Calling all crafters!

Okay so I have noooo idea who reads my blog unless you post a comment or email me (big props to those of you who do!). Consider yourself forewarned, this may not apply to you, but I'm super excited about what's in the works for the handmade holiday bazaar I'm planning and was pretty happy with the blog I just posted on a website I'm a part of with other crafters, and thought I'd share:

So I've been a vendor in a ton of shows... some were a total bust and others were super fun, well organized, I spent the day chatting with customers, and selling lots. In an attempt to create a show that I would personally be way stoked to be a part of, I'm working with Julie of Sew It's For You and the owner of an awesome new fabric shop in St. Pete, Karrie of Fiberologie to organize and promote the Handmade Holiday Bazaar.

The show is off to a great start! An ad in a hip monthly publication called Skirt! whose target market is women (read: shoppers!) is about to go to print and be distributed throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. There are a bajillion (okay maybe it's a little less than a bajillion... but not by much) flyers on their way and about to be posted all over town and handed out to everyone who will stand still long enough to check it out. Some awesome local businesses are doing their part to help us newbies out in spreading the word and making the event tons of fun for customers and the vendors. And last, but not least we have some really vendor centric things planned, like opportunities to promote your businesses in goodie bags, hosting your very own demos/workshop, breakfast, a discounted lunch, booth and table fees that don't break the bank, and the little things that just help you "feel the love".

Sound like the place for you?! We just put out the call to crafters 3 days ago and we're already half way full. So, check us out, fill out an application and have a blast! handmadeholidaybazaar.blogspot.com

The dish ran away with the spoon

One of the things I've enjoyed the most about running Elle Belle is that it's given me an opportunity to meet a lot of really talented crafters. I met Julie of Sew It's For You at a craft show we were both in about a year ago. Julie does hand embroidery, usually with a vintage twist. I needed an excuse to own a piece of her handiwork and thought a little towel for Elle's retro kitchen would be the perfect way. Julie embroidered the dish running away with the spoon on it and added some adorable big rick rack. It turned out super cute and Elle has been busy "cleaning up spills and drying dishes" ever since.

Gotta Love Designer Fabric

Thanks to Fiberologie's awesome selection of unique and wonderful designer fabric, check out the two latest cart covers soon to be available in the Elle Belle shop. I love the geometric design of the first and the second feels very "Tommy Bahamaish" to me. More fun prints are in the works for our November and December shows, so stay tuned!

Cool Crisp Air

the crunch of leaves under your feet, hay rides, warm apple cider, bon fires, oh the joys of autumn! Huh? What? Oh ya, I live in Florida now! Those were my favorite things about this time of year... or at least the time of year we're headed into... while I was growing up in IL. Now autumn marks the beginning of not 100 degree afternoons. I love living in Florida for so many reasons, but no fall season is not one of them. Almost every year we plan a trip somewhere with some changing leaves to at least get a taste of it (this year it's Gatlinburg TN). I'm looking forward to our fall vacation, reminiscing of autumns past, and thought I'd share these fabulous Etsy Finds that set the perfect mood but apparently Blogger is having a bit of trouble with pictures these days, so I had to create a little mini in order for you to see the compilation of photos. I guess we'll have to do it this way until Blogger gets its little kinks worked out. Scroll down a bit to check it out.

Etsy's Handmade Kids Contest Results

After much anticipation the results are FINALLY in for Etsy's Handmade Kids Contest. My Count and Spell Color Recognition beanbags placed just 23 votes behind 3rd place in the Eco Friendly category and my tattoo inspired ring sling came in just about in the middle of the standings in the accessories category.

Being a part of the contest was so much fun! I found lots of great new Etsy shops to love! Check out the winners that the Etsy community picked here and the winners the expert pannel of judges picked here. Have fun!

All about family and fabric, love and laughter, and handmade super coolness

That’s how Joey & Aleethea rock! Just a quick look around the Joey & Aleethea blog and you’ll find a Mom, a military wife, owner/operator of one of the most successful shops on Etsy, the leader of the EtsyBlogger street team, a member of several other Etsy street teams, and an awesome crafter/artist all rolled into one! If that doesn’t impress you enough to stop by her shop then let me entice you with a couple of my favorites:

How stinkin’ cute is this?! I’m so in love with these little scooters, if there were a way to safely strap my 2 year old to one I would totally sport one of these little numbers EVERYWHERE! And who doesn’t love the color Tiffany blue?

Check out these cutesie bibs! I particularly like the tuxedo one. If I had a little guy I wouldn’t reserve the tuxedo bib for special occasions only (although everyone at your cousin’s wedding would think you were the hippest Mommy!) every day could use a little Fred Astaire ware!

Last Chance to Vote!

This is it! You only have until midnight (my time... Eastern Standard) Monday to cast your vote and have an opportunity to win a $350 Etsy shopping spree! I've gotten quite a few questions about the specifics of voting, so if you haven't voted yet, or aren't sure if you did it right, here's more details on how to vote:

1. Click on the "Vote 4 Me" button on the right
2. If you have an Etsy username, login and go to #3. If you don't have an Etsy username or if this is your first visit to Etsy allow me to introduce you! Etsy is the place to buy and sell all things handmade and it's changed my life... as cheesy as that sounds :) Okay, now click on the "Sign up here" link in the last line of the text at the top of the screen and follow the instructions to create your username. Welcome!
3. Now back to the "Voter Beta" page. Click on the "Go Vote" button below the Handmade Kids Eco-Friendly section. Select the little round button that says "Select this finalist" in the box with the picture of my Full Set of Count and Spell Color Recognition beanbags and click the "Cast Vote!" button at the bottom of the screen. If you've already voted there'll be a star instead of the little round button and no Cast Vote! button at the bottom of the screen (you can only vote once per category).
4. Hit your browser's back button and click on the "Go Vote" button below the Handmade Kids Accessories section. Select the little round button that says "Select this finalist" in the box with the picture of my Mom Tattoo Embroidered Ring Sling and click the "Cast Vote!" button at the bottom of the screen.
5. Check out the other categories, cast your votes, and let the Etsy addiction kick in.

You did it and you rock! Thanks so much for your votes! I'll update everyone on the results of the contest as soon as they're posted.

Donate Life

I've been working on a really special project for a good friend of mine that I'd like to tell you about. My friend Kelli Walker's boyfriend, Todd, has been on a waiting list for a liver transplant for 3 and 1/2 years. Did you know that as of July 2008 there were 99,421 people in the United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list?

Todd and Kelli do a lot in their community and with the Transplant Foundation to help others like Todd who are waiting for transplants or are transplant patients. They often do charity walks to support their cause and raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Their lab, Shadow, always joins them on their walks too. I made "Donate Life" bandanas for Shadow and a friend's pooch to wear on one of the last walks they did and they got lots of attention. So for their next walk, the 5K Triangle Transplant Walk & Rock on Sept. 28th, I'm making 30 Donate Life dog bandanas. Kelli and Todd are going to sell them during the walk and the proceeds will benefit the NC Transplant Foundation.


It's been a fun project and I'm especially happy to be able to do something to help contribute to such a worthy cause that's had a great impact on my friend's life. Guess what?! You can contribute too! Check out the North Carolina's Transplant Foundation website and click on the "sponsor a walker" link. It brings you to the PayPal page where you can make a donation of any amount you'd like (every single penny helps!). Please be sure to put "Kelli Walker/Elle Belle" in the comments so that they know who you're supporting and where you came from. Thank you!

Handmade Holiday Bazaar

I'm really excited to announce that I've partnered with a friend of mine, Julie of SewItsForYou, and Fiberologie (that super hip new fabric shop in town I mentioned the other day) to organize, create, and host the first ever Handmade Holiday Bazaar!

There'll be lots more details to come, but for now, mark your calendars for Sunday Nov. 9th and plan to come by Fiberologie to check out some of Tampabay's best crafters and get a jump on that holiday shopping!