Indie Emporium 2012 Excites Owl & Drum

One of Tulsa’s most popular annual arts and crafts fairs is gearing up for another successful run at the end of the month – and Owl & Drum is proud to play a part in this year’s event.

The Indie Emporium – which was inspired by the handmade crafts revolution and is now its sixth successful year – will be staged on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28-29, at Living Arts of Tulsa, located at 307 E. Brady Ave.

Visitors to the downtown Brady District event will find a lot to enjoy. And many people will find unique gifts for birthday, Christmas and holiday gifts. Others may also be inspired to take up crafting themselves, which lots of people have found to be gratifying, therapeutic and fun.

On tap will be many of the region’s hippest craft vendors, a fashion show of handmade clothing and accessories, make-and-take crafting stations, a fine arts gallery space, a silent auction, workshops and craft demonstrations.

The event will kick-off from 7-11 p.m. Sept. 28 with a free Indie Emporium “swag bag” (a special tote bag filled with goodies) for the first 50 people through the door. 

The early bird will catch the worm – the earliest attendees will get the coveted “First 50” tickets at the door which will allow them to get their prized “swag bag” from Indie Emporium’s many helpful volunteers.

In addition to shopping for pioneering, one-of-a-kind  arts and crafts, visitors can browse the art gallery, bid on silent auction items to help fund the Community Food Bank ofEastern Oklahoma, enjoy drinks at the cash bar, and savor locally-made cupcakes and sweet treats.

Saturday’s full day of action will run for 10 hours, starting at 12 noon.

“Make-and-take” crafting projects and workshops will be staged from 12-4 p.m. and hourly crafts demos and project workshops will be staged from 12-5 p.m., followed by live musical performances. The ongoing silent auction will close at 6 p.m. 

The much-anticipated “Indie Emporium Fashion Show” – featuring original designs by talented local designers – will rock the catwalk starting at 8 p.m.

Owl & Drum is happy to be one of the event sponsors of this year’s Indie Emporium.

“I’m so looking forward to the 2012 Indie Emporium,” said Bianca Howell, the co-owner of Owl & Drum, which is located at 2810 E. 15^th St., and a Tulsa native.

“I participated last year as a vendor with my UrbanCreatures jewelry made from repurposed T-shirts and loved being part of such an exciting, happy event. Being around so many other Tulsans with the same enthusiasm as me for homemade crafts was a real pleasure.

“Now that I have opened a store in my hometown, I’m really happy to be both a sponsor and a vendor at this year’s Indie Emporium. I can’t wait!”

Indie Emporium was first held in October 2007, attracting hundreds of shoppers to the Mathews Warehouse in downtown Tulsa. Thirty-six vendors, 10 gallery artists and five runway designers participated in the first ground-breaking show.

But that was just the start for the well-received Indie Emporium.

A year later, more than twice as many people attended  to enjoy the creations of 40 vendors, 12 gallery artists and nine fashion designers . 

The VFW Post No. 577 on Sixth Street hosted the event from 2008-10, but the growing event returned to the Living Arts building for its 2011 edition. And it seems it’s now found its home in the burgeoning Brady District.

For the last three years, the Indie Emporium has served as a canned food drive and fund-raiser for the Community Food Bank of EasternOklahoma. 

“With your donations, we have been able to provide thousands of our neighbors with meals through our partnership with the Food Bank,” said Thom Crowe and Christine Sharp-Crowe, the founders and owners of Indie Emporium .

“Our 2012 show will again serve as a canned food drive and fund-raiser for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Please bring canned goods to be donated and you will receive a $3 discount on your at-the-door tickets.

“We’ll also have a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the food bank. Please see the schedule page for full details of the 2012 show.”

In addition to Owl & Drum – Tulsa’s new one-stop shop for fabric, handmade gifts and craft supplies – the 2012 Indie Emporium is sponsored by Fromex Photo Systems, made, the Indie Emporium Shop and Hatchcraft.com, which is sponsoring the Instagram Art Gallery.

In 2011, Indie Emporium opened a one-month “Pop-Up Shop” in downtown Tulsa, carrying handmade goods from a selection of the event’s vendors.  

The success of the temporary venture led to the opening of made : The Indie Emporium Shop, which can be found at the corner of Fifth and Boston in the heart of the Deco District.

Advance tickets can be bought at made for $5 each and the store is also holding special giveaways.

Tickets will cost $8 at the door Sept. 28-29. Children age12 and under  enter for free.

Attendees who bring at least two canned goods to be donated to the Community Food

Bank of Eastern Oklahoma will get tickets for $5 each at the door.

For more information about the 2012 Indie Emporium, visit www.indieemporium.com, send an email to christine@indieemporium.com, or send mail to 8086 S. Yale Ave., Unit 277, Tulsa, OK 74136.

Also, be sure to check out Indie Emporium’s flickr.com page to see photos from all five years of the event, plus visit its Instagram page.

For more details about Owl & Drum, which carries more than 100 fabrics made by seven designers, crafts supplies and tools, plus numerous unique gifts, visit www.owlanddrum.com.

The 2810 E. 15th St. store also sells many other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon, plus a variety of craft books.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. The store is closed on Mondays, but it's open every day online.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Cool Combo: Prairie Hive and Owl & Drum

Owl & Drum is proud to be a new advertiser in a popular, cutting-edge Oklahoma online style magazine and blog.

Prairie Hive – which recently published its latest edition and describes itself as “collecting style for the sweet life” – seeks to share its news and views on fashion, fun and the finer things in local life.

The pioneering quarterly publication, which is a collaboration of photographers, writers, craft-makers, interior and graphic designers and creative people based in Tulsa, provides readers with insight into the homes and lifestyles of a host of iconoclasts – from entrepreneurs to artists, designers to globetrotters.

Prairie Hive’s stated aim is to share with readers a wide variety of stories about interesting people, places and products in Tulsa and surrounding areas.

“We show readers how they live, work and play, then take inspiration from what we see and demonstrate how to incorporate a bit of that style into home, entertaining, crafting endeavors and elsewhere,” the collaborators write on their website, prairiehive.com.

“We hope you find some inspiration along the way . . . Each of us has a unique perspective on design, lifestyle, travel and entertaining – and we want to collectively give you something to buzz about!”

And there’s plenty to buzz about in T-Town at the moment.

Prairie Hive’s internet issue No. 7 for Fall 2012 is cover titled “Pop Mod Partnership.”

The colorful, well-designed edition – which debuted in cyberspace on Monday, Sept. 10 – features newly-married couple Nick Rhoades and Jinger Howell, their love of distinctive designs and their stylish, eclectic midtown Tulsa home.

Dozens of photos showcase their love of modern style, classic design, sense of fun and mixing and matching furniture and décor in an open-plan living space. Quality pieces of furniture are nicely juxtaposed with pop art, family heirlooms and fabulous flea market finds.

The happy couple – Jinger is an interior designer; Nick is an intern architect  – call their unique, spacious home in the Wedgwood neighborhood “The Futurama.” Hence, the title of the story about the funky duo and their cool abode:  “A Bright Futur(ama)”  

The innovative magazine features a Q&A with the couple as they describe all the planning and work that went into revamping the rundown former rental property to turn it into their one-of-a-kind dream home.

Other stories in the bumper 56-page latest edition of Prairie Hive are called “Get the Look,” “Stargazing Supper” for a romantic picnic in the park, “Celebrate the Style,” “Fashion Favorites” and “PH Travels,” which details and photographs a road trip to Wichita, Kansas.

Members of Prairie Hive’s six-member editorial team enthusiastically inform readers of the must-have clothes, housewares, jewelry, furniture, interior items, gifts, gadgets  and products they are currently “buzzing” about. There are helpful DIY projects, party planning tips and entertainment advice, too.

And, for food lovers, there are quick and easy recipes for tasty pepper jelly pork tenderloin sandwiches,  appealing apple hand pies and sweet potato chips, a guilty pleasure to be sure. All beautifully photographed and with a clever page layout, of course.

Click here to see their latest issue.

Prairie Hive launched in June/July 2011 with its debut issue cover titled “Atomic Age Archaeology.”

Previous articles and photos can be found on do-it-yourself drip art, Tulsa’s Fashion Night Out, Tulsa Restaurant Week, Goods & Goodies, Labor Day punch, Pinterest Beauty Party, special s’mores, Tulsa’s new downtown park called Guthrie Green, and a Pantone Round-up.

Prairie Hive's issue No. 8 comes out in December and will celebrate winter, the season of sweaters,  short days, hot drinks, log fires, classic dishes and (maybe, just maybe) snowfall.

For more information about Tulsa’s online style guide, visit prairiehive.com.

For more details about Owl & Drum – which carries more than 100 fabrics made by seven designers, crafts supplies and tools – plus numerous unique gifts, jewelry and baby clothing, visit www.owlanddrum.com.

The 2810 E. 15th St. store also sells many other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon, plus a variety of craft, sewing and knitting books.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. The store is closed on Mondays, but it's open every day online.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Thank You For Making Our Opening A Big Success!

Wow! What a great start to our new venture in Tulsa.

"Grand Opening Weekend" at Owl & Drum - Oklahoma's new one-stop shop for fabrics, craft supplies and homemade gifts - was a real whirlwind of smiling faces and in-store excitement.

Thanks to all the many people who visited us to help celebrate our big opening at 2810 E. 15th St.

We had a lovely mix of children, parents and grandparents stroll around the store, taking in the wide variety of cotton fabrics, products and wares.

And quite a few people of all ages (but, especially, kids!) enjoyed making Kanzashi flowers out of 5-inch colorful fabric squares at our large craft table.

We are very grateful for all the kind words and support expressed by customers and visitors for our new enterprise. It's a real thrill to be in business in such a supportive environment.

"I love to see that crafting is alive and well in Tulsa," said Bianca Howell, the co-owner of Owl & Drum.

"It was great to meet so people who are enthusiastic about do-it-yourself crafts and who appreciate interesting, unique homemade gifts. We are really happy to be with so many creative, like-minded people."

Many "Craft Night" and special events will be held at Owl & Drum in the weeks and months to come.

And the first one is just around the corner!

Next Tuesday, will see Owl & Drum's first "Craft Night" staged. The debut craft will be needle felting, in which attendees will tease wool rovings with a needle-felting tool to create three-dimensional shapes.

The first project - which begins at 6.30 p.m. Sept. 18 - will see participants making needle-felted acorns to get ready for the fall season and all its wonderful colors. Anybody is welcome to join in, but please sign up in advance.

People are asked to pay $5 for the class, and all supplies are included. Interested people need to RSVP on Owl & Drum's Facebook page. Please click here to sign up.

Future "Craft Nights" at the store will focus on crewel embroidery, sewing classes and (possibly) a tatting class.

Owl & Drum carries about 100 fabrics made by seven designers and manufacturers. More fabrics are being added each week, and they can be bought in the Tulsa store or on its website at www.owlanddrum.com.

The 2810 E. 15th St. store also sells unique jewelry and other items made by Tulsans, Oklahomans and artisans from Portland, Oregon. It also sells a variety of craft books, equipment and supplies.

Owl & Drum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and from 12-4 p.m. Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.

For more information, call Bianca at 918-742-1404, visit www.owlanddrum.com, send an email to owlanddrum@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook, Blogger.com, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Owl & Drum Opens in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

Ladies and gentlemen, it has finally happened: Owl & Drum is now open for business in Tulsa, OK! 

Our soft opening was last Friday and we were pleasantly surprised at how many new faces popped in to see our new shop. It was a great start to our new venture. We are very excited.

Owl & Drum features a blend of designer sewing fabrics, craft and sewing supplies, plus handcrafted gifts. Some of the fabric designers we are currently stocking in the shop are Anna Maria Horner, Tula Pink, Kokka, Echino, and Monaluna. 

Our gift gallery has a bit everything. From baby to pets, there is bound to be something that strikes your fancy. Some of our vendors are local but we have not stopped there. We have pieces coming from as far away as Portland, OR.

So, if you are in the Tulsa area, come check us out! We are located at 15th & Delaware. Otherwise, you can find a lot of our lovely items in our online store at www.owlanddrum.com. Just click here.

We look forward to creating with all of you!

Bianca and Dani

Owl & Drum Update

Hello, sorry we haven't been in touch in a couple of weeks. It's been a busy couple of weeks for Dani and I. We got the keys to our new shop last week and got right to work with the renovations. This type of thing was totally new to me. I've done a bit of painting but chipping up tile was definitely a first.

We pretty much have a blank canvas to work with, which is great. It also means lots of work. We've had to consider what type of flooring to use, paint colors, the right lighting, and what to do with the ceiling. The idea is to be a very clean and crisp store. Nothing to showy, as we do not want to take away from our products. I'm very optimistic that we have made the right decisions. I cannot wait to see the outcome!

So, stay tuned, we plan on sharing more updates on the renovations at Owl & Drum.

Bianca

Introducing Owl & Drum

Hello and welcome!

Let us introduce ourselves - Bianca Howell and Dani Weaver are the owners of Owl & Drum, a craft supply and fabric shop coming soon to Tulsa, OK! We are great friends who share the joy of sewing and crafts. The idea of opening a store has been our goal, so we are thrilled that it is finally becoming a reality.

The Owl & Drum store will consist of 1/3 fabric, 1/3 craft supplies and 1/3 handmade gifts. Our aim is to provide craft items that fit with today's modern tastes and trends. So, whether you like to sew and make crafts or whether you have an appreciation for handmade gift items, we will have something for everyone.

During the last few months, we have been on the search for the perfect vendors. We have scoured craft shows and Etsy to find local and national artisans. Not only will we be carrying other people's works of art, we have also come up with many fun designs and products of our own. I don't think a spare moment has gone by that Dani and I have not been crafting.

Recently, we have started placing orders for our soon-to-open store's fabric and supplies. How much fun is that for two craft enthusiasts like ourselves? Just this past weekend we went to our first International Quilt Market in Kansas City. It was an intense couple of days, let me tell you. But, in the end, we were very happy with our purchases and are intensely inspired about the future of our business.

So, stay tuned. Over the coming weeks we will start to unveil some of the artisans, fabric designers and craft supplies that we will be carrying. We plan on keeping you up-to-date on the progress of our online store, as well as our exciting new store opening in midtown Tulsa. It will be quite a whirlwind experience and we look forward to sharing it with you.

Cheers,
Bianca