This season my paintings are all about things that are dear to my heart, girly girls and silly birds.  There are always a few other Christmas crafty items found on my table as well, gift tags, ornaments, and some felt flower surprises!  Can’t wait for the Bazaar!

Why buy handmade?

Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.

The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can
be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people.

The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment.

The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production.

This year I’ll be sharing new paintings, and a few other little crafties. I just got a new sewing machine we’ll see what I can whip up. See you soon…Molly

I create hand-made toys, clothes, bedding, and other accessories for children. From original stuffed animals to monogramed quilts, I find children the most valuable recipients! No one can create a bond with a special animal or a favorite shirt like a child can.

Gentry Blackburn is a painter, crafter and owner of the kooky-cute
boutique Frosty Darling where she shows her work along side other local
artists. With a degree in painting she focused on her fine art and worked
at the library until she started making button earrings and hand-painted
throw pillows. Then came forays into knitting, sewing and a giant leap
into retail to showcase all these new wonders. She was awarded, “Best
Crafty Lady” in Salt Lake City Weekly’s 2007 Artys issue and keeps on
truckin’ with her bright color vintage carnival style.

This holiday collection will feature felt finger puppets, button earrings,
throw pillows, vintage fabric aprons, stuffed animals, and small
paintings. I’m really excited about the super furry blue squirrels I’ve
been working on!

Thank goodness you no longer need to send a love letter in a boring white envelope!  Diana Camomile Peck of Envelop Design hand makes envelopes from recycled magazines.  Each one is unique, adding sassiness to your message.

Next weekend us Beehive Bazaar ladies will hit L.A. to attend one of our favorite craft fairs–the Felt Club. We love to soak up all the crafty vibe it has to offer–what a huge inspiration. Be sure to visit their site…

We want to thank everyone who applied for this years 2008 Christmas Bazaar–we were so impressed by the turnout as well as the quality and creativity of the arts and crafts that were represented. Along with the huge response came an increased pressure to choose this years participants–we are always limited by space as well as trying to assure we have as many unique and unduplicated offerings as possible–and it ain’t easy.

We were actually able to include more artists than ever this year–more than 50 total–and have a wider variety of arts, crafts and treats as well–we think you all will be pleased. Here is a list of the 2008 Beehive Bazaar Artists(we’re still missing a couple names–we’ll add the remaining soon) –be sure to visit each of their individual pages and give them a little “woo-woo”:

See you at the Bazaar!

Molly Call & Noelle Olpin

I am a local girl from sandy utah. I have been crafting ever since I was young. along with a couple of our friends, my husband and I recently opened up Coal Umbrella. I am in charge of all the hand made,
craft items. I am currently a student at BYU studying photography. I started huishbooks a few years back, after desperately searching for a cool wedding guest book. I had been selling primarily on etsy up until we opened coal umbrella and now sell at 30% off my etsy prices in store. I love creating and I am constantly looking for new things to try.

This year at the beehive bazaar I am going to be bringing a collection of vintage inspired handmade jewelry pieces from seagull boutique. (www.seagullboutique.etsy.com… a side project from coal umbrella’s handmade) There will be a variety of hair clips (from $2.50-$10) , Earrings($6-$19), and necklaces($12-$20). These are great for Christmas presents and would be perfect as stocking stuffers! I am also going to be bringing the fabulous Huish Books! These are hand bound blank books. Perfect for your wedding guest book, journal, sketchbook, or photo album. Each book is completely original and unique. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They are totally customizable as well! You can check them out at www.huishbooks.etsy.com ($12-$50).

I am also working on a new series of decorative word sets! These are whimsical and girly and make any room look fantastic. They rage from $30- $50.

Fun new beehive necklaces are sure to grace my booth this year along with vintage glass and hand wrapped sterling silver necklaces and earrings! AND…This year I am launching my photography holiday and “all occasions” greeting card line. The cards range from vintage inspired floral images to cheeky everyday objects and people. Inspiring quotes jazz up the cards to give them a fun flare. All images are taken by me!

Isabell’s Umbrella grew from an obsession with stationery, writing instruments and design. Ashley Giessing, owner/artist, believes she should have been born in the nineteenth century, when all correspondence was done by hand.

Specializing in stationery that will lift the clouds of a rainy day, Ashley’s hopes are to renew the lost “art” of hand correspondence by creating stationery you will want to share with others. “There is nothing that means more to me than a kind, heartfelt, handwritten note from someone I love.”

Seriously cute stationery, buttons, pillows, artwork and children clothing are just a part of my line-up.

Visit me here…

I love color, pattern, and small, beautiful things.

I make cards and pillows. I hate to see tiny scraps of fabric go to waste so I gather them greedily from friends and family and cut them into cute shapes to sew unique cards. No one should ever have to buy a card from the mall when something more personal and fun can be used. Pillows make a perfect canvas for my drawing to by ironed on! Visit me here…