Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market

Fall Market Highlights (Market Map too!)

2011-09-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

We are nearing our final Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market for the 2011 Season. We've had such a great time during our second season and we hope all you shoppers and vendors have too! Here's some important information on the Fall Horseshoe Market, so check it out and we'll see you this Saturday, October 1st at 46th & Tennyson in NW Denver from 9am - 4pm! Enjoy, folks!

Vendor Listing:

* - Featured Vendor!

1. *Post Script {PS}

2. Aunt Violet’s Basement

3. Aunt Violet’s Basement

4. Charlotte’s Rustic Rose

5. *Pink Attic Cat

6. *Pink Attic Cat
7. Sweet Letterpress

8. Fragglebeadz & Wee Gardens

9. *Dandy Social Club

10. Barberry & Lace
11. Resplendid

12. *LSR Jewelry

13. Vital Industries

14. *Studio Bead

15. Marmalade Creations & Hip Violet

16. *Studio Lila

17. *Kara Rosenberry Co and Fern & Flora

18. Heavy Nesting

19. Matter, LLC

20. Studio Yoshida & Phryne Metal

21. {anne franklin designs}

22. *Fern & Sprout

23. Mukee

24. Becky’s Buttons

25. Spirit of the Rocks

26. Cyanide Stitches

27. Cyanide Stitches

28. *Siouxsiequeue’s

29. *Kiwi & Company, Bluedye and Tulips Balm

30. *Kiwi & Company, Bluedye and Tulips Balm

31. Hot Pink & Sequins

32. *Ink Lounge

33. Pearl Clothing & Jil Cappuccio

34. Pearl Clothing & Jil Cappuccio

35. *bring about {art}

36. Pancake Print Co.

37. Girl with the Curl Jewelry

38. Sister Hipster

39. WTS Creatures

40. Maria Sorensen

41. Elevated Scraps

42. Hot Butter

43. *Deadwilder Art & Illustration and Accidental Stamper

44. La Samara Studios

45. Miss Olivia's
46. Gutterpup Vintage

47. Embelish & Whalephant

48. Anteak Booteek

49. The Purple Bus

50. The Purple Bus

51. Button and Thread

52. Bitter

53. Sjotime Industries

54. *Giddyup!

55. *Flora Fauna

56. *My Tangled Skeins

57. Karin’s Kitsch

58. *Olde Crone’s Bewitching Bath Soap

59. Delphinium Design & All Good Wishes

60. Delphinium Design & All Good Wishes

61. *MargoBelle Designs

62. BeckyDesigns

63. Dingaling Vintage

64. Dizzie Izzie

65. *The Gold Bug

66. Art Junkie

67. Bluedoor & Gray Sparrow

68. Modern Memories

69. Lola’s Mexican Crafts & Two Patooties

70. Lola’s Mexican Crafts & Two Patooties

71. Jeanne Oliver Designs

72. Amy’s Old School

73. Old Man’s Pants

74. Dutch Revolt

75. SooperTramp

76. Chicabella Designs

77. Planet Ogie

78. Babes and Hussies

79. all things bean

80. *Objects of Affection

81. *Donna Diddit, LLC

82. Cake Bakery

83. MOD-es-Tea

84. BDMA

85. Well Beings Chiropractic

86. The Booth (photo booth!)

87. Cozy Bean

88. Cozy Bean

89. Highlands Mommies Craft and Garden Group

90. The Other Side Arts (TOSA)

91. Denver Handmade Alliance

92. Cowboy’s Sweetheart Jewelry

93. *Helliemae’s Salt Caramels

94. Larka Design

95. *TratGirl

96. Regretable Typo

97. Tiffany & Comb

98. *DressUp Knits

99. *Curious Lottie’s Fancy Crafts

100. Oopsie girl Vintage and Ollie’s Vintage

101. Oopsie Girl Vintage and Ollie’s Vintage

102. Studio Sara Elise

103. Center for ReSource Conservation

104. Basic Kneads Pizza

105. NZ Smokin’ Guns

106. Make My Dog Hot Dogs

107. Mikes 2 Kitchen

Fall Market: Interactive Booths!

2011-09-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

We are just days away from our Fall Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market happening this Saturday, October 1st at 46th & Tennyson in NW Denver (9am-4pm). Along with all the wonderful shopping at our 100+ vendors, we'll have some great booths dedicated to creating! Here's a sneak peek at these great booths that will offer an interactive opportunity for the whole family!

First up, Denver Handmade Alliance and The Makerie are teaming up to bring you an interactive crafty booth where you can bring your own projects and spend some time working on them as you break from shopping. Also, we'll have a knitter-expert-in-residence while you're here to help you with any of your knitting needs! You definitely don't want to miss this booth!

The Highland's Mommies Craft & Garden Group will be representing the Highlands neighborhood group with a fun, interactive, and educational booth. Their booth will be all about their purpose: To provide our community with opportunities to learn, make, and share craft skills. They will be offering a craft activity with the theme of macrame! There will have a few projects for children and adults to practice the skills of macrame. For kids, we will have a friendship bracelet station. For adults, they will have 3 or 4 different projects to allow for variety within the same skill. There will be a small charge for materials. Be sure to stop by the Highland's Mommies booth to get your macrame on!

The Other Side Arts (TOSA) will be featuring their Art Outreach Program, which focuses on Art Therapy or art as therapy. At TOSA's booth they will be making and decorating small origami crowns. They will also be making and decorating artist trading cards. TOSA will have little grab bags with the materials and instructions for the paper crowns and the trading cards if people would like to take them away. The Other Side Arts (TOSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to educate, inspire, and empower emerging artists and underserved populations through visual arts programming, artist development opportunities and art therapy. With locations in Denver and Aurora, TOSA provided services to over 9,500 artists and community members in 2010.

Fall Market Special: THE BOOTH!

2011-09-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

We are excited to have The Booth at the Fall Horseshoe Market and for shoppers to take advantage of this unique feature so that you'll have a little memento to take home with you!

So, what is The Booth?

The Booth is not your typical photo booth. It's a self portrait station with a modern twist! Who wants to be crammed into a tiny booth that smells funny? The Booth gives you all the space you need in front of a custom back drop for whatever event you're planning.

The Booth is a high end self portrait station, that adds a fresh new look to the old 'photo booth'. The charge for a photo at The Booth will only be $1! Also, The Booth is offering $100 off a Booth Package if you book The Booth while at the market!

Inspiration Monday: Featured Vendors & Lucky Finds!

2011-09-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

We are in the final week of preparations for the Fall Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market! Be sure to fan our Facebook page to find out more as we'll be updating on Featured Vendors and other fun happenings at this last market of the 2011 season.

Below we have some more pictures from our incredibly wonderful Fall Featured Vendors - be sure to check them out at the market for some Lucky Finds!

1. Studio Lila 2. MargoBelle 3. Studio Bead 4. The Gold Bug

1. Fern and Sprout 2. Curious Lottie's 3. Dandy Social Club 4. Objects of Affection

Inspiration Monday: Pumpkin!

2011-09-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! For this Inspiration Monday, we are inspired by the smells and tastes of the Fall that seem to be showing it's face around Denver lately! We particularly are excited about the abundance of Pumpkin that just always seems to hit the spot. Pumpkin Lattes, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Seeds, Jack-O-Lanterns, the list can go on and on. All together, we are just excited about Pumpkin season and thought we'd share some of our Featured Vendor's pumpkin-esque items! Enjoy!

1. My Tangled Skein 2. Olde Crone's Bewitching Bath Soap 3. TratGirl 4. Siouxsiequeue

5. Kiwi & Company 6. Kara Rosenberry 7. Objects of Affection 8. Helliemae's Salt Caramels

Inspiration Monday...silver gray

2011-09-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Having a tough time getting started today...even though it looks like it will be a sunny day, earlier this morning it was a lovely gray that made us want to stay in bed just a little longer. We are loving these crisper mornings with fall in the air! And even though we don't like it getting darker earlier at night--we welcome it because it means it's the season's are changing.

We're inspired by silver gray today. Check out some of our Fall Featured Vendors below. We've got so many great featured vendors this season that we'll be posting a featured vendor every week day up to the market on October 1st! Happy Monday, all.

1. objects of affection 2. donna diddit 3. vital industries 4. kara rosenberry co 5. lsr jewelry 6. olde crone's bewitching bath soap 7. siouxsiequeue's 8. pink attic cat 9. tratgirl

Inspiration Monday...on Tuesday

2011-09-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a fantastic three day weekend. We relished in the great weather and spending quality time with family. Perfect weekend.

We're now just less than a month away from the Fall Horseshoe on October 1st. It's hard to believe our first market was just last October?! Since then, we've had three total markets and all of them have been great successes. Each of our markets attract around 5000 customers/visitors coming to gather their lucky finds from over 100 of the best art, craft and vintage vendors that Denver has to offer! We were also honored to be named Best Flea Market by the Westword for 2011! What a year!

Keep in mind that about 30-40 percent of our vendors "rotate"--we have some of the same vendors, and we also rotate in vendors to keep the markets fresh! And the Horseshoe has also come to be a great stop for local food trucks. We will have a few awesome trucks for our Fall Market, as well!

Today, we're reflecting on this past year--thinking about our early inspiration for the Horseshoe...here are some images that bring us back that original Horseshoe dreamin'! A few of these images are from Fall vendors...

1. basil & lola 2. JL vintage frye boots 3. fall featured vendor kiwi & co 4. fall vendor dingaling vintage 5. fall vendor dingaling vintage 6. worldwide oddities 7. moonchild vintage 8. freshy fig 9. fall featured vendor the postscript society.

Inspiration Monday

2011-08-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hey all,
Hope everyone had a great weekend! We rested up and are ready for the week! Did you see us on the Great Food Truck Race--Denver edition last night? We were only on for a mere two thrilling minutes ;), but the Food Network came and spent the whole day with us for our Spring Market. It was pretty dang cool!

Now we're gearing up for our awesome Fall Market on October 1st! In the days to come, we're going to be posting all of our new Fall Featured Vendor pages and getting all set for the market--which is already just over a month away.

Today we're inspired by our Fall Market flyer, done by the amazing Lisa Rundall Creative.

We love the blues, yellows and grays--a great combo for fall--and boy, are we ready for fall weather. I love the summer, but have had enough of this heat.

Check out the lovely color combos below and the products from some of our great Fall Market vendors!

1. pink attic cat 2. flora fauna 3. tratgirl 4. old man's pants 5. horseshoe t-shirt 6. fern & sprout 7. dandy social club 8. ink lounge 9. picture of vendor booth at summer market by rachael grace photography

Inspiration Monday

2011-08-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

Is it just my wishful thinking, or is there a hint of Fall in the air? Not during the day, of course...but it seems there is a slightly cooler breeze at night. Fall is definitely our favorite season...and the Fall Horseshoe Market is less than a month and a half away on Saturday, October 1st!

We are so excited to have so many wonderful Fall Featured Vendors to unveil to you...here is a first sampling and inspired by pink, green and orange.

1. Deadwilder Art & Illustration 2. My Tangled Skeins 3. MargoBelle Designs 4. Objects of Affection 5. Tennyson Vintage 6. Studio Lila print 7. TratGirl journal 8. Kara Rosenberry Co notecards 9. Flora Fauna beets market bag

Craftstravaganza....

2011-08-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

We wanted to spread the word about one of our featured vendor's craft market in Castle Rock--Craftstravaganza! Suzanne of Siouxsiequeue's has started her very own market--and their fall market will take place on September 17th. You still have time to become a vendor. Below, check out the details of this intimate market in downtown Castle Rock!

*****

Let’s face it, as professional artists we’ve all been there. Poorly organized street
fairs and craft shows where there were twenty vendors showing the same work, or
counting the number of transactions before you made back your entry fees. It is
frustrating, especially since we put so much work into our crafts.

I had done one too many of these kinds of shows, and I was finished with it. I was not going to get up at 4:00 am to set-up for a show that started at noon; I was not going to drive across Colorado, and I was not going to set up my 10’x10’ in an 8’x8’ space again. It was these frustrations, and many more, that led me to an important decision. If Iwanted a better show I was going to have to make a better show. I loved the idea of a smaller scale show where customers could explore a variety of handmade arts and crafts, and where vendors could spend time with their customers while getting to know other members of the handmade community.

I shared my ideas with my friend Crystal Ewoniuk, owner of Stash in Castle
Rock. She liked my ideas and immediately offered me the shop’s outdoor space for the show. With that Craftstravaganza was born.

Craftstravaganza is a juried craft fair set beneath the shade tree of a charming converted house in historic downtown Castle Rock. We offer 10-15 vendors the opportunity to meet their customers and other artists in an idyllic setting, low participation fees, easy set-up, and free covered parking close to the event. Craftstravaganza is wrapping up its second season with an event on September 17th, and we couldn’t be more excited! Join us at Stash as we celebrate the wonderful world of handmade. If you are interested in becoming a Craftstravaganza vendor please visit our website, www.craftstravaganza.indiemade.com

Suzanne Gutierrez, founder of Siouxsiequeue’s, has been making jewelry and participating in Metro Area fairs and markets since 2006. Her work has been featured in galleries and shops such as The Mac Spa and Stash, as well as online at www.siouxsiequeues.etsy.com. Stash is located in downtown Castle Rock, CO in a quaint cottage surrounded by a white picket fence. Visit this charming yarn, fabric, and crafting shop where everyone is welcome. Knitters, crocheters, and weavers are going to find exciting fibers nestled in bins and on the shelves. For the sewers and quilters out there, Stash has fun patterns, fabrics, and other crafts to suit your fancy. www.fystash.com

*****

Summer Market Recap!

2011-08-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, everyone!
We wanted to give you a recap of our wonderful Summer Horseshoe Market on August 6th. What a fabulous day! All the pics below are courtesy of the amazing Rachael Grace Photography. Thanks for coming out to snap some shots!

We were so lucky and grateful to have had so many awesome vendors, volunteers and customers on that hot, but perfect, summer day...

With over 100 art, craft and vintage vendors, two food trucks, a hot dog stand, ice cream treats, baked goods, and coffee/smoothies, you really can't go wrong at the Horseshoe. We've got something for everyone!

And we were so thrilled Kyle from Power and Light Press stopped by with her Moveable Type letterpress truck on her cross-country tour. We saw lots of folks walking around with their own hand-pulled letterpress print. So cool!

Oh, and we also had a misting tent where folks got to cool off while shopping. Maybe next summer we'll add a few more of those :) Thanks to all of you who came out to shop, eat, and support local artists, crafters and collectors. We love how all of you make the Horseshoe such an awesome community event!

It's already mid August...which means school is starting, the days will eventually get shorter and cooler (yay!) and then before we know it, the Fall Horseshoe will be here!!! We can hardly wait. Mark your calendars for October 1st!! Happy week to all..

Vendor Map and Vendor List!

2011-08-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

Good morning Horseshoe friends! We are getting so close and we are so excited about this Saturday! It's going to be a great market day. Check out our map and vendor list below! Tons of great art, craft and antique vendors--not to mention food trucks, ice cream, a traveling letterpress truck, an interactive craft booth, bike and stroller parking (be green and walk/ride to market!), a misting tent...we've got it all! Click on map for larger version! See you soon.

Horseshoe Vendor List (Coordinates with map)

* = Featured Vendor

1. *Trina Rose Boutique

2. Amy’s Old School

3. McDonough & Kent

4. Charlotte’s Rustic Rose

5. Pink Attic Cat

6. Pink Attic Cat

7. Oh So Retro

8. *She’s Crafty

9. Clean Getaway Soap

10. *Dandy Social Club

11. Resplendid

12. *LSR Jewelry

13. *Vital Industries

14. *Jeanne Oliver Designs

15. Studio Bead

16. Marmalade Creations & Hip Violet

17. Kara Rosenberry & Co and Fern & Flora

18. Matter LLC

19. *Skylark360

20. Studio Yoshida & Phryne Metal

21. {anne franklin designs}

22. Heavy Nesting

23. Mukee

24. Becky’s Buttons

25. Paisley Bird

26. Cyanide Stitches

27. Cyanide Stitches

28. *Siousiequeue’s

29. *Kiwi & Company, Bluedye and Tulips Balm

30. *Kiwi & Company, Bluedye and Tulips Balm

31. Hot Pink & Sequins

32. *Ink Lounge

33. Pearl Clothing & Jil Cappuccio

34. Pearl Clothing & Jil Cappuccio

35. Nana Pat Project

36. Sister Hipster

37. Tenn Street Art/Sharon Meriash Fine Photography

38. Winter Garden Studios

39. Pancake Print Co.

40. Maria Sorensen

41. Elevated Scraps

42. *Thin Air Creations

43. Charm that Girl & Island Expressions

44. Whimsy Lou

45. Tinkerbirds

46. 2 Tomatoes

47. Swear Jar Designs

48. January Jones Prints & Just Dandy Things

49. The Purple Bus

50. The Purple Bus

51. Timeless Glass Art

52. Nicole Lorentz Design & Em Claire Creations

53. Nicole Lorentz Design & Em Claire Creations

54. Giddyup!

55. *Barberry & Lace

56. BeeJ Designs

57. *Gneural

58. Hula Moon

59. Delphinium Design & All Good Wishes

60. Delphinium Design & All Good Wishes

61. *MargoBelle Designs

62. Spin Vintage & In-Retrospect

63. Dizzie Izzie

64. *The Gold Bug

65. Aunt Violet’s Basement

66. Aunt Violet’s Basement

67. Craftorium of T Miss Pink

68. Modern Memories

69. Lola’s Mexican Crafts

70. Lola’s Mexican Crafts

71. Denver Handmade Alliance

72. Sweet European Dreams

73. The Lonely Seahorse

74. Dutch Revolt

75. Oopsy Girl Vintage & JunkyFunk Designs

76. Chicabella Designs

77. Three Leaves Toys

78. Babes and Hussies

79. Olsen Fine Art

80. *Objects of Affection

81. *Donna Diddit, LLC

82. Cake Bakery

83. MOD-es-Tea

84. Oil & Port

85. Zen Posture

86. Berkeley District Merchants Association

87. Cozy Bean Coffee

88. Cozy Bean Coffee

89. Jeanie Pleasant antiques/vintage

90. Jeanie Pleasant antiques/vintage

91. *MB Glass/Miss Olivias

92. Lauren, Lara, Carrie Creations

93. Cowboy’s Sweetheart Jewelry

94. *Spinster Sisters Soap

95. Larka Design

96. Green Jeans

97. Girl with the Curl Jewelry

98. Regretable Typo

99. Tiffany & Comb

100. Simply Divine

101. *Apple Blue Vintage

102. Shimmer and Fizz

103. Basic Kneads Pizza

104. NZ Smokin’ Guns

105. Make My Dog

106. Moveable Type Letterpress Truck

107. Cream City Treats

Inspiration Monday...

2011-08-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's August 1st! Our Summer Market is this Saturday already! And we are ready! It's going to be a fantastic market day. We've got over 100 art, craft and vintage/antique vendors who will knock your socks off! Check out some of our Summer Featured Vendors and some of the great stuff you'll find on Saturday. Happy Monday to all!

1. jeanne oliver designs 2. objects of affection 3. kiwi & co 4. green jeans 5. skylark360 6. apple blue vintage 7. spinster sisters soap 8. thin air creations 9. apple blue vintage

2011-07-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

We're just two weeks away from our Summer Market on August 6th! We will have over 100 vendors selling handmade art, craft and sweet hand-picked vintage finds. We will also have a few interactive booths. DHA will provide an interactive crafting area, and Moveable Type from Portland will present printing demos and you can even try your hand at pulling your own print to take home!

We will also have a group of great local food vendors and a misting tent so you can stay cool while you shop! It's going to be a great market day! See you all there in no time!

What are you all up to this weekend? We know of a few fun crafty happenings. Let us know what else is going on in the comments below!

Vintage Renewal Pop + Up Eco Boutique, Friday 6-10 pm and Saturday, 12-6 pm.

Saturday, July 23rd: Craftstravaganza in Castle Rock from 10 am-3 pm

Next weekend, the long-awaited Denver County Fair will be here! Check out DHA Member's Pop Up Shop--and also check out Horseshoe sponsors Tomte Craft and Fancy Tiger's booths!

Inspiration Monday

2011-07-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

Good morning and hope everyone had a great weekend. We realize that the Horseshoe Market is many a woman's dream....super cool, hand-crafted goods, unique jewelry, great and affordable artwork, and hard-to-find vintage goods. Just to name a few :)

But what about for the guys? Well, there are plenty of awesome finds! Take a look at some of the amazing things you will find at the Summer Horseshoe Market on August 6th! We think that the Horseshoe Market is also a men's shopping dream! Many of the artists/crafters below are among our Summer Featured Vendors, as well.

1. amy's old school boots 2. steampunk cuff links from gold bug 3. mcdonough & kent 4. ink lounge 5. vital industries 6. spinster sisters 7. mcdonough & kent 8. donna diddit 9. jill cappucio

Inspiration Monday

2011-07-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

We've been inspired by blue lately....particularly turquoise. Here's a collage of some of our Summer Featured Vendors' turquoise finds. Our Summer Featured Vendor page is still being updated, but you can check out some great artists, crafters and vintage collectors on that page--and we're still in the process of adding a few more. Check out the turquoise lovelies below you may find on August 6th!

1. dandy social club 2. skylark360 3. jeanne oliver designs 4. vital industries 5. now vintage 6. ink lounge 7. gneural/debbie clapper 8. LSR jewelry 9. trina rose boutique

Lucky U Party Recap and Weekend Fun...

2011-07-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Geri Aranjo of La Samara Studios and Mary Katz of Flora Fauna at Tenn Street Coffee last Friday for the Lucky U Preview Party. Photo courtesy of Sharon Meriash.

We had a really great time last Friday at Tenn Street Coffee's Lucky U Horseshoe Preview Party. All month long leading up to our Summer Market, Tenn Street (a Horseshoe Summer sponsor) is exhibiting a bunch of Horseshoe vendor's work! It was a great party and really cool to see so many wonderful creations displayed.

You have all month long to check out the exhibit and to get your Horseshoe "fix" early before August 6th market. Check out some photos of the preview party here. Horseshoe artists and crafters displaying their work include: Kelly Perkins, Stacy Cousey, Robyn Thayer, Mary Katz, Mari Vasel, Karla Leduc, Melanie Darling, Geri Aranjo, Diane Anderson, Susan Mattson, Karin Platt, Sharon Meriash, Judy Gardner and Lisa Rundall.

*****

Is it me or is the summer flying by?? We're busy over here with house projects, planning for a new family member arriving in September, and planning for our Summer (August 6th) and Fall (October 1st) Markets! There just isn't enough time in the day. If you do have time in your upcoming days, check out the following fun, crafty events!

This weekend at Boulder County Fairgrounds: Operation ReScrap! From their website, "A fun consignment experience for all things crafty. Other crafting lovelies will be consigning the goodies they can’t use any more. As a shopper, you can come and find all kinds of unique deals!" There will be also be hand-made items, an interactive crafting table, and a photo booth with props. Sounds pretty darn fun to us! Event runs all weekend, Friday through Sunday.

Also, upcoming...
    •    This Monday, July 11th: Denver Handmade Alliance will be hosting another fabulous business roundtable focusing on the art of wholesaling. Roundtable will be held at Hooked on Colfax on July 11th from 6:30-8 pm. All are welcome!
    •    July 16th: Fancy Tiger's Five Year Anniversary Celebration! From 10 am-7 pm at their store on Broadway. It's going to be a great time!
    •    July 16th: French Nest Market in Fort Collins
    •    July 17th: The Lucky Pearl Bazaar on Pearl Street

*****

Fourth of July

2011-07-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

Today we're of course inspired by red, white and blue! The collage below includes some great Summer Featured Vendors from our Summer Horseshoe Market on August 6th! We will be unveiling all of our awesome Summer Featured Vendors in the coming days. Stay tuned and enjoy today!

1. ink lounge 2. meadowview vintage 3. barberry & lace 4. mb glass/miss olivia's line 5. vital industries 6. siouxsiequeue's 7. objects of affection 8. studio 1950 9. trina rose boutique

2011-07-01T08:17:00.001-07:00

photo via design sponge

Happy 4th of July weekend! Pretty nice that the 4th falls on Monday so we all have a lovely three day weekend!

Kick off your weekend here in Denver in the Berkeley District for their First Friday Art Walk. And make sure you stop by Tenn Street Coffee at 44th and Tennyson. Tenn Street is a Summer Horseshoe Market sponsor and is hosting the Lucky U Horseshoe Preview Party at their store tonight from 6-9 pm. The party will feature Horseshoe artists and crafters as well as some live music. And you'll get to see what's to come at the August and October Markets! Also, the Horseshoe Preview Show will be up the whole month of July at Tenn Street so please come check it out!

***

We are still looking for a few more Horseshoe Market Street Team volunteers (help us spread the word about the Horseshoe by hanging posters around town!) and some day-of volunteers for both our August 6th and October 1st markets. Horseshoe volunteers are quite the lucky ones--you get a free t-shirt and free food the day of market! Fill out our application form if you're interested!

***

We are laying low this holiday weekend, spending some good solid time with family and friends. But come mid July, we'll be out and about with all the fun stuff going on in Denver. Mark your calendars for the following art, craft and market goodness!

July 11th: Denver Handmade Alliance will be hosting another fabulous business roundtable focusing on the art of wholesaling. Roundtable will be held at Hooked on Colfax on July 11th from 6:30-8 pm. All are welcome!
July 16th: Fancy Tiger's Five Year Anniversary Celebration! From 10 am-7 pm at their store on Broadway. It's going to be a great time!
July 16th: French Nest Market in Fort Collins
July 17th: The Lucky Pearl Bazaar on Pearl Street

***

See you all back on the blog next week!

Horseshoe Street Teams!

2011-06-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Good morning, all! We can't believe it's already almost July. The heat of the summer is here with so many fun things going on in Denver. And the Summer Horseshoe is just around the corner on Saturday, August 6th from 9 am-4 pm at 46th & Tennyson. Our posters and flyers are finished, too! Yay!

We are looking for some enthusiastic volunteers to spread the word about the Horseshoe Summer Market. Do you live in or frequent one of Denver's many great neighborhoods (Highlands Square, Berkeley, LoHi, LoDo, Baker/Broadway, Wash Park, Old South Pearl, Golden Triangle, DU area, East Colfax...)? All we need is folks to hang posters, flyers and get the word out about the market! Let us know if you want to help out. You will get a free Horseshoe t-shirt and get to be a part of one of Denver's best art, craft and vintage markets! Just fill out the online volunteer application and mark "street teams" and any other way you want to help with the market. We guarantee some fun times :) Thanks and happy Tuesday!

Upcoming Fun

2011-06-24T06:23:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars! Next Friday, July 1st, one of our great Summer Market sponsors, Tenn Street Coffee, will be kicking off a month-long Horseshoe Market preview show!

"Lucky U" will feature the art, design and craftsmanship of a select group of 2011 Horseshoe Market vendors. The exhibit includes a wide variety of ceramics, paintings, jewelry, wearable and wall art, children items, photography and more. This is a great opportunity to meet this amazing group of creatives and experience the "Horseshoe Market" in the cafe's gallery, Tenn Street ART.

"Lucky U" will feature the works of Kelly Perkins, Stacy Cousey, Robyn Thayer, Mary Katz, Mari Vasel, Karla Leduc, Melanie Darling, Geri Aranjo, Diane Anderson, Susan Mattson, Karin Platt, Lisa Rundall, Sharon Meriash and Judy Gardner.

The Preview Party is First Friday, July 1st from 6-9 PM at 4418 Tennyson Street with the Artists in attendance. There will also be some great tunes from the popular Fall River Band on the patio from 7-9 PM.

"Lucky U" Preview Show runs through Sunday, July 31st.
For hours and details visit www.tennstreetcoffee.com or contact Sharon Meriash, sharon@sharonmeriash.com.

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This weekend, make sure to head out to Stapleton for the lovely Sweet William Market on Saturday from 9 am-2 pm! You will find lots of great handmade and antique goods from some awesome local vendors!

There's also Project Hello at RedLine from 12 pm-7 pm. Project Hello features visual artists, crafters, designers, musicians, fashion and jewelry designers, writers, culinary artists, film makers and performers! It's going to be a great event.

And also, just two more weekends left of Summer Camp at YesPleaseMore, a pop up store that features 100 percent Colorado designed goods! Stop by their Summer Camp shopping event this weekend from 3-6 pm at 7706 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

*****

Rainy days and Mondays always get me...

2011-06-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

Inspired!

1. Denver artist eleven12 design 2. glitter and doom vintage 3. boots from simple thrift 4. Lean on Me original from Summer Horseshoe featured vendor Jeanne Oliver

Here's to getting a lot done on this rainy Monday. Or...maybe just staying in bed a little longer.

Happy Monday!

Weekend!

2011-06-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on this weekend in Denver that we'll need to make use of some serious time management skills! Up here in our Highlands neighborhood is the annual Highlands Street Fair. We know some great Horseshoe vendors will be there and we plan on visiting and doing some shopping! And eating...and listening to music...

Other festivals, markets and happenings around town and outside of Denver.....
Westword Music Showcase
Denver PrideFest
Juneteenth in Five Points
Greek Festival
and The French Nest Open Air Market in Fort Collins!

We're sure there are lots more happenings that we're missing! Post a comment below to let us know what you're doing this weekend.

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And mark your calendars! Our Summer Market is on its way. On August 6th, come to 46th & Tennyson for over 100 artists, crafters and vintage collectors selling their great wares. We'll also have lots of yummy food! And starting in July, one of our awesome Summer Market sponsors, Tenn Street Coffee and Books, will be exhibiting 10 Horseshoe artists' and crafters' work. The Lucky U, Horseshoe Market Preview Show will kick off with a party on July 1st! We hope to see you there!

Biz Tuesday: Great Outdoor Vending Tip

2011-06-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

It's Biz Tuesday! This post is for those who vend outdoors, or are considering it. Please have a look at the photo (please click on picture to enlarge), and answer this question:

Where's the soap?

That's right, it's easy to find the soap, because there's a banner on the front of my tent. Please note the expanse of white tents, there, with no banners on the front. At the Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market, I saw a lot of unique signs, and I wasn't the only one with a sign at the front of my tent; it just so happened I was the only one in this grouping. I wanted to post this to make this point to you: when vending outside, use ALL of your tent to showcase your business. That particular show was my best single-day show to date (in 6 years!). Was it because of my signs? That might have been one factor. In any case, it's a factor over which I have control, so I take advantage of it.

Advice given. I'm out.

***
Amy Kalinchuk makes and sells soap at www.soapcrone.com and also writes and publishes crafty books at www.crafte-revolution.com. She does not know everything about everything, but is happy to tell you what she knows, in any case.

Inspiration Monday: The Beach

2011-06-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a week at the beach. Our internal clock is a little off--woke up at 5 am bright eyed and ready to go. We are glad to be back in Denver, but spending almost a week on the beach was just what we needed...

Lazy days spent reading in the sun with our feet in the cool sand, falling asleep under the umbrella to the sound of the waves, finding starfish on the shores and spending quality time with family--you just can't beat it!

We are still feeling inspired by the colors of the east coast beach and the water as we get adjusted back to real life. Check out the items below, a few of which are from our Summer Featured Vendors! Happy Monday to everyone.

1. Tennyson Vintage 2. What the Funk 3. She's Crafty Handmade 4. Raajma 5. picture from vacation! 6. A Wild Tonic Vintage 7. Tennyson Vintage 8. Jodi554 9. Thin Air Creations

The Horseshoe is hiring an intern!

2011-06-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

Horseshoe Market Internship

The Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market is seeking a marketing/event intern for our Summer and Fall Markets! The internship will run roughly from late June-early October, 2011.

As the Horseshoe Marketing and Event Intern, you will be a part of Denver’s best seasonal outdoor art, craft and vintage market! The ideal candidate would be self-motivated, flexible and possess excellent customer service and communication skills. We’re looking for someone with high attention to detail, even those “perfectionist” types.

This internship will be a great learning opportunity for someone interested in large-scale events and marketing, the arts, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Intern must be available for remaining market dates of August 6^th and October 1^st, and each Friday before the markets (August 5^th and September 30^th). Internship is five hours per week, but up to ten hours per week before each market. Internship is unpaid but you will receive a t-shirt, tote bag, food vouchers at the markets, and a letter of reference.

Responsibilities

· Assist with organization and promotion of each market

· Assist with social media including Facebook, Twitter and blogging

· Assist with general office procedures such as data entry

· Organize Horseshoe Street Teams

· Other special projects as assigned

Qualifications

· Interest in public relations, marketing and event planning

· Interest in local art/handmade/vintage movement

· Must be currently enrolled or attending college/university and live in Denver area

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Positive attitude and experience in customer service-oriented environment

· Experience with social media

Please send resume, cover letter and list of references to:

Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market
Attn: Amy Yetman
PO Box 12644
Denver, CO 80212

OR send email to:
HorseshoeMarket@gmail.com with “Marketing/Event Internship” in the subject line.

Application Deadline: Sunday, June 12^th, 2011

Spring Market Recap!

2011-05-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

We had a beautiful day for our first Market of the year on May 7th! With weeks of rain, wind and clouds, the sun was bright and hot for the market! It was an all around lucky day. Check out some of the lovely photos taken by local photographer and friend, Rachael Grace...

We had over 110 vendors selling their handmade and vintage wares for the day. Lots of folks seemed to be grabbing some great finds. It was also the day before Mother's Day so it was an especially "girly" day--lots of moms and daughters hanging around, enjoying the market.

Vendors brought in lots of fun "Springy" goods--fresh flowers, potted plants, felted birds, pretty colors...

And the food trucks showed up--Basic Kneads Pizza, Deluxe Street Food, and even the Food Network's Great Food Truck Race with the Seabirds Truck! We hear the Denver show is going to air in August. We'll keep you updated and we think the Horseshoe will get a cameo!

We also were graced with treats from Cake Bakery, mocktails from Hula Moon, and the Cozy Bean provided coffee. Yum. Nothing better than food, drink and shopping!

All in all, it was a great community day filled with friends, shopping, food and fun. Mark your calendars for our Summer Market on August 6th! We will have rotating vendors, a traveling letterpress truck from Portland (!), ice cream, and more fun surprises. Stay tuned! Thanks to all of you for your support of the Horseshoe! We can't wait to see you in a few months...

Mother's Day Specials

2011-05-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

Mother’s Day Specials at the Horseshoe

Since Saturday is the day before Mother’s Day, we’ll be having fun stuff for moms! Plum Sage Flowers will be providing fresh cut flowers, and the Denver Handmade Alliance will be having an all-ages crafting area where you can make something crafty for mom. And here’s a sampling of some Mother’s Day Specials from a few of our vendors!

Barberry & Lace (vendor #56)
Any 3 pair of stud earrings for $25

Charlotte’s Rustic Rose (vendor #4)
10% off “hanging heart metal baskets.”

Clean Getaway Soap Co (vendor #26)
$15 off Soap of the Month Club…take home your first Soap of the Month, wrapped up and ready to give to Mom, and every month for the next year, she’ll receive a new and unique bar of soap from Clean Getaway, plus an extra special gift during the month of her birthday!

Dandy Social Club (vendor #10)
Our BRAND NEW “mom” skirts will all be specially priced at $50, regularly $65

January Jones (vendor #48)
Two 8X10 prints for $20 (normally $12 each or 2 for $24)

Nicole Lorentz Designs (vendor #52, 53)
20% off all jewelry

Studio Lila (vendor #27)
8x10 mounted prints all in honor of the good Mamas and their friends!

· "Mom Gift", retail $45, lucky Find=$30

· “Heart Song,” retail $45, lucky Find=$30

· “Be,” retail $45, lucky Find=$30

· “Mother and Daughter,” 11x14 matted print, retail $60, lucky find=$45

Tilly Whistle (vendor #74)
Buy any two items and get the third 50% off!

We'll have a numbered vendor list and map at the market if you want to make sure you visit these booths! See you soon!

Details for Market Day!

2011-05-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

Here is some great and useful information for your visit to our Spring Market on Saturday! Also, here's a detailed map of the market area.

Inspiration Monday: Yellow!

2011-05-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon! We are inspired by the sun that came out for a bit this morning. Wishing it would stay out! Here are some shades of yellows (and yellow-ishes) from some of our Spring Featured Vendors.

Our market is already here--this Saturday, May 7th from 9 am-4 pm at 46th and Tennyson!! Reminder--the first 25 customers at each entrance (one entrance at 46th ave and one at Tennyson) get a super awesome swag bag filled with goodies! See you there.

1. Lodgepole Press 2. Hot Pink and Sequins 3. Vital Industries 4. Curious Lottie's Fancy Crafts 5. The Gold Bug 6. Kiwi & Co 7. Hot Pink and Sequins 8. Neile Butterfly Jewelry 9. Oopsygirl Vintage

Also, we're going to start a giveaway tomorrow...
Here's a sneak peek of what we'll be giving away!

Market Sponsor Spotlight: Tomte. Modern Craft

2011-04-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

We are so thrilled to have such great sponsors for our 2011 Market season: Fancy Tiger Crafts, Tomte. Modern Craft and the Green Wish Foundation.

Today, we are excited to feature Tomte. Modern Craft! Tomte has recently moved into the Berkeley neighborhood, and is right down the street from the Horseshoe! On market day, May 7th, stop by Tomte before or after the market--they'll have a "Build Your Own Terrarium" station set up in their shop from 10 am- 2pm!

*****

Tomte's new space on 41st. It's beautiful and filled with great stuff!

If you're not familiar with Tomte. Modern Craft, we are a little boutique that features handmade goods. We are also the local outlet for our line of clothing and house wares, Vital Industries.

Since last fall’s Horseshoe Market, Tomte and Vital Industries are excited to relocate to the Berkeley neighborhood. We have been lucky enough to combine Vital’s studio with Tomte’s storefront into one space. This enables our customers to see where our products are made and enables our team to be much more creative. We also love the energy at Tennyson’s First Friday Art Walk. Overall, it’s a great fit and we are looking forward to being involved in the neighborhood’s future growth.

Come check us out and as an added bonus the day of the market, Tomte will have our Build Your Own Terrarium Station up and running. The station will run 10-2pm at our store at 4335 W 41st Avenue.

Tomte. Modern Craft
4335 W 41st Ave
Denver CO 80212
303.433.1765
http://www.tomtecraft.com

*****

Inspiration Monday!

2011-04-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

Despite these rainy, dreary days, we are still inspired by spring, and the blooming that's going to come from this moisture! We can't wait.

Check out the items below--many are Horseshoe Spring Market vendors and all are Colorado makers.
Happy Monday. Stay bright on this rainy day!

1. Fleuriste 2. Retrolabs 3. Shade Tree Studios 4. Hot Butter 5. Plum Sage Flowers 6. LSR Jewelry 7. rlwalker3 8. Old Crone's Bewitching Bath Soap 9. Vital Industries

Horseshoe Preview & the Giveaway!

2011-04-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Have we mentioned how excited we are for our first market of the year??? We are so pumped about the lineup we have for the Spring Market! It's going to be pretty awesome, as it is Denver's Best Flea Market :) Here are some helpful details about the market. Get ready for a spectacular market day!

The Basics:

2011 Spring Horseshoe Market
Saturday, May 7th at 46th & Tennyson in parking lot behind Olinger Moore Chapel
9 am-4 pm
Thanks to our Market sponsors, Fancy Tiger Crafts, Tomte, and the Green Wish Foundation

Bring cash!!! (Some vendors take cards, but just to be safe have cash on hand.)
Park at Berkeley Park--best and closest entrance to use is at 48th & Tennyson
Be green and ride your bike! The Green Wish Foundation will have complimentary bike parking!
We'll be selling limited edition/quantity of very cool Horseshoe T-shirts and totes printed by the awesome, Vital Industries.

What you'll find:

110 booths of Denver's best art, craft, design, and vintage vendors! (Vendor list coming soon)
The first 25 folks to each entrance (one entrance at 46th and another on Tennyson) will get limited edition tote bag filled with goodies
Spring Market is the day before Mother's Day--some vendors have Mother's Day Specials (we'll post these next week!)
Fresh flowers from Plum Sage Flowers, gardening tips from Denver Urban Gardens, and get a Garden-In-A-Box from the Center for Resource Conservation
The great Denver Handmade Alliance will provide an all-ages interactive craft booth!
Massage provided by Holistic Body Works for tired shopping feet!
Food vendors: Deluxe Street Food, Basic Kneads Pizza, Cake Bakery, Cozy Bean, and Hula Moon Events and Bartending!

What a day, huh? And that's just the first of three! Be sure to mark your calendars for the Summer Horseshoe on August 6th and Fall Horseshoe on October 1st.

After you spend some time at the market, make sure you stay in the Berkeley neighborhood, voted Denver's best local shopping district, and check out all the shops and restaurants on Tennyson Street!

Leave a comment below about what you're most looking forward to at the Spring Horseshoe and you'll be entered to win a set of Lucky Seven Garden Markers (see below) from vendor, Donna Diddit! We're randomly picking a winner tomorrow at 9 am. Hurry and post!

Giveaway Giveaway!!!

2011-04-20T05:35:00.001-07:00

We have another spectacular giveaway happening this week! On Friday at 9 am, we'll pick a winner to receive a sweet package of garden markets from Horseshoe vendor and blog sponsor, Donna Diddit!! Leave a comment below, and you'll be in the drawing. Or, you can follow us on Twitter and mention us using @horseshoemarket to enter, too! Do it now and don't miss out on this great giveaway!

*****

Table to Farm™ Garden Markers- reclaimed stainless steel flatware engraved with plant names. Shiny, easy to find in your indoor or outdoor gardens and containers, these markers really stand up to the dirt and weather. Stick 'em in the ground, hose 'em off, easy! Sourced and made locally in Denver, Colorado by Donna Diddit.

This Lucky Seven Set includes: Basil, Cucumber, Mint, Strawberry, Tarragon, Tulip, and Yarrow.

Swing on by the Donna Diddit booth and find over 60 varieties of Table to Farm™ Garden Markers to bring home in time for Colorado's first official day of planting- May 8th, Mother's Day!

Special Event Licenses and Permits

2011-04-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Guest business blogger and awesome Horseshoe volunteer, Kara Lundquist, wrote this blog last year before our October Market. We've had lots of questions from vendors about taxes and licenses so we thought we'd repost this to answer some of your questions. Hope this is helpful for all of you vendors as you're getting your preparations under way for the markets!

******

We promise that this blog won’t be a major downer as one could assume by the title! It’s good to have all your ducks in a row when it comes to what the government requires, particularly for being a vendor at Horseshoe Market and collecting state and city sales tax on your items.

Here’s the info from the City of Denver and State of Colorado about special event tax licenses that are required for the Horseshoe. We hope this information will be helpful as you plan for your successful day at the Market:

TAXES & LICENSES
If you don’t already have a tax license for either the City and County of Denver and/or for the State of Colorado, you’ll need to apply for these licenses to collect the total 6.52% sales tax.

State of Colorado Special Event License
-You can apply for either a single ($8) or multiple (usually $16 but now $12 and valid through end of 2011) event license. If you plan on vending at Horseshoe next year, it may be to your advantage to apply for the multiple event license that will cover you for as many events as you need over a two year period.
-Colorado State Tax: 2.9%
-Questions? 303-238-7378
-Still more questions? You can attend a FREE tax class!

City and County of Denver Special Event License:
-This application has a $5 fee per event and is required to collect the 3.62% owed to the City and County of Denver.
-Questions? Call 720-913-9446.

It’s important to do your research with the State and City to make sure you have everything required of you as a vendor. We’ve provided some numbers above, so if you have any doubt, give them a call!

Once you have the license, how will you keep track of what you need to pay in taxes back to Colorado and Denver? As you are pricing your treasures, you may want to include tax into the price so that on the day of the Horseshoe you won’t have to spend precious time with your calculator and you can focus on showing off all your hard work!

We’d love to hear from some seasoned vendors out there about getting all the paperwork together for the fairs and markets they’ve previously attended. Let us know if you have any tips or tricks!

Kara Lundquist is a Colorado native that made her way back to Denver after some time in sunny Santa Barbara, CA and rainy Seattle, WA. She lives here with her husband and little yorkie pup, Mochi. She's currently working on her MBA in Marketing at Regis University but also enjoys time outside of schoolwork with embroidery, quilting and collecting fabric.

Inspiration Monday!

2011-04-18T06:27:00.001-07:00

1. oopsygirl vintage 2. neile butterfly jewelry 3. studio lila 4. creative roost 5. nicole lorentz designs 6. tilly whistle 7. tennyson vintage 8. gneural 9. pink attic cat

Good morning, all! On this beautiful morning, we're inspired by oranges, corals, yellows! Check out the pretties above. These cool items are all from Spring Horseshoe vendors and many are Featured Vendors! Happy Monday to all!

Blog Sponsor Spotlight: The Pink Attic Cat!

2011-04-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

We're happy to feature a super blog sponsor and Horseshoe vendor today: The Pink Attic Cat! Check out this fantastic shop full of treasures in Littleton. Also, they'll be bringing some sweet stuff to each Horseshoe Market this year!

If you're interested in being a Horseshoe Market Blog Sponsor (includes ad on right sidebar, Sponsor Spotlight blog post, and chance to do "giveaways") email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for more information.

*****

The Pink Attic Cat is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Littleton, but off the main drag on Alamo Ave. The store is typically loaded to the hilt with vintage finds and one-of-a-kinds, as well as unique furniture pieces and architectural items. We offer everything from “soup to nuts” as my grandma used to say, buttons to bed springs and everything in between to spark your creativity. New items are added on a daily basis to keep the “attic” fresh – no moth balls here! The store aims to offer a customer friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy and take a walk down memory lane.

Our motto has always been, “We recycle America, one day at a time and we were doing it before it was cool to be green."

Stop in Tuesday through Saturday 10 to 5 and sometimes later (if the stuff is out front, we are here). Check the blog for upcoming events at the store including art shows, warehouse sales, and create classes using unique and curious finds!

Amy Doherty
The Pink Attic Cat
2555 W. Alamo Ave. Littleton, CO 80120
303-797-4474
www.pinkatticcat.com

Inspiration Monday

2011-04-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hello folks! What a weekend...we spent part of it (before getting sick! Boo...) at the amazing Makerie Retreat in Boulder. Wow. Talk about inspiration....there were a bunch of creative workshops with everything from shoemaking, to pattern-making to painting. I painted for a lovely full day with the superstar teacher, Flora Bowley. Check out her work for some juicy inspiration.

Flora showing us some fun techniques

The Makerie was all about crafting, creating, community and doing what you love and taking time for yourself. It was held at Chautauqua (wow!). The food was delicious, too. And, they ended the weekend with the fabulous Firefly Handmade Market. I was so sad to miss that, but it seems like it was awesome from the rave reviews on Facebook.

Now it's time to really switch into busy Horseshoe gear! Here we come!!! Saturday, May 7th from 9 am-4 pm--over 100 local artists, crafters, vintage collectors, yummy food, fresh flowers, and a whole lot of fun! Get ready to take home some really good stuff!

Giveaway!

2011-04-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

It's time for a super special giveaway! Horseshoe vendor Siouxsiequeue's is giving away this very sweet Tranquility Bracelet (above)--your choice of color (see below)!

To enter to win the giveaway, either leave a comment below, or follow us on Twitter and mention @horseshoemarket in a tweet!
We will be choosing a winner on Thursday at noon so enter SOON! You will be able to pick up your bracelet at the Spring Market on May 7th at 46th and Tennyson!

Inspiration Monday: Green and Giveaways

2011-04-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

We're seeing more green these days. Green leaves budding on trees, greener grass, green sprouts in the garden...loving it. Here are some Horseshoe Featured Vendors getting their green on.

1. creative roost 2. hot butter 3. vital industries 4. neile

GIVEAWAY!!!

It's time for a giveaway! Yay! At the end of this week, on Thursday, April 7th at noon, we will be choosing a winner! Horseshoe vendor and blog sponsor, Siouxsiequeue's, is giving away a lovely Tranquility bracelet (value $25). Winner gets to choose whatever color they'd like!

There are two ways to enter the giveaway: 1. Leave a comment below! 2. Follow us on Twitter and then mention us using @horseshoemarket from now until Thursday at noon. You will be able to pick up your bracelet at the May 7th Horseshoe. Good luck!

Biz Tuesday: Outdoor Vending

2011-03-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well, we're less than six weeks away from our Spring Market! We know many of you vendors are in that busy but fun preparation mode--creating, building inventory, organizing, and crossing off lists. And you shoppers--well, it's time to start Spring cleaning to make some room for all the cool things you'll gather up at the Horseshoe :) This upcoming weekend would be perfect for a yard sale to get rid of the old and make room for new--it's supposed to be 70 degrees both days. Yay!

Today, we've got another helpful business post from Amy Kalinchuk from Craft e-Revolution with great tips about outdoor vending at fairs and markets. As you prepare your booth, use the checklist below and the checklist from one of last year's posts, The Booth, to make sure you have all your ducks in a row!

*****

As mentioned in a recent post, it’s time to get ready for outdoor fairs! If you’ve never done one before, fear not. Below is my personal checklist for when I vend outdoors. If you have something to add to the list, please leave a comment—we are here to learn, right? I’m certain my checklist isn’t comprehensive, but it works for me. Feel free to steal it and adapt it for yourself, this craft fair season.

• Tent (with or without walls--see The Booth post for where to buy tents)

• Tables and tablecloths

• Chair

• Signs and Banners

• Tent décor, such as bunting

• Bungee cords (for signs and weights)

• Weights for the tent (You must have these so your tent doesn't fly away or hit someone! Buy them with your tent, or make them easily and cheaply here)

• Table display items (boxes, shelves, etc.)

• Products to sell (!)

• Bags for merchandise

• Money box w/$100 in change

• Credit card acceptance tool (whatever that is—I use a Square)

• Credit card acceptance sign

• Clipboard with inventory sheet
-Notes should include total retail sales tax collected and any percentage fee paid
-Tally marks next to inventory list

• Business cards

• Notebook and pen for collecting email addresses for your newsletter list

• Pens and pencils, Sharpie markers, for yourself

• Duct tape & scissors (Just in case you need it)

• Hand sanitizer

• Toilet paper (Just in case! Portable toilets are, by their very nature, unpredictable)

• Tissues

• Cell phone

• Cooler w/snacks or lunch, and water

• Clean hair, face, teeth, and clothes

Amy Kalinchuk writes about crafting and business, and publishes others at Craft e-Revolution. Feel free to contact her through her website about your ideas for a photographed craft tutorial ebook.

Inspiration Monday

2011-03-28T06:27:00.001-07:00

After spending the weekend in the garden, we're inspired by all things earthy. Nothing like the feel of good, cold dirt on your hands, and nothing more satisfying than seeing your first sprouts come up! And did we mention that we will have a gardening theme for our Spring Market? In addition to some rad spring vendors, Denver Urban Gardens will be joining us :)

Here are some earthy items from some lovely 2011 Horseshoe vendors! Enjoy.
Oh--and this week we'll be starting some giveaways! Check out (and follow and fan!) our Facebook and Twitter pages for details in the coming days...

1. lodgepole press 2. deadwilder design & illustration 3. ollie's vintage 4. lsr jewelry 5. fern & sprout 6. dandy social club 7. siouxsiequeue's 8. oopsy girl vintage 9. donna diddit

Art, purpose and making life fun...

2011-03-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

I posted this video on the Horseshoe blog last year, but I stumbled upon it again this morning. And it was as fresh and sweet as ever.

And just as inspiring as the first time I watched it.

Have a happy Friday, and a creative, juicy weekend!

Inspiration Monday

2011-03-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

some of our lovely Spring and Summer featured vendors: 1. Green Jeans 2. Objects of Affection
3. The Gold Bug 4. Curious Lottie's

We keep talking about Spring. Well, Spring officially came yesterday! We are inspired by soft spring colors and our great Featured Vendors. We are rounding up our Spring Featured Vendors profiles, so look for them here (page is still under construction) and on Facebook in the coming weeks.

Also, our Spring Market is coming together in a fantastic way. In the next few weeks, we'll start to tell you about some of the special vendors that will be at the market! Have a great week, everyone!

Preparations...

2011-03-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

It seems that in the past few weeks, we've noticed a lot of folks talking about the upcoming market season in Colorado. Vendors are getting busy figuring out booth set-up, buying tents, and creating and collecting their goods. In the next few weeks, we'll have some great vendor-focused posts about how to get ready for the Horseshoe and markets, in general.

Along with the frenetic buzz of "to do's" that come with preparations for the upcoming market season, I can't help but think there's more "stuff" going on. On one hand, there's excitement, busyness, anticipation, but I think there's also a bit of "Holy crap! What am I doing?! Who do I think I am? I'm going to sell MY stuff? Are people gonna like it/buy it/etc?" Maybe those of you who've done markets for a long time don't have a lot of that anymore. However, there are a lot of you newbies out there so maybe you're feeling that.

In a nutshell, it seems that in this prep-time, or any time when we're preparing for an unfolding our dreams--there's this really fun excitement topped with a big scoop of fear and vulnerability. On that note, I wanted to share a video of one of my favorite people, Brene Brown. She a vulnerability researcher and has one of the most-watched TED videos out there. Here's one of her great, funny, real TED talks about vulnerability and living to the fullest. Not only should we embrace our vulnerability (watch and you'll understand), but it can actually lead to a more connected, abundant life. Enjoy!

Biz Tuesday: Staying in Touch with Customers

2011-03-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

We have Amy from Craft e-Revolution here again today with some important crafty business tips about keeping in touch with your customers. Thanks, Amy!

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It is imperative, when selling online or at fairs, for a crafter to keep a newsletter list. This is my opinion, based on my experience. These are my reasons why:

1. Staying in touch with your customers leads to increased sales. Every time I send a newsletter, I make an online sale. Every time.

2. Having a conversation with your customers helps you to build a better business. If you engage in conversation with your loyal followers, they will help direct you. Ask them what they like, and they will tell you. When a customer says, “Ooh! You should make X thing,” and you then hear that same statement from two other customers, maybe you should listen. My best-selling soap scent came from a newsletter question: what scents do you think I should make?

3. Making your list opt-in leads to better sales. If every person in your list made the active choice to receive it, then they are a captive audience. They want to hear what’s going on in your life, what new stuff you are working on, and where you will vend. Do not miss the opportunity to sell to them.

4. Ask your list for a favor, and they will often deliver. Going along with point 3 above, if you ask your loyal list-followers to do something for you, they will often do it. They will forward your newsletter to one friend, will recommend you to their family, and will show up at your next craft fair, with friends in tow. They will review you on Yelp, follow you on Facebook and Twitter, and will participate in a contest in order to win things from you. They love you! Accept it.

5. Keeping a schedule with newsletters keeps your loyal customers engaged, and keeps you focused on your work. If you have calendar alerts help you, you can keep sales coming in and keep your customers aware of your plans. Maintaining a newsletter schedule keeps you on your toes—you can’t let things languish, or else your customers will deplete your stores and you will be scrambling. Publishing your plans helps you to stay on track.

If you haven’t started a newsletter list yet, this is something you should do right now. You have to start with one person, and you can find one. Just once, just this one time, send an email to all your friends and family, telling them you are starting a newsletter. Promise them you won’t send a mass email like that again, because you want them to sign up through the link you include. (And always use the BCC feature in your newsletter emails—you don’t want to publish their emails to each other.)

Want to start right now? I use Mad Mimi, and I think you should too. It is super easy to use, and the staff are amazing. You can sign up for free—you can have up to 100 people on your newsletter list for no charge at all.

This is the Action Girl on Biz Tuesday saying, “Get busy! Write a newsletter!”

Amy Kalinchuk is an author and publisher at Craft e-Revolution where she is currently formatting a photographed craft tutorial scheduled to come out in April. Stay tuned!

Inspiration Monday

2011-03-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

Last week was a tough week for the world. The Japanese earthquakes and tsunamis were unbelievable and devastating. Watching the videos of communities collapsing in a matter of a few minutes was beyond the wildest Hollywood movie scene. It's so devastating how quickly life can change. And how much we really are at the mercy of nature. We have so many ways to build up our false sense of control! The truth is that we don't have a lot of control in life. The things we can control are how we help others and the amount of gratitude we can muster up for all that we do have.

Today, I'm so inspired by people helping people. People giving back. And for that, I am grateful!
And I love how handmade can be a vehicle to make the world better! Lots of Etsians are running specials in their shops--if you buy something, they will give a percentage of proceeds to organizations that support relief efforts. There was even an announcement by Etsy on how your shop could help with disaster relief for Japan.

Here's an example of one shop, Willie and Lu, doing their part. They'll give at least 20% of their proceeds to organizations involved in relief efforts in Japan! Thanks, Etsy and all of you hand-crafters for doing your part!

pretty sorbet shimmer earrings by Willie and Lu

Spring

2011-03-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

photo via Sea Lily Studio

How is it suddenly Friday? We've been light on the blogging due to sickness over here. The weekend is upon us, though. And it's warm out, the sun is shining, and it's feeling more and more like Spring...which means our first Market is coming soon! And means that our down jacket is happily in the closet for now.

We hope all of you vendors are getting busy creating and doing your thang in preparation for the first market! What are you all doing to prepare? If any of you vendors are looking for some support with your craft-based business, the great Denver Handmade Alliance has some upcoming workshops you should all know about.

This Monday, DHA brings the Business Roundtable to Hooked on Colfax! Each month DHA will be picking a relevant topics related to craft-based business, and holding an open discussion in a casual setting. The DHA Business Roundtable is an opportunity for all of you crafty folk to gather together and learn from each other’s experiences. Yay for collaboration! All are welcome to join, no matter your level of experience. Bring what you know! Here are the details:

Monday, March 14th, 2011
6:30pm-8:00pm
Topic: Etsy
Location: *Hooked on Colfax (3215 East Colfax Ave, basement)
*There is no charge to participate, but a purchase from Hooked on Colfax is highly encouraged

*****

Another great DHA event coming this Spring--The Crafty Ballyhoo, of course!
Here are the details:

In collaboration with Create Denver Week (put on by Denver's Office of Cultural Affairs), the Denver Handmade Alliance is sponsoring the Second Annual Crafty Ballyhoo, a craft market for local vendors of fantastic handmade goods and an interactive day of crafty fun. The Crafty Ballyhoo will be held Sunday May 15th from 11am-6pm, Grant-Humphreys Mansion at 770 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, in the Central Denver area. The first 50 people through the door will receive a swag bag full of handmade goodies! Oh, and if you want to be a vendor, applications are due tomorrow, March 12th!! And Fashion Denver's Spring Market, SPROUT, will also take place at the mansion the same day! Cool stuff.

Happy weekend to everyone! Enjoy the sun.

Inspiration Monday

2011-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Good morning! We're off to a slow start on this cloudy Monday. However, things are going to kick into full gear because we are two months away from the Spring Horseshoe Market!

It's time to start your spring cleaning since we know you're all going to be taking home some pretty great finds from the market--we'll have antiques, furniture, jewelry, clothing, accessories, shoes, toys, even fresh flowers and gardening gadgets! It's going to be a great market.

On this dreary day, we are inspired by our Featured Vendors and bright things :) We're sure this collage of colorful handmade items and art will brighten your Monday!
1. hot pink and sequins recycled fabric headband 2. mb glass designs ring 3. hot butter wallet 4. dandy social club dress 5. barberry & lace ring 6. january jones roadtrip print 7. neile real butterfly earrings 8. gneural digital art print

Blog Sponsor Spotlight: The Makerie

2011-03-04T06:21:00.000-08:00

Today we're honored to feature our lovely blog sponsor, The Makerie! Read below to find out more about this amazing creative retreat in Boulder. Also, they just opened up some Day Package spots. These are limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Check out the details here.

If you're interested in being a Horseshoe Market Blog Sponsor (includes ad on right sidebar, Sponsor Spotlight blog post, and chance to do "giveaways") email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for more information.

*****

We are launching a creative retreat weekend in Boulder, CO, this spring, called the Makerie, designed to lovingly nurture the creative spirit in all of us. It will be full of amazing creative/crafting workshops (i.e. sewing, embroidery, knitting, painting, block printing, pattern making, photography etc...) and is for ANYONE who wants to be creative or try something totally new in a supportive and loving environment. We are thrilled with the terrific line-up of teachers from around the country we have for this inaugural year. In addition to the classes, we will offer wake-up yoga &/or hiking, as well as healthy, organic & local (where possible) yummy foods as part of the weekend so everyone feels cared for all around. Think of it like summer camp for adults (but in April!) & a weekend with no cooking or cleaning or errands, just creating & playing! People will have the chance to stay in cozy cottages, eat communal meals together & simply be part of a fun, creative community for a few days.

Dates: April 7 - 10, 2011
Location: Boulder, CO http://www.chautauqua.com/
Web Site: http://www.themakerie.com/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM4mfKBmiKw

Inspiration Monday...One Day Later

2011-03-01T07:27:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we were swamped with sending out all of our notifications to vendors for the Spring (May 7th), Summer (August 6th) and Fall (October 1st) Horseshoes, and we didn't get a chance to do our Inspiration Monday post. So here we are today!

We are so very excited about our three markets. Each will have over 100 superb Colorado artists, crafters and vintage collectors. Each will be unique and awesome shopping experiences! And we're just about two months away from our first market. Time flies when you're having fun gathering a bunch of awesome small arts businesses together for great community events :)

We have another sneak peek for you all today. Here are some confirmed Featured Vendors who will be at various markets! If you got in to any of the markets, you can still choose to become a Featured Vendor. Email HorseshoeMarket@gmail.com for more info.

1. bring about art 2. clean getaway soap 3. bring about art felt cuff bracelet 4. donna diddit garden markers 5. siouxsiqueue's chainmaille bracelet 6. siouxsiequeue's knitting needle case 7. she's crafty earrings 8. cheryl patrick/creative roost encaustic art

the creative process

2011-02-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

It's really great to watch artists actually create their art--do their thing. I think it's inspiring to see other people's creative process. I love this video below. Absolutely amazing to see what unfolds.

What's your creative process? How does it all unfold for you?

SUPAKITCH & KORALIE - VÄRLDSKULTUR MUSEET GÖTEBORG from elr°y on Vimeo.

Biz Tuesday: Make your life as a vendor easier!

2011-02-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

photo via findlay antique bottle club

Amanda McKay of Presents for Pirates is our guest blogger today with a great resource for all you vendors out there! Read below to find out more about Square credit card readers! What a way to make your life easier as a vendor! Thanks, Amanda!

*****

It turns out, I unknowingly married a techie. I don't remember hearing anything about this when we met 10 years ago, it just slowly became a trend I noticed about this guy. A lot of time is spent nodding my head, faux acknowledging that I have any idea what the specs he's rattling off mean, or have anything to do with anything that would apply to me, but sometimes, I luck out and an article he emails me actually makes sense! A product that is not only cool, but would be useful to me, in my business no less!

It was actually one year ago that he sent me an article about a super sweet product - yay! That I couldn't use yet - argh. Little did I know, this company was hard at work getting their product ready to be accessible to a lot more of the small biz world. (They were initially useable only by iPhone customers, but now can also be used with Android phones and iPads).

The product I'm talking about is the Square credit card reader. They make accepting credit cards on the fly a piece of cake, and boy, do I love cake! I signed myself up the middle of last year to get mine - and the Monday after last year's super amazing Horseshoe Market, my new best friend the mailman brought me mine! I've since been using mine at craft shows and small business meetings and just when I'm out and about, and I have to tell you, it was worth the wait.

I did a bunch of research on merchant services beforehand to determine what was going to work best for me, and I decided that Square's combo of super low transaction fees + on-the-go accessibility made sense for me all day long. More info on the specs can be found here: https://squareup.com/features

I have sort of unofficially teamed up with Square to help distribute 100 of their readers to people in and around Denver! I don't get anything from it, other than the hope that by me getting more and more people to use their services, that they will be around for a long time and I will get the continued benefit of utilizing their services. Well, I think they may have said they would pay me back in hugs. Not sure what the conversion chart on that looks like, though. I still have a bunch of these super cute little credit card readers left to distribute to anyone that thinks they would like to give it a shot! You can find me on Twitter @piratelifeforme or through my Etsy shop.

Happy crafting!

Inspiration Monday: Horseshoe Sneak Peek!

2011-02-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hope all of you are enjoying this sunny Monday. We are totally enthralled in reviewing all of our early Horseshoe applications. We know we've said it before, but we are seriously inspired by all of the amazing applications we're getting and have gotten. We wish we had twice the amount of space, because there are that many great artists, crafters, designers and vintage collectors in our lovely state! It's totally awesome and inspiring.

Here's a sneak peek at some possible 2011 Horseshoe vendors! And for those of you who applied as vendors early (Jan 15-Feb 14), we will be notifying you by March 1st! We've said it before, but be looking for an email from HorseshoeMarket@gmail.com.

Have a great, inspired day everyone!
1. sweet european dreams 2. butterworth and bee 3. wts creatures 4. sings the sparrow 5. january jones 6. lark and lillie 7. deadwilder art 8. velvet 9. jane hilbert designs

Thanks to our sponsors!

2011-02-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, once again! We are thrilled that the Green Wish Foundation, Fancy Tiger Crafts, and Tomte will be sponsoring the 2011 Horseshoe Craft and Flea Markets! We have a few sponsorships spots still available, so if you're interested in becoming a sponsor, please email Amy at HorseshoeMarket@gmail.com.

We also wanted to spread the word about some upcoming events happening at Fancy Tiger and Tomte!

To start with, Fancy Tiger is having a huge fabric sale this weekend! Saturday, February 19th and Sunday, February 20th, save 50% off all corduroys, flannels, woven wools and select cotton prints. Also save 30% off all cotton velveteens and hundreds of select cotton prints. Can't beat that!

Additionally, on Wednesday, February 23rd from 6-8 pm, join Fancy Tiger for their Community Sewing night to serve The Gathering Place, a day shelter for women and children in central Denver. You'll sew colorful pillowcases to brighten the children's living areas! To participate, you'll need 3/4 yd main fabric and 1/4 yd accent fabric for each pillow. Cotton or flannel in kid-friendly prints is recommended. Find more info here!

Tomte Craft has recently relocated to the Berkeley neighborhood at 4335 W 41st Avenue right off of Tennyson Street! Mark your calendars for a trunk show and their grand opening on Friday, March 4th! It's going to be a great night!

Biz Tuesday: Choosing Your Niche

2011-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

photo via notsoboringlife.com

Another lovely business installment from Amy Kalinchuk of Craft e-Revolution! See her first post here on starting your own craft business. Thanks for the tips, Amy!

*****

Choosing Your Niche -- Will People Really Buy This Stuff, Anyway?   

It is exciting to think that others are willing to pay you for the fun you have. Crafting is fun, right? And all of your friends are constantly telling you that you should sell this. People would buy this. You could make this a business!  

If you have made the decision to sell your crafts, but don’t know who will buy them, it’s probably a good time to choose your niche. You must realize, from the start, that you are not selling to everybody. Not everybody likes what you make. This is not an insult--it’s a good thing. Knowing this can help you make more money from the beginning.   

It’s better to design your products so that they appeal to an audience that is large enough to sustain your business, but small enough that not everybody will want it. Since you are a crafter, that fact has narrowed things down considerably. You already have eliminated those who prefer ultra-well-known-brand-name products. Let’s narrow it some more. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are my products particular to a social group? Parents, women, single men, college students, children, the elderly, people with disabilities?
2. Are my products particular to a lifestyle? Vegans, green living, homesteading, urban dwelling, hipsters?
3. Do my products have a particular aesthetic? Vintage, mod, art deco, rockabilly?
4. Do my customers have a lot of money? Just a little bit of money? Do they save up money to purchase collectible items?

Answer these questions, one by one, and you may come up with a statement that looks something like this:

My products (high-quality, handmade soaps and other skin products) have a rustic quality, and appeal to customers who value practicality over looks and function over style. Vegans, vegetarians, and those who value “green living” and “all natural” items will enjoy knowing they purchased the products locally, and for a reasonable price (just a bit higher than the average price in Whole Foods).

That niche is the target for my soap company. Those are the people who enjoy my products and come back for more. I focus on selling locally at farmer’s markets, as well as online. My packaging is minimalistic, and my soaps are rustic looking, but are large and perform very well.

It is unrealistic to think that my soaps will appeal to everyone. Those who like artificial fragrances like Lilac or Strawberry, are not going to be attracted to my soaps from the start. People who like fancy soaps made in shaped molds are not going to be drawn to the plain rectangles of my soap. That’s okay! There are plenty of other soap makers in the world who can meet that customer’s need. There is enough money to go around. Go through the list, answer the questions, and target your niche. You will be rewarded with a loyal customer base and hopefully, increased sales because of your focus.

Amy Kalinchuk is the publisher at Craft e-Revolution. Her soap website is the #1 result in Google for the search, “handmade soap Denver.” Unsurprisingly, she lives in Denver, Colorado with her family.

Inspiration Monday

2011-02-14T08:20:00.001-08:00

Today we're inspired by Valentine's Day, of course! We gathered a bunch of lovelies below, many of whom we found by shopping "local" on Etsy!

Can't really believe it's already Valentine's Day?! It means that March is around the corner, and Spring is around the corner...and the Horseshoe Markets are just around the corner, too!

We hope your day is filled with lots and lots of love!!! Also, today is the last day to apply for the markets and get a discounted booth! Do it!
1. hot butter 2. sunshine in the cellar 3. alpen glow vintage 4. pixie dust 5. studio lila 6. anista designs 7. creative kates 8. smilin' moon 9. objects of affection

Last Call for Discounted Horseshoe Booths!

2011-02-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

There's some important and cool stuff going on in the world of handmade and craft and today we want to spread the word about those things! First of all, though, it's last call for discounted Horseshoe booths!!! Monday is the last day you can apply to one, two or three Horseshoe Markets and get a discount! If you apply to any of the Horseshoe Markets and get in, you will receive a discounted booth price ($75 versus $100 for a 10X10 booth). Take advantage of this great deal! DHA members get an even better discount--$60 per booth!

We have been pleasantly overwhelmed with applications and are currently processing applications. If you apply on or before February 14th, you will find out your application status (acceptance/decline) by March 1st, 2011. We are so excited by all of the amazing applications we've been getting and we're going to have three awesome, rockin' markets!!!

Also, if you are not a vendor, make sure you mark your calendars for the markets--Saturdays, May 7th, August 6th and October 1st from 9 am-4 pm at 46th and Tennyson in the parking lot behind Olinger, Moore, Howard Chapel.

*****

Denver Handmade Alliance is offering a great upcoming workshop, "Business Branding 101." This is for folks who've got a craft based business but want to work on their image and get a fabulous introduction to branding. Branding pros, Deborah Williams, owner of the visual branding firm, Design and Image, and Beth Barbee, branding strategist for Darwin, will be sharing their expertise in this intro workshop. Space will be limited to 15 attendees so sign up now!

When: Thursday, February 24 · 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Where: Design and Image--930 Inca St
Registration Fee:
Denver Handmade Alliance Members: $5 (see you’ve already saved $5 with your $10 yearly membership fee!)
Non-Members: $10

To register, email workshops@denverhandmade.org. Please use "Workshop Registration" in the subject line, and include your full name and DHA membership number if applicable (if you have not yet received your 2011 membership e-card but have sent in payment, please note that your 2011 membership fee has been paid and the full name associated with the membership and we can check for you in our system). A payment request will follow to finalize your registration.

*****

Some other cool things we've seen around the web--this one via Denver Handmade Alliance. How awesome is this??!!

CALL FOR HANDMADE ARTISANS!

A new crafty video hub has arrived! CraftyPeepShow.com is a new multimedia website for all crafty goodness – and it’s starting right here in Denver! It will feature a new artist, bio video, and product giveaway each month, along with how to videos, craft projects, featurettes, and much more. Our goal is to not only build and promote the Denver handmade community, but to create a place for handmade enthusiasts around the nation to log on and find inspiration for their next project.

We are now taking applications to be one of our featured artists!

What does being a featured artist mean? Front page visibility with an interview, 1 – 2 minute bio video, professional photo, write up, and a link to your website. This video will also be linked to the Denver Handmade Alliance, Facebook, and YouTube accounts – now that is a lot of exposure! All for the low price tag of a few product donations!

(Nervous about being on video? Don’t be! Crafty Peep Show has rounded up a team of award winning videographers and editors with an array of concepts from up close and personal to artsy and mysterious.. all you have to do is relax and be your wonderful self!).

Interested?

HOW TO APPLY
1.Click the link: http://www.jotform.com/form/10373901186
2. Fill out the form.
3. Hit SUBMIT. Easy

*****

And finally, via DonnaDiddit, we found this spectacular site, Quite Unique. It's almost like a GroupOn for crafty people! They feature one handpicked item per day at a great value. Each item purchased comes from a small producer who utilizes unusual materials or techniques, or who has an interesting back-story to their company.

Because they get their products from small producers, their quantities are limited. Their unique features sell out fast and once the item is gone, it's gone. Sign up as a member to receive daily email alerts when a new feature/product becomes available.

If you make unique goods and are interested in being featured on Quite Unique, go to their vendor page for more information.

*****

If you know of any other great things going on out there, post in our comments! Have a great weekend, everybody! Enjoy the sunshine...

Whatever you look for, you'll find!

2011-02-09T08:51:00.001-08:00

The Makerie posted a great Facebook post this week...."What are some of your favorite inspiring TED talks?" This one was recommended and I love it! I love Amy Krouse Rosenthal--so creative and inspiring. Perusing her videos and books is an all day inspiration-a-thon.
Enjoy

Inspiration Monday: Making Stuff

2011-02-07T08:21:00.001-08:00

Another handmade portrait from Etsy that I love. My favorite line in the video-"I just want to make stuff." Simply and perfectly said.

Handmade Portraits: Built by Wendy @ Yahoo! Video

Blog Sponsor Spotlight: LSR Jewelry & the bench

2011-02-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

Is it really already Friday?! What a week! We're so happy to see the sun shining today. And today we're honored to feature Horseshoe vendor and blog sponsor, LSR Jewelry & the bench. Read below to find out more about Lisa's fabulous work.

If you're interested in being a Horseshoe Market Blog Sponsor (includes ad on right sidebar, Sponsor Spotlight blog post, and chance to do "giveaways") email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for more information.

***
Lisa Rundall lives in Edgewater, Colorado with her husband, Rahja, and their two beautiful boys, Oliver and Noah. She was born in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, and moved at an early age to the San Francisco Bay Area. Throughout her childhood Lisa was encouraged to play in nature and explore her creative side. This was the start of her journey to becoming an artist.

Before moving to Denver, she lived in the beautiful northern California town of Arcata, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art with an emphasis in jewelry making. Her jewelry is organic, textured, and handmade, no two pieces alike. She often adds precious or semi precious stones to add an element of color into the design. She currently works out of her home part time as a graphic designer and the other half as a jewelry artist and teacher.

She is starting a jewelry studio/school in 2011. The inaugural classes start in February. The classes are created for people who are interested in finding out more about metalsmithing and lost wax casting, but don't want to purchase a lot of expensive equipment before they know if it is something they really want to do. Also folks that have experience in these areas can come to use the studio, which will be opening later this year.

Find LSR Jewelry & the bench here and on Facebook.

Repurposing and Reusing

2011-02-03T07:59:00.000-08:00

Cristina Covello's Tin Can Storage via TreeHugger

Like many folks in Colorado, we love the idea of repurposing and reusing in our daily lives--and in doing our art and craft. We've been hugely impressed with how many applications we've been getting from folks who are repurposers and recyclers--and who make awesome art!

We've got someone taking old guitar strings and making jewelry (boulder redesign), belt buckles and jewelry made from reclaimed skateboards (mukee), recycled and restyled clothing (pearl clothing--great article recently in the Westword about pearl here)--among many others!

Tell us--how are you creating using recycled/upcycled materials and saving them from the landfill? We'd love to see and hear!

Biz Tuesday: What makes you remarkable?

2011-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

I've been watching lots of Ted videos these days. The site is filled with so many great things, on as many topics as you could think of. There's a wealth of information on business, leadership and general inspiration.

I really like this one by Seth Godin on standing out. There are some great things to think about when it comes to selling yourself, your business and marketing ideas. Great stuff to chew on for this Tuesday!

Inspiration Monday: Gray Day

2011-01-31T07:11:00.000-08:00

We've been way under the weather over here. And fighting it. However, sometimes you just have to sink into it and not fight it. And rest. Today I'm inspired by the calm of gray and muted blues. My favorites. Now for some tea and doing work all day from home in the bathrobe.

Happy Monday!

Lots of these artists/crafters are Colorado folks! Check out their shops!
1. vital vintage linens 2. xvelvetx 3. trat girl 4. ani & rose 5. the domestic icing shop 6. simplysarai 7. knit storm 8. lonley art 9. tilly whistle

Blog Sponsor Spotlight: Siouxsiequeue's

2011-01-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Today we're featuring one of our fabulous new blog sponsors (and Horseshoe vendors), Siouxsiequeue's! Read below to find out more about Siouxsiequeue's lovely goods!

If you're interested in being a Horseshoe Market Blog Sponsor (includes ad on right sidebar, Sponsor Spotlight blog post, and chance to do "giveaways") email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for more information.

***

It all started with one bracelet...

Siouxsiequeue's was founded in 2006 after our namesake, Suzanne Gutierrez, bought a chainmaille bracelet at a Sci-Fi themed fair. Suzanne began to obsess over and disassemble that bracelet in her mind; finally having driven herself to learn the ancient art of weaving maille. Thanks to the support of her exceptionally wonderful family, and with the blessings and encouragement of the artist of that first bracelet, Suzanne embarked on the fantastic adventure of a home based jewelry business. In 2010 the Siouxsiequeue's range expanded to include handmade totes, pouches, and other handmade accessories. When she’s not in her studio Suzanne loves to watch Sci-Fi movies with her family or can be found at Stash in Castle Rock teaching knitting and sewing classes. Suzanne is fueled by a lifelong passion for creating and is proud to be a DIY kind of girl in a cutting edge technology kind of world.
You can find Siouxsiequeue's all over the Web!
www.siouxsiequeue.etsy.com
www.siouxsiequeues.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seodoir/219797019866?ref=mf
http://siouxsiequeues.blogspot.com/

You can also find Siouxsiequeue's all over the Metro area!
Dream Pastries, Castle Rock, CO
Stash, Castle Rock, CO
The Mac Spa, LoDo

Wired Wednesday

2011-01-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

I'm clearly obsessed with Etsy's Handmade Portraits. I think it's because I have always loved documentaries and my attention span is quite short so these are perfect. And because they are on what I love--arting, crafting, creating, collecting.

As I've been watching these portraits, I'm struck with two things: all of our lives are completely and utterly rich, whether we realize it or not. And number two, what we touch and create with our own two hands becomes magic.

Check out this Handmade Portrait. What life these dolls have!

Biz Tuesday

2011-01-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

We thought we’d use this Biz Tuesday spot to give you an update on our 2011 market application process and sponsorship information for all of you vendors and possible sponsors out there.

We’ve gotten an amazing response from folks applying to all of our markets! To be honest, we are running out of room in all of our markets so you should apply soon if you want to join in the fun! Don’t forget that we have discount booth prices until February 14th!

We are a juried market and we jury on a rolling basis. If you’ve already applied, you will find out if you are accepted around March 1st. We may be sending out emails sooner than that, so if you’ve applied, please look for an email from horseshoemarket@gmail.com in the coming weeks. Please check your Spam folders and make sure horseshoemarket@gmail.com is on your “safe senders” list!

Here are a few FAQ’s that we’ve been getting. Please let us know your other questions in the comments below!

What does juried mean?
We are looking for high quality, unique, handmade and handpicked goods. If you are an art or craft vendor, your art or craft must be handmade by you. Items are juried in terms of their quality, creativity, craftsmanship, and professionalism. If you haven’t done a market yet, that is okay, too! We can tell a lot by your website, your Etsy shop and your pictures. Make sure that there are photos of all the items you will be selling.

In terms of vintage, we are looking for high quality, unique vintage products. We are looking for furniture dealers, vintage art and craft, accessories, clothing, among other vintage finds. If you are a vintage vendor and you don’t have a website, you will still need to attach pictures to your application. Just take a few pictures of the kind of stuff you collect and attach them to the application. It’s that simple!

If I apply to all three markets, will I get in to all three?
We encourage you to apply to as many markets as you’d like, and we’ll do our best to get you in. However, you may not get into every single one for which you apply, but this is mostly true for jewelry vendors. We get lots and lots of jewelry applications--so many that we have to start a waiting list. We so want to include everyone, but space and type of vendor may inhibit us from doing so. Thank you for understanding!

Can my business be a sponsor for the markets?
Yes! We are currently seeking sponsors for all of our markets. We have one Premier sponsorship available, and three Market sponsorships available (please email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for info). We also have a few seasonal sponsors and blog sponsorships. We market heavily, have a really great online (over 12,000 unique page views to our website!) and “live” audience (3000-5000 customers per market!), and your marketing dollars will be well spent. Please contact Amy at HorseshoeMarket@gmail.com for more information!

If you have further questions, leave them in the comments below. Have a great day!

Inspriration Monday: On Collecting...

2011-01-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

We absolutely love Etsy's Handmade Portraits. We saw this one over the weekend and were so inspired. It made us want to get up and go to an auction or an estate sale! And this dreary day would be perfect for playing hookie and wandering off to some thrift stores, wouldn't it? Happy Monday!

Handmade Portraits: Domestikate from Etsy on Vimeo.

Blog Sponsor Spotlight: Donna Diddit

2011-01-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, folks. Today we're featuring one of our fabulous new blog sponsors (and Horseshoe vendors), Donna Diddit! Read below to find out more about Donna Diddit's super cool and unique products!

If you're interested in being a Horseshoe Market Blog Sponsor (includes ad on right sidebar and Sponsor Spotlight blog post) email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for more information.

I've found a means to work and wander, traveling into the wee cracks of "what if?" and coming back with truly unique and functional designs to offer our fellow word nerds and garden geeks (and a few other custom interests, as well). All of our handcrafted laser engraved offerings come from an exacting "good design" ethic that produces our Table to Farm Garden Markers™ and Push Pin Puzzles™. Materials range from upcycled and repurposed, to the new and durable.

Donna Diddit LLC is a woman-owned business specializing in artistic and well-designed laser engraved small gift items for home, garden and personal use based in Denver, Colorado. The core of everything we craft is good design that functions simply. Our laser engraved gifts blend beautiful artistry with straightforward functionality and artisan craftsmanship. We take pride in what we do and believe in doing things right.

You can share your geek for good design with us online or in person:
WEBSITE: http://donnadiddit.com/
FACEBOOK:http://www.facebook.com/pages/DonnaDiddit/
ETSY:http://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaDiddit
LIVE: Denver and Boulder craft show schedule is posted on our home page and Facebook

Check out this short video of the first set of Table to Farm Markers being made!

Q & A Thursday with the Makerie

2011-01-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

For the last year and a half, I've had this dream scribbled on my list of "big dreams":

go to an art/creative retreat!

I've seen so many cool ones online through a bunch of bloggers I follow, but never knew how I was going to pull off going to Portland or the east coast with a super busy schedule. It just never seemed the right time.

Then, serendipitously, I stumbled upon the Makerie in Boulder! The Makerie is a brand new creative retreat happening April 7-10, and I'm so very excited to be going! It's a long weekend (Thursday night-Sunday) of a creative extravaganza with amazing teachers (all the best ones! see below), a beautiful location (Chautauqua) and a seemingly wonderful group of folks.

Today for our Q & A, we are so very thrilled to have Ali DeJohn, the sweet, inspiring soul behind the Makerie. And please come join the us for what we know will be a super special retreat!

If you are interested in signing up for the retreat, here are some important dates to keep in mind:
February 6th - Cottage Availability Limited *

March 18th - Registration Deadline
*COTTAGES ARE STARTING TO FILL UP! PLEASE don't delay if you are thinking about staying at Chautauqua. After February 6th, cottages may be available, but we just can't guarantee it.

***

HS: Can you start by telling us about the Makerie and how it came to be?

Makerie: In June 2009, I attended my first creative retreat and it was hands down, one the best experiences I ever had. I learned:

* how important it is to honor who you are and what you love to do
* the power of being in a like-minded community
* that you can have your own thing and still be a great mom (in fact, I found I was a better mom because of that!)
* how honoring and exploring your creative side brings out the best in everyone
* to listen to your heart

When I came home, I shared this magical experience with all my friends and family, and they loved what it was all about. I researched and researched to find a similar retreat in Colorado (a little closer to home) so I could take all my friends. When I couldn't find anything like it in our majestic Rocky Mountains, I began to think how neat it would be to bring this to our community, and how much I wanted to provide a place for other people to have the opportunity to experience what I did. I wanted to provide a place where people could step out of their fast-paced, everyday lives, leave technology behind for a few days and reconnect with themselves in a space to simply play and feel like a kid again. (It does wonders, let me tell you!) I still carry around the magic I felt from my first retreat, and am eternally grateful to Elizabeth and the courage she had to create Squam Art Workshops. It truly changed my life.

HS: How would I know if the retreat is for “me”? Is there an “ideal” participant?

Makerie: The heart of the Makerie is to lovingly nurture the creative spirt in ALL of us. There is not an ‘ideal participant’ whatsoever, as the retreat is designed for ANYONE (and yes, even those who claim they are not the least bit creative!) who wants to be creative, loves to be creative, and dreams of being more creative. There are no age limits and we truly welcome anyone willing to come with an open heart!

HS: Can you tell us about some of the classes and teachers who will be at the retreat?

Makerie: The weekend will be full of amazing creative/crafting workshops in sewing, knitting, shoe-making, painting, pattern design, block printing, photography and jewelry-making. We are really excited about the incredible line-up of teachers from around the country we have for this inaugural year!

Flora Bowley ~ Our totally inspirational painting instructor that has burst onto the art scene this past year with her incredible painting process. She was a former yoga instructor so she incorporates exercises into her workshops to get you out of your head and into your body before painting. Word has is that the work that comes out of her classes is literally gallery-worthy, even from people who have never picked up a paintbrush!

Lizzy House ~ This adorable teacher, who will be teaching pattern design and block printing, is one talented textile designer who can’t wait to energize your creativity with her intimate knowledge of these topics. I have taken her classes myself so I can vouch for how amazing her workshops are!

Alessandra Cave ~ Creator of the Gypsy Girls Guide, a daily dose of worldly inspiration, she will explore photography and how to make the transition from snapping pictures to taking beautiful photographs. She is a wonderful creative force serious about living life to the fullest and will inspire you to do the same!

Stefanie Japel ~ If you want to spend a day or two knitting, her awesome energy will lead you through fantastic workshops highlighting embellishments, playing with color and knitting to fit. She just finished her third book with Chronicle!

Jessica Hernandez ~ Founder of the darling company Joyfolie, she will lead workshops on shoe-making. Oh those SHOES... they are completely adorable (sell out in literally seconds!) and the Makerie will be the first time she will be sharing her tricks of the trade!

Angie Olsgard and Katherine Sanz ~ And lastly, if jewelry-making has ever caught your curiosity, you can spend a day of boundless adventure in creating wearable metal arts.

HS: What is your greatest hope in creating the Makerie?

Makerie: The greatest power in creating the Makerie is the warm and wonderful community it seems to be bringing together, which feels really magical and powerful. I would love to see the Makerie become an event that inspires people in various ways and encourages them to follow their heart, and that everyone involved in the retreat in any way, shape or form will feel part of the Makerie family.

HS: Do you have any favorite spots to craft/”make” in Denver? In Boulder?

Makerie: Fancy Tiger’s craft nights in Denver are so much fun when I can make it down from Boulder, and Common Threads in Boulder would be my place of choice. We did just start a knitting group here that travels to various local coffee shops, which has been really lovely as well!

HS: Best coffee in Denver? In Boulder?

Makerie: Oooooh fun question! I really love Highlands Cork and Coffee in Denver and in Boulder, it’s so hard to choose because I love so many. But if I had to pick one, I’d say Saxy’s on Pearl Street. They have the coziest of couches!

HS: Any last thoughts?

Makerie: I would just like to thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Makerie and to congratulate YOU on the wonderful Horseshoe Craft & Flea you have recently launched. You have such a wonderful community vibe to your event already and we can’t wait to support all of your efforts!

Thanks, Ali! We can't wait for the Makerie!

Fear of Making Art

2011-01-18T10:52:00.001-08:00

photo via projectfocus

Judy Wise is a mixed media artist who also does a ton of art journaling. Art journaling is a really fun way to explore your creativity, to be focused on your process and NOT the outcome. It's a great way to play with creative ideas, intuition, and creating for the pleasure of creating. Sometimes that's the very stuff that keeps us away from art.

I know many of you who read this blog and are either artists yourself, or you may be one of those folks who secretly wants to do art, or do more art, but you've got the fear monster on your back who talks you out of doing art, trying art, or even thinking about art. Or, maybe you are an artist or crafter, but there's still fear lurking. I think it pops up every now and then even if you've fought it off before.

This video from Judy is really inspiring to me. Her simple words about art, fear and "just doing it" are oh so powerful. My favorite quote from the video (when she's talking about being committed to doing art everyday): "You'll step out...you'll do the thing you've been wanting to do all your life that you've put off and it'll feel so good. You'll be so glad you did it."

YES!

Biz Tuesday: Starting your Business!

2011-01-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

photo via re-nest

We're thrilled to have guest blogger, Amy Kalinchuk, from Craft e-Revolution write on how to start your own craft business! We know many of you are artists, handmakers, or collect vintage/antiques. You probably want to push it to the next level, but have no idea how to start. Amy's no-nonsense tips below are awesome and inspiring...feels like business bootcamp for creatives and crafters! Make this YOUR year to do it!

Starting a craft business: 5 Tips for Success

It’s a new year, and you have resolved to start your craft business. That is fantastic! Starting a business is one of the best things you can do to change your life. The lessons I have learned from being in business for myself are immeasurable.

Some of those lessons were hard-learned. Not everyone is cut out for business, but I am not here to talk you out of it. I am a firm believer in experiential learning. If you aren’t meant to be an entrepreneur, the only way to learn that is to try it, wholeheartedly. I have owned my craft business for over six years and my publishing business for over five, and have learned more than I could have imagined about business and crafting during that time. If you are considering turning your favorite craft into a business, you might find the following list of tips and advice helpful.

1. Don’t wait for “the right time.” The right time is now. Do not wait for the money to come in--find a way to make it work. I don’t recommend going into debt to start a craft business. Start selling your stuff to friends and family, and use that money to purchase equipment or supplies. You will need to re-invest this money for quite a while, until you see a profit. If you want to use credit cards, do so knowing what you can pay off quickly, and stick with a budget. Pay them off as fast as you can, using the profits from sales. Whatever you do, just jump in. If you are the kind of person who waits for the “right time” to do things, then push yourself out of that comfort zone.

2. Use free or low-cost online outlets to your advantage. Had I known about Etsy when I was first starting out, I would have started selling there immediately. It is a low-cost way of starting your online presence--and you must have one. Even if you think you will sell mostly at craft fairs and through networking, you must still have some sort of website. A shop on Etsy is free to own, and very low-cost to start selling there as their fees are based on sales: if you have no sales, the only fee you pay is the listing fee of 20 cents (which is good for 4 months).

Artfire is another low-cost option online. They have a flat-rate, monthly fee for their “Pro” members, which is very reasonable (currently $9.95/month). If you are unsure that you will be able to cover that cost, Artfire does have a free “Basic” option as well, which has limited options. It’s still a great free service, if you have only a few items to list.

some of Amy's soaps!

3. Don’t let the details overwhelm you. There are eight million and three of them, so it’s easy to let this happen. You must register your business with the city, county, state, and your grandmother. You must pay a fee for all this. You must open a bank account, find the best suppliers, go thrift shopping, and clean out your garage.

Listen to me. Write it all down on one list. All of it! Then, choose one thing (one thing!), and do it from start to finish. Then cross it off your list, and the next day/week/weekend/time, choose the next thing on the list. It will all get done, but you must not let the details prevent you from starting.

For an easy online way to keep track of all this, sign up for Teux Deux. It’s free and fabulous.

4. Start your blog now. There is absolutely no reason for you to wait on this. If you are going to have an Artfire or Etsy shop to start with, because you want to save money, then start a free blog through Blogger. Or, you can have a Wordpress blog. If you are scared of this process, start with Blogger and roll with it. It’s very easy, and it’s absolutely necessary. This is part of your branding, and it’s the first way you can start to create a following. Once people are following your blog, they will want to read more and more from you, and are easier to turn into customers.

The same advice is true of Facebook and Twitter. Just do it. All of this is free. Put these to-do items on your Details list from #3 above. Don’t know what to say? Tell people you are starting a craft business, and then respond to their comments. Ask your readers direct questions. Do they prefer floral or woody scents? Which colors are in their living rooms? The key is to respond as often as possible, and start an online conversation.

5. Focus your efforts. Focus on one area of crafting, not a bunch. Make things that “go together.” For example, I make and sell soap. A natural progression for my product line was to make lip balm, since it uses the same oils that I use to make soap, and it’s also a skin product. After that, I started making sugar scrub, bath salts, and bath fizzies--all things that are good for the skin.

My customers would have been confused if I had made soap, then moved to makeup bags, and also offered carved wooden cutting boards and huge, welded garden sculpture. While I do make a beautiful and practical makeup bag, and my garden sculptures would surely be the talk of the garden tour, none of it makes sense together. Furthermore, I wouldn’t be able to grow my business that way--my customers would not come back, because they wouldn’t know what I was making next. What is your chosen craft? What naturally goes with that? Plan to grow in this way--by adding to your product line. Start with your favorite craft, and then branch out sensibly.

It is an exciting time for you right now. Make a promise to yourself that this year will be a year of action. Which of the five items above will you focus on today?

Amy Kalinchuk publishes photographed craft tutorials in ebook format at Craft e-Revolution, which launched in 2010. She is rewriting her three books, and is currently publishing two other authors. She is working on a craft business book, right now, and has a wicked pain between her shoulders from the hunching over.

Call for Vendors and Blog Sponsors!

2011-01-17T07:02:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you had a fun, restful weekend. The weekend was a blur for us. We were pleasantly inundated with Horseshoe Market applications after our launch on Friday! We are seriously thrilled with the quality and quantity of applications! Amazing. There are so many talented and creative people in Colorado. It's truly awesome!

For all of you who are pondering applying--apply soon! If you apply before February 14th and get into the market (we are juried), your booth price will be $75 per market. A pretty great deal! We take applications on a first come, first served basis and we could very well sell out of spaces like we did last year for our first market. So apply now!!!

Blog Sponsorship

Also, we wanted to use this blog post to tell you a little bit about our blogging plan for the 2011 market season. We will be blogging 3-5 times per week from now through mid October. We will have business blogs, guest bloggers, inspirational blog posts, Q & A's with sponsors and artists, and in general, lots of fun stuff going on here!

Additionally, we have some great news! We're offering space for YOU to be a sponsor on our blog! On our right side bar, you can post your business ad for just over $1 a day per month. No contract is involved--you can sign up for one month or six months! It's a low risk way to get your name out there! Here are the details:

Horseshoe Blog Sponsor

We will be blogging 3-5 times per week from January 2011-October 2011, and all blog posts are advertised on Facebook and Twitter! For just over one dollar per day ($35.00 per month), you will receive the following benefits and highlights:

· Your company ad on right sidebar of blog

· Profile feature on blog!

· No contract involved—you may sponsor one month or as many months as you wish, but sponsorship is on a first come, first served basis

· Ability to potentially sponsor a giveaway

· Potential to reach thousands of customers!

Pretty cool, huh? If you're interested in this great opportunity, please email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for more information. Have a great day!

New website and applications are open!

2011-01-13T20:23:00.001-08:00

It's an exciting day over here! We are just launching our new and improved website courtesy of the ever-amazing Lisa Rundall Creative, and we've just opened our 2011 vendor applications! We thought we'd give you a run down of the website changes, and also talk about our 2011 vendor applications.

The new website now has a "main" homepage, and then each market has its own page--Spring Market (May 7), Summer Market (August 6) and Fall Market (October 1). However, you can apply for one, two or all three markets on any vendor application.

In terms of vendor applications, we are having early bird discount prices from today until February 14th. If you apply to any market between now and Feb. 14th, and get accepted into the market (we are juried), your booth price will be $75 for one 10X10 booth ($60 for DHA members) per market. If you apply after February 14th, booth prices will be $100 for one 10X10 booth space ($80 for DHA members) per market.

Please note--you can apply to one, two or all three markets! If you apply to all three, we cannot guarantee that you will be accepted into all three. This is due to the high volume of applications we get, and that we want a great variety of products and vendors at each market. In terms of sharing booths, you may--but both parties must apply. No more than two can share a booth!

Additionally, we want to encourage lots of folks to apply! Are you an artist, crafter or estate sale junkie? Do you dream about selling your wares and having your own business? Maybe you have an Etsy shop, and you've always wanted to do a "live" market. Well, why not give it a go? Check out this page for detailed information on what kinds of vendors we are seeking.

We are so excited about this upcoming market season. Our seasonal markets will each be unique, collaborative, and super fun community events! We will feature kids activities, local food and a few local non profits at each of our markets. Additionally, we are seeking sponsors! Please email horseshoemarket@gmail.com for information on sponsorship opportunities.

Let the fun begin! Go to our website, check things out, and fill out an application! Also, leave a comment below for any feedback or suggestions you may have about our website. See you all soon!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T09:17:00.001-08:00

2010 was a fantastic first year for the Horseshoe. We had a rockin' market and tons of awesome support. 2011 is set to be fantastic, too! Customer and vendor surveys indicated that you all wanted seasonal markets--so we've got three set so far! Mark your calendars for May 7th, August 6th and October 1st! We will have over 100 art, craft and vintage vendors at each market--and some awesome local food as well.

For all of you vendors out there--we will open up our applications on January 14th and have early bird pricing from then until February 14th. Don't miss out on the early bird pricing! We'll also have discounts for Denver Handmade Alliance members again. Our market is juried but we encourage both emerging and established artists, designers, crafters and vintage collectors to apply.

Also, look for our new and improved website on January 14th, too! 2011, here we come!

Vintage Thanksgiving

2010-11-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

Good morning! We are happy to have Horseshoe vintage vendor Photographic Amy as a guest blogger today. She has a bunch of fun ideas about incorporating vintage into your Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy!

* * *

Hello all you wonderful Horseshoe Market fans! My name is Amy and I have a shop on Etsy, called Photographic Amy. I had planned on selling photographs when I chose this name, but, you know, things evolve! So I sell vintage and I had a booth at the first fabulous Horseshoe Market (the one with the record player, globes and type writer among other things, if you happened to stop by)! I love the hunt for treasures, the patina and warmth of things with a history!

I am going to share with you some ideas of how you can incorporate great vintage items into your Thanksgiving celebrations, whether you are traveling far or having Thanksgiving at your house. You can bring visual and emotional interest to the event with vintage items.

Luggage

You can travel in time just by packing in vintage luggage or use open in the guest room with rolled towels, travel size toiletries and a special chocolate treat! Stacked, luggage makes great storage and fits perfectly under a sofa table or angled in a corner of a room for a side table with a lamp on top!

Awesome Brown Leather Vintage Vacationer Suitcase by: FunRetro

Clothes
Wherever you are, a fabulous vintage dress, cloak, statement jewelry piece, Fedora or vintage plaid shirt will always draw attention and stand out from the crowd! Mad Men is influencing fashion, why not have your own bit of fashion history!

1. 1950s / 50s vintage BEFORE THANKSGIVING COMES dress by: Swanee Grace 3. Vintage 1960s Plaid Shirt - Browns Medium by: Mod Men

Games

Having some fun vintage games for the adults and children alike! The make great conversation pieces as well as a ice breakers. Entertain the masses! Setting them out on a coffee table will create an inviting atmosphere and jog memories!

1. Break Thru - 1965 Strategy Game of Evasion or Capture Vintage in Box by:Three Old Keys

2. Lincoln Logs by Playskool 1974 - Frontiersman Set by: RutabegaSix

Serving
A retro cheese tray goes fabulous with faux wood grain cheese servers! Wrap warm rolls in a vintage tea towel placed in a wonderful wood box. It is so visually interesting to use a mix and match of flatware, serving ware and china on a buffet table!

1. Vintage Wood and Ceramic Retro 70s Cheese Tray by: Jen's Closet

2.Vintage Faux Staghorn hostess knife set by: Luncheonette Vintage

3. Antler and Sterling Silver Carving Fork by: Treasure Isle
4. Wooden Caddy by: Pull Over The Car
5. Vintage Mixed Restaurant, Hotel Silver, Horn and Hardart, Yorketowne by: Falcon and Finch6. Vintage Dinnerware Set by: le Vintage Maison

Relaxation
Create a comfortable atmosphere for the post turkey tryptophan nap. Turn on the football game and relax on a roomy couch, automans for feet propping and plenty of blankets and pillows for stretching out. A solid color sofa makes a great backdrop for vintage blankets in bold geometric designs that are all the rage. Have plenty available for everyone to wrap up with!

1. Mid Century Green Sectional Sofa by:Junk 2 Funkbiz

2. Large vintage afghan featuring spice colors and scallops by: Jawaddel

3. Vintage Crochet Square Pillow in 70s Colors by:Fun Retro
4. Vintage Stacking Pillow Ottoman Footstool Rolling Stool Autumn Fall Colors by:That 70s Shoppe

Vintage items have a feeling of history and depth that bring interest and excitement to your wardrobe and decor! Feel free to mix and match vintage eras, just stick to a similar color or tone. Be adventurous! Most importantly may you have a lovely Thanksgiving gathering with loved ones!

We Love Denver

2010-11-03T05:32:00.000-07:00

some Colorado-based artists we love. 1. vital industries 2. butterworth and bee 3. rl walker3 4. two little fruits art studio 5. samuel schimek t-shirt 6. vintage renewal 7. january jones 8. cyanide stitches 9. maranon

Is it just us, or is Denver art + craft totally showing its awesomeness lately on a national level?! For example, two weeks in a row, two Denver hand-making businesses were interviewed for Etsy's Quit Your Day Job feature. Check out Cyanide Stitches story here, and Vital Industries story here. Both businesses were also Horseshoe vendors!

Additionally, we've seen Denver folks pop up in cool national magazines. Jeanne Connolly of Vintage Renewal has been featured in ReadyMade a few times, and we saw that Denver Handmade Alliance's Art by Craft got a shout out in ReadyMade, too. Cool stuff. As we are finalizing plans for our 2011 markets, we continue to be inspired by people and organizations in Colorado who are doing extraordinary things (Another great one? The YesPleaseMore pop-up store that sells 100% Colorado goods).

We're proud to be part of a culture of creativity, authenticity and people going after their dreams! Speaking of dreams, we saw that Fashion Denver's Brandi Shigley is putting on another one of her dreamer/doer workshops on November 10th. Check it out! If you know of other extraordinary things going on in the Denver art, craft or vintage world, leave a comment below and spread the word!

Guest Blog Post: Janssen Designs

2010-10-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

As we are finalizing details for the 2011 Horseshoe Markets (we promise info coming soon!), we've had a chance to reflect on some things we were really happy about for our first year. One of these aspects was all the first-time vendors we had who took a risk to put themselves and their creations out to the world. One of these vendors, Rachel Janssen of Janssen Designs, was kind enough to write a guest blog post for us today. Check out Rachel's experience below and her awesome "green" tips about creating a booth! Thanks, Rachel!

**** ***** ******

Have you procrastinated participating in a craft fair? I sure did, for about two years. During that time, I sold my upcycled one-of-a-kind children’s clothing periodically on Etsy while attempting to balance the full time day job, being a mom, and selling vintage goodies in my other Etsy shop, RetroLabs. But I felt I was missing out on the connection with customers and the kids who may be enjoying these comfortable creations.
I heard about the Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market in early August after becoming a member of the Denver Handmade Alliance and realized it would be the perfect fair to have my first booth. The popular Denver neighborhood, very reasonable booth fee, and promoter Amy Yetman’s enthusiasm were what attracted me to this fair. So off my application went and much to my delight came my acceptance into the fair!

Being a first-time vendor, the hardest part for me was figuring out my booth space. I decided an important aspect of my booth would be to extend my eco-friendly business philosophy into my booth space. I tried to use only recycled and borrowed or owned items for my booth set-up which had the added bonus of keeping booth preparation fees down. Hang tags for my clothing were printed on recycled paper and sewn onto repurposed catalog covers. Two white bed sheets from the thrift store created the back wall of my tent (luckily we already had the tent for our camping trips). My Janssen Designs banner was crafted out of t-shirts and recycled wood for the frame. Paper gift bags from the thrift store were used as shopping bags for customer purchases, which could in turn be used again for gift wrapping. I did end up buying new the materials needed to make the tent weights. These PVC and concrete weights were worth the effort and cost, however, and I know they will be used again and again. Once my booth space was figured out (and inventory made!), I was ready!
Fair day arrived (quite early!) and off my husband and I went with our hot cups of coffee. Once the sun came out and warmed me up, I realized we were going to have perfect weather for the fair. I had such a wonderful day meeting Amy and talking with my fellow vendor neighbors (Joy at Studio Bead and Rebecca at Nana Pat Project), and also market-goers and new customers! I was thrilled when one customer immediately put her daughter into her new Janssen Designs creation-such a pleasure seeing the dress being worn and enjoyed!
The Horseshoe did a superb job organizing this green craft fair and making my first craft fair experience so enjoyable. My only regret is not taking much time to walk around and do a little shopping of my own. I did, however, manage to buy a few bars of fantastic soap from Clean Getaway Soap Company and admire Studio Yoshida’s funky upcycled jackets.

I had so much fun at the Horseshoe that I jumped right in and applied to the Holiday Farmer’s Market and Gift Show and was accepted! It’s Dec. 4 & 5 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont. Keep up to date with Janssen Designs on Facebook!

A big thanks to the Horseshoe Market and all the lovely volunteers! I can’t wait to hear about the Horseshoe Fairs for 2011!

Wednesday Inspiration: Daring to be Courageous

2010-10-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

I love the following video by Kelly Corrigan. This video is women-oriented but I do think we all can relate to the message. What are your ideas? Your secret dreams? What is creativity calling you to do? There's so much power in being vulnerable, authentic and creative. As Mary Oliver said, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

Holiday Markets!

2010-10-21T19:34:00.001-07:00

The question we've heard more than anything since the Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market is "when is the next Horseshoe Market?" and "are you doing a holiday market?" We love these questions since it means you all want more!! We will be giving you more Horseshoe Markets starting in the Spring (no holiday market this year), but we wanted to make sure to spread the word about all of the fantastic holiday craft markets happening in the area. Yay for handmade art, crafts and for local markets!

1. Art by Craft presented by the Denver Handmade Alliance
Saturday, October 30th, 10 am-6 pm
MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany, Denver, CO
Featuring the work of 30 plus local crafters. FREE admission as part of the MCA Denver’s Family Free Day. The first 50 people in the door get a swag bag full of goodies from local crafters and crafted based activities for all ages in the Idea Box at MCA Denver. It's going to be fun!

2. Gifts For Yule 13th Annual Holiday Fair
Saturday, November 13th from noon-6 pm and Sunday, November 14th from 11-4 pm
Historic Phipps Tennis Pavillion
3400 Belcaro Drive, Denver, CO
Free admission. Art, antiques, linens, handknits, jewelery, beads, soap, bath, kids, vintage, folk art, glass.

3. Atlas Gallery Winter Art & Craft Show
November 20th, 10 am-6 pm
708 16th Street Greeley, CO
More than 25 local artists and crafters, live music all day, baked goods & hot drinks, chair massage & homeopathic goods. Free admission! This is put on by one awesome artist and Horseshoe vendor, Bluedoor.
4. Fancy Tiger's Holiday Handmade
December 3rd from 5-9 pm
December 4th from 10 am-4 pm
Sherman Events Center, 1770 Sherman St., Denver, CO
Denver's alternative holiday craft fair featuring 65 of Colorado's most amazing handcrafters! Holiday Handmade is not to be missed!!

5. Firefly Handmade Holiday Market
December 10th, 11th, and 12th
1904 Pearl Street Boulder, CO
This is Boulder's brand new, super cool holiday craft market! The brains and creativity behind this one-- BirdDog Press and Dandy Social Club (super vendors who were at the Horseshoe!) Check the website for up to date info!

We can hardly wait. There's nothing better than doing your holiday shopping locally from Colorado makers at some awesome local markets!
Also, if we have forgotten any, please post them in the comment section!

The Recap!

2010-10-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hey all! We took a couple of weeks off after the Horseshoe from blogging (and I've been sick for almost a week now--hopefully at the end of it) and now we're back. We've had time to take stock of what a great day October 2nd was, and for what the future might hold for the Horseshoe Market!

In our first market, we welcomed over 100 art, craft and vintage vendors, a few fabulous food vendors and some local non-profit organizations. We also had an estimated 3000 customers and visitors! We're proud to say that the Horseshoe Market was a "green" market, courtesy of the Green Wish Foundation who recycled for us!

For those interested in web and media related statistics--from July 15th (website launch) through October 2nd, we had over 2500 unique visitors to our website and over 13,000 page views! The Westword featured us in three articles, the Huffington Post and the Denver Post published an article on the Horseshoe as well! We hope that the activity on our website continues to drive traffic to our Featured Vendors and vendors in general.

In our post-event survey of vendors, over 95 percent said they would like to participate in another Horseshoe Market, and many said it was one of their most successful markets, in terms of sales! Overall, we were thrilled with so much about the day. Customers, visitors and vendors had such good vibes throughout the whole day. We will also make a few needed changes (per your requests and feedback!)--we will definitely have more portable toilets and we will probably start at 9 or 10 am next time around.

All in all it was a fantastic day--thanks to all of you amazing vendors and visitors for coming out to the Berkeley neighborhood, and thanks to our sponsors for supporting this first event. We are in the process of planning our 2011 markets and will keep you posted as soon as we have finalized the details! Thanks again for a superb community day full art, vintage and craft!

Q & A Thursday with Tomte!

2010-09-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to have Tomte with us today on our final Q & A before the Market on Saturday! Tomte Craft, a fabulous Denver shop showcasing handcrafters from across the country, was created by Brett and Crystal of Vital Industries (one of Horseshoe's Featured Vendors!). Tomte has been super generous for donating vendor totes for us on Saturday. Thank you, Tomte!

Brett and Crystal are not only the founders of Tomte and Vital, but also of Denver Handmade Alliance! Though they are humble, quiet-seeming folk, they are moving and shaking the craft world in Denver! Simply said, they are awesome. Please read more about them and Tomte below. We are glad you're in Denver doing what you're doing, Brett and Crystal! Go visit Tomte at 1644 Platte Street to see lots of amazing goodies!

HS (Horseshoe Market): Can you tell us a little bit about how Tomte came to be? (when you started, inspiration…)

Tomte: Brett and I have been creating and selling our personal line, Vital Industries, since 2007. In our travels to large craft markets we would meet so many amazing makers from across the country, and we wanted Denver to have a showcase for their work. The internet is fantastic for craft and handmade, but it’s also very important for people to be able to interact with things in person. There’s a much larger depth of experience. Last October, the space Tomte is in came available, and it was just a natural step.

HS: We love your little gnome – is there a back story on him or how you came up with the name Tomte?

Tomte: Brett’s family is Swedish/Norwegian, and we’ve always been drawn to the Scandinavian aesthetic. I have a few little wood and wool gnomes from Sweden that I’ve received as gifts, and when we were naming the store, the word “Tomte” (who are little gnomes that help out and do chores while you’re sleeping) just seemed perfect. Our two little tomten were kind enough to be figure models for the logo.

HS: How many artists do you currently have at Tomte? How do you find new artists or how do new artists become part of Tomte?

Tomte: Tomte currently has about 30 artists in the store. As Vital Industries, we spent the last few years traveling to large craft fairs such as Renegade Craft Fair and Urban Craft Uprising, and have met some amazing makers. In the very beginning, Brett and I simply asked our crafty friends if they would send some things to the store, and they were kind enough to do so. It is important to us to fill the store with things that we love. Because of that, most of the artists that are in the store we’ve invited personally and we are careful to keep the curated feel cohesive.

Inside the lovely Tomte Craft on Platte Street

HS: What’s been one of the greatest accomplishments/events/milestones for Tomte?

Tomte: Tomte will be having its one year anniversary in October, so that’s definitely an exciting milestone for us. We feel an incredible sense of accomplishment when someone is totally blown away by something in the store. Also, we love when we can connect a customer to an artist that they might not have been exposed to otherwise. Supporting the artists that are represented in the store is a passion of ours, and we like nothing more than to send them a check. Some of our vendors are casual crafters, but many of them are full time makers, and we’re very happy to be able to help them do that.

HS: What’s in store for Tomte in the coming months? In the coming year?

Tomte: We hope to continue to grow our customer and artist base, as well as taking a bigger role in promoting handmade locally. Also, we are keeping an eye out for space where our studio and store can be directly connected; a space where Tomte can expand a bit and host open makers’ nights and workshops.

Vital Industries Old Fashioned Glasses. Vital Industries also screen printed the Horseshoe t-shirts!

HS: Where do you think the future of handmade in Denver is going? What is Tomte’s role with that?

Tomte: Denver’s handmade community is growing, and it’s quite possible Denver can have a national presence in the craft scene. We’ve been involved with the Denver Handmade Alliance, whose mission is to promote handmakers in the greater Denver area – fostering creativity, supporting buying handmade and shopping locally, while providing outreach and education for the craft community.

Eventually, we’d like Tomte to become a gathering place. A little spot in Denver where people come to be inspired to work on their own creative projects and shoppers can find great handmade goods.

HS: What are some of your must have handmaking/crafting/artisan resources?

Tomte: Brett spends a lot of time on Etsy.com running our Vital shop. Etsy’s blog, “the storque”, has great business resources, as well as tips for making the most of selling on Etsy. We are huge fans of the site. It’s where Vital got its start and is what has enabled us to do what we do.

HS: Favorite spots to craft in Denver?

Tomte: Brett and I spend a lot of time in our studio, which is in the same building as Tomte. It has great light, and plenty of room to spread out. (And spread out we do). Outside of that, Fancy Tiger’s Craft Night is pretty great. We don’t make it nearly often enough, but it’s a great place to hang out and make things. (Brett tends to have a beer or two mixed in his craft case with his crafting supplies to spice up the crafting experience.)
HS: Favorite place to eat? Best coffee?

Tomte: Café Awesome. It’s in our backyard, and Brett makes a delicious grilled pizza with clams and homemade dough. Yum! We also have pretty fantastic beer, which Brett brews upstairs. Brett also makes lattes with novo espresso, raw milk from Windsor Dairy and homemade vanilla syrup. They’re delicious. It’s not currently open to the public, but if anyone really wants to stop by and have one, feel free to send us an email. (We spend lots of time at home.) Okay, we let it slip. We are huge dorks.

Well, we like dorks :) Thanks, Brett and Crystal!

Sponsor Spotlight: the Green Wish Foundation

2010-09-29T06:02:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled that the Horseshoe Craft and Flea Market will be a "green" event, thanks to the Green Wish Foundation! Their mantra is really simple and fun: Find some trash. Pick it up. All day long, you'll have good luck! We love it. Pick up some trash and make a wish. Simple and powerful--we all can do it!

We also really love their mission: The Green Wish Foundation mission is to foster plans, actions and wishes towards a greener, cleaner and healthier Earth! We are committed to cleaning up our world, one piece of trash at a time! And each time we do...we get a wish--either for ourselves OR for the world!  

Read below to check out this new non-profit focused on making the world cleaner and more hopeful, all at the same time.

HS: Can you start by telling us how and when The Green Wish Foundation got its start?

Green Wish: Ever since I was a little boy, I was always thrilled with the infinite possibilities that came when finding a penny. Somehow, being inspired to “wish” never really went away. Also, I like many other concerned citizens, have long included picking up trash as a part of leisure and exercise walks and runs. The confluence of these ideas gave birth to The Green Wish Foundation! With each of piece of trash that I picked up, I found myself inspired by the sense that I had in some small way improved my community—and my world. I hope that the Green Wish Foundation will inspire others, while also cleaning up the word, one piece of trash at a time.

HS: Can you tell us about your participation in this year’s Horseshoe?

 Green Wish: We are very happy to leading “greening” efforts for this great community event! We will be offering single stream (non-sorted) recycling, composting near our food vendors and complimentary bike and stroller parking for visitors.

HS: What’s in store for The Green Wish Foundation in the coming months? In the coming year?  

Green Wish: We just launched our social network campaign and are currently working on what we know will be a dynamic, engaging and interactive website this fall! We are currently developing a Facebook “app” and also hope to be launching a smart-phone “app” before 2011! We are in the process of getting our 501 (c)3 status and look forward to spreading the Green Wish concept across the country…and around the world (that’s all!) We will also be hosting a “Green Wish Run” at Sloan’s Lake Park on November 7th!   

HS: If someone wanted to get more involved with The Green Wish Foundation, how would they go about it?

 Green Wish: Right now, we would encourage you to Fan us on Facebook and SHARE your own stories about Green Wishing! We also have plans available for how people can “ADOPT” a park or open space as a “Green Wish Site” and even how to host your own “Green Wish Run” for your favorite park! We can also be contacted at greenwishfoundation@gmail.com.
 
HS: Favorite Green Wishing spot in Denver?

 Green Wish: My wife and I love living in the Highlands and our favorite place to walk is Sloan’s Lake. There is so much activity of all kinds: biking, running, sports, picnics and occasionally large fish jumping! In general the park is very clean and well taken care of. When there is trash, we feel pride in being able to pick it up help make and keep the park a wonderful, CLEAN place!

HS: Favorite place to eat?

 Green Wish: Mead Street! Odd coincidence, both my wife and I went to Mead Street on the very first night we moved to Denver—she in 2004 and I in 2007! Their food and the vibe of their crowds never seem to disappoint!  

HS: Best coffee? 

Green Wish: Novo coffee near the DAM is always SO good.

  Doug Yetman,  Founder, The Green Wish Foundation.

Thanks, Doug!

Featured Vendors

2010-09-29T05:39:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone! Enjoy our last installation of our Featured Vendors! You will get to see some these lovely products and creations on Saturday!

Also, don't forget to enter our Twitter Giveaway! You have five different chances to win! Use @horseshoemarket in a 'tweet' and you're entered. Win a Horseshoe t-shirt or caramels from Helliemae's! Also, don't forget that the first 25 customers to each entrance (at 46th and at Tennyson) on Saturday get a FREE Horseshoe Craft and Flea canvas shopping tote!
1. Thin Air Creations 2. Studio Lila 3. Siouxsiequeue's 4. Peekay Soirees 5. Simply Divine 6. Siouxsiequeues.