Mother Earth Festival 2012

It was a beautiful weekend out at Stillpoint Farm and I was one happy handcrafter to have my artisan booth there for the third annual Mother Earth Festival. Each year in August, Kathy and Gina open up their farm to a gathering of artists, healers, musicians, and teachers and welcome folks in for this benefit for the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. I have been vending there since the first festival, and I look forward to it always.

I got out my booth from the carport where it had lived since the Mayfaire, started crafting like mad to stock up my wares, and headed out bright and early Saturday morning.

I was very fortunate to have two young helpers in my booth. They made a lot of friends and a little bit of money selling their own handcrafts.

We did some fun trading with other vendors, like this very talented henna tattoo artist from Portland:

http://bloominglotushenna.com/.

I had never had henna before, and it was a lot of fun.

The new addition to my booth as of this Spring is my handmade, bean to bar chocolate. I had my Wild Bolivian Chickens and Wildcrafted Nettle Chocolates, along with tasty roasted cocoa beans to sample. Keep a lookout for some new additions to my Mountain Hearth Handcrafts Etsy shop as temperatures permit shipping without melting.

The most important part of this festival for me is the interaction with all the wonderful women who come through my booth. I am constantly inspired by everyone's lives and stories, and how supportive people can be of one another if they actively decide to be. I am already looking forward to next year.

May Faire

This week I'm getting ready for the annual May Faire at my childrens' Waldorf School. For the last couple of years, I have volunteered to coordinate artisan vendors, and I am thrilled about the returning group of crafty folks and a few new ones this year. With such a rich arts curriculum at the school, it's nice to see so many creative parents in the community. I'm looking forward to spending the day there with my booth, chatting with friends as they stroll around and enjoying the festivities. Until then, I'll be busy crafting!

Merry Beltane!

Busy in the Craft Room

I've been so caught up in the busy goings-on of summer on the homestead, that I realized I haven't posted anything on here in a while. Life has definitely involved more gardening and watering and less crafting as of late. In preparation for the upcoming Women's Festival at Stillpoint Farm, at which I'll be vending with my booth, I'm busy at work again in the craft room with my wool and gemstone beads making some whimsical creations. I thought I'd share a little peek here with all of you.

Wool pouches wet-felted around river rocks

Lady of the Forest

Abundant Harvest Goddess

Queen Winter

Lady Spring

I made these gemstone necklaces with beautiful ceramic goddess pendants handcrafted by a local artist.

Last, but not least, here are a few of my Mountain Hearth cards. I've been turning some of my favorite photographs into cards and selling them at my booth. I'm still planning on adding these to my Etsy store online, along with the new felted seasons table figures and necklaces after the Women's Festival. Be sure to check Mountain Hearth Handcrafts on Etsy from time to time for new creations posted.

Stillpoint Farms Women's Festival

http://www.stillpointfarmsfestival.com/

I'll be there with my Mountain Hearth Handcrafts booth! See you at the farm!

Veneta Farmer's Market

This Friday, I'll have my Mountain Hearth Handcrafts booth at the Veneta Farmer's Market. If you're in the area, come on by to hear some live music, buy some fresh local veggies and visit my booth! It should be a grand time!

Here is the link to the Market's web page: Veneta's Downtown Farmer's Market

Vending at the Mayfaire

I think that I have always wanted to sell my crafts at festivals but didn't really know it. I seem to always be making things as gifts for other people, but only recently have I discovered the profound joy in creating art for no person in particular and putting it out there for the world to see. This Saturday was my first booth experience, and it really affirmed for me that I love having a crafting business! I had so much fun arranging all the little faeries, gnomes and other crafty items for folks to look at, and seeing the smiling faces of my friends and community coming by to see what I have been making. It was a beautiful, sunny May Day and the Eugene Waldorf School's Mayfaire was just the right place to celebrate this time of flowering. I especially loved seeing smiling children running off with my magic teasel wands!

I have to say a big "Thank You" to Erin for letting me use her Saturday Market booth structure and sharing her banner dimensions with me. I wore my custom Patchwork Underground dress in her honor. I also want to thank everyone who came by to say hello, look around, or buy some of my crafts! I can't wait to do it again next year, and vend at the Veneta Friday Farmer's Market in June.