Where To Find Hudson Valley Etsy This Weekend

 Makers-On-Hudson invites you to meet Hudson Valley Etsy in person this weekend   

This Saturday is "Second Saturday" in Beacon, and Hudson Valley Etsy's Annual Holiday Show returns to the  Howland Cultural Center  for the 7th time. Second Saturdays are a fun way to spend a day in this vibrant city, and everything is within easy walking distance. Here's a preview of just some of the items our members will be featuring.

Woodland Snowy Owl art print mounted on wood by digiliodesigns 

Sue, of  Digilio Designs, will be on hand with with an assortment of items such as notecards, prints, soft sculpture dolls, and jewelry, all based on her beautiful, original drawings.

Floral Nuno Felted scarf by HuzzahHandmade 

Kathryn, of  Huzzah! Unique Handmade Wearables will bring a selection from her shop, including her Nuno Felted silk shawls and scarves, alpaca hats, and felted accessories of all kinds. Sue and Kathryn's work also continues to be featured at Gifted, Hudson Valley  in Red Hook, N.Y. until December 27th.

Cerulean blue necklace and earring set by pulpsushi

Marilyn of Pulp Sushi, brings her beautiful collection of contemporary jewelry with a hint of vintage flair to our holiday show again this year.

This is just a small sampling of over 20 artists we are featuring this year, including at many more HV Etsy members. Please stop by. We'd love to meet you all.

Friday and Saturday, Elena, of Elena Rosenberg opens her Winter Fashion Pop-Up at ArtsWestchester in White Plains. Elena will be offering her fine hand knits, as well as a sample sale of one of a kind accessories.

Mohair and Silk Infinity Scarf by Elena Rosenberg

Rounding out our offerings this weekend on Sunday, Erin, of Harp and Thistle will be on the road to Portland Maine to take part in Picnic Portland Holiday Sale. Erin's punch needle embroidery brings a contemporary twist to this time- honored craft.

Silver Reindeer punch needle embroidery ornament by Harp and Thistle

The weather is going to be almost "picnic worthy," on this mid-December weekend, so get out and take advantage of it, have some fun, spread a little holiday cheer and meet Makers-On-Hudson/Hudson Valley Etsy in person.

Cheers! 

The Pumpkin Song

I've known my friend Debbie for many years and when our children were young 

we got together very often. This time of year we would celebrate Halloween together

either with a birthday party for my son or just a gathering for everyone.

She would always sing the pumpkin song:

(I have no idea who to credit this song to!)

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said,

Oh my it's getting late!

The second one said,

We don't care!

The third one said,

There are leaves in the air!

The fourth one said,

I'm ready for some fun!

The fifth one said,

Let's run and run and run!

Then whoosh went the wind and out went the light

and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

It would usually be her singing alone and the kids would laugh.

This year I was there for her granddaughters birthday party, they had gone 

pumpkin picking and then carved their pumpkins. Of course the song

had to be sung. But what a chorus she had to sing with her, her daughters and

their children and a few friends. It reinforced in my mind how important 

traditions are, even one so simple as a silly song. It binds us and gives us memories.

So this time of year with the holidays fast approaching, we are all scrambling

to get as much done as we possibly can in this last quarter of the year, remember

that it really is the little simple things that leave the most lasting impressions.

Enjoy!

Sue DiGilio - digiliodesigns.etsy.com

Where To Find Hudson Valley Etsy This Weekend

Festivals Flourish To Usher in Autumn

 

This weekend promises to be very exiting for Hudson Valley Etsy. Our members will be featured in "craft villages" in two states!

 

First, let's travel to The Garden State, New Jersey, to visit Kathryn, of HuzzahHandmade who will be one of over 150 artists and craftspeople at Rose Squared Productions Fine Arts and Crafts Show, in Upper Montclair, N.J. on Saturday and Sunday. Anderson Park will be home to 170 mini galleries and boutiques featuring etchings, oils, watercolor, photography, wearable fiber, jewelry, glass, leather, wood, clay and much more. 10 - 5 each day.

 

Nuno Felted Shawl on Silk by HuzzahHandmade

Next, the quaint village of Sharon Springs, N.Y. (of The Fabulous Beekman Boys fame) will be hosting its annual Harvest Festival. A special feature of the festival is the Etsy Makers' Village, featuring a juried selection of fine craftspeople. Hudson Valley Etsy is well-represented by Gwen of Beyond The Picket Fence; Erin and Corey of Harp and Thistle; Sarah of SoHandmade; and Sue of digiliodesigns. 

 

Here's a peek at just some of their wonderful products:

 

Organic Carrot Facial Soap by Beyond the Picket Fence

 

Pumpkin Pie Punch Needle Embroidery by Harp + Thistle

Christmas Tree Skirt by sohandmade1

"Kimmie Bones" Art Doll by digiliodesigns

 

Where to Find Hudson Valley Etsy this Weekend

Oh, The Drama!

"The actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand" Sir Laurence Olivier

 

Halloween Folk Art Doll "Witchy Wendy" by digiliodesigns

 

This Saturday, the  Second Annual Concert in the Park will be held in Beacon. This fun-filled event includes crafts, food, music and stage performances all to benefit the Beacon Players, a High School Drama organization. Hudson Valley Etsy's Sue from digiliodesigns, will be a featured vendor. Stop by to say hello and browse her charming collection of handmade, primitive folk-art inspired creations, dolls, jewelry and paper goods.

 

Art Print on Vintage Dictionary Page, The Bard by digiliodesigns

Where To Find Hudson Valley Etsy This Weekend

"To see the Summer Sky Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie, True Poems flee." Emily Dickinson

 

Art Print Mounted on Wood by digiliodesigns

Sweet words from one of our most beloved poets capture the fleeting nature of summer days perfectly. It's time to experience and explore all the Valley has to offer while summer is in full bloom. Outdoor markets are a great way to enjoy a lovely summer day. Plan a day trip to The Makers' Market in the beautiful village of Warwick, N.Y. where You can meet Sue, from Digilio Designs.  Sue's nature inspired work pairs beautifully with Ms. Dickinson's words.  

Flower of the Month Pendant Necklace, Larkspur by digiliodesigns

Sue joins a diverse group of craftspeople and artists on Sunday, so make it a day of strolling the Green, stocking up at the Farmer's Market and finding a unique handmade treasure, before the "True Poem" of a summer day flees.

Butterfly Notecards by digiliodesigns

 

 

 

"Do You Work?"

I cringe when I'm asked that question.

"Yes, I'm an artist." I reply.

Awkward silence.....

"Well what do you do?"  

What follows is usually my elevator pitch--

" I sell my art on a variety of items and surfaces. Mainly at

Art and Craft Fairs and Gift Shops. I also sell on ETSY and 

other on-line venues"

"Oh....I see....that's nice. But do you work?"

I find it impossible to convey the amount of time and effort that goes into our way of making a living to most people who ask. On the surface it appears to be such an easy way to earn a dollar. To us in the craft fair trenches, those of us who get up at 4 am to travel 2-3 hours to set-up our booth and be ready for a 9 am opening, we are the ones who truly know how hard this work is. We try to gently pack all of our handcrafted items at the end of the day, when we are dog tired from standing and selling all day. We say silent prayers that nothing breaks on the trip home. You all know....it's not easy. There is also the shipping and packaging that comes with an on-line sale. Those items don't wrap and pack themselves.

I love it though.

I have met some delightful people on-line, I wish that I could spend some face to face time with them.

I love my fellow vendors. I have learned more from talking to them than I have learned from any book that I purchased.

I love the people that come into my booth even the ones who don't purchase, sometimes I love them more... the ones with the lovely words but who cannot afford to buy.

The little ones who are intrigued by my items and want to touch, but gently tap the top of the head of one of my birds.

I love the excitement of planning and packing and traveling.

I could do without rain though.

And heat.

But worst of all....wind.

Sue DiGilio - DiGilio Designs

The Signs of Spring

The Signs of Spring

from the 

HudsonValley Etsy Team

Purple Butterfly Rug by Twisted Thread and Hook

Dancing Pocket Vase by Hester's Studio

Sweet Leigh Flower Earrings by Merry Alchemy

 

"The Sisters" by Digilio Designs

Jody - A Studio By The Sea

Ephemera: Something Meant to be Discarded

I am intrigued by the old, the 'antique', the cast away. 

Items that show the signs of use, whether gently or greatly.

Lately it's been paper ephemera and old worn out books.

I have been using bits and fragments of these in my art.

My collection keeps growing,

an autograph book belonging to 8th grade Anna. Page after page

of little ditties that for her were a sweet memory of school friends.

Well worn readers, spelling and astronomy books. I imagine them being used year after year.

Chemistry notes from 1941...

and my prized possession  a ledger book from the 1800's.

I love to bring these items out to use in ways that never would have been imagined when they were first used.

In my curiosity boxes I try to present these lost bits and fragments of life in an artful way.

Here my newly created fabric bird, is living with pages from old books, 

game pieces, old stamps and nature items, in a box made from a found drawer.

Recycled, up-cycled, re-purposed.

Hopefully not to be discarded too soon!

Sue DiGilio

DiGilio Designs

Photographing My Etsy Items

One of my goals this year is to revamp all my photos in my Etsy Store.

I started with my new listings of my 5x5 art squares:

This is a wall in my studio that I hung a white washed shelf on. I chose white/neutral items for this shot to accessorize the art.

Same shelf with vintage glass, I wanted to focus on the blue in this series.

This was all shot with my 'vintage' Canon Power Shot A530 which is only 5.0 mega pixels.

It is all depending on a sunny day and between the hours of 11:00am and 2:00pm otherwise the light isn't there. The only bright enough light available to me in the late afternoon or early evening are the fluorescent lights that are on one side of my studio.

I asked for this light box for Christmas and my son kindly purchased it for me. It is very reasonably priced and nice and compact.

So this evening in order to get this posted I played with it for a bit....taking the photos with my phone.

The room is very dark as you can see.

The two side lamps came with the photo box and I added the clip on one above.

The photo on the left is under the fluorescent lights and the one on the right is in the photo booth.
The glare off the glass is much softer and the overall color is softer and more true.

Again the photo on the left of the vintage Valentine is under the fluorescent lighting and on the right the photo booth. Again the photo booth one has a truer color and softer appearance.

Now I do realize that comparing the two light sources is like comparing apples and oranges, but as far as making a photo shoot more available to me in the evening or on a cloudy day is the benefit for me.

I am excited to start playing around with the photo booth and revamping my store.

Susan - Digilio Designs

Winter Whites

White Winter Dreams

from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

December Narcissus by DigilioDesigns

Hand Knit Cowl by Elena Rosenberg

Brocade Bag by Huzzah Handmade

Penguin Notecards by Karmabee

Bridal White Earrings by PulpSushi

Linen Drawstring Bag by Frau Lammli

Jody

a Studio by the Sea