Upholding my own tradition of handmade gifts, I’m proudly guessing that I have about an 80% lifetime achievement rate of giving. Starting this holiday giving season, I pledge my allegiance to the Dottie Angel challenge of the utmost kind. I have been enamored with Dottie Angel since I stumbled upon it back at the end of summer/beginning of fall. Any Boulderites or Knoxvillians who would like to join in have an opportunity to start with the Open Studios Holiday Market at Twenty-Ninth Street or Handmade Holiday on Gay Street, both going on one more weekend for your holiday shopping pleasure. The first day & opening reception of Boulder’s market went so well and I am honored to have been chosen to show & sell alongside some of Boulder’s great artists & craftspeople:

Jaala Jewels {pair of red ball earrings}· Feral Apparel · Greenleaf Design {reclaimed corduroy skirt with scrap fabric patches} · ali dejohn {wool felt barettes}· Antje Ryken · CarolAnn Wachter {haute couture hat}· Luscious Metals {copper nest earrings}· Adagio Art Glass · 11:11 Productions · Ru Fabricates · K Starr’s Homemade Goods · Lola Images · Pottery by Terry · Perlalu {yellow + guinea feather headband} · Pink Collar Studio {dazzling necklace}· Alison Blair Studio · Sue Puterbaugh · Dsenyo Handbags · Candace Newlove · Caroline Douglas · Sweet Letter Press · Artist, Ltd. · Natural Imagery · Leapnlizart · Haberkorn {flower woodblock print}· Swear Jar Designs {belt buckle}· TrueJune · Cannon Pottery · Dandy Social Club {toddler tie + ridiculously cute plaid cropped pants, size 3T}· Marcus-McKenna Studio · English Retreads {inner tube handbag}· Mary Scrimgeour Studios · Vita Verde · Ferally Normal Clayworks · Double Vision Photography · Spirit of the Grain · Basically Tweaked

I may have already spent all of the money that I made, see in {parenthesis} what I have my eye on from each seller. And, no, it’s not all for me.

Usually, when I check out of twitter and neglect the blog here it means that there are some extra exciting things going on that are keeping me busy!! That is certainly the case right now, I’m happy to report! We have been busy little elves around here, and I must implore you to buy local and buy handmade this holiday season.

Open Studios is presenting a juried Holiday Market this year in Boulder’s Twenty-Ninth Street shopping district. Please join us for a wine & cheese reception from 7 to 9pm this Friday, December 4th – get your ticket here! Or pop by for some great gifts any time during the first two weekends of December.

At the same time, there will be a reception for my hometown Handmade Holiday trunk show in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee on historic Gay Street next to Yee-Haw Industries from 5 to 9. Big, huge, thanks to Jill of Duchess Craft for putting her heart & soul into promoting local artists and for always calling me home & including me in her crafty plans. I wish I could pack myself into that big box of BirdDog paper goods that I just sent to her.

Buy Local! Buy Handmade!!!

Tonight I am hosting my Women’s Entrepreneur group meeting. I’m a little sad about the rain, so keep your fingers crossed for me that it holds off another round until 8 or so. What is we2e?
What:  we2e (women entrepreneur 2 entrepreneur) A fun, informal networking group.
Who:  late 20’s, 30’s and 40’s women business owners in Boulder and Denver.
When:  The third Monday of every month at a new spot in Boulder. Please feel free to bring suggestions.
No need to RSVP and no cost to join.  Be ready to meet inspiring women.