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!

There will be bears in the streets!

photo credit easthamptonbearfest.com

I went to Easthampton today to touch up my bear before the big event on Saturday. I'm getting excited for a day where I can show off my work and also enjoy all the festivities- brass band! ice cream! beer probably! art! fun!

 Tree Warden George Malega getting the logs

 I say this because when I sell my jewelry at craft shows, I am always a part of the event, but I never get to actually enjoy the event like everyone else. I'm working. This time- I'm free as a bear to follow the brass band parade all the way to the Easthampton Savings Bank Green (they sponsored my bear!) where there will be music, food, beer, all around fun stuff. 

They were one of the tip top sponsors of Bearfest 2012 - a POLAR BEAR sponsor, meaning they donated $10,000 to the Bearfest (holy toledo!!), and in turn, get to have a few bears on their lawn and fame and glory and thanks and praise that comes along with being such a great patron of this event. Lucky for me- they chose MY BEAR to sit front and center on their perfectly mowed lawn. It's quite the honor for me. It's actually bananas for me. It's GREAT! I cant wait to see the other bear they chose as well. I'm actually lying- I saw it and it's awesome, I just can't tell you...yet :)

Waiting for a mystery bear on Main St.

Sooooo, my excitement grew today when I saw the big log/stumps in place all over town. They are ready for their bears! The committee puts all the bears out on Friday night. I love that.  They drive around in the dark so that when the town wakes on Saturday for the unveiling, its TRULY an unveiling!

 This is where my bear was in 2009. I cant wait to see who's up next! It was a great location.

I hope this guy doesn't mind when a bear takes his stoop!

I had a little taste of all the bears today in the bear lodge (they are being stored in Eastworks) and promised not to reveal any pics of them until Saturday, but I cant wait to post them because there are so many awesome ones. People really went to town on their bears, a lot of extra sculpting and adding and props on these bears. They all look fantastic.

Easthampton Bearfest ....BEARS REVEALED!

 Here's a sneak preview of my bear before the BIG REVEAL on June 9th. I've been posting progress pics on my facebook page but not the whole bear just yet. The streets will be filled with bears and bear trackers this Saturday and I cant wait!

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!

Gem Show: Thriving on sparkles, beads and birthstones.

I went to the gem show this past weekend! It was intense, full of eye candy (understatement) time consuming (understatement #2), inspiring and made me wish I could just lay in a bed of pink sapphires. This first photo is what I really went to seek out:

Birthstone gems. I have them all now! I had to fill in some of the blanks (months) with glass beads or natural stones instead of gemstones. It's now a really pretty collection.
Apparently emeralds. are. very. expensive. And rubies come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and prices but the really pretty ones are very. expensive. I opted out of cheap rubies. I learned about gems this weekend. I wish my sister was with me, shes been a jeweler for about 25 years. She could probably smell a stone and tell me what it was. I actually think she could rub it on her face or tooth to really find out. She's done that before.
That's one way to know if a pearl is a pearl or glass.
Did you just learn something?

Below is a photo of just a few things I saw there - edit - a few million of the beads I saw there:

(click photo to enlarge)
I love how all the suppliers displayed them on triangular postal boxes. Good idea.

I was actually really glad I don't string beads because I think I would've gotten more overwhelmed than I already was. The top left photo is JUST glass lampworked beads that are in the shapes of full animals. ANIMALS! Crazy. CRAZY! The bottom three photos are gems I WISH I could have just to look at all day- this photo represents thousands and thousands of dollars of stone.


Held at 'the Big E' in W.Springfield- there's going to be one in Oct 2012 also, if you feel like planning:) These are held all over the country in civic centers etc, just google it. You'll be in heaven.


Below are some of the other goodies I picked out.
Moonstone and pink quarts (basic stones, and so girly and springtime and feminine).

You can see garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, pearls, sapphire to name a few.

These are for a collaboration with a new company that I may (or may not) work with soon. It's all in the planning stages right now. We'll see what happens soon.

Labradorite connectors and beads to compliment my butterfly jewelry line.

So, deep exhale, I'm ready to start my summer collection!

I'm a BearFest Artist!

I was chosen to be a 2012 bearfest artist! What is this?

"The Easthampton Bear Fest is a public art project in which life-size fiberglass bears are creatively transformed by locally and nationally known artists and will be highly visible throughout the downtown area of Easthampton, MA" 

The city asked people to submit proposals (much like I did in 2009) for how they envisioned altering a bear, large or small. Proposals are juried and chosen by a panel that the Easthampton City Arts put together.

They hosted a naked bears party in March where everyone was invited to visit a gallery that had ALL the proposals hanging up together. There were some great artworks on those walls...which would they choose?

 

Hosting the swag table

 I LOVE this idea, some sort of airhead bear.

 

There was a t-shirt contest by little kids. I voted for this idea!

 

This is the peoples choice box, above, where we could vote for our fave.

This is how BEARFEST 2012 all begins!

Quick Look: Opening up...with KEYS!

It's been SO long since my last check-in here, I've been all nervous about how to open the blog again, what to say, how to recap three months. Instead I'll just make it simple and easy.

This is what I'm working on right this minute.
You can see a little test key in there, if you look carefully.

If I just post a little now, it wont have to be a lot later. Sound good?
Happy New Year! (yes, it's been that long)

Thank you from The Popko Shop!

THANK YOU for making this Holiday season one of the best ones I've had.
I am so truly thankful that you chose to buy handmade this year.

I expect & hope that you also buy from other artists- this makes a huge difference in our lives.

You've made a wonderful difference in my life.

this photo was taken at a place that makes me feel my happiest

Thank you thank you thank you!!

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.