Mark your calendar and save the date – GO WEST! Craft Fest is back for Spring 2012! Over 40 of Philly’s finest art and craft vendors will show their wares in Cedar Park, 50th & Baltimore, across from VIX Emporium. Jewelry, clothing, screen prints, home accents, fine art, toys, cards, accessories, soaps and more can all be found at the Fest.

We’ll also have live entertainment, like children’s music with Jay Sand of All Around This World and even a juggler! We’re working on more fun stuff too and will announce the details as they become available.

Vendors may apply now by emailing {gowestcraftfest@gmail.com} with details about themselves and their work. More details for prospective vendors can be found here.

Thanks for reading and happy Valentine’s Day!
All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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Our most heartfelt gratitude goes out to all of our supporters, customers and contributors who have made this holiday season, our fifth, the best by far. Sales from December 1-24 this year were better than last year by almost half again. We know this is due, in part, to increased exposure and publicity for the shop, as in the GO WEST! Craft Fest and GRID Magazine’s holiday Gift Guide. But mostly, it’s about word of mouth, friends telling friends about the lovely little shop that they have discovered, and generous gift-givers distributing boxes bearing VIX stickers. For this, we are very grateful, because that’s the best possible way to help small, local businesses thrive. That means not only our little spot on Baltimore Avenue, but also our suppliers, all independent artists and craftspeople striving to make a living (or at least some extra money) through their creative work. On their behalf as well as our own: THANK YOU!

Our resolution for 2012 is to (finally!) set up our online shop with a variety of our offerings, so we can spread the handmade goodness farther and wider than ever before. Right now we just have a few of our own creations up on Etsy, but we have just added our newest:

We will be open regular hours this week, with the exception of Saturday, December 31, when we will be open 11am – 3pm. The regular hours are again:

Tuesday & Wednesday 12-7
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 11-7
Sunday & Monday Closed.

In addition, we will be closed for vacation January 18-25. We will make every effort to get all of our consignors up to date for holiday sales before then. Some of you can look forward to a very prosperous New Year indeed!

We can’t wait to see what new work we’ll find in 2012 to replenish our recently diminished stock of handmade treasures. As long as our faithful customers keep finding good homes for them, it is our pleasure to keep bringing in new creations by current and new artists.

Thanks again for a wonderful 2011!

Happy Holidays from the BEST Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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On Christmas Eve-Eve (December 23), join VIX and the Independent Rock School (next door) for a swing dance party and last-minute holiday shopping! Cut a rug and jitterbug with The Last of the Red-Hot Lovers, led by IR instructor and Stinking Lizavetan Yanni Papadopoulos. It’s a free show with a full band, playing lively swing jazz to get your holiday hopping. There is no cover, and refreshments will be available for a modest donation. 6-9 pm.

As for VIX, which will be open till 9 for your last-minute gift needs, this Friday night will be the debut of a very special new creation. Friday will be the unveiling of our newest “West Philly” graphic, the fourth so far to celebrate our beloved home. Ever since the comment on this post on our blog in October 2009, the phrase “West Philly is the Best Philly” has been increasingly popping up into our awareness, so much so that we really wanted to make it our next graphic project. To bring it to life, we enlisted the help of local artist Justin Turkus. Justin, who is a tattoo artist as well as the author and illustrator of a lovely picture book “Earth is a Wonderful Place to Be” (also available at VIX), will be with us on Friday night to debut his new design. Handprinted notecards and stickers of the new image will be available as of Friday, and totes, t-shirts and hoodies will arrive in the new year.

We are so excited about this event, the conclusion to what has been a FANTASTIC holiday season. Thanks so much to everyone who has done some of their holiday shopping with us – it’s been the best year yet! We hope you can join us on Friday!

We will also be open December 24 from 11-4. Closed December 25 and 26.

Happy Holidays from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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Leave Black Friday to the malls and megastores. Tomorrow, November 26, is Small Business Saturday, when shoppers are encouraged to support their local small businesses! American Express users get a special credit on their account when they use the card at any of thousands of participating small businesses, including VIX. And all our customers tomorrow are invited to take advantage of our special deal: get a free “West Philly” tee or tote with a $100 purchase of lovingly handcrafted holiday gifts. Hope to see you tomorrow! VIX will open at 10 AM!

Shoppers can now stop by on Sundays from 12 to 5 between now and Christmas, starting this weekend. We’ll still have Mondays off, but Saturday hours are extended to 10-7, starting tomorrow.
Complete holiday hours:
Tues-Wed 12-7
Thurs-Fri 11-7
Sat 10-7
Sun 12-5
Regular hours will resume after Christmas.

Coveting a special treasure at VIX but don’t feel like taking the plunge for yourself? Let us put your name and favorite items on our Wish List! Reply to this email with “Wish List” in the subject and let us know your heart’s desires. Drop a hint to someone who’s shopping for you and we’ll clue them in to your most hoped-for holiday gift. If this idea takes off, we’ll keep it going year-round. Don’t be shy, sometimes all you have to do is ask!

GO WEST! Craft Fest’s Holiday show is December 3rd, 2011 at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street. Forty of Philadelphia’s most amazing artisans purvey their finest handmade wares– unique accoutrements, ornaments & jewelry, art originals & reproductions, cozy hand-stitched woolens, toys, soaps, candles– special holiday gifts for the ones you treasure most. Made locally and with love, presented with pride in West Philadelphia! See gowestcraftfest.blogspot.com for the entire list of crafty vendors and profiles of a few noteworthy ones. See you on the 3rd at the Rotunda!

Thanks for reading and we hope to see you soon!

All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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We regret to inform you that due to low registration, the tutu workshop that was scheduled for this Saturday has been canceled. It will, however, be offered again in 2012 as part of a “Midsumer Night’s Dream” workshop series that will include a magic wand and wings, for the young fairy princess in your life.

We have decided to hold off on the workshops until after the holidays, because it’s such a busy time for everyone. But in the new year, we will offer as many classes and workshops as we can! Details will be announced here (also on Facebook and Twitter) as soon as they become available.

Happy Halloween!
Emily, Sean and Nora

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Autumn Greetings!
Fall is an exciting time — unpredictable and full of change. It’s a new school year, sweaters and scarves come out (and Halloween costumes!) and squirrels stock up on nuts for the cold season ahead. VIX has been stocking up on goodies and scheduling some intriguing events to fill your Fall with fun.

First…

Next Saturday’s soiree celebrates prolific painter and longtime West Philly denizen TenBroeck. Her mystical images of animals and women, often repeated over and over again, are executed in an ultra-meticulous and unmistakable style.

From the artist’s statement:

“Artwork fills the void of things I would rather not speak of. Finish the work and let it speak for you. Painting well is the best ecstasy. Painting is an imaginary country where you get to reinvent the world. Colors speak to me. Patterns flash behind my eyes.”

Meet TenBroeck and see some of her new work, including hand-painted cards, prints and framed originals. Wine & cheese reception is Saturday, October 22, 6-9 pm at VIX. Live jazz standards will be provided by Last of the Red-Hot Lovers, a.k.a. Yanni Papadopoulos and Matt Hollenberg. Artwork will be priced to sell. We hope you can join us!

In our next issue, find some of our newest items, handpicked for your pleasure!
Happy Fall from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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If it’s not raining too badly, (haven’t we had enough, really?) GO WEST! Craft Fest is happening tomorrow, 12-5 in Cedar Park, 50th & Baltimore. (Rain date Sunday. ) Philly’s finest artisans show off their handmade jewelry, art, toys, paper goods, clothing, accessories, soaps, ceramics, home wares and more. Check out new works by our favorite local artists and some fresh talent too!

Plus live music and special children’s activities–
Mellow, folksy Loren Gildar at 1pm
Pamela Draper plays classic children’s favorites at 2
Sour Mash twangs it up at 3.
FUN games and surprises for kids all day!

Rain or shine, you can “Get Pretty with Gritty City”. VIX is hosting a day of beauty with Sarah Holmes of Gritty City Beauty Co. Her luscious line includes skin-rejuvenating tonics, rich moisturizers, shaving products for men, aromatherapy candles, pure mineral cosmetics, luxurious bath potions and expertly blended herbal perfumes — all handmade with minimal, natural ingredients, certified organic whenever possible. Blend your own custom shade of mineral eye shadow with Sarah, and experience all her amazing, all-natural products. For the eyeshadow workshop, pre-registration is encouraged but not essential.

The beauty workshop will be held inside the Emporium in case the weather is not so beautiful.

And, Firehouse Bikes will be having a one-day sale on their collection of new and vintage bikes and gear, also indoors.

We will update this message in case the Fest is rescheduled.

Hope to see you (and not the rain) tomorrow!

All the best from West Philly,
Emily, Sean and Nora

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