Nokomis Urban Craft Fair

Look at this - two posts in one week! ;~)

Don't forget to visit me at the Nokomis Urban Craft Fair this Saturday!

There will be lots of my HandMade MN team mates there too. HandMadeMN.etsy.com

See you there! :)

Upcoming Shows!

Hey all,

So I did say I was a terrible blogger and it looks like I speak the truth! MAY since my last post - uh oh, that's just horrible! I'll try to be better, but no promises...

Well, for my semi-annual update (LOL), I'll post the upcoming shows I'll be participating in!

2nd annual Nokomis Urban Craft Fair
Saturday, November 14
9am-2pm
Lake Nokomis Community Center
2401 E. Minnehaha Pkwy.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
http://nokomiscraftfair.blogspot.com/


30th Annual River Falls Craft Fair
Saturday, November 21st
9am-3pm
River Falls High School
818 Cemetery Rd.
River Falls, WI


Hudson, WI Boutique
Saturday, December 5th
9am~4pm
Fundraiser for Youth Action Hudson
Estimated 70 Handmade Sellers
Hudson High School
1501 Vine Street
Hudson, WI 54016
Phone: 715-377-3800

Handcrafted Gift Market
Boutique-style show
We're Stampin' Mad/Beadbury Store
Monday, December 7 - Wednesday, December 16
Open during regular store hours
300 5th Ave. SE
Osseo, MN 55369
763.425.4520
http://www.beadbury.com/

Top 10 Reasons To Shop Local And Shop Handmade

A Monthly Review

There are so many types of items you can find hand-made right in your own state – there is no reason to shop anywhere else! Why give your hard earned money to the big box and chain stores when you can support a local crafter, artisan or designer for items from the practical to the just plain adorable?!

Here’s a list of my top 10 reasons to shop local & shop handmade.

1. Skin Pampering Products

You Go Girl Soaps – Specializing in hand-made glycerin soaps and FUN bath products.
Barefoot Bath and Body – From cold processed soaps to solid perfumes to lip balm – to die for!

2. Home Decor

Rhinestone Bits Mosaic Art – Beautiful home pieces hand made with mosaic tiles.
Milton and Margies - Hand-poured, soy wax candles made in unique, reused/recycled jars.
Sarah Thole – Custom portraits and landscapes – beautiful art for your walls!

3. Stationary and Paper Products

Captured Time - Beautiful hand-made stationary, notebooks, cards and so much more!
Just Another Day Designs - Great hand-made stationary, note cards and invitations.

4. Textiles

Fennel Studio – Bracelets, bags, neck warmers – not your typical crochet...
Knits by Jess - Great hand knit socks, leg warmers, baby sweaters – you name it!
Popsie Daisy - Creating quality quirk for the young at heart

5. Jewelry

This list could simply go on forever. Some of the current beauties…

NikkyLee Designs – Shameless plug for my jewelry. :)
MNC Moon – Simply lovely hand stamped bits of goodness!
Grin Design – Vintage Vignettes

6. Accessories

Ceyenne Peppy - Hot...spicy...handcrafted handbags and accessories
Wynzia - Whimsical, handcrafted necessories

7. Clothing

BettyScagnetti - One of a Kind Clothing and Accessories
SkyMonkey Tie-Dies – Fun Tie Die shop!

8. GLASS

Drew Jaeger – Gorgeous glass platters, plates and other lovely things!
Western Art Glass - Mobiles & Sun Catchers in Stained Glass

9. Dishware and Ceramics

Meaghan Elizabeth Pottery – Simple, Functional and Stunning pottery!
Sue Pariseau Pottery – Functional stoneware.

10. Toys and Fiber Art

Penguin and Fish – Quirky Plush
Fuz Frenzy - amigurumi & fiber arts galore
Fantastic Toys – Handmade soft toys

For all things crafty, hand-made and Minnesota – check out the HandMade MN directory at HandMade MN!

*Special thanks to Handmade in PA blog for the idea!

Okay, so I am officially the worst blogger ever...well, maybe not the worst, but pretty close. I was just typing away a blog post (basically saying the same thing as above) and hit a button on accident - poof! - it was gone...*sigh*

I'll keep making posts here and there, but dear friends, I'm not sure I'll ever be the awesome blogger most of you are.

I sit here at my work desk on a beautiful Monday afternoon dreaming of sunshine, jewelry, gardening and photography. Seems life would be that much better if they were my only responsibilities - alas, it is not likely so anytime soon. Thank goodness I have a day job with great people or I'd be miserable. :)

So, here's to another blog post in the coming weeks, maybe something with actually interesting content. Keeps your fingers crossed (or not)!

Please keep checking in to my Etsy Team websites because there are LOTS of great artists and information on them everyday.

http://etsymn.blogspot.com/
http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/

Etsy Sale and HandMade MN Shop of the Week!

Hi everyone,

Sorry that I've been MIA the last few weeks...between school, work, boyfriend and family emergencies life has been insane and my virtual world has been neglected.

Here's the latest:

♥♥♥NOW THROUGH MOTHER'S DAY (MAY 10TH), ALL JEWELRY PURCHASES $15 OR MORE WILL COME WITH A FREE PAIR OF EARRINGS!♥♥♥ Even if what you purchase already has earrings included, you will get another pair for free! Please include a couple of color choices in your buyer comments and I will try to accommodate you - the earrings will be something lovely, I promise!

http://nikkyleedesigns.etsy.com

ALSO - don't forget to check out the HandMade MN and Etsy Twitter Team's Shops of the Week:

jangeisen.etsy.com http://etsymn.blogspot.com

L'élephantRose.etsy.com http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/

New Shop of the Week

Check out this week's Etsy Twitter Team shop of the week! Lampwork glass by Renee Suich, definitely worth checking out!! http://tinyurl.com/6cd2ok

The Winners Have Been Announced!

Check out the Etsy Twitter Team blog to see the winners of the St. Patty's Day contest!

Lots of participants and 5 lucky winners!

http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/

St. Patty's Day Contest - Etsy Twitter Team

Please check out the Team Etsy Twitter's St. Patty's Day Contest. You could win some beautiful pieces from some very talented Etsy Artists.

Here are some of the basics on the contest, for specific details and links, go straight to the blog at http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com

Ten leprechauns pictures are hidden in the item listings of 30 different Etsy shops (names below - including mine!). Click through the shops to find the leprechauns. When you find one, send an email to etsytwitterteam@gmail.com with the URL of the item displaying a leprechaun in the pictures. You may enter more than once as long as you have a different URL for each entry.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Entries must be received by midnight EST on March 16th. Five winners will be chosen by random on March 17th!

List of participating shops:

Threepeats
Art by Betty Refour
In My Head Studios
Sandi's Ts
Liv'nGood Jewelry
Firebird House
Rhodes Annals Designs
Jenco13
Emily Claire Creations
Fat Daddy Sweets
Joslin Jewels
Herban Lifestyle
Peanut and Tommy
Nikky Lee Designs
Linda B's Creations
Sox and Patches
Angel Kisses Jewelry
Imogen's Garden
Ambient Lights
Soap Rehab
Huayruro Peru
Bugs 'n Bees
Pretty Cheap
Aquarian Bath
Scrap With Style
Bella Tu Jewelry
Tamdoll

Twitter

Tweeple, Tweeting, Tweets, etc. Never heard these expressions??? It might be time for you to get a Twitter account.

I'm relatively new to twitter myself (say 6-8 weeks), but I've already grown to love my daily tweets. It's a great tool for networking quickly, easily and in a very fun way. You'll be amazed how many people you can follow and who want to follow you. Use it as a fun tool to talk about yourself and your business! I recommend keeping a good mixture of both or you could find people un-interested in your tweets and you may lose followers. Keep your tweets fun and interesting and throw in your occasional deal or listing and you'll have a blast.

Get started here: http://twitter.com. You'll be on your way to happy tweets in no time!

~NikkyLee

Follow me on Twitter by clicking the symbol to the left or going to http://twitter.com/nikkyleedesigns.

Tweet Deck

Hey all,

Great blogpost from my Great Etsy Twitter Team. I don't have anywhere near 1,000 followers nor am I following that many, but I hear really good things about Tweet Deck. I think I'll be adding this application to my repertoire very shortly!

Enjoy!

http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/2009/01/handy-twitter-tools-tweetdeck.html

~NikkyLee