Where To Find Makers-On-Hudson This Weekend

 Strolling, Sipping, and Shopping

This weekend is packed with very special and diverse events for Makers-on-Hudson throughout the Hudson River Valley.

Mermaid Bag by SOHandmade

On Saturday, why not take a walk across the beautiful Walkway Over the Hudson? The Hudson Valley Art Market will be presenting Make Her Day, a lovely selection of "artists and artisans, musings and musicians, sippings and samplings in addition to multi-generational Make-Your-Own gifts in order to truly Make-Her Day!" Sarah, of SO Handmade, will be there from 11 - 4. If walking across the river is not your thing, then just stop by for a leisurely stroll around the market and get your Mother's Day shopping done.

Wet Felted Painting, Iona Island, Hudson River

Kathryn, of HuzzahHandmade, is the Artist of the Month, at ReMADE, in Beacon, N.Y. Kathryn's felted wool paintings will be featured for a month beginning this Saturday. She will be on-hand for the opening from 6 - 8PM. Please stop by to share a glass of wine, some refreshments, and to see her new work.  ReMADE is a little gem of a shop that includes only handmade, locally sourced work.  It's Second Saturday in Beacon so there will be lots to do and see.

Ceramic Platter by Hester's Studio

For your next stop this weekend, also in Beacon at the Howland Cultural Center, please meet Hester, of Hester's Studio, who will be bringing her hand-built ceramics to Mid Hudson Etsy Makers Pop Up Market. 

First Give Thanks, then Giving.

It’s been an interesting week! As Bob Dylan said “for the times they are a-changin."

All the more reason to give thanks and gratitude this time of year.

So blow up the parade balloons, ring dem jingle bells and spike the eggnog!

The Makers-on-Hudson are ready to make your holidays festive and fun. We welcome you to take a glance into our Etsy shops, visit our studios and see us out and about the Hudson Valley presenting our beautiful wares and making your life better through our handmade visions.

Come say hello at : Hudson Valley Hullabaloo

Makers-on-Hudson Holiday Craft Fair

Bard College Holiday Craft Fair

Hudson Valley Farm & Flea

Out of my Studio: Celebrating Karmabee

Karen Berelowitz in her Karmabee Store in Kingston NY

I wanted to write this blog post to celebrate Karen Berelowitz of Karmabee and to congratulate her on her amazing 4 years of business in her bricks and mortar store on the Strand in Kingston.

Karen has decided to close her well loved store for the time being but is set to continue being a fixture at local farmers markets, craft fairs and of course online.

The store opened its doors in 2011 and was one of the first to capitalize on the renewal of the area which today sees many visitors to the historic waterfront site and to the new stores, cafes and restaurants  that have since opened.

 

Karmabee Store

In her time on the Strand Karen has been instrumental in local community events including the monthly night markets, events such as Sinterklaas, Hooley on the Hudson, the Shamrock Run and many more. She also joined Re>Think Local and regularly contributed to small business shopping events.

 

 

 

The store not only sold Karmabees distinctive range of hand screen printed t-shirts, onesies and cards but Karen also championed local craft makers including many from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team. Thanks to Karen many of us have been able to count on regular sales from Karmabee and we have also benefitted from having a local store that we can send our customers to.

Personally I have really enjoyed popping into Karmabee every couple of months to bring in new stock and  to chat with Karen about what we have both been making and craft fairs we are doing. Working on a small craft business from home can be quite a lonely pursuit and having people like Karen to touch base with once in a while was such a blessing.

 

Gorgeous Karmabee themed cake at the store closing party

I hope everyone is together with me in wishing Karen  every success in her future endeavors. We are excited to see what plans she has in store for Karmabee.

In the mean time Karmabee can still be found on Etsy and Amazon and in the warmer months she will be returning to the uptown Kingston Farmers Markets.

 



Look out for Karmabee at local farmers markets and craft fairs

 

Good Luck Karen and Good Making!

 

Sarah

So Handmade

2015 Holiday Craft Fair Sneak Peek #1 - Beacon, NY

Today we are happy to share with you the first batch of vendors you will find at our Holiday Craft Fair this year.   We will have a nice mix of members of the team as well as other local artisans and makers bringing you a nice mix of fun and unique gift ideas for your shopping list.  If you are on Facebook and plan on joining us, click here to RSVP!

Digilio Designs

Kmiotek Art Works

S2 Stationery and Design

Squirrel Den Studio

Knot By Gran'ma

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.

Meet our new members! Spring part 2

It might officially be summer now, but don't think that means we forgot about the new members that need to be introduced! What have you been up to since then? Shopping for goodies at the last group of new members' shops, I bet.  They were pretty awesome, but so is this batch. So, without further ado, I shall begin my introductions.

Avocado Pin. Punchneedle Embroidery by HarpandThistle

Erin and Corey of NY, NY make up the harp and thistle of HarpandThistle!  Their shop is full of wonderful and cute punch needle embroidery, ranging in size from mini to small and ready to hang on your wall, holiday tree, shirt, keys, neck or even on your skin! (There is a temporary tattoo.) I'm kind of in love with the avocados and their Easter collection.  Welcome to the team!

Blue Lace Agate "Teeth" Necklace by incarnateanew

Erica G. Bushell is the mind and hands behind Incarnate Anew in Poughkeepsie, NY. She has filled her shop with metal, gemstone, and beaded jewelry, many with stamped accents flowing a celestial and geometric bend.  Her whole line has a wonderful earthy feel I just love, I can't wait to see what else she comes up with!  Nice to meet you.

artist designed limited edition packing tape: scarab blue by Lunule

Lunule is run by Susan Rowe Harrison of Dobbs Ferry, NY.  She does hand cut vinyl designs for all kinds of situations, and her shop is full of creations made with her designs.  I love the colors and designs, even the kid-like ones - and especially the chalkboard ones. Chalkboard things are always in my favorites. Glad to have you!

Autumn Scarecrow Note Cards by KmiotekArtWorks

Paul Kmiotek of Lake Carmel, NY created his shop KmiotekArtWorks to share his original artwork.  He is a wiz with pen and ink and I love his textures and use of selective coloring. Most of his pieces are of animals, but houses and flowers grace his paper as well.  Much of his work is available on note cards or as prints, but he even has some on wooden magnets and in a book! Great work!

Undyed Heavy Goat Splits - Vegetable Tanned by PergamenaNY

PergamenaNY creates in Montgomery, NY.  Their shop is full of vegetable tanned leathers, some dyed with a water-soluble aniline dye in some great colors.  They have a couple different thicknesses depending on what you're going to use it for, and even have some examples of what the leather can be used for in their shop, such as a leather bound journal.  I've never made a leather mask, but some of the colors makes me feel like I should be! So soft.  Welcome!

What a fun group that was!  I can't wait to see what new members we'll get next time.  Until then, keep on keeping on and keep in mind our local sellers for whatever shopping needs you happen to have - or at least lend them some support by talking about them to your friends.

Enjoy!

Amber

Etsy Visits Karmabee - Kingston, NY

I recently had a visit from Etsy as part of their seller studio tours. Etsy staff visit sellers because, as they explain in a recent blog post, "...nothing beats visiting a seller in person to witness her creative process in action and the challenges she faces on a daily basis." It was lots of fun! The five Etsy staff who came to Karmabee from both the Hudson and Brooklyn offices had great questions about my business, and I got a chance to ask questions and make suggestions about all things Etsy.

Etsy visits Karmabee in Kingston, NY

First I gave them a tour of my store, which sells both my own Karmabee products and items by local artists and makers, including quite a few members of the Hudson Valley Etsy Team (many of whom have been with me since I opened in 2011!). We discussed my experience running a brick & mortar store and what a typical day is like.

I then showed them around my studio area, which I've reorganized many times since I opened, with its separate work stations and table surfaces that allow me to work on many different projects at the same time, as the multitasker in me loves to do. Unfortunately it's the the office portion of my studio that gets the most use, and they acknowledged that most sellers spend at least 50% of their time running their business rather than creating. They had lots of great questions about my systems, such as how I manage my inventory (my weakest area!), handle shipping, and manage social media.

They were very patient with my various questions (and a couple of complaints) about the technical side of Etsy. For example, I mentioned the problem of not being able to adjust shipping rates for different quantities in the same listing (e.g., 1 notecard vs a pack of 10: either this has to be two separate listings, or buyer has to pay crazy shipping for the single item). They are aware this is an issue, and explained that this feature was originally intended for color/size variations of the same item, and thus wasn't set up to handle different shipping weights, which makes sense. I also begged for more bulk editing options, especially for tags, titles and descriptions (as Craftopolis and Betsi offer), and they said they're on it! Yay!

After many more questions and ample time satisfying my dog Annie's need for belly rubs, they perused the store and made some purchases, which I really appreciated. I used my Etsy payment swiper for the first time, and learned that it's a great way to have in-person sales adjust online inventory and to gather customer reviews.

As both Etsy and the controversy surrounding Etsy's definition of handmade continues to grow, I am happy to know that the company dedicates time and effort to hearing from sellers. We all hope Etsy finds a way to support handmade sellers in a marketplace free of cheap mass-produced competition.

Karen - Karmabee

Now at ArtsWestchester

We are excited to announce the opening of the new SHOP at ArtsWestchester in White Plains!  Curated by Elena Rosenberg of Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art, the SHOP at ArtsWestchester carries handmade art and crafts by New York area artists and makers, including many from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team. 

An extension of the beautiful gallery space at 31 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, the shop and gallery are open Tuesday - Saturday, 12-5pm.

There will be trunk shows/demos in connection with the SHOP at ArtsWestchester on the following dates:

Cindy of Cynla on 4/18 12pm - 4pm
Sue Digilio of Digilio Designs on 4/25 12 pm - 4pm
Elena Rosenberg on 5/2 12pm - 4pm

Click after the jump to see more images of this beautiful new space!

Spring Green Is Here

Not to get too ahead of ourselves with the warmer temperatures we've been having in Hudson Valley but we are antsy to see some GREEN! Click the below image to check out one of our latest team Etsy treasuries curated by Hester from Hester Studio.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day a day early on the blog by sharing a couple of Valentine's theme Etsy treasuries featuring items from our members.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Valentine's Day Gift Guide - Hudson Valley Etsy

If you are not following us on Facebook (why not??), then you missed this year's collection of Valentine's Day gift ideas from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team.  That's ok, we got you covered here to help you shop local.  See our complete list on Etsy here.  Click the image to view the listing in our members' Etsy shops.

Clutch from Hand J Star Creations

Valentine's Day Card from Cynla

Valentine Pocket Coffee Cozy from Quarter Life Luck

Heart Shape Swirl Glass Dish from Get Glassy

Hope you like our picks! You can always see more gift idea options on our Etsy page.

Meet our new members! winter edition

It's a new year, and have I got some new members for you!!  This winter, the Hudson Valley Etsy Team is pleased to announce six new members for your viewing pleasure. Maybe even for your shopping pleasure!  I'm sure you haven't spent all the money and gift cards you got for the holidays yet. I certainly haven't, at least.

Wild Flower Door Mat - Rope Mat - Front Door Decor by Twisted Thread And Hook

Magdalena Marsh runs Twisted Thread And Hook and does her crocheting in New York, NY.   Her shop is full of rugs and other home decor created by crocheting rope! I love the look and feel of her pieces, and can just imagine what it would feel like to step on one everyday before coming inside.  Welcome to the team!

Kitten Dish by Joy and Noelle

Joy and Noelle are twins and run Joy and Noelle together.  They've made their lovely illustrations even more beautiful and useful by decoupaging them to the back of a plate and then covering the back with gold leaf!  They're food safe, but would you really want to eat off them? They might be better off adorning your wall.  They even do custom work for weddings and other portraits.  Is anyone out there looking for an anniversary present for me?  Glad to have you!

Mod Colorful Clutch Purse, Kiss lock Frame, Vintage Fabric on Navy Canvas by John Met Betty

Jillian Darnell of John Met Betty does her creating in Croton-on-Hudson in New York.   Her shop is filled with purses and handbags, often made with vintage fabrics and other pieces, all in awesome and unique color and patterns.  They look super fashionable.  Nice to meet you!

NEW! NEBULA - Origami MINI Mobile - 4 Metallic Cranes - Astronomical Silver by Pick Up Sticks Studio

 Shannon Anastasia of Highland Falls, NY has renamed her shop  Pick Up Sticks Studio.  It's still full of awesome paper crane mobiles I'm sure my baby niece would love (I'm sure the older ones would love some of them, too!).  There are a couple other paper goods as well, and it looks like she's having a sale, so exciting!  Good to see you again!

Breathtaking Black Walnut Container with Lid by Rooster Studios

Jennifer Younge of Beacon, NY is the owner of Rooster Studios.  She creates some gorgeous wooden items for your home, with everything from bowl and vases to hand mills and candles!  Any of her pieces would add a bit of a rustic feel to your country kitchen, but wouldn't be out of place in a more modern one as well.  Plus, if you look at her about page, you'll see she cares for a herd of cats, so what's not to love?  Thanks for joining us!

Geode Pendant 8 - Healing Stones Collection- Quartz Crystal by Melissa Anne Designs

Melissa of Melissa Anne Designs lives in Accord, NY.  There, she creates a lovely collection of naturally inspired artwork and jewelry.  Not only are her photos of stones and flowers stunning, but the jewelry she makes using stones is, too.  And, if you're a Game of Thrones fan, you might just want to check out her digital art section.  Welcome to our group!

Well, those are all the new members I have for you today!  Please stop by their shops and make them feel welcome, not to mention to give yourself a boost of inspiration.  Remember, all these artisans are local and support our area's economy, plus you might even run into them at the grocery store some day.  Hope you all are having a great new year so far!

Enjoy,
Amber

Shades From The Ocean

Happy Friday!  We know we're in the middle of winter but that doesn't stop us from having thoughts of hanging out at the beach and enjoying a view of the ocean.  This is reflected perfectly in one of our latest team's Etsy treasuries by Jillian from JohnMetBetty.

Team Etsy Treasury - January Fun

We hope everyone's 2015 is off to a wonderful start!  It's quite chilly here in the Hudson Valley so we wanted to share the lovely warm tones of this Etsy treasury put together by Judy from H & J Star Creations.   Click the image to take a closer look!