Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Where's Waldo?


Here's my weekly post on where I'll be this week . . .

Allied Arts Holiday Fest

I set up yesterday in Bellingham for this one. The 31st Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts is a six week long festival featuring the work of over one hundred local artisans and craftspeople. The affordable handmade products range from jewelry to paintings to wearable art to specialty foods. Weekends are packed with activities; hear live local music, catch some of our artists in action, and bring the kids in for fun art projects.

The festival will be open weekly, Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Join us for a special night, December 3rd during the festival to meet some of the artists and do some exclusive shopping. We will also be open Monday and Tuesday, December 20th and 21st for last minute shopping before Christmas. The Festival will close at 3pm on December 24th.

Nov 19 - Dec 24
3548 Meridian St., Bellingham
(same location as last year - Old Michael's bldg)
Wed - Sun (closed Mon & Tues), 10am-6pm
AlliedArts.org


Vasa Park
Nov 18 - 20
Vasa Park Ballroom, 3560 W Lk Samm Rd SE, Bellevue
Thurs - Fri 10am - 7pm, Sat 10am-5pm

We're setting up this one today. It's a boutique style holiday craft show, and that last one for this group this year (we had one here in October and another one at Pickering Barn a couple of weeks ago). Lots of great gift ideas, all locally handmade, plus holiday decor.


PLU
Sorry, but I won't be participating in this one, even though it was on the schedule earlier. I just can't swing it. It's been too many in a row over the last few weeks and this became one too many this week. It's in a new location too, and split in half. Half of the show is in the same auditorium, but the other half, that is usually in the gym, is moved to some other spot down the street, with shuttle buses between the two. I'm thinking that's going to put a damper on things overall, and since I was put into the new location - probably not going to be worth the huge effort. We'll see what happens next year.

Where

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Best of the Northwest Nov 12-14


This week is the Best of the Northwest show. Brand-spanking new and fabulous location at the Smith Cove Pier 91 cruise ship terminal. The staff has been working so hard to make this a really special show. Besides the hundreds of us artists (the best of the best, of course) there is all kinds of food, wine tasting, fashion shows, musical entertainment, demos and more.

Ok, basic details:
Friday through Sunday, Nov 12-14. Hours are Fri and Sat 10am-6pm and Sun 10am-5pm.
Pier 91, Smith Cove cruise ship terminal. See a map with directions on the website or the flyer (pdf).
Tickets are $6 if you buy them online in advance, or $8 at the door. You can buy tickets at the website. Kids under 12 are FREE. Parking is free over there too.

*Over 200 exceptional artists presenting jewelry, designer clothing, painting, metal, glass & more

*Wine tasting on Saturday and Sunday featuring 24 local boutique wineries hosted by noted sommelier, David LeClaire (proceeds benefit Children's Hospital)

*Art talks by local cognoscenti - Ciscoe Morris giving "Art in the Garden" talk 2pm on Saturday (see the schedule HERE)

*Entertainment vignettes by Lelavision

Music from Pearl Django (Fri aft) & other strolling musicians

The list of participating artists and lots more info on NW Art Alliance site. I think this is going to be a great time!

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Newsletter: Winter Holiday 2010



The Winter Holiday Newsletter for this year has just been shipped off in the snail mail, and pinged off in email too. So I'm posting it here to cover all the bases.

Ed Note: As always, I'm not going to spend all morning tying in links for each product. But you can see all the new seasonal products HERE on this one page.

Dear Friends,

After much anticipation, the first snowflakes begin to fall. You notice one, and then another one, slowly drifting down from the sky, It seems as if you can count each individual snowflake, but as they begin to multiply, they speed up too. Suddenly the sky is full - a swirling, dizzying array of white. This is a reflection of the season – what starts off as a leisurely ticking off of to-do lists, gift lists, social events, and holiday tasks, rather quickly becomes a blizzard. The next couple of months are a whirlwind of activity, dancing past before we can breathe it all in. And then, like any winter storm, as the next day dawns, a peaceful, beautiful serenity awaits in the stillness.

As the holidays get closer, the gift lists begin to grow. But after another year of tightening budgets and evaluating priorities, we’re shopping a little more carefully. Rather than the old way of exchanging piles of “stuff,” we all seem to be looking for more simplicity and meaning, and in a cost effective way too. Handmade gifts and items that are both useful and use-able make more sense. Soapworks Studio’s little gifts of soap and bath goodies are the perfect fit. All locally handmade and reasonably priced, there is something for everyone on your holiday gift list.

Holiday Seasonal Soaps

The upcoming holidays have sparked a bunch of new wintry wonderful soap scents for a little fun in the shower, or a special gift for someone (or everyone) on your list. ($4.25 each or 4 bars for $16.00)

Ponderosa Pine – The perfect winter day is spent outside in a lush Northwest forest – skiing, hiking, or searching for that magical Christmas tree. One whiff of the fresh pine and fir needles, balsam spruce, juniper berries, woodsmoke and newly fallen snow will transport you right into the woods. A lovely green bar, this will be a hit with your nature-loving friends or the discerning men on your list.

Winter Mint - Icy peppermint with a kiss of secret spice., this soap is as tingly and cool as freshly fallen snow. You’ll be singing “Frosty the Snowman” in your morning shower, but in a yummy good way. (100% natural soap)

Red Berry – Fruity red currant - so tart and juicy, luscious and ripe - is softened with a sprig of rosehips, and brightened with a squeeze of cranberry. It’s softly pink and devilishly irresistible, a truly inspired blend.

Cinnamon Cedar - Warm, earthy cedarwood is the perfect base for a cinnamon soap. The finished scent is pure cinnamon stick all the way. Simple and true, it’s all cinnamon spice, the quintessential scent of the holiday season. Men will love it. Women will adore it. Kids won’t be able to put it down either – don’t let the dog get it! (100% natural soap)

Spiced Mocha – A mug of rich, creamy hot cocoa, just a splash of coffee, and deliciously spiced up with a blend of cinnamon cream and hazelnut sugar. Ooh what a perfect treat for a cold day!

Holiday Spice Home Fragrance Spray

Add a little festive spirit to your cozy house with our Holiday Spice home fragrance spray. Mist your rooms just before guests arrive,. Or spritz your gift boxes, cards and stockings -- your family and friends will receive a whoosh of holiday scent when they open their presents! Holiday Spice is our most requested seasonal spray, every year since the very beginning - oranges, cranberries, spices and greens all blended together for the perfect scent of magic and delight.
(4 oz bottle - $ 6.00)

Mini Soap Sets

New for fall, the first batch sold out fast! I’ve made bunches more of the mini 2 oz bars in the most popular regular fragrances: Lavender Lemongrass, Clove Mint, Vanilla Bean & Honey, French Lavender and Moroccan Fig. One of each of the 5 fabulous scents are piled up in a little stack and tied with bakery twine. Such pretty colors. Such a great idea for guest baths, travel soaps, or small gifts. Such a reasonable price - it’s only $10 for the whole package. I have attached a little card which describes the soaps and lists the scents too, so it’s all tied up for the perfect gift for absolutely everyone. You’ll want loads of these for the holiday season – one for everyone on your gift list. ($ 10.00)

Ponderosa Pine Sachets

Elegant and simple ivory organza bags filled with a holiday greens potpourri to bring the beautiful scent of the outdoors inside. Cedar tips, balsam fir needles, cinnamon chips, small pinecones, rosehip berries and the gorgeous scent of the Northwest forest all in one small little gem of a package that’s perfect for stuffing in a stocking, or tucking into a gift box for an extra whiff of delight. As pretty as can be, and anchored with scent-holding grains, they will last for quite a long time, lending a peaceful scent to your holiday household. Pretty as decorations in bedrooms and guest rooms, charming as place settings at an event, tie one to every banister, chair back or doorknob! ( 4x6 pouch, $ 3.00 each)

Gift Ideas

Attention Holiday Shoppers! It’s the gift-giving season, and fun bath stuff is the perfect gift for everyone on your list. I’ve got an elfin mountain of gift sets and packaging ideas. I’ve listed just a few ideas below, but check out the Gift Items button on the website for more gift sets, ideas, and photos of all of our packages:

• Add a beautiful wooden soap dish to your gift of a holiday-scented soap (2 item set - $8.00)

• Take it up a notch by adding a cotton scrubby mitt, a cotton soap sack, or a beautiful hand-crocheted cotton washcloth too. (3 item set - $10.00)

• Put your soap bar, soap dish and cotton scrubby item in a sweet berry basket – turning your humdrum bathroom into a magazine-worthy spa in a jiffy. (3 or 4 item set - $12.95 – 15.95)

• Is your lovey more of a bathing beauty? Pair a bottle of our luxury bath salts with the wonderful long-handled massaging body brush and a bar of soap ($ 20.00).

• Go Green: Skip the wrapping paper this year and gift a bar of soap inside one of our scrubby mitts or sacks. A little piece of recycled ribbon makes it special. Order them separately on the accessories page, or as a set on our gift ideas page.

Internet & Mail Ordering

Holiday shopping online or by mail saves you time, expense, and the headache of traffic jams and crowded malls. We usually ship within two business days, and can send your items directly to family and friends with gift enclosure cards too. Send in the enclosed order form, call during business hours, or for late night brainstorms, order from our website at SoapworksStudio.com. Spend more time celebrating and less time fretting. Let Soapworks Studio be your answer for holiday gifts!

May your holidays be twinkly and bright!