Of Towels and Infomercials
You’ve seen the Sham-Wow commercials, right? There’s this coked-out guy wearing a headset who’s trying everything possible to convince you that you’re an idiot for not wanting to buy a couple of synthetic chamois. “C’mon,” he sneers, “you’re just going to spend $25 a month on paper towels anyway.”
Wait… what? Do people actually do that? Last time I checked, paper towels cost about a dollar a roll, so this guy is telling me that it’s conceivable for a family to use a whole roll a day. That’s nuts.
I’ll freely admit that I like to keep paper towels on hand for cleaning up cat barf and other really gross things, but that adds up to about 3 rolls of paper towels a year, total. No kidding. The rest of the time, I reach for my trusty pile of kitchen towels. I spent those 25 bucks once about 10 years ago on a huge pile of towels at a sale somewhere, and they’ve served me well, even through five years of catering. They wash dishes, they dry dishes, they polish silver, they handle hot things out of the oven, they wipe things up off the floor, they scrub dirty shoes, they do everything — and they look it. They smell kinda funny, and they have holes and stains and ratty edges, but it’s not like I put them out as napkins for company, either.
If you’re in the market for reusables, or want to bone up a bit on the subject, be sure to check out this excellent article on paper vs. reusable towels by Tara of Handmade in PA.
Featured at Cafe Handmade Again!
A few weeks ago, they featured our earrings…I just noticed today that my “Buy Indie for the Holidays” post is featured on the front page at Cafe Handmade – check it out! Nifty.
And, since I seem to have struck a nerve, your very own “buy indie” banners are available for download! Click here for the original banner size, and here for the smaller sidebar size. Please don’t hotlink; a link back to the original post is very much appreciated but not required. 
Buy Indie for the Holidays
I’d like to propose a change to the buy handmade movement so popular this time of year. I’d like to take a page from the event we did on Sunday and call it “Buy Indie”.
As I sat at one of the shows we did this weekend, there was a Silpada rep behind me who loudly and proudly told every person that walked by her table that her jewelry was handmade. Yeah, okay. Silpada jewelry is handmade the same way Olive Garden’s food is authentic Italian cuisine, which is to say it’s not…really. Olive Garden dishes (which I thoroughly enjoy, BTW) are volume-based derivatives of recipes with their roots in Italian-style cooking. You could say it’s authentic, especially if you’re in the Marketing Department.
While Silpada’s marketing says that it’s handmade by artisans all over the world, my best guess (since there’s nothing to be found to back up that statement) is that it’s made by the hands of underpaid workers following a pattern in a book. So yes, it’s handmade. And since artisan can be defined as “A skilled manual worker who uses tools and machinery in a particular craft” (thanks, Wiktionary), it can be considered handmade by artisans, who I’m sure are in exotic impoverished countries all over the world.
Believe it or not, I don’t actually have a bone to pick with Silpada. I don’t view them as a competitor, and while it’s not my cup of tea, I know some people who love their designs. Yay for them. That’s not my point. Caveat emptor is my point.
If you take the handmade pledge and commit to buying handmade, for the holidays or year-round, do your research and be confident that what you’re buying is handmade by an independent artisan or crafter. Talk to them about their works, what inspires them, how they got started. You’re not just buying a toy or a gift — you’re buying a small piece of that person’s life. One of the great benefits of buying indie is getting to know the person behind the product — take advantage of that and ensure that your handmade purchase is created in the spirit that the movement intends. Buy directly from the artist or their website; seek out your local craftspeople or browse the world marketplace on sites like Etsy and Dawanda.*
I know it’s a bit late for a holiday gift guide (only 16 days to go!), but in case you’re not sure where to start on your indie-buying spree, I’ve gathered a list of some excellent indie craftspeople I’ve come across in my travels or have direct experience with — please check them out!
- Hello my Name is Monster – the cutest damn sock monsters I’ve ever seen, and I love the name tag-style branding.
- Dog Bone Art – marvelously faboo screen printed tees and bags n’stuff, including my personal favorites (which I will buy someday, damnit), “Cheese Please” and “Vanilla Chocolate Pirate”. Laura had some really cute peppermint stuffies too (all wrapped in cello and everything), but they appear to have sold out.
- Game Girl Designs – game pieces (Scrabble tiles, dominoes, etc.) made into necklaces, hair clips, etc. Amanda even does custom pieces from your photos.
- Woodnyou – I have an ebony business card holder made by this gentleman and it’s both gorgeous and well-made. I can only imagine that all of his woodwork follows suit.
- Simply Wired – If you truly must buy jewelry from someone other than Sweet Tarragon (*grin*), buy it from Chelsea at Simply Wired. I bought a pair of carnelian and copper earrings from her last year and still get compliments on them every time I wear them.
- Glass Beach – I bought a wristlet from Maia in February to use for a special event, and have used it every day since. I honestly don’t know what I ever did without it. Fun purses and cardholders in a variety of prints.
- Archipelago Arts – glass pendants with a kick, like the “I love you more than zombies love brains” piece I bought for Mer.
- A Beaded Affair – gorgeous wire-wrapped jewelry and beading supplies. I can personally vouch for Lois as a lovely person to do business with (of course, she’s my mother-out-law, so I may be biased.)
- Om Shanti Handcrafts – you know I love Kate (and her magical tangerine lip balm), but it’s worth mentioning – her stuff is awesome. All of it – the yummy, all-natural bath and body supplies, the jewelry…buy it.
- This and That gets an honourable mention, too. She’s not currently taking new orders, so it won’t help much for the holidays, but Leslie is my source for the custom sales slips that add a little extra pizazz to every order. She’s a dream to work with, and the end product is superb – I urge you all to check back with her in the new year.
Are you an indie crafter or artist? Please leave your shop link and a bit about yourself in the comments.
*Seriously…you never know what you’ll find. Thirty seconds on Dawanda tonight and I found a bacon cellphone case. I think I’m in love.
Featured on Cafe Handmade!
Our Foxy Delights earrings were featured in the “Gifts for Her” gift guide at Cafe Handmade – check it out here!
October/November Newsletter
Welcome to the October/November issue of the Sweet Tarragon newsletter!
Thanksgiving Sale!
The big news this month is our big Thanksgiving sale. Starting “Black Friday”, November 28, and running through midnight on “Cyber Monday”, December 1, we’re offering 25% off every item in the store, plus free shipping. No special codes are needed – after you check out, wait for a revised invoice that reflects the sale price.
New Items
If you’ve seen us at a recent show, you know that we have a lot of great new items that are waiting to be photographed and posted on our site. We’ll be in shoot-and-post mode this weekend, and hope to have the majority of our new earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and ornaments posted Friday and Saturday. Do check out this month’s featured ornament, Waning Season, and check back at the site as the weekend progresses. We also have some great new pieces in the works, featuring dichroic glass by local artist Dave Boone – watch for those next month.
Winners Galore!
Congratulations to Carol Frey and Joann Gamble, who have been randomly selected to receive $10 gift certificates in the October/November drawings. Additional congrats are due to Ann and Elizabeth, who won the home show door prize drawings for a pair of earrings and bracelet, respectively. Gift certificate winners, watch your inbox for details. If you’d like to be eligible for our monthly drawings, contact us to join our mailing list!
Home Shows
It’s not too late to book a home show before the holidays. If you’d like to handle our inventory, get exclusive first looks at our newest pieces, and earn free jewelry, (and door prizes for your guests) contact us about booking a home show. Invite your friends and family over for a night of fun and jewelry, and finish up your last-minute holiday shopping. You’ll earn a percentage in jewelry of all sales made and custom orders taken during your party! Contact us for details and to schedule your show.
December Event Schedule
Abington Friends’ School Holiday Bazaar, Abington, PA, Saturday, December 6, 10-3
Indiemade Craft Market, Allentown, PA, Sunday, December 7, 11-4
That’s all for this month; don’t forget to take advantage of our great sale and check out the great prices on other handmade holiday goods at Etsy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Mer and Dani~
Event Recap: Crafts in the Grove
It’s a bit after-the-fact, but one of our first shows this summer was Crafts in the Grove, an event held by the Upper Lehigh Lions Club in Neffs, PA. It was a wonderful event in a fabulous location.
Check-In
When we arrived on site, we joined a queue of vehicles waiting to be checked in and directed to their individual sites. We were given our site number and directed by a series of lovely men with walkie-talkies. It was clear from the smoothness of the process that they’ve been doing this for some time – in fact, this was the 13th annual show.
Location, Location, Location
As evidenced by its name, the entire event is held in a beautiful grove outside Neffs United Church of Christ. There was plenty of shade and just enough sunshine filtering through the trees to make for a gorgeous atmosphere. Our neighbors to the right, whose names I have unfortunately forgotten, were lovely women who had been selling painted wooden holiday items for as long as the show had been running. There were a great variety of crafts and other items for sale, including local honey and produce, felted wool dolls, and of course plenty of jewelry. The jewelers were well-spaced, which was nice to see.
And Oh! the Facilities!
It never would have occurred to me to comment on the bathrooms at an event. In hindsight, however, in comparison to some other events we’ve done, the Upper Lehigh Lions Club wins the Best Potty of the Season award from me. There were more than enough port-o-johns for the crowds; their location was central to traffic but at the same time hidden away in their own mini-grove; and they had a line of pump-and-rinse portable sinks set up outside. Clean and adequate facilities (with real soap and water to boot) – it’s a shame that this is worth mentioning, but it really, really is.
Recommendations
I recommend this event to all crafters, both seasoned and just starting out. It’s an affordable, nicely-trafficked event (1,200 people this year) that is impeccably organized and smoothly run. The only caution I have for new crafters is that this event will spoil you! Not all events are this well-run. We signed up for next year’s show before we left this year’s – I hope to see you there.
More Info
Next year’s show will be held on July 25, 2009. The cost is $35 for a 12×12 space. It is a juried show, so you will need to submit 3 photos of your craft. (Handmade only!) For more information, contact Larry Snyder at 610.767.2410, or email craftsinthegrove at entermail dot net.
Exciting News Times Three and a Half!
News the first: our jewelry will be for sale at Artistry 2008 at Guilford Art Center! From their site:
ARTISTRY is the Center’s annual holiday sale of fine art and crafts and includes over 350 artists from throughout the nation. Running from November through year-end, Artistry presents the perfect opportunity for purchasing distinctive and unusual holiday gifts.
Each year, over 300 artists from across the country present their handmade, one-of a kind crafts at Artistry, the Guilford Art Center’s annual holiday sale. This year will be the 30th annual Artistry show featuring a wide-ranging assembly of crafts in many price ranges, including ceramics, candles, glass, fine art, metal, jewelry, fiber, wood, ornaments, cards, condiments, soap, leather, toys, and more. All proceeds benefit the Guilford Art Center, its school and gallery programs.
The sale runs from October 20th through December 31.
News the second: I will soon have more time to dedicate to Sweet Tarragon and the wonderful world of indie crafting! I’m reducing my hours at my day job, mostly to gain some much-needed time in my life. The spare time I have now is filled with designing, crafting, networking, and shipping, (and other non-tarragon projects) and I’m looking forward to gaining some of that time back. I miss reading and quilting and cooking, and plan to do fun things like canning, seeing more of my friends and family, and ramping up my workouts.
Of course, I know how I am — I’ll be blogging while the laundry is spinning, designing in my head while I’m peeling apples, and settling a bit into the groove of being a more involved crafter.
News the third: Kate at Om Shanti listed us as one of her favorite places to shop in her Reader of the Week post at Wickedly Chic – check it out!
News the half: not really news (hence the half), but notice: we are about to embark on a well-needed vacation. We are venturing to another state to stay with an old friend of mine, and we’re really looking forward to the trip. (Boo will be overseeing the domicile while we’re away, and has agreed to let our neighbor bow down to her in our absence.)
Why is this news? Well, I won’t be hauling all of our jewelry with us on the trip, so any orders placed aftger noon on Thursday, August 21 will not be shipped until Wednesday, August 27. I’m not sure what our internet access will be like, but I’m sure we’ll check email once or twice while we’re away. If you’re looking to feature us in a national publication and cover us in diamonds, my cell number’s in our press kit. 
In Other News…Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi at b5Media’s Jewelry and Beading blog is running an excellent series called “What’s the best thing you’ve made so far this summer?” I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s entries, and today Cindy included the story behind Mint Chocolate Chunk! You can read the entry here, or subscribe to her blog (I highly recommend it) here!
Thanks, Cyndi!
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