Port Potomac Shows Sunny Promise

Port Potomac Shows Sunny Promise

Marie Gilvey makes another necklace during the Port Potomac Vendor Fair

Marie Gilvey makes another necklace during the Port Potomac Vendor Fair

Saturday, April 30, 2011 we had the pleasure of participating in the 2011 Port Potomac Vendor Fair. Vendors from all over the area joined in on this beautiful and sunny day to show off their products and services ranging from home repair and sales to personal products and even biscottes made especially for mans best friend that looked good enough to dip into my coffee.

“I really enjoyed the day and the location and I would like to return again next year. Thank you Ashley Spencer of Selling Virginia for letting us participate at the last minute.” said Marie Gilvey. Marie ran her special bead jewelry offer of a free item with any purchase which drew a lot of interest.

This was a great location for the event and a great weekend to hold it and we look forward to it being even bigger and with even more shoppers next year.

CorseCrafts next event will be at the Occoquan Elementary School on Saturday, May 7. See you there.

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Spring Craft Shows in Full Bloom for CorseCrafts

Spring Craft Shows in Full Bloom for CorseCrafts

Greetings everyone and I hope you are doing your best to avoid the pollen if that’s even possible. Well things are getting exciting for us over the next two months. We have applied to 4 craft shows starting the end of April. Hear is the list of confirmed and events we are awaiting confirmation from.

Saturday, April 30
Port Potomac Club House
16201 Navigation Drive
Woodbridge, VA | Directions | Flyer (PDF 353k)

Saturday, May 7
Occoquan Elementary Craft Fair
12915 Occoquan Road
Woodbridge, VA | Directions

Saturday, May 14 Confirmed
Childrens Miracle Network Craft Show
More info available after confirmation

Saturday, May 21Awaiting Confirmation
Optimists Vendor Fair
More info available after confirmation

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A Great Day for Crafters and Shoppers at Riverbend High School

A Great Day for Crafters and Shoppers at Riverbend High School

Marie Gilvey prepares a new bead necklace while customers enter the craft show.

Marie Gilvey prepares a new bead necklace while customers enter the craft show.

It was an overcast but mild morning on Saturday, April 9, 2011 as the vendors entered the commons area of Riverbend High School (Fredericksburg, VA)  for their annual Program for Teen Parents Craft Show that was sponsored by YoungLives. We arrived a little before the doors opened and were promptly greeted by a smiling face. “Everything was so well prepared. There was a great breakfast for all the vendors and there were manned carts to help move my boxes and bins into the commons area” said Marie Antoinette Gilvey.

There was a wide assortment of crafters from all over the area offering just about everything you could think of and some you would have never guessed like dust pans made from old license plates could you believe. I had just as much fun looking at all the creative products as I did meeting the vendors.

Marie Antoinette works on another beautiful bead necklace.

Marie Antoinette works on another beautiful bead necklace.

Like many craft shows, the traffic filtered in and gradually increased by lunch time. The customers were diverse, curious and very friendly.

“We had 57 vendors and about 500 shoppers this year. Our silent auction and food sales help send teen-mothers and their babies to Young Lives summer camp.” said event coordinator Karey Spears. She continued stating that she hopes to reach the 800 shoppers they get during the Fall show.

Marie Antoinette and I enjoyed being part of this event—we even offered up one a necklace for the raffle. Vendor spaces that were sold and raffle money went to the Rappahannock Area Community Service Board (RACSB). We look forward to returning in the future.

Image graphic of CorseCraft icon art.

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Spring Has Sprung at Gar-Field Annual Spring Craft Show

Spring Has Sprung at Gar-Field Annual Spring Craft Show

Everyone thought the cold weather was finally gone with the few scattered days of warmth that lead up to the craft show on Saturday, March 26, 2011. As it turned out, the morning was quite chilly as vendors lined up to enter into Gar-Field Senior High School to setup for the annual Spring Craft Show sponsored by the PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization). Vendors set up for a day of fun and artistic showmanship around what I affectionately call “The Loop” that is the lower level of the school.

Photo of a Nathaniel Williamson holding a bracelet made from a fork - click to zoom on bracelet.

Photo of a Nathaniel Williamson holding a bracelet made from a fork – click to zoom on bracelet.

There was a light but steady stream of shoppers throughout the day with a peak period around lunch time. There was no shortage of artisans displaying all sorts of beautiful creations. Some of their work was strictly for the viewers’ appreciation and others added a spice of art to regular everyday objects to make daily activities like eating, from a hand turned pottery plate, or drinking, from a hand painted wine glass, more of an art than just a daily routine.

I caught up with Veronika Kolomichuk (the organizer of the Spring Craft Show) a few days after the show and asked her a few questions:

 CC: How was the turnout this year in your eyes?
“The turn out was fair, we look to improve each year and I think we did that this year. We counted entrances at the doors and had over 600 in attendance, probably closer to seven-hundred since we didn’t start counting until 10am. The winter show gets 900-1000 shoppers and our goal is to get closer and closer to that mark each year.”

Photo of Jim "The Can Man" Harrison

CC: How many vendors did you have?
“We had 90 vendors this year (as compared to 75 in 2010).”

 

CC: Can you tell me about the prize drawings you did? What did you give away to the lucky vendor and customer?
“We had two drawings. One for the vendors,  for a $50 Michaels gift card provided by the PTSO. It was won by the Wood and Can Man, Jim Harrison. The other drawings were for customers or anyone who purchased raffle tickets. The vendors donated items for these drawings and the proceeds went toward Student Scholarships that the PTSO distributes each year. Some of the items were LaVieve Skin Care, Isle of Candles Soy Lotion Bar, A Wood Pen, Homemade Dog Biscuits, A $75 value Purse from Miche Bags just to name a few.”

Marie Gilvey finishes up with an early moring customer.

Marie Gilvey finishes up with an early moring customer.

It was a great show and CorseCrafts will surely be there again in Spring 2012 offering our latest bead jewelry designs. But wait! You don’t have to wait until next Spring to go to another craft show at Gar-Field High School; did you know that Gar-Field has two craft shows a year? The next one, the Holiday Craft Show will be in the fall, 2011. We’ll see you there.

Image graphic of CorseCraft icon art.

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CorseCrafts at Craft Show to Benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital

CorseCrafts at Craft Show to Benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Our second show we will be doing in Fredericksburg, VA is the day after the Riverbend High School show. This one is to help raise awareness & donations for St. Jude Children’s Hospital on Sunday, April 10, 2011.

Harrison Road Community Center
4728 Harrison Rd.
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Directions

Image graphic of CorseCraft icon art.

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