Friday, April 30, 2010

What are you doing on this LONG weekend?

Hi Everyone

We thought we would put it out there...a couple of awesome events that are happening over the weekend...

The Gatton Heavy Horse Field Days are on this weekend...Head over to their website HERE for further details. Whether you are in to horses or not, it doesn't matter, there is so much to see and do, you will be sad if you miss it...We have a few Handmade Expo stallholders participating as well....GOOD LUCK TO THEM...I am sure it will be a huge success.

The BRISSTYLE INDIE TWILIGHT MARKET is on tonight from 5pm-9pm in King George Square, Brisbane City. A wonderful and huge market full of Brisstylers. This will be amazing. We love the Brisstyle girls and are huge supporters of them and what they do...

So, if you have nothing planned...here is a couple of things to add to your diary on short notice. :)

HAVE A SUPER LONG WEEKEND.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

GOONDIWINDI...

Hi Everyone

Ok, so we put it out there at the beginning of the year about having a market in Goondiwindi in April. This didn't come about due to quite a few reasons...however, We have decided to make it happen in November...November 13th to be exact.

From experience, we know that our November market in Ipswich is our biggest market. Coming up to xmas is very important.
Hence the reason why we would like to show GUNDY a XMAS XTRAVAGANZA.

If you would like to have a stall at this market, you can access the booking application on line and just tick the November 13th, Goondiwindi market.

COST = $70
WHEN = Saturday 13th November 9am-3pm
WHERE = Goondiwindi PCYC (indoors)
YOU NEED TO PROVIDE = chairs and tables
WE PROVIDE = Venue, Insurance (public & product) & advertising
ENTRY = FREE FREE FREE

We hope that we can pack the PCYC like we did in 2009...which was a very successful market....

We look forward to hearing from you all.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

STALLHOLDER PROFILE - KELLIE CHRISTIE

Hi Everyone

As promised, here is another stallholder profile. We hope you enjoy reading and getting to know our wonderful stallholders....

We would like to introduce you to Kellie Christie.



So, Kellie, how long have you been creating for?
I have been making jewellery for over 6 years and have a fine art background.

What inspires you and motivates you to create?
Making and creating keeps me sane. I am a full time mum and making jewellery is my "me" time, it is my outlet and my way of relaxing. I have a passion for jewellery and love things that are quite quirky and different which is where I draw inspiration. I also love colour, the brighter the better!



What is your favourite item that you make?
I don't really have a favourite but I am loving my new range of rings and brooches.

Where is your studio/dedicated creative space?
My studio is a converted garage. My dad converted the garage for us and added aircon. I share this space with my hubby, so it is a combined studio for me and computer room for hubby.

What is your most popular item within your collection?
Definitely my flat button necklaces.



Do you have new products in the works?
I am currently working on something for the boys, wallets made using vinyl and paper.

Tell us a bit about your business/hobby?
Kellie Christie
I am a contemporary jewellery designer and I mainly create jewellery from buttons. I love the beauty found in common objects which are so often overlooked. I also like to reuse where I can so I combine both new and old buttons in my jewellery.
Where do you see yourself in 2 years time?
Hopefully working full time on my jewellery.


What do you love about The Handmade Expo?
I have a passion for handmade and like to support other local artists and designers as much as possible. I also love meeting my customers face to face and getting to know them a little and also getting great feedback on my jewellery.

Thanks Kellie for taking the time to complete the Stallholder Questionnaire. If you are a stallholder and would like to chance for your profile to shown all over the world...just go HERE



Once again, we hope you love this...keep tuning in for more.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Thursday, April 22, 2010

STALLHOLDER PROFILE - Love, Marriage, Baby Carriage Gifts

Hi Everyone

We are very excited to start a new segment on our blog called STALLHOLDER PROFILE.

We are going to try this as a weekly feature, which we are really excited about.

We would like to introduce you to Sharissa Iuli from Love, Marriage, Baby Carriage Gifts

So, Sharissa, how long have you been creating for?
I've always been on the crafty side and have always loved and enjoyed making and creating things since I was a little girl. However it wasn't until about 5 years ago that I started taking things more seriously and saw that I could actually make money from doing something that I loved to do, so I began making baby and special occasion gifts to sell.

What inspires you and motivates you to create?
Ideas and encouragement from my family and friends motivates me to create, and I am always inspired by customers and people who love and admire my gift creations. Their positive and kindly words always give me a boost. Sometimes it's not always about making a sale as I really enjoy hearing great feedback about my work and it's very inspiring, although making sales is even better!

What is your favourite item that you make?
My favourite item that I make is the chocolate bouquet. I always have to buy extra chocolates as I just can't help myself when there's chocolate around, it just jumps into my hand, unwraps itself and then jumps into my mouth! Yum!

Where is your studio/dedicated creative space?
My dedicated creative space is in my garage, which has been converted into a 2nd living area/ studio/ workshop etc. The large space is perfect as I have plenty of room to create, store my stock and bits n pieces.

What is your most popular item within your collection?
The small nappy pram is by far the most popular gift as they are so unique. As the name suggests they are created with 2 hand towels/ burping cloths, 2 huggies NB nappies, a cotton baby wrap and a baby singlet and formed into the shape of a pram. They are our signature gift item, and are also my least favourite item to create as they are just so fiddly to make.

Do you have new products in the works?
At this very moment there are no new products in the works, however this can change at any time as I am always thinking/ brainstorming/ dreaming of new ideas to make and create.

Tell us a bit about your business/hobby?
Love, Marriage, Baby Carriage Gifts I'm a mum to two handsome and cheeky little monkeys aged 4 and 7 months. My business Love, Marriage, Baby Carriage Gifts (LMBC Gifts) offers beautiful and unique 'Baby & Special Occasion Gifts' especially for occasions of Love, Marriage and Babies. I started LMBC Gifts in 2005, making gifts for family and friends, but then moved on to a more commercial level in 2007. We create and offer gifts that are very unique and different, and that our customers will love and be proud to give to their recipient. Many of our new customers have received one of our gifts from a past customer and loved it so much that they have come to buy a gift from us for someone else!

Where do you see yourself in 2 years time?
In two years time I'd really like to see LMBC Gifts in a few retail stores around Brisbane.

What do you love about The Handmade Expo?
I love the crowd that THE market attracts, people who love and more importantly appreciate handmade and the work that goes into each and every piece or item that is created. I also love to shop at THE markets as there are always fabulous gifts and treasures to be found that you just cant find anywhere else. On top of that you are buying direct from the maker and supporting local men and women who do such a fabulous job in making their creations. I keep coming back because I love being a stallholder at THE markets, and the THE girls are so friendly and so great and they do such a fabulous job. My only problem with the THE girls is that they haven't started a market in Logan! ;)





You can find Sharissa at the next Handmade Expo market on May 15th.

A big thanks for Sharissa for taking the time to tell us a bit about herself and what she is all about.
We hope that you will enjoy reading the stallholder profiles as much as the stallholder enjoys writing them and we enjoy putting these together.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Handmade Expo - What a wonderful day

Hi Everyone

We would like to give you an update on our wonderful market that we had on Saturday. The 3 of us were busy walking around and talking to each individual stallholder and also taking photos for this blog and also for a newspaper column (keep your eyes out)..which we are very excited about.

We all had a wonderful day on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, the steam trains were running, we had approx 85 beautiful, smiliey stallholders and then we opened the doors to the public.

We find that we are so busy on market day that we are racing around..This month, we decided that we would take the time to take some photos and show the public what The Handmade Expo is really about and what we (as in our stallholders) have to offer all of you..

Hope you enjoy (this may go over a couple of weeks as we have sooooo many photos)

So, once again, we would like to thank all the stallholders and all the customers who keep coming back to not only support The Handmade Expo, but support HANDMADE, this is what we are passionate about.

Heidi Kirstenfeldt





Linda from Lilly Cottage




Our wonderful LOCAL farmers



Ann Lowein




Feybles Nel




From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Friday, April 16, 2010

Mothers Day - Handmade Expo Shopping

Hi All,

Just a quick reminder that Mothers Day falls on 9th May so head to the Handmade Expo tomorrow to find your special, unique handmade gift for the special mother in your life... don't miss out - you won't be dissapointed with choice tomorrow (8am to 2pm, Ipswich Turf Club, Brisbane Rd, Bundamba - Free Entry and Free Parking)!

Micky, Liesa & Miriam

CALL US FOR FREE

Hi Everyone

We now have SKYPE.

So, if you have skype too, you can call us for FREE...how cool is that.

There is a button on our blog that looks like this:



So, if you click on this, you will get direct to me via my computer...This is sooo cool.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

See you all Tomorrow

Hi Everyone

This will be our last post before we see you tomorrow at The Handmade Expo.

It is at the Ipswich Turf Club, Brisbane Road, Bundamba from 8am-2pm.
FREE ENTRY & FREE PARKING

Up to 100 stalls of handmade loveliness on offer and now including our wonderful GOURMET FRESH section where you can purchase your fresh produce, plants, preserves, cupcakes, fudge, organic sourdough, peanut brittle, popcorn...sweet treats of all sorts. Not to forget the huge amount of stalls selling kids clothing/accessories, handbags, jewellery, country craft, shabby homewares, nappycakes, modern cloth nappies, timberwork and soooo much more, it is really hard to list them all.
We welcome back our awesome regular stallholders as well as our new and amazing stallholders as well...

The Swanbank Steam Train will be running again in conjunction with our market...4 times throughout the day. This is a ride not to be missed...it really is for everyone...

Thats all from us for now.

See you tomorrow at the Ipswich Turf Club

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam
xoxo

Thursday, April 15, 2010

CUSTOMER QUESTIONNAIRE

Hi Everyone

We always love to receive feedback from our stallholders and customers...So, we have decided to add a CUSTOMER QUESTIONNAIRE to our blog as well. It gives us a chance to see what you, as our customers like about the market and receive some constructive feedback so we can continue to work on The Handmade Expo.

We would like to thank you in advance for completing the questionnaire and we look forward to bringing you The Handmade Expo once a month..

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Stallholder and Customer Incentives for the MAY Market

Hi Everyone.

We would like to enlist your help in an idea we have for getting more customers though the gate. The incentive will last up until the 14th May, one day before the May Handmade Expo. We will be giving away to two stallholders a half price site fee for their next market (after May) Which will be in a refund form.
For the customers...we are giving away a $25 Handmade Expo GIFT VOUCHER.

Here's how to enter the incentive for May:

We would like you to get on the net working for yourselves and in turn for us, the more customers, the more stallholders, the more customers, etc, see how it works?

For every time you do something to publicise The Handmade Expo, send us a link or copy of advertisement that you have done (thehandmadeexpo@optusnet.com.au). We will tally everyones good work the day before the May market and the two stallholders with the most links (and other things done that aren't on the net) will get their next stall half price. (not including May) The Customer that has generated the most advertisements/publicity will also be notified. If this is successfull we will continue to offer incentives.

Here are some ideas, but you will probably come up with some more:

You can share The Handmade Expo blog posts on your Facebook or twitter (if unsure how to do this please ask). There is no limit to how much you can do.

Invite friends to The Handmade Expo Fan Page which you can find HERE

Suggest The Handmade Expo to all your friends on Facebook.

If you see someone else has Facebooked about the market, share that on twitter, Facebook or on your blog, etc.

Whenever you use the words The Handmade Expo, make sure you link to The Handmade Expo blog or The Handmade Expo Facebook page.

Do blog posts about The Handmade Expo, your experiences there, your stallholder neighbours, products you are working on to take to the Handmade Expo, etc

Put our logo on your blog/website, and also all the dates.

Email your address book about The Handmade Expo. (copy us into the email).

Mention The Handmade Expo on any forums you are on or chat rooms.

Have a pile of our date flyers on your table when you are at other markets.

Have some flyers with you when you go out.

See if the school, sports, church newsletter will pop something in their newsletter to help promote you (please provide us with a copy).

Put our flyer or yours up on the notice boards.

Send press releases to your local newspaper, ie; write a story about yourself mentioning that you can be found at The handmade Expo (please email copies)

Can you think of other things you can do to help promote your business (and in turn The Handmade Expo)?

This incentive will start on Sunday 18th April.

Go for it and good luck!

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

ATTENTION STALLHOLDERS :)

Hi Stallholders.

We would love to hear from you...We have now put a STALLHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE on our blog....(right handside near the application and guidelines) or you can access it HERE

We are planning to use these little beauties on our blog and also in newspaper/magazine advertising...

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT YOU LOVE and WHAT YOU DO...WE WANT TO KNOW.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Monday, April 12, 2010

CALLING STALLHOLDERS FOR.....

THE GATTON CLYDESDALE AND HEAVY HORSE FIELD DAYS

Hi Everyone

Every now and then we are asked if The Handmade Expo would like to be apart of another event...providing high quality handmade stalls....

We have been in talks over the past couple of days with the above event and they have made 12 stalls available for The Handmade Expo. We will be monitoring stalls and product as they do want a range of goods...

This event runs over 2 days from Saturday 1st May and goes til Sunday 2nd May...This is the long weekend in May.
They are expecting between 6,000 and 10,000 people. It is held at the Gatton Showgrounds.
Stalls need to be set up on the Friday....

For $50 (for both days), you will receieve a 3m x 3m site. You will require your own insurance, chairs and tables. The stalls that have been made available for us are indoors.

If you do not want to do both days, I do have 1 stall available for the SUNDAY only.

If you are interested in having a stall at this yearly event, please email us at thehandmadeexpo@optusnet.com.au

Stalls need to be confirmed by Friday...Payment needs to be made into our bank account by Wednesday 21st.

You can check out their website HERE

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Friday, April 9, 2010

Brisbane Seniors Newspaper - advertisement

Hi Everyone

We have decided to branch out a little bit with our advertising...Brisbane Seniors Newspaper being one of them...
We also found, together with our ad, a large editorial which we are very excited about.

Hope you love it as much as we do.




From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam
ps...sorry about the rotation...hope you can still read it.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

OUR DATES :)

Hi Everyone

We have finally confirmed dates for the second half of 2010 for The Handmade Expo...

Here they are:
SATURDAY
July 17th
August 21st
September 18th
October 16th
November 13th - GOONDIWINDI
November 20th
December 18th

If you would like to book a stall for any of these markets, we now have an easy to complete application form and guidelines on the right hand side of this blog...We now offer discounts for our loyal and regular stallholders too...WHICH WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT :)

We look forward to bringing you more of The Handmade Expo in 2010.

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam

Thursday, April 1, 2010

HAPPY EASTER....

Happy Easter Everyone
We hope you have a good one..
AND the shortest post EVER!!!

From
Liesa, Micky & Miriam