Tis the Season to be Crafty

The shopping frenzy that kicks off the holiday season comes swiftly. And with Black Friday comes craft fairs at churches, school yards and fair grounds. I love craft fairs. The goods are creative, well made, one of a kind and more affordable than items of equal quality at the mall.

If you live in Los Angeles County there are a couple you must check out. The best part is they are before Thanksgiving so you may get almost all your holiday shopping done and be able to avoid the horrific mall crowds entirely! Not to mention, I'll be there!

The Craft Republic Fair is on November 10th. www.crfair.com at the Pomona Fairplex.

Also on November 17th and 18th is the Saint Charles Borromeo School Holiday Boutique in North Hollywood. Part of the proceeds from this boutique go to support the school.
Saint Charles Borromeo School
10850 Moorpark Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91602
(818) 508-5359


Don't forget, craft fairs usually have raffles. So, not only are you getting great stuff, but you might win something too! And most importantly, you are supporting your local small business people.


www.peezandques.com

Eastside Lovin'

Even though I hail from L.A. County there is still plenty of love in my heart for Etoile Boutique in Orlando. No eastside/westside rivalry here. Word.

Katie brings such fresh and vivid energy to her store and her designs. So when she decided to move her store's location she did it with the enthusiasm of 100 school children on a fieldtrip to the circus.

Whether it's vintage re-creations, haute indie designs, or my cards, you'll love the great selections at Etoile Boutique, and you'll feel great knowing you've found one-of-a-kind style.



Etoile is now open at its new location:

2436 E. Robinson Street
*right behind COVERT & BETA*
Turn into the parking lot (between the K9 Lounge & Covert)and you will see them. The little house in the back with the red door and the patio!

Monday-Fri 12-8pm
Saturday 12-9pm
Sunday CLOSED

etoile boutique
407-895-6363
etoileboutique.net
myspace.com/etoileboutique

Tote-ally Fabulous

If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet you'd better get going. Word on the street is if you aren't bringing your own canvas bags to the grocery store you're not ecologically cool! Some stores, like my local Trader Joes, give you a little form to fill out each time you bring your own bags and you are entered into a sweepstakes for free groceries. Think of all the things you won't have to do by bringing your own bags; you won't have to figure out how to store the 100 plus plastic bags under your kitchen sink, you won't have to figure out how to fold 80 brown paper bags the way they were before they were used, (much like re-folding a map for those of you who have tried that.) you won't have to sort through the bags searching for those without holes in the bottom.

There are so many indie designers coming out with very cute totes and what better excuse to buy them than for your groceries...and of course for Mother Earth.

I can usually get all my groceries into 1 large and 2 medium totes. I hit the grocery store about 2 times per week. I stuff all the empty totes into one another and it easy to carry into the store. The cashiers always seemed pleased that they won't have to use their talents in double-bagging with my heavy canvas straps in tow. Once home the bags are very easy to lug up my steep flight of stairs when slung over the shoulder instead of grasped tightly in each hand. And after loading up my fridge the bags get returned to my car for the next grocery store trip. I've found I don't remember them unless they are stored in my car.


A couple companies that are specializing in grocery store totes:
http://www.usa.envirosax.com/index.php
http://www.bluelotusblankets.com/products/bags/

For something a little more vogue:
http://www.etoileboutique.net/

I admit, I do use and reuse plastic and brown bags. The plastic bags get loaded up with kitty litter. However I'm trying to come up with a more earth-firendly option for litter toting. If you have any ideas for me let me know. And my brown bags get cut into 8.5" x 11" sheets and fed into my printer. You've probably noticed them in the packaging of my notecards.

On an end note, don't forget to wash your totes. We don't want to be mistaken for anything but sqeaky-clean eco-defenders.

San Diego Craft Mafia

Okay all... so we are looking for ethical, edgy, crafty-types to become members of the San Diego Craft Mafia. We promote you, you promote us, we promote each other. You feelin' the love? The goal of the San Diego Craft Mafia is to help individual indie businesses be more successful by pooling resources and finding creative ways to market and co-market our products. At the root of this overwhelming desire to succeed, is our mutual respect and kindness for and towards one another.

To get a better idea of where the Craft Mafia started check out:
Craft Mafia

To contact us for membership:
San Diego Craft Mafia

To see what some of it's members are up to:
Peez & Ques: Recycled Cards
AstaArts
HiOctane Jewelry
Jumble Bugs