Happy Halloween!

We wouldn't want to spend Halloween any place else but in the Hudson Valley! We want to wish you all a happy and safe Halloween tomorrow!

While you wait for the Trick or Treaters to show up, why not check out some of the latest Etsy treasuries from the team?

The Pumpkin Song

I've known my friend Debbie for many years and when our children were young 

we got together very often. This time of year we would celebrate Halloween together

either with a birthday party for my son or just a gathering for everyone.

She would always sing the pumpkin song:

(I have no idea who to credit this song to!)

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said,

Oh my it's getting late!

The second one said,

We don't care!

The third one said,

There are leaves in the air!

The fourth one said,

I'm ready for some fun!

The fifth one said,

Let's run and run and run!

Then whoosh went the wind and out went the light

and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

It would usually be her singing alone and the kids would laugh.

This year I was there for her granddaughters birthday party, they had gone 

pumpkin picking and then carved their pumpkins. Of course the song

had to be sung. But what a chorus she had to sing with her, her daughters and

their children and a few friends. It reinforced in my mind how important 

traditions are, even one so simple as a silly song. It binds us and gives us memories.

So this time of year with the holidays fast approaching, we are all scrambling

to get as much done as we possibly can in this last quarter of the year, remember

that it really is the little simple things that leave the most lasting impressions.

Enjoy!

Sue DiGilio - digiliodesigns.etsy.com

National Pumpkin Day (Oct 26)

Happy National Pumpkin Day! While that pie is baking in the oven, let's check out some of the Pumpkin goodies you can get from the team!

Pumpkin Card from Karmabee

Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed Brittle from Catskill Candy Co

Felt Coffee Cozy from Quarter Life Luck

Tea Infuser Pumpkin Charm from Beau Tea Studio

Crochet Pumpkin Kit from The Pudgy Rabbit

Save The Date: "Makers-on-Hudson" Holiday Craft Fair December 12th

Yes! It's that time of the year where we are elbow deep planning this year's handmade holiday craft fair! We're changing things up a little bit...

We will be back at The Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY for Second Saturday in December. That's Saturday December 12th from 10 am to 5 pm.   There are just a few more days left to apply!  

"Second Saturday" in Beacon is always fun to check out.  You can check out all the art galleries, dine out, check out the holiday window displays in all the storefronts, and even attend their tree lighting.

RSVP on Facebook and follow the event page for updates and vendor announcements.

Where To Find Hudson Valley Etsy This Weekend

Gunkhole Down the River From North To South with Hudson Valley Etsy

Shaving Soap from Hudson Naturals

"Gunkholing," is a quirky nautical term for meandering down a waterway, stopping here and there to explore or stock up on provisions. So, get into the adventurous spirit of gunkholing and pay a visit to two of our members this weekend. Christina, from Hudson Naturals will be in Albany at the Half Moon Market with her handmade bath and body products for women and men. Her logo features an image of the Half Moon, Henry Hudson's ship. Hudson cruised the river extensively, gunkholing all the way.

Owl and Moon punch needle embroidery by Harp and Thistle

Erin, from Harp and Thistle will be at the opposite end of the river at the Greenpointers Market . Sail on down to discover one of her delightful punch needle embroidery treasures for yourself or pick up a gift for someone special.

A Visit To Hudson, NY

Wandering on (and off) Warren Street is a great place to start your visit to Hudson, NY. The shops on Warren Street are amazing and very high end. Many of the antique stores (over 300) sell museum quality pieces with price tags to match. Creativity and style is everywhere. 

Hudson combines the best of both worlds: nature and the kind urban ease that you would expect to find in the city.

As an artist and maker, a visit to Hudson is inspirational. The window displays are imaginative and styles are tightly curated. Katherine Moore, founder of the Hudson River Exchange says the Hudson Valley is "...an ideal place for creating. Setting up a sustainable living here poses several questions. Part of what we do (at Hudson Exchange) is seek people from the greater maker community to stimulate that dialogue." They have a lovely pop-up shop on Warren Street (just closed on October 18) with locally crafted items and studio spaces. They organize local events offering visual and community inspiration as well as platforms for commerce and exchange for local makers.

There is also a lot that you can do on the cheap in Hudson says founder of The HudsonRiver Exchange, Katherine Moore: "There are two art stores - Sketch up by the park and Spotty Dog - along with a lot of parks including the river front. Grabbing some art supplies and heading to the river is amazing. Another nice thing to do in Hudson is just wander Warren. Go into antique stores and just look at the oddities and eras of design. There is one antique store Hudson Mercantile in the 300 block of Warren. You can buy little industrial trinkets from a dollar or two. There is also the Red Chair in the 600 block. Also sells small little items from France." 

Our favorite spot was the Spotty Dog Books and Ale: a bookstore, watering hole, art supply shop rolled into one. Beer on tap is mostly local and always delicious. Growler friendly. Also loved the funky vintage clothing shops on and off Warren.

Hudson River Exchange upcoming events include: a workshop on Visual Merchandising with Nick Blaine of Hawkins New York (a design shop and brand on Warren Street in Hudson) on October 27th. 

The workshop will be directed towards market booths as we approach the holiday season, but will include foundations of visual story telling relevant for people selling on Etsy as well. Importantly it will also be attended by other creatives and is a great way to connect with peers. 

We ventured out of Hudson on two day trips. One to Frederic Church's Olana and the other to the home of Church's mentor, The Thomas Cole House. Both locations offered insight into each artist's work and passions and hosted a contemporary art exhibit called, River Crossings. The surrounding landscape was also quite beautiful. The Hudson River School artists painted the American landscape and our relationship to nature through themes of wilderness, discovery, exploration, and settlement. The artists often traveled to remote locations and painted from memory or from an amalgamation of sketches.

Looking forward to exploring more of the Hudson Valley. 

For more info about Hudson, NY check out the following websites:

Design Sponge Hudson Valley Guide

Hudson River Exchange

What are your favorite places in Hudson or the Hudson Valley? 

Susan - Lunule

Where To Find Hudson Valley Etsy This Weekend

"The morns are meeker than they were,  

The nuts are getting brown;

The berry's cheek is plumper, 
The rose is out of town. 
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned, 
I'll put a trinket on."  

Emily Dickinson,  Nature 27 - Autumn

 

 

Seahorse Silhouette Punch Needle Necklace by Harp and Thistle

Autumn will be making its presence known for the first time this weekend here in the Hudson Valley. The first frost of the year may be on it's way, but the sunny, crisp air is perfect for leaf peeping and visiting two of Hudson Valley Etsy's fiber artists. On Saturday, head on down to Crafts In Chelsea and say Hi to Erin, from Harp and Thistle. You'll want to choose from her selection of charming punch needle embroidery pieces to adorn your home or yourself.

 

On Sunday, you'll find Kathryn from HuzzahHandmade at the final Warwick Makers' Market of the year at Railroad Green Park, in the heart of the lovely village of Warwick, N.Y. Her shop is brimming with all things warm, soft and luxurious for comfy Autumn strolling or holiday gift-giving.

 

 

The Elven Urban Hood, by HuzzahHandmade

In My Studio: Periscope

In the last couple of months I have been obsessively watching Periscope. In case you don't know Periscope I am writing this blog post to show how it works and how it can be used by your own small craft business.

What is it?

Periscope is a free video streaming app which you can download onto your device from the app store. It allows users to watch or broadcast videos in real time. What this means is that a bit like Skype or Facetime you can watch something that is happening right now. Whilst you are watching you are able to add comments which the broadcaster can see their end and also tap your screen to add hearts if you are enjoying what you are seeing. These broadcasts are then available for anyone to watch within 24 hours after which they are deleted.

How could this apply to my small craft business?

As a viewer:

Follow like minded crafters and small business owners for great advice and info. A couple I would recommend are:

Caitlin Bacher  @caitlinbacher    Small business advice, especially about social media strategies

Merriweather Council @merriweatherc  Wonderful and practical advice about Etsy

Recent Periscope from the Merriweather Council about optimizing your shop for the holidays

Danielle of the Merriweather Council

As a broadcaster:

There are many ways you could use periscope to video stream live to potential customers, collaborators and followers, here are some ideas:

1. Show off or demo a new product
2. Launch a new collection
3. Small business discussion
4. Tour of your studio
5. Work in progress
6. Behind the scenes look at a photoshoot or a craft show
7. Question and Answer session
8. Focus group (feedback on a new product)
9. Teach a technique, do a demonstration
10. Talk about a blog post
11. Celebrate milestones

How this could be used by the HV Etsy Team?

1. Host meetings: As everyone lives so spread out across our region meeting up has proved difficult. Persicope is a way that we could bring everyone together. One of the group leaders could host a periscope that them all team members could watch. They would be able to join in the discussion through their comments..
2. Go behind the scenes at craft fairs, interview vendors and team members

I am yet to pluck up the courage to do a scope myself but would love to do one in the future so follow me on Periscope at @saraho32. I would love to see fellow members start to do scopes so please add your address in the comments and also add any recommendations of people to follow.

Good Luck and Good Scoping!

Sarah

So Handmade

Vendors Wanted! Holiday Craft Fair - Beacon, NY

It's our most exciting time of the year! Getting ready to return to the Howland Cultural Center on Saturday December 12, 2015 for our annual holiday craft fair!

You can find our application here. The deadline is October 31st.   We also have a special Facebook page just for the event which you can like and follow.  Here are some pictures from last year early in the day as we were setting up.  This show has become one of the most popular events hosted by the Howland. We also hear that people in Beacon have asked them about it throughout the year so it's become a great event to look forward to.

Where To Find Hudson Valley Etsy This Weekend

Everything from Soap to Mutts

A big weekend for Hudson Valley Etsy

 

Handmade Custom Chainmaille Dog Collar by Omnisilver 

How can you resist that face? Adorn your best friend with an amazing, custom-made collar with your choice of pendant. Available from Mary, of Omni Silver. You can find a wonderful assortment of other fine jewelry items made by Mary this Saturday along Main Street, Valatie, NY at Handmade in America 

Gwen, from Beyond the Picket Fence, will be at The MidHudson Marketplace at Nostrano Vineyards in Milton, NY with her collection of all natural bath and body products. Make sure you check out her soaps created from local craft beers.

 

Paper Box Pale Ale Soap by Beyond The Picket Fence

 

Dara, mask-maker, of Daragallery will bring her beautiful creations to the Cairo, NY Applefest on Saturday and Sunday, just in time for you to buy that perfect mask for your Halloween revelries. 

Matching Couples Red Satin Brocade Masks by daragallery

 

Rounding out the group you'll want to visit Christina, of Hudson Naturals at the Phoenica Flea on Saturday and Sunday at the Stone Ridge Orchard. Her products sound good enough to eat! 

Lemon Parsley Body Lotion by Hudson Naturals

Be A Guest Writer For Hudson Valley Etsy's Blog!

We love blogging and sharing with you what is new with the team, but we are also looking for guest writers to contribute to our blog.  If you are based in the Hudson Valley with a small business or you provide a service in the Hudson Valley helping artist and small businesses, we would love to hear from you!

Maybe you're an Accountant in the Hudson Valley with some tax preparation tips for small businesses. Or you're a Wedding Photographer and would like to share how you scout locations in this beautiful part of New York state.  You can be a Farmer or Gardener - we love locally sourced food too!

We would also love to hear from charities in the Hudson Valley.  With the Holidays approaching, we know this time of the year puts people in the giving mood. We would love to help you spread the word for your cause.

Our goal is to not only support our local handmade makers, but the greater community that we live in.  If you are interested, please email us at hvetsy@gmail.com and we'll get back to you!

Where To Find Hudson Valley Etsy This Weekend

Attention Lords and Ladies, don your regalia, 

summon your squires and handmaidens, 

get thee to Fort Tyron Park Medieval Festival this Sunday

 for frivolity, games, and feasting

    

White and Gold Wing Shaped Leather Mask by Dara Gallery

Fort Tyron Park is the location of the beautiful Cloisters Museum, a place not to be missed. Whist wandering the festival, you definitely should not miss Hudson Valley Etsy's Dara of Dara Gallery, purveyor of handmade leather and paper mache masks extrodinaire, as well as accessories to compliment your attire.  

Please, scrolleth down for more information.

Brown Mulberry Paper Mache Mask, by Dara Gallery

Leather Hair Slide Celtic Symbol by Dara Gallery

The Medieval Festival at Fort Tyron Park brings to life the customs and spirit of the Middle Ages. Performers, guests and festival goers dress in medieval costume. Visitors are greeted by authentic medieval music, dance, magic, and minstrels, as well as jugglers and jesters. The afternoon is concluded with a thrilling joust between four knights on horseback. Costumed vendors will be on hand to demonstrate and sell a wide variety of medieval crafts as well as food and drink.

Meet Our New Members: The Summer Edition!

As the days start to lengthen and Summer starts to wane, we get new members!  Please join me in welcoming the newest members of the Hudson Valley Etsy team, they've got some great stuff that I'm sure you'll like.

Graceful Feather Watercolor in a Vintage Wood and Gold Frame by KatieGroveStudios

First off is KatieGroveStudios by none other then Katie Grove of Rosendale, NY,  Her artwork is full of feathers and a few other bird related items, such as nests.  Each is displayed is a gorgeous hand picked frame, all vintage or antique.  The feathers are so soft and lovely! She'll also paint a feather you have if you'd like - maybe you have one from a special trip of hike?  Welcome to the team!

Faceted Ruby Quartz, Dumortierite, Kyanite Sterling Silver Necklace by OmiSilver

OmiSilver is brought to us by Mary Rembach of Hudson, NY.  Her shop is full of some yummy jewelry often made with stones and silver, and some lovely linked pieces using silver and/or cooper rings.  Her work was recently at the Emmys! You just have to check out her work! Nice to meet you.

Rabbit Necklace, Sterling Silver by Hoshika

We wrap up this set with Hoshika of Marbletown, NY, but you don't have to have lost your marbles to enjoy this work! Her jewelry is reminiscent of hand cut silhouettes, and often features soft edges and sweet animals. Other pieces feature geometric designs, but retain a certain fluidity that I really like.  Glad to have you here!

Well that's all I've got for you now, but what a great group it is! I can't wait to see what new shops will find their way here to join us next season. And remember shop local! That way you support your neighbors and our community.

Enjoy!

Amber