Spring Roll….

signs of spring

Well, it is almost officially Spring. I was born on the first day of Spring, so I feel pretty connected to this time of year. I also typically start to feel refreshed at the start of Spring. I hope to feel this again this time around, but it is hard to tell because there is so much happening this year!

Major Changes/Events:

  • I took the leap and quit my day-job to pursue my dreams of a self-sustaining career. garbella is now my focus! It feels great. I am still teaching 2 programs/evenings per week to stay connected with young people and education (something else that I am passionate about), but I am going to be able to bring some more focus and energy to garbella.  I have set big goals for this year!
  • I am getting married in 67 days. We are planning a DIY affair for 200 people and the ‘To-do’ list is hella long.  Major task this week… design and screen-print the invitations.
  • I am signed up to run the Pittsburgh half-marathon.  This will be my first half-marathon. I’m excited and trying to stay injury-free.
  • Spring/Early Summer Shows are starting to send out vendor announcements, so I hope to be busy with a couple shows. Handmade Arcade is already on the books! Pittsburgh folks- stop by to say hello to me! and check out all of the awesome vendors.
  • I completed a 28 day yoga challenge in the month of February at my new favorite yoga studio- The Yoga Hive! This was the most consistent yoga practice I have ever had and it felt really amazing.  It also felt really great to set a goal and accomplish it.

In summary, 2011 is looking like it is going to be an awesome year, with lots of exciting changes.

Also, happy pi day! 3/14.  Check out this cute Pittsburgh project from pi day 2010! They delivered little pies by bike to houses, apt., and offices with 314 addresses!

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Upcoming Holiday Shows

It is that time of year again!  I have lots of shows coming up in the next couple of weeks…

Upcoming Holiday Shows: Stop by and say hello!

I Made It! for the Holidays
Dec. 3rd-4th 2010
Pittsburgh, PA

Detroit Urban Craft Fair
Dec. 4th-5th, 2010
Detroit, MI

Union Project Unwrapped
Dec. 11th
Pittsburgh, PA

Rengade Craft Fair- Chicago
Dec. 4th-5th
Chicago, IL

Bazaar Bizarre: San Francisco
Dec. 11th-12th
San Francisco, CA

Renegade Craft Fair: San Francisco

Dec. 18th-19th
San Francisco, CA

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Picking up where I left off…

This is the year in review (super abbreviated version) from where I left off in February.  I think unloading all of this in one post will allow me to move forward with blogging!  I have not been able to take a step forward since I feel like I missed so much.  The first step is the most difficult!

Here we go:

April: Visited LA and San Diego with Steevo.  Got to spend lots of quality time with my brother and his GF.  Also, got to eat lots of good Mexican food and enjoy the sun.  Went camping in Joshua Tree National Park (so fun!) Crafty Supermarket in Cincinnati, OH.  Awesome show!

San Diego Beach Walk

Camping in Joshua Tree!

May: Vended at Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philadelphia, Beautiful venue-Amazing show!  Super Windy- made for an exciting (albeit a lil’ stressful day)

Art Star Craft Bazaar

June: Friends got married (congrats Bobby and Amy!) Day-job continued to be very busy. Enjoyed the back yard and garden.  Hosted a back-yard party. Steevo and I decided to get hitched (also known as got engaged!)

photo by Matt Dayak (thanks Matt!)

July: Visited San Francisco (Thanks Tom!) and vended at San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair, Day-job was mad busy implementing  Bicycle camp for 40 middle-school students. Organized “Business of Craft” workshops for the Pittsburgh Craft Collective.

August: Took 24 middle-schoolers on bike tour and overnight camping adventure.  Absolutely exhausting, but also absolutely awesome!  Crafts ‘N At craft show at Soldiers and Sailors in Pittsburgh. I Made It! Leslie Park Pool Show- Bikefest edition….lots of fun, but I think I seriously had heat stroke.  That pool was baking!

bike trip!

September: Got to visit with Jenne in Pittsburgh (a rare moment!)  Bike wheel got stolen (bummer).   Vended at Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago: one of my favorite shows!   ~My brother got married! ~ (Congrats Brian and Maureen.) Lots of fun wedding festivities with family and friends.  Spent time with Dana in Pittsburgh (also rare!)  Excellent month!

Pre-Wedding Family Shot (thanks Matt!)

October: Vended at Craftin’ Outlaws in Columbus, OH- great show!  Traveled to Missouri and Kansas for a wedding (Congratulations Bethany and Gordon!) Flew to San Francisco for a week to hang out with one of my favorite ladies!  Dressed up like a Prom Zombie and went roller-skating.  First Day of self-employment!

November: Returned from San Francisco and returned to the studio. Lots of work to do!

All Caught Up! That felt really good.  Now I can move forward.

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POOL tradeshow Recap

So, I have been thinking about exhibiting at my first tradeshow.  My friend Amy, of Red Raven Studios, exhibited a few weeks ago at POOL tradeshow in Las Vegas.  She was  in the Cash and Carry section.  I wanted to see if the show would be a good fit for garbella and to learn a bit more about the inner-workings of a wholesale trade show.  I also knew that Amy could use some help.  We have vended at  a number of indie craft shows together and I know that having someone to help (or at least cover your booth while you go to the bathroom) is invaluable.  So, I tagged along with Amy to help RedRaven Studios take on Las Vegas.

Amy of Red Raven Studios exhibiting at POOL

We got to meet a lot of great designers, small-biz owners, and entrepreneurs- all of whom were really smart, inspiring women from Pittsburgh!  It is funny that it took going to Las Vegas to meet local Pittsburgh people!

It was striking to see how similar indie Craft Shows are to tradeshows, yet how some aspects were very different.  The community of vendors seemed to be just as friendly, open, and supportive as the indie craft fair community.  There was a good amount of overlap at this show, meaning I had seen or heard of maybe 20% of the vendors through the indie craft fair scene.  There were also larger brands and higher end designers who wouldn’t quite fit the market of indie craft shows.

The buyers seemed to be the most strikingly different component compared to an indie craft fair.  Many buyers were operating on a tight time budget and were on a mission.  That is not to say that the buyers are not friendly; we met lots of super nice buyers.  There is just more of an understanding that they buyers have designers to find, orders to place, and a shortage of time.

All in all, POOL tradeshow seemed to be a really great venue for designers and makers that are new to the tradeshow scene.  The organizers were friendly and helpful, the other vendors were great, and there are affordable options.  POOL offers different tiers including Cash and Carry, Emerging Concepts, Co-op and Showroom.  This set-up seems to allow for younger brands and veteran brands to find a section that suits different needs and budgets.

I have been trying to find vendor stories of tradeshow experiences and tips from veterans.  I know that exhibiting at a tradeshow for the first time will give me lots of ‘real-world, first-hand’ experience, but I think it is important to be an informed consumer.  Here are a few resources that have been helpful to me:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/biz-ladies

http://craftmba.com/

Three Tips for Using Wholesale or Trade Shows to Boost Your Biz

by Tara Gentile and Megan Auman

Any resources or tips that you want to share?

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2010. I Made It! Mine. Feb. 6th

Well, I definitely re-charged during the month of January.  Lots and lots of cooking, dinner guests, quality time with Steevo, reading, re-organizing, refreshing, and relaxing.  It was a nice change of pace since the last quarter of 2009 was absolute non-stop, go.go.go.  2009 was a great year for garbella, lots of traveling, lots of great shows, new stores, and growth. I’m sure 2010 is going to be even better.  I hope to update the blog more frequently and utilize the fantastic website created by the wonderfully talented, Tara Gentile of ScoutieGirl and Handmade in PA.

Well, rest no more!  I have been printing, filling orders, stocking up, and now getting ready to kick-off 2010 with the first craft show of the year; I Made It!  Mine

So, come on out next Saturday to the Union Project from 12-5 to check it out.

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Holiday Craft Fairs- 2009

It is that time of year again… and it is getting busy in the garbella studio.  I am working hard to make goods for all of the upcoming shows.  Check out the list!~

Holiday Craft Shows (where you can find garbella!)

Nov. 21st- Detroit Urban Craft Fair-  10 a.m. to 7 p.m., The Majestic Theater, Detroit, MI

Nov. 27th-28th-  Bazaar Bizarre East, 10 AM-8 PM, Cleveland, OH

Dec. 4th- Dec. 31st- Craftland Show- Providence, RI

Dec. 5th- I Made It! Holiday- 12-5 PM,  Union Project, Pittsburgh, PA

Dec. 5th-6th- Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Show-  11 AM- 7 PM,  Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, Chicago, IL

Dec. 12th-Handmade Arcade, 11 AM- 8 PM, Hunt Armory, Shadyside, Pittsburgh PA

Dec. 12th-13th-Bazaar Bizarre West- 12-9 PM(Sat) and 12-6 PM (Sun), Cleveland, OH

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It was a good day….

This is how my day started off: hairdryer broke, ran out of cream for my coffee, and my car wouldn’t start.  Not the best, huh?  Well, I am having a great day now!  I arrived to work in a not-so-great mood, logged onto my computer, checked e-mail, and got an e-mail from Handmade Arcade (Pittsburgh Indie Craft Fair) that said:

Dear Amy:

Congratulations! You have been accepted to Handmade Arcade 2009!

Yay!!  Thank you Handmade Arcade for saving my day and actually making it a great one. Now, I need to get busy with the makin’.  I am participating in more shows this year than ever before, and am now in several local and not so local stores.  Lots of inventory needs to be made and lots of  re-stocking needs to be done. Oh, and lots of packaging and shipping.  Also, lots of coffee needs to be consumed.  This weekend is nothin’ but craftin’ and  I am looking forward to it.

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Shout Out!

megaphoneEmily of Subu, Inc. fame can be found sporting a new garbella top around Pittsburgh.  Check out her blog for her review!

While you are at it, check out her Etsy shop.  Pick out a nice recycled notebook for yourself, and one for your friend, and maybe for your co-worker…

If you are in Pittsburgh and you really miss the sound of the G20 helicopters flying over the city, then this is the notebook for you!

Thanks for the shout-out Emily!

Posted in Blogs, Crafts, Friends, Pittsburgh | 2 Comments

Crafts N'At

Hey yinz! Mark your calendars! …  Sat. Sept. 5th…

Crafts N’ At is handmade crafty awesomeness: Pittsburgh style.  Come out to get inspired, support local artists, enjoy some BBQ, to check out an amazing array of goods/services in the silent auction and raffle, to support a good cause, and to have fun!

crafts n’at is an opportunity for independent crafters to show and sell their wares, establish their business, and to celebrate creativity. it features over 50 vendors, make & take crafts for children and adults, craft demonstrations, live performances, a chinese auction and raffle, and an outdoor BBQ.

the union project
801 north negley avenue
pittsburgh, PA 15206

get directions here.

Saturday, September 5, 2009
{Labor Day Weekend}
10am to 6pm

crafts n’at is brought to you by the pittsburgh craft collective. we are a group of 50+ members working to create a strong and vibrant craft community through social and resource networking, education and workshops, and information sharing.

the pittsburgh craft collective will work each year to raise money for a charity in conjunction with this event. this year’s show will benefit [ gravity + grace ] and the parkinson foundation of western pennsylvania (PFWPA).

[ gravity + grace ], a contemporary opera written by frank ferraro, reveals his struggles with parkinson’s disease and will premier sept 25th at the hillman center for performing arts.

all net proceeds of [ gravity + grace ] will be used to support the PFWPA programs and services for people with parkinson disease, their families and caregivers.

hope to see yinz there!

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July Re-Cap

Well, July was a busy month to say the least!

A few highlights:

  1. Southside Works Exposed Artist Market- thanks to everyone who came out!  It was a beautiful weekend
  2. A quick jaunt out to San Francisco to see my sweet, sweet friend- Taryn.  Taryn is her West Coast name.  Tom is her East coast name.  We had an awesome time just getting caught up with life, hanging out, checking out her new place (homeowners!), and vending over at the Renegade Craft Fair at Fort Mason.

    Taryn and Amy, By the Bay

    Taryn and Amy, By the Bay

  3. Celebrating Steevo’s birthday (a week late since I was in CA!).  It was a great birthday date, beautiful weather, delicious  food, and excellent company.  I even got to wear my new sweatshirt-dress that I scored at Renegade from Recession Clothing. Check them out!

    steevos birthday dinner

    steevo's birthday dinner

  4. The MGR Foundation Peace Rally!  Young people came out in full force to take the stage at Market Square.  Lots of people came out to support them, listen to their messages, and rally along with them.
    Haji and Mohamed- G Brothas representing the Youth

    Haji and Mohamed- G Brothas representing the Youth

    Hopefully, August will be just as much fun (maybe just not as busy!)

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