Happy Holidays! See You In 2015

We're all wrapping things up this holiday season, orders shipped, craft fairs are over and we are taking a quickie break through the new year here at the blog.   We just wanted to pop in and share a couple of recent Etsy treasuries to keep the spirit going! Click images to check out the treasury page.

Holiday Craft Fair Recap (Pictures!)

A big THANK YOU to our vendors and everyone who came out this past Saturday to check out our annual Holiday Craft Fair at The Howland Cultural Center in Beacon.  We had a wonderful turnout and beautiful weather to make things even better. If you recall, we had to cancel last year due to a huge snow storm so it was nice to be back.

Here are just a photos from the day. You can see a lot more in our Facebook photo album and if you want to stay up to date about this event for 2015, make sure you like the event's Facebook page.

In My Studio: Plastic Bag Dispenser Tutorial

In an effort to save some money this holiday season I decided to make all my sons teachers one of these plastic bag dispensers as a 'green' Christmas present. They are quick and easy to make and useful for every household. Here is a tutorial to make your own for gifts or just for yourself!

Materials

Three different fabrics in coordinating colors.

One piece of thin elastic 16" long

1) Cut the top piece of fabric A into a rectangle 15" by 18"

2) Cut the middle piece of fabric B into a rectangle 15" by 5"

3) Cut the bottom piece of fabric C into a rectangle 15" by 6"

4) Cut a strip of any of the fabrics (piece D) 2" by 10"

4) Fold over 1/4 " and iron fabric C (along the 15" side).

5) Fold over, iron and pin fabric C again, leaving a hem of half an inch.

6) On the sewing machine hem along this edge.

7) Fold over twice and iron the top of fabric A and sew it down (along the 15" side).

 8) Pin and sew the fabric piece B to the un-hemmed bottom of piece A, right sides together.

9) Pin and sew the fabric piece C onto the bottom of the piece you just sewed, right sides together.

10) Iron the seams open on the reverse side.

11) Take your strip piece D and fold in half along the long edge, right sides together and iron. Sew down the long side and then turn inside out to make the long 'handle'. Over stitch along both edges.



12) Mark the center at the top of the main fabric piece and mark 3 1/2" either side of this center point.

13) Pin the tie at these points to the inside of the main fabric making a loop

14) Sew these down.

15) Take the piece of elastic and attach a safety pin to one end. Thread this through the bottom hem and leave hanging out of both ends.

16) Fold along the middle and pin down the sides (right sides together)

17) Sew down this edge from the top. When you get to the bottom pull the elastic tight (as shown) and continue to sew over the elastic ends. Reverse to make it extra strong

18) Trim the excess of elastic and turn inside out.

19) Hang up and stuff with bags!

Less then 1% of all plastic bags in the US are recycled- help change this frightening statistic

Good Luck and Good Making!

Sarah Omura

SO Handmade



Where To Find The Hudson Valley Etsy Team This Weekend

It's our last weekend of the year for craft fairs so come out this weekend and get your special one-of-a-kind and limited edition gifts (and why not treat yourself too?)

We are participating in 2 events this weekend.

If you're in New York City, or feel like a little trip down south for the gorgeous Holiday season, Cynla and John Met Betty will be at Handmade Cavalcade at the Chelsea Market this Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14, from 10AM-8PM.

Cynla

Cynla

John Met Betty

John Met Betty

As you've previously seen on this blog, our signature team event, the Howland Holiday Fair, will take place this Saturday, December 13, from 10AM-5PM at the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY. Among the team members selling at the event will be
Pulp Sushi
Hester's Studio
The Potpourri Room
For a full lineup check our previous posts part 1 and part 2.

Pulp Sushi

Pulp Sushi

Hester's Studio

Hester's Studio

The Potpourri Room

The Potpourri Room

Happy shopping and Happy handmade Holidays!

Gift Tags - Free Printable

Seasons Greetings from 
the Hudson Valley Etsy Team!

Our Holiday Craft Fair in Beacon is only weeks away.  Get ready to give with these fennec fox gift tags you can print at home.  Have your special persons been naughty or nice this year?

Click on link below for Naughty and Nice pdf

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4emWuO6AltReEc0eEZfWldyNXM&authuser=0

Instructions:

1. Print out the downloaded file on a sheet of card stock
2. Cut out each tag along the pale blue lines - use scissors, x-acto knife & ruler or paper cutter.
3. Punch out holes with a hole punch or just attach to your gift with tape or glue. I also drew in gold marker along the edges for more decoration.

All images © Jody A Lee 2014

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com

This gift tag sheet is for your personal use only
All commercial use of them or these images is prohibited

Happy Holidays!

Jody 

Howland Holiday Craft Fair - Sneak Peek #2

We're in the home stretch! This Saturday is our Annual Holiday Craft Fair at The Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY! Are you ready??

Last week we shared with you our first batch of vendors who will be selling their handmade goods. Now let's meet the rest of our vendors and finish up our shopping list!

Pea Green Boat	Pulp Sushi	Reclaimed Designs	Ro Art Designs
Rockerbox Garlic	Sorcha Moon	WickedMint	Wish Upon A Press
Hudson Naturals	Smash Fire Designs	The Potpourri Room

See you on Saturday!