Sponsor Spotlight: The Pig and the Peacock


Etsy Dallas favorites, Sabrina and Jenny of The Pig and the Peacock make beautiful handcrafted soaps, lotions, and candles. Their booth is an aromatic feast, so be sure check them out on Saturday! Look for the huge crowd surrounding these two lovely sisters, smiling and packaging orders, you can't miss them!




Are you debuting any new items at the Spring Bash?
We have made several new soaps that we will introduce at the Bash including Black Currant, Honeysuckle, and Cranberry Salsa. You’ll have to check out our booth to find the rest! We’ll also have some new Spring/Summer scents in our candles.




Do you have any favorite stories from your customers about your products?
I think our favorite story is not from any specific customer, but many people tell us our soaps look good enough to eat, and in fact, it’s true! We have had a couple of people receive our soaps as gifts and take a bite out of them before realizing what it was! 




How has your work evolved since you began The Pig and The Peacock?
Our collection is constantly changing and growing. We have more ideas and designs in our heads than we can possibly ever make so we have started rotating out scents and designs to make room for new ones. We have also added new product lines the past couple of years, like our new lip balms and our DejaVino Wine Bottle Candles.



Sponsor Spotlight: Regal Cottage


Etsy Dallas rockstar, Regina from Regal Cottage has been preparing for the Spring Bash for months! I always adore her precious toys, and look forward to her booth. Be sure to visit her on Saturday, and add her on Instagram to peek inside design and production of her fun and thoughtful work!

How has your collection evolved since you began Regal Cottage?
My collection has definitely evolved over the years. I started out making kids' clothing and made a few toys just for fun. I quickly realized that I enjoyed making toys so much more. I knew I would do best if I followed my heart and focused on creating eco-friendly toys. Over the last year, I have worked to develop my own exclusive fabric designs. I love incorporating my original illustrations into my work. It gives me the ability to make each of my most popular products in coordinating fabrics from larger plush toys and baby rattles to plush balls and teethers. 


Do you have any favorite stories from customers?
My favorite customer story is when an expecting Mom bought a ball for her baby-to-be. She later let me know that she knew her baby would love it, but she was amazed to see just how obsessed she became over time with that ball. She took it everywhere, and her first word was even "ball." That Mom has become one of my best customers. She buys a rattle ball from me for every baby shower she attends. Every time I see her order come in, it brings such a smile to my face. 



What are you selling at the Spring Bash this year?
I will be bringing our best selling rattle balls, in new bright spring colors with bold geometric prints and lots of our wildly popular metallic moon, cloud and star pillows.


Sponsor Spotlight: In Your Bones


Meet my incredible friend, Gabriela, creator behind In Your Bones, a colorful and kind business benefitting Texas Husky Rescue.

Gabriela is a seasoned participant in the Etsy Dallas Bashes, and her booth is always packed with bright, unique, and heirloom quality sewn goods and embroidery. She lives in Austin area, keeps a small orchard and a few beehives, along with her four rescued huskies, and is a proud and fervent supporter of small business. Her work and support helped save over 300 dogs last year!






You can follow In Your Bones on Instagram for a peek into her beautiful life, and be sure to check out her shop, and come by the In Your Bones booth at the Spring Bash on Saturday!





2016 Spring Bash Bag Reveal!

The Spring Bash kicks off at 10:30am this year, but you may want to get there early for a chance to snag one of our ever popular Bash Bags. The first 50 shoppers in line for the Bash will get one of these reusable bags chock full of Spring Bash vendor swag!

At the Bash Bag stuffing party we got a sneak peek at what's in the bag and are pretty excited (anyone wanna wait in line for us?!) and we think you will be too!


A huge thank you to our amazing Bash Bag sponsors this year:

Guys & Ties - Bow Ties
Wandering Paper Co - Cards
Precious Little Tot - Key Chains Wristlet
The Pig and the Peacock - Handmade Soap
Of Earth - Necklaces 
Captivated Calligraphy - Cards
Quirk + Thrift - Coin Purse
A Cheery Blossom - Leather Cord Wraps
Unboxed Studio - Pencils 
Expressions Bracelets - Charms
InYourBones - Embroidered Appliqués 
Land of the Thread - Bracelets
Lemon Glaze - Charms
Makers Connect - Buttons 
Kathleen Care Jewelry - Bracelets 
Tessa Bunny's - Organic Play Clay
Silver Tines Spoon Jewelry - Key Chains 
Tesoro Jewelry - Engraved Bracelets
And some surprises from Pop Shop America, PediaQ, and Etsy Dallas!

Don't forget, to get your very own Bash Bag you'll have to get there early! See you Saturday!

Sponsor Spotlight: DallasChild


For several years now, we have had the wonderful fortune to have our events sponsored by DallasChild, our favorite family friendly local magazine!  With the Spring Bash coming this Saturday (HOORAY!), I wanted to introduce you to this incredible resource.

Looking for fun events and exhibits to take your kids to in the DFW area this month?  DallasChild has you covered.  Check out their Monthly Calendar!

Or, maybe you want to plan your own family outing, like a picnic or a hike?  DallasChild has a list of the best Nature Trails, and have even included available hours and price!

Need some tips on making "Mom friends" with like-minded parenting values?  DallasChild has a featured article on this topic right now!  They always have something new and beneficial to read, learn, and bring home to your family.

So, you need to find a new doctor, and want recommendations?  You guessed it, DallasChild has built an amazing database of recommended local doctors of every specialty.  If you are interested, read more about their Mom-Approved Doctors.

There is veritable bounty of parental information to peruse- party planning, local mother profiles, contests, reviews, volunteer opportunities, and attractions.  Oh, and did I mention that this is a FREE resource?  I know, it just doesn't get better than that!  Sign up to receive their newsletter, and monthly publication!

They are currently giving away $50 to spend at the Spring Bash.  Take this link to enter!

Make Macramé Bracelets with Kathleen Care

Howdy crafty buddies!  My friend Kathleen Care is here today to show us how to make these simple, modern macramé bracelets!  Oh, the color and supply possibilities are endless!  Make some for yourself or with your kiddos and their besties!

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Materials: .8mm Chinese knotting cord                
Cut cord: 2 x 15” pieces, 2 x 3’ pieces, 1 x 16” piece

Step 1: Attached cord to each side of the connector. Fold the 15” piece in half and thread through connector. Bring ends back through the loop and pull to tighten.

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Step 2: Attached one of the 3’ pieces. Center under the 2 middle strands and tie with simple knot to attach. Fold the RIGHT cord over the Middle strands and under the LEFT cord. See below picture. Pull the LEFT cord under the RIGHT and MIDDLE strands and through the loop on the RIGHT side. See picture below.

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Pull tight and slide the knot up to the top next to connector. The knot you just completed in the first step in making a square knot.

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Step 3 Finish the second half of the square knots by folding the LEFT cord over the MIDDLE strands and under the RIGHT cord. Pull RIGHT cord under the LEFT and MIDDLE strands and through the loop on the LEFT side. See below pictures.

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Pull to tighten. This completes the square knot. See picture below.

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Step 4: Repeat this pattern until desired length is reached. Keep in mind the clasp will take up about ½”. Leave all the tails of your working cord until you have completed both sides to make necessary adjustments. Step 5: Repeat all the steps on the other side of the connector. Clip tails of the working cord but make sure you leave the tails of the MIDDLE strands to attach the clasp. See picture with labels for clarification.


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Step 6: Making the clasp. Use the same square not pattern used to create the first parts of the bracelet, only you will have 4 middle strands now instead of 2. See pictures below.

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1. To make the sliding closure, shape the bracelet into a circle and overlap the middle strands. Use wire or scrap cord to temporarily tie the cords together at each end if needed.
 2. Take the 16” cord piece and cent it under the strands.
 3. Start tying square knots exactly the same way you did to make the bracelet.
 4. Stop after about 1/2” of knotting.
 5. Remove temporary binding cords.
 Step 7: Finishing. The 2 sets of middle strands are now the adjustable ties of the bracelet. Adjust to fit over the hand and wrist and tie each end into simple knots. Step 8: Fire. Clip and burn all excess cord ends to keep from fraying. See closure in picture below.

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Enjoy, and show us what you make with the #etsydallastutorial hashtag on Instagram!  

Drum Roll Please! Meet the 2016 Spring Bash Featured Artists!

Good afternoon, friends and crafters!  I've got a special sneaky peek for you today!  Spring Bash is just around the corner on April 30th, and these artists have gone out of their way to help make this bash the best one yet!  Check out their shops, and put them on your list.  It's time to get excited!

Autism Awareness with Expressions Bracelets

Today is Autism Awareness Day, and Etsy Dallas' very own, SaRatta Murphy of Expressions Bracelets spoke with Good Morning Texas about her inspiration behind each of her bracelets.

There are few things I admire more than a woman working hard to bring awareness and change. Watch her spotlight below, and visit her shop to support her cause.  Beautiful and inspirational.


Local Woman is Bringing Awareness to Autism Through One-of-a-Kind jewelry

New Product Alert!


We have been busy bees getting ready for the upcoming annual Spring Bash on April 30th!  Check out some of the colorful new goodies from our artists that are making their debut!










How to Make a Linocut Block by Wandering Paper Co.


Allow me to introduce you to Alex George, new Etsy Dallas member, and creative spark behind the eclectic, multicultural inspired prints and cards at Wandering Paper Co.  

She has thoughtfully prepared a linocut and block printing tutorial, and has given me permission to share.  Enjoy and check out her vibrant shop and blog!

Materials:Speedball Speedy-Carve block, size 4x6"Hard Rubber Brayer Pencil & Paper Adobe Illustrator (optional), Speedball Linoleum Cutter & Assorted Attachments

First, measure a 4x6 rectangle on a sheet of paper.  You can do this quickly by tracing your 4x6 block.

trace a 4x6 rectangle

Sketch out your design in pencil first. After I sketch my design out, I usually scan the drawing and fine-tune it in Adobe Illustrator. If you don't have Illustrator, don't worry, this part is optional.

use Adobe Illustrator to fine-tune your sketch

If you do design your print on the computer, print it out and color in the negative space with pencil. If you sketched your print out by hand, you can skip this step.

color the negative space on your design in with pencil

Now you will transfer your pencil sketch to the rubber block. Carefully lay your rubber block over your sketch so the edges align. Use your hard rubber brayer (or your fingers) to press down on the rubber block so the graphite from the pencil transfers from the paper onto the block.

use a brayer to transfer your design

Lift up the block and use your pencil to touch up any areas where the graphite did not transfer.Now use your linoleum cutter to carve your design out of the block. A few tips: Use the tool in a pushing (not pulling motion) for best results. Also, turn the block, not your hand when making a curved line.

carve your block using linoleum cutters

Voila! Your block is carved, and you're ready to print! 



finished linocut block



Thank you so much for sharing your art with us, Alexandra!  Hop on over to her beautiful blog to see how to use your carved linocut block to print in Part 2 of her series!  Happy Saturday, friends and crafters!

Etsy Dallas Artisan Market at Taste of Dallas--Announcement and Artists' Applications are Open!


We are thrilled to announce that Etsy Dallas will be partnering up with Taste of Dallas for their 2016 event this June. This will be the 30th year that Taste of Dallas has been showcasing the best of what this larger than life city has to offer with three glorious days of art, music and culinary celebration. And now, Taste of Dallas will include an Etsy Dallas Artisan Market too. This area will include exclusively handmade vendors with all the quality goods from emerging artists and designers you have come to expect from Etsy Dallas including jewelry, accessories, art, body care, clothing, home goods, kids, pets, and stationary. In the coming months, you will be hearing a lot more about this exciting event, but for now-artists go apply here!

Applications will be open until April 9th.


Easter & Spring Gifts from Etsy Dallas

Celebrating with your family this weekend?  Check out these unique candy alternatives every bunny is sure to love, handmade in Dallas, Texas by our very own talented makers!  Click the pictures to take the link!






1. Knot Baby Headband by PreciousLittleTot
2. Organic Pastel Bunny Plush by RegalCottage
3. Wooden Moon Pendant by SurlyBunny
4. Cucumber Melon Bath Bomb by WhippedUpWonderful
5. Foxy Fox Baby Onesie by DowdyStudio
6. Owl Soap by ThePigAndThePeacock

Learning Opportunities from Etsy Dallas


We are delighted to continue to offer learning opportunities with the Etsy Dallas Team and Dallas Makerspace. Our first class of the year is Craft Show Like a Pro. If you are new to craft shows, need help with your booth and displays, or are just a little rusty this would be a great class to attend!

Class info
Date: April 2nd
Time: 12:00-2:30pm
Where: Dallas Makerspace, 1825 Monetary Lane #104 Carrollton TX 75006
Cost: $15
Ticket Info



In the class we will cover everything from how to prep inventory, booth designs, displays, what to bring and how to take payments. We will also have an open discussion/booth critique at the end.

Hope to see you there!

Spring Bash Applications Are Closing Soon!

Don't miss your chance to be a part of the 2016 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash! We are looking for handmade artists, crafters and makers of all kinds! Visit the Handmade Bash website for more details and to apply. Applications close this Friday March 4th at midnight!


DIY: Valentine's Day Cards

Want to make a thoughtful handmade Valentine's Day card for someone special (or you waited till the last minute and there are zero cards left at the store?) We have a fun and easy tutorial for you today!


Materials needed:
Cardstock - folded in half
Heart cut out of a piece of paper
Embroidery needle
Embroidery floss in your choice of color (or go crazy with several!)

  1. Take your heart cutout and trace it lightly on the front of your card - use a pencil for this part
  2. Using your embroidery needle poke holes around the heart tracing - be sure to space them out. For the heart on the left you will also need to poke a hole in the center of the heart.
  3. Once all the holes have been made, erase the pencil tracing. Select your embroidery floss color.
  4. Starting from the top of the heart start making big stitches from each hole to the center.
  5. Keep working your way around the heart. You can change colors part way through too.
  6. Once complete, tie a knot on the back side of the card to secure the floss and write a message of your choice!
Instead of making stitches through the center you can randomly make stitches all around the hear for a more abstract look, or do lines straight across for a clean look.

Happy Valentine's Day!


#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!








Valentine Finds

Here's a little roundup of sweet finds for all your valentines. Here's hoping you can get yourself something lovely too.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/55063355/lychee-red-tea-soap-handmade-olive-oil

https://www.etsy.com/listing/266537869/gold-plater-arrowhead-necklace

https://www.etsy.com/listing/206714638/horizons-limited-edition-8x10-silkscreen

https://www.etsy.com/listing/253563158/the-mercedes-geometric-table-lamp-red

https://www.etsy.com/listing/257528511/limited-edition-coral-arrow-travel

2016 Membership Drive



Hooray! It's time for our annual membership drive!

If you have a handmade Etsy shop in the immediate Dallas area and want to build your business while having tons of fun with local artists, apply now at http://etsydallas.com!

Applications are open for two weeks, January 15th through January 31st, and then, they will close for the entire year.

Why become a member?

  • Be a part of a really supportive team of fellow Etsy shop owners
  • You can help spread the word about the handmade movement and get involved with your community
  • We know how to party (have you been to one of our Bashes?)

Weekend Guide Dec 18th - Dec 20th


It's Friyay! Plan to do some last minute shopping this weekend? Here's what you need to know to shop for great handmade gifts this weekend! 




Downtown Wanderland Park It Pop Ups
Date: Saturday Dec 19th and 20th
Time: Satruday 11am-7pm, Sunday 12-5pm
Location: Pegasus Plaza, 1500 Main Street, Dallas 75201
More Info
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: 
 Regal Cottage 

Bring your furry friends and stop by the Snackin' Waggin to pick up treats for you dog too! 


While you are downtown, go ahead and stop by Little D's Market and make it a day of handmade shopping!




Little Downtown Holiday Market
Date: Friday Dec 18th and 19th 
Time: Friday 5-10pm, Sat 11am-7pm
Location: Main Street Garden, 1902 Main Street, Dallas TX 75201


Come out for hot mulled wine, baked goods, live music and dozens of local vendors!

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide Dec 11th & 12th

Time for another Etsy Dallas weekend guide! Still looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? Check out this weekends handmade shopping events where you will find Etsy Dallas members along with other great local handmade artists.


Two Friends and Junk
Date: Friday Dec 11th – Sat Dec 12th
Time: Friday noon-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm
Location: Exchange Center Expo, 4148 E 21st St, Tulsa OK 74114
Participating Etsy Dallas Member: Lawless Souls 

Admission is $6, kids under 12 are free plus $6000 in door prizes


Dallas Farmers Market Holiday Hall
Date: Saturday Dec 12th
Time: 10am – 5pm
Location: Dallas Farmers Market 1010 S Pearl Expy, Dallas, TX 75201
More Info: http://dallasfarmersmarket.org/
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: 


The Shed is a great one-stop-shop for your fresh produce, artisan foods and Dallas flavored holiday meals and gift shopping! This weekend will kick off the Grand Opening of the new Dallas Farmers Market in the re-done enclosed shed that fronts Harwood Street! Come and meet your local vendors!


Cowtown Indie Bazaar
Date: Saturday Dec 12th
Time: 11am – 5pm
Location: Will Rogers Memorial Complex 3401 W Lancaster, Ft. Worth, TX 76107
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: 
Wayne Works

There will also be lots of Jingle Bash vendors at Cowtown as well like April Hiler Designs, Mush Tushy and Big TWW