Makin' lazy circles in the sky

If you're anywhere near Norman, OK this weekend, grab your {handmade} wallet and head to the 1st Annual Dustbowl Arts Market. This is the first show Tefi Designs has ever sponsored and I seriously want to see this show succeed! Oklahoma is fast becoming a haven for crafty ventures and I couldn't be more pleased to support the Market as a sponsor. There are three other reasons to hit the Dustbowl Arts Market this weekend. My friends and fellow Etsy Dallas leaders Pamela Michelle, Cut Out and Collect and Dowdy Studio will be there. Best of all, the three designers are unveiling their Super Sneaky Collaboration Project, which features one-of-a-kind, limited edition handmade items that the three sneaky-peeks created together. These designs are seriously drool-worthy. (I want! I want!) For now, you can only score these great items at the Dustbowl Arts Market, so best get a move on! Also on the OK horizon: The Girlie Show, in its commendable 6th year, on N0vember 6-7. Don't miss it!

Get On the Renegade Bus

A few weeks back I had a good ol' time chattin' it up with Teresa Burkett of Renegade Bus, an online magazine of "Culture and the Curious in Dallas, Texas." She and I had fun emailing back and forth. Some of my favorite moments are humbly reprinted below without permission: TB: How do you define a person who is a crafter? SH: This is just my opinion - I think the word ‘crafter’ refers more to an artisan than an artist, someone who creates by hand meaningful and functional art like a purse or votive candle. I don’t mind being called a ‘crafter,’ but there are still a lot of stigmas associated with that term that conjure up images of grandma in her rocking chair darning a doily or knitting an afghan. That is definitely not me. Not yet. TB: What an achievement [to found Etsy Dallas], to see a need for a craft group and then to make it happen. When Etsy Dallas formed what did you all have in mind for the group’s purpose? SH: In September of 2007, when I sent out cold emails to local people selling on Etsy.com, I envisioned a small team of crafters and artists who would meet for coffee, hang out and craft together, and hold small trunk shows here and there. But instead, the response was astounding with so many people replying, “I’ve been waiting for someone to organize this!” My husband compared me to Richard Nixon when he said I had tapped into the “silent majority.” While I appreciate the sentiment, it’s never fun being compared to Richard Nixon. And guess what: If you're going to work blue, beware that it just might make it into the interview. Yoozers! If you dare, read the entire PG-13 interview right her.

Tefi Loves: Creepy Baby Stuff

Now that I have Ian in my life (7 months old!) I have even more appreciation for these creepy baby things I found on Etsy:
Baby Limbs hook rack $49 Shop: www.luxfordst.etsy.com Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Baby hand soap $15 Shop: www.Hartleysoap.etsy.com Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Baby Hand handsoap $18 Shop: www.foliage.etsy.com Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Dainty doll parts necklace $9.50 Shop: www.babydollbutcher.etsy.com Location: Wisconsin
Oddity No.4 $25 Shop: www.emporium51.etsy.com Location: Savannah, Georgia

All You Need Is $20

I am having a serious clearance sale this weekend at the Style Stay-Cation Trunk Show. Many of the $20 necklaces up for sale are brand new designs never seen before! I will have a TON of unique and stylish one-of-a-kind pottery shard necklaces. They will be available for you at the low, low price of $20 - this Saturday only! After the show, these necklaces go back to regular price. Don't miss out! Move Studio, host of the Style Stay-Cation Trunk Show, carries my one-of-a-kind pottery shard necklaces - the only shop in Dallas to offer these! If you can't make it out this Saturday, you can still purchase these beauties at regular price at the boutique. I also have a handful left in my Etsy shop. Oh wait - did I mention? $5 earrings, too!!! This Saturday only at the show! Check out the other great local talent who will be at the Style Stay-Cation Trunk Show this weekend: Harrilu, Tara to the T, Haute Hardware, The Pig and the Peacock, Sindustry Designs, and House of Dang. When: Saturday, August 22nd (others will also be there Friday evening) Time: 3-7pm Where: Move Studio, 17062 Preston @ Campbell, Dallas Map It! Yeah!

Tefi Loves: Shopping Locally

We hear all the time how important it is to shop locally for the ecenomy, the environment, yada yada. Well, it's true! But my favorite part is that I get meaningful, handmade items to fill up my life, rather than Made In China crippy-crap from the mall.
Little Peanut Onesie by Harrilu Bought this at the Spring Fling in Fort Worth. Peanut was Ian's nickname when I was preggers. Recycled Paper Garland by Alicia Colina-Ashby I won this at an Etsy Dallas party silent auction and plan to decorate my Xmas tree with it this year. Custom "Ian" Art Necklace by Pamela Michelle In honor of my son Ian, this is the only non-Tefi necklace I wear; and I wear it proudly! Sailor Zipper Pouch
by Cut Out and Collect I carry Ian's nursing rag, pacifier, and other small items in this adorable pouch. Cathedral Votive by the Kessler Craftsman This gorgeous votive brightens up my sewing table. Cupcake Beaded Pen by MandiBeads I proudly use this at shows to write up receipts! Cucumber Melon Soap by The Pig & the Peacock I bought these and some candles as baby shower hostess Thank You gifts. My mistake was not buying myself some! Pride & Prejudice Buttons by Manhandled Okay, so this wasn't actually a purchase since Emily gave them to me as a gift. But I covered my show apron with them. Gotta keep Mr. Darcy near and dear. Custom Head Warmer by Karmacrochet I don't have a pic of this yet, so I'm including her beautiful Cranberry red neckwarmer. Frosted Donut Soaps by Soapopotamus These soaps are seriously cute and make great gifts. I bought some for my quirky dad.As luck would have it, all of these fabulous Etsy Dallas members will be at the 2nd Annual Jingle Bash this November 21st at the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas. Buy your loved ones meaningful gifts this year - SHOP HANDMADE AT THE BASH!

Carnival Town

So it's been yo-yo season here at the Tefi household. After making about 30 small yo-yos to turn into freebie bobbies for the upcoming Jingle Bash goody bags, I began making larger ones and putting them together to create one-of-a-kind necklaces and hair clips. Here is my first necklace attempt, named Carnival Town: I love the way it turned out, so much so that I think I'm going to keep it. I got three compliments on it yesterday at NorthPark, including a jewelry salesperson at Tiffany & Co. Holla!! Be on the lookout for new yo-yo designs in my Etsy shop any second now!

Here's the Deal-io

Now it's my turn to lose my mind. In order to clean house and make way for new fabric jewelry designs, I have drastically reduced lots of my one-of-a-kind beaded necklaces to UNDER $20. You heard me right. Among the pieces on mega super duper sale is my Year of the Cat (left), made with lusciously vibrant Russian amazonite, marked down from $36 to a meager $19.50. Also on the chopping block is my Everything that Rises Must Converge series of stacked glass pendants. These are marked down from $28 to $15. Wowzers! Only three left...

Best get your Tefi on quick-like before these one-of-a-kind designs are all gone. http://www.tefi.etsy.com/