Thank You for a Great Set of Winter Shows!

December 17, 2017March 2, 2018 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

Thank you to everyone who came out to the craft bazaars this November and December! Thank you for supporting my small business and adding “handmade smiles” to your life. There are so many talented makers in our area and I know we appreciate you all taking the time to come out and take a look at our locally made, handcrafted items.

Thank you to friends and family who stopped by — Stacey, Kristi, Donna, and Kelly! It was so nice to see your friendly faces. At Llewellyn Elementary, I had such a great surprise when I ran into my son’s former 1st/2nd grade teacher. It’s been a few years since I saw her last. Our family has such wonderful memories of the years in her classroom. It really made my day.

Besides visits from friends, one of the best things about being part of the handmade community is getting to know the other vendors. Our displays are crammed into small spaces and we deal with varying temperatures, lack of customers, and display malfunctions. It is truly a bonding experience!

I tried to keep my personal shopping to a minimum, but couldn’t resist purchasing this little set from GnomeWerksPDX. Her creations are so sweet and I’ve wanted something from her for a while now.

This is just a small sample of her work. There are so many figures to choose from!

I am also really enjoying this hand cream from Raindance Organics. It smells delicious and is very soothing. My hands always get dry this time of year especially when I am sewing like crazy.

Now that my shows are done for the year, I am going to take the next few weeks to concentrate on the holidays, my family, and my wreck of a house!

Then, I hope to get more things up on Etsy, including a sale on some holiday items as well as try out some new patterns for possible inclusion in my product line.

I do have one show already lined up for 2018 — The Buckman Art Show & Sell on March 10 & 11! I did this show last year and had a great time. Hope to see you then!

Events · Shows

See You at the Portland Waldorf School Winter Market this Sunday, November 19th!

November 18, 2017March 2, 2018 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

I will be at the Portland Waldorf School Winter Market on Sunday, November 19th from 10 am – 3 pm. The Portland Waldorf School is located 2300 SE Harrison St., Milwaukie, OR 97222. This is a great show with fabulous and unique vendors. I hope you’ll have time to stop by!

If you haven’t been to downtown Milwaukie for a while, I highly recommend it! The Milwaukie Sunday Farmers Market will be open for its special before-Thanksgiving food fair. In addition, there are lots of cute shops on Main St. including one of my favorite antique shops complete with a soda fountain (!), an apothecary, a chocolatier/candy shop, and more!

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Scratch Made Market this Saturday, October 14th!

October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

Chinchilla Whiskers will be at the 3rd annual Scratch Made Market this Saturday, October 14 from 9 am – 3 pm. This year we’re at a great location — the Beaverton Elks Lodge, 3464 SW 106th Avenue in Beaverton off of SW Canyon Rd. Hope to see you there!

I’ll be bringing lots of goodies including — treat bags, magnets, small and large pouches, wristlets, ornaments and more!

In addition to all the great artists and crafters selling their wares, there is:

NO entry fee and FREE parking
Kids coloring station
Elks will have their kitchen open (Doughnuts anyone?)
The place will be hoppin’ with some lively music from Bellows and Squawk and Rain or Shine.
They will be accepting donations for My Breast Friend.
Scratch Made will be handing out 50 swag bags at the beginning of the market to the first 50 visitors.

Events · Shows

Thank You for Stopping By!

September 18, 2017March 2, 2018 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

Thank you to everyone who came out to Chinchilla Whisker’s September shows! I ventured into the world of outdoor markets and became spoiled by the increased booth space to display everything!

The St Johns Art Constitutional in early September was my inaugural outdoor show and thankfully it turned out to be a beautiful day. St Johns has such a great vibe and it was fun to be part of the neighborhood farmers’ market. I was happy that some of my ornaments will be hung on a family’s first Christmas tree in their new home and dangling from a young guy’s rearview mirror!

yeti5

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Kinton Grange Antique Faire on Sunday, September 10th. This was my second year at the Grange. While it didn’t seem as well attended as last year, this show has a fun, down-home feeling with all the lovely baked goods and mason jars full of dahlias, zinnias and sunflowers. Proceeds from the fair benefit the Grange. As the suburbs quickly encroach on this once rural part of Beaverton, I fear the Grange is destined to be swallowed up by all the development.

One of my favorites makers, Humble Design Company was at the show. She has the cutest felt goodies! I also purchased the sweetest chicken pincushion from the woman next to me. I believe she may have used this tutorial from Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. Definitely putting this on my future project list.

chicken_pincushion

Yesterday was my last show of the month — the Mom Made Market at Alpenrose Dairy. Despite the cool temperatures and frequent tent-rattling gusts, it was worth it. Thank you to friends and family (Stacey, Sarah, Christine and Donna) for stopping by to say hello. As the weather began to degrade, the event organizers decided to have us pack it up about an hour early. I was relieved! I was shivering in my down jacket (that my husband brought to me mid-show) and chasing after my wares when they blew away or fell over. But I am grateful for the rain!

Now it’s time to regroup and start sewing for my next show on Saturday, October 14th — the Scratch Made Market at the Beaverton Elks Lodge. I started off today cutting out some new goodies to share with you soon!

Events · Shows

Fall Shows!

August 25, 2017 Chinchilla Whiskers1 Comment

I’ve been busy lining up some fall shows! Hope to see you there!

St. Johns Art Constitutional

When: Saturday, September 9th | 9am-2pm
Where: US Bank Parking Lot
(corner of N. Lombard & N. Philadelphia)

This will be my first outdoor show! The Constitutional joins the St. Johns Farmers Market to activate the St. Johns neighborhood by bringing together art, music, and food.

kinton grange

Kinton Grange Country Antique Faire

When: Sunday, September 10th | 9 am – 4 pm
Where: Kinton Grange, 19015 SW Scholls Ferry Rd, Beaverton, Oregon 97007

Enjoy a day in the countryside, with lots of antiques, local crafts, and fun junk…with over 50 vendors bringing their best treasures!

mommademarket

Mom Made Market

When: Sunday, September 17th | 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Alpenrose Dairy, 6149 SW Shattuck Road, Portland, OR

I’ll be one of 75+ vendors at this show supporting mom owned businesses.

scratch_made2 Scratch Made Market

When: Saturday, October 14th | 9 am – 3 pm
Where: Beaverton Elks Lodge, 3464 SW 106th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97005

This is West Portland’s premier art and craft show brought to you by Jenn Barker of Curiosities Vintage and Betsy Miller of Orange Cat Craft. This will be my 3rd year with Scratch Made and I am so happy to be back!

Events · News · Shows

Stop By the Buckman Art Show + Sell This Weekend ~ March 11 & 12

March 8, 2017March 7, 2017 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

I am excited to be part of the year’s Buckman Art Show + Sell at the Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School this Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12!

This is the biggest show I’ve participated in and I’m a little nervous. There are so many well-known Portland artists who have been part of this show. For years each spring, I’ve dragged my reluctant, uncrafty family here to take a look around and support Portland makers. My favorite part — the student art! While there is some truly high-end work here, there are many affordable pieces as well. I hope you’ll take some time this weekend to support this great school!

Here are the details:

140 artists and craftspersons will be selling their original artwork, furniture, toys, jewelry, textiles, paper creations, photography, paintings, ceramics and more! 30% of sales are donated to the Buckman PTA to support the award winning arts integrated education. Plus there will be food carts, performances, art activities for kids & a student art gallery for two full days of fun!

Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School
320 SE 16th Ave.
Portland, OR 97214

Saturday 10-5
Sunday 11-4

Hope to see you there!

Events · Shows

The Puppies Thank You!

February 7, 2017February 7, 2017 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

Just wanted to thank everyone who came out to the Puplandia Dog Rescue‘s Valentine Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday at Oaks Park! It was a wonderful event that benefits a great cause and I was happy to be a part of it. If you didn’t come, you missed the puppy kissing booth. Just saying.

Chinchilla Whiskers will be busy sewing until the Buckman Art Show + Sell on Saturday, March 11 & Sunday, March 12. This should be a good one with 140 artists and craftspersons selling their original artwork, furniture, toys, jewelry, textiles, paper creations, photography, paintings, ceramics and more! Plus live music and dance performances, food cart deliciousness, free children’s art activities, and more. Hope to see you there!

Events · News · Shows

Upcoming Spring Shows!

January 10, 2017January 10, 2017 Ms. Chinchilla1 Comment

I thought the early months of 2017 would be a quieter time to sew some garments, build my skills, and develop my online store. But surprisingly, it seems there are quite a few craft shows happening out there!

Chinchilla Whiskers will be at these upcoming shows. I hope you’ll add these to your calendar!

Puplandia Valentine’s Day Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday, February 4, 2017 11 am – 3 pm at the Oaks Park Dance Pavilion. This show features over 50 amazing vendors of local art and craft. It is a fundraiser for Puplandia Dog Rescue. If that’s not enough to draw you in, there will be a puppy kissing booth!

Buckman Art Show + Sell 2017 on Saturday & Sunday, March 11-12, 2017 at Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School in SE Portland. I have always enjoyed attending this show as a shopper, especially art created by the students! The Buckman show features 140 artists and makers selling their original artwork, furniture, toys, jewelry, textiles, paper creations, photography, paintings, ceramics and more! Plus there’s live music and dance performances, food cart deliciousness, free children’s art activities, and more.

Hope you’ll stop by and say hello!

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Chinchilla Whiskers at the Buckman Art Show + Sell ~ March 11-12, 2017

December 9, 2016December 9, 2016 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

Add to your calendar! Chinchilla Whiskers will be at the Buckman Art Show + Sell in 2017.

Events · News · Shows

Thank You for Your Support and Helping Others!

December 8, 2016December 9, 2016 Chinchilla WhiskersLeave a comment

Thank you to everyone who came out to Llewellyn Elementary, the Portland Waldorf School and The Arleta School!

This fall was the first time I was able to fully commit to sewing and selling. But I often think, why am I taking time making all these things? My tagline is “handmade smiles” and yes, sewing makes me happy and gives smiles to my customers. But it’s not like I’m making the world a better place or helping those in need.

So, I decided to donate 50% of my sales to organizations included in this year’s Give! Guide. The Give! Guide includes 141 Portland nonprofits and puts them under one digital roof. They range from nonprofits that focus on animals, civil and human rights, education, environment, health, human services and more.

I am happy to report that together we raised $635 to donate to local organizations! While all the nonprofits are worthy and it was very difficult to narrow down, I whittled it to 5 — giving $127 to each. Thank you to those who recommended organizations to me! I also chose organizations that have been important in my life.

The organizations Chinchilla Whiskers donated to are:

Baby Blues Connection — Provides free support, information and resources to women and families coping with pregnancy and postpartum depression.
Bradley Angle — Serves all people experiencing, or at risk of, domestic violence, by providing safety, education, empowerment, healing and hope.
Farmers Ending Hunger — Partners with Oregon farmers and ranchers who donate extra crops of produce, vegetables, fruit, wheat and cattle to help feed Oregon’s hungry. The donated food is transported and processed for use in emergency relief boxes coordinated and distributed by the Oregon Food Bank’s regional network.
Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette — Provides, promotes and protects access to reproductive health care.
Portland Animal Welfare Team (PAW) — Keeps people and pets together during the most difficult times of their lives by providing free veterinary care to the pets of the homeless and those living in acute poverty.

Again, thank you so much for supporting Chinchilla Whiskers but also for helping others! Happy Holidays!