SILKFAIR Blog

[Via Jewelry Making blog at the Craftsgossip Network] The Baltimore Convention Center is going to see more than 700 of the country’s leading craft artists gather under one roof to showcase their latest handmade designs for the American Craft Show in Baltimore from Feb27 thru March 1st.

Expect to see high quality jewelry, furniture, clothing, home decor and other such items for purchase. Also they have two interesting new categories in CRAFT 4 KIDS (objects designed for kids and family heirlooms) and GREEN CRAFT (which highlights artists that use found, recycled materials and sustainable techniques).

Sounds like great fun! So if you’re in the area, do check it out!


DATES AND SHOW HOURS
Friday, February 27 (10 am - 9 pm)
Saturday, February 28 (10 am - 6 pm)
Sunday, March 1(10 am - 5 pm)

ADMISSION
Buy Tickets Online
$14 per person
$20 for a two-day pass
$25 introductory new membership at the Show only
Children 12 and under free
American Craft Council members admitted free.

Here’s their Facebook profile

Announcing Silkfair's January winners of our first Tell & Win Competition

They are:

   * Top Referrer = http://lazybreeze.silkfair.com/ -  She wins a $100 Silkfair shopping spree!
   * 2nd Highest = http://krisybird.silkfair.com/ - She wins a $50 Silkfair shopping spree!
   * 3rd Highest = http://flowersbyfarha.silkfair.com/ - She wins a $25 Silkfair shopping spree!

Let's take some time out to get to know our winners and see their amazing products!  

Thanks everyone for helping spread the words on Silkfair.  Your continued support is appreciated.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Silkfair Winners!

Please let us give warm welcome to all our new members and sellers.  Congratulations!  We truly appreciate you being here with us at Silkfair.

New Sellers/Stores:
- clayfulcreations (http://clayfulcreations.silkfair.com/)
- greenmountainbotanicals (http://greenmountainbotanicals.silkfair.com/)
- thehandmadehomestead (http://thehandmadehomestead.silkfair.com/)
- victorianpetals (http://victorianpetals.silkfair.com/)

New Registered Users:
- Sal7892 (http://www.silkfair.com/member/profile/2434)
- Lindahannon (http://www.silkfair.com/member/profile/2488)
- thequeenmother3840 (http://www.silkfair.com/member/profile/2571)
- Chyanneraines (http://www.silkfair.com/member/profile/2660).

Another winner of the Silkfair's Join & Win Giveaway is Clayful Creations. As usually, we hurried to ask some questions and tell you the story behind the store. This is what we found out.

How come you registered with Silkfair?
Well, I sell on Ebay and Etsy but I needed to find another outlet to increase my sales. It was either find another online store, start doing craft shows again or find a local retail store that I could sell through. I'd done the last 2 for many years in the past and I wasn't really looking forward to going in that direction again so that left online. I started searching for online marketplaces and if I remember correctly (I can't swear to this) I came across Silkfair on Twitter.com. I can't remember the exact sequence, but I found you and I'm so glad I did :-) I'll admit - the fact that there are currently no listing fees was a big draw.The fees on Ebay and Etsy are fairly high, in different ways, so to find an outlet that was as well-praised as Silkfair and be able to get established at no cost was wonderful!

How did you find out about the Giveaway?
I'm embarassed to say that the first I heard about the giveaway was when Silkfair notified me that I'd won. In my defense, I had just finished setting up my store and had put up a few listings, and hadn't really had a chance to navigate my way around the site. When I got the email saying I had won, I went searching for the giveaway and found the Community Forums area. I try to check it everyday or so now to keep up on the news.

What's the story of your business?
I'm a self-taught polymer clay artist. It started out as a hobby back when I was about 16. I used to build dollhouses and I started playing with polymer clay to make tiny figures and animals for my houses. I've always been interested in art and as I got older I moved away from painting and drawing and became somewhat obsessed with clay :-) I absolutley love it! It was a hobby for me until about 15 years years ago when I started selling in my first retail store. It still was only a part-time venture until about 10 years ago when I finally decided to take the plunge. I quit my "other" job and with the support of my husband and 4 great kids, I started my business and I never want to do anything else.
I now sell only online and it's my full time passion. I enjoyed the other outlets - especially the craft shows where I could actually meet and talk to my customers face to face - but they were a lot of work in their own way so when I decided to try the online world, I had to cut back somewhere and the craft shows were the first to go.

The one thing I wish I had more time for was the socializing aspect of the online world. I see other sellers that have blogs, are on message boards, in groups, etc. and I wish I could be that involved. Unfortunately, between making my designs, getting the pictures taken and listings posted, and just having some time left at the end of the day for my family - there never seems to be enough hours in the day. I wish I knew how other sellers do it because I haven't been able to yet. I hope to get there some day!

We hope so, too.
Visit Clayful Creations to understand why the child in me was all amazed and excited from the very first second I landed there.

In exactly a month, we'll be celebrating Valentine's Day. Most closely associated with the mutual exchange of "valentines", February 14 is the traditional day when lovers express their feelings for each other by sending cards, offering flowers or giving gifts of love - that can vary from chocolates to sumptuous lingerie.

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

Many Silkfair sellers have already updated their shops with Valentine specific items.  Check them out:

- Red Heart Set
- Red Heart Button Barrette
- Love Swans Candleholder
- Heart Shaped Candles
- 2 piece Velvet Underwired Halter Bustier Garter for a romantic and hot evening are some of the possible gifts.

You go on and add more to the list. What's your very special Valentine item in your shop?