Announcing the Last Minute Christmas Extravaganza

WOW - I can't believe it is time to be thinking about Christmas already... Where has 2011 gone??? So being that we only have a tiny bit over 2 months til Christmas, Artistic Icing is planning a last minute Christmas Shopping event at my sister's new, hip, fun salon - The Red Chair Salon - in Jonesborough, TN. The date is set for Thursday, Dec. 15th, 2011 from 6:30pm-9pm. There will be a giveaway for free jewelry, gift certificates, and more! We will also have light snacks and beverages. Since I am not planning on doing a local event between now and Christmas this will give all of my local followers a chance to grab up some great last minute items for gifts and stocking stuffers! I will also have Gift Certificates available for purchase for those who have no idea what to buy that special someone. Put this date in your calendar NOW! We may have other vendors take part in this as well. More info on that to come! Here is a link to the Facebook Event for this - I will post updates there as well! I hope to see you there!

Icing Parties

Want to get FREE jewelry from Artistic Icing? Yes I said FREE! Why not host your very own "Icing Party" ... they are ALOT of fun and a great way for you to get all of the things on your wishlist! I am currently booking parties on weekdays thru the 2nd of December. You can view my calendar on my Facebook Fan page by clicking ***HERE*** - any date that is blank is OPEN , I am filling up dates FAST - contact me ASAP to secure your date.

So - What is an "Icing Party" you ask?

• Basically you pick your date
• pick your location {your home, office, workplace, church, etc}
• invite your family and friends
• I bring the Icing and set up - anything I have pre-made is available for purchase and guests can take home immediately - personalized orders can be placed

If your total sales are $200 or more - you get 20% of the show's total sales in FREE jewelry - you can choose premade items, personalized items, or a mix of both! You can get ALOT of stuff for YOU as well as gifts for family members for FREE!!!! Just for allowing me into your home or workplace to offer my products for sale to other people who love fun, unique jewelry.

Message me today at artisticicing@yahoo.com to get on my calendar!

Ordering - Shipping and Payment INFO

1. *ORDERING INFO* - You may order via Etsy but I do not have all of my inventory listed there - also items may be a dollar or so higher on etsy, to cover my seller fees. The other option for ordering is to email your order to me at artisticicing@yahoo.com - I normally try to answer these emails within 1 - 2 business days, keep in mind I do have 4 children and on occasion Life Happens and I may be a little later replying, I am not ignoring you. Sometimes your email finds it's way into my Spam folder - not by choice - by yahoo ... but I find them and do reply.
2. *PAYMENT INFO* - ALL orders must be pre-paid before any personalization or general completion takes place. I take many forms of payment, I strongly recommend paypal (it is a FREE service for you to safely send money to anyone online - all you have to do is sign up at www.paypal.com and give me your registered email address with them - I will send you an invoice , you log in, pay, and we are good. You can also send money without an invoice to me - my paypal email address is artisticicing@yahoo.com -- ANOTHER fast and simple way to pay is to call me with your Credit Card info, I send the payment securely thru my iphone app - called Square - I accept all major cards, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover - you will get an instant receipt via text message OR email, you choose. I do charge $1.50 to process Credit Card payments, as I do have fees incurred for using this method. I also take local checks, and money orders by mail, I will email you my address if you choose to do that. Checks MUST CLEAR your bank BEFORE work is started. I do not recommend sending Cash in the mail.
3. *ORDER COMPLETION* - most personalized orders take me anywhere from 3-5 days to complete, if it is an item that requires glaze applied (i.e.- photo pendants, bracelets, etc) - weather can be a factor, as I do not mix my glaze on rainy days - too much moisture in the air. However once I rcv your photos , personalization info - I will start working on it as soon as possible, I work on orders in the order that the payments are received. 4.*SHIPPING INFO* - I do not have a store, and my schedule is hectic - thus I ship ALL orders via USPS 1st Class MAIL, there is NO TRACKING NUMBER, it is the most cost effective way for me to mail and keep the shipping price LOW - I normally charge $2 for a 1-3 item purchase, more items will add $0.50 per item ... this rate may change at any time. Once your order is completed I will ship it out to you within the 2 days - Unless there are unforseen circumstances. I make every attempt to post on my Facebook fan page what orders are shipping out each shipping day. You may make arrangements to come to me if you choose not to have your item shipped but I can not make trips to other locations to meet up with you - not being mean by this but again I strive to keep my product prices LOW and traveling to meet up with people would cause me to have to raise my prices. I make as few trips to the cities as possible and do not have a set schedule that I go - I have random trips to pick up supplies or items for the kids and that is about it. I feel like the $2 shipping option saves not only me time and money but also you - as gas prices keep climbing. If you have any other questions or concerns - feel free to message me.

2000 fans Giveaway!

To-date I have 1735 fans on the Artistic Icing facebook page! Click here to visit Artistic Icing on Facebook! That is amazing to me, and I appreciate each and every one of you- I love meeting you at the festivals and events and hearing what you have to say! I was thinking last night - we need a giveaway - and not just some little giveaway - something BIG to celebrate upcoming 2000 fans. The Grand Prize winner will rcv a package of goodies valued at over $137 ... and there will be several other packages and gift certificates as well - for $365 worth of goodies to giveaway!

**update 10/21/11 - Holly Maycock of Chic {Handbags & More} has donated 3 Gift Certificates and 2 Accessory pkgs
**update - Heather Cole has generously donated some Thirty One giftcertificates for the giveaway as well!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Thirty One! Here is a link to both of her pages to check out as well! Heather's Facebook Group and to check out all of the awesome things that Thirty One has to offer in their latest online catalog - Heather's Thirty One Page

So here is the deal - as soon as I hit 2000 fans I will figure out the date of the actual giveaway! (Possibly 1 week after the 2000 fan mark - to allow all people a fair chance)

WAYS TO GAIN ENTRIES
* - Referring Friends --- (they can post on my wall that YOU referred them) - Gains 1 entry every time your name is posted by a different referral

* - Gain 1 extra entry for writing on the wall something that is on your wishlist or something that caught your eye (you can even comment on the photos for extra entries - up to 5)

* - Earn a BONUS 10 extra entries for writing a DETAILED review of merchandise you have purchased on my wall (key word here is detailed - as anyone can write "great items - I love my necklace, etc" -- I love to hear the details of WHY you love it or WHY the piece means something to you)

* - Gain 5 extra entries for commenting on this blog! 1 per person.

* - Gain 2 extra entries for "liking" Chic {Handbags & More} - go like the page then MAKE SURE YOU go to the 2000 Fans Giveaway link on my FB page to record it - to get your 2 extra entries

****DOUBLE THE ICING PACKAGE**** - to enter for it - LOCALS must "Like" the Crazy Cupcake page - come back to Artistic Icing and write on my wall that you liked the Crazy Cupcake - CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR Facebook Page ... if you already like them - just post that on my wall - 1 entry for this PER local person in the Tri-Cities area

2000 fans giveaway GRAND PRIZE winner will get the following : {Valued at $187}
1 - "Made to Order" Vintage Words Necklace with YOUR choice of a single word .... {$20 value}
3 - pre-made Scrabble Tile Pendants (your choice) .... {$16 value}
2 - pre-made Poker Chip Pendants (your choice) .... {$16 value}
1 - "Made to Order" Photo Ring OR Pendant (personalized with your photo) .... {$22 value}
2 - pre-made Soldered Glass Pendants (your choice) .... {$15 value}
1 - $25 gift certificate on any purchase from Artistic Icing
1 - $25 Thirty One gift certificate
1 - $50 Chic Handbags & More gift certificate

Vintage Chic Package: {Valued at $98}
1- pre-made Vintage Words Hairpins .... {$8 value}
1- pre-made Victorian Look Soldered Glass Pendant ... {$8 value}
1- Vintage Lace Cuff Bracelet ... {$22 value}
1- $10 Thirty One gift certificate
1 - $25 Chic Handbags & More gift certificate

Vintage Games Package: {Valued at $59}
1- pre-made Scrabble Tile Pendant .... {$6 value}
1 - pre-made Poker Chip Pendant .... {$9 value}
1- pre-made Domino Pendant ... {$9 value}
1 - $10 gift certificate on any purchase from Artistic Icing
1 - $10 Thirty One gift certificate
1 - $25 Chic Handbags & More gift certificate

Double the Icing Prize Package: {Valued at $46} ... (there will be 2 of these in the giveaway)
*these will be drawn from locals since the CC is a local business* -- only 1 entry per local
1- pre-made scrabble tile featuring a cupcake design
1- pre-made soldered glass pendant that says "I love cupcakes"
1- 6pack cupcakes from the Crazy Cupcake in Jonesborough
1- $10 gift certificate for Artistic Icing
1- $10 Thirty One gift certificate
1 - Accessory Pkg from Chic Handbags & More
Additional prizes:
there will be TEN - $5 Artistic Icing gift certificates
and TEN - $5 Thirty One Gift Certificates

Vintage Lace

Don't you just love the vintage look that is ever so popular right now? I know I do. I took some elements from the past, added some modern trends with the rolled fabric flowers and created these fantastic little cuff bracelets. I posted them on Facebook and they were an instant success, I plan on preparing more designs for sale during the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Booth Decor

In preparation for the upcoming festivals I have been working on some new decor. My most recent thing is a Mason Jar "Chandelier" that will serve double duty as it will illuminate the interior of my tent after dark at the festivals, then on 7-7-2012 it will be showcased at our wedding, which has a rustic, country theme. I am in love with this light, I even told Frankie that I would ALMOST tear down my current light fixture over my kitchen table and install the mason jar light. So here is a pic , we actually accomplished this in 2 evenings , I plan on hanging it, but that will have to wait until tomorrow night!

Here in the meantime are a few images, there are 13 total jars, 13 is our lucky number. Frankie and I met on a Friday the 13th.

The other thing I have been working on is a fabric flag bunting to hang on the outside of my tent, I had a laminated paper one but it got a little wet and started to mold. I found some very cute coordinating fabric at Hobby Lobby - made a large bunting and some small ones, I wanted more small ones so I returned to Hobby Lobby to find out the pattern I chose has been discontinued - GAH! Just my luck! Oh well - I was able to get a little more and will post pics of the smaller buntings soon. Until then - here is the Large "Artistic Icing" one!

It's almost Fall and that means one thing ... Festivals!

Fall is the beginning of a busy, busy time for Artistic Icing. I have been working my thumbprints off as I prepare for the upcoming season. I thought I would share a few links and dates of my upcoming events and shows.

First up is my sister's Brand New business, the Red Chair Salon's open house. Sept. 8th from 6pm-8pm. There will be other vendors and lots of fun. I am very proud of her and her accomplishments. She is a very awesome hairstylist who takes pride in her work and loves every minute of creating happy clients with kickin' current hairstyles. Visit her page on Facebook to find out more about - Red Chair Salon

Next is Sept. 16th-18th at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion - Downtown Bristol, TN/VA celebrates it's rich music heritage with this kickin venue. Off the BRRR page it states "Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion isn’t just a music festival. It’s an infectious, three-day music experience, bursting with creative passion, electricity, and soul. Every third weekend in September, State Street in historic Downtown Bristol, TN/VA is amped to the beat of Appalachia’s past, present, and future. It digs down deep into the roots of traditional Appalachian sound and lifts its branches to new heights–and it all happens in the heart of The Birthplace of Country Music." I am very excited to be a vendor for this event - it is my 1st time and it sounds like it is going to be a blast! For more info about this festival check out their site here ----> BRRR Official Site

Next - in between two huge festivals I have been invited to take part in the annual Bugs & Butterflies Kids Consignment Event. This event takes place in Gray, TN on Sept. 21st-24th from 9am-7pm daily. I will possibly be there off and on at times, but I will have a table set up and you will be able to purchase things even if I am not physically present! You are invited to come out and shop for some AWESOME deals on kids clothes as well! Here is a link to the Bugs & Butterflies Kids Consignment Event's Facebook Page

Lastly I am honored to be a vendor again this year in my hometown favorite - 34th Annual Unicoi County Apple Festival. This festival is held every year, the 1st FULL weekend in October, the dates this year are Oct. 7th-8th from 8am-8pm. The Apple Festival is one of the top events in the South, bringing in more than 100,000 people - filling the streets of Downtown Erwin. The premier two-day event offers something for everyone -- handmade crafts, antiques, entertainment, a large children’s area, a Blue Ridge Pottery show and sale, contests and a smorgasbord of food! For more info visit the Offical 2011 Apple Festival Page ----> Here

I have a few other events for Nov. and Dec. that I am considering as well. I will keep you posted on where I will be!