Amy taught deaf education for seven years before deciding to stay home with her children, Reuben and Gabriella. 

“I have thoroughly enjoyed being a stay at home mom….[but] was itching for a creative outlet,” Amy said.

In November, she turned a package of onesies into cardigans for baby gifts, and received rave reviews.  After encouragement from friends, she posted photos on Facebook and began selling her creations.  Her kids are her inspiration, as well as holidays and sports teams.  According to Amy, she creates “items I would want [my kids] to have, but can’t find in a store.”

Since, she’s added the additional pieces to her line-up, and will bring her full line to Heart of Tulsa in July.  Amy is a great example of craftswomen taking a creative idea and turning it into a business.

“From the beginning of Ella Reu, my number one dream was to have a booth at An Affair of the Heart.  I’m so excited that this dream is coming true and in such a fun way!” she said.

Make sure to look for Amy and her onesies and other collections at the July Heart of Tulsa show. 

*handmade crafts, repurposed items or goods only.  No marketplace or food vendors for this contest, please.

 Win to Vend official rules
The Win to Vend contest is open to U.S. residents never featured at An Affair of the Heart of Tulsa.  Potential vendors must be 18 years or older or have a parent/guardian present during all show hours.  The contest is open to craftsmen/vendors potentially selling handmade, repurposed, recycled or homemade goods.  No resellers, food or marketplace vendors.  An Affair of the Heart of Tulsa will begin accepting photos on Monday, April 8 through a Wildfire Application featured on the Heart of Tulsa’s Facebook page.  Entrants must also submit a copy of the same photo to Kristin@kazoomac.com for posting/promotion through Instagram.  Included in the email must be the entrant's full name, booth name, address and phone number.  Show owners/promoters will narrow down entrants based on quality of goods, appropriateness of booth, handmade factors and more.  Only one photo per entrant.  The amount of finalists will be determined based on number of entrants and quality/appropriateness of entrants.  An Affair of the Heart reserves the right to dismiss a photo/entrant for any reason.  It's recommended to submit a photo that showcases a variety of items that will be showcased in the booth.  One finalist will be chosen based on votes through Wildfire/Facebook from April 22 to April 26, 2026.  Grand prize is an interior 10-foot by 10-foot booth space at the July 12-14, 2013 Heart of Tulsa show at Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla.  Approximately 30,000 shoppers visit the show over three days; entrants must be prepared to stock an appropriate amount of goods for a craft show this size.

Photos will be accepted April 8 to April 19, 2013.  Finalists will be published on or around Monday, April  22, 2013.  Voting by fans takes place April 22 to April 26, 2013.  A winner will be announced the week of April 29, 2013.  The winner will be contacted via email and announced through social media channels.  If the winner does not feel they can participate and tells show owners by May 15, 2013 the second place winner will be contacted. Photos become the property of An Affair of the Heart of Tulsa to be used at owners' discretion for show promotion. Email Kristin@kazoomac.com with questions.

November show survey

November 2012 program

1. We all know to wear comfortable shoes. Those new zebra kitten heels might be the cutest thing since your daughter in an Easter dress, but you need broken-in comfort for this event. Walking miles on a concrete floor can wear on you – so think ahead. Coaches tell athletes to never wear anything new on game day, and they same goes for marathon shoppers.

2. Prepare your “Must List” by Friday morning. What is a Must List? It’s that list of reasons why you MUST shop at An Affair of the Heart. You might even need to shop all three days. This can deter those pesky spouses from asking too many questions. For example, you MUST get out of the house so you can lower the temp on the house thermostat to save money on your heating bill. Or, you already purchased a ticket for Friday, so you MUST go back to get the most out of your money. Just remember: keep your list so you don’t use the same MUSTS for the July show.

3. Do you have a shopping buddy that wears out before you do? If so, plan for that battle now. Maybe even scout the show in advance so you know where her favorite vendors are. If s/he mentions she might be getting tired, quickly usher her to her favorite handbag booth to distract her from those achy feet. Or, stop by the snack bar at the perfect moment. Sometimes, a diet soda can cure all.

4. Speaking of diet soda: hydrate! You may be enjoying the wonderful air-conditioned comfort of the QuikTrip center, but you are putting lots of miles on those feet. Alternate that caffeine with water to stay alert, comfortable and shop-tastic.

5. Finally, remember the name of the event: An Affair of the HEART. If you need some motivation to keep going – just dig deep, keep on pushing, and shop with your whole heart. Oh, and just remind yourself of all those Christmas gifts you need to buy early.

Welcome to this fall’s show – enjoy! Now, share with your fellow shoppers you’re an Affair of the Heart tips. We know you’ve got ‘em! What’s included in your strategy?

Good luck!

How to win:

1. Follow An Affair of the Heart shows on Pinterest

2. We will then add you as a contributor to the "I got this at An Affair of the Heart" board

3. Pin a picture on our "I got this at An Affair of the Heart" board of any products or items you have bought at previous Affair of the Heart shows with the description of 'I purchased this at An Affair of the Heart show.'

The pin that receives the most repins by October 15 will win a pair of tickets to the November 16-18 show.

Simply complete this online survey to be entered to win four show tickets, a VIP parking pass and one-night stay at one of our host hotels.

Good luck!

Vendor Advertising Opportunities Form.pdf

Show Program Advertising Contract.pdf

We couldn't resist jumping on the Ryan Gosling "hey girl" bandwagon with a caption of our own.

Craig's winning pins received six repins each and multiple likes making her pins the most popular ones on the An Affair of the Heart's "I got this at An Affair of the Heart" board on pinterest.

To see pins by other followers and all the Affair of the Heart's boards on pinterest, click here and be sure to follow us for craft ideas and sneak peaks of featured products from our vendors.

Good luck and we appreciate your feedback!

Good luck and we appreciate your feedback!

Oklahoma’s largest arts, crafts and antiques show will provide booth space to Tulsa Global Alliance for the group to showcase information on the Sister Cities program and other TGA events. The booth will also feature free hands-on children’s activities to provide fun entertainment for kids at the show.

Tulsa Global Alliance, a non-profit agency, bridges cultures through awareness, education and opportunities. TGA provides a world of services that involve international visitors, Sister Cities exchanges, international business programs and global education.

TGA will also use their exposure at Heart of Tulsa to raise funds for programming. Shoppers can take home international culture by shopping the market area of the TGA booth for masks, jam, flags, jewelry, marzipan, postcards, recipes and more. To ensure that everyone can be part of the global exchange, some items start as low as 10 cents like postcards with images from Tulsa’s sister cities at the event.

“We are very excited to be part of An Affair of the Heart this year,” said Becky Collins, TGA president and chief executive officer. “Tulsa has more Sister Cities than any other city in Oklahoma, and it’s always fun to find different ways to share each culture. Most of the international visitors that come through Tulsa via TGA programs spend thousands of dollars each year shopping in our local stores and malls. This is a wonderful opportunity to let Oklahomans purchase items and learn about the cultures of our eight Sister Cities without leaving town.”

Visitors to the TGA booth can browse colorful artifacts that represent the cultures of Tulsa’s eight Sister Cities:Tiberias, Israel; Kaohsiung, Taiwan;Celle, Germany;Amiens, France;Utsunomiya, Japan;Beihai, China; Zelenograd, Russia, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

An Affair of the Heart of Tulsa will feature more than 700 booths displaying a variety of merchandise from arts, crafts and antiques to apparel, furniture and jewelry. The Tulsa show is expected to attract more than 25,000 attendees over the event weekend.

“We are very supportive of the mission of Tulsa Global Alliance and are pleased to have the opportunity to support them in their efforts,” said Eleanor Blakeman, founding partner of An Affair of the Heart. “We hope to grow our relationship with TGA in the future and help them make an even greater impact within our community and beyond.”

The show is open Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is just $6 at the door and is good for all three days.

ABOUT AAOTH
An Affair of the Heart was started in 1985 by eight women who shared a love of crafting and shopping. From their first “one-day” show in Oklahoma City, the Affair has grown from 60 booths and 800 visitors to four shows annually, two each in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The show made its debut in Tulsa in 1995 after prompting by the Tulsa Chamber and has continued to grow each year by offering women the opportunity to shop for unique and creative design ideas in a safe, friendly atmosphere. For more information and list of partner hotels offering event discounts, visit www.heartoftulsa.com.

Two of the original eight partners have since passed away, but the spirit of An Affair of the Heart of Tulsa is as alive and bright as ever.

ABOUT TULSA GLOBAL ALLIANCE
Tulsa Global Alliance is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to increasing global awareness, understanding and opportunities in Northeastern Oklahoma by hosting international visitors, facilitating Sister Cities activities, promoting global education, assisting with international trade development, cooperating with international organizations and serving as a resource for area governments, business, educational institutions, organizations and residents.

Heart of Tulsa will feature approximately 700 booths displaying a variety of merchandise from local and national artisans and independent retailers. The show provides shoppers with a unique opportunity to browse hundreds of retailers from across the nation selling unique, one-of-a-kind items celebrating the craft, skill, art and style of the vendor.

More than 400 vendors will fill the QuikTrip Center during the show selling everything from housewares and antiques to jewelry and home décor to more than 25,000 attendees over the event weekend.

“Heart of Tulsa has been hosting shows annually in Tulsa since 1995, and we’re pleased at the reception we’ve received,” said Eleanor Blakeman, founding partner. “We feel we’ve created a unique event that allows small retailers and independent artists the opportunity to reach a broader clientele while shoppers are introduced to new designers, crafters and artisans they may not find otherwise.”

In 1985 the first Affair of the Heart show took place in Oklahoma City attracting 60 booths and 800 attendees. The name “An Affair of the Heart” grew out of the common love for crafting and shopping of the eight women who organized the first show and every show there after. Their goal was to create a fun shopping experience that has become a tradition for generations of women.

In 1995 the show was expanded to the Tulsa market. The logo and show name, Heart of Tulsa, was altered slightly to distinguish between the two cities, but is still run solely by four of the original eight owners.

Today, four shows are held annually. Oklahoma City hosts shows in February and October each year at the Fairgrounds and Tulsa hosts shows in July and November each year at QuikTrip Center.

“An Affair of the Heart is one of the largest craft show venues in this area,” said Holly Loyd, owner of Spiffy Spoonz & More. “They have such a dedicated 'following' of shoppers... I allocate a full month of preparation prior to the show to ensure the customers are able to have an ample selection and are exposed to my new product offerings.”

The arts and crafts market has changed significantly since the first show. Traditional crafters are now exhibiting alongside a new generation of artisans and buy/sell retailers. Additionally, the Internet has provided a new medium for artists and crafters to sell and feature their work through sites like Etsy.com. With these new tools comes a new wave of interest in hand-made goods and unique quality items. The Affair of the Heart shows provide artisans, crafters and independent retailers a connection to their customers where they can gain valuable feedback and insight while shoppers are supporting small businesses and reducing their carbon footprint by shopping local and in some cases buying repurposed goods.

The Affair of the Heart shows are committed to showcasing talented artisans, crafters and independent retailers to the public in support of their crafts and the entire arts and crafts industry.

Show times are Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is just $6 at the door and is good for all three days. For more information visit heartoftulsa.com.