Holiday Swing Vendor Call

An update for you:

The Holiday Swing will take place on December 4th at the Majors Barn on State Line Rd.
Only 20 vendors will be accepted with a maximum of 2 vendors per category.  I would like to include just one vendor per category so if you offer something fairly unique you may want to apply!  Better chances for you, you see!

If you would like an application please leave a comment here with your email address and I will shoot one out to you.  It will be Christmas soon so think in that direction with your product :)

 Let the fun begin!

The Beaded Lizard

Featured indoors at the fair this year are two friends and jewelry artists, Kathi Robards and Jane McCrary.  You met Jane in a previous post titled Gypsy Jane's.  Kathi is the designer for her own collection called The Beaded Lizard, offering her own take on mod western style jewerly.  While their designs are very different they complement each other very nicely and will be featured together for your enjoyment :)

Kathi hand selects vintage spoons, butter knives, coins, buttons and shotgun shells (below) to incorporate into her fascinating designs.  The urban cowgirl will especially enjoy her pieces featuring turquoise, coral, silver and a bit of vintage.

Her use of copper wire and leather lacing gives her jewelry a taste of the West yet leaves plenty of room for the city girl's palette.

Her earrings are bold and beautiful in color and simple enough to be worn understated with a jean skirt and sandals. Kathi's pieces show beautiful workmanship and an eye for design.  You will be proud wearing jewelry by The Beaded Lizard and giving it as a gift to a friend ( if you can find the strength of will to give it away :)

Shop with The Beaded Lizard in her Etsy store anytime you need a new piece to add a pop of color to your life and stop in the Barn at the fair to grab a bit of cooler air and peruse her work.

Mixed Media

Stephanie Garrison has the reclaiming and recycling side of crafting nailed down!  Working from Lawrence, Kansas she designs, drafts, cuts, sews and finishes each piece by hand.  I'm talking talent here! 

 Using recycled leather, fabric, wool, vintage fabrics and buttons.  I especially love the barrettes featured below.  The use of both cut pieces for that leaf is so unique and darling!  Don't they look a bit like eyes and eyelashes?

Nautical is where it's at this season and Stephanie has got that covered with her patterned shirts and color scheme.  I'm hoping to see more of these style shirts in her booth on Sunday.  :)

I am dying to see her work in person.  Just a few more days!  I love the details on the shirt below and am hoping she has another like it at the fair but in a different color scheme...my fair skin just doesn't work well with that yellow and green :(

Please be sure to visit her booth at the fair; for now you can follow this link to her online site and read a bit more on the process she uses and her commitment to participate locally in supporting other small businesses.

Sister Sue Designs

Jen Thomason, of Overland Park, offers the most scrumptious accessories for modern babies and moms through her line Sister Sue Designs. 

She uses wonderfully whimsical designer fabrics for her products making them irresistible like your baby :)

 She's got your baby AND you covered with diaper totes and nursing pads and she does all of this in style.

Her brand and line are growing so quickly you are sure to see her label on items all over town...you can find her at our fair this year and one day tell your friends and neighbors "I knew Sister Sue before you did".
Do yourself a favor and make a list of all the people in your life that will be expecting a baby in the next year- bring the list and get your shopping done snappity quick with Sister Sue!

Casa Bean Design

Oh My Goodness!  Look what Chanute, KS has been hiding from us!  Haley Shaw has been hiding out with her vintage burlap and sewing machine and whipping together super cool home accessories for YOU!

 Haley's business name is so clever:  Casa Bean Design.  How appropriate!  Her styling for her product photos are so enticing as well.

 Her pillows are made from vintage burlap coffee sacks primarily which is genius green thinking if I do say so myself.  For coffee lovers and earth lovers these pillows should be right up your alley!

 I think these green and red designs would be such a warm and homey addition to holiday decorating.  Seriously, these need to be featured in Martha Stewart or Country Living.  Hmmm...how do I make that happen?

 Because the coffee sacks have locations printed on them they could even become a sentimental reminder each day as you sit in your favorite chair of a trip you took.  Or maybe it will help you dream of your future travels!

Do you have a favorite featured here?  The pillows above have the BEST soothing color and design.  I think those are meant for me.  Visit her Etsy shop and see so many more delicious designs there!

Miss Betty Lou

Stephanie Hathaway has agreed to join us with her BEAUTIFUL handmade jewelry and accessories this year!  Hooray and Hallelujah!  Her shop, Miss Betty Lou, is stocked with amazing pieces for females young and old.  Using "pretty much anything that sparkles" she works her magic.  Tulle, rhinestones, chain, fabric, beads, cabochons and vintage buttons are all part of her magical props.

Isn't she super talented?  She has a multitude of designs to offer; bold colors, muted classics, and darling baby  cuteness to make your sweetpea sweeter!  Her pieces would make a great styling addition for photographers to use, don't you think?

I am excited to peruse her booth at the fair....with all the talent she infuses into her work I think her booth may turn out fantastical!  

Grace and Light

What goes around comes around, the old becomes new, renew, reimagine, revive....this is what I think about when I view the cross stitch artwork of Brooke Petermann.  She takes the classic cross stitch to a modern new level!  With an assortment of designs she is sure to have something you just can't live without!

Her work has such a clean, organic feel about it and captures the things that are current in our lives.  Notice the wind turbine?  the robot?  the camera?  All of these images are SO descriptive of the indie handmade movement. 

 Do you love elephants like I do?  She has the most darling elephant cross stitch in various colors as well as a selection of other animals which would be darling in a nursery if I do say so myself!

Her cross stitches with messages are so sweet and encouraging, reminding everyone of the best things in life.

You need to check out her Etsy shop:  Grace and Light .  Her work makes FABULOUS gifts and Brooke even offers gift certificates if you just can't make a decision :)  She'll be travelling all the way from Lincoln, Nebraska to join us and I can't wait to see what she brings to the fair!

Vendor Packets

We are on track for mailing out vendor packets full of all the info you could possibly need for planning your space at the Swing!  Target mailing date is May 1st so keep that in mind and your eye on the post box as the date nears :)  I've had a few vendors contact me with questions about their booth space, final payment for reserving their space, etc.  They have kindly agreed to wait for their packet to arrive in a couple of weeks.  If you have a question for me regarding the same and just cannot wait b/c of serious space planning details you also may email me;  we'll figure it out, promise. 

(photo from terbearco on etsy)