Okay, okay, so I've been slacking a little bit on my featured seller bit...well, in my defense I've been trying to make more amazing things for the hoedown and just haven't had the time. I'll try to do a bit more tonight though: (I think I'm going to blog, make something, and then blog so be patient with me! (I'm an engineer...I have to have wierd plans like that...))

Today, I got a list from Krista's Kitchen on all the wonderful goodies they will be bringing to the sale:
-Cranberry Kringle Bars
-Turtle Bars
-Pumpkin Apple with Struesel Topping Muffins
-Cinnamon Pumpkin Chip Muffin
-Cranberry Nut Muffin
-Chippy Dunker Cookies
-Cranberry Orange Scones

Is anyone else's mouth watering over this? Wow! I can't wait!

Janet Koivisto sews some great items for our sale. Those will include quilted table runners, table toppers, tree skirts, totes, aprons, stockings, towels, fabric bowls, and pillow cases. The items she makes help make your home festive or make wonderful christmas gifts.

Another item that we will be offering at this years craft sale will be handmade soap from Jen Geerdts. Her scents for this year will be: Lavender, Candy cane (peppermint), Christmas tree (pine and balsam), Myrrh, Frankincense. She plans on growing her soap business next year once her youngest is in school full time. We offered her soaps last year at the sale as well and people really enjoyed them. Make sure to come and pick up a bar!

Wow! It was chilly selling up at Pardeeville...I made until about 12:30. It was just cold, with a chilly, drizzling rain pretty much the entire time I was up there. It was nice to see some familiar faces along with a few new ones! I think it would have been a good time if the weather would have been just a tad nicer.

Our featured artist for the upcoming sale today is Becky Donahoe. Becky is Diane's sister-in-law. She makes beautiful hand-woven baskets. I currently own a large one that works perfectly for my kids' toys and one with feet on it that I store some of my kids' books in. I'm hoping to get one that fits on the stairs this year. She does a beautiful job with her color choices and designs. her craftsmanship is superb. One of her more unique baskets she had at last years sale incorporate deer antlers into the basket. These make very nice christmas or birthday gifts for anyone and everyone! The top picture on the craft sale webpage shows a few examples of some of the baskets Becky has made (http://merr.com/users/lapacek/crafts.htm). Make sure to check it out!

Hello Everyone! I hope things are going well. The apple store is starting to slow down so that means I'm starting to have a little time to focus on making things for it. If you haven't had time to check out our website please do so to learn about some of our crafters/artists that will be selling at our sale. One of my sellers was recently featured on the Daily Page of the Isthmus, here's what they wrote:

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=24232

Madison Etsy explorations: Jenny Blasen Pottery
Shopping locally online
Megan Larson on Wednesday 11/05/2008 3:00 pm , (6) Recommendations

When I was young, birthday dinners were chosen by the honoree. We got to pick the entire menu and it was served on a birthday plate that let everyone at the table know that it was your special day. I loved that my plate was different than the others. And with that tiny gesture, a typical family dinner was turned into a treasured memory.
Jenny Blasen has done the same with her Star Flower Cupcake Stand, created initially to make her daughter’s birthday a memorable one. Perfectly sized to fit one cupcake, it is the bright highlight to any birthday girl’s plate. Each handmade piece at Jenny Blasen Pottery exudes that same warmth, making it feel like it was given the extra care that I imagine that first cupcake stand was made with.
Blasen's pottery ranges in items from dishware to decorative pieces. Her work can be seen at The Kitchen Gallery at 1354 Williamson Street, in addition to Etsy.
Blasen answered a few questions over email about her work and art.

The Daily Page: When did you open your Etsy shop and what do you sell?

Blasen: I opened my Etsy shop right after Christmas of last year. I am coming up on my first year anniversary and just made my 100th sale! I sell handmade functional pottery.

Do you have a day job? Does your shop pay the rent?

As a stay at home mother of two, I have been taking pottery classes, on and off again since college and am totally addicted to clay. Originally I started my Etsy store to get rid of all of the pots I had been making and to make some money to cover the cost of studio fees and clay. My youngest will be starting kindergarten next year and I hope to work in clay full-time. I currently work at a community studio, which is great, but my goal is to save enough money to set up my very own studio.

What advice do you have for people interested in starting an online store?

Some people think selling online is as easy as opening a store, but it takes time and effort to get a loyal customer base and you have to spend a little money to make money!

Etsy is an online marketplace whose mission is to "reconnect makers with buyers." These explorations will connect you with the makers in your neighborhood.

You can check out her things at: http://www.jennyblasenpottery.etsy.com/

We're super excited to be having her participate in our sale!

The Hand-Crafted Hoedown for the Holidays will take place on Friday, November 21st (9am -8pm) and Saturday, November 22nd (9am - 5pm).