This Week's Events

Thursday, September 1
Dada Art & Craft Bazaar, 8pm-1:30am
Dada Restaurant, 52 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, FL

Friday, September 2 through Monday, September 5
Artisans at the Distillery, 11am-6pm
The Distillery District, 55 Mill St., Toronto, ON

Saturday, September 3
Maker’s Market, 9am-Noon
Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park & Arts Center, 13480 Dowell Rd., Dowell, MD

Home & Handmade Market, 8am-2pm
Jackson St. between La Salle & Clinton Streets, Ottawa, IL

The City Flea, 11am-5pm
W. Central Pkwy. & Vine St. at the Cincinnatus Mural, Cincinnati, OH

The Creative Collective Craft & Fine Arts Fair, 10am-9pm
The Historic Headhouse Shambles, 2nd & Pine St., Philadelphia, PA

Mt. Washington Art Marketplace, 11am-3pm
Shiloh St., Mt. Washington, PA

Brighton Mini Maker Faire, 10am-5pm
Brighton Dome, 12a Pavilion Buildings, Brighton BN1 1EE UK

Saturday Vintage Market, 10am-4pm
The Vintage Vault, 6001 W. William Cannon Dr., Ste. 305B, Austin, TX

Marketfest, 8am-1pm
Every Saturday through November 19
Clear Fork Station, 4971 E. I-20 Service Rd., Willow Park, TX

Saturday, September 3 through Monday, September 5
Fallfest & Bazaar, 9am-5pm
Blue Ridge School Grounds, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ

Sunday, September 4
First Sunday Arts Festival, Noon-5pm
Calvert & West St., Annapolis, MD

99 Market, 11am-5pm
99 Sadbury St., Toronto, ON

GIVEAWAY: Don't Eat Beads

Danielle Murphy is the creative force behind Don't Eat Beads. Her Artfire shop is filled with a wide variety of beaded rings. Whether you're looking for something romantic & floral or something a bit edgier, chances are Don't Eat Beads offers it. In addition to rings, you'll also find earrings, necklaces, bracelets & even holiday jewelry. And Danielle's two passions, crafting & animals, collide in her animal awareness designs. If that wasn't enough, check out Don't Eat Wire, an extension of Don't Eat Beads, for wire jewelry designs.

Receive a 20% discount at Don't Eat Beads or Don't Eat Wire
with coupon code getfunky. Expires October 1, 2011.

*** GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Renee DeLarge,
SheLovesToCraft and daer0n!! ***

PRIZE: Three lucky winners will receive a ring of their choice!

TO ENTER: Visit Don't Eat Beads or Don't Eat Wire & leave a comment on this post noting one of your favorite items.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Like Don't Eat Beads on Facebook, then leave a comment on this post noting you have done so.

ENDS: 9pm EST, Saturday, September 10.

Wish GRANTed

I've featured Emily Adams & her biz ManHandled several times before. In addition to designing & creating funky cool items, Emily is trying to help her cousin's daughter raise awareness for Mitochondrial Disease. Fourteen year old Delaney is using Facebook to reach & exceed her goal of raising awareness in 10,000 people in one week. She started the page last Saturday afternoon & she's gained impressive momentum. Wish GRANTed is named for Delaney's two & a half year old brother Grant. As stated on the page, every 30 minutes a child is born that will develop Mitochondrial Disease by age 10, and as of now, there is no cure for them. The only hope for a cure is through research and funding, which starts with awareness. I encourage you to visit & like this Facebook page in an effort to help spread the word & learn more about this disorder. For more information, please visit the United Mitchondrial Disease Foundation website.

This Week's Events

Saturday, August 27
Sweet William Market, 9am-2pm
Stapleton's Founders' Green, 29th Ave. & Syracuse, Denver, CO

Art Beat, 11am-6pm
Downtown South Bend, IN

The Creative Collective Craft & Fine Arts Fair, 10am-9pm
The Historic Headhouse Shambles, 2nd & Pine St., Philadelphia, PA

Bakery Square's Summer Street Parties, 5-10pm
Bakery Square, 6725 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA

Quilt-Rs-Market, 9am-2pm
Hillside Christian Church Gymnasium, 900 N.E. Vivion Rd., Kansas City, MO

Vendor Trunk Show, Noon-4pm
Austin Pets Alive - Tarrytown, 3108 Windsor Rd., Austin, TX

Denton Community Market, 9am-2pm
Corner of Carroll Blvd. & Mulberry St., Denton, TX

Saturday, August 27 & Sunday, August 28
20th Annual Seafood Festival & Craft Fair
(Sat) 10am-8pm, (Sun) 10am-7pm
Long Island Maritime Museum, 86 W. Ave., W. Sayville, NY

Indie Designer Market at Randolph Street Market
(Sat) 10am-5pm, (Sun) 10am-4pm
1340 W. Washington, Plumbers Hall, Chicago, IL

Bazaar Bizarre SF at JPOP Summit, 11am-6pm
Post Street, Japantown, CA

Le Garage Sale - (Sat) 11am-6pm, (Sun) Noon-5pm
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX

Sunday, August 28
Bargain Hunting, Noon-5pm
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Portland, OR

Blim Market, Noon-5pm
Granville & Robson, Vancouver, BC

Bakery Square's Sunday Marketplace, Noon-4pm
Bakery Square, 6725 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA

MarketDayz, 9am-6pm
Conifer Community Park, 11369 S. Foxton Rd., Conifer, CO

GIVEAWAY: Hip Fusion Designs

I've been a fan of Hip Fusion Designs for a while now. Designer Neida Joseph-Abel creates ultra-cool & hip handcrafted metal clay & dichroic glass jewelry. She says that two of her hottest sellers this season have been the Just Beachy Sea Glass bracelet (pictured) and the Summer Loving Bronze & Beaded Bracelet. Both are lovely & I'm so intrigued by the latter that is made using eco-friendly wooden beads made from coconuts!

Hip Fusion Designs also has a fun birthday club you definitely want to take advantage of. Simply email your birth date (year not required) to Neida at neida@hipfusiondesigns.com. On your special day, you will receive a coupon via email that includes a discount & a freebie, too. Talk about a birthday treat!

*** GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Ginger & Tasha! ***

PRIZES: Two lucky winners will win a $50 gift certificate!

TO ENTER: Visit Hip Fusion Designs & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite item.

1 ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Sign up for the birthday club (see info above), then leave a comment on this post noting you have done so.

1 ADDITIONAL ENTRY: Like Hip Fusion Designs on Facebook, then leave a comment on this post noting you have done so.

ENDS: 9pm EST, Saturday, September 3rd.

Sew Beastly

Originally from Mexico City, crafter Citlalli Sanchez currently resides in Dallas, Texas. Sew Beastly began as a craft blog & quickly morphed into a full-time business. Citlalli, or Cit for short, offers a variety of hand-crafted purses & clutches. Her shop is stocked with fabric accessories in different colors & patterns, each adorned with fabric ruffles. I absolutely love the houndstooth clutch featuring a crimson red ruffle (pictured); however, the yellow, grey & black clutch is a close second. If you're looking for something a bit bigger to haul your junk around in, check out The Callahan. Or, if smaller is what you're on the hunt for, the cosmetic pouch is perfectly petite! Citlalli also offers a 15% discount to blog & Facebook fans with discount code BEASTLYFRIEND.

Kathy Magill, Artist

In 1986, artist Kathy Magill was introduced to watercolor & thatʼs all it took...she was hooked. She says, “Painting is a passion that allows me to express the joy I find in color.” Using almost exclusively a transparent watercolor method, Kathy's works are filled with luminosity & life. Her gallery is filled with beautiful portraits, landscapes, abstracts & more. I especially love Kathy's pet portraits like Sadie (pictured).

Kathy is also a founding member of Paint~Critique~Talk, an artist group that was created out of a need to paint with other artists for support & inspiration. All painters are invited to attend every Thursday, from 9am-4pm, at the Founder's Building on Main Street in Grapevine, TX. Attendance is free & open to adults only. If you have any questions, feel free to email Kathy at klmagill@verizon.net. (pictured: Mentler Model)

If you'd like to see her work in person, Kathy currently has a one-person show for the month of August at Buon Giorno Coffee House in Grapevine. Learn more about Kathy & her work on Facebook & LinkedIn.

This Week's Events

Friday, August 19
BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market, 5-9pm
King George Square Between Ann & Adelaide Streets, Brisbane, QLD

Friday, August 19 & Saturday, August 20
Bellefonte Arts & Crafts Fair, (F) 10am-8pm, (Sat) 10am-5pm
Historic Downtown Bellefonte, PA

Saturday, August 20
Deep Ellum Outdoor Market, 11am-5pm
Covered Lot Behind Cafe Brazil, 2820 Indiana Blvd., Dallas, TX

Alamo Square Flea Market, 9am-3pm
Alamo Square (Scott, Fulton & Hayes St.), San Francisco, CA

Home & Handmade Market, 8am-2pm
Jackson St. between La Salle & Clinton St., Ottawa, IL

Wedgestock Craft Market, 11am-7pm
South Wedge, 503 South Ave., Rochester, NY

Small Town America Arts Festival, 10am-4pm
Courthouse Square, Mt. Sterling, KY

Jam On Dumbo, 10am-5pm
Under the Manhattan Bridge Archway & the Green Triangle on Pearl St., Brooklyn, NY

22nd Annual Shady Creek Camper's Outdoor Craft Show, 9am-2:30pm
Shady Creek Recreation Area Picnic Shelter, 3550 HWY 22, Muscatine, IA

Saturday, August 20 & Sunday, August 21
Old Gruene Market Days - (Sat) 9am-5pm, (Sun) 10am-4:30pm
1641 Hunter Rd., New Braunfels, TX

Saturday, August 20 through Saturday, August 27
Austin Fashion Week
Austin, TX

Sunday, August 21
How The Craft Was Won!, 11am-3pm
Petaluma Art Center, 230 Lakeville St., Petaluma, CA

99 Market, 11am-5pm
99 Sadbury St., Toronto, ON

*Visit our calendar page for more handmade events around the globe!

GIVEAWAY: Sacchetto

Sacchetto features unique accessories by Edward Bach who says the company was created as a result of boredom, frustration & unemployment. Inspired by horror films, pop culture and Mexican folk art, Edward's hand-painted bags are functional works of art. The talented artist says that he & his daughter enjoy researching weird movies & looking for Day of the Dead images that inspire him to create new looks. A perfect example of this is the Day of the Dead Guadalupe satchel bag that is sure to turn heads. Another favorite of mine is the hot pink bowler style bag (pictured). If you're looking for something even more unique, Edward also offers hand-painted cigar box purses, as well as light up t-shirts. The heart tee (pictured below) has a panel on the front that has lights up like an equalizer. Powered by three AAA batteries, a small pocket conceals the battery box so you hardly know it's there. Pretty funky, huh?

SPECIAL OFFER: Mention Funky Finds to receive a $20 discount on any handbag over $100. You will also receive a free light up tee of your choice ($50 value) & a handmade signed sugar skull key chain free with purchase. No expiration date.

*** GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats JC, Egare1, deanna, Heidi, crystal marie, rabkina, Erin, Lesli, Vicki S., ArtsyChaos!! ***

PRIZES: Ten lucky winners will receive a light up t-shirt from Sacchetto!

TO ENTER: Visit Sacchetto & leave a comment on this post noting which item is your favorite.

EXTRA ENTRY: Like Sacchetto on Facebook & leave a comment on this post noting you have done so.

ENDS: 9pm EST, Saturday, August 27.

Promoting Your Indie Biz

Today I am guest blogging over on the Sunday Afternoon Housewife blog. I wrote about how to promote your indie biz. Check out the article here.

Crafts for a Cause

Saw this on the Create: blog & just had to share. When things are no longer at the forefront of the newscast, we tend to forget all the needs here at home. Click here to download supply list (includes shipping address). Click image for a larger view.

Fotolia

Fotolia is a stock image site that offers the largest image bank of free & affordable royalty free photos & illustrations. Started in 2005, Fotolia offers free photos & vector art daily to Facebook fans. I recently had the opportunity to try the site out & was pleased with the extensive selection. I downloaded a number of seamless images perfect for website & blog backgrounds. Like some other sites, Fotolia runs on the credit system. Users purchase several credits, then use those to purchase various images. The site also offers a subscription system that allows users to download up to 9,125 images (1-year subscription; $1,649.00).

Would you like to try out Fotolia? The site was generous enough to provide ten codes for a free 14-day trial that allows for 3 downloads per day. Each code is unique & can only be used once.

If you use one of the codes, please leave a comment on this post noting which one you used. I'd also love to hear your feedback after you've tried it out!

1. FDMC5FYZ

2. J53CSGIH

3. KVCWZOIF

4. 46BZE01K

5. 4EN0JCPT

6. 7JWQQ5X0

7. QZNGDVM8

8. RNYWEP78

9. KY3MENKO

10. 044OVLD9

You can sign up for the trial account on this page. To download an image, add the image to your cart, then make sure you check the option XXL subscription (not credits). Please note that the free codes will not work with existing accounts.

This Week's Events

Thursday, August 11 through Sunday, August 14
Confectionique
(Thur) 5-8p, (F) 11a-2p, (Sat) 10a-5p, (Sun) Noon-4pm
Middleton Airport, 8300 Airport Rd., Middleton, WI

Friday, August 12
The Urban Growers Market, 4-8pm
One World Merchants, 2315 Main St., Vancouver, WA

Saturday, August 13
Soulard Market Park Arts & Crafts Show, 9am-3pm
Soulard Park, 9th & Lafayette, St. Louis, MO

Ballston Arts & Crafts Market, 10am-4pm
Welburn Square, btwn. N. Stuart & N. 9th Streets, Arlington, VA

White Rock Local Market, 8am-1pm
The Green Spot Market & Fuels, 702 N. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, TX

Blim Market / Picnurbia Carfree Festival, Noon-5pm
Robson & Howe, Vancouver, BC

Big Art Show Hot As Hell Party, 8pm-Midnight
Pterodactyl Philadelphia, 3237 Amber St. 5th Fl. N., Philadelphia, PA

Madison Avenue Art Walk, Noon-6pm
15621 - 15729 Madison Ave., Lakewood, OH

Bloorcourt Arts & Crafts Street Fair
Craft Fair: 11am-7pm; Street Fair: 11am-10pm
Bloor St. W. from Shaw St. to Dovercourt Rd., Toronto, ON

Saturday, August 13 & Sunday, August 14
Austin Bead Society Bazaar, (Sat) 10am-6pm, (Sun) 11am-5pm
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX

Sunday, August 14
Lucky Pearl Bazaar, 9am-2pm
1757 S. Pearl St., Denver, CO

The Crafty Underdog, 11am-5pm
McMenamins Mission Theatre, 1624 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR

Dose Market, 10am-4pm
River East Art Center, 435 East Illinois St., Chicago, IL

Urban Flea Market, 9am-3pm
Salt Lake City & County Bldg., Washington Sq.,
Salt Lake City, UT

Shelly Burden - Portrait Artist

Texas-based portrait artist Shelly Burden says, "Portraits evoke strong emotions; it’s what makes them challenging for artists to render but it’s what gives them their charm, makes them appealing to view. With that in mind, I paint realistic yet creative watercolor pet & animal portraits, as well as people in timeless tones of graphite; all of which show a close cropped 'all about the expression' image." I have had the pleasure of viewing Shelly's work in person & can tell you firsthand that it is fantastic! According to Shelly, her style pushes the watercolor medium past traditional flowing methods by encompassing sweeping & dry brush techniques, helping to achieve a true likeness of her subject.

If you are looking for a unique & thoughtful gift, Shelly accepts commissions of furry and non-furry subjects. Look through her online gallery & you will see that Shelly's detailed & captivating work truly stands apart from other artists. Even if you are not in the market to commission an original piece, Shelly has several products available that display her talents. I especially love the Quiet Times print (pictured above), as well as the art card featuring the parrot named Max. (pictured: O-Line)

When not painting portraits for clients, attending juried art shows & earning award placements, or selling her original works & printed products, Shelly can be found at local pet events booking pet portrait orders of which she donates a percentage to animal rescue. Through her summer art journaling camps & ongoing art classes, Shelly is pleased to be teaching artists of all ages the joy of artistic creativity. Being a self taught artist, with a career background in photo advertising, Shelly truly believes learning & attitude helps dictate our talents. Contact Shelly at shelly@shellyburden.com for information regarding classes & commissions. Mention you saw Shelly’s work on the Funky Finds blog and receive 10% off your order! (pictured: Commissioned Ornaments)

Funky Five: Birthday Wishlist

Today is my birthday, so I decided to share five things I'd love to receive!

1. Silhouette Cameo

2. Moss Linen Lowrider Cap by SuperJennyLove

3. Hedgehog Clock by Decoylab

4. Pink Bicycle by Schwinn

5.Retro Specs Necklace by Release Me Creations

Creative Block

We've all had periods where we feel totally UN-inspired & have a bit of creative block. I felt that way recently & asked on Funky Finds' Facebook page what you do when you feel that way. Some suggested taking a break from crafting altogether, but many suggested visiting Pinterest for tons of inspiration.

Are you on Pinterest? If not, let me warn you now...the site is highly addictive & a complete time suck! But, definitely a great place for tons of inspiration. If you currently utilize Pinterest, please leave a link to your boards. I'd love to see what you've discovered! Here's where you can find my "pins."

Lauren said...Pintrest.com!! :D i get inspired there :D

Marti said...I take some time off..I walk away from the craft table when I'm really not in the zone. Orrrr...I'll listen to my favorite music in my craft room or journaling always helps me get back into the groove."

Brandi said...I force myself to do something mundane or tedious (like laundry or balancing the bank account) - it almost immediately reminds me how much i enjoy being creative.

Maria said...That usually happens to me when i craft non-stop - I just take a break from it - usually a very, very short break! LOL =)

Casey said...I second pinterest.com. Also, going to thrift stores can help, too. Going through the old dresses and skirts, there's always really fun or funky patterns and colors going on.

Unrepeatables.com said...I also love pinterest! I'm also a big fan of really bright home improvement magazines- the color is like a shot of creative adrenaline!

Sadie's Everyday said...Pinterest is good to help break the block, also just browsing Etsy! Going shopping helps me, to see trends, etc.

And be sure to check out this article on Handmadeology that has tips to help with creativity block.

This Week's Events

Thursday, August 4
DADA BAZAAR, 8pm-2am
Dada Restaurant, 52 N Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, FL

Thursday, August 4 through Saturday, August 6
Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival
(Thur, Fri, Sat) 9am-7pm, (Sun) 10am-5pm
Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort, 1600 W. Market St., Nappanee, IN

Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 7
Uptown Art Fair
(Fri) Noon-8pm, (Sat) 10am-8pm, (Sun) 10am-6pm
On Hennepin Ave. from 28th St. to 31st St. & “The Mall”, Minneapolis, MN

Musecon, (F) 2pm-Midnight, (Sat) 9am-11:45pm, (Sun) 9am-4:15pm
Westin Chicago Northwest, 400 Park Blvd., Itasca, IL

Saturday, August 6
Maker’s Market, 9am-Noon
Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park & Arts Center, 13480 Dowell Rd., Dowell, MD

Buninyong Makers Market, 10am-2pm
Buninyong Town Hall, Learmonth St. (A300 Hwy.), Buninyong, Victoria, Australia

Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market, 9am-4pm
46th & Tennyson, Denver, CO

Whole Foods Hollywood Hootenanny, 10am-2pm
Whole Foods Hollywood, 4301 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, OR

The City Flea, 11am-5pm
W. Central Pkwy. & Vine St. at the Cincinnatus Mural, Cincinnati, OH

The Creative Collective Craft & Fine Arts Fair, 10am-9pm
The Historic Headhouse Shambles, 2nd & Pine St., Society Hill, Philadelphia, PA

Hip Happening Bazaar, 11am-5pm
Sellwood Masonic Hall, 7126 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland, OR

Cedar Park Centennial Anniversary Celebration, Noon-8pm
Cedar Park, 50th & Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA

Saturday, August 6 & Sunday, August 7
Tomorrow’s Stars Youth Art Fair, 11am-5pm
Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, August 7
First Sunday Arts Festival, Noon-5pm
Calvert & West St., Annapolis, MD

Vintage Village Hall, 10am-4pm
Kendal Parish Hall, Kirkland, Kendal, LA9 4DL

Flint Handmade Craft Supply Swap, Noon-3pm
The Lunch Studio, 444 S. Saginaw, Flint, MI