Bad Girls of the North in Fairbanks :: Kahiltna Birch Works

One of our favorite vendors at our Bad Girls of the North craft fairs is Kahiltna Birch Works. Dulce and Michael East are the owners of this family operation. Their product line is extensive and I know it is all quite delicious, as I've tried just about everything they offer. Their birch syrup is intensely flavorful and their blueberry syrup is wonderfully unique. I also have a weakness for the Cranberry Sauce they create. Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without it! I encourage you to visit their website and read their amazing story.

This is Dulce putting the finishing touches on her very inviting display.

Bad Girls of the North in Fairbanks!

We arrived home last night after our Bad Girls of the North craft show in Fairbanks. The show was off to a slow start Friday evening, which is usually extremely busy. Don't get me wrong, the crowd was huge, but the spending was not. Business picked up as the evening progressed, but most of us felt that it was a little "off". We chalked it up to the state of the economy.

Then came Saturday. Saturday was fabulous! After 12 years of doing craft shows, I must admit that I really can't predict the market. Here are a few photos of the event.

Our trusty and loyal Fairbanks girls, Elizabeth and Cynthia, who work for us every year selling our Bad Girls logo merchandise. We simply could not do this event without them.


A close up of our travel mugs (totally sold out), etched glass mugs and custom label chocolate bars.


Our t-shirt racks, which the girls attempt to keep nice and neat throughout the show. We know this is an impossible task! Picture dozens of desperate women trying to find their size.


Stay tuned for some more photos of some of the vendor booths!

Geting Ready to Hit the Road ...

We are headed to Fairbanks on Thursday for our 9th annual Bad Girls of the North craft show at the Westmark Hotel. This is a huge undertaking. We load our new, larger trailer and pick-up and we make Rick drive! When he started selling his jewelry at our craft shows, he instantly became our chauffeur. It's a long haul up to Fairbanks (6-7 hours) and the weather can turn nasty with no notice. This is something Carol and I have survived in the past, and it was not fun.

Anywho, back to my original thought when starting this post. I will be deactivating several listings in my etsy shop on Wednesday evening in order to take them to Fairbanks. So, if this following selection of items contains something you've had your eye on, the time to act is now!

You can click on each photo to go to that specific listing. Here goes:

Custom Earring Order

While doing the Bad Girls of the North craft show in Fairbanks, one of my regular customers approached me requesting a custom pair of earrings. She gave me a few particulars and this is what I came up with. I love the fact they are double-articulated and will move around much more than if the entire length was on one piece of wire.


I emailed her the photo and she loves them. They went in the mail today. This customer just happens to be the mayor of Fairbanks!

Featured Artist - Elise Strauss of Koi Creek Beadworks

Elise Strauss of Koi Creek Beadworks is one of the sweetest people I know. She is a lampworker extraordinaire and an outstanding jewelry designer. Elise had a booth at our Bad Girls of the North Craft Show in Fairbanks this past weekend. I think it was her first time showing in Fairbanks and I'm sure the crowd was as excited as I am by her lampwork. She creates amazing wildlife beads. Please check out her etsy shop and you'll see what I mean.

Packed and Ready to Head to Fairbanks!

Well, almost. The trailer, which is about 10' long, is packed to the gills, mostly with Bad Girls of the North merchandise. I added some of my display items to the mix too, just because they fit nicely. You see, it's like a giant puzzle, and I love puzzles!

The beastly Suburban is also packed, but not yet full. Rick & I will leave here at the crack of dawn tomorrow and pick up Carol. After that stop, the Suburban will be packed to the gills too.

It will be about a 6 - 7 hour drive to Fairbanks. The Bad Girls of the North craft show will take place at the Westmark Hotel on Friday evening and all day Saturday.