With the new year brings new opportunities. We love the Mile High City and have treasured our time at the McNichols Building, however it is time for a change. We are super excited to announce our new home for our Holiday 2019 Fair in Denver this December 14th & 15th……The Stanley Marketplace!

Photo by From the Hip Photo

Stanley Marketplace is a community of 50+ independently owned Colorado businesses that offer something for everyone. Whether you are into yoga or kickboxing you can jumpstart your day with a work out, while your mini-me enjoys a kids gymnastics class. Then recover with an amazing lunch or dessert from one of the many restaurants and treats within. Later in the day (or right after, no judgements here!) grab a drink with your friends at Cheluna Brewing or if wine is more your thing, head to Infinite Monkey Theorum!

What we love most is the fact that Stanley believes in bringing people together and making them happy. That goes right along with what we at Jackalope aim to do, create a community meets artisan event where local culture meets craft. We both want to bring people together to connect and collaborate.

Something else that brings us together is that our Jackalope mascot is referred to as Stanley, Melissa gave him that name when we first began….how cool is that?! If that is not a sign, well by golly I do not know what else is.

Photo by From the Hip Photo inside of The Hangar

We are so excited to bring our handmade community to Stanley for our Holiday 2019 Fair where we will not only have artisans within the Hangar at Stanley, we will also have artisans throughout the shopping center on both the first and second floors, truly creating a unique shopping experience. So save the date, December 14th & 15th, 2019!

First Floor of Stanley Marketplace

Shop handmade for the holidays at Jackalope Denver's Indie Artisan Fair next weekend, December 9th & 10th! Here is a simple A to Z guide that offers something for everyone on your holiday shopping list!

Acid Hair Glitter specializes in all things related to having the most glitter-filled hair in the galaxy!

Beard Oil by Two Ravens Soaps is the perfect luxury any dull beard is in search of!

Copper Mug by Lunazul Gallery is a necessity for the holiday edition moscow mule being shaken up in your kitchen this season.

Diffuser Necklace by Tin Lizzie adds a modern touch to traditional aromatherapy, with this oil infused necklace to support you on the road to your best self.

Embroidery by Olander Co draws inspiration from beautiful Colorado in these delightful embroidery hoops.

Fanny Pack by Fortnight Company is a stunning gift for any adventurer who can’t be bothered with anything getting in their way!

Genius Handcarved Wooden Dice by Boxwood Pinball for the modern board-gamer looking to go beyond traditions.

Honey by Bjorns adds a bit of sweetness to anyone's day, one teaspoon at a time!

Icelandic Reindeer Fleece by Vela Apparel to bring back some of the magical Christmas spirit we can always use more of!

Jewel Tone Boho Sway Earrings by Mile High Beads are for the “day to night” woman who needs accessories to keep up with her lifestyle.

Kimono by Twirl is perfect for the casual errand run, lavish night out, or anything in between!

Lollipops by Sweet Caroline Confections are the sweet addict’s dream… although, they’re almost too pretty to eat!

Macrame Wall Hanging by Rustic Sage Designs for those vintage - obsessed, looking to fill that boring white wall.

“Nuts about Donuts” Art Print by Kelsey M Designs for the donut lovers… aka anyone and everyone!

Ornament by The Furnace Glassworks will steal the spotlight from any ordinary set of decor!

Pickles by The Good Jar has so many varieties to choose from, with Bread and Butter being one of the most popular; no sweet pickles can compare!

Quilted Baby Blanket by Fiber Relics will have your little one so comfy & cozy, they will be howling at the moon!

Rosemary Cedar Candle by Light Provisions is great for those attempting to bring the outdoors into their home, with the scent of freshly cut lumber and aromatic herbs.

Sangria Wine Slushy Mix by Nectar of the Vine puts a twist on the traditional beverage, for those looking to switch it up!

Toffee by Vivian’s Gourmet is classically delicious with an instant mouthwatering effect at a mere glance!

Ultimate Skin Care Package by Moon Mother Medicinals consists of face serum, face wash, and cleansing grains for magically beautiful skin.

Vintage Blings by Booze Bling is for the host in your life, bringing a bit of fun & recognition to glasses everywhere!

Wrapping Paper by Revel & Co. adds a flawless last touch to any present!

Xmas Cards by Rum Bird Studio takes a unique twist on the typical cards, with these quirky illustrations.

Yarn Hand-dyed by Knit Stitch gives you the ideal materials to create something truly magical for your loved ones (or simply a gift for yourself!)

Zipper Pouch by CZ In Stitches has endless fabric options to choose from, for your ultimate essentials bag.

All of these items and more can be found at Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair's curated event with over 150 handmade artisans in the McNichols Building on December 9th and 10th in Downtown Denver.  The fair will be open from 10am to 5pm daily, so get your shopping lists ready!

1. How did you get your start in the handmade community?

Even though my mom doesn't think of herself as artistic or crafty she is.  When I was young my mom often made gifts for friends and even sold a few things.  My favorite was candles.  My mom made molded candles and the room she made them in always smelled so good.  Back in the 60's there was a lot of macrame going on and my mother did that also.  Hanging planters, wall art and gods eyes were done a lot.  In the summer we took art and craft classes at the school.  When I started teaching preschool and kindergarten I came to love crafting with things people would typically throw out: kleenex boxes, toilet paper tubes, boxes, etc.  When I started my store I really wanted to focus on handmade and local.  There are so many "closet crafters" out there who didn't have an outlet for their crafts other than doing fairs.

2. What/Who is your biggest inspiration?

I can't really say there is one person or thing.  I feel like I get different kinds of inspiration from different people and places.  Inspiration comes from connection.  When you connect on a real level with something or someone you become inspired!  Love, beauty, heartbreak, adventure, challenge.  If the world touches you, you will find a way to express it in some way whether it is a poem, song, story, painting, jewelry etc., etc., etc.

3. Tell us a few favorites of yours?

My favorite color right now is probably a teal shade.  

My favorite people are probably my kids.  They range in age from 18 to 23 and I am just loving watching them turn into adults and finding their passions and working to that end.  

My favorite dream is winning the lottery.  I love to think of all the ways I would use the money to relax and do good!

My favorite drink is a chai latte.

My favorite thing to do in any gathering is play games (of all kinds).

4. What do you love most about the handmade movement?

I think the thing I love most about the resurgence of handmade crafts is the peace and community it offers people.  Almost everyone I talk to who crafts does it because they love it, it is their stress relief.  It also brings people together.  Someone will always want to learn how you do something.  So you teach them, or you tell them.  You have shared your passion and excitement for life and that spark will spread like wildfire!

5. What is the most important feature in an artists application for you? 

In the application itself it will probably be the picture and description of what the artist does.  Do they take pride in their work and take care to craft an item of good quality not something that is slapped together and likely to fall apart?  The application needs to be thorough and provide all the information that is asked for.

6. What are you looking forward to the most in joining the jury panel with Jackalope?

I look forward to being a part of the reason someone comes to a craft fair and falls in love with crafting or handmade items.  I have always loved event planning (worked to put on conferences, weddings, bat mitzfahs and fundraisers a lot!) and I love it when a patron comes away saying they loved it.

How did you start in the handmade community?

We started in the handmade community at farmers market's. We were making our habanero pepper jelly for friends and family at Christmas.  Everyone loved it and always asked for more so got a certified kitchen and started selling the jelly at events.

What or who inspires you?

I'm inspired by people that are the best in their practice or profession, I love watching, trusting and working with people that are good at what they do.

What makes your work unique and truly your own?

We use the best quality produce, de-seed and de-stem the fresh peppers by hand. We know the farmers we work with. Our products have a modern feel that appeals to our customers that enjoy entertaining and cooking.

What can we expect to see from you at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair? 

Habanero, Strawberry Habanero and Marionberry Habanero Pepper Jellies

Learn more here: 

www.kellysjelly.com

www.facebook.com/kellysjelly

Twitter @kellysjelly

Q: Tell us a little about yourself & your background in the arts & crafts world: 

The arts have always been a huge presence in my life. I studied Ballet and Apparel Design in College.  I have had a sting passion for crafting since I was a little one, with a particular interest in Yarn crafts. 

Q: What / who is your biggest inspiration?

My customers, they inspire me to always strive to do more. They are the reason we introduced Lula School. 

Q; How did you get into your position in the arts & crafts world?

I saved my pennies and opened my dream store in 2003. :-) A collection of thousands of crafters under one roof.  My teaching credentials for Lula School are from personal crafting experience, and passion for craft.

Q: Tell us about a few favorites of yours: 

Some current favorites are Mods Best Friend, Lo & Chlo, Something Blue, Chez Gagne Letterpress, Life is Funny LA.. I could go on and on haha

Q: What do you love most about the handmade movement?

The uniqueness and individuality that comes from each piece. It adds a heartbeat to a gift. 

Q: What is the most important feature in an artist's application for you? 

Passion for their craft & individuality. 

Q: What are you most looking forward to in being a part of the Jackalope Arts jury?  

To be a part of such a beautiful growing community, and to stand by the side of an organization that is helping these crafters to grow and reach their dreams. Such an honor.

Q: Where can we find out more about you? 

On our website lulamae.com and from our IG page :-)

To celebrate the end of year 1 for Jackalope Arts we thought we would take a look back at this past year through photos! We are so thankful for a great first year and we can't wait to watch Jackalope grow and bring more awareness to the handmade community! 

With Love+Ink from our very first Jackalope Art & Craft Fair in Pasadena, CA this past April! 

Our first Denver Summer Jackalope Art & Craft Fair, so much fun seeing our logo come to life! 

We love when the artists embrace the Jackalope and create pieces specific to the show-this Jackalope piece was presented by Becky Designs at our Summer Denver Jackalope Event! 

Eclectic Hoops brought tons of energy to our Holiday Jackalope Art & Craft Fair in Pasadena! 

Our Holiday Pasadena Jackalope Art & Craft Fair kicked off the holiday shopping season, and we loved having all handmade vendors to shop from, including The Wicked Boheme!

Boxwood Pinball brought the fun to our Holiday Jackalope Art & Craft Fair in Denver!

Shannon Faber Fine Arts at our Denver Holiday Jackalope Art & Craft Fair, these postcards make perfect stocking stuffers!

To help last minute holiday shoppers complete their gift giving, Jackalope Art & Craft Fair made our debut in Phoenix this past weekend! Even though the weather was chilly, all the fabulous vendors really brought their A Game, we love these pieces by The Wooden Nickel!

This year ended with a bang with us being interviewed on Live TV with Fox 10 Phoenix promoting the fair! Thank you Moms Gone Nuts, Savannah Ashley and Be You Jewelry for your support! 

Seeing all these memories makes us anxious for next year and what 2016 will bring! We hope you all enjoy the Holiday season and we will see you next Spring! 

In anticipation for our upcoming Holiday Fairs in Pasadena, Denver and Phoenix, we want to provide some helpful tips and tricks for making the most out of your holiday shopping experience AT...

Before the Fair: 

• Make sure you know the vendors that will be there and get an idea of your must haves! All of our vendors can be viewed for each city online: Pasadena, Denver, Phoenix
• Create a Holiday shopping list for all of your family and friends, that way you are not wondering around aimlessly loosing precious time! 
• Planning to bring your kids? Check out our workshops online under each corresponding city. A great chance to become a maker yourself, offered for both kids and adults. 
• Wear comfortable shoes and pack those reusable bags! You can also purchase a Jackalope Tote at the information booth at each cities event.

Getting to the Event:

• Make sure you know the directions and parking situation so you can easily find your way- all of the parking information can be found ONLINE under Attendee Info.
• Or Skip parking in Pasadena and Go Metro by taking the Gold Line to Del Mar Station, steps away from Central Park! For your best route use the Metro Trip Planner - AND once you arrive if you are one of the first 50 people to show us your TAP card, Metro employee ID, or LA County employee ID you will get a free Jackalope tote! 
• In ALL cities you can also opt not to drive and use LYFT! We are excited to announce that we have partnered with LYFT to offer first time riders a $20 credit by using the code: JACKALOPEARTS

At the Fair:

• Do a lap first and make sure you check it all out before making purchases, and then using your previously created shopping lists, get down to business! 
• Getting hungry? Don't let hunger slow you down, we will have a bunch of vendors selling prepackaged treats and Food trucks in both Pasadena and Phoenix, and indoor Food vendors in Denver! 
• Since Pasadena and Phoenix are both outside feel free to bring blankets and picnic on the grass if you need a shopping breather! 
• Over 21? In Denver make your shopping experience more enjoyable and grab a holiday inspired cocktail at the bar!
• From everyone you purchase from make sure to get their business card and sign up for the mailing list if they have one, that way you can be kept in the loop on all of your favorites artists! 
• And if you loved Jackalope, like we hope you did, join our mailing list so you will be the first to know when we come back in town! 

Cheers and thank you for choosing Jackalope for all of your holiday shopping needs ;)

Jackalope Arts filled the EXDO Event center with nearly 200 top notch artisans for a Summer shopping extravaganza on July 25th & 26th!  Within 1 hour of opening, the Fair had over 500 people through the door and the crowd continued to flow in over the weekend.  One attendee said it perfectly, "The vendors were AWESOME!"

Our Fair entrance welcomed guests with the Sophisticates Tea Truck selling fresh iced Chai & Black Tea!  Perfect for the warm day and sold out by the end of the weekend!  With a fresh iced, caffeinated drink in hand, attendees went head first into shopping two huge rooms full of bright and exciting vendors with an alley of even more vendors connecting them.  Some shoppers even came on Saturday to make the rounds and see everything and then came BACK on Sunday to make all of their purchases!  Now that's dedication.  

We love our vendors with a good sense of humor keeping the weekend light and happy!

Kids and adults alike had some hand on fun at our workshop station throughout the weekend making hula hoops, dolls, buttons and more!  And who doesn't love a beautiful henna tattoo to decorate yourself!

THANK YOU DENVER for an incredible weekend!!

If you missed our first Jackalope Art & Craft Fair in Denver, don't worry!  We are coming back again just in time to start your Holiday shopping in November!  Keep an eye on our Holiday Shopping Fair dates TBA at http://www.jackalopeartfair.com/denver/

Want to vend at the next one?  Apply online by September 19th:  http://www.jackalopeartfair.com/applydenver/

“Like the bird that shares its name, Phoenix is rising into a beautiful new city that embraces Localism, innovation, entrepreneurship, and diversity. ”

— BALLE

In the beginning days of Jackalope Arts, our team sat together with some of the movers and shakers in the L.A. art scene and talked excitedly about the vision for Jackalope Arts.  One of these notable individuals said they understood why we were in L.A. and Denver with the arts and culture in both cities, but that they didn't know anything about Phoenix and the scene there.  Of course, as a Phoenix native, I proceeded to breakdown all of what Phoenix has to offer in it's rapidly growing and soon to be well known arts economy!

The Jackalope Art & Craft Fair will be making it's home at Steele Indian School Park in Downtown Phoenix, just outside the Roosevelt Row Arts District and situated just steps from the Metro Light Rail.   We will be joining the localist movement in an effort to strengthen the Phoenix community and Arizona economy by growing, supporting, and celebrating locally owned businesses.

There has been a concentrated focus on growing Downtown Phoenix and over the past 5 years those efforts have really begun to take hold!  We are on a roll with a 7% expected growth rate, exceptional when compared to other Downtown growth rates in the US (thiscouldbePHX.com), and Phoenix's Roosevelt Row (RoRo) being named one of the top 10 arts districts in the country by USA Today!

One of the associations in place to help facilitate this growth in Downtown Phoenix and across Arizona is Local First Arizona.  Since it's inception in 2003, Local First Arizona has grown to become the world's largest local business association with over 2,500 members!  Arizonans know how to ban together and make s***t happen and we aim to be a part of that.  

The mission of Jackalope Arts is to create a shopping experience with the highest quality, locally handcrafted goods.  We strive to support local artisans who devote their lives to their creations. We bring a community together to celebrate local artistry, and promote high quality, locally made, artisan creations of all kinds in our weekend events.

Check out this Small Wonders map of the local businesses in the area surrounding our new Downtown home!  We love our Jackalope neighbors :)

Not convinced Phoenix is amazing yet?  Check out the Top 10 Reasons to Love Phoenix from the Phoenix New Times!

The Jackalope Art & Craft Fair will launch in Phoenix with our Holiday shopping event on December 12th & 13th.  
Are you an artisan? Applications are available online and the deadline is September 1st.  
Just an eager local shopper?  Our event is FREE so add it to your calendar and sign up to our mailing list to hear all the exciting updates!

Good Reads & Resources: 

Local First Arizona

Is Downtown Phoenix at a Tipping Point? 

BALLE

People camped out in lines around the building, some have been there since the night before, waiting anxiously to herd through the doors, trampling anyone in their way to be the first! Ferocious shoppers waiting in lines to the back of the store just to check out and join the teaming traffic back on the streets to the next stop…..

Sound like a nightmare?!  Black Friday can be just that!  A large corporation monopoly, an insane shopping nightmare.  Instead, try staying home on Friday with your loved ones. You can watch movies and eat leftovers, decorate for Christmas, and save that shopping for Small Business Saturday!

"In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday to help businesses with their most pressing need — getting more customers. The day encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The single day has grown into a powerful movement, and more people are taking part than ever before. This year, the big day is Nov 29." - https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/

On the website you can learn how to rally your own neighborhood, promote your small business, and even find local small businesses offering great discounts by entering your zip code!  

Pictured above: Local Los Angeles fashion designer, Hanna Hayes

Etsy and Small Business Saturday have teamed up too!  You can scroll through the posts on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page to find out where local Etsy artists in your area are hosting trunk shows on Saturday!   And if you are a homebody, you can use Etsy to shop small while never leaving your couch (remember the #ShopUnique campaign we discussed last week!).  

However you do it, make sure your join the movement and support local, small businesses on November 29th!

#shopsmall #shoplocal #smallbusinesssaturday