Three Sisters' Marketplace

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season! It’s a great time...

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 10:44:35 -0500

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season! It’s a great time to relax and recharge with family & friends.

Grab some added inspiration along the way!

How do you get your creativity on?

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 07:14:04 -0400

Great article about John Cleese and how he sees the creative mind. Two key things - child-like play when you are trying to solve a problem and letting your unconscious mind mull it over for as long as possible.

Check out the article here http://www.fastcocreate.com/1680999/4-lessons-in-creativity-from-john-cleese?partner=best_of_newsletter

How does your creative mind work?

Welcome to Summer!! What inspires you this season? The...

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 09:59:21 -0400

Welcome to Summer!!
What inspires you this season? The impressive sunsets…more time outdoors…fun fruity drinks…or maybe the cool breezes of the air conditioner in the bug-free indoors!

Whatever it is somehow summer magnifies the intensity of everything around us - the colors, the heat, and especially the fun!

Cheers to another summer and all of the fun & creativity it brings your way!

Three Sisters' Marketplace at ARTSPIRATION!

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:06:57 -0400

Join Three Sisters’ Marketplace at ARTSPIRATION!

When: Saturday, June 9^th from 10:00am - 4:00pm

Where: Fleisher Art Memorial 719 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA

Join Three Sisters’ Marketplace as we showcase some of our local artisans at this wonderful outdoor, FREE community event sponsored by Fleisher Art Memorial.

Arts & crafts for the whole family, music, performing artists, local vendors and much, much more!

Can’t make it to ARTSPIRATION?

Visit us online at www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com

Pinterest, Are You Addicted Yet?

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:19:20 -0400

Pinterest, Are You Addicted Yet? :

If not send us your name and email address and we will send you an invite to join Pinterest! It’s an amazing place to promote what you do, share ideas and learn new things.

And based on this article other Pinterest users are more apt to make a purchase than those on other social media sites - well worth a few minutes of sifting through cool fashions and cookie dough dip recipes….business, fun & yum all wrapped into one!

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pinterest-users-nearly-twice-as-likely-to-purchase-than-facebook-users-steelhouse-survey-shows-2012-05-30

"Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:12:21 -0400

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

- Robert Louis Stevenson

Happy Spring! Loving the opportunity to look at old projects...

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:33:18 -0400

Happy Spring! Loving the opportunity to look at old projects with a fresh eye… Or starting a new project from scratch. And of course the luck of a little lady bug popping up in unexpected places is always welcome!

25 Things You Didn't Know About Three Sisters' Marketplace

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:56:30 -0500

1. We’re a family business.

2. We have Artisans from 43 states.

3. I never knew about memorial jewelry until we started this site.

4. The Three Sisters are real people, but not actual sisters.

5. I love connecting with our Artisans.

6. Two of our artisans make incredible kid’s stuff and they don’t have any kids of their own.

7. I’ve learned most potters don’t like to name their pieces so most of them are ‘bowl’, ‘mug’, etc.

8. We don’t have a physical location for Three Sisters’ Marketplace…yet, never say never! For now it’s just www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com

9. The Three Sisters are also vegetables - corn, beans & squash!

10. It’s free to join & free to
list on our site because we didn’t want to make money on artisans if they weren’t also making money.

11. We have Artisans from Alaska!

12. We’re based in Philadelphia.

13. Four of our family members are Artisans on Three Sisters’ Marketplace.

14. I’m an Artist but I don’t have a Shop - I’m too busy promoting all of the amazing work of our Artisans!

15. Everything on Three Sisters’ Marketplace is Hand-Crafted.

16. We only have U.S. Artisans on our site now. Future plans are to go global!

17. Even though the site is called Three SISTERS’ Marketplace we do gladly accept male Artisans.

18. You can search for Artisans near where you live on our site using the Buy Local button.

19. Many of our Artisans create the work they sell as a side-job.

20. I have an email relationship with one of our Artisans from California - never met her but LOVE to ‘chat’ about every topic under the sun!

21. People think I hold the world record for time on Facebook - they may be right since it’s always open to promote Three Sisters’ Marketplace, my daughter’s school, and friends’ businesses…and a little Words with Friends too! Follow us: www.Facebook.com/threesistersmarketplace

22. I have over 848 connections on Linked In - connect with me!

23. Artisans can list their events, craft fairs, classes they teach and other stuff on our Calendar- looking for something to do? Check it out! www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com/calendar

24. I don’t have any actual sisters.

25. I love hearing how our Artisans started doing what they do - their stories are amazing.

Looking for a way to support local businesses…looking for...

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:44:00 -0500

Three Sisters' Marketplace Tote Bag

Three Sisters' Marketplace Mug

Looking for a way to support local businesses…looking for some cool FREE stuff too!? It’s all right here at www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com …Everything is hand-crafted and made in the U.S.A!

Our Artisans have hand-crafted Jewelry, Ceramics, Clothing, Paintings, Photography, Fine Jewelry, Baby Clothes, Hand-Spun Yarn, Knitwear, Woodworking, Metalsmithing, Pet items, Bath & Body, Soaps, Handbags, Kitchen & Housewares, and Much, MUCH MORE!

For your convenience you can purchase from more than one Artisan at a time - Just one Simple Check-Out!

FREE Canvas Tote Bag:

Any purchase from 11/22/11 through 11/27/11 will receive a FREE Three Sisters’ Marketplace tote bag!

FREE Chalkboard Mug + Tote Bag:

For the BIG Shoppers… when you purchase over $150.00 of hand-crafted items from our site you will receive a Three Sisters’ Marketplace Creativity Chalkboard Mug complete with Chalk in addition to the Tote Bag!!! This special runs from 11/22/11 through 11/27/11.

Our chalkboard mug is just what it sounds like - a mug made from black chalkboard material…and it comes with chalk so you can jot notes, phone numbers to remember, or just a cute little doodle!

So start Shopping NOW - Black Friday is over but we’re still going!

Shop from the convenience of your home and have your items arrive at your door when you shop on www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com !

Tell your friends too!

Shopping on www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com is a fantastic way to support local businesses - use the ‘Buy Local’ search feature to find Artisans in your area!

Thank you in advance for your support!

All the Best,
Wendy
Founder - Three Sisters’ Marketplace

www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com Hand-Crafted in the U.S.A.

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:48:49 -0500

www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com Hand-Crafted in the U.S.A.

Love or Hate Occupy - Buying American Works for Everyone!

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:17:57 -0500

With the Occupy movement in the news across the country every day it’s hard to miss. And one of their messages rings true to every American, no matter what side of the Occupy movement you are on - Support Made in the U.S.A. items.

It’s a shame that it’s actually a challenge to find products made in America. When you think about the shift that has taken place over the years it’s one that I bet none of our ancestors would believe!

The message of Buy Local and Support Made in the U.S.A never should have been lost in my opinion - it’s what this country was built on… year after year, decade after decade of hard-working Americans.

Yet here we are… with large box stores filled to the brim with ex-U.S. products… discounted so severely that competition is nearly impossible for most American made products. And these are the same large box stores that we, as Americans supported, even as we knew they were pushing the little local guys out of business - all in the name of lower prices.

What we didn’t realize was that the quality would keep dropping, along with those prices…and so here we are.

In this downward spiral of ex-U.S. low-cost, low-quality junk the one bit of hope is that we still have CHOICE. That’s right - the choice is ours - with every purchase, at every store, at every website …the choice is OURS!

We all may have to look a little harder for Made in America products but they are still there…for now. What’s your choice? Are you going to continue our country on the path or make a choice with your next purchase? A choice - a simple choice - each time you make a purchase you are making your choice. A choice in a pair of earrings. A choice in a shirt. A choice in a car - it all matters - each and every purchase!

So plan ahead this holiday season and leave a little extra time to find Made in America products, local artisans and craftspeople, local businesses and shops - find them while they are still open, open to accept your choice for Made in America.

Happy Holidays!

(ps - Need a hint to find hundreds of U.S. Artisans and Craftspeople? Go to www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com and find hand-crafted, Made in the U.S.A. products right in your area today!)

Happiness is…. Something made by hand! I am amazed at...

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:09:15 -0400

Happiness is…. Something made by hand!

I am amazed at all of the incredible Artisans that join www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com every day! The creativity they use in their chosen craft is nothing short of inspiring.

Color, textiles, style and even a little quirkiness! All coming together to create the most amazing things…things that should be cherished and used to spread that creativity to those that see, use & experience them.

And even better - maybe some of the Artisans creativity will rub off on the rest of us. Taking the time to hand-write a note instead of banging out an email…cooking dinner instead of using the microwave or calling for take-out….drawing a picture - even if it is just with sidewalk chalk at the park!

We all have the ability to create - so why not take the leap ….or at least appreciate the creativity of others ….It’s definitely worth the time!

Buy Local

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:55:01 -0400

A great way to support your community is to buy locally. Great news! Three Sisters’ Marketplace has a Buy Local search feature!

Just go to any of our main shopping pages at www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com - scroll down and the Buy Local search box is in the left-hand side.

Check it out since we all know we have fantastic local communities that could use an added boost lately. And if you don’t find an Artisan in your location - no worries! We have incredible Artisans from all over the U.S.! Happy Shopping!

Made (By Hand) In America

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:51:20 -0400

Shopping in America has become a global experience… But is that always a good thing?

When you’re looking for something native to a certain country - an Australian Didgeridoo for instance - you pretty much need it straight from Australia. But things like housewares, clothing, jewelry, even wall art are things we can get right here in America, Made by Americans!

So why do we blindly go into Target, Macy’s & Walmart and pick up what we need without ever thinking about where it’s made? Because we live in a “global economy” right?

This economy brings us all of the items we need - cheaper than ever before. But until recently I don’t think too many of us have thought about any consequences of buying these things, everyday things, from around the world, cheaper than we ever thought possible…and unfortunately, many times compromising on quality without much thought.

Now, all of these consequences are brought to light - right here in America. Lost jobs, lost home equity, lost quality items, lost communities…lost opportunity.

Here’s the good news, and there always is! We have choices! As buyers, as employees, as users and as employers - choices that are impacted by the choices we make - it’s kind of a path or loop. Every choice we make impacts our future - continue to ‘consume’ without an understanding of the future impact …OR… consume with understanding. And I’m not saying that we should never buy anything from other countries - I’m all for choice! That’s the fantastic thing about living in a society with so many freedoms!

What I’m suggesting is if we CAN support our economy, support America and support our friends, family & neighbors - Why wouldn’t we??!!?!?

Why not check where something is made? Why not think about how your purchasing power can support the community you live in? Why not seek out the ‘Made in America’ label? …And, yes, I know it sometimes costs a little more - and we all know the saying “Penny wise and pound foolish” right? Well, it applies to something as simple as the everyday purchases we make.
Try this - the next time you head out to the store or go to shop online look around your house and see what was actually Made in America - it may surprise you how little still is actually made here in our country.

Think about the power that you have every time you make a purchase - it’s more than you think! It starts with one - throughout history that’s how we built this great country - it always starts with one person, one thought, one choice at time…Growing and growing until there’s a movement, a following, an uprising towards a better future!

So choose wisely-one purchase at a time!

Thanks for listening! (or reading actually),
Wendy Wolf
Founder- www.ThreeSistersMarketplace.com
Where everything is Made (by hand) In America!

Let it all go!

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:55:41 -0400

So when was the last time you were stuck? Truly stuck? Happens all the time - especially when we don’t want it to, of course!

What is typically the end result? We somehow get unstuck and when we look back on it the whole thing seems relatively small…not a big deal…one of those “What was I getting so upset about anyway?” kind of moments. Of course - at the time the issue…the thing getting us hung up …seemed MONUMENTAL! A REALLY BIG DEAL!

I came across this quote by Tina Turner recently and it summed everything up so well for this type of situation…

“Sometimes you’ve got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything … whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.” ~ Tina Turner - American Singer

Let it all go!
Sounds simple right? Well, it actually is just that simple…but when we’re all into a project or there’s a creative block or we’re stuck or worse - A DEADLINE! *GULP!* It seems absolutely impossible to let it go.
“Let it go? Let go of caring about my work?” you say… “That’s tied to my future…my person - it’s who I am! And you want me to ‘let it go’ Yeah Right!”

RIGHT! Let it go!

Because once you relax and let it go - let go of the pressure to finish, let go of the pressure to create something that everyone needs, the pressure to get you out of your day job, pressure to get you on that dream vacation…whatever the goal…once you chill out about it and take the pressure off of yourself you will be amazed at how unstuck you become! Figure out what your pressure points are - money, fame, houses, vacations, shopping, dating - whatever it is figure it out and release yourself from that pressure. (It’s usually undo pressure we put on ourselves anyway! That’s the crazy part about the whole cycle!)

Everything will start flowing again - the way it’s supposed to, unforced and freely. Like when you started your craft, your dream, it was fun and free! Like little kids in an art studio - throw some supplies on the table and you will be amazed at the diversity and the creativity that they come up with - even with each kid using the same supplies… even if it’s just paper and crayons!

Some will color, of course!
Some will fold the paper and create building, animals, vehicles, etc.
Some will use the crayons as part of their structures.
Some will create games, plays, imaginary scenarios - all with the same paper and crayons!

It’s amazing to watch!

So the next time you get stuck remember to “let it all go!” and see how things fall back into place and as Tina says, “Your true self will come out.” Because that’s what the world is waiting for!

Personal Touches Make A Difference!

Mon, 23 May 2011 15:12:00 -0400

Think about the last time you made a purchase and what your experience was…not just the product but the WHOLE experience.

Did you actually ever connect with a real, live person - whether on the phone or email? Did you get to pick exactly what you wanted?
Or did you have to settle for what they had as “close enough”?
When it arrived in a sterile brown box and you opened it …was it a big “whatever” moment…kind of an “eh”?

Well, the last time I ordered something - it was like a Birthday Gift that arrived in the mail!

Wrapped, fun to open and full of surprises…and Personal Touches!

That is one of the things that I am most proud of after pulling together Three Sisters’ Marketplace - the little personal touches. I knew when we created this online marketplace that the personal touches were very important to making our marketplace different, a place that would have people coming back again and again.

When we built the site we made sure to add fun, social features to help Artisans and Shoppers connect with each other.

You can Become a Fan of an Artisan
Write Reviews and Rate Artisans
Use our Contact Forms to email Artisans
Follow Artisans on Facebook, Twitter, and their Blogs
Our Event Calendar allows Artisans and Shoppers to connect at live venues, classes & gallery events
Everyone can Share their favorite Shops on one of a hundred Social Media Sites with a few simple clicks using the Share Button on every Shop, every Product and every Event on our Calendar

All of these features were built to encourage the old-school connections that we used to get at our local boutiques and Main Street Shops, but with the added convenience of being online.

And we’ve been successful at making these connections and building our online community! But even I didn’t expect what is being shipped in the mail to our customers - little personal connections that extend beyond the features of our website. I have heard from many people who have purchased from our Artisans about the Artisans going above and beyond what they had expected - customer service like they haven’t seen in years! In fact, to call is customer service is a misnomer - it’s personal service!

Let me share with you a bit of this personal service from some of our Artisans:

The Gourmet Soap Chef – Alice Abbley was kind enough to send me what I thought was a bar of her handmade soap as a demo. But when it arrived I was blown away by what came with this lovely soap!

As you can see - the soap came in a signature book-style keepsake box, which would go with any décor; a soap puff, in a bag that you can use to hang the puff in the shower to dry; a pen and a personalized note…and of course the lovely handmade soap! Wow! Everything was wrapped in pretty tissue paper and it was like opening a present!

Chris Dec Jewelry:

Chris has been an amazing resource for me and she is an incredible Jeweler. I have picked her brain to gain a better understanding of the Artisans’ perspective because she cares so much about what she does and her customers. It’s a great relationship and yet we’ve only ever chatted via email - it’s a wonderful example of achieving that personal connection even when it’s just online!

So, I heard from a friend of mine who ordered from Chris about how Chris also goes above and beyond with packaging - a beautiful organza bag that can be used for travel; and nice gift box with a raffia bow; and a note about the materials she uses for her jewelry and a personal Thank You for the order.

Below is a piece that I ordered from Chris, which she encouraged me via email to customize so it was exactly as I liked it. I was ready to buy the earrings that she had listed but this little added bit of personalization made the earrings extra special!

Dancing Tree Jewelry:

Yet another customer commented on Miriam Garber’s personal touch of beautiful packaging and personal note. But this note was more than just a ‘Thank You’ it was a personal guarantee of her work. She offered true personal service - lifetime repair and cleaning of the gorgeous necklace and earrings that were ordered!

Personal Touches Make a Difference!

These are just a few examples of the Personal Touches that come with our marketplace. This is what sets these Artisans apart and what sets Three Sisters’ Marketplace apart. So if you are a Shopper, an Artisan or even BOTH – think about how personal touches make you feel and how we can all incorporate more of them in our lives, everyday…and you may just get an exciting little “Present” in the mail the next time you order something online!

"Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination." Daniel Bell

Tue, 10 May 2011 17:19:00 -0400

“Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination.” Daniel Bell

When you stop to think about how amazing technology is…that is…if you have time to stop with everything flying at a gazillion GB per nanosecond!

Technology is truly an art form and the ways it is used - from starting revolutions to gaming to improving lives to sharing knowledge to creating art - is limitless! What an amazing time for anyone with even a little creativity!

So if you get the chance sit down and think of ways technology can be added to your everyday tasks to make them easier, more effective or even faster. The trick is, like with anything in life, the early learning curve can be steep and sometimes feel a little treacherous… but it’s always worth the trek. And if technology can help you - it can certainly help others.

This is yet another amazing thing about technology - the speed at which ideas are shared. If you figure out a great solution to a common problem you can let the world know, and that is literally THE WORLD, with a few keystrokes or a quick video and the help of a few nifty websites. Everyone is just a few clicks away from the world! (It’s like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but bigger!)

So take your creativity beyond your usual boundaries. Think outside of your neighborhood, even outside of your country to expand your creativity…tap into technology and see where it takes you…the possibilities are endless - literally endless (A little scary but cool!).

(And just so you know I take my own advice - I wrote and posted this blog from my phone!)

How Do You Stimulate Your Creativity?

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:00:00 -0400

My family and I recently attended the da Vinci Exhibit here in Philadelphia and it struck me that we all have different ways of stimulating our creativity. Some prefer going to a gallery, museum or show. For others it’s something less formal like a hike in the woods, coloring with children or even singing in the shower!

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo was an architect, musician, engineer, scientist and inventor. He was also a sculptor, designer of costumes, mathematician and botanist. I think most of us are thrilled to figure out one thing to ‘be when we grow up’ let alone NINE! But it is a great lesson - do what you love - even if that means more than one thing. And even if they don’t seem to work together - like costume designer and mathematician. Actually there was a self-propelling cart as part of the exhibit and the belief is that it was used to move a mannequin of sorts around a stage - a kind of special effect for plays during his time. So maybe costume design and mathematician have more in common than we think - so do what you love, and that means everything!

Another thing that came through loud and clear was don’t be intimidated by the constraints of your era - let your mind run! Leonardo da Vinci invented the bicycle 300 years before it appeared on the road. Leonardo also sketched the first parachute, first helicopter, first aeroplane, first tank, first repeating rifle, swinging bridge, paddleboat and the first motorcar. In fact, many of the things he invented could not even be built during his time! They were too complicated, technically advanced or just plain different. But obviously that didn’t stop Leonardo and it shouldn’t stop any of us either!

And finally, what also resonated with me at the da Vinci exhibit was that he took his time, many say he was a procrastinating perfectionist - but aren’t we all at times? Just because you take your time doesn’t mean you’re not doing what you should - sometimes things just take a while. Maybe it needs to come together as an idea, or the method to achieve what you want isn’t clear, or maybe you’ve tried and it’s just not working. Take your time to re-group and it will all come together! And when you’re getting down about how long something is taking - remember it took Leonardo da Vinci about ten years just to paint Mona Lisa’s lips!

While pulling the Launch Party & Gallery Event together I...

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:02:54 -0400

Three Sisters' Marketplace Launch Party

Getting everything just so!

Installation help from the Artisans

Kid's Corner - Mermaid Tail Cover Ups!

The party is ON!

Fun with my mom!

Artisans goods on display

More great things to come!

While pulling the Launch Party & Gallery Event together I had the chance to meet many local Artisans that wanted to display their work during the event - what amazing personal stories of how & why they do what they do!

That may be the best part of the whole Three Sisters’ Marketplace concept - connecting with people!

We forget how impressive our neighbors, friends and relatives are sometimes and this Launch Event was a great excuse for me to reconnect. Reconnect with people that I’ve known for a long time and even reconnect with perfect strangers that I knew only through Three Sisters’ Marketplace.

Loved hearing the stories of how they started - waiting for a job after school led one Artisan to start making costumes for a local craft fair - now her hand-sewn creations fill her Shop with things like Mermaid Tail Cover-Ups, Princess outfits and even twirly dresses and skirts! Another Artisan had a gallery but due to financial pressures from the economy she had to close it and focus on teaching classes and jewelry creation, and of course - like many artists a day job to fill the income gap until she regroups. And there are so many more stories - handbag designers that just found they have an eye for it; potters that throw amazing designs and glazes that astound…started as a hobby; painters that have time-consuming jobs that can’t find time to promote their work, and so many more interesting stories it would fill a book!

Then to see the amazing things these people create as a result of their experiences is so much fun and so exciting…It’s like unwrapping a gift! A gift so rich with the trials and tribulations of life’s journey you know it just has to be fantastic!

Three Sisters’ Marketplace Launch Party! What an incredible experience of everyone pulling together, getting to know new people & old friends and everyone helping to make this a reality - Thank You!

What's in a name?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:17:00 -0500

Most marketing classes will regale you with incredible stories of names that ‘made the brand’ and the names that were the brand equivalent of the “agony of defeat guy’ from ABC’s Wide World of Sports! But when all is said and done – the name is selected and many times it’s the decision of one person…usually for some inexplicable reason. Well, here is how we came upon the name for Three Sisters’ Marketplace….

Our name was born out of three coincidences…or were they somehow planned by the Universe to unfold in just this manner???

The first encounter came during a family trip out West. We were driving through Monument Valley, UT and if you haven’t been there it’s a beautiful yet desolate place where they filmed old Westerns.

It is a valley with amazing rock formations in rustic orange tones that are dazzling as the sunlight dances across the ridges. We came across one formation made of three pillars of stone about 8 stories high called “Three Sisters”. Since my husband actually has three sisters we took a picture for the novelty and drove on.

Then 3 months later I was chaperoning my daughter’s 4^th grade class on a field trip to an organic farm in Philadelphia. So there I was with a few other parents, 50 kids, and Farmer Dave walking through the farm and checking out all of the plants and bugs. Then Farmer Dave said “Hey kids! Today we’re going to plant the three sisters!” That’s odd, I had never heard of this before our trip a few months ago and there it was again! I made a mental note in the ‘Things that make you go Hmmm?” category and walked up to see what this three sisters thing was all about.

So it turns out that Native Americans planted the “three sisters” together in the ground - - corn, beans, and squash. The corn stalk served as a pole for the beans; the beans climbed the stalk and helped support it against the wind and also provided nitrogen to fertilize the soil; the broad leaves of the squash protected the sisters from weeds and kept moisture in the soil by shading it.

It was a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet to generations. The three plants flourished because they worked together to benefit the relationship! Very interesting, but still just filed away in my brain as a funny coincidence. Until….

….A few months later, we had some family over and we were showing pictures from our trip out West and the Three Sisters photo came up. I then shared what I had learned from Farmer Dave with everyone including - a potter, a fashion designer and a blacksmith - all incredible artisans seeking good venues to sell their craft. Which made me think about our group of friends and neighbors in Philadelphia, there are many artists, crafters and hobbyists that make incredible stuff and don’t have places to sell their work. Some of our friends were even Gallery owners that made the choice to close their doors due to the shrinking economy, and more and more stories of artisans that can’t find that perfect fit that allows them to continue their work – either as a hobby or as a profession.

So here are talented artisans that make fantastic work but all are seeking an ideal place to promote themselves…. It’s like they were missing that balance that allowed the plants to prosper.

Then it all came together – we could build an online venue that would be the perfect fit for artisans to sell their work, promote their events and connect with shoppers – just like a real shop owner would!

We thought this marketplace must have high quality items, be easy and fun to use and be cost effective for everyone involved. So we decided on a Juried site, that has a one-stop check out, is free to join and free to list, with just a small commission for each sale. All of these features, and more, strike that balance to make sure everyone involved benefits!

The Three Sisters in Three Sisters’ Marketplace became the balance of the artisans, the shoppers and our online marketplace that brings them all together. The balance of these three groups coming together became similar to the balance in nature when Farmer Dave and Native Americans planted the corn, beans and squash in the ground together. When Three Sisters’ Marketplace brings together Artisans and Shoppers into our online community everyone benefits and grows as a result of the relationship!