdale as 5th place (mid-size city category) for “Best Art Destination” in the country.

The Highlands Craft Show 2011 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DEADLINE: 7/29/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 9/30/2011 - 10/2/2011
The 30th Annual Highlands Juried Craft Show will be held September 30, October 1 & 2 2011 on the grounds of the elegant Highlands Mansion and Gardens in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania featuring over 60 high-caliber artists from throughout the United States. This well known and established Philadelphia area craft show welcomes 2,000+ knowledgable visitors a year.
Talented craft artists will display the highest quality of handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, home décor, and more, available for purchase throughout the mansion and adjacent heated tent. The 2011 show highlights horticulture with an expanded category: Garden and Lawn crafters, creating outdoor and lawn specific works.

Talking Stick Fine Art & Wine Festival - Nov 2011 - Scottsdale, Arizona
DEADLINE: 7/29/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 11/25/2011 - 11/27/2011
Produced by Thunderbird Artists, the Talking Stick Fine Art & Wine Festival takes place at the hundred million dollar state of the art complex (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick) and is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. This location is beautifully positioned in one of the most desirable geographic regions of the metropolitan Phoenix area and is surrounded by vast panoramic views of Arizona's most iconic mountain ranges.

This venue promises to be an upscale and elegant setting for patrons and artists; adding fine wines, chocolates, gourmet foods and live musical entertainment to accent the superb selection of fine arts. Limited space available; closed in jewelry and photography mediums.

Beaver Creek Art Festival (Vail, CO) 24th Annual August 2011 - Vail, Colorado
DEADLINE: 7/29/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 8/6/2011 - 8/7/2011
Our signature event on our Western Tour continues on the 1st weekend in August. Located in Vail Valley, the Beaver Creek Resort is just a few hours from Denver and Aspen, Colorado. Beaver Creek attracts a high-profile clientele throughout the summer season.

Piedmont Park Summer Arts & Crafts Festival 2011 - Atlanta, Georgia
DEADLINE: 7/29/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 8/20/2011 - 8/21/2011
The Piedmont Park Summer Arts & Crafts Festival is an annual arts, crafts and entertainment event and will be held at Piedmont Park. This midtown community is home to some of the best Fine Arts festivals in the country, and home to enthusiastic art buyers from metro Atlanta. 2011 is the inaugural year for this event, with 100- 150 exhibitors in Atlanta’s favorite park. Hosts AFFPS are “bringing it back” by offering an atypical show reminiscent of the days when local art events were held in the park. “This one’s for our local artists and crafters, people in the community, neighbors and friends.” The event is hosted by AFFPS by artists for artists.

Benches on Parade Art & Wine Festival 2011 - Itasca, Illinois
DEADLINE: 7/30/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/24/2011 - 9/25/2011
Come exhibit in historic downtown Itasca, Illinois for the Third Annual Fine Arts & Wine Festival.
Show dates September 24-25, 2011.

Old Town San Diego Art Festival 2011 - San Diego, California
DEADLINE: 7/30/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 10/1/2011 - 10/2/2011
The Old Town Art Festival is clebrating it's 8th year in the heart of Old Town San Diego. Enjoy the beautiful weather San Diego has to offer along with the 30,000 patrons of the event.
Display your work alongside other notable artists displaying their work in all mediums of fine art.

Art Off Pike 2011 - Covington, Kentucky
DEADLINE: 7/31/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 10/9/2011 - 10/9/2011
Now in its Seventh year, the Art Off Pike Annual Street Arts Festival brings together a wide variety of artists whose works will be on display and for sale amongst an urban setting in the heart of historic Covington’s downtown. As people discover the artwork presented by the artist booths lining the streets, children are invited to take part in ‘Picasso’s Playground’, where Covington's arts and cultural organization offer hands-on art activities and performances for the enitre family. Musicians will be playing throughout the day and food vendors will be selling food.

Congratulations to the 72 accepted artists. They are in the process of purchasing booths. Meanwhile, we are still accepting artists for the next two weeks until we reach our goal of 80 artists. So, there is still time to apply!

Sandy Springs Festival 2011 - Sandy Springs, Georgia
DEADLINE: 7/31/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/17/2011 - 9/18/2011
The Sandy Springs Festival is an annual arts, crafts, and entertainment event and will be held on September 17-18, 2011. Now in its 26th year, the event has grown from a small, picnic-style gathering to over 20,000 attendees and the largest annual event in Sandy Springs. This celebration of community and tradition is located in the center of the Sandy Springs business district on and around Heritage Green.

Historic HandleyFEST - 13th Annual Festival & Classic Car Show - Fort Worth, Texas
DEADLINE: 7/31/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 10/8/2011 - 10/8/2011
CALL FOR ARTISTS! DON'T MISS THIS EVENT! APPLICATION ACCEPTANCE EXTENDED for a LIMITED TIME!!

Over $5,000 in Cash and Prizes offered!

If selected to participate, your jury fee is applied toward your booth cost!!

The 13th Annual HandleyFEST is a free community event that features live music, multiple entertainment stages, a juried art show, crafters village, commercial vendors, great food, classic car show, kid’s zone and city safety fair.

We expect more than 50,000 to attend the 2011 festival.

HandleyFEST takes place in the Urban Village of Handley located in East Fort Worth and is designed to attract a variety of quality artisans. The local galleries will increase their participation in the 2011 event as we take this one-day festival to the next level!

More than $5,000 in cash awards and prizes! Additional purchase awards and other prizes may be given.

FESTIVAL FACTS
• Over 40,000 attendees last year
• More than 100 Artists and other vendors
• Free entrance for shoppers
• Free parking available
• Live entertainment throughout the festival
• Eclectic variety of Festival Food and local Restaurant participants
• Located in historic urban village
• **NEW**Promotion via Billboards and Bus Signage

If selected to participate, your jury fee is applied toward your booth cost!!

We have 200 spaces available for 2011!

Art in the Gardens 2011 - Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
DEADLINE: 7/31/2011
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 10/15/2011 - 10/16/2011
The Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce invites you to apply to be an exhibitor at the 6th annual Art in the Gardens, a two-day arts festival produced by the staff that operates the annual ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival. Admission is free to the two-day event which showcases over 75 artists and includes children's activities and the Youth Art Competition. Attendees will be treated not only to the fine art, but to local musical entertainment and food from the fine eating establishments in Downtown at the Gardens. Festival hours are 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 15 and 11a.m. - 6p.m. on Sunday, October 16. Complimentary parking will be available onsite.

Desert Art Festival November 2011 - Palm Springs, California
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 11/25/2011 - 11/27/2011
The 25th annual Desert Art Festival, the original Palm Springs art festival, held Thanksgiving Weekend, in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs.

One hundred ans twenty five of the finest artists from the Western Untied States will converge on Frances Stevens Park to display their original work in all mediums of fine art and fine craft.

Manayunk EcoArts Festival 2011 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/24/2011 - 9/25/2011
Manayunk.com is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual EcoArts Festival in Manayunk. Our festival was such a success last year and we were happy to host as many as 30,000 over the course of a two-day weekend. This year, we invite you to take part of this great celebration of artistic, sustainable, and local green initiatives where eco-minded artists, green businesses, and ecologically-concerned community groups gather to share resources and education about green and healthy living. The festival highlights the sustainable efforts of our “green” exhibitors. Note: Not sure if your products are green? Contact mvidauri@manayunk.org to find out!

James J. Hill Days Street Market 2011 - Wayzata, Minnesota
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/10/2011 - 9/11/2011
James J. Hill Days is Wayzata's annual community festival held in the heart of downtown Wayzata, Minnesota overlooking the beautiful shores of Lake Minnetonka. This year's open-air street market will include an eclectic mix of fine art, crafts, antiques, and handmade items from around the region. The show will be open to the public on Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, September 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Best of the Northwest Fall Art and Fine Craft Show 2011 - Seattle, Washington
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 11/18/2011 - 11/20/2011
Seattle's premier indoor art event located on the waterfront on Pier
91, is a tradition with holiday shoppers. Strategic timing and an
affluent downtown clientele situated in a beautiful setting makes this
show a must for talented artists.

To complete the art experience we create a festive atmosphere with
Great music, performance art, good food and a wine tasting featuring
20 boutique regional wineries selected by a well-known sommelier.

NOTICE: The Fall 2011 Best of the Northwest Show has 45 spaces that have just opened. Read the event prospectus/description to learn more.

Panama City Beach Festival of the Arts 2011 - Panama City Beach, Florida
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/17/2011 - 9/18/2011
The PCB Festival of the Arts will take place at the Palms Conference Center. There will be indoor and outdoor spaces for this festival.

Bartlett Heritage Days Arts Festival 2011 - Bartlett, Illinois
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 9/10/2011 - 9/11/2011
For the past 8 years, Arts in Bartlett, the local arts council in this thriving Illinois community 35 miles northwest of Chicago, has presented Bartlett’s only juried fine arts and crafts show. Arts in Bartlett, a dynamic all-volunteer 501(c) 3 organization, prides itself on presenting high-quality, yet affordable fine arts and fine crafts in this highly anticipated free annual event. This year the art fair has moved its date to September 10 and 11 to become part of Bartlett Heritage Days. This community festival celebrates the “good-old days” in a 3-block square of quaint, downtown Bartlett with the Arts Festival area clearly visible from all directions. The Arts Festival will be in the newly landscaped Town Center park with grass, walkways, benches, fountain, nearby restaurants and a new piece of public art commissioned by Arts in Bartlett to be dedicated during the festival.

NEW FEATURE THIS YEAR: Young Art Appreciators. A special "kids only" tent for children shoppers who can purchase art priced at $1, $5 and $10. Art will be labeled with artist name and booth number so parents can take them to meet the artist and learn about their techniques. Artists accepted in the show are asked to donate a small piece or two and proceeds will go toward Arts in Bartlett scholarships for high school seniors to plan to major in the arts.

Our popular full artist breakfast will be served both mornings in the Center for the Arts one-half block away, which will also serve as an artist lounge. Live music and children’s art will also be featured. A Classic Car Show, 1880s re-enactors, games and another stage are in the next block. See more details as they develop under “Art Fair” and “Heritage Days” on www.artsinbartlett.org

Art on the Hill 2011 - Winterset, Iowa
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $20.00
Event Dates: 9/17/2011 - 9/17/2011
The 2011 Art on the Hill, on the hill top where the Madison County Historical Complex is located. It overlooks the beautiful town of Winterset, in Madison, Co. Iowa. Madison County has become a destination for artists and art lovers of all mediums. The scenic rolling hills and historic bridges are always an inspiration.

Metro Arts Expo 2011 - Des Moines, Iowa
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 11/4/2011 - 11/5/2011
The Metro Arts EXPO features the work of 100 juried artists. This event is FREE to the public. There is a Children’s Workshop, interactive art projects for all ages, live musicians, demonstrations and an upbeat holiday shopping atmosphere. Des Moines is the most populated city in Iowa. The approximate Metro Population of 553,000 people. In 2009, Forbes Magazine rated the City of Des Moines as #3 in the "America's Most Livable Cities”. Capital Square at 400 Locust Street is in the heart of Downtown Des Moines. Thousands of people come to eat, shop and experience museums, music, amazing architecture.Capital Square is surrounded by cultural and social amenities such as, luxury condominiums, the Civic Center, upscale restaurants and businesses.

Art Fest Boca 2011 - Boca Raton, Florida
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 11/19/2011 - 11/20/2011
Art Fest Boca is an annual JURIED fine arts show. The location of the festival is Boca Center, home of Boca Fest, Boca Raton's most successful art event, 21150 S. Military Trail Boca Raton FL 33486. Art Fest Boca is located in Palm Beach county, the third highest per capita income in the United States.

American Craft Council Show in Atlanta 2012 - Atlanta, Georgia
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 3/8/2012 - 3/11/2012
Located in a beautiful venue situated near the affluent suburbs of Cobb County, with easy highway access and free public parking. The Atlanta show is very competitive, drawing a sophisticated audience.

American Craft Council Show in Baltimore 2012, Retail-Only Section - Baltimore, Maryland
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 2/24/2012 - 2/26/2012
Three full days of retail to the public, the Council's flagship show is a must-attend event for the public. The highly competitive and prestigious show attracts artist from throughout the US.

American Craft Council Show in Baltimore 2012, Wholesale-Only Section - Baltimore, Maryland
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 2/22/2012 - 2/23/2012
Two full days of wholesale only, the Council's flagship show is a must-attend event for buyers from around the nation. The highly competitive and prestigious show attracts artist from through out the US.

American Craft Council Show in Baltimore 2012, Wholesale-Retail Section - Baltimore, Maryland
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 2/22/2012 - 2/26/2012
Now two days of wholesale only and three full days of retail to the public. The Council’s flagship show is a must-attend event for wholesale buyers and the public. This is a highly competitive and prestigious show attracting artists throughout the U.S.

American Craft Council Show in San Francisco 2012 - San Francisco, California
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 8/10/2012 - 8/12/2012
Located on the San Francisco waterfront between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge, this show serves a well-established audience of Bay Area craft enthusiasts, including a growing demographic of younger admirers of handmade goods.

American Craft Council Show in St. Paul 2012 - St. Paul, Minnesota
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 4/19/2012 - 4/22/2012
Now in it’s 26th year, this is the Council’s only Midwest show. This intimate, established show attracts a loyal regional audience and is presented in a superb facility in the heart of the St. Paul.

2011 ZAPP Conference Artwork Exhibition - Atlanta, Georgia
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $0.00
Event Dates: 9/19/2011 - 9/20/2011
Share your artwork with the field and help educate yourself and your peers in the jury process! This application is for a mock-jury session at the third annual ZAPP® Conference. The 2011 conference is Monday, September 19, and Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at the W Atlanta Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia.

Please note that this is not an application for a juried art festival. This application is to submit your artwork images to the 2011 ZAPP® Conference. By completing this application you consent and understand that your images may be displayed and may be discussed by a panel during a conference session.

Seattle Gift Show 2011 - Handcrafted from Northwest Art Alliance - Seattle, Washington
DEADLINE: 8/1/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 8/13/2011 - 8/16/2011
Seattle Gift Show – Handcrafted from Northwest Art Alliance! - Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, August 13th - 16th, 2011.

Explore selling wholesale at the Seattle Gift Show. NWAA membership offers premium booths at greatly reduced rates for your introduction into wholesaling at this well established event.

Fairfax Festival of the Arts - Fairfax, Virginia
DEADLINE: 8/4/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 10/8/2011 - 10/9/2011
Fairfax Corner in northern Virginia hosts its second Paragon event for 2011, the Fairfax Festival of the Arts (formerly the Greater Fairfax Fine Art Festival). Located just outside the Beltway, Fairfax corner is readily accessible to all parts of the Washington D.C., Baltimore, and northern Virginia markets. Reston lies less than 10 mi. to the northwest and Alexandria 15 mi. to the east. In May artists reported an average of $2960, a strong showing for a first year event, especially given the drizzly weather that persisted most of Sunday. Adding in the post-show sales artists have reported, this is now one of the premier events in the mid-Atlantic region.

Fairfax County is the most populated community in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Fairfax was the first county in the United States to reach a six-figure median household income and boasts the second-highest median household income of any county with a population of at least 250,000. The average income within a ten mile radius of the Festival is over a $125,000 and over 30% of the population have graduate degrees. In 2009, Forbes Magazine rated the City of Fairfax as #3 in the "Top 25 Places to Live Well”. Fairfax Corner is a premiere location for a fine arts festival.

Chastain Park Arts Festival 2011 - Atlanta, Georgia
DEADLINE: 8/4/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 11/5/2011 - 11/6/2011
Join us for the 3rd annual Chastain Park Arts Festival in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia on Nov 5-6, 2011. With over 175 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors against the backdrop of beautiful Chastain Park, this 2011 Fine Arts festival promises to be the premier event of the year. This North Buckhead area is home to one of the largest and most affluent and enthusiastic art buying communities in the Metro Atlanta area. This event, hosted by AFFPS, is organized by artists for artists.

Charlotte Fine Art Show - 4th Annual Dec 9-11 - New Location Convention Center - Charlotte, North Carolina
DEADLINE: 8/5/2011
Jury Fee: $30.00
Event Dates: 12/9/2011 - 12/11/2011
HotWorks.org Presents
4th Annual Charlotte Fine Art Show™
December 9-11, 2011 – 3 days
New Location! Charlotte Convention Center

The 4th Annual Charlotte Fine Art Show™ has a new and improved location indoors at the Charlotte Convention Center, located in Uptown Charlotte. Dates are December 9, 10 & 11 – this is a three day event. As you may be aware, this is the old home of the American Craft Council Show which no longer happens there. In the past, Hot Works has held the Charlotte Fine Art Show™ at The Park Expo & Conference Center, formerly known as the Merchandise Mart. Many seasoned artists have requested us to make the move to the Convention Center – which we are doing! Artists who have participated in our previous Charlotte shows, who will be returning this year include John Benton and Brian Sykes, Wood; Antanas Ulevicius, Clay; Woodrow Nash, Sculpture; and David Goldhagen, Glass; Mia Tyson, Fiber, to name a few.

In the past four years, Hot Works has created grass roots relationships within the Charlotte Metropolitan Area. The event is highly advertised and promoted on print, radio, television, social media, posters and post cards. In the last few years, the new Mint Museum and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art have been newly built and are now open within a few blocks of the Convention Center. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture, also located a few blocks from the Convention Center, went through an $18M beautiful renovation. The new Nascar Museum is adjacent to the Convention Center, and a parking structure with 800-900 parking spots has been added on.

The Institute for the Arts & Education, Inc., is the 501c3 non-profit organization that is part of the event and helps find ways to enrich lives and strengthen the community through the Power of Arts. Many positives link the Charlotte Convention Center to a successful Fine Art & Craft Show.

Charlotte, NC has not been given the chance it deserves to make this high quality juried fine art & craft show a success. There is a lot of potential in Charlotte. Hot Works has built its flagship event, the Orchard Lake Fine Art Show® now held in West Bloomfield, MI to be in the top 100 art shows in the country the last four years in a row – in Michigan’s worst economic times. We can do the same for Charlotte, NC!

Please keep Hot Works in mind for Charlotte or any of the other upcoming events:

9th Orchard Lake Fine Art Show®, Outdoors, heart of West Bloomfield, MI
Jul 29-31 ‘11

8th Estero Fine Art Show™, Outdoors, Estero, FL (near Naples/Bonita)
Nov 5 & 6 ‘11

9th Estero Fine Art Show™, Outdoors, Estero, FL (near Naples/Bonita)
Jan 7 & 8 ‘12

3rd Boca Raton Fine Art Show™, Outdoors, Boca Raton, FL
Jan 21 & 22,‘12

Frisco Art Festival (Downtown Frisco, CO) 5th Annual - August 2011 - Frisco, Colorado
DEADLINE: 8/5/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 8/13/2011 - 8/14/2011
Summit County will be the recipient of a very special juried art fair the second weekend in August. City of Frisco is closing down Main Street for this great event. Downtown Frisco is nestled between Breckenridge and Copper Mountain, close to Denver. Last years event was a huge success. Historic Main Street has upscale, quaint and eclectic shops, galleries and eateries that line the streets. Summit County, Colorado is located in the heart of the Rockies, just one hour from Denver to the east on I-70 and is home to Frisco, Breckenridge, Keystone Resort, Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain.

Combine the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains, the quaintness of Frisco, the art of 150 fine art exhibitors and the publicity this event will receive and you get a fabulous art fair!

ArtFest of Scottsdale 2011 - Scottsdale, Arizona
DEADLINE: 8/5/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 11/19/2011 - 11/20/2011
ArtFest™ of Scottsdale is a two day celebration featuring fine art, continuous live music, a variety of international food, and an interactive family area featuring hands-on art activities for children.

Over 200 select artists and craftspeople from across the nation will show and sell one-of-a-kind artwork. These works include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, fashion, furniture and jewelry. The festival is held in a spectacular setting of rolling green lawns, sparkling fountains, gorgeous flowers, stately trees, and meandering walkways.

Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza - In historic Old Town Scottsdale 7380 E. Second Street.

FREE ADMISSION & FREE PARKING

www.888ARTFEST.com



New Events


Leesburg Art Festival 2012 - Leesburg, Florida
OPEN DATE: 7/21/2011
DEADLINE: 12/1/2011
Jury Fee: $25.00
Event Dates: 3/3/2012 - 3/4/2012
In our 35th year, the Leesburg Art Festival is held on Main Street in Downtown Leesburg. Leesburg is located in the heart of Central Florida, equal distance from each coast.

ACRE Las Vegas 2012 - Las Vegas, Nevada
OPEN DATE: 7/21/2011
DEADLINE: 8/31/2011
Jury Fee: $10.00
Event Dates: 6/2/2012 - 6/4/2012
ACRE™ features American and Canadian made products in a full range of price points for every buyer's budget. Product lines include stationery, tabletop, jewelry, furniture, decorative accessories, seasonal and garden, toys, clothing, fashion and fashion accessories, green products and more. Attendees include buyers from many different retail categories including craft galleries, specialty stores, gift shops, art galleries, furniture, boutiques, jewelry stores, antique shops, museums, hotels and garden centers.

ACRE™ offers artists an all-inclusive booth package, Emerging Artist program, and convenient payment options. All booths include a free year of Wholesalecrafts.com™ web service (a $468 value).

Space is limited and booth assignments will be made in the order applications are approved, so DON’T WAIT!

ArtFest of Fifth Avenue 2011 - Scottsdale, Arizona
OPEN DATE: 7/22/2011
DEADLINE: 8/26/2011
Jury Fee: $35.00
Event Dates: 10/21/2011 - 10/23/2011
ArtFest of 5th Avenue held in the Arts District of downtown Scottsdale, featuring galleries, fountains, and picturesque storefronts with over 25% of the attendees having incomes over $100,000.

Over 100 select artists will participate in this three-day festival held the weekend of Friday, October 21, Saturday, October 22, and Sunday, October 23, 2011, from 10 AM to 5 PM each day. As usual the FREE trolley will be running the downtown circuit. Although tourism makes up approximately 30% of the business income, Scottsdale is home to the affluent as well as a prime location for second homes.

Buyers Market of American Craft February 2012 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
OPEN DATE: 7/27/2011
DEADLINE: 2/1/2012
Jury Fee: $10.00
Event Dates: 2/18/2012 - 2/20/2012

The nation's largest wholesale tradeshow for contemporary craft artists from the U.S. and Canada, with exhibitors selling their work to thousands of stores and galleries.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year, until the show is full.