{Artist Spotlight} Our Interview with Dustin and Karen of Bearded Buffalo Co.

Dustin and Karen are so excited to be part of the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash, sponsored by Etsy, on November 10 at Fashion Industry Gallery in Dallas. We are excited too! Bearded Buffalo Co. is releasing a new limited-edition scent for their beard balm and oil at the Bash. 

Bearded Buffalo Co. is a veteran-owned and operated company. The use natural ingredients and make their products in the USA. These two both work full time and go to school full time in addition to running Bearded Buffalo. We caught up with them recently for quick interview. 

Is your shop offering anything new or special at the Bash?

The weekend of the Jingle Bash is kind of the perfect storm of events for us. November 10th is also the Marine Corps birthday and the following day is Veterans Day. Both our owners are veterans and one served in the Marine Corps which makes this pretty significant. We see this as the perfect time to release a new and limited-edition scent of beard balm and oil. We’re calling it “Yeti,” and it will be a great scent for the winter!

What do you most enjoy about working with your team?

We currently have a two-man team. My wife and I. We started this company together after only a few months of dating. It was a scary thing to do, but somewhere in the back of our minds we must have known it would all work out. The trials we faced starting a business together helped us learn a lot about each other and laid a good foundation for our marriage. 

Is there a story behind your shop name? 

We see our business, including all of our oil and balm scent names as a homage to great men. Men who have had a hand not only in building our country, but also men who have influenced us in our personal lives. One of these great men being Karen’s grandfather. He was part Native American, loved nature and had an affinity for buffalo. 

What do you find most challenging about your work?

The most challenging thing about our work is creating new product. We want to provide our customers with awesome products, and we don’t release anything we are not supremely proud of. This takes research, formulating, time, testing and usually more formulating. Though daunting at times, it’s worth it when our customers tell us how much they love our products or what a difference our products have made for them. 

Shop from over 100 artists offering unique handmade wares at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 10. From original art, home goods, and artisanal soaps to local jewelry designers, leather workers and so much more! Check out the event on Facebook here. And find out how to shop the Bash like a pro here. We’ll see y’all at the Bash! 

{Artist Spotlight} Our Interview with Stephanie of Untamed Arte

When Stephanie is creating pieces for Untamed Arte, her goal is to make something special and different. Each one-of-a-kind piece is just that – unique and eye-catching. Untamed Arte is all about trying new things and thinking outside the box. 

You’re going to want to explore all the pieces in the Untamed Arte booth at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash on November 10 at Fashion Industry Gallery in Dallas. We caught up with Stephanie recently for an interview.

Is your shop offering anything new, special or different at the 2018 Jingle Bash?

We are trying out new designs of our resin work. We are also offering 15 percent off. 

What is your favorite part of prepping for an upcoming show?

Gathering materials to make new inventory is the best feeling. Completing orders gives me such an adrenaline rush. 

What makes the Bash special for you?

Meeting our sales goal is always a great feeling but what matters is the feedback that we get. We want to feel like we’re creating a product that people enjoy and want to take home. 

Is there a story behind your shop’s name?

Untamed Arte came about from not knowing what to name the business. There isn’t one type medium or main style that we do. We really enjoy experimenting and pushing the limits. 

What is a typical day of work like for you?

A typical day consists of filling orders. Reviewing my planner. For every task I check off, I add 10 more. I do a lot of research on how I can improve my craft and what new materials I can use.

How would you describe your shop?

I would describe it as fun and colorful. And a place where you just want to hang out for a while and really look at all the texture and pigments used in each piece. 

Art has always been a passion for Stephanie. She knew it was what made her happy and that’s what pushed her to finally take it from a hobby to a business. She works with her family on Untamed Arte and she said she is excited about the atmosphere at the Jingle Bash. We are too!

Shop from over 100 artists offering unique handmade wares at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bashfrom 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 10. From original art, home goods, and artisanal soaps to local jewelry designers, leather workers and so much more! Check out the event on Facebook here. And find out how to shop the Bash like a pro here. We’ll see y’all at the Bash! 

{Artist Spotlight} Our Interview with Stephanie of Ox & Pine

Stephanie fell in love with creating leather journals and her passion for making beautiful pieces inspired her to launch Ox & Pine. You can shop the Ox & Pine handcrafted leather goods booth at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash on November 10 at Fashion Industry Gallery in Dallas. 

One of her favorite parts of prepping for a show is planning out her displays so that shoppers can feel and smell them. Ox & Pine goods make wonderful gifts for loved ones on your holiday shopping list. They’re also a wonderful way to treat yourself this season. We caught up with Stephanie recently for an interview.

What are you most looking forward to for the Jingle Bash?

I’m most looking forward to meeting everyone in person. It’s so fun to hear about how a special gift will be given and to add personalizations on the spot to our leather goods.

Is your shop offering anything new, special or different at the Bash?

We’ll have a few new special products available at the Bash this year including our new leather bracelets and leather lanyards – all with personalization options. 

What is a typical day of work like for you?

A typical day involves cutting leather, sewing pages into journals, stamping personalization on journals, prototyping new products, and helping customers with questions. 

How would you describe your shop?

My shop is full of high-quality leather journals and other leather goods that are personalized – perfect for a gift for you or a loved one.

Stephanie said she loves creating products that means so much to the recipients. And she loves getting to work with her hands to create leather goods every day. We think the love she has for Ox & Pine shows and we can’t wait to see her booth at the 2018 Jingle Bash. 

Shop from over 100 artists offering unique handmade wares at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 10. From original art, home goods, and artisanal soaps to local jewelry designers, leather workers and so much more! Check out the event on Facebook here. And find out how to shop the Bash like a pro here. We’ll see y’all at the Bash! 

{Artist Spotlight} Our Interview with Sarah of Sarah Briggs Jewelry

Sarah Briggs launched her handmade jewelry line in 2004. She was determined to break boundaries and redefine the rules of the jewelry industry. You can shop the Sarah Briggs Jewelry line at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash on November 10 at Fashion Industry Gallery in Dallas. 

We are so excited to see how Sarah is shaking things up with her beautiful pieces this season. And we know many of you are too. We caught up with Sarah recently for a quick interview.

What are you most looking forward to for the Jingle Bash?

We love the Jingle Bash because we are a company located in the DFW Metroplex and love shopping and working alongside our neighbors!

Is your shop offering anything new, special or different at the Bash?

We will have a brand-new collection. We are very excited about these releases and think you will be too.

How would you describe your shop?

Laidback Luxe. Our pieces are classic. Timeless with a little bit of edge. Light and comfortable enough to wear to the gym. Precious enough to wear to a black-tie event. 

Her shop’s motto is: There is no excuse not to have beautiful jewelry on. Each Sarah Briggs piece is handmade from the details hammered in to the handpicked stones. Those of you who have shopped the Bash in the past will remember the Sarah Briggs booth as a Bash favorite. We love that Sarah’s pieces look high-end but are still affordable and keep us looking chic and carefree. 

Shop from over 100 artists offering unique handmade wares at the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 10. From original art, home goods, and artisanal soaps to local jewelry designers, leather workers and so much more! Check out the event on Facebook here. And find out how to shop the Bash like a pro here. We’ll see y’all at the Bash! 

13 Tips for Shopping the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash Like a Pro

The highly anticipated Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash is November 10 at F.I.G. Admission is free! We will have a free photo booth and fun make-and-take crafts. We put together a few tips for making the most of your Jingle Bash experience ...

1. Bring your favorite shopping buddies and be sure your phone or camera is charged. There are fun photo booths in the works and you’re going to want those selfies. Don’t forget to tag @etsydallas so we can see too!

2. Make your list before Bash Day so you won’t forget anyone on your shopping list. Don’t forget holidays are right around the corner. You can even browse the 2018 Jingle Bash Artists ahead of time.

3. Grab a map when you come in so you can head straight to your favorite booths. We will have some Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash swag at our information booth while supplies last. And be sure to visit the free make-and-take craft table hosted by Creative Arts Center of Dallas.

4. Bring a tote bag for your purchases if you want to keep your hands free for browsing all the beautiful handmade pieces our artists will have at the Jingle Bash. We will have extra totes for sale but supplies are limited.

5. The first 50 shoppers in line get our coveted Bash Bags. We are always excited with the contributions for the Bash Bags. Those 50 lucky shoppers who are first in line will love what they find inside.

6. Don’t stress if you arrive at opening to see people lined up outside the door. Diehard Bash shoppers are there to get their hands on our Bash Bags. Once doors open, everyone gets ushered right in without a wait.

7. Our all-volunteer leadership team works on planning for our Bashes all year long! We are passionate about putting on an event you will love but we can’t control the weather or traffic. If you’re planning to wait in the line before the show, be prepared.

8. Expect traffic. Plan your route ahead of time. It’s downtown Dallas, y’all. Check the news for construction or any big events that may affect your route. Consider carpooling with friends or taking DART if driving downtown stresses you out.

9. Thankfully there are several parking options for F.I.G. We will have food trucks and a bar onsite as well. 

10. Expect a crowd. We love how the community comes out to show support for our artists! If you want to browse with a little more elbow room, arrive after lunch. Don’t worry. Our artists are stocked for the whole day.

11. You may want to leave the stroller in the car or at home. If possible, wearing your little one may make shopping the Bash easier for you.

12. Find the Etsy Dallas table to find out how to win Bash Bucks (that’s money that only works at this Bash, y’all). We want to give you extra $$ to spend at the Bash, so don’t miss out!

13. If you haven’t already, sign up for our newsletter. We promise we only send out fun and happy emails. It’s a great way to get the scoop on all our upcoming events.

Craftcation 2019 will change your life {and our friends get a special perk}

We’re excited to post today about an event put on by our partners in California especially for makers and creative business owners in April 2019. Craftcation: Business + Makers Conference is an annual life-changing four-day event featuring industry professionals leading attendees in over 100+ hands-on DIY workshops and creative business classes.

If you’ve ever thought any of the following, it’s time to plan a trip to Ventura, CA:

• I wish I could take a vacation where I get to make things with like-minded people.

• I have this idea for a business that I want to turn into my full-time job but it’s too overwhelming to figure out where to start.

• I have a successful business and I’m ready to take it to the next level but I’m not sure how.

• I want to make meaningful connections with people in my field but I don’t have the time or opportunities to make it happen.

Craftcation is the place where you can make any one of those things happen!

If you’re a maker, blogger or creative business owner then it’s time to get ready for four inspiring days that you’ll never forget. Craftcation has over 100 hands-on workshops and business classes, so whether you’re coming to craft, grow your business or a little bit of both, there’s lots of making, meeting and learning in store for you.

Craftcation takes place April 3-7, 2019, in the beach town of Ventura, CA – about an hour north of Los Angeles. Craftcation utilizes Ventura’s historic downtown buildings and businesses as well as the beach for special events like networking meet & greets, cocktail socials, a pop-up shop, opening celebration, yoga, as well as food and art tours.

Registration opens today and the first 50 people to register get $50 off! After that, you can still get $20 off as a friend of Etsy Dallas if you apply through this link. Will you be there next spring?

Our Top Picks for International Podcast Day

International Podcast Day is September 30 and Etsy Dallas members have been discussing our favorite podcasts. We decided it’s the perfect day to share these with you. Did we miss your favorite podcast? Let us know which podcast you’ve been bingeing in the comments.

For creatives and makers who need inspiration, motivation or a change of perspective…

Creating Your Own Path

Proof to Product

Creative Pep Talk

How I Built This

One Girl Band

Etsy Jam

99% Invisible

Recommendations from some of our favorite moms…

Story Pirates

Ear Snacks

The Longest Shortest Time

Wow in the World

For when you want to learn more about the world…

This American Life

Today, Explained

For your inner geek…

The Inner Gamer Podcast

Starships, Sabers and Scoundrels

And just in time for Halloween, we have a few recommendations on the disturbing side…

Swindled

Dr. Death

Disgraceland

My Favorite Murder

How to make the most of National Self-Improvement Month

Hello, everyone! My name is Alex Hughes, and I sell my globally inspired prints and illustrations through my business, Wandering Paper Co. I went to college at TCU, where I majored in graphic design, and I now live in the DFW area with my husband Philip and our cat Athena. 

I don't know about you, but I'm so excited fall is here. The breeze is blowing, football season is upon us, and the infamous PSL is back. Yes, I know it’s still 90 degrees outside, but 90 is better than 100, and in Texas, we’ll take what we can get.

It's funny, every year when school starts I have the urge to take up a class or two myself. Maybe it’s the shiny new school supplies (it’s hard to say no to a new leather-bound notebook from Ox and Pine, or a witty to-do list from Kat French Design) or maybe it’s just the feeling of working toward a goal, but I miss the feeling of satisfaction that comes with learning something new. It’s fitting, then, that September is National Self-Improvement month. It's the perfect excuse to take a class, read a book or take on a new challenge. So I've put together a few ways to make the most of self-improvement month. Feel free to give them a try.

Start a Journal
I’m a recent fan of journaling after reading The Artist’s Way and doing the corresponding journal exercises. According to the Huffington Post, journaling can help boost self-confidence, create mindfulness, and even help you achieve your goals. For the full list of benefits, check out the full article on the benefits of keeping a journal. Plus, starting a journal is a great excuse to buy a cool new notebook. 

Ox & Pine premium leather notebook

MadeByRori Dickens gratitude journal 

Visit a Museum
The Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Perot Museum are three of my favorites. The best part is, they are all within walking distance of each other. Take yourself on a museum date, then stop by the food trucks at Klyde Warren Park for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack. 

Take a Class
I love Oil & Cotton and the wide array of adult classes and workshops they offer. I’ve taken portrait watercolor and marble paper workshops there and loved both. They have lots of new offerings this fall, including felting, interior painting, photography, and intro ceramics. Check out their full fall lineup here.

Intro to ceramics workshop

Wet felting workshop

Join a Gym
Yes, I know, everyone’s favorite subject. Luckily, there are tons of fun alternatives to a boring 30-minute treadmill jog. Go climbing at Summit Climbing Gym, try kickboxing at Title Boxing Club or join a recreational kickball league at Big D Sports. You may have so much fun you forget you're exercising.

De-Clutter and Decorate
Okay, maybe this is less ‘self-improvement’ and more ‘life-improvement,’ but de-cluttering always makes me happier and less stressed. First, choose a small area of the house, like a bathroom or a closet — somewhere that can be organized in one day. Next, take a page from Marie Kondo and keep only the things that spark joy. Once you have de-cluttered and organized, a new piece of art is a great way to give a space new life. I've always been a fan of these origami koalas from Tokodots, and I've had my eye on this hand-drawn map of White Rock Lake from Joy Street Maps for my living room.

In any case, once you have given away all the clutter, every time you pass that space you will feel lighter and more carefree.

Origami koalas by tokodots

White Rock Lake map by Joy Street Maps

Learn a Language
I love to learn new languages, which is why I’m a big fan of the app Duolingo. It's free, and the exercises are only 5 minutes long, so it’s easy to practice every day. Plus, you can find your friends and keep track of points. 

Take a Bath
You deserve a reward after all this self-improvement. Taking care of yourself will give you the energy you need to stick with you new habit. Winding down with a bath, a book or a good movie is a great way to de-stress and get ready to tackle the day tomorrow. 

Japanese Cherry Blossom candle by The Pig and The Peacock

Lavender bubble bath taffy by Whipped Up Wonderful

What are your plans for self-improvement month? Do you have any self-improvement tips you would like to share? Let us know in the comments.

Must-reads from the team for Read a Book Day

We asked Etsy Dallas members to share their must-reads to celebrate Read a Book Day, September 6, and the highlights are listed below. Read on for our suggestions if you're looking to take your business to the next level, work on yourself and your creativity, or just enjoy some fun fiction reads as we get into fall. Happy reading, bookworms!

Transform your business and working habits

Several of our members have raved about The 4-Hour Workweek, which is full of ideas to help with that elusive work-life balance, whether you have a creative business or not. If you're looking for a way to ramp up the profits and the way you think about your creative business, Profit First will get you thinking about how to trim the fat and start making more money. If you're an artist looking for some guidance about how to better monetize your craft, look no further than Lisa Congdon's essential guide, Art Inc., and move confidently forward in your business.

Never stop exploring your creativity or yourself

You've surely heard friends raving about Big Magic, but if you haven't found the time to read it yet, let our members be the next to urge you to read this inspirational guide this fall. It's always a good time to get yourself out of a rut and take a stab at The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron's eye-opening course in discovering and recovering your creative self. And if you just want to find a way to work on some good habits and find small life-hacks to be more productive as we get into the new school year, we recommend Gretchen Rubin's Better than Before (or her Happier podcast, if that's more your thing). 

Get ready for Halloween with some spooky reads

We loved knitter-author Chloe Benjamin's The Immortalists, a story about how one family's life plays out after the children hear a psychic's eerie prophecies. As a bonus, you can follow her writing AND knitting on Instagram @chloekbenjamin. Interview with the Vampire is a classic that we've all heard of, but have you actually read it? If you haven't read a good book in a while, this classic will draw you in and give you a passion to read again. Finally, if you need a campy, nostalgic thriller a-la-Stranger Things, check out My Best Friend's Exorcism and you'll surely be ready to decorate for Halloween.

Let's go back to school in style with these handmade finds from Dallas artists

There's more to back-to-school season than No. 2 pencils and late nights wrapping up new lesson plans. We put together a roundup of handmade gifts for students, teachers and parents gearing up for the new academic year. 

Expressions Bracelets has wearable inspiration for all you teachers and professors.

Get those college or high school beards in shape with The Immaculate Beard. 

These personalized graduation necklaces from Kathleen Care are lovely gifts for grads, moms and college students looking forward to wrapping up their studies. 

Show your kid's teacher you care with these hilarious cards from MayaXKiwi based on that Dena Blizzard video you may have seen. 

Keep it together (or at least keep your earbuds from tying themselves into a hundred knots) with one of these gorgeous cord wraps from Ox&Pine. 

Pro Tip: Those teachers deserve a relaxing bath and we know the perfect bath bombs. Scoop up some Whipped Up Wonderful for yourself while you're at it. 

Prioritize coffee before those things you need to get done while the kids are at school, with this Kat French Design notepad.

Pack all of your kid's essentials in this cute pouch from Hearts and Sharts.

Use the start of the new year to jump-start a new habit with this gratitude notebook from MadeByRori.

Maybe you would rather list your to-do's on this colorful kantha stitches notepad from tokodots.

However you start the school year, just remember, it means sweater weather is around the corner.  Right??  Get ready for fall with this mug from Fresh Out of Ink.

Celebrating Etsy's Birthday with Special Sales

We have a roundup of Etsy Dallas member shops with sales celebrating Etsy's 13th birthday. Set a reminder, the sales event is June 18-22. You don't want to miss these deals! 

Expressions Bracelets is offering 20 percent off the entire shop (excluding the sale section). You'll also get free shipping (U.S. domestic orders only) on orders of $50 or more. 

MayaXKiwi is offering 15 percent off all prints and cards. 

The Pig and the Peacock is offering 15 percent off the entire shop (excluding favors and custom orders). 

Sasha's Hand-Poured is offering 15 percent off the whole shop plus free shipping on orders over $40. 

Wandering Paper Co. is offering 20 percent off everything in the shop. 

Whipped Up Wonderful is offering 15 percent off plus free shipping on orders of $35 or more. Cannot be combined with other coupons. Free shipping on U.S. domestic orders only. 

Whispers in the Glen is offering 20 percent off the entire shop.

Tokodots is offering 15% off everything in the shop.

Ahaha Home is offering 15 percent off everything in the shop. 

Earrings by Eryn is offering 10 percent off most items in the shop. 

Here's wishing you a happy 13th, Etsy! And happy summer to all of you. Enjoy the deals and the sunshine. 

How to Plan a Craft Show

Have you ever wondered what happens between, “Hey, let's put together a craft show and call it the Spring Bash!” and “Whew, the Spring Bash is behind us now and I need a nap…”

The Etsy Dallas Bashes are a labor of love for all of us, so we thought it would be interesting to give you a glimpse of what goes into a show like the Spring Bash.

A line of shoppers wraps around Gilley's Dallas before doors open for the 2018 Spring Bash. The first shoppers arrived at 7 a.m. to wait in line for the event that started at 10:30 a.m. on May 5, 2018. Photos courtesy of Mirrorless Mind Studio for Etsy Dallas. 

Let’s start by picking a date and a venue.

Venues book up way in advance, so in November as we prep for Jingle Bash, we have already been planning Spring Bash. We usually know where we want to be and when we want to do the show. Oh, but wait, Gilley’s isn’t available both dates we want (we need to book two days so we can set up), and the weekend before/after is Earth Day, Mother’s Day, or the same day as some other show that many of our vendors may want to do. Or, as happened with our 2018 Spring Bash, the NRA Convention came to town and POTUS would be coming in to speak. What would that do to traffic? You can't plan for everything!

After some back-and-forth about the venue and dates, we make a decision and put down our deposit. At this point it's time to start cheering. Yay! We can start telling people to save the date!

Shortly after the holidays, people start asking when the applications are going to come out for Spring Bash. Before we can put out the call for vendors, we need a rough budget. Yeah, Bash prep involves a fair amount of administration, accounting, and budgeting.

The budget looks something like this:

Cost of Bash $$$$$ = Venue $$$$$ + Ads $$$$ + Bash Bags $$$ + T-shirts $$$ + Lighting $$$$ + Printing $$$ + Marketing $$$ + Photographer $$$ + Deco $$$

Next we’ll see if we can get some sponsors lined up to offset some of the costs. Big Etsy sometimes sponsors the Jingle Bash, but we are on our own for Spring Bash. This is the time where we hit up our day jobs, friends, former sponsors, and anyone else who might want to sponsor the Bash.

The next question is, “Will that many vendors fit in our venue?” After some measuring and mock layouts, we're good to go. 

Time to get some vendors.
We update the dates and info on the online application and make them live on the website. Applications come (hopefully) flooding in. Yay! But we can only take about 80 vendors and there are so many good ones to choose from. Boo!

It’s time to jury. Out of ~150 applications, we have to narrow it down to ~80. On top of that, we have to make sure there’s a good mix of product categories. Jewelry and home goods are 40% of the applications, so we have to make sure we have the right number of each category and that the one’s we pick are different enough from each other to make sure there is variety within the category as well. We just can't fit all the good shops in.

After a long day of deliberation, we get the vendors down to ~80 and now we need to see how many 10x10s and 8x6s are on our list. There are always more 10x10s requested than we can fit in our venue. A lot more. So we have to review all the vendors who requested 10x10 booths and narrow that down to the ~30 available 10x10 spots (imagine furniture vs jewelry type discussions). We’ve narrowed it down and have the final vendor list with the appropriate number of 10x10 booths. We celebrate with a glass of wine!

More administrative stuff happens.
During the next month or two we send and receive lots of emails about the Bash. Things like we need your logos, don’t forget to pay your invoice, remember to send your Bash Bag goodies in time, no really, we still need your logo, and so on.

We are also updating the Etsy Dallas website to add vendor and sponsor info and promote the Bash and deciding when Deco Party is and what we are going to make. Did I mention that we all have Etsy shops, children, and/or day jobs too… It’s ok, we can sleep again after the Bash.

Time to get the food trucks lined up. What about coffee… that's right, we can't serve food or drinks inside because it's Gilleys. But we can have donuts, right? Yep! Mmm donuts…

There’s also a lot of marketing collateral and graphics to create now. Every ad website wants a different size graphic. Plus flyers, postcards, Bash Bag art, t-shirt art, Facebook frames, Snapchat filters, sharable images for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., parking passes, Bash Bucks, banners, maps, and more.

Whew…

Where's my booth?
If you have ever planned a wedding reception where your aunt Jo can't sit next to your Aunt Jane, your friend can't sit next to your other friend because she stole her boyfriend in high school, and this side of the family can't be in the same side of the room at the other side of the family because of that thing Uncle Bob did in '82, then you know what planning the Bash booth layout is like. Except instead of family, it's product categories.

We work hard to keep like products away from each other in the booth layout. This is harder than it sounds because we have to consider the booth sizes and products, then sometimes shops drop out, but the next shop on the waiting list sells the same product category as the booth next to the one that dropped, so now a couple people have to move around to make it work.

The day before. It's almost here!
We made it through all the planning and now we are just 1 day from the Bash. Woohoo? We show up the morning the day before and… umm, was that column there in the floor plans? Wasn't this a door last year? Welcome to the chalk game we call booth marking.

Ok, we got this. Move this booth here and those a few feet to the right, a couple more moves and we're good to go. Booths marked, signage up. We have 12 hours before Bash day load in. We are so ahead of schedule.

Bash Day! Bash Yay!
Back to the venue bright and early. I know it seems like we are yelling, "Unload on the curb and move your car" a lot, but we have to keep this traffic flow going. We've got to get about 30 shops an hour to load in. About 6 cars line up on the curb at Gilley's, that only gives us about 10 minutes per car.

By this time, the volunteers are running around, people are in line for the Bash Bags, and you can feel the excitement. It's time to have a great show!

Thank You for Supporting the 2018 Spring Bash

We want to give a huge thank you to everyone for supporting the 10th annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash. Thank you to the 80 artists who brought such incredible work to share with our more than 2,200 shoppers who came out to Gilley's Dallas on May 5. 

Thank you to Animal Rescue of Texas and to the adorable and very good boy, Nigel. 

Thank you to 7-Eleven for the yummy coffee, snacks and great coupons before doors opened. 

Thank you to Tacos, Bites & Beats, Dough Boy Donuts, The Hot Potato, and The Guava Tree food trucks. So much delicious food, y'all! We are still talking about it. 

And thank you to Julie and Beech-Nut for generously keeping our youngest Bash attendees full and keeping them (and their grownups) happy. 

Thank you to Craft Guild of Dallas for the fun make-and-take crafts. 

And a huge thanks to our photographer Cigi, of Mirrorless Mind Studio, for documenting it all. You can browse all the photos on flickr.

Of course, we couldn’t do it without our Bash volunteers. Thank you to Jan Allison, Rachel Timmons, Caitlin Miller, Amber Jones, Jenn Wells, Carisha Davis, Jenny Chang, Amberly Sisneros, Astrid Mendez, Ellie Pope, Sidney Kintzing and Marta Kihn. 

If you missed the Spring Bash, we hope to see you at the Jingle Bash in the fall. Stay tuned. We will announce the date soon. You can keep up with us and all our upcoming events on our social media and by signing up for our newsletter. 

And again, if we haven't said it enough already, from all of us at Etsy Dallas: Thank you!

{Sneak peek} Y'all Won't Believe What is in These Bash Bags

It's almost Bash Day, y'all. And we know many of you are hoping to get there in time to get your hands on one of our coveted Bash Bags. The first 50 people in line for our 10th annual Spring Bash will get one of these beautiful bags full of handmade goodness. 

We want to thank all the artists who contributed to the 2018 Bash Bags. Check them out. There is some incredible handmade goodness here ...

Ahaha Home

Art of Shannon M. Valentine

Atavist Studio

Byndr Leather Goods

Covert Metals

Eternal Summers Press LLC

Expressions Bracelets

Finn + Remy

Gaston Made

Hearts & Sharts

HiRuna Island Soaps

Inviting: Letterpress Boutique

It's My Party Kids

Jewelree

Lemon Glaze

Love Studio Ceramics

Lucky Franklin

Martolana

Midwest Handcrafted Goods

Mythology Candles

Onderkast Studio

Ox & Pine

Pressed Flowers Crafts

Rat des Champs

Selah Vie Studios

SOS BLISS Natural and Vegan Bath Products

Tesoro Jewelry

The Letter Lounge

The Pig and the Peacock

The Pour Painter

The Velvet Rockbed

Tokodots

Valerie Morgan Designs

Vintage Static

Wandering Paper Co.

Wanderlust Wares

We also have a limited supply of Bash totes and shirts for sale during the show for $10 and $15 respectively. Just stop by the info table to purchase yours. We'll see y'all at the Bash! 

13 tips for shopping the etsy dallas spring bash like a pro

The highly anticipated 10th annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash is almost here! Admission is free. We will have a free photo booth and fun geofilters. We put together a few tips for making the most of your Spring Bash experience ...

1. Bring your favorite shopping buddies and be sure your phone or camera is charged. There are fun photo booths in the works and you’re going to want those selfies. Don’t forget to tag @etsydallas so we can see too!

2. Make your list before May 5 so you won’t forget anyone on your Spring Bash shopping list. Don’t forget Mother’s Day, graduation, Father’s Day and summer travel are right around the corner. You can even browse the Bash Artists ahead of time.

3. Grab a map when you come in so you can head straight to your favorite booths. We will have some Etsy Dallas Spring Bash swag (hooray for pencils and buttons) at our information booth while supplies last. And be sure to visit the free make-and-take craft table provided by the Craft Guild of Dallas.

4. Bring a tote bag for your purchases if you want to keep your hands free for browsing all the beautiful handmade pieces our artists will have at the Spring Bash. We will have some totes for sale but supplies are limited.

5. Yes, the first 50 shoppers in line get our coveted Bash Bags. But, y’all. We got so many amazing contributions for the Bash Bags this year that those 50 lucky shoppers who are first in line will probably need another tote bag too.

6. That line tho! Don’t stress if you get there at opening and see people lined up outside the door. Diehard shoppers are there to get their hands on our Bash Bags. Once doors open at 10:30, everyone gets ushered right in without a wait.

7. Our all-volunteer leadership team works on planning for our Bashes all year long! We are passionate about putting on an event you will love but we can’t control the weather or traffic. If you’re planning to wait in the line before the show, be prepared.

8. Expect traffic. Plan your route ahead of time. It’s downtown Dallas, y’all. Check the news for construction or any big events that may affect your route. Consider carpooling with friends or taking DART if driving downtown stresses you out.

9. Thankfully on-site parking at Gilley’s is only $5, which is great for downtown. We will have food trucks at the Bash as well. 

10. Expect a crowd. We love how the community comes out to show support for our artists! If you want to browse with a little more elbow room, arrive after lunch. Don’t worry. Our artists are stocked for the whole day.

11. You may want to leave the stroller in the car or at home. If possible, wearing your little one may make shopping the Bash easier for you. Hooray for free hands and extra baby cuddles!

12. Pets shopping with their humans are welcome at the Bash but remember those crowds may not expect little paws on the floor so if your furiend will be stressed out by music and lots of people, you may not want to bring them along.

13. Find the Etsy Dallas table when you get there and fill out a survey to be entered in our hourly drawing for Bash Bucks (that’s money that only works at this Bash, y’all). We want to give you extra $$ to spend at the Bash, so don’t miss it! 

Shop+Interview with Spring Bash artist Jaclyn of Precious Little Tot

Jaclyn is the maker behind Precious Little Tot. The shop’s faith-based baby apparel and décor is handmade in Frisco.

Precious Little Tot has lots of new pieces to show this year including a new line of tunic dresses, harem shorts and headbands in premium jersey knit in size 0-3 months up to 4T. Jaclyn is also offering a new line of screen printed Christian graphic shirts with inspirational sayings. For those looking for décor, Precious Little Tot has a line of wall art in bold, vibrant colors with quotes and sayings perfect for Mother’s Day gifts.

Fans of the Spring Bash are already familiar with Precious Little Tot. “We have been attending this event now for the past three years, and it has always been one of my favorites,” Jaclyn said. “We love all the vendors, the Etsy Dallas team members, volunteers and, of course, all our supportive customers.”

Jaclyn said she is looking forward to the Bash and reconnecting with customers in person. “Many of our repeat customers attend this event every year to find uniquely crafted and great quality products. It’s great to hear the stories about how much they enjoyed their purchases from the last year.”

We couldn’t agree more!

Stop by the Precious Little Tot booth and say hello to Jaclyn at the 2018 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Gilley’s 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 5, 2018. We’ll see y’all at the Bash!

Shop+Interview with Spring Bash artist Jillian of Vintage Static

Jillian and Matt are the makers behind Vintage Static. Her modern, handcrafted soaps, scrubs and bath products are made locally in Frisco.

Vintage Static is bringing new bar soap scents and all of their beard oils to the Spring Bash. “This is our first show,” Jillian said. “We are so grateful and excited to be included.” If you’re shopping for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, she recommends her whipped soaps/scrubs and bath bomb hexes, and the solid shave soaps and beard oil.  

The shop’s name came to her in a dream. “It derives from the nostalgic feel of listening to records, which we do all the time, and the static at the end of the LP side,” Jillian said. She describes their shop as modern and muted, using natural colorants and clean lines with a restrained color palette. 

Jillian describes herself as high-energy and finds inspiration by scanning her Instagram feeds. After sharing some of her favorite grammers, she said, “And of course the Texas ladies crushing it! There are so many. I am constantly impressed by the talent here in Dallas.” We couldn’t agree more! “To see all the talent out there really drives me,” she said. The challenge is to not create every scent or color that comes to mind and to remain selective and focused, she said.

Stop by the Vintage Static booth and say hello to Jillian at the 2018 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Gilley’s 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 5, 2018. We’ll see y’all at the Bash!

Shop+Interview with Spring Bash artist Stephanie of Ox and Pine

Stephanie is the bookbinder and artist behind Ox & Pine. Her personalized leather journals, handmade notebooks and other leather goods are made here in the Dallas area.

She will be offering personalization stamping on the spot at the Spring Bash. “We’ll have some fun designs stamped onto leather luggage tags for a special price only available at the Bash,” Stephanie said. “It’s so fun to see customers face-to-face, and to be able to physically show them our leather goods.”

Stephanie said she is excited to meet people in person at the Bash. “I don’t do other any other in-person events, so this is a special occasion for me to meet and talk with customers in person.”

If you’re looking for a meaningful, lasting gift for a loved one for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation or some other special occasion, something from Ox & Pine may be the perfect fit. “I love creating leather goods and working with my hands,” Stephanie said. “I’m always on the lookout to create something special that will be useful and beautiful.”

Stop by the Ox & Pine booth and say hello to Stephanie at the 2018 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Gilley’s 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 5, 2018. We’ll see y’all at the Bash!

Shop+Interview with Spring Bash artist Tyler of Wayne Works

Tyler is the craftsman and designer behind Wayne Works. His handcrafted furniture, lighting and home décor is created at his shop right here in Dallas.

You may remember his work from previous Bashes. “This is the first show that I have done in over a year and I am excited to meet new people and see familiar faces!” Wayne Works will have new live edge slab pieces for custom projects for this show. He said he looks forward to meeting new people and discussing new projects with those in attendance.

Tyler is a mechanical engineer by trade. “I am naturally creative and I find my engineering side helps with proper fabrication of my designs,” Tyler said. “My lean manufacturing background aids in taking objective looks at how I handle my business and challenging me to try something new or different to see how it works.”

“Conversations with fellow creatives is the best motivation for me,” Tyler said. “When you hear the passion in someone’s voice, it can be very inspiring, and makes me want to get to work in the shop.”

Stop by the Wayne Works booth and say hello to Tyler at the 2018 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash where you can shop the best handmade artists from near and far. We will be at Gilley’s 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 5, 2018. We’ll see y’all at the Bash!

Gifts for Teachers: Show your appreciation with a handmade gift

Teacher Appreciation Day is May 8 and we have a roundup of handmade gifts teachers are sure to love from some of our favorite Dallas artists. We love these pieces and we know you will too. 

University of Texas Map - Joy Street Maps

Modern Gold Hoop Earrings - Kathleen Care Jewelry

Hand painted Canvas Clutch - Liz Wiley

Coffee Henna Art Print - Selah Vie Studios

Dried Wild Flower Pendant Necklace - Gnome Stones

Teacher's Quote Wood Sign - The Chatham Collective

Sea Salt Sage Soy Candle - Mythology Candles

Personalized Leather Journal - Ox & Pine

Dallas Skyline Print - Wandering Paper Co.

The Apple Pi Soap - The Pig and the Peacock

Personalized Teacher Appreciation Bracelet - expressions bracelets

Geometric Planter - DCD Design Co

Forget Me Not Cuff Bracelet - Whispers in The Glen

HELLO Boxed Note card Set - Hearts and Sharts

Upcycled Silk Tassel Necklace - Handing by Threads