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.

Vendor Spotlights (Days 1-7)

We are currently previewing four vendors each day on Facebook who will selling their uniquely handmade items at the Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience! Mark your calendars for November 15th & 16th and join us in Fort Worth, TX!!!

2hartscreations - Leila Gill left her corporate job to follow her dream of creating one of a kind items for others to enjoy.

38Stitches - Rachel Davis counts herself lucky to be wife & mom with a business doing what she loves!

A Wing And A Prayer - This talented family creates original artwork on canvas and vintage tags.

All Dolled Up By Kathy - Kathleen Alusick is an avid sewist & needleworker who learned a lot of her skills from a tailor she worked for when she was in college.

All With Love - Beautiful accessories handmade by the mother and daughter team of Evelina and Tiffany Nappier.

Anything Goes - A creative duo who enjoys sewing, crafting, reading, & volunteering.

Artistic Solutions Ink - Julie McCall left the corporate world to slow down to a manageable pace and get back to being creative.

Art's Mesquite Source - Blasa Chapa is a wood worker who handcrafts all his items.

Artwork by Kristy Jarvis - After rediscovering her love of drawing and painting, Kristy began brining to life all these characters in her imagination.

Astria Legends - A.S. Reaves has had a passion for the arts since she was a young girl. Aside from bringing the Astria Galaxy to life in writing and art, she is a dance choreographer and director of her own style of live dance productions.

Bearsley & Bumski - Jotters made fresh! Crass stationery! Original artwork! Home Decor!

Bling on the Charm Bracelet Boutique - Amy DeGray founded her business after noticing there weren't many items available in way of "blingy" & fun personalized accessories for kids.

Bobkat Metal Creations - This husband & wife team enjoy welding small metal creations that are unqiue.

BoG Productions - Shaun Mullin puts the FUN in Functional with dabblings in pottery, polymer and paper.

buckshotinc - Christy Hundley is an artist in love with all kinds of mediums!

Bunki's Originals - Bunki Lego has been an avid crafter ever since she got her first sewing machine as a child, over 50 years ago.

Cahoots Handbags - Cahoots Handbags are handmade from vintage textiles such as 1940s feed sacks and 1960s velvet upholsteries in tiny limited editions.

Candace Cline has been an artist and seamstress all her life. She enjoys creating one-of-a-kind clothing pieces for others to enjoy.

Carol Bradley Designs - Carol A. Bradley has been creating jewelry from gemstones, sterling silver, copper and vitreous enamel for over 20 years.

Clarich Mill - Richard Harple has been creating & selling at events for the last thirty years.

Coinucopia - Edwin Peet & his wife enjoy traveling & collecting coins as souvenirs resulting in this company. He hand-paints coins from over 100 countries which are used to make many items.

Cowboy at Heart - Cowboy at Heart is a company built on Christian and Cowboy ways of life featuring quality home décor and pet luxuries.

Crafty Hands - Kathleen Czepiel is a self-taught weaver who views her creations as a legacy that can travel to the future.

Craftylas Creations - Functional yet crafty items!

Craven Crow - Elizabeth Hollingsworth makes creative and colorful floral hair accessories showcasing hand-sewn flowers from satins, cotton, felt, and other texturally interesting fabrics.

Creations by kimber - Kimberly A. Fenili is a self-taught doll artist who must do something creative every day.

Crochet Creations By Autumn - Autumn Guillory creates fun and funky crochet items from her own patterns. She makes her own recycled t-shirt yarn and uses locally spun or dyed yarn whenever possible.

Crosses and Such - Tammy Minter has participated in several craft shows in the DFW area with her crosses & bible boxes over the past 5 years, as well as Canton First Monday Trade Days.

Funky Five: Hot Shop Items

1. Flower Head Band by Hippie Chick Creations

2. Baby Quilt by 3 Quilting Sistas

3. Music Mix Bento Box by Bento Box Gifts

4. Cheetah Print Apron by Susy G Designs

5. Peace Sign Tassel by Delightful Decor

Dreamin Bohemian

Dreamin Bohemian features Texas-based artist Adrienne Williamson's work. This wife & mother of three extraordinary boys (and the sweetest bulldog!) is extremely talented, as evident when browsing her work. I've had the pleasure of seeing Adrienne's work in person at the Funky Finds Spring Fling & it's all so vibrant & eye-catching. She says that while her style isn't always that trendy "bohemian" style most think of, it does encompass many different mediums & techniques. Having started crafting at the age of ten, over the years Adrienne began learning many different techniques, such as rug weaving, yarn spinning, mural painting & more. Now she says she finds herself painting on just about everything - denim clothing, furniture, glass, accessories & LOTS of shoes. She also started a children's line of nursery items & room decor that includes personalized "dream" pillows, quilts, blankies, bibs & burpies. These products make wonderful gifts that are made specifically for the special recipient. Adrienne most enjoys custom orders, so don't hesitate to contact her to discuss what you have in mind! In addition to the website, you can connect with & see more photos on Dreamin Bohemian's Facebook page. (pictured: Custom Painted Dragonfly Jeans for Girls)

Simply on Board

Victoria Turner is the mom & designer behind Pippalily, a company that creates practical parenting goods that are functional, yet stylish. She recently launched Simply on Board that is essentially a knock off of her Canadian-made Pippalily strap. Why would she do this? Well, she figured that if she didn't do it, someone else would! Simply on Board offers 100% cotton straps available in packs of two retailing for less than $10.

The straps are a lovely way to keep your child's favorites off the ground. You simply velcro one end of the strap to a car seat, stroller, shopping cart, etc. & attach the other adjustable end to your baby’s teether, rattle, toy, etc. This great product recently launched in the United States & is now available at Amazon.com.

Simply on Board is also hosting a contest to find the next Simply on Board baby that will be featured on the packaging. Victoria said, "We have created this contest because we think it is fun to walk into your favorite baby store and see your child’s picture on a product!"

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats mrsweiss! Simply on Board is giving away a pack of two straps (winner's color choice). To enter, leave a comment on this post noting which color you prefer. For an additional entry, "like" Simply on Board on Facebook & leave a comment noting you have done so. Giveaway ends at 9pm EST, Saturday, April 23.

Dawn & Deepa

Texas-based entrepreneurs Deepa Mireles & Dawn Bakun make up Dawn & Deepa, a new jewelry line made especially for children. Their jewelry designs offer a modern take on classic designs that one would wear if they could turn back the clock. They are working hard to change the way consumers view & use children's jewelry so it isn't only for special occasions.

The duo recently partnered with The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, an award-winning international nonprofit charity, to plant fruit orchards around the world, including in international hunger relief sites, through the sale of an exclusively designed charity necklace. The D&D Appleseed necklace (pictured) features a juicy apple pendant, caring heart & tiny appleseed dangling from a 16” ball bead necklace. For every Applessed necklace sold, Dawn & Deepa will donate 10% of the proceeds to the foundation. Deepa Mireles said, “We hope that our small gesture will help to bring awareness to the amazing and inspiring work done by the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.” Be sure to browse through all of D&D's jewelry offerings & stay tuned for their boys line to be launched this year.

Funky Finds Spring Fling - Vendor Preview 6

3rd Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling • March 12 & 13 • Fort Worth, TX

1. Recycled Game Piece Jewelry by maggie may i


2. Clothing & Accessories by Marci's Crafty Corner



3. Repurposed Jewelry by Mary's Madness

4. Artwork by my favorite flower



5. Children's Goods by My Harper Baby

6. Jewelry & Home Decor by Off the Wall Designs



7. Mixed Media Art by Original Youth

8. Bath & Body Goods by Pamper Time 



9. Cards & Accessories by Paper & Fabric



10. Note Cards by Paper Cuts, Texas

11. Recycled Paper Earrings by Paper Jewelry by Ina Crowe

12. One-of-a-kind Jewelry by 

Peculiar Pieces

13. Peg Dolls, Pendants & More by Pegged

Funky Finds Spring Fling - Vendor Preview 4

3rd Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling • March 12 & 13 • Fort Worth, TX

1. Unique Home Decor by Glass Art by Betty

2. Hand-painted Jewelery & Accessories by 

Gleeful Peacock

3. Felted Items by Gypsyharte

4. Children's Goods by 

Happy Baby Designs

5. Apparel by Harrilu

6. Bath & Body Goods by Hedge Wizards Soaps



7. Mixed Media Jewelry byHouse of Introspection

8. Home Decor by Imagical Creations

9. Jewelry by Jasmine Turner - Fine Jewelry



10. Children's Clothing & Accessories by Jehanne B Boutique

11. Fused Glass Jewelry & Art by JL Glass Design

12. Greeting Cards & Journals by 

JNS Designs

13. Artwork by Karen Jacobi

Anderson Woodworks

Anderson Woodworks is comprised of a talented & friendly husband & wife duo, Gary & Jan Anderson. They create beautiful high-quality hand-crafted wooden jewelry boxes, boxes with removable lids, desk accessories, & more. Having worked with wood since he was a young boy, Gary takes unique pieces of wood & makes them into something stunning, yet functional. The jewelry boxes are my favorite items & there's a wide variety of styles offered. The green Poplar wood box (pictured) is a work of art & the four-drawer Zebrawood & Walnut box has lots of space for storing your valuables. There's also plenty of items for the youngsters. Anderson Woodworks offers various hand-painted piggy banks for boys & girls. Visit their main website for more offerings, including clocks, bird houses & more. Visit Anderson Woodworks at the 3rd Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling on March 12 & 13!

Elle Dee Design

Elle Dee Design features high-quality children's goods that capture the playfulness & innocence of childhood. Although we just finished with the insanity of the holidays, Valentine's Day is only one month away! And what better way for your little one to celebrate the day of love, than by wearing the cutest Valentine's Day outfit? The brother & sister set features an adorable pillowcase dress with a matching necktie shirt. These designs are also available as separates. The pillowcase dress can be adjusted as your little girl grows & the boy's necktie shirt is available in various prints. Don't miss the festive sets of heart hair clips to complete your young one's ensemble. Visit Elle Dee Design's main website for many more children's items, including crocheted booties that will make your heart go pitter patter!

Funky Gift Guide: Children

1. Wooden Piggy Banks by Anderson Woodworks

2. Craft Kits & Art Supplies by Creativity for Kids

3. Personalized Plates by Cosmic Bebe

4. Cowboys Tie Shirt by Lil Squirts Boutique

5. Customized Polka Dot Pillow by PR Designs

6. Soft & Delicious Apple Hat by Tiny Tog Knits

7. Robot Tee by Cal & Bram

8. Cutie Pie Onesie by Shirt Girls

9. Toddler Tote by All Decked Out Boutique

10. Paper Dolls by LVK Paper Dolls

11. Zebra Beanie by girls, giggles, & curls

12. Onesie Cupcakes by The Curious Cake Shoppe

Coco1981

Coco1981 features lovely handmade items created by Julie Neaves Grimmett. Julie says she started knitting when she had her twin boys nine years ago. A year ago she had another baby boy & decided to try to make a living out of it. Originally, she primarily created baby items, but later expanded her product line to include home decor, accessories, & clothing. She says she also really enjoys making custom items for people. The elfin hats are absolutely adorable & perfect for your wee one this winter. I also love the crochet appliques that appear on baby onesies. Adults will love the wool coffee cozies, as well as the coaster sets that make great gifts. And the upcycled net bag (pictured) is a lovely & unique accessory perfect for carrying just about everything! Want to win one? See below! Enter "Funky Finds" in the notes to seller at time of checkout to receive a 10% refund (Expires December 15).

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Bonnie the Beautiful! Julie is giving away one upcycled net bag. To enter, visit Coco1981 & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite item. For an additional entry, became a Facebook fan of Coco1981, then leave a comment noting you have done so. Giveaway ends at 9pm EST, Sunday, November 21.

The Funky Finds Experience - Vendor Preview 11

Finally, The Funky Finds Experience is upon us! Join us tomorrow, Saturday, November 6 and/or Sunday, November 7, in Fort Worth, Texas, for this handmade extravaganza you do NOT want to miss! If you are unable to attend, you can still shop online & buy unique handmade goods from participating vendors.

1. Orange Ginger Goat Milk Soap by Sunrise Soaps

2. Necklace by Tawanda! Jewelry

3. The iTerrarium by Texas Triffid Ranch

4. Coffee Bean Bag by textile fetish

5. Monkey In Bloom by The Curious Cake Shoppe

6. Earthenware Tile by Tilesmile

7. Hibiscus Wall Hanging by TJ's Crafts

8. Jewelry by TwinkleStar Creations

9. Hat by Two Hills Designs

10. Story Box by Uncommon Vessels

11. Fine Silver Shoe Earrings by Yellow Rose Designs

12. Card by Yvonne4eyes Card & Art Manipulations by Yvonne Wilson

Ruffle Bottom

Leslie Galloway, the creative force behind Ruffle Bottom, specializess in handmade custom tutus for children & adults. Or, as I like to say, she specializes in a whole lot of CUTE! Leslie uses lead-free soft tulle that is 100% premium nylon & flame resistant. Each month she posts one special design that is available during that month only. The current tutu of the month is the adorable Little Punkin' design (pictured) that is perfect for Autumn & Halloween. These tutus are available in a variety of color combos & styles ranging from itty bitty to All Grown Up. If you live near Arlington, Texas, be sure to stop by Brownstone Too to see Leslie's designs in person.

*GIVEAWAY - Congrats Chey-Anne Smart! Leslie Galloway is giving away one tutu of the winner's choice. To enter, visit Ruffle Bottom & leave a comment on this post noting which tutu you would choose. For an extra entry, become a Ruffle Bottom fan on Facebook & leave a comment noting you have done so. Giveaway ends at 9pm EST, Sunday, October 17th.

The Funky Finds Experience - Vendor Preview 1

There's over 120 talented artists, crafters & designers that will be participating in The Experience, a 2-day handmade extravaganza. The event will be held November 6 and 7 in Fort Worth, Texas. Each week I will be previewing a few of the vendors. Visit their websites & let them know you will see them at The Experience!

1. Painting by 3 Bears Studio

2. Tutu Hair Bow Holder by Add A Lil Charm

3. BOO Halloween Bag by Alphabulous

4. Cedar & Oak Jewelery Box by Anderson Woodworks

5. Leather Cuff Bracelet by Armed With Style

6. Peace Quote Box Purse by Arrowsarah

7. Photography by Artistic Solutions Ink

8. Girls Dress by Aunt Jane's Dresses

I will be back next week to preview more great artisans that are participating in The Experience. And, be sure to save the date for the 3rd Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling to be held March 12, 2011!

J&K Kreations

Jaynie and Kim make up the J & K in J&K Kreations. This crafty duo creates a wide variety of items, including greeting cards, invitations, and party favors. You will find unique invitations for baby showers and birthday parties. The customizable candy wrappers make great wedding favors, as well as birth announcements. J&K Kreations also offers beaded key chains and adorable bottle cap necklace sets. And, if you know an adorable little girl, you will definitely want to give her an adorable headband!

All Decked Out Boutique

Sisters Kim Rosier and Rebecca Sullivan love to sew, design, and create. Their adorable children's clothing and accessories are available in their shop, All Decked Out Boutique. This talented duo creates the cutest toddler totes, such as the Love bag and black and white damask bag. They also offer a variety of little girls' dresses, such as the black & white halter dress (pictured) seen on the cutest model ever! The zebra print pillowcase dress that is embellished with bright pink accents is fabulous. And what little girl wouldn't look absolutely adorable in the paisley tie top dress with coordinating tote bag?

Let Me Make You Smile

Let Me Make You Smile features a variety of hand-embellished items that are perfect for gift giving. The custom monogrammed spa wraps are perfect for bridesmaids, brides-to-be, birthdays & many other occasions. The wraps are available in a variety of colors & can be customized to feature the letter or symbol, such as a peace sign or cross, of your choosing. The monogrammed beach towels are another fun customizable item. If you are going to a baby shower in the near future, why not give the mom-to-be an adorable monogrammed bib? And, if you're going to a housewarming party or just want a nice hostess gift, be sure to pick up one of the adorable embroidered aprons. I especially love the Dixie Diva design!

Cleverly Gifted

Cleverly Gifted is an awesome source for unique gifts that will suit just about everyone on your list. I love the set of four expandable flower vases available in funky prints. The Chunkee Monkey Mop Top Hat makes an adorable baby gift, as does the affordable Mute Button pacifier. Fashionistas are sure to love the Fleur de lis tee and the Peace belt. The list of fun gift items goes on & on with items perfect for wine & beer lovers, multi-tasking moms, and much more.

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Emm! Cleverly Gifted is giving away a fun Recycled Newspaper Yoga Tote. Each yoga bag is one-of-a-kind, using recycled newspaper comics coated with a soft, durable water resistant laminate. Handmade to last and built for everyday use. To enter, simply visit Cleverly Gifted and leave a comment on this post noting an item you like. Giveaway ends at Midnight EST, Sunday, March 28.

Zazou

French-Dutch couple, Lonneke & Didier, created Zazou so they could make original, fun children's clothing easily accessible. Their site features original & playful children's clothing by independent designers, as well as gifts, accessories and more. Sock shoes are hip & handy cotton sock shoes that have a firm, yet flexible, thermo plastic sole. No more slipping and sliding, which is perfect for little ones that are not so firm on their legs yet. And the bonus is that they are machine washable. This winter wee ones will also be thankful for cozy hats & bonnets. You also don't want to miss the fun toy section featuring the cutest handmade crocheted toys. Receive a 10% discount with coupon code FunkyF1.