Stretching My Creative Muscles: New Product Line Coming Soon

For those of you who follow my Facebook page you may have seen some of the gifts I made over the holiday season. Lets face it after almost a decade in business most of my friends and family have plenty of charming creations but I still like to create something new and special for them for Christmas and it gives me the opportunity to stretch my creative muscles so to speak and try something different.

I dabbled with some burlap gift bags the previous holiday season then  a tshirt last spring for a coworker who was leaving and then I wanted a table runner for myself and lastly the gifts I made for my friends and family this December.

 I found that I loved the different creative expression that it has given me and while there are plenty of materials I could experiment with I have found that I am drawn to burlap and textiles.

There has been such an overwhelming response to these pieces that I am thrilled to announce I am working on some burlap table centrepieces and runners to become regular additions to the Kawartha Beads product offerings. Stay tuned to see the final products soon!

September Dates to Remember

Welcome to the new monthly feature "Dates to Remember" full of reminders and upcoming events. These will be not just for Kawartha Beads but also for other handmade and mompreneur businesses, as well as a variety of events across Ontario. Have an event to add? Email your details to kawarthabeads@gmail.com or send me a message on Facebook.

September 8th- Anyone wanting their Kawartha Beads order included in Tuesdays deliveries needs to have their orders in by 9pm
September 10th- Kawartha Beads deliveries to Peterborough and Port Hope including items heading to Melissa's Bowtique
September 13th- 30 Craft Market's Fabulous Friday Fair in the Peterborough Library's main branch (auditorium) from noon-7pm. Something for everyone on every budget. Razberry will be making balloon characters from 3-6pm. Free admission, wheelchair accessible.
September 15th- Last day to place your Pampered Chef order with consultant Christine to receive your FREE Mini Serving Spatula
September 17th- Log Cabin Blanket Class at Aberdeen's Wool Company from 7-9pm.
September 20th- Last day to book vendor tables for Seniors Greeting Fundraising event.
September 20th- Pre-Sale cutoff for Halloween tutu orders at Melissa's Bowtique.
September 29th- Peterborough Mom2Mom Sale from 2-5 at the Morrow building (behing the Memorial Centre) 151 Lansdowne St. West.

Check out this fun event July 27th!

Upcoming Kawartha Beads Shows

Here's where you can find Kawartha Beads this spring!
March 30th -10-1- Victoria Park Armoury, Lindsay- The Lindsay Mom2Mom Sale
April 12th Ladies Night Fundraiser at the Legion in Bobcaygeon
April 28th 10-3- Janetville Craft Sale/Baazar
June 23rd- Enfield Craft Show

and of course we are open 24hrs a day/ 7days a week online in our Etsy shop. Also be sure to follow along on Facebook for sneak peeks, specials, and my crafty thoughts. 

A Valentine's Collaboration between Kindred Krafting and Kawartha Beads

Kawartha Beads and Kindred Krafting are proud to bring you our first ever collaboration! Just in time for Valentine's Day this fun and affordable handmade delight is the complete gift for your little Valentine, their teacher, daycare provider or any other special person who deserves to have their day brightened♥

A beautiful handmade treat package made from quality cardstock and featuring two beautiful red embossed hearts hides a treasure of cinnamon hearts and a handmade L♥VE charm zipper pull inside. Clip the zipper pull to your purse, your little one's backpack or pencil case or even a sweater for some extra Valentine's cheer! This all in one gift is just $3.50 with local delivery available. Don't miss out on the chance to make someone's Valentine's Day extra special, limited quantity available. Contact either myself at Kawartha Beads or Beckie at Kindred Krafting to order yours by Sunday Feb. 10th (if you are local) to ensure delivery by Valentine's Day.

$10 for $21 Online Store Credit at Cleverthoughts

If you haven't heard of Heartsy before than you sure are missing out! It's a wonderful place to snag some exclusive deals to wonderful handmade shops and more and more supplies sellers are also offering these exclusive specials!

 Today you can purchase a Heartsy voucher to Cleverthoughts for only $10 for a $30 Online Store Credit! With a beautiful selection of gift tags, boxes, punches, embellishments, stickers and more this is a FANTASTIC deal for anyone who likes to scrapbook or even for online shop owners who are looking to jazz up their parcel packaging! Happy shopping!

Heartsy Deal: $14 for $30 Online Store Credit at The Moonglade Garden

If you haven't heard of Heartsy before than you sure are missing out! It's a wonderful place to snag some exclusive deals to wonderful handmade shops and more and more supplies sellers are also offering these exclusive specials!

 Today you can purchase a Heartsy voucher to The Moonglade Garden for only $14 for a $30 Online Store Credit! With a beautiful selection of cardstock, punches, die cuts, embellishments and more this is a FANTASTIC deal for anyone who likes to scrapbook or even for online shop owners who are looking to jazz up their parcel packaging! Happy shopping!

Artfire Top Sellers List as of July 16/11

The Artfire Top Sellers List is by no means an official list, it is merely put together by yours truly through browsing the wonderful shops of Artfire and with some starter help from the AF forums. I will try and update it once a week and would love to eventually have the top sellers for each handmade category. If you would like to have your Artfire shop added please contact me through my Artfire Studio. You may have your name removed from the list at any time if you so wish, just let me know.
HANDMADE:

1) soapsmith (2356)
2) mysticknotwork (2032)
3) mayleesgarden (2008)
4) spoiledbratzwear (1174)
5) thyme2dream (677)
6) normasbathandbody (628)
7) libertydoll (541)
8) bakidagain (325)
9) paperstreet (304)
10) kibbles (287)
11) jscjewelry (289)
12) katsallthat (254)
13) kawarthabeads (185)
14) sandrahealy (179)
15) canadianrockiesart (175)
16) LAjewelrydesigns (117)

SUPPLIES:
1) lululalaland (15749)
2) susansscrapbookshack (6210)
3) miabellacollection (6182)
4) cupcakesocial (4587)
5) royalmetals (2203)
6) bobbi beads (1657)
7) bopper (1264)
8) tantalizingstitches (1318)
9) beadcomber (839)
10) rougeriverbeads (815)
11) susansheehan (591)
12) bakidagain2 (441)
13) silvermoongalleria (381)
14) beadsbytlc (231)
15) greatgraphics (156)

Are you on the Artfire Top Sellers list? I would love to interview you and share your journey. Contact me through my Artfire studio if you are interested.

Get to know....the featured ad space winner!

I had such a blast with the ad space giveaway and enjoyed reading everyone's comments. I think that I might do this again later in the summer and leading up to the holiday season. I thought it would be fun to learn a little more about the first ever winner of Kawartha Beads ad space for a month so I asked her to share a little bit about herself and her blog! Be sure to stop by and check out Life in the Pitts! Thanks to Helena for sharing with us:

Hi guys! I'm Helena, from Life in the Pitts.

This past year I got engaged, got married, and moved across the country so my husband could start Dental School here in Pittsburgh. It was a big year.

It took me a while to find a job (mostly because the job market is tough. But also because I was lazy), and so I started blogging to fill my time. But then I discovered craft blogs.

And became obsessed.

My husband doesn't really approve.

Probably because I keep writing about him.

Life in the Pitts isn't really a craft blog. There are craft blog elements, and I make stuff sometimes. But really? I write about everything.

I host Giveaways, share my artwork with the world, and try to give realistic, meaningful examples of family love.

(I also have an Etsy shop, but it's kind of an afterthought)

And that's me!

Perfect Purples!

Time again to share some beauties from fellow handmade artisans. Last week's feature showcased Spring has Sprung items so be sure to check it out as well if you missed it. Enjoy this week's feature of Perfect Purples!

1.Guitar Pick Earrings by Clever Crafter

2. A Field of Flowers Skirt by The May Flower

3. Knitting Pattern - Inchworm Socks by Perknitious

4.Vintage Enesco Spring Teacup and Saucer 1980 from Magyar Beader

Featured Artist~ Agawa Canyon

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's weekend. I am thrilled to bring you an interview with a very talented artisan, Mary of Agawa Canyon. I hope that you enjoy learning more about her and her beautiful creations.

What would you like people to know about you as a person?
I’m a positive person, have a great sense of humour, love the world’s wild places and won’t live long enough to explore all the things I’d like to. I’m always learning about the natural world and use my art to express that.

Tell me a bit about your art and your products? What inspires you?
I’ve been an artist ever since I was a child and have explored many different mediums from painting to stained glass to woodcarving, quilting and even making teddy bears. I’m a huge animal lover; if I ever won a lottery I’d go see great white sharks off the coast of South Africa, Orcas in BC, lynx and owls in northern Ontario…I’m constantly working out designs in my head to put subject matter into my jewellery. So far, I’m having more luck with oceans and landscapes than animals!

How do you share your creations? Where can find you?
Word of mouth; I always show my work to my friends and coworkers to get their input. I’ve only recently begun showing online. Find Agawa Canyon on Etsy or Shop Handmade

What is your most important lesson since starting your craft/ business?
You can’t allow yourself to get discouraged. You must do your market research but don’t get lost in the pricing trap. Know what your work is worth, charge a fair price and stay focused. And, don’t take offense when people offer constructive criticism; it helps you produce top quality work.

Some fun tidbits:
-Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?
Always coffee, preferably Timmys
-Your favourite candy?
Those chocolate orange balls you have to smash to eat!
-Your favourite colour?
Deep forest green
-Your favourite movie?
The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy
-If I were to catch you grooving it would be to this song….
Full Moon from the movie Twilight