Cathe Holden’s Inspired Barn | Creative Lifestyle

Store Supply Warehouse Review & Giveaway

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by Cathe Holden

If you’re a regular follower of my blog then there’s a pretty good chance that you’re a creative, crafty type. There’s also a pretty good chance that you sell your handmade or vintage goods. So I was really excited for the opportunity to work with Store Supply Warehouse and share their vast inventory of great supplies priced just right for smaller shops and independent sellers. They stock over 2300 popular retail fixtures and store supplies, including shipping supplies! The products I chose to review from their site that they sent to me were the 12 Insert Jewelry Tray Carrying Case and Plastic Stackable Trays & Inserts. I thought they would be perfect for organizing all my jewelry supplies, tools, beads, bits and bobbles. However, the week before my planned trip to Utah for SPARK, I was asked by the producer of Studio5 in Salt Lake City to come and do a craft segment. So I packed up the Carrying Case, trays & inserts and filled them with all the prize ribbons and jewelry pieces I was going to take. The case slid perfectly over the handle of my rolling computer case and fit easily into the overhead compartment above my seat on the plane. All my pieces arrived in excellent condition to the set, as shown here in the studio’s prop room.You don’t have to be a seller to appreciate shopping with Store Supply Warehouse , they have so many products that you can use in your own home or studio! But if you do sell your goods, you’re going to be thrilled to now find so many of your supplies on one site! And shipped FAST! In fact they guarantee same day shipping. And check out the Store Supply Blog for some great merchandising tips, ideas for gift packaging, even ideas for using their products for fabulous vintage-style remakes! Be sure to see their store owner spotlight series!

I made a collage of some items I like from their site. Just a small sampling of the larger line of products they offer including specialty items from their Boutique Supplies. All products shown in the image below, some even in quantity, can be purchased for under $100.

And speaking of $100…

THE GIVEAWAY: Store Supply Warehouse is sponsoring $100 in STORE CREDIT to TWO lucky JSIM readers!

TO ENTER: Go to StoreSupply.com and have a good look around. Come back and tell me in the comments of this post what you would order!

ENTRY TO GIVEAWAY CLOSES SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 at NOON (PST).ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT GIVEAWAY INFORMATION: The spending allowance of $100 includes the shipping. So, if the contest winner orders $70 worth of product and shipping costs $30, the allowance will be spent. The entire dollar amount must be used on one order only. No credits will be given. If the customer spends more than $100, he or she is responsible for additional money owed. The order will not be shipped until the difference is paid. This giveaway is offered in the Continental US only.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

#41 – Jeanne Elmer and #123 – Barbara

193 Comments | Posted in Giveaway, Uncategorized |

SPARK 2011 Photo Recap

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by Cathe Holden

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: SPARK was the most fabulous event I’ve ever attended. If you went, you know exactly what I mean. If you didn’t, please bear with me while I make you crazy with all the delicious images and recap of my experience. SPARK is the brainchild of some of the most talented and generous souls in the creative business. It’s an event featuring craft classes, fellowship, entertainment, inspiration and so much more. I met so many amazing women, each with their own creative story and reason for going to SPARK. I was invited to teach a jewelry class and loved every single second of it. Naturally, I spent more time playing than taking photos, but here’s some of the ones I did manage to snap!

SPARK is held in Lindon, Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City. Each morning we arrived early enough to enjoy a gorgeous sunrise cutting through the mountains.

The venue was Noah’s. 4-stories of absolute perfection. This year’s SPARK decor theme was Granny Chic. Yarn, granny squares, doilies. How cute is that?!The main room was SPECTACULAR!Every attendee was welcomed with a gorgeous memory box and journal sponsored by Paper Coterie and designed by the ridiculously talented Rhonna Farrer, who by the way, I’ve grown to completely adore. (Every 4’10” of her.) We had some great laughs! She is spark behind all the graphics of SPARK!We each also received a sweet little SPARK goodie bag and name badge! There were lots of other sponsored product swag given to us throughout the event. We went home with loads of freebies!There were two rooms that hosted the Market, filled with beautiful handmade items and vintage goods.I bought myself a stunning horseshoe necklace from April Meeker’s Second Sister Designs: Janie Jackaroo Jewelry Collection.April Meeker and Margie Romney Aslett were our main hosts and together with the hard work of so many other dedicated women gave us a meaningful weekend to remember forever.I’m convinced that Margie is the funniest woman I have ever met in my life. She had every one of us in stitches most of the time just being Margie. On one to two hours of sleep. Now that’s talent.

My good friends at ScrapBox were so generous to sponsor the giveaway of one of their EZ View Desks. Jamie Soucy’s name was drawn for the prize. Could you ask for a more enthusiastic winner? Oh my gosh I love this photo!My classes went really well. I love that every single attendee was able to take all of the classes offered and never had to choose between any. I’m still new to teaching, but I think I’m pretty much hooked.I loved seeing everyone’s version of their own wire bird nests.The teachers were given the sweetest gifts from the girls who traveled all the way from Japan to attend SPARK.It was so great getting to know the sweet and talented women from DCWV! We were treated to keynote speaker and folk singer Mindy Gledhill. She was fabulous. Her latest release Anchor had me in tears with appreciation for my wonderful husband. What an important and beautiful song. On our last night we were entertained by indie artist Sarah Sample. She cracked me up and blew my mind with her talent.Did I mention the food? Well, lunch and dinner were awesome. But hold onto your hat when you check out the dessert spread! Nuff said?

Thank you Margie. Thank you April. Thank you every single person that worked so hard for months and months, hours and hours to make each and every one of us feel SO special and so pampered by your generosity, time and talents. It was an event to remember forever.

19 Comments | Posted in SPARK the Event, Uncategorized |

Studio5 Segment: Vintage Prize Ribbon Repurposed & Xyron Giveaway

Thursday, October 20, 2011 by Cathe Holden

Today I was the guest of Studio5 in Salt Lake City. My first TV experience. What fun and kind hosts, Darin & Amy. I’m still walking on air. It’s a bit hard to see myself on camera but I can see how one could get really used to working in front of one. You can click on either image to watch the craft segment. Just as they appear to go to commercial the clip will take you right back to a short interview with me.I’m amazed at all the people and work that goes into putting a one hour show like this together. I am so grateful to have been contacted by and finally meet producer Stephanie Bryson, not only did she make the whole experience fun and stress-free, but she made me feel like a superstar. Thank you Stephanie. Here are a few shots of the pieces I shared and a couple that never made it into the frame but were hanging on dress forms nearby.Vintage Brooches and buttons (above) and Bling from Michael’s (below).Note: adding your own extra ribbon pieces (in pink above) helps hide any small stains on the vintage ribbon rosettes.

And if you were watching and thinking, what’s up with her bow tie? Time was a bit too tight for a chance to show how to repurpose the printed (foil-stamped) streamers left over from the prize ribbons…and fold them into unique bows, which I did and pinned with a little brooch.

THE GIVEAWAY! If you watched the craft segment, you can see the Xyron 5″ Create a Sticker in action. Xyron is giving away the same machine to two lucky JSIM readers! TO ENTER: Leave a nice comment on this post and then go “Like” Xyron on Facebook. ENTRY DEADLINE is Monday, October 24 at noon (PST).