Monday, February 22, 2010

Mini Marzipan: Taste for Artisans Call for Vendors

East Bay Express and Mini Marzipan Presents
Taste for Artisans
April 3, 2010
5pm - 11pm
Jack London Square
98 Broadway Avenue, Oakland.
(Previously Barnes & Noble Books)





 30,000 square feet of awesomeness!
Anticipated Attendees: 3-4k
Vendor Application Deadline: Friday, March 12th
Vendor Fee: $150.00 

Please go to: www.minimarzipan.com to apply now!


Taste for Artisans pays tribute to Americana but with a modern, urban twist.

Celebrate local craftsmanship with over 100 of the Bay Area's best artisans selling their handmade wares in the Handmade Ho Down Village, local farmers filling our plates, local breweries filling our glasses, live local bands/djs, and educational activities from the De Young Museum.

East Bay Express and Mini Marzipan have a reputation for throwing amazing parties, and this will be no exception. Our idea of urban Americana includes cream corn wrestling, mechanical bull riding, hay bales and picnic tables, pie eating contests, square dancing competitions, live craft making, old school games, and more!

Meet local artisans, musicians, and farmers while at the same time
supporting Drawbridge, a bay area local organization bringing art awareness
to children in need.

Be a part of the Handmade Ho Down Village and get down at the Ho Down!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Immediate Call for Vendors and Artists!

Mini Marzipan has paired up with BridgeHead Studios, a local art gallery in Alameda, to do a fun, monthly gallery crawl.

This will be a show with a smaller, more intimate, high-end feel than Handmade Ho Down, but with the same flare and promoting and energy that made Handmade Ho Down such a success!



Estuary Art Attack is an open studio, occurring monthly every 2nd Friday night, of over 19 galleries surrounding the Alameda and Oakland estuary.  Go here: www.estuaryartattack.com to read more about
Estuary Art Attack.


Mini Marzipan is looking for 6 - 12 Bay Area local, high-end artists and artisans to make the February Estuary Art Attack a success. Just in time for Valentine's Day gift purchases!

Wine, snacks and a live DJ will be a part of this part-swank, part- love atmosphere.


And of course, in true Handmade Ho Down style, time is of the essence!!


General Deets:

When:  
             Friday, Feb 12, 2010
             5pm-11pm

Where:
             BridgeHead Studios
             2516 Blanding Ave, Alameda, Ca

Who:
There are 7 spaces available and 1 studio space (perfect for clothing
vendor) available for vendors, and 4 spaces for Artists:


Artist/Fine Artist/Photographer:          
$50 fee + 40% of gross sales goes to the gallery.
(all artist spaces are studio/wall spaces only)

Artisan/Crafter 8x8 Space:                  
$75 fee + 10% of gross sales goes to the gallery.


11'x8' Studio Artisan Space:      
$150 fee + 10% of gross sales goes to the gallery. (please note this includes wall space.)


Deets on the 10% and 40% Commission:
Now, I know many of you may be thinking "10%??!!  OOF!!"

But allow me to point out: 40% is standard gallery commission, so if you aren't a fine artist, you are essentially getting a gallery party, for a artisan/crafter price.


Also, the gallery and the planners then have an even higher vested interest in making their show - YOUR show - a smashing success.

It is suggested that as an artist or artisan, you simply raise your prices for this particular show 40% or 10%, respectively.  As an artisan, if you make $100, you only have to pay $10.  Your booth fee and percentage of sales goes to the swank wine and snacks spread, paying our kick ass DJ's and hopefully paying our hot graphic designer for some kick ass promotional graphics.


**Please note that these percentages of sales will not be a Mini Marzipan standard, but comes from the Gallery itself (and it really is a kick booty Gallery).***


We are super excited about this venue and this show, and this our way of putting some crafty feelers out there to see who is interested.

And hey, spread the word!


As Estuary Art Attack is a monthly show at BridgeHead Studios, we'd love to know if you are interested in this show or other future shows.

If you are, please send an email to: erin@handmadehodown.com WITH your name, business name and 3-5 photos of your work OR your website url asap - especially if you'd like to be a part of February's
show - as we'd like to get all our vendors locked in as soon as possible.


Thank you again so much for all you do!  Hope to hear from you soon
(like right NOW! :D )


Hearts,
Erin and Rebecca
Mini Marzipan Productions
erin@handmadehodown.com

Monday, January 25, 2010

Introducing Mini Marzipan Productions!

Hey team!


Rebecca (Jim Dandy's), Erin (Eristotle) and Didi (Little Red Bicycle) of the Handmade Ho Down (Too Live) Crew are putting on another show!


Hold on to your hats now, its going to be a little different...


From (a few) of the makers of Handmade Ho Down, we are pleased to announce Mini
Marzipan Productions, an exclusive craft show planning company!

We have a bunch of BIG events already in the works for 2010, and we
wanted to let you all know.


We are still working on all new business deets such as website etc, so please bare with us!


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

HHD in the press, and Thank You!

First off, we would like to thank our awesome sponsors, kick-ass volunteers, our wonderful vendors, and all 1800+(!!) of our lovely guests for making our first event so fantastic. The entire committee was completely blown away by the response, and this is definitely not the last you're going to hear of the Handmade Ho Down!

We've also have a review in Ashcan magazine's online issue! Thanks again and keep in touch - we'll keep the blog alive and keep us updated on any and all craft-tastic news! Have a great holiday!

Love,
the Handmade Ho Down (Too Live) Crew!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

What you callin Ho Bag?

The Handmade Ho Down (Too Live) Crew is excited to present to you,  a new term in the Official Handmade Ho Down Dictionary of Cool Slang.

HO BAG.


a Ho Bag is a stylish, eco-friendly alternative to shopping bags, that let's everyone around you know, that you not only buy Bay Area local goods from your Bay Area local artists and craftisans, you also care about supporting DrawBridge- a Bay Area Local charity organization that helps underprivileged youth.

Ho Bags are also a great carrier for all your amazing finds at the Handmade Ho Down. not to mention a must have accessory while avoiding the maddening dis-spirited frenzy at your nearby shopping mall. (but if you happen to find yourself at one, these bags are so roomy you can fit lots of ripped off heads!) (ok that was gross!).


we came up with a list of ways you can use a Ho Bag:

  • perfect for carrying groceries
  • it avoids the use of wasteful plastic bags
  • how could you look any cuter?
  • great for storing knitting projects
  • one-upping forever 21, as they don't have the Handmade Ho Down Ho Bag design on any of their bags
  • sneaking popcorn, snacks, and beer into the movie theater
  • picnics!
  • diaper bag
  • a sweet and charitable way to present a gift
  • to carry wine bottles at your next holiday party
  • trips to the library
  • lug around heads you have chopped off while shopping at the mall instead of Handmade Ho Down
  • let everyone know that you were at the very first Handmade Ho Down!
  • cat/small dog carrier
  • its an old tradition to have a "carry all" dating back the 17th century
  • put over your head when running into your ex!
  • collect pine cones on walks outside
  • frame it and hang on the wall 
  • use to hide behind when the scary parts come on tv
  • when in a crowd, you can use a ho bag to wave at your peeps so they know where you are!
  • A Ho Bag is a retro comeback from the stylish fashion of wearing a "tote" while shopping in the 40's
  • buying one means you have contributed to DrawBridge, who bring art awareness to thousands of children in the Bay Area who deserve to see the beauty in their lives, despite their situations

these Ho Bags are exclusive to the Handmade Ho Down 2009 event, happening TOMORROW, December 3rd at 1015 Folsom St. San Francisco.


Ho Bags are $5 each, and proceeds benefit DrawBridge. how can you resist? sign me up for 6.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Drawbridge Raffle

There are many amazing things about the Handmade Ho Down show (photo booth, DJ's, live art, booze, amazing vendors) but one of my favorites is the charity Raffle benefiting Drawbridge (read more here). Thanks to the generous donations of vendors and some of our sponsors (Brainwash and Magnolia Photo Booth to be exact) we have some pretty kick ass items ranging from jewelry to gift certificates to undies (yep underwear). Raffle tickets will be 1 for $2, 3 for $5, 6 for $10 for all items except, the photo booth, which will be 1 ticket for $5 and 5 tickets for $20.

So make sure to check out a few of the items below so you can scope out what you really want and don't forget to check out the list of vendors who have donated items. Thank you!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Picture Yourself Inside the MAGNOLIA PHOTO BOOTH!

Just when we thought this event couldn't get any cooler, Magnolia Photo Booth jumps in and pumps it up another notch!
The Magnolia Photo Booth Co. combines the classic privacy and spontaneity of the photo booth with the latest in professional digital studio photography to make sure the fun comes fast and the memories last.

So, what can we expect from the MAGBOOTH at the Handmade Ho Down?
Not only will there be an attendant who will bring along a variety of props and accessories (I am so being a pirate!); but we'll also be able to get in the booth as many times as we want and take home hundreds of photos that print in under 15 seconds a pop!
Everyone will also be able to view the event photos, order re-prints, or download files to make their own prints on the magnolia website!

Use of the photo booth are entirely complimentary, but there will be a tip jar for all to show your appreciation. Portions of Magnolia Photo Booth will go towards DrawBridge, so be sure to tip your Photo Booth attendant!
What's more, Magnolia has really stepped up by donating a $1000 gift certificate for our charity raffle to go towards a MAGBOOTH for your own event! Wow, Magnolia has proven they love our community and we LOVE Magnolia!

So, I guess the only question we have left is, "How many Handmade Ho Down crew members can we fit into a MAGBOOTH?"