Etsy Dallas and Paws in the City

Last month the Etsy Dallas Team hung out with Paws in the City. A local all-volunteer, no kill organization with a commitment to ending overpopulation, neglect, and abuse of DFW area cats and dogs.

No one is on a payroll at Paws in the City, so all funds raised goes straight to the dogs (and kitties)! And that’s a very good thing!

We hung out with some amazing fluff balls and made a variety of dog toys while raising awareness and funds for their amazing charity.

We thought this would be a great time to share with you how to pull together an event for a worthy charity in your area.

Step One: Look for charity organizations in your area.

We know that you are following at least 5 different charities on Facebook. Reach out! They want to hear from you!!

Step Two: Grab your crew

Your book club, your Girl Scouts, your craft guild, your friends!

Step Three: Make a plan!

Each charity has different needs. Usually the bottom line is raising funds. Find out what the charity needs and work for them.

Some ideas -

Pets : make some handmade toys/bankets/treats to raise funds

Kids : make handmade toys, arts and crafts and more to - help a book or School supply drive

Seniors : art is so therapeutic! (and we sort of LOVE art for all causes), use to help raise awareness for Meals on Wheels and other great senior charities.

Step Four: Buy the supplies

Or ask for donations! You don’t have to break the bank. Work with upcycled items, supplies from your own private stash (between the Etsy Dallas team, we have enough “extra” supplies to outfit a craft army.

Step Five: Decide a date and rally!!

Work with the Charity’s schedule (not yours). Send out social media blasts, create an event on Facebook or another good event planning platform.

Step Six: Get to crafting and have fun!

We had so much fun! We made super cute dog toys, we got to know more about the foster parents of the dogs that came out, and learn more about what they do. We even raised some money for their amazing cause!

A note from the President here at Etsy Dallas:

Thank you everyone who came out to our Craft + Adoption event today at Café Izmir benefitting Paws in the City! Etsy Dallas volunteers had a great time teaching others how to make DIY dog toys many of which were enjoyed by the PITC foster dogs!

Foster pups enjoyed the nice spring weather and all the attention they were getting. Several applications were put in for foster dogs and we hope they all find their forever home soon! Thank you to Cafe Izmir for offering up their patio for such a wonderful cause.

#LoveLetters

This month, our team joined DoDomething.org's Love Letter campaign to make Valentines Day cards for senior citizens in our community that are home bound and face isolation due to disability, location, and language barriers. It was a really fun project that family and friends participated in and we got cards from all over Dallas and Austin too!

In total we made over 100 handmade cards that Meals on Wheels will deliver over the next few days, and we hope it will put smiles on many faces!

2nd Annual Crafts for Crayons School Supply Drive and Craft Event

Want to make a difference in a young girl's life? Join Etsy Dallas at the 2nd Annual Crafts for Crayons event on Saturday, August 1st, at the NorthPark Center. 

For a donation of school or art supplies, you can have a fun afternoon crafting away with your friends or kids. And bonus - you get to take your crafts with you when you leave!

You can find us in the NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy's from 1-5 pm - it's sure to be a blast!

All donations will benefit Girls, Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas, a philanthropy whose goal is to empower girls to be come strong, smart, and bold women who positively contribute to our communities and who understand, value, and assert their rights. Girls, Inc. teaches leadership and gives girls the tools to change their situation. 

Their programming includes such activities as: 

• STEM-centric summer camps (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); 
• After-school programs with focuses including tutoring, self defense, leadership, and health; and
• Year-round programs, including one-on-one mentoring and college tour trips.

Last year, we raised over $2,000 in addition to bags and bags of school and art supplies for the organization, and we hope to exceed that this year! Your donations help ease the burden on teachers to provide their own supplies (much of which comes out of their own pockets) and give girls the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. You will be directly affecting change in your own community!

So please come and join us for what is guaranteed to be a great afternoon of camaraderie, crafting, and community improvement - we can't wait!

For more information about Girls, Inc., you can visit girlsincdallas.org, or on any of these social media sites: Twitter // Pinterest // Tumblr // Instagram

Shop Spotlight: Expressions Bracelets

Hullo, and welcome back to our weekly Shop Spotlight series! We are so proud of all of our team members and are thrilled to continue showcasing their amazingness.

This week, we are highlighting Expressions Bracelets. Owner SaRatta Reeves is a Jack (well, Jane)-of-all-trades with a tangible love for life and helping others. She sells unique, personalized jewelry with the intention of helping the wearer express his or her true self.

What year did you open? 2012

What is your shop's motto? Freedom to Express Your Style

What is your favorite item that you sell? Personalized engraved cuffs.

Fun fact about you: I am a spoken word artist (poet).

How did you get started? After experiencing two corporate layoffs within two years, I began looking for a different career. I created bracelets for my niece's Autism Walk, and since they were a big hit, I turned it into a business. A portion of our sales go to Autism Awareness.

Anything else we should know? I spent ten years as a public speaker.


Thanks, SaRatta! We love your pieces and your mission -  thanks for being a team member!


You can follow Expressions Bracelets on the following social media sites:
Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Blog

Creative Arts Center of Dallas

The Spring Bash is about more than just Shop+Party+Art+Craft. While we certainly know how to have a good time, we also like to give back. At each of the Bashes, we select one community enriching organization to be the recipient of funds raised in the photo booth. We are happy to announce that this year we have selected the Creative Arts Center of Dallas.

The mission of the Creative Arts Center of Dallas is to provide a nurturing environment for people to discover, develop and express their artistic visions. CAC believes the creative spirit exists within us all, and community can be built from a group of people creating art. 

Sabrina from The Pig and The Peacock, says, "We chose the CAC because they provide a positive environment to foster creativity and community while teaching art classes to teenagers and adults of all skill levels. The classes that they teach cover a wide range of arts and crafts that we thought was complimentary to the skills of the members of Etsy Dallas (Jewelry, Photography, Clay, Fiber Arts, etc.)." 

They also provide outreach to Dallas area children. The CAC has implemented an exciting program called, unseenamerica in which children learn photography skills to document their own lives and exhibit their photographs in a wide-reaching community exhibition.

You can find out more about the Creative Arts Center of Dallas and the inspiring work that they do at their website.

Scenes from the Holidays with Bookmarks

The Etsy Dallas team believes in giving back to our community. Every year we put our creative talents together and select one cause to make a charitable gift to. This year we selected the Dallas Public Library, Bookmarks.

We were delighted to spread some holiday cheer while making holiday crafts with little ones and their families at the Bookmarks library inside NorthPark Center. This event was more than just fun. It was a chance for our team to give back to one of the special places that truly enriches our community with a contribution of $250. These funds will help provide additional children's programs at the library.

Making the Holidays at Bookmarks

Join Etsy Dallas this Saturday for a free make and take opportunity benefiting charity! We will have team members on hand to instruct you and your little ones with some very festive handmade crafts that you can take home to decorate with! 

We will be at Bookmarks--a Dallas Public Library inside NorthPark Center from 2:00pm-3:00pm, Saturday, December 15. Proceeds from this event will go towards the Dallas Public Library system. Crafts will be kid-friendly and range from easy to make ornaments, to more advanced colorful tape cards. 

NorthPark is a great stop on your holiday shopping and activity list, with lots to see and do for the whole family. Why not stop by Bookmarks between 2:00-3:00pm to spend some time with the Etsy Dallas team?

Don't Miss This: Sit Down to Stand Up for Kids

You definitely don't want to miss out on this! Thursday night, Etsy Dallas is throwing a shindig for charity! We invite you to come party with us, and help raise money for a great cause. Sit Down to Stand Up for Kids: Little Chairs for a Big Cause is Etsy Dallas' first ever charity-spotlight event benefiting Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC), a non-profit agency serving abused children in Dallas County. 


During this event, guests will have a chance to bid in a silent auction, and maybe, if you're lucky, you can take one of these handmade, uniquely decorated small chairs home.  

See What You Can See by K8Made

Each chair has been transformed by a member of the Etsy Dallas team in their own unique style, using a myriad of materials and techniques. 

Eggs Over Easy Chair by Midnight Snack

Whatever your style, you are sure to find something that will amaze and delight you. 

Adventure Awaits by maggie may i

While browsing these, and many more, creatively designed and decorated chairs, enjoy free food, drinks, music and great company. Admission is free, but voluntary charitable donations will be accepted at the door. All proceeds benefit the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC). 

If you like, you can RSVP on the Facebook page for this event. An RSVP is appreciated, but not required.  See you there! 

Supplies Me!

Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale is less than a week away! In addition to offering our crafty supply goodness to the public for sale, this event is a chance for our Etsy Dallas members to collect supplies and raise money for a good cause. Again, this year our charity of choice is Captain Hope's Kids .

"Captain Hope’s Kids has one goal in mind, to help those who cannot help themselves, children. Through the collection of donations, supplies and fundraisers, we intend to give homeless children their best chance at living a normal life." ( From the CHK website.)

Last year we collected over 10 bags of quality art and craft supplies from our members and donated over $200. You can read more about last year's event here. In response to the news that we were repeating the event this year, Brad Boss, CHK Program Director wrote, "The items donated last year were wonderful and the groups we gave them to loved them! I can't wait to see this year's result."

Let's see what we can do!

Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale
Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Blue Room, South Side on Lamar
1409 S. Lamar, Dallas, TX 75215
Questions? suppliesmeartcraftsale@gmail.com

P. S. For more about the types of awesome items to expect, see this blog post.

Supplies Me!

For the second year in a row Etsy Dallas is presenting a supply sale in the summer. What is a supply sale, you may ask? It's an opportunity for you, the public, to buy the things that we, Etsy Dallas members, use to craft the amazing things that we make. Maybe we have too much of something or decided we no longer want to make that kind of thing anymore--what to do with all of the supplies left cluttering our closets?

Here lies the genius of the supply sale. We clean out our stash of crafty goodness and you get direct access to our supplies. Whether it's excess Japanese fabrics, colorful beads, or papercraft items you're sure to find something to inspire your next project.

Here's just a sampling of what to expect at the sale next Saturday: fabric, patterns, ribbon, craft magazines, beads, jewelry findings, paper mache products, wooden boxes, scrapbooking supplies, rubber stamps, papercraft goods, photo matte boards, buttons, cigar boxes, sewing notions, pillow forms, display and merchandising items, canvases, and yarn.

Who knows what else we'll dig up! Come find out for yourself at Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale, Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Blue Room, South Side on Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas, TX 75215.

Supplies Me! Sale Recap

Last Saturday, Etsy Dallas presented the first ever "Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale" in the Blue Room at South Side on Lamar. It was a big hit! Ten Etsy Dallas members sold art and craft supplies from their personal stashes to the general public.

Thanks to a mention in The Dallas Morning News, we had a great early crowd! Shoppers were treated to a wide variety of fabrics, yarns, notions, papers, beads and unique finds at garage sale prices.

In addition to each vendor having their own table, Etsy Dallas had a table with goods donated from the team. Proceeds from the sales from the team table went to Captain Hope's Kids. Leftover art and craft supplies from the team table and from all the vendors were rounded up at the end as donations. In addition, Make Shop and Studio joined in on the fun, donating items for the free raffle including $15 coupons and one free class!

We're proud to say that we donated $218.97 and collected 10 bags of art and craft supplies for Captain Hope's Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides clothing, diapers, and other childcare supplies for homeless children all across North Texas. Through their programs, events, and partnerships, they help meet the needs of our community’s homeless children.

This was truly a team effort that benefited everyone: members cleaned out their clutter, shoppers bought goodies at a steal, money was raised for a great local kid's charity, and excess art and craft supplies found a worthy home that will make lots of kids happy.


Stay tuned to find out what we're planning for this event next year!

Posted by Anne of Modest Ambition

Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale

Shop art and craft supplies from Dallas' craftiest!

Etsy Dallas announces Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale on Saturday, June 26, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. in the Blue Room at South Side on Lamar in Dallas. This is an exclusive opportunity to buy art and craft supplies directly from the members of Etsy Dallas.

Crafty members of Etsy Dallas will be offering their coveted supplies for sale to the public, including: fabric, beads, buttons, and loads of other crafty odds and ends. This is your chance to stock up on unique finds to help you express your artistic side. While there will be plenty of inspiration available, there will be no finished goods at this event. Participating members include: Cut Out and Collect, La Alicia, Modest Ambition, Nerdbomber, Tefi, XY Factory, and many more.

Proceeds from sales at the Etsy Dallas team table and extra supplies will be donated to Captain Hope’s Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides clothing, diapers, and other childcare supplies for homeless children all across North Texas. Through their programs, events, and partnerships, they help meet the needs of our community’s homeless children.

Free to attend, free parking. Come early for snacks.

What: Supplies Me! Art + Craft Supply Sale
Who: Etsy Dallas
Where: Blue Room, South Side on Lamar, 1409 South Lamar, Dallas, TX 75215
When: Saturday, June 26, 11 am–2 pm

posted by Anne of Modest Ambition

Etsy Dallas Member BBQ + Silent Auction

Last month we held a silent auction in conjunction with an Etsy Dallas Member BBQ to benefit the La Reunion Art Chicas Unidas program. Dallas Etsians donated and purchased handmade items from each other to raise money for this wonderful program. We finally got everything settled and checks collected and sent to La Reunion. I'm happy to announce that we raised and donated $200. A big thanks to everyone who participated.

A special thanks to members Carrie and James of OneUpDesigns who hosted the event.

Photo above: Erin/Haute Hardware & Mr. Haute Hardware peruse the silent auction goodies Photo below: Allison Gillies/Fine Artist, Jodi/Jodi von Rotten, Susan/Sadie's Things, Stephanie/Tefi, and Mia/Mia Maria enjoying the BBQ.

Etsy Dallas Spring Bash Make & Take Table

Don't miss out on the Make & Take Table at the Bash! We'll have supplies on hand for you to make mini shrines (like the ones pictured here) -- little dishies, tins, silk flowers, beads, colored paper, fabric scraps, glue, glitter, scissors and the list goes on and on. Bring your imagination, creativity and those little pictures of loved ones, pets, friends and cutie babies. Make a mini shrine, a ring or whatever your crafty heart desires.


The Girl Scouts will be on hand to help with this year's M&T Table and take cash donations for the Family Place in Dallas. We're excited to have Girl Scout Troop 1637 back again this year.




COME GET YOUR CRAFT ON!
When: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 11am-5pm
Where: 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas
Cost: FREE!
Website: etsydallas.com

posted by Alicia of La Alicia

Spring Bash: Make & Take Craft Table!

When you come by the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash -- don't miss out on the Make & Take table where you can let your imagination run wild. We'll have fun crafty bits of all kinds for you to play with -- so stop by, get crafty! This year we'll also have materials available to make your very own mini-shrine, among other things, so be sure to bring those little pictures of your pets and loved ones to incorporate into your creation.

We're delighted to have Girl Scout Troop 1637 back again this year to help us out at the Make & Take and accept cash donations benefiting the Family Place.

COME GET YOUR CRAFT ON!
When: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 11am-5pm
Where: 1409 S. Lamar, Dallas
Cost: FREE!
Website: etsydallas.com

Etsy Dallas Helps Out the Community

The 1st Annual Jingle Bash @ Sons of Hermann Hall wasn't just about arts and crafts. Etsy Dallas got a little boost of those feel-good warm and fuzzies by reaching out to the community to lend a hand.

The junior girls of Girl Scout Troop #1637 of Irving ran the famous Etsy Dallas Make-&-Take craft table, coordinated by ED's own Carrie Partch of Atom-In. Jingle Bash shoppers chose to craft either a holiday ornament or festive ring for free. All supplies were either donated or purchased by Etsy Dallas and its members.

In addition, the girls ran another table collecting food donations for Irving Cares Food Pantry. They collected 48 food items and raised $29 in cash donations. Etsy Dallas surprised the troop by donating an additional $50 toward the food drive. We were thrilled to help out those in need!

Check out the Girl Scouts in action at the Jingle Bash HERE. Thank you girls!

article by Stephanie of Tefi Designs