shopping

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Join Etsy Dallas at the Dallas Opera for La Bohème

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Photo courtesy Atlanta Opera

Photo courtesy Atlanta Opera

Join us with the Dallas Opera in welcoming Puccini’s popular opera, La Bohème, as we present the Montmartre Artist Village opening weekend, March 15 -17. Before the show and during the first intermission, enjoy perusing a special bohemian market in the Winspear lobby with some of our favorite artists—Friday, March 15 and Sunday, March 17th only. If you’re interested in seeing the show, please take advantage of our special ticket offer for 20% off single ticket purchases with code ETSY20 on the Dallas Opera website. Scroll down for a full listing of opening weekend artists below. Hope to see you there!

Photo courtesy Karen Almond Photography

Photo courtesy Karen Almond Photography

Photo courtesy Karen Almond Photography

Photo courtesy Karen Almond Photography

 

Shop the Bash: Gifts for the Guys

The guys...finding unique, meaningful gifts for the guys can be a challenge, but not at the Jingle Bash. This year's Jingle Bash will have some truly exceptional finds for the men in your life. Get your lists out and let's do a little pre-shopping...


Leather journals from A Cheery Blossom  for him to record all his manly thoughts. They can even be personalized.

A bow tie lapel pin and a pocket square for the holiday parties from Land of the Thread.

This Dallas Skyline Art Poster Print with Sound Waves from Klyde Warren Park Park would be awesome for his office from Voice & Sound.

An artsy t-shirt for casual Fridays by Dowdy Studio.

A Dallas pennant for the man cave from Little Skunk Co.

A clock every science enthusiast can get excited about, but most definitely your chemistry major brother will LOVE this from mini-Fab.

Etched wine glasses, shot glasses or beer tumblers from Monster Dance Designs to add some extra fun to cocktail hour. 

I know you get excited at the Jingle Bash about all the things you want for yourself, but really don't forget the guys this time when you are there on November 21st. They will love you for it!

Etsy Dallas Announces Handmade Bash for 2013

We here at Etsy Dallas have been on a crafty roll lately. We've welcomed back many old friends as members and have gathered a crop of new ones, too. And our board members have been working on secret stuff that we can now share with you!


That's right: our 5th Annual Spring Bash will be held on April 27, 2013, just in time for all of the spring and summer weddings you'll be attending, graduation gifts that you'll need to send off, and of course we can't forget Mother's Day and Father's Day!

Everything that makes the Spring Bash the best (FREE!) ticket in town will be available this year at our new venue: The Shops at Park Lane. Our shop + party + art + craft will be held on the green, a gorgeous tree-lined green space right off Central and Park Lane.

We hope you will make plans now to spend the day with us under the big white tent. Our famous BASH BAGS will be available for the first 50 shoppers, there will be DIY crafts at make and take tables, along with great jams playing, excellent food available, and free and plentiful parking!

If you're a vendor (you don't have to be a member of Etsy Dallas!), check out our application packet.

Daily Discovery: Who's on your shopping list this year?

It's November already? C'mon, really? As sad as I am that summer is over, now is the time to get excited about holiday shopping time! And of course, you already know that the best place to do all that shopping is at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash. Here are some ideas for everyone on your list...

For your sister, who just got a fancy new job:

For the special someone in your life:

For your little brother who is about to apply to art school:

For your niece (who will grow up loving good design, you are determined!):

For your mother, who will spend most of the holiday season in the kitchen making her famous caramel fudge:

For your longhorn-lovin' father:

And a little something for yourself, of course:


Whew... so much to choose from - check out all the Jingle Bash vendors right here!


Hey Spring Bash Shoppers - We Love You!

We hope you are excited as we are about the upcoming 3rd Annual Spring Bash this Saturday. It will be our 9th craft show since our humble beginnings in 2007! There is so much fun stuff to do at the Bash - shop, craft, drink, groove - that we sometimes forget the boring stuff. Here's the low down on some important details for you, dear shopper:

RAIN OR SHINE!
Since the Spring Bash is all indoors at South Side on Lamar, no rain or yucky weather will stop us from having this party. Come one! Come all!! (and bring plenty of cash...see below)


CROWDS
The Bash has become one crazy popular show, and we couldn't thank you enough dear shoppers! There tends to be a mad rush of shoppers the first two or three hours of our show. If crowds aren't your thing, come on out to the Bash toward the end of the show so you'll be able to browse all the amazing art + craft, talk with the artists, and push those strollers down the aisles. If it's too crowded and you need to take a break, grab a drink at Absinthe's full bar, or have a warm cup of coffee at Opening Bell located in the building. Remember, there's no charge to get in, so come out whenever it best suits your needs. We'd love to see you no matter what time you show up and appreciate your support more than you know!

PARKING
Shoppers can park in several places at South Side on Lamar. There is a free 2-hour retail lot across from the main Bash entrance on Belleview Street, several larger $5 lots next to this small 2-hour lot, meter spaces along Lamar Street, and some free parking sprinkled throughout The Cedars neighborhood.

DART RAIL
Take the blue or red line to The Cedars stop on the DART rail, and save on gas and ugly carbon emissions!

BIKE ON OVER
We love our bike friendly citizens. Strap on your helmet and head over to South Side on two wheels!

MONEY STUFF
There are two ATM's on site, but the Bash cannot control if they are functioning and/or full of dollars. Please bring plenty of cash with you since some vendors don't accept credit cards or checks. Our DJ also accepts cash tips. Believe us - you're gonna love her and she's worth a few dollars to say "Thanks for the groovin' tunes!" Absinthe Bar will accept cash or credit for drinks. Etsy Dallas is collecting cash donations at the photo booth with all proceeds benefiting relief efforts Sendai, Japan - Dallas' sister city!

DOGS LOVE CRAFTS
It's true! Dogs just love the handmade way. Show them a good time by bringing your leashed pal to the show. South Side is a dog-friendly building, and the Bash is a dog-friendly event! Need another loving pup to add to your family? A dog adoption group will be on-hand from 10am-4pm with some super sweet adoptable doggies.

Daily Discoveries: For Your Jewelry Box


Spring Bash is a handmade jewelry lover's dream! Just look at these lovely choices from a few of our Spring Bash artists. Try your best not to drool on the keyboard!


Clockwise from top left: Clip on Necklace from estieMade, Large Alligator Earrings from F is for Frank, Electron Ring from Freeforged Jewelry, Painted Metal Filigree Necklace from Gleeful Peacock, Disc Earrings from Maria Day Jewelry, and Citrine and Antiqued Gold Necklace from Haute Hardware.

Daily Discoveries: Night Out on the Town

We looked through our Spring Bash artists and found some hot picks for your night out on the town. What's hotter than a Texas summer night? Black vinyl and a little black handbag...
Eye of the Tiger tote by Bolsa Bonita $68, Infinite Horizon Cuff by RevisionistDesigns $68, Crazy Little Thing Called Love Vinyl Charm Necklace by HiFiJewelry $50,
Clutch Purse by K8Made $40

Daily Discoveries: For the Stylish Girl


If you need to pick something up for your new girlfriend, your best friend's birthday, or each of your bridesmaids before your summer wedding, our Spring Bash artists have you covered!


Connections short-sleeve hoodie from Harrilu, Modern Marie from SunshineAndCarousels - $18.00, feather wood panel from 75 Apparel - $35.00, Owl and Vintage Moon Necklace from Ornamental Things - $48.00,

3rd Annual Spring Bash Artists Announced!

For the third year in a row, the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash will offer up the very best in handmade apparel, bags, jewelry, housewares, accessories, art, pottery and more from nearly 60 hand-picked artists, crafters and designers, featuring the work of:


Top notch artists and crafters from Dallas and beyond will take over the Artists’ Quarter and Janette Kennedy Gallery at South Side on Lamar in the hip Cedars neighborhood just south of downtown. As always, admission is free. Shoppers can also enjoy:

• Free DIY crafts to make on-site
• Free photo booth benefitting a local charity (TBA)
• Full bar courtesy of Absinthe Lounge
• Music by DJ Wild in the Streets
• Free admission
• Family and pet friendly
• Wheelchair and stroller accessible
• Plenty of secure parking ($5 fee, some free, some metered)

A crowd favorite, the Spring Bash will offer up free Bash Bags™ for the first 50 shoppers. These collectible canvas bags – chock full of handmade products – have become a thing of legend. At the 2010 Jingle Bash held at The Palladium, shoppers arrived three hours early to stand in line for a Bash Bag™.

Shoppers are invited to come out to the Spring Bash, a hip, modern craft event full of shopping, music, and handmade good times – just in time for Mother’s Day. The Bash is more than your typical craft show; it’s a celebration of local art, craft and talent!

About the Bash - Since 2007, Etsy Dallas has hosted nine independent art shows in support of the handmade movement in Dallas, winning the enviable title of Best One-Stop Shop by Dallas Observer readers in 2009. The twice-annual Bash events are organized by Pamela Dowdy and Stephanie Hindall (under the umbrella of Handmade Bash Inc.) and presented by Etsy Dallas, the city's original independent all-volunteer local craft collective.

by Stephanie/tefi

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide: March 12 + 13



Dowdy Studio Wagon Debuts @ Gypsy Wagon's Handmade Market

Artists and married couple, Dylan and Pamela Dowdy, will reveal their custom-built mobile art shop dubbed the Dowdy Studio Wagon where shoppers can find a variety of one-of-a-kind handmade art lining the shelves. Visitors will receive a free Dowdy Studio Grand Opening T-Shirt (while supplies last). Come be the first to see the exciting and innovative Dowdy Studio Wagon!

Date: Saturday, March 12
Time: 10am-6pm
Where: Gyspy Wagon, 5211 Bonita @ Henderson Ave
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Dowdy Studio, 2nju
Cost: FREE!!


White Rock Local Market

Date: Saturday, March 12
Time: 8am-1pm
Where: The Green Spot, 702 N. Bucker
Participating Etsy Dallas Member: La Alicia
Cost: FREE!



3rd Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling

Date: Saturday, March 12 + Sunday, March 13
Time: 9am-4pm (Sat), 11am-4pm (Sun)
Where: Poultry Barn, Will Rogers Memorial Center, Ft. Worth
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Harrilu, maggie may i, childsPLAYdesign, and For the Love of Joy,
Cost: FREE!


posted by Stephanie a.k.a. tefi

Bash Bit: Kelly Clarkson Shops at the Bash!


Etsy Dallas was lucky enough to have Bradley Whitford, star of The Good Guys filmed right here in Big D, stop by the 2010 Spring Bash back in May. Well, we've done it again! At the recent 3rd Annual Jingle Bash, American Idol's Kelly Clarkson stopped by for some shopping in support of local artists.


Rumor has it she purchased some bags from Cut Out and Collect and this framed fabric wall art piece by yours truly (see above). Thanks for the support, Kelly!

by Stephanie/tefi

Daily Discoveries: For the Traveler



Before you bon voyage this season, head on over to the Jingle Bash for these great items for travelers, picked by our very own David of Ferrochie:


If you do as much traveling as I do, you're going to need some entertainment. Sure, you could take your IPad, but what about something less complicated? Reading material of course!

Before you tell me you're satisfied with the latest edition of American Way (or worse, Sky Mall) , pick up a copy of Chet Art's The Society of Sinister Simians, 122 pages of pure entertainment and remarkable illustrations.




Personally I'm sick of the bad taste and unfortunate ensembles in flight attendant apparel. The only thing worse is usually the attitude you get for asking for the entire can of Dr. Pepper.

We can't do much about the attitude but we can refer these "What not to wear in the air" contestants to Tara to theT, who has put together a line of clothing called "Sky Girls." These garments reflect the style, prestige and romance of a time when traveling by air truly was for the privileged. With this hat, I guarantee you'll get attention. And maybe, just maybe, the flight attendants will let you keep the can!





So as long as you'er going vintage with a Sky Girls cap, you may as well pair it up with some updated vintage luggage by The Snowy Owl. Why would you want to blend in amongst the sea of black poly with the only unique feature is the hand written baggage ticket. Stand out! Be different! (I know you're the type who likes to be different and hip, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this blog. Am I right?)

Last but not least, you're going to need a bag - a bag that can be the key to fashion hip or fashion flop. Plus, there's no better time to have a flash bag then when you're traveling. From purses and clutches to messenger bags and backpacks, Rachel Elise has it! We aren't talking ordinary either. Rachel epitomizes haute couture hand bags in the local Dallas area. There are so many styles to fall in love with you'll probably buy several. And why not - who can't use more than one bag?

See you at the Bash!

3rd Annual Jingle Bash
Saturday, November 20th, 2-8pm
The Palladium, 1135 S. Lamar, Dallas TX
More here: www.handmadebash.com

Daily Discoveries: Stocking Stuffers



Naughty? Nice? Who cares! So long as you get one (or all) of these Jingle Bash picks in your stocking this year, selected by Alyssa and Joslyn of Jane Joss:


Clockwise from top left: Super Sock Monkey pendant by maggie may i, Eco Chic wooden pin by La Alicia, Heidi bobby pins by Modest Ambition, Musicians of Brehmen pencil pouch by Nerdbomber

See you at the Bash!

3rd Annual Jingle Bash
Saturday, November 20th, 2-8pm
The Palladium, 1135 S. Lamar, Dallas TX
More here: www.handmadebash.com

Daily Discoveries: For the Boyfriend


Who says men are hard to shop for? At the Jingle Bash, you're sure to find all sorts of manly goodness for the dude in your life. Check out these husband-approved picks from Dianna of The Miscellany:


Clockwise from top left: Story of the Whale tee by Signifying Not, Tree art print by Pamela Michelle, Rusty Trucks photograph by Seen Studios, Guitar Rootings tee by Dowdy Studio

3rd Annual Jingle Bash
Saturday, November 20th, 2-8pm
The Palladium, 1135 S. Lamar, Dallas TX
More here: www.handmadebash.com

Jingle Bash Sponsor Spotlight: Funky Finds



Let us introduce you to a long time Jingle Bash and Etsy Dallas supporter, FunkyFinds.com. We are thrilled to share the holidays with Funky Finds, a indie craft supporter and cheerleader for everything handmade. Check out all the finds on the Funky Finds Blog, then shop handpicked indie artists in the Shops @ Funky Finds, and check out their Weekly Giveaway to win cool free handmade goodies.

And if you are in Fort Worth this weekend, swing by the Experience, a Funky Finds' event, for a one of a kind indie shopping experience.

Thank you Funky Finds for being our friends and thanks so much for supporting the 3rd Annual Jingle Bash!

Win Bash Bucks for the 3rd Annual Jingle Bash!


CONTEST CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!!
As promised, the artists of the 3rd Annual Jingle Bash are hosting another Bash Bucks contest! Here's your chance to win Bash Bucks, redeemable only at the 2010 Jingle Bash on November 20th at the Palladium. Bash Bucks are like gift certificates you'll pick up the day of the Bash - and you can spend them at ANY participating artist's booth during the event. You can't go wrong. There are two ways to win!


(1) Comment On This Post
Look through our Jingle Bash artists and leave a comment below, telling us what you'd spend your Bash Bucks on. Include your email address! The comments will close at 11:59pm November 15th and one lucky commenter will be picked at random to receive $30 in Bash Bucks. You can enter as much as you like, so get comment crazy.

(2) Tweet It Out
Hop on Twitter and tweet about the Jingle Bash all you want. Add #DallasJingleBash and a link to this blog post or www.handmadebash.com in the text. You can tweet as much as you want until 11:59pm November 15th. We'll pick one tweet at random to receive $30 in Bash Bucks and a second tweet at random to receive $40 in Bash Bucks. You'll need to direct message your email address to us if you win. Feel free to copy and paste these tweet examples:
  • I'll be at the #DallasJingleBash Nov 20 to buy handmade holiday gifts! www.handmadebash.com
  • Retweet for a chance to win BashBucks for the #DallasJingleBash Nov 20 http://tinyurl.com/24rywap
If your comments or tweets aren't chosen, don't fret! We have some surprises just around the corner. - additional ways for you to win Bash Bucks.

Good luck, Bashers!!

CONTEST CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!!

Be an Elf: Promote Your Business at the Bash!

For the past couple of years, the Bash has offered a FREE level of sponsorship. We believe in supporting the local handmade and art community that in turn supports our event!

Are you an artist, designer or crafter? Do you sell your own handmade goods? Or maybe you have a business that supports the local handmade movement? We'd love to invite you to sign up to be an Elf sponsor. It's FREE and enables you to participate in our incredibly popular Bash Bags™.

About the Bash Bags™ – PROMOS DUE OCTOBER 31st
Bash shoppers have come to expect quality handmade promos in our coveted, limited edition Bash Bags™, and have been known to wait in line a full 3 hours before doors open in order to secure one (see photo below).



This year, the artwork on our Bash Bags™ will be embroidable (see above) and each Bash Bag™ will come with a free embroidery kit courtesy of Etsy Dallas.

We accept the following kinds of promos for the Bash Bags™: samples, magnets, bookmarks, pin, pencils, earrings, bobby pins, etc. Non-handmade promos may be accepted from local indie and art/craft/design-related businesses. We cannot accept solely business cards and coupons. The Jingle Bash reserves the right to approve all Bash Bag™ promotional items prior to inclusion.

Interested in promoting your business to hundreds of potential customers? Fill out the contact form HERE!

posted by Stephanie/tefi

Bash Bucks Are Back!

For the third show in a row, we are pleased to offer the Bash Bucks program for our amazing supporters - you! - and this year we're offering even more chances to win. Get this: Bash Bucks are our own gift certificates that spend just like money at our shows. Free money!

Still not sold yet? Well, we like to give them away!

The only way to get Bash Bucks is to win during our upcoming blog and Twitter contests, running October 27th to November 15th.

At the beginning of the contest, we'll post the rules and directions here on our blog. Good news! There is no limit to your number of entries both on the blog and on Twitter. Winners will be picked at random at the end of each contest - and this is the awesome part: We'll choose one winner on the blog and TWO winners on Twitter. The blog winner will receive $30 in Bash Bucks, one twitter winner will receive $30 and one will receive $40 in Bash Bucks, to be spent at the upcoming Jingle Bash on November 20th.

(Psst! We also have some extra surprise Bash Bucks contests around the corner - but you have to stay tuned to the blog to find out all about 'em.)

So what's up with the Bucks, you ask? You can use them to buy anything your little heart desires from participating artists at the upcoming Jingle Bash on November 20th. (But if your little heart desires booze provided by The Palladium, you'll have to whip out some real cash.)

Seriously, they're kind of awesome. But don't take our word for it - read what one of our previous Bash Bucks winners has to say:
I won Bash Bucks on the Etsy Dallas blog for the last Spring Bash. I absolutely loved that it gave me a chance to pre-shop the Bash artists. When I won, I already knew exactly what I wanted to spend them on. I purchased two necklaces from Maggie May I - I still love them!

-Mylynka, winner of Bash Bucks for the Spring Bash 2010
So get your retweet button finger warmed up and stay tuned to this blog for more details. It's almost time!