Upcoming Craft Shows: NC Out and About

The fall craft fair season is upon us, and The Nutmeg Collective is going to be out and about in full force!  If you are looking for something fun to do on a weekend afternoon, or a weekday evening, please stop by and say hi to our talented members!

September 19 - Bozrah Vintage Harvest Market: Hickster Tees

September 19-  Envisionfest - Bushnell Park: The Burnt Shop

September 19/20 - Arts and Crafts on Bedford - Stamford, CT: Doug Hockman Photography

September 19/20 - Simsbury Woman's Arts & Crafts Festival: Milo and Molly, RiverDog Prints, QueenVanna Creations, Lyric Hill Farm

 via

September 20 - Coventry Regional Farmers Market: Hickster Tees

September 20 - stART on the Street - Worcester, MA: Nutmeg Naturals

September 20 - Stonington Vineyards Fall Festival: The Burnt Shop

 via

September 24 - October 1 - The Big E - Connecticut Building: CottageWicks

September 25 - Andover Farmer's Market: The Burnt Shop

September 26 - Ellington Farmers Market: Hickster Tees

September 26 - Glastonbury Farmer's Market: The Burnt Shop

September 26 - New Britain Museum Pop Up Market: Pure Naked Soap

 via

Septmeber 26 - Love Local Market at Get Baked - Windsor, CT: Milo and Molly, Queenvanna Creations, Evelyn Pelati, The Leather Genie, MSD Design

September 26/27 - Bust Craftacular at World Maker Faire - NYC: Our Secret Treehouse

September 27 - Coventry Regional Farmers Market: Hickster Tees, The Burnt Shop

  via

September 29 - Market Night at Hello! Artisan Shop & Studio - Simsbury, CT: Milo and Molly, Queenvanna Creations, RiverDog Prints, Lyric Hill Farm, Melley Nelson Design, The Leather Genie, The Tiny Wren
October 2 - Bozrah Farmers Market: Pure Naked Soap

October 3 - Old Wethersfield Craft Fair: Doug Hockman Photography, Nutmeg Naturals, Milo and Molly, Queenvanna Creations, The Leather Genie, Persimmon Pearl, Lily Pad Prints, Everything Glitzy, Hickster Tees

October 3/4 - Jonathan Edwards Winery Harvest Festival - North Stonington, CT: Treefort Naturals

October 3/4 - Milford Food Truck Festival: The Burnt Shop

Local Love: The Blissful Teacher

 Learn about Beth and her family-run business, The Blissful Teacher.

The Blissful Teacher LLC is a family business that my hubby, daughter and I started two years ago.
My father owned a business, and I always looked up to him and his work ethics. I'm a teacher and also wanted to create a line of products geared to those in education.

The most popular in all of our stores is lavender. Customers are encouraged to choose our essential oil mists based on their individual needs. Someone with mood issues should choose wild orange, sinus sufferers should choose peppermint, etc.

Working full time and being a taxi driver for my daughter takes quite a bit of time, and there aren't enough hours in the day! With that said, it took us a full year to get into Whole Foods. Also, we can't restock or follow up with all of the gift shops we are in as regularly as we would like to.

We have met so many great and helpful people at craft fairs, where we started, and shops we are in now. We were a Martha Stewart nominee, and have been featured on What's Trending on Elvis Duran!  Also we have been featured in several educational articles.  We are setting up some CT fairs for the fall.

The Blissful Teacher

Beth Wrobel (860)622-1449

Email: Blissfulteacher@gmail.com

Visit them on Etsy, Facebook or Twitter!

*******

We love local businesses! 

Are you an independently-run Connecticut brick and mortar?

Get a feature by clicking here.

Know a shop that deserves a feature? Contact us at thenutmegcollective@gmail.com.

Wednesday Words

Find it: Sacco Studios

Lemon Basil Mayonnaise.

There is nothing quite like the bright, fragrant smell of basil.  Combine it with the freshness of lemon and you've got yourself an amazing condiment.


Lemon Basil Mayonnaise

2 cups mayonnaise
2 cups (packed) fresh basil leaves
Zest and juice of 2 lemons
1 tsp kosher salt
1-2 tsp. dried minced garlic
1/2-1tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and twist that goodness up for about 40 seconds.  Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Dip the following with reckless abandon: Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, blanched broccoli and cauliflower.  Slather on all the grilled things!  Try: asparagus, zucchini, red peppers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, chicken, swordfish, bluefish, clams, salmon, pork tenderloin.   Smear it on a nice fresh baguette and grill that baby up! Add a dollop to your favorite potato or pasta salad, use as a sandwich spread, or add a glob into homemade marinara.  This stuff is so bright, fresh and rich it makes everything better!

Enjoy!

Denise O'Reilly, owner of The BURNT Shop in Glastonbury, Ct. is creating usable art in the form of hand etched glass culinary bottles and woodburned housewares. She believes wholeheartedly that everything we use on a daily basis should be just as beautiful as it is functional. She sources the highest quality glass and wood pieces and adds her unique freehand designs using centuries old techniques. These pieces are transformed into heirloom quality works of art which she hopes will be passed down in families to future generations. She has a passion for all things green, reusing and repurposing 100% of incoming packaging. She encourages customers to bring her their existing pieces for her added touch...thus reducing that urge to purchase more "stuff" but rather making your own treasured items that much more special. 

Website | Facebook | Instagram

SEO for Etsy Part 1: Identifying Keywords

You have an amazing item, you set up your listing, you hit publish and then poof your item vanishes into the sea of other listings.

So how you do you get YOUR amazing item found by buyers? SEO!

Search Engine Optimization. You need to leave a bread crumb trail of keywords that will lead buyers towards your amazing item.

Step 1: Creating your keyword master list.

• Go to Etsy's search bar and start typing in the obvious and basic descriptions of your item. Etsy will now provide other variations of what you are searching. Write those down because these are words/terms that are being used to find similar items.

• Expand your search into those variations Etsy provided for you and a new set of options should open up. Write those down. Rinse and repeat.

• Now include descriptors in your search. Is your item "modern", a "houseware", "home and living". Think of the categories Etsy puts their collections in. Write those down.

• Lastly is your item included in a current trend or time of year? Is it ombre, color blocked or holiday? Add those items to your list.

At the end of this you should have a solid list of SEO keywords that you can now use to strengthen your item's visibility in an Etsy search.

Written by Alonda Baird-Juhasz, owner of Designer Dwellings, who believes in adding color to life. An avid DIYer, sparkle-loving, all things fabulous addict, her shop features bright and fun home decor accessories and gifts. When not in the shop you can find her interior decorating or visual styling events and photo shoots.

Nutmeg Collective Instagram: Start Talking Vintage

We have some great photos in our #nutmegcollective Instagram feed. 

 On a regular basis, we'll feature some of our favorite photos here!

vintage quilts in the morning! this one is listed up in the shop, link in bio #vintage #quilt #vintagequilt #vintagecotton

A photo posted by Start Talking Vintage (@starttalkingvintage) on Jul 5, 2015 at 6:20am PDT

Summer Vegetable and Bean Salad.

This is one of my favorite summer salads! It's refreshing on a hot day and is especially good using locally grown veggies.

You will need:
2 cups of washed and chopped romaine lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, washed and cut into large chunks
3 pickling cukes, washed and cut into large chunks
4 oz ball of buffalo mozzarella, cut into large chunks
1/2 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Olive oil to taste
Balsamic vinegar to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh herbs: recommend thyme, oregano, and rosemary

Combine the lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, cheese and beans in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and herbs, and toss to combine. Makes 2 large salads.

Enjoy! 

With a love of creating and decades of ultra-sensitive skin, Jennifer Knapp became curious how soap was made after receiving a handmade bar. Several classes and months of research later, Jennifer launched Nutmeg Naturals LLC, with a line of soaps catering to all skin types. Jennifer’s products include cold-process handmade soaps, laundry soaps and wool dryer balls. In 2014, Jennifer launched The Felt Haus, a place for her other felted projects. She is a native Nutmegger and lives in Haddam with her husband and daughter.

Website | Twitter | Facebook