Showing posts with label candles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label candles. Show all posts

Vendor Spotlights (Days 22-30)

We hope you have been enjoying the vendor previews leading up to the Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience! Be sure to make your shopping and wish lists so you don't forget to purchase anything at the event.

Previous Previews: Days 1-7 • Days 8-14 • Days 15-21


Paper and Place - Erica Taylor expresses her passion of creating with a collection designed to connect adoptive parents, humanitarians, world travelers & military families to special places & their loved ones.

Patty's Perfect Pocket LLC - A pocket available for many uses - hold cell phone, iPod, insulin pumps, and more! The perfect accessory for any occasion whether you're at work, at the beach or kicking up your heels!

Peculiar Pieces - A talented sister duo who collaborates to provide diversity in style, creativity and originality. Their one-of-a-kind pieces are as unique and individual as you.

Playing With Wood Country Style - A family owned and operated affair featuring hand-crafted items using new and/or repurposed wood.


Potter's Cove - Rachael Swink creates pottery that is functional and can be used by everyone. She provides pieces for both people AND their much loved pets.

Productive Knits - Kiki Alusick designs her own patterns that she knits and assembles by hand. She likes to keep things simple, warm and natural, as well as functional.

Rockin Rhinestones - Kristi Cross designs unique jewelry and accessories that are a great addition to any style.

RockNRose Creek - Victoria Gassett has been redesigning lost treasures for many years. She enjoys creating many different items, including home décor, furniture restoration, birdfeeders, and windchimes.


S&S Creations TX - A Mother/Daughter duo that work together to create one of a kind treasures from largely "re-claimed" items. Ninety percent of their product line has come from someone's discards resulting in their motto of "We don't fulfill a need, we fulfill a desire."

sarah.allen.ltd - This creative duo is comprised of a stay-at-home-mom and a retired school teacher who enjoy going to craft fairs and are having a wonderful time meeting new people.

Savannah Hoffman Designs - Felicia Akop creates a line of jewelry in a style she refers to as retro modern. She finds beauty in ordinary things, such as bus tokens and keys, and loves to mix them with pearls or something else unexpected.

Saved SALVAGED Sewn - Stacey Stastny creates refillable Leather Journals, Sketchbooks, Notebook Covers and more. Every item is handcrafted using scrap and salvage leather and old cowboy boots.


Sawdust & Bullets - Diana & Charla love to create unique pieces of functional art with a one-of-a-kind flair. Items like ice cream scoops can be created with an acrylic, wood or 50 caliber shell handle.

Seymour and Sons Woodworking - Thomas Seymour & his family strive to create items that are pretty, usable and affordable. Each family member has a role in creating each one-of-a-kind item.

Sisters Sew A Lot - Sisters Carolyn & Janice have been sewing since they were children. Having created & taught techniques for years, the retired sisters started this adventure to satisfy their creativity and to present quality items for people.

Soulflame Pottery - Husband & wife team, Roy & Cindy, teach introductory & advanced ceramics classes for adults & children of all ages. They also create beautiful ceramic pieces!


South Austin Gallery - Husband & wife team, Jennifer & Joseph Worth, began their business in 2005 while traveling throughout 19 different European countries. Their goal is to highlight the artistic essence of various cities, while capturing the memories of their customers.

Sycamore Sticks - Kim Brown learned to create jewelry as a result of her love for rocks, stones and beautiful glass. She strives to create jewelry that appeals to all age groups while remaining affordable.

Sylva Pagana - A husband & wife team living in a country cottage where they hand-craft their all-natural bath & beauty products. They specialize in beard care, solid and spray perfumes and colognes, and alchemy arts.

TabbyCat & Co. - Teresa Meredith uses fabric to create desirable handbags, totes, coasters, and much more!


Tasteless Designs - Amanda Sims is a Texas native who has been crafting her entire life. A tight budget made her accustomed to reduce, reuse, and recycle as a budget issue and later for moral and environmental reasons. Currently, she's focusing on spinning and dying yarn, but still makes things for those that cannot knit or crochet yet.

Texas Hill Country Olive Company - A family-owned business located in Dripping Springs, TX committed to supplying the highest quality olive oil produced in the United States. Their certified organic olive orchard features a Tuscan-inspired mill house, a state-of-the-art Italian olive press, and a large tasting room.

Texas Night Light - A family-owned and operated small business that is all about setting the mood with candles that are "hand-poured, the real Texan way."

The Creative Caterpillar - Mandy Duncan is a busy mom trying to make the most of her time with her kids by crafting, creating and selling! She currently sells in Canton at First Monday Trade Days.


The Letter Lounge - Founded by Mike Clem, Letter Lounge operates as an independent family business in Dallas, TX. Mike carefully considers each reclaimed book's story as he transforms it into a custom piece of typographical art.

The Little Yellow Chair - Julia Moore loves color & redesigns all of furniture with this in mind. She strives to provide the public with solid pieces at affordable prices that will brighten up any space.

The Silver Craftsman - Sheldon Roy is a teen entrepreneur who enjoys offering many different hand-crafted items made from re-purposed silverware.

Tipsy Glass - Unique Handmade Gifts created by Rebecca Ahumada.


Vertically Verdant - Lauren Overzet started Vertically Verdant in February of 2014, designing and crafting her own unique vertical gardens. She lives in Fort Worth with her husband and two dogs, and gardens constantly.

Vischer Ferry Stained Glass - For more than 30 years, Dan & Bonnie Carlson have enjoyed designing and creating stained glass works of art. Each of their pieces is handcrafted using the traditional copper foil technique.

Vivian Williams - Vivian Williams is a retired 86 year old artist who has been making recycled plastic bag hats for five years.

What's My Future - Jennifer Hadley-White loves making stationery that is pretty, yet fun & creative. She recently began incorporating fabric, wood, embroidery, and paper clay to create unique sculptures.


Wicked Whatnots - A husband & wife team that have a love for graphic arts & repurposing all sorts of things. The duo creates altered art designs & uses the images to create unique & funky fun to wear jewelry & flasks.

Wonders of Wood by Bill - William Garrett & his wife build rustic custom wood bird houses (Wood Tweets), custom wood accent pieces, and custom wood children's pieces (Wood for Tots).

Woods Unique - Jeff Ralston, owner and artistic craftsman, established Woods Unique based on the belief that the customer's needs are of the utmost importance. Jeff doesn't use computer-operated machinery, laser guided shapers, or other "factory" type production methods. Each piece is individually handcrafted so there will be differences between pieces.

Yvonne4eyes Card & Art Manipulations - Yvonne Wilson is a self-taught artist who wore her 1st pair of glasses at the tender age of eight. Her charts, sketches, & need to cut are a reflection of what she has seen behind glass as a child and what she sees daily.

Vendor Spotlights (Days 8-14)

The following artisans can be found selling at our upcoming event, the Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience, to be held November 15th & 16th in Fort Worth, Texas! There will be over 120 artists, crafters, designers, & food makers selling at the FREE family AND pet-friendly event. We hope to see you there!

Previous Previews: Days 1-7


Cutie Cart Covers - Sarah Brown is a stay at home mom with two boys who loves CRAFTS.

Cynthia Patterson Pottery - Cynthia Patterson makes functional pottery with an eye toward the artistic. Her work is designed to be used and enjoyed every day.

D'ArtScapes Designs by Diane - Diane Miller is an artist from Garland who creates collage art using tissue paper as her palette to illustrate whimsical views of life and nature.

David Kinsey Yard Art - Durable, creative metal yard art decor!


Deco Beading - Jessica Burns is a bead artist who designs all of her pieces from scratch. She never uses patterns making each piece truly one of a kind.

Dirt and Glitter - A mother and daughter team that loves to design and create unique items for you, your home or office.

Don't Forget to Feed Me Pet Food Bank - The mission of Don't Forget to Feed Me is to supply pet food to local food pantries in support of pet owners. By providing pet food for those in need during challenging financial times, DF2FM offers an option to surrendering, or worse, abandoning a family pet. DF2FM helps to ensure that no pet owner ever has to make the decision between stay or go.

Donteatbeads - Danielle Murphy is passionate about animal rescue & creates accessories to fund her rescue & foster work.


Dp-art Gallery - Diana Prickett has been painting since she was a child & started working with recycled items about 5 years ago.

Dragonflies and Daisies - Sharon Davis loves creating & selling handmade baby items made out of fabric.

Eagle Mountain Pottery - Sandy Tucker is passionate about art in all forms. She enjoys using clay to create both functional and artistic pieces that the viewer with be able to enjoy on a daily basis.

ecoFashionistas - Sisters, Karla Schafer and Katrina Peebles, collaborate to create unique up-cycled products turning trash into treasure!


Elle Furch Decor - Lauren Furch strongly believes in recycling and does her best to provide a variety of glass products with customizable colors and accessories.

EME and Lou - Elaine Ellington partnered with her children & grandchildren to create unique accessories.

Emma Alison Designs - Heidy Henke has been making jewelry for nearly 15 years. Her jewelry tends to be delicate and feminine while showcasing natural gemstones.

E's Unique Glass Creations - Eileen Horton is a glass art who loves creating unique decor!


Forget Me Nots - Kristen Dinh, a student at UTA, has always been a crafter at heart and loves sharing her hobby with others. She began making soap when her younger sister needed a soap that was more sensitive on her skin.

Fragrance 4 Every Mood - Jessica Perez creates designer type fragrances for men & women, as well as other bath & body products.

FUSED GLASS - Christine Pincemin-Johnstone was born in France, lives in Texas, & creates new items using various techniques with fused glass.

GamiWorks - Chiyogami Gifts + Accessories - Erin Sansoucy doesn't consider herself a girly-girl, but she does appreciate feminine and classic looks...never trendy. She loves to create a hodge-podge of things, keeping her mind and hands busy.


Glassyboop GlassArt - Betty White is a glass artist specializing in functional glass items who has 30 years experience working with different glass mediums.

Green Dog Chic - Lora Dougherty creates unique pet clothing & accessories using recycled materials, such as thifted prom & wedding dresses. She donates a portion of all sales to local animal rescue groups.

Gypsy Rhetoric - Kimberly Bacon is a crafty Texas girl who loves the Lord and is happiest when she's sitting in the middle of piles of craft paper, scissors and glue.

Gypsyharte - Joyce Hazlerig has been creating art all her life. Her current passion is felting wool allowing her to take wool and fiber and shape and create it into something new and different.


Hambone and Dogs Pet Treats - Creating high-quality pet cookies & treats using only human quality ingredients.

Healthy Earth - Healthy Earth brings the people healthy ways to look and feel revitalized while nourishing the body with essential vitamins and minerals.

Holly's Handmades - Holly Runyon enjoys unique crafts, including handmade drink coasters, tote bags, and more! No two items will be exactly the same!

HOT TAMALEZ - Mary Samudio has been in the tamale business for 19 years. What began as a temporary job has gone continued long-term as a family-owned and operated business.

Petticoats on the Prairie

Joe and I recently trekked out to West Texas, where I am originally from, and attended a wonderful event called Petticoats on the Prairie. I have wanted to attend one of these events for quite some time & we were lucky enough to squeeze in a quick family visit along with attending the event held in Colorado City, Texas. I don't think people around the world, as well as many Texans, realize how vastly different the landscape throughout Texas is or how quickly it changes. We drove from the Piney Woods of East Texas, which is lush with trees, through the Metroplex (lush with concrete & traffic), to West Texas featuring mesquite & wind turbines, finally to arrive in the cotton-dotted Western Plains (ie: so flat you feel you can see for 100+ miles)! As a born & bred Texan, it still blows me away to see the different landscapes. (photo from Petticoats on the Prairie Facebook page)

We opted to attend the event on Friday & arrived right at noon when general shopping began. I am glad we did as I have a feeling it was slim pickings come Saturday! The event was held at the Mitchell Co. Fairgrounds which seemed to me to be the perfect setting for this event that had a strong Western flair. The vendors sold a wide variety of things that included hand-crafted items, vintage & new items. We saw so many gorgeous displays throughout. I wanted to highlight a few of the many terrific vendors we had the pleasure of meeting. (That's me on the right; Joe down below)

Outside near the entrance was an Airstream trailer that the Rhinestone Gypsie's Vagabond Boutique started out in. These ladies offer a wide variety of on-trend clothing in sizes small to 3X which is pretty rare. They offer a number of Texas-based artisans' jewelry, art & other treasures. It's so wonderful to see women entrepreneurs helping out other female business owners! They have two store-front locations in Texas (Merkel and Abilene), but also sell online through their website & Facebook.

Joe & I were both drawn to Old Sole Boot Company. They offer high-quality vintage boots for both men & women & there were some real beauties for sale! We also loved the hand-crafted custom furniture offered by Canon's Custom Furniture. Cody Canon is a real talent when it comes to hand-crafting gorgeous sturdy pieces. Basement Creations, featuring unique jewelry & accessories, had a great set up. I loved her bright creations & really appreciated that everything was displayed in such a way that it was easy to view each piece. I also loved the beautiful children's goods created by Espee Trading Co. out of Midland, Texas. The luxury nap mats looked so comfy & I LOVED the quilted bronc! Texas Trash and Treasures was also a definite funky find. This couple's whimsical art pieces looked to be a hit with many customers. And I couldn't resist purchasing the Monkey Farts soap by Made to Lather!

If we had to pick our favorites though, Joe's would definitely be In a Pickle Foods based out of Fort Worth. I don't know how we haven't come across these delectable treats before, but thankfully we discovered them at Petticoats! I was busy shopping at the booth next to In a Pickle so I didn't get to sample all the goodies, but Joe purchased the Sweet & Spicy Pickle Chips and the Bread & Butter Pickle Chips. Both are DELICIOUS!!! Joe has been rationing them out & is already talking about getting more!

(photo from the In A Pickle Foods website)

While Joe was taste testing 'til his heart was content, I was sniffing away at the Screen Door Vintage booth. Austin-based friends Charity & Jen (pictured) offer a wide variety of scented candles in various vintage containers. I loved their products because, hey, everyone loves a candle, right? And also because once the candle is used up, you are left with an adorable vintage container that can be repurposed. The duo had created a special scent aptly named Colorado City that smelled like Autumn which I loved! Screen Door Vintage also has a Facebook page with more info & photos.

Thank you to the wonderful event organizers & all the talented vendors who set up at Petticoats on the Prairie!
We had a delightful time in West Texas!!!

Home Goods

1

Adhering Words offers customized vinyl lettering & images on a variety of items. Whether you're looking for something holiday specific, or something personalized for the home, this is a great source.

Julie McCall of Artistic Solutions Ink offers terrific hand-poured candles that are 100% soy. The "MANdles" and moisturizing lotion candles are definitely unique!

Blessings Candles offers candles, fragrance cubes, & cube warmers. The candles are available in a variety of scents & are very fragrant & long-lasting.

2

CC's One of a Kind is a great place to find fun & functional fiber art creations hand-crafted by Cindy Bolton. I love the colorful oil cloth bottle bags & the biscuit cozies are an eye-catching way to keep breads warm.

Laura Childs of childsPLAYdesign creates well-made fabric items that are colorful & playful. The notebook covers add some whimsy to an everyday item & the halter apron puts a sexy spin on an old-time favorite.

DC Glass Designs offers a wide variety of home decor items, such as hand-painted sun catchers, fused glass plates, & picture frames. In addition to home decor, Debbie Collinsworth creates fused glass jewelry.

For The Love Of Joy showcases lovely items handmade by Anna Pham. The personalized snack mats are sure to delight children!

3

Imagical Creations is a great place to find special gifts & treasures created by Tonya Turner. The embellished zebra clip board is fun AND funky!

Karen Jenkins of Karen's Cool Pots creates one of the neatest products - earring pots! These pots are available in various sizes & colors. Karen also teaches classes in the DFW area.

Karla Walz is a talented glass artist. kuklebean's creative glass offers various glass items, including gorgeous glass angels, bottles and more.

Little e Pottery showcases handmade stoneware pottery by Emily Brown. Her functional items are also works of art. From unique items like the yarn bowls to an everyday tooth brush caddy, Emily's work is stunning!

4

I love how bright & colorful all of Longoria Girls' designs are! Stephanie Longoria's unique product line includes Loteria card pillows & an adorable Chica Chihuahua doll.

Sisters Sheryl Goerke & Susan Smith make up ReWind Art Studios. Their mosaic home decor items are exceptional. My favorites include the Spring Garden shoe and winged heart.

Rachel Bates' slogan is "Say it with a SMILE and a handmade TILE!" hence the name Tilesmile. Her handmade earthenware clay tiles feature various phrases & images that are sure to make your space happier!

Funky Finds Spring Fling - Vendor Preview 1

Funky Finds Spring Fling - Vendor Preview #1

There's over 100 talented artists, crafters & designers that will be participating in the 3rd Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling, a 2-day family AND pet-friendly indie art & craft show. The event will be held March 12 & 13 in Fort Worth, Texas. Whether you're able to attend the event or not, you can purchase handmade goods from most participants online. I will be featuring participants each day leading up to the event. Enjoy!

1. Beautiful Artwork by 7th St. Studio



2. Custom Vinyl Lettering by Adhering Words



3. Textural Art by An Art Peace



4. Hand-crafted Wooden Jewelry Boxes by Anderson Woodworks

5. Unique Art & Clothing by 

Ape-Gear

6. Wooden Box Purses & Jewelry Designs by 

Arrowsarah

7. 

Mixed Media Collage, Assemblage & Painting by Art by Susan Best



8. Stik-Wik Candles by Artistic Solutions Ink

9. Watches by Bad Tracey

10. Fabric Accessories by 

beat-art



11. Candles & Fragrance Cubes by Blessings Candles

12. Whimsical Pottery by BoG Productions

13. Customizable Magnetic Bookmarks by Book-Inz

Funky Gift Guide: Hostess Gifts

hostess-gifts

1. Embroidered Apron by Let Me Make U Smile!

2. Fan Pulls by Lady Grace

3. Zebra Wine Keeper by Sweet Potato Pie Creations

4. Fused Glass Star by Sundancers Studio

5. Wine Koozies by Sassy Thangs

6. Clay Tile by Tilesmile

7. Pie Candles by Shayz Scentz

8. Personalized Floating Frame by The Crafty Geek

9. Custom Wine Glass Charms by Spunk & Sass Designs

10. Sachet Sets by PEEP*ACCESSORIES

The Funky Finds Experience - Vendor Preview 2

Today we continue previewing some of the 120+ artists, crafters & designers that will be participating in The Funky Finds Experience in November! If you missed it, check out vendor preview 1 here.

vendors2

1. Fill-in-the-Blank Greeting Card by Blank You Studio

2. Candles by Blessings Candles

3. Howdy from Texas Letterpress Greeting Card by blue eye brown eye

4. Dog Plate by BoG Productions

5. Stationery by Caroline Creates

6. Hearts and Eyes by Catherine Page Snow

7. Pleated Handbag by childsPLAYdesign

8. Nativity Set by Christie Cone Ceramics

More terrific Spring Fling vendors!

sf-pics

With over 120 artists, crafters & designers at our recent Funky Finds Spring Fling, it's hard to highlight them all. But, I am going to continue to do so each week as I know you will enjoy discovering the work of all these talented people!

All About Henna features unique home decor items & beautiful henna tattoos created by Surinder Marbha and Meghna Banerjee. They had a very neat booth setup at the Spring Fling with a spot for customers to sit while having a henna tattoo done. The "tattooed" candles are also terrific. Check out Surinder's interview with Handmade News.



Rachel Bates is a talented potter that creates blue/green earthenware Italian-style clay tiles featuring various phrases & images. These tiles make great additions to any home, as well thoughtful gifts. Check out Tilesmile's Shop @ Funky Finds where you too can have a one-of-a-kind handmade tile...AND a smile!



Fitzy Sparrow features vintage-inspired jewelry with a punky, yet elegant, twist hand-crafted by Amelia Wood. A member of Etsy Fort Worth, one of our Spring Fling sponsors, Amelia creates lovely earrings, bracelets, and much more. I'm thinking Fitzy Sparrow is a great source for a few Mother's Day gifts!



Andrea Schmid is a talented artist that participated in the Spring Fling. Originally from New York, Andrea, also a member of Etsy Fort Worth, creates acrylic paintings that are inspired by life. According to an interview posted on the Etsy FW site, she finds inspiration in people's stories, music, what she witnesses and what she experiences. Check out her personal blog for more information.

red.neck Chic always has the most interesting, intricate, and funky booth setup! We have come to eagerly anticipate what Robelyn will come up with for her display. Using vintage, found, and upcycled materials, Robelyn creates the funkiest bags, purses, home decor items & more. I love reading the red.neck Chic blog & learning about new products & designs, various events, and other antics from this funky trailer park and duct tape lovin' gal!

Dark Carnival

Tara Tonini of Tara to the T and Dark Candles have teamed up with Dallas' premiere gothic venue, The CHURCH, aka The Lizard Lounge, to bring you a night of magic and mystery! The Dark Carnival will include jugglers, magicians, face painters, and more. Free cotton candy & popcorn will also add to the carnival atmosphere. Tara Tonini will be selling her vintage-inspired accessories & Dark Candles will be selling her fantastic Vicious Vixens collection and select other scents. Traditional circus and carnival attire encouraged!

Dark Carnival - Something Wicked This Way Comes
Doors open at 9pm on Friday, June 12th
18 and up welcome - $10 admission fee; $15 Under 21
2424 Swiss Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Imageglow Candles - Discount Offer

Linda of Imageglow Candles was delighted to see so many readers' comments about their products on my recent post featuring their products & a giveaway. She was so delighted that she wants to offer you all a generous discount. Receive an introductory discount of 40% through February 21st by entering FUNKY at checkout. I have seen their products first-hand and can honestly say that you don't really grasp how cool they are until you try them. Plus, they are a great investment because they are reusable. Once the initial candles are consumed, you can continue using them with a tea light. Treat yourself or a friend today!

The Recovery

The Recovery is a unique company that works to provide the utmost care to those who have undergone surgery or recently given birth. Their line of all-in-one recovery kits takes the guesswork out of the search for the perfect recovery products. Taking care of women who have just given birth is important so that she is better able to care for her newborn. Some of the treasures found within the recovery kits are creams, salves and sprays that minimize stretch marks, scars and other postpartum ailments, luxury spa robes, chic c-section underwear, aromatherapy eye pillows, abdominal compression binders, postpartum recovery cds, reacher tools, spa candles, and gourmet organic chocolates. All-natural and organic products are used wherever possible and each kit is delivered within an eco-friendly reusable tote or beautiful designer diaper bag by Not Rational. As of now, The Recovery offers six different kits for new moms - three for c-section recovery and three for childbirth recovery. Receive a 15% discount on any item with coupon code funkyfinds15.

Imageglow Candles

Imageglow Candles uses a patented process that embeds beautiful patterns and designs into the wax walls of candles. When lit, the flame back lights the patterns and glows when illuminated. I didn't really grasp what that meant until I received my own pillar candle. It is unlike any typical candle you are used to & they are available in a variety of designs and patterns, as well as sizes and styles. The Paris styles will add a touch of elegance to any space. And the Halloween candles will definitely add ambiance when lit. Imageglow Candles make wonderful housewarming gifts, hostess gifts, and nice treats for yourself!

*GIVEAWAY - Closed: Win a Valentine-themed set featuring Je T'Aime and L'Amour patterns in modern & popular shades of pink, white and espresso (retail value $79). Visit the Imageglow Candles website & leave a comment on this post noting one of your favorite items. Giveaway ends at Midnight CST, Wednesday, February 11.

Even Saint Valentine would appreciate these finds!

Only twelve days 'til Valentine's Day! Here's a few ideas for all the Cupids out there that need to do a little shopping.

1. Grams Gems, one of our participating Spring Fling vendors, has some great Murano heart pendants to choose from. Show some love year-round!

2. Another Spring Fling vendor, Dark Candles, offers unique gift sets that are perfect for men, as well as women. We have purchased a variety of scents from Dark Candles and have loved them all.

3. Julie Collings has several craft bits that are Valentine-themed. The Valentine girls and boys are charming.

4. Story of My Life also has some great Valentine craft items, including exclusive Lucky in Love clear stamps.

5. The tags found at Seasonal Delights are lovely. The Love Bird tags are especially nice.

6. The embroidered heart pocket by Aqua Art Studio is a sweet deal at only $5!

7. My Good Greetings offers terrific kid's Valentine's. The 4x5 inch 100% recycled content cards provides little ones with a "green" alternative for Valentine's Day.

8. Patti Holcombe of Dreaming Giggles Design has great Love-themed artwork available, as well as wreaths made using recycled wool sweaters.

9. I love the plush hearts by Dallas-based artist Christina Wezwick. Midnight Snack is a great source for fun fat-free treats!

10. I can think of nothing better than a little love monkey that is ready to wish you a happy Valentine's Day. Spirit Mama has lots of great polymer clay offerings.

11. If you just can't make up your mind, you might want the Love/hate earring set by Paw and Claw Designs.

12. Jennifer Squires is offering Valentine’s themed modern fine art photographs that will help illustrate the love you have for your sweetie.

13. Oh how I love the Valentine Love Pairs found in Rosie's Bears and Bitty Critters shop!

14. And, if you'd like to create your own sweet Valentine, don't miss all the wonderful projects featured on The Long Thread blog.

Polly & Prince

Polly & Prince is a terrific London-based company that showcases beautiful accessories designed by up & coming London designers. The winter collection features products in every price range & gift wrapping is free, making this a premiere place to do some holiday shopping. There are multiple handbags in a variety of styles to choose from. The silver Mariposa clutch is a beautifully unique accessory, as is the silk clutch featuring a hand-drawn illustration that is digitally printed onto 100% silk. I especially love the home dècor items, namely the Mannequin in Maroon wall hanging. The collection features pieces created by numerous designers, including Anna Lou of London, Miss Budd, Emma Gordon, and Oliver & Grace. Polly & Prince also ships their products worldwide. Spend over £30 sterling on the site (minus postage and packaging costs) and you will receive a free Freshly Baked Shortbread candle (worth £8).

The Show Pony Show Recap

Sunday Joe and I attended The Show Pony Show in Dallas, Texas. We were especially excited about this show as it was our first event to sponsor. The Dallas Craft Mafia did a fantastic job of organizing & promoting the show and the venue, The Continental Lofts, was great. In addition to many of the vendors I have featured before, it was lots of fun meeting many new designers.

Ashley Akers is a talented jewelry artist who combines contrasting colors and textures with simple, modern designs. Her portfolio showcases her unique designs, such as the Pebble collection. The Starburst pendants are another personal favorite.

Lolafalk (pictured left side) creates beautiful handmade bags using unique fabrics that are very eye-catching. We loved the iridescent fabrics that are incorporated into many of the pieces. It was very interesting speaking with Mary of FancyFibers (pictured right side) who creates knit socks using a World War I era hand-cranked circular sock machine. Mary had a huge selection of beautiful, multi-colored yarns to choose from so that custom pieces could be easily created. She also creates fabulous hats, shawls, shirts & more.

Whitney Ludiker (pictured) is the creative force behind Brokn Doll. Her softies & plushies are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes & themes. Whitney recently began crafting "pillow pals" that were a big hit at the show.

Madison Mae Handbags is a wonderful source for beautiful accessories. Krystal Mae Dodson has a knack for pairing interesting fabrics together to create unique pieces. And the Mini Mae collection features matching handbags for moms & their children.

It was also a pleasure meeting Helena of Dark Candles. She had a terrific display and we could not resist the Vicious Vixens votive collection. Helena also creates terrific Halloween packs featuring scents like Dark Carnival and Jack O Latte.

Other great shops to check out include:

katScrath Designs - Handmade cards & more
Krafty Munchkin Designs - Kitschy jewelry, accessories, and more
Taranehs Bazaar - Very cool wristwarmers, Purses, etc.

Bisou Boutique


Bisou Boutique is a great source for unique gift items. You'll find everything from barware to candles in this shop. Currently all bags are on sale for $20. This is also a great place to find wedding & party favors, such as these adorable flip flop key chains. Check out all the fun items Bisou Boutique has to offer.

Candle Occassions


I love Candle Occassions based solely on their fabulously designed packaging. Don't the products look inviting? The simply designed Botika candles would make lovely gifts, as would the luxurious CIR candles. The Er'go Soy Candles, which were voted the Best Candles Ever by "O" Oprah Magazine, look wonderful in their deliciously bright packaging. Have a look at all the wonderful items Candle Occassions has to offer.