Etsy Birthday Bash: Tempus Projects In Tampa Joins Global Party

How fun would it be if everyone had a worldwide birthday party at the age of 5? That's what Etsy decided to do! Esty.com showcases handmade goods from artists and crafters in more than 150 countries and provides an opportunity for shoppers to purchase unique, one-of-a-kind items.   

On June 18, Etsy celebrates its fifth birthday and more than 450 places all over the world are throwing a giant global craft party. Tampa is getting in on the fun thanks to Coryn Enfinger. Enfinger, along with her husband, Adam, is co-owner of Central Printing, a screen printing shop in Tampa. The couple sells their designs on Etsy under the name, Dark Cycle.

When Enfinger saw that Etsy would be hosting a global birthday party and saw that Tampa didn't have an organizer, she thought to herself, "Why not?" and volunteered herself for the role.

The first message was posted on May 28 on MeetUp.com announcing Tampa's Etsy party. In less than a month and 128+ RSVPs later, Tampa will be hosting the third-largest Etsy party in the country. Because Tampa is ranked in the top 50 cities, Etsy and Readymade magazine came aboard as sponsors for the event.

The event will be at Tempus Projects, an artist co-op at 5132 Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603. The South Seminole Heights co-op has served as a hub of artistic creativity since it started in November 2009. The project space is operated by creative directors Tracy Midulla Reller and Ashley Niven. Reller is a mixed-media printmaking artist and full-time faculty member at Hillsborough Community College, and Niven is a printmaking and digital artist.

"I really like the handmade, free market of Etsy and I like supporting that," says Enfinger. "I would love to have more vendors come out and participate at Tempus on a regular basis."

The event starts at 8 p.m. and will include more than 20 indie crafters and artists selling their wares, food, cupcakes, free wine and beer amid crafting stations and activities.

"I think it's awesome. I've been just floored this whole time," says Enfinger. "It's really not me at all, it's everybody putting in their ideas, putting in their efforts, putting in their resources and I'm really excited to see how it all pulls together in the end!"

Writer: Nancy Vaughn
Source: Coryn Enfinger, Central Printing; Tracy Midulla Reller, Tempus Projects