Want free tickets to the July Heart of Tulsa show? Here's how you can win:

Step 1: Follow us:
Follow An Affair of the Heart Shows on Pinterest.

Step 2: Pin it:
When you follow us, we'll make you a contributor. 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 sentence, 'I purchased this at An Affair of the Heart show,' in the description.

Step 3: Win it:
The pin that receives the most repins by May 15 will win a pair of tickets to the July 13-15 show.

Tulsa, Okla. (Nov. 11, 2011) – Owners of An Affair of the Heart have announced a partnership with Tulsa Global Alliance at An Affair of the Heart of Tulsa Nov. 18-20, 2011, at the QuikTrip Center at Expo Square.

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.

Tulsa, Okla. (October 5, 2011) – Heart of Tulsa, presented by An Affair of the Heart, Oklahoma’s largest arts, crafts and antiques show, will return to Tulsa’s QuikTrip Center at Expo Square Friday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 20.

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.