Elf Fair 2012 : Saturday December 1, 2012 at The ArtCenter

Local artists have been busy in their workshops creating magic just for you. Support your neighborhood elves and find gifts that are truly one of a kind! The 6th Annual Elf Fair, a festival of holiday arts and crafts, will take place Saturday December 1st, from 11am - 5pm at The ArtsCenter. The festival will feature 30+ local artists offering jewelry, pottery, clothing, accessories, candles, toys, and lots of unique, affordable items for all ages.The bar will be open for holiday beverages, and the wonderful American Meltdown and Baguettaboutit food trucks will be on-site during the event. Bring your camera to take photos with Santa! There will be raffles or special promotions from local businesses Fleet Feet and All Day Records and activities for kids, too!

This event is FREE to the public. For more information contact: Phaedra Kelly, ArtSchool Director, (919) 929-2787 x 207. 

The Great Vendors for ELF 2012 are: 
Amanda Barr/Golden Hiccups
Anna Crawford
Brilliant Handmade
Brooke Brucke Soaps
Comstanza Diaz
Cupcake Science
Danielle Baumgartner
Erin Griffin Silversmith
Eric Hanan Woodworking
Flytrap
Green City Bottles
Hannah Trogdon Jewelry
Heather Gerni
Hello Tenfold
James Ward Pottery
Jamie McPhail
Jane Robinson
Jason Abide Pottery
Katherin Whalen
Leopold Designs
Little Foxes
Lulu Julian Baked Goods
Mandey Brown
Matt Smith Pottery
Mazie Summers Soap
Mi Scusi Hand Made
Olivia Hjermitslev
Posy Market
Riverbasin Outfitters
Reciprocities
Shannon Bailey's Soaps
Soliel Bookbindery
Tara Konkel Knits
Unique Boutique
WAYO (Emily Waszak)
and various artists from the ArtsCenter's Ceramics Studio

Hand-to-Hand Holiday Market, Saturday December 2, 2012

From Hand to Hand Market Orginizers: "The Hand to Hand Market features hip, handcrafted goods, underground art and vintage finds from some of the best regional and outer space artists, designers, crafters, and collectors the South East has to offer. The next Hand to Hand Market is our ever popular Holiday Market and will take place on Sunday, December 2nd, in the Regency Room at the Elm Street Center, 203 South Elm Street, Downtown Greensboro, NC from 12-6pm.

This one day, indoor designer holiday craft market is sure to have something for everyone: fine art, apparel, vintage goods, jewelry, accessories, housewares, paper goods, music and more.

Don't miss this great opportunity to get one of a kind handmade items for all those special people on your shopping list!!" 

Where are They Now? Redress Designer Oami Powers (2012)

Oami: I wanted to create a collection that was a mixture of graphic prints and painterly, textured, all-natural fabrics. I usually make very wearable, casual clothing, so I also wanted to push myself, and experiment with some new silhouettes and dressier looks. Photo: LIsa Gotwals.

The History  I was one of the Redress designers this year, 2012. I wanted to create a collection that was a mixture of graphic prints and painterly, textured, all-natural fabrics. I usually make very wearable, casual clothing, so I also wanted to push myself, and experiment with some new silhouettes and dressier looks.

The Philosophy I've worked really hard to encapsulate the atmospher I grew up with, which was Berkeley in the 1970s and 80s. It's a crazy mix - hippie, punk. I'm a tomboy, but I love clothes. I love print, I love pattern. The clothes are a little bit edgy - they're arty. They're for somebody who has an eclectic aesthetic.

Happening Now Since the Redress show I've built a new website and online shop, plus designed a Fall collection based on some of the designs from the show.

Why Redress  Redress was a a lot of fun! And a lot of work too of course. But I really enjoyed the freedom to play around without the constraints of sourcing, cost, or production which are normally a big part of what I think about when I design. It was really energizing; now I'm obsessed with making pants and jackets again. Plus it was just so great to meet other like-minded folks.

Designer Wedding Dress Alert! Ha! Well, I made it. It was actually separates (because I've always been more of a separates girl than a dress girl) a tank and skirt. My husband had decided that he wanted to wear a vintage jacket which was a green and gold tweed so those were our colors. The tank was gold dupioni silk with an open back and the skirt was green satin, long and fitted.

Good Advice I guess I would say think about what you want your collection to be about and how the hair, makeup, accessories and music can help you tell that story. And always get an extra model or two just in case someone can't make it last minute.

Shop If you are local, I'd love for anyone interested to come to Fashion a Better World on November 16th. It's a celebration of sustainable fashion and women-led businesses. We'll have a fashion show - there's going to be a couple of great speakers, themed drinks, and, of course, the Fall collection will be available for sale. I think it's going to be a fun night.

 Spread the word about my online shop! Everything there is made in very limited quantities here in the U.S.A, from beautiful natural fiber fabrics.

Visit Judah Ross, Judah Ross Online Store, Fashion a Better World

 Oami - thanks for letting us in on your brand! It's a vibrant, cohesive consumer experience that definitely conveys your childhood scene! 

Recap: The Handmade Market

This past Saturday, Redress Raleigh visited good friends and new faces at the annual Handmade Market which took place at Cobblestone Hall. The market featured more than 50 artists, crafters, and designers who showed off their hand-crafted goodies. Among the artists, we spotted some Redress Raleigh friends, Judah Ross, Leopold Designs, ZassDesign, and Haden Designs. Check out the rest of the amazing artists that were featured at the market, here. 

The market also featured homemade treats and coffee from Sweet T and Slingshot Coffee -- the combination of the two was pefectly delicious! 

As always, while the admission to The Handmade Market was free, attendees had the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and raise money for the Urban Ministries of Wake County. 

We had a great time meeting lots of new artists in the area and getting some of our Holiday shopping out of the way while supporting our local community! Make sure to keep The Handmade Market in mind for next year! 

Rowdy & Lacy: Eco-Fashion for Kids

Nicole Tyra is the Founder and Clothing Remodeler/Designer of Rowdy & Lacy, an eco fashion clothing line for children.  

Rowdy & Lacy manufactures artistically-inspired children's clothing. Featuring both boys and girls apparel, each Rowdy & Lacy design is RE:made™ from high-quality, gently-used clothing to create a one-of-a-kind item that is fun, comfortable, and environmentally-friendly. Tyra pairs colorful fabrics and patterns to make a distinctive garment kids will love to wear.

Besides being playful, each Rowdy & Lacy item bears function in mind. Because of the nature of their product, everything is pre-shrunk and has that perfectly-broken-in feel for maximum wearability. Whether your child decides to be silly or sweet or sensible, they can always be Rowdy & Lacy.