This weekend is Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Spring Show. Some of you may be thinking, “I know, I have been waiting for weeks!” Other’s of you may be saying to yourself, “what is Crafty wonderland?”
Folks lined up to enter the show
Crafty was started back in April of 2006 by Torie (Totinette as we know her by her jewelry line) and Cathy of Bossa Nova Baby. The premise behind the event was that both women wanted to create a regular space for artists, crafters, and designers to sell their goods year round. The idea was that vendors would have a place where they could earn a living selling their handmade products. The first Crafty was held in the Doug Fir, and was a huge success. Every 2nd Sunday of every month for the next three and a half years was set aside for Crafty, plus twice a year, during the early winter before Christmas and in the Spring, Crafty Wonderland would turn into a Colossal event, increasing their number of crafters.
Shopping at Crafty Wonderland
The applications were and remain juried creating a truly diverse atmosphere of people and their arts and crafts. All that is required of a vendor is that your items must be handmade or hand- altered by you. Nothing imported or mass-produced.
Vendors selling their wares
Things have changed a bit this year for Crafty. The tough economy had put a strain on the shows by not providing vendor’s with the sales that they needed or deserved for their work. Prior to 2010, Torie and Cathy had announced that Crafty was discontinuing its monthly venue, and focusing on the two seasonal colossal events, extending the show over two days instead of one. This decision was made to give both women back a small bit of their busy time, but also in hopes to increase the sales of the vendor’s products. The Bi-yearly colossal sales have always been a large draw and Crafty Wonderland has become a destination event. It seemed a perfect transition.
We love MapleXO
Crafty has been a big part of Presents of Mind. Seasons has found many new vendors for our store through this event, and we are particularly excited this year because for the first time Crafty has local stores that sell local handmade products (like us) sponsoring the event. SO, we are going to crafty, but even more exciting then that, Seasons applied separately as a vendor with her new clothing line Seasons K. Designs and she was accepted into the event. She will be sharing her booth with her mother Cinnamon Chaser, the mother of Presents of Mind, and all three names will be there to represent the store and their individual work.
It is an honor to be there among all the other artists and crafters, many whom we carry in our store.
777 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, Exhibit Hall D
You should stop by, admission is free and the first 200 people will receive a gift bag. Along with all the great vendor tables, there will be a craft table for you to learn how to make your own crafts, plus this weekend Crafty has a special guest. Mark Montano will be teaching a project from his book Big-Ass Book of Crafts, from 1:00 to 2:45 on both days. He will also be signing his latest book Big-Ass Book of Home Decor. You wont want to miss any of this.
DIY Table
Shopping at Winter Crafty Wonderland
Seasons K. Designs and Cinnamon Chaser will be sharing space with many of the incredible artists that have helped to make our store what it is today. Some of whom we have featured or interviewed for our blog:
Affixment, burdyflyaway, LUNA, MapleXO, (coming soon will be our interviews with Cinnamon Chaser and Rubygirl) or carried in our store or on our website like the following artists listed below. We feel pretty humbled that so many of them have chosen to work with us.
2 monkees
Allie B.
Kspell Jewelry
B Hive Designs
betsy & iva
Cipriano Designs
Locket 2 You
Old School Stationaries
Passionflower
Dolcetti Jewelry
faith hats
flipside hats
Frock
hadley hutton
Handmade Julz
Happy Cake
Red Bat Press
Ripe Glass Designs
Robot candy
Sam Trout
Scrumptious Suds
Tasi Designs
JDUCT
Kiersten Crowley Designs
Totinette
Stop by their booths and ours to say hello and be sure to check out as many of the 200 plus, crafters and artists making “buy local” a way of life. Have Fun!