Sizzix Makers Fair and Sale?

Sorry for taking so long to reply to this. I have been taking a little mini break to let the political frenzy die down.

Yes, the deals in the past have been amazingly good! I have picked up Tim Holtz dies for less than half price and some regular Sizzix dies for about 1/3 the normal price. They have had machines, wheeled cases, stamp/impression folder combinations, their jewelry impressions line, and tons of other miscellaneous items at the sale. This is the first year that I've seen them bill it as a faire, and I understand they will have demonstrations going on. I'm curious to see what they plan to do.

I don't need a thing, but I wouldn't miss this sale for anything. The very first time I went on the recommendation of a new friend, a Saturday afternoon, I didn't leave too much time to shop because I had other commitments during the morning. I didn't think it was going to be all that much of a sale. I was so pleasantly surprised at the prices that I returned first thing Sunday morning and went a bit nuts. I picked up plenty for myself and a bag full of things to give as gifts for Christmas. It was a blast! And the prices were shockingly good.

The next year they did not hold the sale at all. Then last year, I went first thing on Saturday and again, the array of items was awesome and the prices were good, but not quite as good as that first sale. I still managed to put quite a dent in my checking account. I was really taken with the number of impression folder/stamp and impression folder/die sets that they had out.

So yes, it was well worth going to. Of course, I can't say whether this sale will be as awesome as the other two I attended, but I imagine it will be. If I lived in NorCal, and I had the ability to get down here for the sale, it would be worth it to me to check it out, just based on previous sales.

leeny , If you want me to do so, I can attend the event on Saturday Friday (oops, I just read that it is Friday and Saturday this year) and then post a review for you on Saturday Friday evening. I can take pictures and show you a sample of what they are selling as well as what the prices are. Then you can make the decision whether to come down for the Sunday Saturday sale. Would you like me to do that?

oaksong , I would love to meet up with you since I ended up missing the Carson stamp show and didn't meet you there. The Sizzix show is in my own city, so I will be there.

I went a couple of years ago. I remember it was on a weekday in the late afternoon since I work about 5 minutes from there. When I went it was basically a big warehouse sale in their parking lot. They had a ton of stuff--dies, embossing folders, and accsssoties. Not much in the way of newer designs but maybe those sold out early. In any case if you're a fan I'd definitely check it out.

No, they have only held it at the end of the year like this in previous years.  Who knows what they will do for the future.  I kind of doubt it, because it is a lot of work for them since they don't normally have retail shopping at their facility.  I have my hopes up for a few specific dies, but even if they don't have them, I'm sure I will leave with something I didn't know I needed until I saw it there.  You know how that goes, right?SaveSave

I am so very jealous! Dies are my favorites and I want them all.

I went last year (or was it the year before?) and it was basically a parking lot sale. I thought there were fewer items and slightly higher prices than at the previous warehouse sales. At the warehouse sales, there were multiple aisles to browse. This faire is one huge tent with overflow outside. They had a few make-and-takes to introduce you to their products (hence the Maker Faire moniker). Most of the people demoing really know the products and if they don't, there is always someone to ask. In fact, they actually talked me out of getting the Big Shot Plus after much discussion about my crafting needs/wants. I appreciated their honestly. I ended up getting a Big Shot for $50 or so (I can't remember exactly).

There is still plenty to buy, ha, ha. I haven't opened anything I bought from the last faire so maybe I shouldn't go this year...

Another reason for the Maker Faire name is so that they don't upset their local retailers. I am sure the Faire takes away from the LSS sales.

I can enable you here.  I am going today. I will probably get there around noon, I think.  I hope to get a couple of dies too.  I have some in mind, and I'm hoping they have those out there.  Last time, they had a lot of stock out, but who knows what will be there.  I'm just excited to go do a little shopping and see what these new components to the sale are.  I understand designers are going to be there, and I hope they do demonstrations or maybe even make and takes.  That would be fun!
 
I am only about 5 miles or so from the sale, so traffic isn't an issue for me.  I can take a few pictures and send them to you if you want to PM me your email address.  Then you can decide whether to hop in your car or just wait until tomorrow.SaveSave

Thanks, enablers! Lexica, I'll PM you. I can't get away from work until 1, and I'm about an hour away, depending on the dreaded OC traffic. I'm especially looking for Tim Holtz Thinlet and On the Edge dies. I only have small Spellbinders and Sizzix die cutters, so none of the big stuff for me. 

I have a Spellbinders Artisan that can only do thin dies, and a Sizzix Sophisticut (TM specials!) that is only 2" wide, so just about all dies are big to me! Hopefully I'll catch up with you later today.

I went this afternoon and thought it was really good. It was mostly older items, but things that are still available everywhere, and I thought the prices were good. I got some embossing folders and nesting shape dies.

It was all outside, and the intense wind was FREEZING. I was in a thin sweater and wasn't prepared since it was in the 60s, but it felt like an arctic blast. (Yes, I know, dramatic, woosie Californian here.) Everyone working there was in down coats and gloves. It was too cold to do the workshop projects, so I'm planning to go back tomorrow.  Hopefully the wind will die down by tomorrow. I want to try the machines, meet some designers, and maybe shop for a die cutter.

chrispeas, I just re-read the thread and realized you went today also. Sorry we didn't connect ahead of time. Is anyone else planning to go Saturday? Lexica and I missed each other today, but hope to meet up tomorrow.

I'd love to meet some Peas! PM if you're going and we'll connect. They had a food truck that looked good, too.

I'll be there at about 11:30. PMing you my number...

I went both Friday and Saturday. On Friday, I was supposed to meet up with Oaksong, but I ended up going home before we met up. It was so darned cold and windy at the event, and I definitely wasn't dressed for it. I just had a short-sleeved T-shirt on, so I was miserable. We chatted via text and both decided to go back on Saturday. I'm really glad I did. I got to meet 2 Refupeas, scrapperal and oaksong!  They are both very nice and if it wasn't for scrapperal, I wouldn't have known they called my name for a prize.  She heard them announce it and came rushing over to get me.  How sweet is that?  I was all the way at the back of the shopping area, and the sound didn't travel back that far.  They gave away a $500 gift certificate both days of the sale, as well as numerous smaller prizes.  I received one of the smaller prizes, not the $500, darn it.  Oh, and I also spent enough to get 2 $10 gift certificates to use at Sizzix later.

I ended up spending a lot between the things I purchased on Friday and the followup shopping on Saturday.  I'm really happy with all of it though.  They had a lot of Tim Holtz items, and I really like a lot of his stuff.  They also had a number of Sizzix designers demonstrating their products.  I watched a bit of it on Saturday and ended up buying some of the items being demonstrated. 

All in all, it was a successful shopping trip, made better by getting to spend a little time with 2 very nice peas!

I just received an email from Scrapbook Expo, showing Anaheim dates for April 6, 7, 8. Yay!