Paper Jane

Jane Blakeley will be our featured fine art vendor at the Swing.  A recent grad of KU, she lives in Prairie Village now.  When Jane isn't at work she excersizes her creative muscle with ink and watercolor, bringing to life the fanciful creatures and clever witticisms that dance through her head.  

Jane is especially dear to me; I graduated from high school with her aunt and mom and we have so many family memories.  A very loving and lively family, Jane exudes the sweet southern ladylike mannerisms of her Georgia heritage.

Jane is bound to surprise us at the fair with her newest work and assortment of sweet and silly depictions.

The image above is my absolute favorite of hers.  It reminds me so much of her as a little girl.  I have no idea if that was her intention but nevertheless, it does.  You must not miss her space at the fair this year.  You will be delighted to meet her!

Gifts From The Heart

The mother/daughter team, Amy and Kate Welch, will be setting up their newly formed shop at our fair this year and we count ourselves lucky!  As outdoor vendors this year, they offer very affordable jewelry pieces made from both new and recycled/reclaimed materials.  

Amy has been a diy crafter for years and has experience in so many different mediums.  She and her daughter, Kate, have more recently begun experimenting with jewelry and are loving the outcome!  

Reclaiming vintage jewelry from thrift shops and such they add to their new bead supplies.  Using the mix of old and new their jewelry pieces become one of a kind statements reflecting the handmade do it yourself indie craft culture that is on the rise all over the world!

We welcome their work to the Strawberry Swing this year; it is a wonderful example of what this fair is all about!  Come visit them today at the fair!  Open from 10 am to 5 pm!  

Two Charming Chix

While the Swing may have plenty of jewelry booths none of them have what Two Charming Chix offers you:  charms!  Wonderful, whimsical and even personalized charms.  Diane Thaemert owns the Two Charming Chix company and is quite successful with her business.  She sells her work at numerous boutiques in and out of state and has a darling website you must check out for yourself!

The obvious use of these charms would be to hang them from a chain around your neck....but for those of us that like to think outside the box the options are endless:  attached to a gift package, featured in a mixed media assemblage, personalized gifts for a bridal party, strung along a ribbon to make a uniquely lovely bunting for Halloween!

                                       
The possibilities are endless with these adorable pieces of artwork.  I am especially thrilled to offer her work at the fair because of the mass of crafters that will be stopping in at the fair.  As a maker of handmade goods I am always looking for new supplies to add to my stash.....Diane has just the thing for me!

                   

Paper Dolls

Personalize. Personalize. Personalize.  That is what Paper Dolls is all about.  Heather Wong, from Prairie Village, Kansas has focused her printing business on personalization. She creates quirky and quaint personalized stationary, gift stickers, invitations, notepads, sticky notes, luggage tags, coasters and cups for your pleasure.  

Though I am lacking in photos of her work to share with you I suggest you get yourself down the the indie craft fair in town (yep! the Strawberry Swing) and indulge yourself in a bit of personalized pleasure.  Heather will be boasting a booth full of speciallty wares you don't want to miss!

S Renee Designs

Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Stephanie Bracelin will grace our fair with her assortment of accessories for girls of all ages. Clutches and wallets in bold bright graphics and retro style fabric "button" earrings are items you will find in abundance in her Etsy shop.  

Stephanie creates T Skirts out of, you guessed it, tshirts!  I am super excited to look through her skirts on July  10th!  Imagine how comfortable they must be!

I am also in love with the wallet above.  The japanese import fabric she used is some of my favorite and the color combinations are dramatic and delightful!  I just can't decide which colorway is the best....

S Renee Designs can be found on Etsy and some of her work, like the toddler dress above, can be found in local boutiques.

MacKomics Studio

Liza MacKinnon has her hands busy in many creative medias. Mixed media, printmaking, painting, fabric work, and variations on these all inspire her to create wonderful art reflecting the things that she loves.  

Her greeting cards are so precious!  I wonder if she loves Boston Terriers?  I'll hve to ask her on the 10th! :)

Always a lover of nostalgic styled art her ooak cards are dreamy to me and absolutely a trend right now in the  world of design and fashion.  Right on, Liza!

Quirky and cuteness abounds in all of her work and is sure to grab your heart as you peruse her fabulous booth this July.

These adorable notebooks shown above are some of my favorites that she offers; in fact, some lucky fairgoers will receive a free notebook because of her sponsorship....will it be YOU?

Shop on Etsy at MacKomics Studio to find uniquely cute gifts and cards for friends.... and check out her website for more goodness.  She offers full graphic design and consulting services for those of you in the market- just ask her!  Oh yes, and ask Liza on July 10th what the connection is to the beautiful Boston Terrier she features in so much of her work!

Simply Worn

With the upsurge of frilly, ruffly and colorful accessories we have the wonderful option of wearing the sweetest flowers in our hair, on our hands and around our waist thanks to Simply Worn, a shop out of Kansas City, Missouri.  Making her way in the world of eco friendly design, Katie Griffin hand selects distinctive fabrics to use in her creations.

Her color selections are juicy (for lack of a better word) and bursting with pleasure!  Her photo styling is endearing and her prices are undeniably doable, even in this economically challenged climate.  I am so in love with the photo above of the friendship rings and could see them on bridesmaids at a summer wedding.  

Hair ties are always necessary unless you have that perfect pixie cut style, but even for you gals lucky enough to sport that chic hairstyle you can wear these hair ties as a simple wrist corsage.  Visit Katie's Etsy shop to see these hair ties photographed in other beautiful ways, including a photo similar to that above with all the pretty hands.  

 Come up with clever ways to use her pieces and make them your own!  You'll feel great wearing her floral accessories knowing they are eco friendly.

Little Bluestem Baby

Bring your cutie patooties to our fair because you will need them there to help pick out some new duds by
Little Bluestem Baby.  Bibs and blankets, tea towels and onesies....Traci Furan creates adorable vintage style gifts and accessories that you cannot help but drool over.

I mean, seriously, these precious baby wares are irrisistible and would be the most loved gifts at any baby shower!

Tea towels are always needed and would work double as a spur of the moment burp towel in a pinch.

Traci has no lack of precious onesie and bib sets and at affordable prices as well!

I do wish I had known about her shop when my girls were babies.  Almost makes me want to have another baby of my own................almost.

The only thing you need to worry about when you visit the fair would be the amount of money you bring with you because you'll want to shop with Little Bluestem Baby!

Red Brick Wall

Who doesn't love a great tee?  I think the tee and a pair of jeans has become my second skin.  You? 
This fabulous company out of Lawrence, Kansas has every tee you could possibly want for practically anyone you know!
                                
                                              

                                                                           For Her!

For Them!

                                              
                                                                     For Little Ones!

For All!

                                                        
                                                                           For Him!

In addition to tees and posters Red Brick Wall offers calendars and cards with their clever and contemporary designs.  Shop on Etsy or at the Swing for Red Brick Wall products. :)

Bazil Essentials

Bazil Essentials (nurture) recently relocated from Portland to Lawrence, Kansas and we are lucky enough to include them in our Swing this July.  Everything about this company is commendable; from their Etsy profile-

 "Our Philosophy: We are an environmentally and ethically conscious company, and believe in protecting our planet and our bodies from harmful chemicals and toxins. Our mission is to provide the most awe-inspiring, captivating, and wholesomely green bath and body products, reduce our ecological footprint, give, and to leave our children and future generations with a beautiful planet and place to call home. Our slogan is "Just BE....", which means to just enjoy life. Embrace the path to simplicity, remember to breath, and Just BE yourself.

 Their packaging is well designed with earthy goodness, perfect for giving as a gift to a loved one.  Beautiful!

Personally, I cannot wait to try out their perfume that they offer.  Perusing their Etsy shop I was reminded of a craft activity I had when I was in elementary school that allowed me to create my own perfumes.  Needless to say, my perfumes were NOT worthy of selling (or smelling, for that matter).  

 

Candles, perfume, soaps, lip balms, bath salts and samplers are all stocked up in their Etsy shop if you would like to get a preview of what you find in their booth at the fair.  Be sure to read the profile section in their shop.  So much goodness to learn about this company! 

Urban Posture

Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Sarah Wolfgang and Leslie Poyzer design office and home decor and supplies that are inspired by the Black Forest.

 Hand drawn and screen or block printed, their designs are one of a kind and endearing.  How often do you find a clock like the ones they create?  Or three ring binders?  My high schooler would LOVE some of their products for the school year coming up!

Are these cards not wonderful?  Such clean design and modern with a punch of color!  I am in LOVE!

Their booth will be indoors at the Swing so be sure to head into the big barn and say hello to Sarah and Leslie.  Find more of their goodies in their Etsy shop and check out their blog as well!