Guys … guess what? My stuff is in the ArtVend machine at Wheatsfield.
See that? Super cool! 40% of the proceeds go to support local art.
[ you should go buy one of my zippy bags ]
[ here are some of my other zippy bags that aren't in the vending machine ... in case you're curious ... they are on my etsy shop ]
I’ve got a couple of goodies that are on sale until January 1.
Teensy Flowers Plate // $5 — normally $15
Baby Blue Zippy Pouch // $5 — normally $10
That’s Kinda Kitschy Zippy Pouch // $5 — normally $10
Big Beautiful Butterflies Wallet // $25 — normally $35 (there are 2 of these!)
Get ‘em while the gettin’s good … before January 1.
I’m on a last-minute Christmas gift rampage and have been scouring my tutorials board on Pinterest this week*.
I came across this really easy tutorial for reversible coffee cup sleeves by Crafty Staci. You can use scrap fabric and these sew up really quickly.
[photo from Crafty Staci's blog]
*Side note: If you ever want to find a quick project, I have more than 300 tutorials pinned to this board. Quilting/patchwork, knitting and crochet all have their own boards, but other crafts are on this one.
It’s SewMamaSew’s giveaway day today.
Check out all the super sweet giveaways (in addition to mine) on her blog today.
So what am I giving away? I’m giving away one of my little zippy pouches. My Classy Lady Lacey zippy pouch to be exact.
How do you win? I’ll make it simple this time because I’m sure I’ll get many more comments than usual.
How do you win? Just because I like reading interesting material, you’re going to have to answer a question instead of just commenting below. Also include your e-mail address so I can follow up with you when you win (FYI you don’t have to type it in the comment section … just in the part where it says “e-mail” in the form).
The question? Who/what is your favorite fictional character and why? Your answer can be a character from from literature, movies, TV, music, comics, etc.
My answer to that question? I guess I’ll go with the obvious and say Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Why? Because she is badass and I love the fact that she’s witty and always goes for the bad boys.
Good luck! I’ll be picking a winner on Friday the 16th — just in time to get the zip bag in the mail in case you want to give it as a gift. I’ll post the winner on the 18th and will ship ASAP so you have before Christmas.
PS I’ll ship internationally!
Want to enter more giveaways? Check out the full list of giveaway day giveaways
I’ve been really busy lately making a ton of new stuff! Last month I made new wallets, zip bags and then decided to make a big box full of new dishes. Free shipping to Ames and Des Moines and Christmas orders must be placed by December 20 to receive them on time.
Here’s a small taste of what I made (click the link to go to the etsy listing):
Hello! I have another lovely tutorial for you. This one requires hardly any skill at all. Just a glue stick, some cardstock and a bit of fabric.
Okay, and maybe very MINIMAL sewing skills. However, I think you could pull these off with a stronger glue and no sewing.
I found the original tutorial in a book I borrowed (and still need to return …) from a friend. I found this fabulous step-by-step tutorial online.
I make these when I end up with scraps too small to make my zippy bags with. They’re fun and easy. You can make a huge variety of cards too.
Just make sure not to use the same needle on these as you do on other sewing projects. I mark the needle I use for these and keep it separate. It gets really dull after sewing cards.
… if you live in Ames.
Remember that vending machine I told you about? The ArtVend project that lives at Wheatsfield in Ames?
My teeny tiny wallets (now not-so-teeny tiny at 5″x2.5″) and my zippy bags will be in there starting in December.
Teeny tiny wallets are $5 …
And zippy bags are $10.
I’m excited! I’m making things in the next couple of weeks for Market Day and will hopefully have 5-10 of each leftover so I can vend in December.
I did Craft Saturday yesterday and amongst the superb vendors there was a lady named Kate Funk. She sells greeting cards.
Not just any greeting cards though. CAT greeting cards.
And not your run of the mill cat greeting cards either. These are bitchin’.
She apparently dresses up her cat, AC, who, by the way has to be a good sport. Then she places him in a propped cardboard diorama and takes photos of him for her cards. The photos are all extremely well-themed too. Check these out (click the images to go to the etsy listing for each item below).
Domestica just started stocking these too, in case you were wondering about local availability.
Here’s AC Going Back to College
AC is Jaws
AC is Fly, Yo
AC be Ballin’
AC is Rambo
AC Gay Pride
And my personal favorite, AC’s Acid Trip
Kate also just rolled out her 2012 Super Amazing 100% Awesome Cat Calendar. Which I seriously need to pick up.
The kicker? I don’t really even LIKE cats. I’m highly allergic and they usually just piss me off. But this is beyond awesome!
There are so many craft and art shows this season there isn’t any excuse not to support local makers and get some of your holiday shopping done at these local events. Unlike buying from a franchise store, when you support your local makers the money goes directly to them and directly back into the community. Who knows where the money goes when you pick up your gifts at Target, Wal-Mart, or any other big box or franchise store. It doesn’t go to the person who made it. That’s for dang sure.
How about instead of buying an over-priced scarf at The Gap, pick up a lovely cowl from Hey Jen Renee!.
(click the images below to go to the etsy listings)
Or what about those sweatshopped items at Urban Outfitters made to LOOK handmade? Instead of getting faux-crafted items, pick up the real deal. Like this gold rosette headband from Bean and the Sprout.
And thinking about shopping at Pottery Barn for bedding? Instead how about this lovely quilt — perfect for a little girl — from Whoopdedoo Crafts?
Oh and what about a gift for your lovely but sassy daughter who just moved out on her own for the first time? She probably doesn’t want your old tired set of Corelle dishes from 1995 or a new cheap set from Target. She would rather have these hand-painted upcycled dishes from chimesdesign.
Can’t make it to a craft show? No problem if you live in Ames. There’s a handy-dandy art vending machine, aptly named ArtVend, set up at Wheatsfield Coop. Things found inside this machine are also all handmade by local makers (extremely local — you have to live within 50 miles of Ames to vend). Pick up some stocking stuffers and while you’re at it, pick up some local food and support local agriculture (hey, I have to plug that now too!).
These are just a FEW of the many many many reasons that you NEED to try to shop local for your holiday gifts.
Want to meet some of these makers and get a chance to shop locally? Hit up Craft Saturday’s Handmade Holiday Show tomorrow from 12-6! Be there or be square. I will be there with my dishes, wallets, and zip bags.
And don’t forget about the mega-awesome Market Day Black Friday Sale on November 25th. I won’t be there selling (unless they can squeeze me in) but I will be there buying (assuming I don’t have to work … I haven’t quite figured out my vacation schedule yet!).
P to the S: Guess who’s on the front page of the Des Moines Register today? ME!
They just randomly picked a photo file to represent all the holiday craft shows … so I guess it was a good pic. 
The Craft Saturday Holiday 2011 show is THIS SATURDAY from noon-6 at the Fourth Street Theatre in Des Moines.
I will be there. And so will my new wallets. And all my old stuff will be on SALE. Major sale. Clearance. I want to get rid of it to make way for new stuff. So that means awesomely cheap holiday gifts for you!
[new wallets for $30 each — $35 on etsy]
Besides that, there are going to be a TON of awesome vendors there. Check out the vendor preview page. I know I am planning on getting some things from these fabulous vendors. Bean and the Sprout will be there, so will JuneCraft and Florence Oliver.
I hope to see you there!
