Craftopia: Rhode Island & Why you should buy handmade for the Holidays - Really!

Hey everyone! Get ready for HOLIDAY SHOPPING!

I know, people really get ruffled & fluffled

 when they start to think that "Holidays = Gifts".  

 The fact is that the Holidays present a TON of opportunities to gather with friends and family, go to parties and spend more time together than at other times of the year. That's a good thing, right?

When you visit others, it's always nice to have a hostess gift, or bring something for the children. It's tradition for many to give for 8 days Hanukkah or for Christmas. It happens every year, and I hear people freak out about it every year. *The Holidays and gift giving shouldn't feel like hell.

Handmade gift-giving is what makes shopping and giving FEEL REALLY GOOD*. When I buy something handmade, I often get to meet the person who actually used their hands to create a beautiful product. They put a lot of thought into making it. I put a lot of thought into buying it.

 I think about the person I am giving this to. See all the thoughtfulness? 

It's not made up, and that's the important part. 

If you shop at a local boutique or gallery, a craft show or on etsy online- it will directly affect the buyer (you), handmaker (me) and the gift-getter (that's now a word) in a positive way. 

Win /Win /Win! No tears! No tearing your hair out!

(See how happy I am at Twist - Northampton MA Nov 2012)

My advice- go to a local craft show. Go to my craft shows (of course!). Go to Craftopia (and the million other ones on my show list). Bring a list of people you want to make feel really special and buy a handmade gift for them. Now it's done and you haven't gone to the mall.

If you want to go a step further- I recommend you make gifts yourself! I'm not kidding. Seriously! If you don't want to buy something from me or all my crafty show friends, we won't mind. In fact, if you invite us over to make stuff too, all we require is wine (yes, that's how we do it). Go to Martha Stewart online and get some crafty gift ideas. Holidays are happy times!

Open Studios at the IO Mills! Jewelry, Photography & Hair Accessories Trunk Show w/ the Popko Sisters

 

The Dane Gallery welcomes you with lively music and a new show by all the artists.

Visit this Saturday and Sunday, Nov 10 & 11

to see 50+ Artists and their studios! 

I'm having a trunk show with butterfly jewelry, fused glass jewelry and accessories, lockets, silver jewelry, earrings, rings,  everything you can imagine that I make will be there! I have a ton of space, so unlike a craft show, I can have it ALL out on display and for sale. Hooray!

I'll personally be there on Saturday 12-4pm. 

Sunday, my space will be open 12-4pm with an assistant on hand (thank you mom!) 

while I am away in RI for a craft show. Please stop by and have some cheese and crackers and maybe a cocktail or two- its after noon! 

There will also be a free raffle drawing in my studio! Ooh la la!

 My sister Ann-Marie (www.annmariepopko.com) will have a full gallery display in my studio where you can purchase her work and see the gorgeous photography that she makes. 

She is taking orders for your custom photo wall art for the Holidays. Now is the time!

One more perk! My mother is super talented- how do you think we got creative? She will be part of the trunk show with her sewsoft products- quilts for your baby (crib and carriage quilts), sewn placemats, napkins, and holiday table runners. She's awesome and so is her work.

I hope to see you on Saturday!

Hello TWIST, Hello Holidays! Northampton Show this weekend:

It's that time of year again! The first of many Holiday shows always begins with TWIST! 

This time, it's also the very LAST Twist ever, 

so come say hello to me, and farewell to the most fabulous fair in Northampton.

Find me there with NEW things, yes for real! I have more rings, brooches, earrings and new necklaces as well. I've been working very hard (and still am in the studio all day and night) getting ready for you guys. So come over! 

I have 3 free guest passes, so get in touch with me if you want to be on my list.  

Comment here, or head to my facebook page to holler louder.

My sister AnnMarie (annmariepopko.com) will be there again with her photography and graphic goodies too. She has notecards, wall art, photographs and more lovelies. 

She also does custom photo art for you -editing & mounting your personal photos 

onto wood panels and making them beautiful- 

 which is good for gift-giving, so if you plan now you can have them for Christmas!

Showtime at the Popko Shop! Craft shows, gallery shows, open studios- oh my!

It's Showtime! 

I've got a LOT going on this Fall and Winter-
so make sure you check out my Show Schedule.

It's jam packed with 9 show days, 3 gallery shows, open studios
and new stores that carry my jewelry.
-WHEW-
Please see the schedule and visit me- shop handmade for the Holidays! 

Thank you!

Spring stART on the Street 2012 - from storms to sunshine & shoppers!

After being postponed a week due to predicted storms, this was my first springtime "stART" and it was a success!  In their 10 years they've had a rain date in place, but never actually had to use it..until now! This is actually why I do apply to this show. With outdoor events that don't have a rain date- and do rain- the vendors just lose their money. That's it, you lose your booth fee and you don't get a planned paycheck. Its totally depressing. BUT- but! stART on the Street is an outdoor show that has this, its rare and wonderful. This year it worked in my favor. 

 I've decided that I need a little more something in my booth if I do more outdoor shows. A big sign in the back, or draping fabric or some kind of color in the background. Large photographs are probably the best idea. I just don't know how many outdoor shows I want to do this year. Maybe 3? Is that worth investing in some more oomph?

As always (I've done a few fall and winter shows with them), it was well organized, full of positive energy and had a ton of shopping traffic. A vendors dream!

They were in a new location this year- I don't know much about Worcester so I didn't know if it was going to affect the show.  Would people still go? Would it be as grand? Yes. 

 I didn't plan on doing this 'stART' because of a graduation party. Turns out the party wasn't even on that day! I thought I had missed a spring show opportunity, I was totally disappointed- especially because my sister was going.

AnnMarie's table, photography and mixed media home decor.

Two weeks before the show, they posted on facebook that there were a few more spaces available (cancellations etc).  I knew I was available by then and snapped up the chance to apply. I WAS IN!! What a rush! I felt like I won the lottery...or at least a paycheck!

I couldn't really venture off to see all the performers or musicians or art projects for kids, but luckily some were traveling down the street!

 Lots of people shopping- they were all really nice, interested and appreciative of creative businesses. I also got to meet up with two of my past clients. That was really a highlight of my day. Both purchased a new piece from me- a feather in my cap!

Across the way is a really cool craft show friend- we've been at a few of the same shows in the past few years.

 My first attempt at taking a photo of Chrissy Ann Ceramics was foiled by this giant pig on wheels!

 Chrissy Ann Ceramics was doing double duty! She had her sisters goods there along with her own, while her work was also being sold in Providence at a show- double booked because of the weather. She had just come from a show the day before, too, I don't know how she stayed so bright and lovely all day but she did. I just learned that she just recently took her ceramics business on FULL TIME! Congratulations!! This is great news, because the world could use her products- literally! Theres a dish she has with such a gorgeous finish on it-

She also gave me some snap peas to plant, someone shared with her, she shared with me. Thank you!

Town Farm Gardens LLC was my show neighbor. Laurie makes home-made pickles and jams out of Brookfield, MA. It's hard being next to that kind of delicious looking stuff all day! I lent them a wall to hang behind their table so as not get so much sun in their booth. At the end of the day I was going to buy something, finally, after drooling all day, and they gave me a jar of their hot pepper jelly for borrowing the tent wall. YAY! It was gone in three days. I'm not kidding. I couldn't stop. Unfortunately there's no website, so I have no idea how you can get some too.

Below is how it all begins and ends on a craft show day. Heavy lifting and a long ride home.

Actually, it usually ends with a cocktail!

stART on the Street with the Popko sisters!

stART on the Street: Spring Edition

Sunday June 10, 2012 11am - 5pm 
Green Street, Worcester

I'll be at stART on the Street this weekend selling my butterfly and leaf jewelry, my famously sparkly glitter pop rings, and a collection of fused glass pendants and rings will make a cameo as well. This was originally planned for June 3, but a huge thunderstorm postponed it to this Sunday.

 June 10th is going to be a gorgeous day!

My sister AnnMarie is also showing her work (hopefully right next to my tent!)- encaustic photography, photo frames, and notecards. Hip hip....hooray!

Please mark your calendars and see you in Worcester, MA!

TWIST FAIR in Northampton MA - I'm rockin' the craft world!

Two days before Mother's Day....

Twist Fair - May 11 + 12 

Mother's Day is May 13th. 

Don't forget to thank your momma for being your momma!

Get her a handmade gift!

TWIST is one of the shows that I love because it's got artists, music, beer, food, treats, goody bags, a really pretty ballroom and did I mention the amazing artists and vendors. These are people that do this for real. These vendors probably work on the things you will see on their tables all of the hours of the day, all of the days of the year. They are serious about what they make, and want you to come see it.Myself included!

Friday night is the "Market Party" where you can eat and drink and be merry while you shop. Listen to the live DJ and schmooze. It's fun. Especially since you will probably already be planning a fun night out in Northampton. If you buy a $15VIP ticket you get a goody bag (which always has really good stuff usually a book or yarn or valuable things), and you also get food included and I think a drink too. 

Come at 6pm, pay 4 bucks and some of you will get a goody bag if you come early. DO IT!

Come Saturday and see the ballroom fill with sunlight and shop 60+ vendors.

Don't miss this show. Its hard to find at first, but just keep following the signs. 

Its at the Northampton Center for the Arts Ballroom. That's the building next to the Academy of Music (at the end of Main). Its the giant building, we're on the 3rd floor. GO!

Twist Show Dates

Friday May 11, 2012
5 pm - 6 pm VIP Reception* open to anyone (even YOU!)
6 pm - 9 pm open to everyone for a cheaper price (only $4!)


Saturday May 12, 2012
10 am - 6 pm

Admission
Adults $4.00

Kids (6-12) $2.00

5 and under FREE

*VIP Reception $15.00

Craftopia! Spring Craft Show in Rhode Island 4/28

It's SPRING! Let's celebrate by gathering

at the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket, Rhode Island

CRAFTOPIA

Saturday April 28

10-4pm

I've been working in the studio to finish NEW butterfly wing jewelry (think blue wings!) and NEW hammered copper earrings (think bohemian!) and NEW men's accessories- (cufflinks and tie bars). 

There's a lot of reasons to come out and shop handmade this weekend:

 Mother's Day - May 13

Father's Day - June 17

Graduation Gifts - beginning of June

Don't forget SUMMER! 

Everyone needs a little something to spruce up their spring/summer wardrobe, and butterflies are an easy way to make a natural statement.

You can find me there with bells on (or should I say butterflies and leaves and glass!)

 PopkoShop

 this is a photo of me at the November show

My sister AnnMarie will be set up too! 

She has gifts + accessories for you and your home. 

She makes photo frames, encaustic mixed media wall art and photo notecards. 

Here's a preview of her work as PopkoStudio 

(I know, don't get confused! Similar name, different work- were sisters!)

See you this Saturday!

PopkoShop at Bazaar Bizarre Boston this Sunday! 12/4

Its almost time......My FIRST Bazaar Bizarre Boston!
Please mark your calendars so you don't miss me at my first Boston show.. ever!
Sunday Dec 4 12-6.

I'll be in the front part of the show, at the entrance. They will post a vendor map soon enough if you reallllllly like to plan your attack. Here's some SHOPPER INFO with directions and more.

Read my VENDOR PROFILE to see a quick little bit about what I'll be selling.
Hint: butterfly wing jewelry! I've done a few shows this season already, and I'm getting the hang of what you guys seem to like the most. The newest thing I've got for you is...earrings! I just debuted them a few weeks ago, and I'm psyched that you've given me a great response.




Also, I've made new leaf imprint necklaces- which have also been a favorite of people buying gifts. I think because they are perfect for everyday wear- plus they are pure silver!

See you on Sunday!
It's only $1 to get in, and there's about 90 vendors to enjoy. It's the best way to start shopping for the Holidays and actually have FUN while you're at it.