March 2016 Team Update

It has been a while since our DE Team has been buzzing with activity (like - a long time!)

So we have some team members that are going to be helping keep things updated and hopefully some new ideas for blog posts to keep the general public updated on things that are going on in and around Delaware and the local art scene.

First on our list was a quick update of our Shop Local page here on our blog.

So far we have confirmed the 2016 dates of some Arts and Craft Festivals (we are not into direct marketing shows - but more into artists that make their own work and are selling it).

If you have any Art and Craft shows local (they can be just outside of DE in MD, NJ, PA - anyplace you could get to for a day trip) or are a DE Etsy team member showing outside our region, please put a link to the show in the comments to this blog post so we can add it to our page.

And if you are a buyer that loves to go to local shops for artwork, antiques, or supplies - please add links to those treasured locations in order to help support those shops!

Weekend Happenings

There is so very much to post about, and I want this to be short and quick so that you can find out some cool things going on this weekend (places to see art, buy art, get your art inspiration on - whatever makes you happy).

Since this team is based on local artists having an Etsy shop in which they sell their goods, it is easy to point you to ETSY LOCAL where you can put in your zip code and see events happening in your area!

Anyone with an Etsy shop can create or join an event on that page, and then it automatically shows up on your shop page as an Upcoming Market.

I google searched "Delaware Happenings" since I see that term often used through social media, and the best bet for finding current events is Northern Delaware Happenings Magazine.

Sometimes there are smaller things happening like home shows and craft shows.

A group of local DE artists (some on Etsy, some wanting to get their shops up) are having a home show this weekend in Newark. See The Sterling Tortoise Facebook page for details.

Leslie Tucker is selling her handmade goods at the Christmas Shoppe to Defeat ALS event on 11/21/15.

And if you are interested in signing up and supporting Delaware Fun A Day and local artists you can stop by the Oddity Bar in Wilmington tonight!

They have a monthly Oddball Art Hall event every third Friday of the month!

Check out Nov. 20, 2015 HERE.

Sarafina Art House Open House Nov. 13 & 14, 2015

There is a great little Art House located off of Appleton Road in Elkton, MD that has been open for a year.

Sara Renzulli Wool Creations

The Sarafina Art House is owned by Sara Renzulli, artist of SarafinaFiberArt (painter, wool sculptor, creative force). 

The Sarafina Art House is a place for local artists to sell their handmade items, a wool supply house for SarafinaFiberArt.com (with 5 employees) and a location for workshops for: needle felting, wet felting, jewelry making, kids classes, spin night (the spinning wheel kind), and so much more!

Check out the blog post Sara wrote about her take on why we need handmade in our lives

Here are some photos of The Sarafina Art House as preparations are underway for the Holiday Open House.

Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 HOURS: 5pm-9pm

Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 HOURS: 10am-6pm

Location: 1752 B Appleton Road, Elkton, MD 21921

Sarafina Wet Felting and Needle Felting Supplies

Sarafina Roving and Yarn by Spinaway Farm

Sara Renzulli Harvest Fairy

Sarafina Fiber Art Critter Supply Packs

Artist Work at Sarafina Art House

Artist work at Sarafina Art House

Artist work at Sarafina Art House

Nuno Felted Scarves and Ornament Filled Tree

Sara Renzulli Old Man Winter and Lion Sculptures

If you can't make it this weekend to the Holiday Open House, the Sarafina Art House is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm. 

There are some nights with extended hours for this holiday season. 

See the Sarafina Fiber Art website for details!

And don't miss out on the great workshops!!!

There are a few Delaware Etsy Artists that have their work in the Sarafina Art House:

Marsha Neal Studio Ceramic Artist

JDaviesReazor Ceramic and Mixed-Media Artist

Second Spring Naturals

And of course SarafinaFiberArt has an Etsy shop to help bring in new Etsy customers over the the wooly side of things. But the SarafinaFiberArt.com website is where all of the line can be found!

Saint John the Beloved Holiday Craft Show Nov. 13 & 14, 2015

The craft show season is upon us, and we hope that you will remember to stop and pick up some great handmade art this year to include in your special gift giving.

This weekend, November 13 &14, the Saint John the Beloved Holiday Craft Show is happening!

There are going to be a few of our Delaware Etsy Team members selling their work at the show, as well as some other artists that sell their work through Etsy.com.

And all of the items sold at this show are handmade!

The Sterling Tortoise has some beautiful jewelry:

Handmade Necklace by TheSterlingTortoise

Handmade Bracelet by TheSterlingTortoise

Handmade Earrings by TheSterlingTortoise

Marsha Neal Studio Silk and Bead Braided Bracelets (and kits)

Marsha Neal Studio Handmade Ceramic and Glass Lampwork Bead Earrings

Firefly Candle Company All Natural Soy Candles

The show is located at Saint John the Beloved, 907 Milltown Road, Wilmington, DE 19808

Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 HOURS: 4pm-8pm

Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 HOURS: 10am-3:30pm

Check out ETSY LOCAL for more info on upcoming shows and local to you artists!

November 2015 First Friday around the First State

First Friday is usually a night to get out and see some local art in smaller shops and local galleries around the area. 

This quick blog post has some links to events in the area - some you can even find members of our Delaware Etsy Street Team!

Wilmington, DE

Kennett Square, PA

Oxford, PA

Elkton, MD

Sometimes there are events on Second Saturdays too like in Hockessin, DE.

And Newark, DE has the Newark Arts Alliance which has it's own unique schedule.

Bellefonte Arts is just one shop in a great little North Wilmington town which hosts two artists every month during the First Friday Wilmington Art Loop! Just a jump off of I-95 and I-495.

Bellefonte Arts has many Delaware Etsy Artists work in the gallery all year!

And there are lots of small art and craft shows popping up: Etsy Local for Wilmington, DE (you can add your location and find local events near you!).

And if you can't get out and see the arts, hop over to the First Friday Art Walk Team over on Etsy and check out the cool things on the monthly online Art Walk event!

Recap: Wilmington's Oddball Art Hall 1 Year Anniversary Show

If you missed the Oddball Art Hall One Year Anniversary show last Friday I'm sure you're kicking yourself now. The live music! The live drawing! The art! The booze!

For those who aren't acquainted with the Oddball Art Hall, it's a monthly art event that takes place at Wilmington's Oddity Bar. This month it was packed to capacity with 17 artists and vendors (including yours truly), as well as music from local musician Mr. Unloved and Todd Brewer of Rainbow Records DJing. Julia Semple put together a stunning golden goddess costume to model in while we drew and painted her visage.

My spot at the show including art jewelry, silhouettes, prints, macabre greeting cards, hand painted coasters.

Artists painting golden goddess, Julia Semple.

Portrait of Julia in watercolor

For more of my work please visit my Etsy page and my Facebook page.

Adventures in Summer Festivaling: Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival

With the rain the East Coast has been getting this season, it almost feels like we’re honorary Seattlites. Flash flooding and 60 mph winds have been de rigor for the 2015 beach season. It certainly rained on my parade Saturday. The downpour kept me at bay from the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park. For those who haven’t heard of it, the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival is one of northern Delaware’s biggest fests. It even made The Food Network, and USA Today donned it one of the “top 10 food fests.”  However, Sunday the clouds parted and the sun shone down upon all of us who wanted to shop local wares and stuff our faces with gourmet treats. As someone who goes to great efforts to put on shows and maintain an internet presence for my own art, I understand how hard small businesses and artisans work. While I was enjoying the rare beauty of the day, I took the time to talk to some of the artisans.

Aurora Lamps- Makers of gorgeous geometric lanterns. At first glance, it seems like these are intricate paper lanterns, but in fact they’re made of recycled polycarbonate plastic. The way the light shines through the multicolored lanterns is beautiful. Visit them at www.corryscoolstuff.com.

Emkay Bead Designs- The lovely jewelry maker at Emkay Bead Designs featured rows and rows of adorable jewelry ranging from kitschy to fashionable. It even had geek friendly pieces. I snagged a pair of Harry Potter Deathly Hallows themed earrings! She doesn’t appear to have a website, but you can send email inquiries to Myrna622@comcast.net.

Eric W. Zippe Imagemaker- Eric is a local Wilmington, Delaware art photographer who specializes in fine art and wooden prints. His work ranges from delicate black and white shots of outstretched tree branches to Vaudevillian images of women and casinos. You can find his work at www.shop.ezippe.com.

  

Elk Creek Maple Syrup- Hailing from Westford, New York, owner Paula Hilyer makes divine maple products ranging from maple candy, maple butter, and of course maple syrup. One taste of this stuff and you’ll never want to go back to the corn syrup laden sludge from the grocery store. I almost forgot how much dimensionality real maple syrup had until I tried this. Paula and her husband are a sweet couple that clearly love their craft. Visit them at www.elkcreekmaplesyrup.com.

Coates’ Hotter Than Hell- Owner Rob Coates is an affable hot sauce maker from Wilmington, Delaware. Ranging from mild to spicy, each sauce certainly has kick. This company’s motto is “feel the heat, savor the flavor,” with an emphasis on enhancing food with heat rather than masking it. I picked up a bottle of their medium heat sauce, En Fuego Habanero, whose ingredients include habanero and cayenne peppers. Check out their sauces at www.facebook.com/hotterthanhellsauce.

Until next time, this is your kindly local art scene reporter, Kirsten Ashley

July 3-5, 2015 First Friday Art Walk Weekend

Welcome to the Delaware Etsy Street Team's First Friday Art Walk Weekend Event Post.

Our team hosts a thread over on our Etsy Team page every month where the artists from our team can show off their seasonal and new items.

Quilled Paper Seahorse by ThePaperyCraftery

Blue Stacked Nautical Bracelet by BayMoonDesign

Wristlet by ChicStudioOne

Beaded Bangle Bracelet by ARexrodeCreations

There are many members on our team.

When you have a moment click over and check out our members shops!

This monthly event is part of a larger online Art Walk Event hosted by the AWETeam (Art Walk Etsy Team).

And there are always local art walks happening in and around Delaware!

Some months because of holidays or bad weather, dates change - so check out their websites.

Wilmington, DE

Newark, DE

Kennett Square, PA

Elkton, MD

Philadelphia, PA

Oxford, PA

April 3-5, 2015 First Friday Art Walk Weekend

Welcome to the April 2015 Art Walk Weekend!

We hope you are spending this weekend in the enjoyment of warmer weather setting in here in Delaware, surrounded by friends and family, celebrating life!

Jump on over to our Delaware Etsy monthly post to see some new items from our team member shops. 

Starfish Bracelet by BayMoonDesign

And you can also check out our Team Etsy Mini page where you can "window shop" virtually through our team members shops.

Joyful Greeting Cards by KatyRosePhotography

Please take special note that Katy Rose Photography is donating part of her sales to a charity every month - See her info section on her front page.

There are many galleries this month participating in the Wilmington, DE Art Loop on Friday night.

Bellefonte Arts (North Wilmington) has many items from artists on our DE Etsy team!

So if you have the time, get out a bit and see some local art, and meet some great artists!

March 6-8, 2015 First Friday Art Walk Weekend

As most of us are hanging out around home with this snow that is upon us, it is a good time to check out some of our Delaware Etsy Street Team members shops.

This First Friday Art Walk Weekend happens every month over on Etsy, where our team members add items from their shops to the monthly Event thread: March Event Thread.

It is part of a larger event hosted by the AWETeam (Art Walk Etsy Team).

Earrings by BayMoonDesign

Clutch Bag by ChicStudioOne

Pendant and Earring Set by MarshaNealStudio

Not only can you see a bunch of great local artwork, buy you can also find a handful of artist run businesses that you may need help from with custom work: graphic designers, photographers, wedding specialists, food experts, and so much more!

Check out our Delaware Etsy Facebook page and post questions there (or contact a member shop directly if you have a question for them).