The DIY Trunk Show application is live!
Tue, Jul 01 2008 — Comments (0) |
If you've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the application, it is now here!
Please read all of the information at http://www.diytrunkshow.com/join before filling out the application.
Some things to note:
The show is only open to people who live within a 5-hour radius of Chicago. Why? It's Chicago, in early winter. Who knows what the weather will be like? Also, we're trying to create a community where the people who come to shop just might keep shopping throughout the year with the vendors of our show. If you live in Florida, that's not as easy to do in person.
Do not pay until you're accepted into the show.
This is a juried show. We divide applications into categories by merchandise-type and then pick the widest variety of vendors in each category. Jewelry is always our most popular, and therefore the category with the most number of people we have to turn down. We'd love to have everyone in the show who wants to be in the show, but we also want to create a memorable experience for the shoppers so they can enjoy the experience and spend money.
Even if you've been in the show before, you need to send us links to your images, or email us images directly. Without these links or images, we regretfully won't be able to consider your application.
And to all the shoppers who get this email, put November 22nd on your calendar now! You so don't want to miss this show.
Volunteers needed
Fri, Nov 09 2007 — Comments (5) |
Hello crafty and crafty-friendly Chicagoans! The DIY Trunk Show is looking for several volunteers to help us keep our show organized and running smoothly. Would you like a delightful button from the DIY Trunk Show? Would you like 5 free raffle tickets? Would you like the admiration and adoration of more than 100 vendors who know that your presence is making their selling experience better?
If so then leave your name in the comments below and let us know what time slot you would like and what your first two choices for activities will be. It's first come first served. We'd be most grateful if you'd join us.
November 17th from 10am to 7pm (with setup and teardown time)
1419 W Blackhawk (two blocks northeast of the Milwaukee/Ashland/Division intersection)
9am to 11am
From 9am to 10am you'll be directing vendors to their spaces, pointing out the bathrooms and taking raffle items. After 10am you'll be handing out brochures, answering questions of shoppers, and directing shoppers and vendors to the raffle table.
1-East doors to direct vendors: Mara Myers
2-West doors to direct vendors:
3-Take raffle items at the West entrance:
The volunteers who will wander through the show selling raffle tickets may also be asked by a vendor to watch their booth while they run to the bathroom or go to get food or something to drink.
11am to 1pm
1-Handout brochures at the East doors:Cynthia Xerogianes
2-Handout brochures at the West doors:
3-Wander through show approaching people and selling raffle tickets:
1pm to 3pm
1-Handout brochures at the East doors:
2-Handout brochures at the West doors:
3-Wander through show approaching people and selling raffle tickets:
3pm to 5pm
1-Handout brochures at the East doors:
2-Handout brochures at the West doors:
3-Wander through show approaching people and selling raffle tickets:
5pm to 7pm
After 6pm you'll help direct vendors on where to put their tables and chairs when they leave, help pick up trash left on the floors, and assist vendors with carrying items out of their space if asked.
1-Handout brochures at the East doors:
2-Handout brochures at the West doors:
3-Wander through show approaching people and selling raffle tickets:
We'll add your name from the comments into the slots above. And we'll add your names into our list of people that we're incredibly grateful for.
This year's raffle
Wed, Nov 07 2007 — Comments (1) |
Continuing the great tradition of raising money for fabulous nonprofit organizations or events that help enlarge and support our beloved Crafting Community, we've decided to raise money this year to support Handmade Nation. Faythe Levine is in post-processing on the movie and she's excited to get it out of her studio and into a theater near you. She's also writing a book that will be released in a year by Princeton Architectural Press. The DIY Trunk Show may just have a small piece in the book. *wink, wink*
So as you enter the show, look for the raffle table near the main entrance where you can view all the fabulous items on hand that you may be lucky enough to win. But you'll only be able to win if you buy a ticket. $1 each or 6 for $5. A pretty moderate price that will help support a fabulous movie about the current crafting movement as well as give you a chance of walking out the door with a fabulous handmade item.
And what can you win? Take a look at our Participants page to view work by this year's vendors. And some of the vendors who will be donating an item will leave comments to this post to entice you.
Web Banners
Wed, Oct 24 2007 — Comments (7) |
Would you like to help attract attention to the DIY Trunk Show? Then feel free to download these files and post them on your blog, your news site, or email them to your friends.
Floor Plans
— Comments (0) |Are you curious where your favorite crafter is going to be so you can rush in and have the pick of their selection? Good for you!
Below are links to floorplans for the three different rooms we'll have packed full of the hottest craft that the Chicago area has to offer. And let me just tell you, these crafters are steaming hot! They'll add some heat into your life on November 17th.
Poster and Postcards for downloading
Tue, Oct 23 2007 — Comments (0) |
Hello, all! If you're interested in downloading the files for the posters and postcards you should have received in the mail, then here you go.
Poster
Postcard Front
Postcard Back
Craft Business Opportunity
Wed, Aug 29 2007 — Comments (4) |
While the Chicago Craft Mafia is getting our ducks in a row (and info processed and spreadsheets filled out and pictures edited), we thought you might like to know about a few other opportunities for crafters like you.
Madison's Craftacular is scheduled for Saturday November 24 and Sunday November 25. Head on over to their site if you're interested in taking advantage of freshly excited holiday season shoppers.
I think they've closed their application process now, but I know that I'm going to be shopping at YarnCon.
And we received information about a Hyde Park art/craft cooperative. The email was long, so click the "More" button.
More»Problems with Gmail
Sat, Aug 18 2007 — Comments (6) |
Hello happy applicants for and vendors of the DIY Trunk Show.
It's come to our attention that a number of people didn't receive the email we went out either letting people know that we were happily asking them to join us, or sadly letting them know that we don't have room for them this year. This is the first time we've had a problem with Gmail (and Cinnamon was even a beta user for a long time with no problems) so we're sorry that such a personal response from us was not received.
We'll be sending out emails again verifying status with people so if you get a duplicate email, don't think it is us trying to be mean, or rub it in, or anything like that. We just care that we respons personally to everyone who took the time to apply to DIY and we want to make sure you get our full explanation.
If your name isn't on the list submitted in the previous post, then it means that we didn't immediately have room for you but we want you to consider applying to the next show. We've also got something in the works to serve as as new style source for future calls to vend or gather information that is pertinent to crafty business owners. The Chicago Craft Mafia is intent on making Chicago seem smaller and providing as much information to help you help your business thrive. If you're interested in doing some crafty-style networking, put September 26 on your calendar. That is when we'll be having our next Craft Racket where we get people together to share information, network, create ideas, understand concepts, and work on making the indie, designer based business sour together.
DIY Trunk Show 5: Taking Craft to School
Wed, Aug 15 2007 — Comments (7) |
We've made our list, checked it twice, cried over the pile of crafters we don't have room for and are now ready to announce the list of crafters we've chosen for the 2007 show. If you applied, you should have received an email from us either accepting you and giving you instructions or letting you know how sorry we are that we didn't have room for you. And we are sorry. But we're hoping that you'll join us at the show anyway. Because these crafters are amazing. Absolutely amazing.
We received 218 applications we only had space for 95 of them. We'll have three rooms chock-full of some of the best crafters in the Chicago area. Whether you're interested in kids goods (no lead paint applied in sweatshops at the DIY Trunk Show), hand-crafted jewelery, hip clothing that fits your style and your wallet, accessories to pull together all of your favorite ensembles, small batch soaps, snazzy paper products suitable for gift giving or keeping for yourself, art work to spruce up your living room or your bedroom, beautiful works of glass that straddle the line between craft and art, and much, much more.
So start saving your pennies, make your shopping lists, and be sure to put Saturday November 17th on your calendar. We've extended the shopping times this year to be from 10am to 6pm so you'll have two more hours to shop for fine handmade products.
2007 Vendors
100 Spinning Plates
16Sparrows
Arm Candy
art reco
artgoodies
As Time Goes By
Bee13 Paper Goods
Bethany's Designs
Better Than Jam
Blosse Designs
Blue Buddha Boutique
Blue Canary Creations
Boxspring Creative
Chel Decorative Accessories
Circa Ceramics
Citizen Shay
Coriander
Craft Ladies
Craftwerker
Dan Grzeca
David R Head Jr.
Deborah Kerr
Dejahmi
Dollybird Design
DyMax Coco Art Gallery
Edgewater Soaps
Effin Effigy
EKRA
Emily Berman
Evil Eye Emporium
ExIconoclast
Featherproof Books
Flamebabe Candleworks
Flower Girls Gifts
Fold to Center
Forgotten Toybox
Foxglove Accessories
Girl Metro
Glashjarta Glass
GroveCraft Recycled Style
Gypsy Thief
Hello Hannah
Hubcaps/Mubka Millinery
Hubwear
iFuse Solutions
In the Flesh
Jengibre
Kiku
Kitty Grrlz Knits & Spins
Kristena Witherspoon
KUU
Lily Sky
Little Pearl
Ljubica Designs!
Loosetooth.com
Lotions and Potions
Love LA
Lucky Penny Handmade
Mary Wells Design and Henry Baby
MAUstudio
Megan Lee Designs
Meg's Millinery
Melissa Zeigler Monroe Studio Designs
Melty
Mesh Décor
MoeG
Moira & Obbie
Monster Fashion
Moxiedoll
No Meat Mafia
orangyporangy
Phizza'z Designs
Poise.cc
qylaar
re-conceived
Red Glow 1500
Sarah Bortt
Sassy Desings
ShayneArt.com
Sheriff Peanut
Small Screen Designs
Smashing Cars Creations
Snuggle Bug Knits
spinalfusion
Starshaped Press
Stonesters
Sue Rosengard Jewelry
Sweet as you Please
Talizman
The Copper Dragonfly
The Needle Shop
Truche
TwinPets
VoodooToaster
Weener Ware
The application process has closed
Wed, Aug 01 2007 — Comments (6) |
Once again, I'm amazed at the number of crafty folks who are starting up businesses here in the greater Chicago area. Again we have more than 200 applications for this year's show. Unfortunately we only have 96 slots so that means that we'll not have room for more than half of the people who applied. It breaks our hearts that we can't take everyone in. So keep an eye on your email around August 15th. That's when we'll be sending out the official word as to who we have admitted.
And if you've missed the deadline for this year, make sure that you sign up on the front page in the Google box at the bottom of the page so you get an email notifying you of when next year's show will take place.
Edgewater fest looking for craft vendors
Mon, Jul 23 2007 — Comments (2) |
If you're interested, please contact via the phone numbers/email addresses below.
Hello Everyone,
The following is an information piece on the Back Alley Jazz Festival and can be used as a press release, for your own information, a selling point for event sponsorship etc.. Please feel free to cut and paste the parts that pertain to your participation interests. Any questions please contact Tom Opper at topper@revgen440.com or Troy McMillan at t8mcmillan@gmail.com or 312-793-9349.
Edgewater Back Alley Jazz Festival
Thanks for considering participation in the Edgewater Back Alley Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 8, 2007 located on Glenwood Avenue between Devon and Rosemont Avenues.
What started out, a few years ago, as a tiny block club fest held in a parking lot adjacent to an alley has blossomed into a larger festival and created a greater sense of community within the Edgewater neighborhood. Two jazz bands - The Dale Prasco Band and Lubrifoni will grace the main stage starting at 6:00pm along with other types of entertainment throughout the day, including fire dancers and the Rickover Naval Academy's youth jazz band and color guard. The festival will also feature artisans showcasing, selling and promoting everything from homemade scented candles to hand-crafted jewelry to one of a kind works of art.
As this is a community event, no community is complete without the children. From 2:00 until 5:00 KIDS WILL RULE! There will be many kid-friendly activities including the ever popular face-painting.
Food and drink will be sold by area restaurants including one of Edgewater's newest neighbors Uncommon Ground. Tickets for the event are $5.00 for ages 16+. Any profit from the event will be donated to the Care For Real Edgewater Food Pantry.
The Edgewater Back Alley Jazz Festival Schedule*
2:00 Festival Opens
2:00 - 7:00 Artisan Tables Open
2:00 - 5:00 Kids Rule
6:00 - 8:00 The Dale Prasco Band
8:00 - 8:30 Fire Dancers
9:00 - 10:00 Lubrifonic
10:30 Festival Closes
*The EBAJF staff will make every attempt to adhere to the schedule, however schedule and activities are subject to change.
Artisan Registration Information:
Outdoor event from 2:00 - 7:00
Setup begins at 12:00
Designated parking provided
One 6 foot table and two chairs provided
No electrical outlets available
Food and drink available for purchase at fest or at nearby restaurants on Devon and Broadway
Anticipated adult attendance - 500
Registration fee is $25.00 and the deadline is August 17, 2007.
Thank you for your interest and see you at the Fest!
YarnCon
Wed, Jul 18 2007 — Comments (2) |
If you're eagerly planning your fall show attending or vendoring, be sure to put October 13 on your calendar so you're at the fantastically amazing Pulaski Park Fieldhouse for the first ever YarnCon. If you've attended Stitches, or some other yarn/fiber/kntting/crochet-based convention, then you'll be very interested in this. It's organized by two wonderful and creative folks named Natalia and Sara. And I'm delighted that they have also chosen to support the fantastic Pulaski Park Fieldhouse (1419 W. Blackhawk). Applications are accepted for yarn-related vendors through August 15th. Make a belt buckle with a ball of yarn on it? Apply! Make special knitting bags? Apply! Have patterns you want to sell to the public? Apply! Spin yarn that you shear off your sheep? Apply!
DIY Trunk Show 5: Application is Live
Sun, Jul 01 2007 — Comments (13) |
It's true. The DIY Trunk Show turns 5 this year, which means we'll
continue schooling Chicago on not only who the best area crafters are,
but also how they can learn to craft for fun or profit.
If you're interested in applying to be in this year's show, head on
over to DIY Trunk Show, read
the FAQ, the Craftifesto, and the About page before filling out the
application. Once you've filled out the application, email 2-3 (and no
more, please) images for us to place on our website if you're chosen
as a vendor. If you include print-ready images they'll be included in
information we send out to promote the show.
The Chicago Craft Mafia
will be organizing this year's show. Vendors will be announced by
8/15/2007 and more information will be provided then.
If you're just interested in shopping for crafts, then be sure to mark
Saturday, November 17 on your calendar.
The Craft Racket
Tue, Jun 19 2007 — Comments (0) |
Sorry for the short warning, but the Chicago Craft Mafia is organizing another Craft Racket to take place at Uncommon Ground at 3800 N. Clark St. (at the corner of Grace and Clark) from 6-9pm on Wednesday June 20th.
The Craft Racket is a quarterly craft and small business focused mingling event for people with one or both of those interests to get together and share information. It is free, unfocused, and fun. There are also $5 whiskey drinks available, as well as a host of other beverages and foods.
If you've got time to come by, please do. And I'll be eagerly looking forward to hearing your suggestions and comments for this year's show, too.
DIY Trunk Show 5
Thu, Jun 14 2007 — Comments (12) |
Yes, it is going to happen. Mark your calendar for November 17th.
But this year's is going to be a little different. Amy Carlton, the finest partner a show organizer could hope for, has shed a few tears but admitted that she has to back out of organizing this year's show. She regrets that she has to make this decision, but her new job (where she gets to use all the knowledge she's learned during her last several years of grad school), and beautiful new home (that still needs some painting and some curtain making and some shelf installing), and her revitalized social life are all going to be taking up a lot of her time this year. She'll still attend the show, and maybe even volunteer, but she has passed her organizing baton (and wealth of highly organized files) on to me.
And as I sat over the past several days thinking of all the things that had to happen before we could even start taking applications, I began to be overwhelmed. And if I'm overwhelmed before I begin planning a show, then I have to admit that I'm not able to handle it all on my own. So I turned to the wonderful women of the Chicago Craft Mafia and told them about Amy's need to focus on other areas of her life. And I'm delighted to say that all of them asked "What can I do?" at the same time.
So there will be changes, little things, many of which are changes the previous year's vendor's suggested to make this show better than ever. And I'll be sharing what all of those changes are over the next few weeks. There will be some site updates, there will be some tweaks, there will be some expansions. But mostly, things will stay the same. Because what we have works so well, it doesn't make sense to start over just because there will be 9 people organizing the show instead of 2.
The application will be live on July 1. So stay tuned.
And if you're a local college student who is looking for a fall internship, send an email to diytrunkshow@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you and find out how to have you join us.
