Cleveland Craft Coalition @ Bela Dubby This Saturday

If you live in the Cleveland area I'm sure you've heard of the most recent addition in the handmade movement. The Cleveland Craft Coalition is a group of local artists and crafters that are holding shows once a month at Bela Dubby in Lakewood in order to sell their handmade wares.  From what I understand, there will be a rotation in vendors each month.  You can look forward to seeing (and buying) something new every time. 

The Coalition's first show was in February just in time for Valentine's Day.  While we weren't able attend the February show we are definately setting time aside to go check it out this Saturday.  We wish them much success in spreading the joys of handmade. 
You can become a Facebook fan of The Cleveland Craft Coalition or check them out on MySpace @ www.myspace.com/clevelandcraftcoalition.  Either way make sure you get out Saturday to check them out.

Bela Dubby
13321 Madison Ave.
Lakewood, OH  44107
Noon - 4PM

Our Product Video

How Lucky We've Been!!

We have been working our tushies to the bone (I wish) since we have opened up our Etsy shop.  This probably wouldn't have ever happened if it weren't for Janiece from JBird's Garden & Brooke from Jukebox ART.  I knew there was a lot of work involved in getting things going but I didn't realize it was THIS MUCH WORK.  WOW!! We started it on January 31st and put on a few items and did some research.  After we finished organizing and completing UpStage Artisan Alley we dove in head first.

There's been fanning, posting, reposting, posting some more, promoting, listing, more listing, taking pics, fixing pics, organizing, learning and lots and lots and lots of reading and studying.  We've been doing all of this while working full time jobs, "taking care of 2 boys" and trying to get some sleep (but not very much).

So yesterday I'm doing our Etsy thing on the computer wondering if all of the work that we're putting into it will be worth it or all for not.  I go off to do some other stuff and was probably away from internet love for about 40 minutes when lo and behold.....A SALE!!!  WHAT?!  You heard me, a sale.  A TREASURY? WHAT?! You heard me, a treasury.  In that short amount of time we were listed in a treasury "Yikes! Stripes!" and had a sale.  Our first glorious sale.  I was squeeling like a little girl.  Needless to say the package was ready in less than half an hour.

So before I go to bed I check Etsy again when lo and behold.....A SALE!!! WHAT?! You heard me, a sale. A SECOND ONE!!!  Woot! Woot!  We got that one ready to ship in 15 minutes. One duckie bath set sold, one U2 magnet sold.  Now I'm usually really good about checking our Creative e-mail but I missed a couple yesterday.

I was dying to know where all of these people were coming from so I checked Google this morning when I woke up.  Tons of hits from e-mail referral.  Man someone must really love us and have a lot of friends to send this too.  Wait, our e-mail! I go back and look at the Etsy e-mail that was sent out.  OUR DUCKIES!!  Holy sugar snap Batman!!!  Our duckies were included in the The Storque "Etsy Finds Decor:  Family Affair!!"

How exciting!!

I am so totally addicted.  We love making and creating....and want to share it with everyone.  So Forbes,  if Cleveland is so miserable then why are we so happy?  Great things CAN & DO come out of Cleveland! 

Our First Blog Feature

We're so excited to be featured on our first blog as a new Etsy seller!!  Please check out MHaynes2009 on her Esty site and her blog.  She has beautiful jewelry making supplies as well a greeting cards.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MHaynes2009

UpStage Artisan Alley

As almost everyone knows by now, our friends at UpStage asked us back in November to organize their craft show this year. Of course we jumped at the chance to help besides, we'd been talking about doing so for quite a while. We've been wanting to do a rock n' roll indie craft show. How better to showcase how we think a craft show should be and for a good cause. We have had quite a bit of inspiration to make it happen. First of all, all of the grandma craft shows where no one buys our stuff 'cause their all over the age of 80 and not interested (We don't have doilies). Oddmall & Bazaar Bizarre Cleveland. They are the two most rockin' Indie shows in the area. There is talent there like you've never seen before.
We are hoping that we can be even just a fraction as cool as the two previously mentioned shows. Let me tell you, organizing and getting press for a craft show is hard work. It's hard to make people care about the cause that the show is for and to get them excited. Well, luckily some people in the press cared as much as we do. We got write ups in The News-Herald, Scene Magazine, Cool Cleveland, The Collinwood Observer, and people have been blogging & tweeting about it.
My only worry at this point is that customers show....I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown today. I think I'll be virtually worthless at work obsessing about setting up tonight, getting vendors prepped, and getting a good crowd. So if you know me and see me today be gentle.
Say a prayer for everyone involved and wish us all luck!! As they say in the theater "Break A Leg!".