Featured Sponsor - Metropolitan Arts Council

If you've been to many art events in Greenville, then you've probably seen the Metropolitan Arts Council logo. MAC is a local organization whose mission is to support every aspect of the art movement in Greenville. Over the past few years, they have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to advance the visual arts in our area. Indie Craft Parade is especially appreciative of MAC--not only for their generous support of all our city's art endeavors but also for their partnership with Indie Craft Parade this year.

MAC's vision from their website:

MAC’s vision is a vision for the community, and MAC will be Greenville County’s trusted and visionary champion of the arts. Our role is to gather support from the community and provide it to member arts organizations - with the outcome being a nationally recognized arts environment enjoyed and patronized by an ever-growing regional audience.

Their vision for Greenville County is quite inspiring, and we can't thank them enough for everything they've done for our community.

Photobooth Galleries

The free photobooth at Indie Craft Parade is always a hit, and this year was no exception. With fun props like mustaches, elephants, flags, and chalkboards, everyone seemed to have a blast in front of the camera. We're so thankful for our generous sponsor, Oh Snap Photobooth, for donating this awesome service! The photobooth galleries are now online, and you can browse them here:

Friday, September 9Saturday, September 10Sunday, September 11

Here's a few of our favorite photo strips!

The Indie Craft Parade Booth

Here's a few shots of the Indie Craft Parade Booth! We had our fabulous merchandise, free temporary tattoos, sign-up sheets for volunteering, participating, or sponsoring next year, and free felt flags for the kiddos.

Photo by Peter Crane

If you missed out on picking up some sweet ICP merchandise, you can get it over at our online store for a few more days. We'll be closing up shop Sunday, September 18, so don't delay! All orders will receive a free set of our temporary tattoos.

These awesome people made the cool stuff you see above:- Plush Elephants (Hugo, our mascot) made by Three Bad Seeds- T-shirts & tote bags were designed by Cory Godbey- T-shirts & tote bags were printed by Dapper Ink- Notecards were designed by Elizabeth Ramos- Tattoos were designed by Cory Godbey and Elizabeth Ramos

Indie Craft Merchandise

Photo by Heidi Heilbrunn, The Greenville News

We had so much interest in the goods at our Indie Craft Parade booth that we've set up a (very) temporary online store for a few of the most popular products. Since we sold out of the red Indie Craft Parade shirts on day two, we'll be printing more for those who missed them. The two Indie Craft Parade tees pictured above and our Buy Handmade totebag will be available to order online, but just until next Sunday, September 18th!

Note: If you pre-ordered your shirt at Indie Craft Parade, you don't need to submit another order. You should have already received an email from us detailing the completion of your order.

Thank You from Indie Craft Parade!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the 2nd Annual Indie Craft Parade this past weekend. We had so much fun, and the event was absolutely amazing! We're working on getting all our pictures in order, so we'll be sharing those soon and recapping the event. In the meantime, if you have any photos from Indie Craft Parade and are willing to share them, please add them to our Flickr pool. We want to see all your pictures too!

Because we know you're all wondering, here are a few stats from this weekend: We had 5,000 wonderful attendees, 74 fabulous exhibitors, 32 amazing volunteers, 10 talented musical groups, 7 scrumptious food vendors, and 2 exhausted but happy organizers.

Thank you all again for an incredibly successful festival! We're so grateful for your support. We can't wait for next year!

Exhibitors setting up their booths before the event.

The 2nd Annual Indie Craft Parade is Here!

Just wanting to remind everyone that Indie Craft Parade starts tonight with our VIP Gala. We still have a few tickets left, so don't let this opportunity slip by. The food, music, and giveaways are going to be amazing! Buy your tickets here.

If you can't make it tonight, don't forget the festival is going on all weekend. Admission on Saturday from 9 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM is FREE and completely open to the public.

We can't wait for you to meet all of our vendors. We've given you a sneak peek of just a few artists' work, and believe us--that's just the beginning. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

2011 Indie Craft Parade Musicians

We feel that live music is an essential part of the Indie Craft Parade experience. Last year, many of the musicians that played at Indie Craft Parade were new to us, but we came away from the weekend with a whole set of new favorite bands! This year, we have a few returning musicians, but with an extra event day to fill, we've also got some great new music to introduce you to as well. Thanks to all the great recommendations we received, we're pretty sure you'll find a few new favorites of your own this year.

The schedule of music for this year's Indie Craft Parade is below.

The Bent Strings

Friday's VIP Night 6pm-9pm: The Bent Strings

Esther Grace Ellis

Saturday 9am-11am: Lindsay Morelli 11am-1pm: The Ragged Orchids 1pm-3pm: Esther Grace Ellis 3pm-5pm: Jentry Rose 5pm-7pm: Corey Pelton

War Jacket

Sunday 11am-1pm: B Natural Jazz 1pm-3pm: War Jacket & Joel Madison Blount 3pm-5pm: Jay Albright

Many of these musicians will also be bringing CDs to sell at our Indie Craft Parade booth, so if you like they way they sound, you can take it home with you!

What to expect at Indie Craft Parade

You might be wondering what you as an attendee can expect at Indie Craft Parade, so hopefully this post will answer your questions!

Who is this festival intended for? The whole community! Indie Craft Parade is for anyone interested in purchasing handcrafted goods. Indie Craft Parade will feature the best handmade art in the Southeast, featuring 74 independent artisans. We invite the public to attend this festival and enjoy high quality crafts, local food, live music, and getting to know the artists in their community.

When is the 2011 Indie Craft Parade? This coming weekend, September 9-11. The VIP Gala is Friday night from 6 - 9 pm and is for ticket holders only (see details here).  The rest of the festival is free admission, and is open Saturday from 9 am-7pm, and Sunday from 11 am-5 pm.

Where is the festival being held? Indie Craft Parade is held indoors at the historic Huguenot Mill in downtown Greenville, SC. The mill is located at 101 W. Broad Street, next to the Peace Center. The venue is handicapped accessible. There is street parking available, and several parking garages with easy walking distance.

Is this event family-friendly? Absolutely! Saturday and Sunday are both free admission, so bring the whole gang. If you've got small children, we suggest you leave your stroller at home if possible. The aisles are a bit narrow, and can make maneuvering a stroller a little difficult. The only time alcohol will be served is at the VIP Gala, and attendees must be 21 years or older to partake.

What type of goods can I expect to see? At Indie Craft Parade, you'll find the best handcrafted goods in a variety of categories, everything from paintings to children's toys, paper goods to jewelry, ceramic mugs to artisanal chocolate. You can get a sneak preview of some of the work by checking out our Etsy treasury lists, like the one pictured above. We love seeing what the vendors have made, and had a little fun by making some color-coordinated lists. Check them out here: Blue,Green,Yellow,Pink,Red,Purple,Black & White.

Will credit cards be accepted? Probably not. This is primarily a cash event. Some vendors may have the ability to accept credit cards or checks, however you should be prepared to pay cash for most of the items you purchase. There is an ATM on site in case you forget your cash.

Will I have to wait in line? Maybe. We've expanded our hours and added an extra day to better accommodate the crowds, but depending on the turnout, you may have to wait in line before you enter. Obviously, our goal is to get everyone in as soon as possible, but we do have to respect the venue's fire code. If there is a line, we'll do our best to keep it moving quickly, and aim to have everyone in within about 15 minutes. If you'd like to avoid the line, you should attend our VIP Gala!

Is there food and drink on site? Yes! We're delighted to have the offerings of several local establishments available to our attendees. You can purchase items from FiggyWhigs Cupcakes, O CHA Tea Bar,The Bavarian Pretzel Factory, and Fresh Tamales on Saturday and Sunday. Our VIP Gala guests will receive complimentary food and drink from The Community Tap,Coffee & Crema, and Ribault St. Catering.

If you have any questions, please check out our FAQs. Or, leave a comment below and we'll reply!

Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to commenter #31, Kathy M! You are the lucky winner of the 2 VIP Gala tickets, as chosen by random.org. We've just emailed you the tickets, so please let us know if for some reason they haven't come through. Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway. If you didn't win, why don't you go ahead and get yourself a ticket or 2? You can purchase them right here. There's not too many tickets left, so don't wait too long or they may be sold out. (In the event that we're not sold out by the time the Gala opens, we'll sell any remaining tickets at the door.) Attending the VIP Gala not only gets you an amazing evening filled with fabulous handmade goods, free food and drink, live music, artist demonstrations, and giveaways, but you're also able to to support the arts community and the mission of Indie Craft Parade.

If you're not able to attend the Gala, please definitely join us on Saturday or Sunday. Both days are free admission, so bring the the whole family! We will be open on Saturday, September 10 from 9 am - 7 pm, and on Sunday, September 11 from 11 am - 5 pm. Stay tuned later today for a post detailing what attendees can expect at this year's Indie Craft Parade!

Getting Ready for Indie Craft Parade: What Exhibitors Should Expect

It's hard to believe that Indie Craft Parade is only 1 week away! We're so excited about our vendors coming together: seeing old friends, making new ones, and finding out all the fabulous goods that everyone has been working on.

In today's post, we've put together a few details that our exhibitors should be aware of. Many of you are exhibiting for the first time at Indie Craft Parade and a number of you for the first time ever. Craft fairs are an awesome way to build your business, but coming prepared is really the best way to enjoy your experience.

Paige of Lightnest at the 2010 Indie Craft Parade.

The Crowds The biggest unexpected factor we encountered last year was the crowds. This means bring more items to sell than you think you need. Many of our vendors last year sold out or came close, and with an extra day this year, this seems even more likely. The Friday night gala will have a quiet, relaxed atmosphere where you can get to know the attendees and talk to them about your craft. However, we're prepared to be slammed Saturday and Sunday. Come with a backup plan for taking custom orders. Also, bring plenty of business cards that direct people to your online shop in case you run out of anything.

Volunteers will be making their way around each room to relieve you for 30 minutes at a time. Feel free to use this break to do some shopping, meet other artists, eat a meal, or just sit down!

The Music There will be live music playing throughout the event. Depending on where your booth is in relation to the musicians, it may or may not be loud. We'll do our best to keep it at a comfortable level, but please let us know if it's causing problems for communicating with customers at your booth.

The Perks Each artist will receive a goody bag when you check in. We're filling these with great items (i.e., no junky fliers) for your weekend in Greenville. This includes basic like bottled water and aspirin, as well as some coupons and discounts for local businesses, such as a $25 gift certificate to be used at a few of our favorite restaurants!

While we can't provide every meal for you, we do have food vendors on site that you can conveniently purchase food from. Each of them will be giving you a free voucher (found in your goody bag) for something at their booth. It might also be a good idea to pack snacks in case you're unable to break away from your booth.

We will also have a special meet and greet time for artists only before the doors open Friday night. We know the weekend will fly by, but you'll definitely want to make time to meet other artists while you're here!

If you're a craft show veteran and have any tips to add, please comment below!

Giveaway: VIP Gala Tickets!!

You've heard so many great things about the Indie Craft Parade VIP Gala, and now you have a chance to win two tickets! This is an opportunity you don't want to miss.

The VIP Gala is your best chance to get to know the artists and get first dibs on their work. With Indie Craft Parade being such a heavily attended event, the Gala allows you to avoid the crowds of Saturday and Sunday. Not to mention the other great perks for attending Friday night: free food and drinks from some of our favorite local establishments and a host of fabulous giveaways. Food will be provided by Ribault Street Catering, drinks from Community Tap, and a coffee bar by Coffee and Crema. This is also the night to win giveaways — baskets of handmade goods straight from our vendors' booths. We'll also have live music from The Bent Strings that night, so come and enjoy it.

The VIP Gala will be held on Friday, September 9 from 6 to 9 pm at the Huguenot Mill in downtown Greenville, SC. This ticketed event kicks off the festival weekend, and helps support our artists and the mission of Indie Craft Parade. Check out the full details on our website!

So, how do you get these 2 free tickets? Simply leave a comment on this post, and you'll be entered to win! The winner will be announced a week from today, on Monday, September 5.

Don't want to take your chances? You can purchase VIP Gala tickets here and be guaranteed a place at the party!

This giveaway is now closed.

Featured Sponsor: Comfort Inn of Downtown Greenville

For those of you coming to Indie Craft Parade from out of town and needing a place to stay, we want to tell you about our preferred hotel. Comfort Inn of Downtown Greenville has donated generously to our event this year and are welcoming vendors and attendees alike to stay with them. Besides their close proximity to our event--just a few minutes by car--their accommodations are comfortable, their staff is friendly, and their rates are affordable. Take the stress out of finding lodging and give them a call! For more information or to book a room with Comfort Inn Downtown, call (864) 283-0370.

Announcing the VIP Gala

On Monday August 1 you'll have a chance to snatch up a ticket for our highly anticipated VIP Gala. On Friday night, September 9, we're kicking off Indie Craft Parade with an exclusive evening of relaxed shopping, live music, and complimentary food and drink. At this event, ticket holders will get a preview of all the crafty goodness available this year--no crowded aisles, no waiting in line, and first dibs on artist work. If these perks weren't enough, Friday night is when we're hosting the Indie Craft Parade giveaway. Last year, our artists were very generous in contributing to our giveaway baskets--each worth over $75. Attendees will also have the opportunity to talk with the artists personally and watch live demonstrations by some of our crafters.

Tickets for this event are only $25, and they go on sale August 1! Check out the VIP page of our website for the rest of the details. We expect these tickets to go extremely fast, so be sure to stop by our website on Monday.

Hope to see you there!

Call for Musicians

Last year Indie Craft Parade had the pleasure of hosting a number of local bands to entertain guests as they shopped at our festival. This was a such a successful part of the event, and we know we absolutely must have it again! As we did last time, we're opening up this opportunity to musicians who would like to join the fun of the indie art scene. Good music helps complete the atmosphere of Indie Craft Parade, and we're on the hunt to find some new performers.

If you think your musical group would be a good fit for Indie Craft Parade (or if you know of a good band or solo artist), please contact us at info@indiecraftparade, or leave a comment on this post.  Tell us a little about yourself and attach a link to a clip of your music. We're interested to see what you have to offer! Spaces are limited, and will be allocated at the discretion of our directors.

Check out last year's awesome musicians in this post from 17 Dove Street.

It's Official! 2011 Participants Announced

Now that all of our accepted exhibitors are confirmed, we're so excited that we can finally share who's going to be participating in Indie Craft Parade this September! Our 2011 participants are a fantastic group with such varied goods, everything from letter-pressed paper goods to hand-spun yarn. Click here to see the exhibitor list and start exploring their individual websites. Stay tuned! Throughout the summer we'll be featuring a handful of these artists on the blog. You'll see a sampling of their work and hear a little more about them...just enough to get you excited about buying out their booths.

Thanks again to our jury for choosing such a fabulous lot!

Featured Sponsor: Oh Snap!

Another reason to come to Indie Craft Parade this year--to join in on the fun provided by Oh Snap! Photobooth. They're another of our fabulous sponsors for the event, and we're so happy to have them back. Last year people loved using props and gathering friends to create the silliest and most creative pictures that captured the spirit of Indie Craft Parade.  We can't wait for all the fun pictures that will come out this year. The people from Oh Snap! were so great to work with. If you have an event such as a wedding or other party coming up, you should totally check them out here. You'll be so glad you did.

A couple shots from the 2010 Indie Craft Parade.

Indie Craft Parade Participants Chosen!!

The wait is over! The participants for Indie Craft Parade have been chosen! This past Saturday our jury reviewed nearly 350 applications for Indie Craft Parade. After many hours of careful discussion, they finalized the list of vendors accepted to represent their work this September. Our jury is a group of 5 professional artists with expertise in many genres, and we're very happy to hand over this difficult task to them. They juried each category separately and judged individual applications on how well they matched the vision of Indie Craft Parade, as well as their  originality, quality, uniqueness, and innovation. All applications were reviewed anonymously to avoid any bias. Each jury member viewed an applicant's description of their work, along with the 4 photos they submitted. They briefly discussed the merits of the application, and then voted whether or not it should be accepted. The jurying is a tedious process, but this thoroughness is essential for selecting just the right mix of exhibitors.

So what happens next? Today we're sending out email notifications to all of our applicants. If you haven't received yours yet, please be patient. We're writing individual emails, not a mass mailing, so it takes several hours. When applicable, we're including comments from the jury as to why a work was not accepted or how to refine work that was. The official list of accepted exhibitors will be posted on our website once they've all confirmed their reservations.

To be honest, this day is the hardest for us at Indie Craft Parade. We hate writing rejection letters! But we only have room for 70-80 vendors, and with nearly 350 applicants, there simply is not room for everyone. Many of our applicants showed great skill in their work, but they were not the best fit for our festival or we just had too many similar entries in some categories. Indie Craft Parade represents all the genres of art and craft--so we can't limit ourselves to showing just fine art or just jewelry, etc. So please, if you were not accepted for this year's event, don't let that discourage you from entering again. Keep working to make your goods better and more original, and we'd love to see your entry next year!

One other change to expect this year: Most of our applicants requested full-sized booths. Unfortunately, we can't accommodate that many full booths without significantly reducing the number of exhibitors represented. So, several applicants were asked to downsize their booths in an effort to fit all of the accepted artists--something we didn't have to do last year.

Thank you again to everyone who applied! Your work is vital to the Greenville and greater Southeast art community, and we're so grateful that you chose to share it with us.

Indie Craft Parade Deadline

Please don't forget!!

The application deadline for Indie Craft Parade is tomorrow night at midnight! You're running out of time to show us your fabulous art or crafts. We've made the application process super easy, so please don't delay any longer.

Late applications will not be accepted. Also, unfinished applications will not be accepted, so if you have yet to finish your application or upload your photos, please do so immediately!

2010 Overview

In case you're looking for a quick overview of last year's event, this will help! Using Daytum, a beautiful data collection tool, we created a few (only somewhat nerdy) graphs to help us visualize several statistics from last year.

At a glance, you can see how people heard about our 2010 event, and the number of applications we received in each category. My personal favorite graph shows how much experience our vendors had before participating in Indie Craft Parade. You can visit our Daytum page here to see that one and more!

Don't Forget! Craft Party Tomorrow Night!

Crafty Gathering Found on 100 Layer Cake

Friends of Etsy and Indie Craft Parade are gathering at Dapper Ink tomorrow night for an evening of making crafty goodies. Please join us --even if you don't have a craft to work on. We're bringing some inspirational craft books as well as some card making/collaging supplies to share. RSVP here!

Hope to see you there!

7-10 PM; 207 Wade Hampton Blvd., Greenville, SC 29609; 864-551-3115