What I'm Working On -Tigerlillyshop

Last week I really put a ton of time "down in the hole" -a term of endearment which I use for spending time in my studio. In my electroforming corner, I was getting things set up for my plating bath. I have been prepping non-stop to restock my supply of nature jewelry.

My family and friends have been so incredibly helpful finding organic things for me to work with. I have a stockpile of various acorns, seedpods, shells, etc. waiting for me to encase them in copper. It's a slow and arduous process that takes a lot of patience, but so far I have liked the results I have gotten with this batch. I'll have more acorns and super cute new sea shells just in time for summer! I might even try silver plating some of them this year!!!

Favorite Etsy Seller - kelsyhenke

Check out kelsyhenke's professionally photographed letters- you can buy a bunch and arrange them to form words of your choosing!

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Edita.k.a. Odds & Ends!

Happy Birthday, Jen!

a.k.a. JennyJen 42!

Random Baltimore Photo

For more information, please click on the image.

Ridiculously Simple Cream Scones

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

Mix 2 cups wheat flour, two tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Cut into the dry ingredients 1/4 cup (1/2 standard stick) butter or margarine.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup cream (whole milk or soy milk) and one large egg.

Pour wet ingredients into dry and then mix quickly and gently until you have a soft sticky dough.

Dump out onto a floured surface gently knead with floured hands.

Pat out into a rough circle about 1/2 inch thick. Using a 2.5 inch biscuit cutter, juice glass, whisky tumbler, or something of that size, cut into rounds. Re-roll any scraps and repeat. Place all scones on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Cool for a few minutes on baking sheets before removing to racks.

Eat as soon as possible with butter and jam.

Written by Tara

Friday Finds - Lazy Days of Summer

As a teacher, summer vacation is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It's here!

I vow to allow myself some lazy days this summer and will be wearing this lovely little headband from See Katie Sew as I catch up on my stack of magazines.

This sweet bowl from Pink Kiss Pottery will hold fresh strawberries, hopefully from my jungle of a garden.

I will be uber stylish as I hang out at the pool with these beautiful necklaces from BEST's own, Elisa Shere Jewelry and For Queen Victoria.

And until I can get home, this wonderful photograph from Alicia Bock will remind me of the beautiful vastness of Lake Michigan.

Written by sugarpaperie.

Have a great weekend!

Twenty Things: Kathy of The Garbologist's Wife

Twenty things you don’t know about Kathy. She’s known as The Garbologist’s Wife, a Baltimore-based seamstress integrating upcycled, vintage and or eco-friendly into everything she makes.

1. I severely dislike when people wear in public sweatpants with elastic around the ankles.

2. My first big arena concert was Hootie & the Blowfish.

3. My cats are coincidentally all named after the Fondas.

4. I met Tom Jones in his hotel room outside of Reno.

5. I am the youngest of five kids.

6. I am a highly trained custom framer.

7. My husband bought me my first sewing machine that eventually helped me start my etsy shop.

8. I am actually married to one of The Garbologists, a local Baltimore band.

9. The silverware in my kitchen was won on The Price Is Right.

10. I’m hoping to visit the beaches of Bulgaria next year.

11. I’ve been vegan for nearly a year; I was vegetarian for about 12 years prior.

12. I was born and raised in Rochester, NY, just like Chuck Mangione.

13. We nicknamed the spare room in my house The Lord Baltimore Suite and plan to make guests sign a guestbook.

14. I camped in a tent for six weeks on the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Humboldt County, CA.

15. I’ve been unemployed since December.

16. I was the president of the Art Education Club at SUNY New Paltz when I was going to college.

17. I have a hot tub on my back porch.

18. I will have no less then two Cupcake Parties at my house this summer.

19. Eggplant and mushrooms are gross.

20. I will never disclose a complete list of my top-secret list of upcycled fabric resources.

Celebrate Individual Artist Awards

Tonight , the Maryland State Arts Council is having a celebration and reception to honor the recipients of the 2009 Individual Artist Awards, at the BMA from 6:30 - 8:00. The Program begins at 7:00 PM in the auditorium with a reception to follow, The Baker Awards exhibit will also be open for viewing from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Various categories are awarded each year from the Maryland State Artist Council in alternating years. Tonight's awards are for the following categories:

• Visual Arts: Crafts
• Visual Arts: Photography
• Visual Arts: Sculpture and Non-Digital/Non-Electronic Installation

For 2010, the categories for visual artists will be

• Visual Arts: Digital/Electronic Arts
• Visual Arts: Painting
• Visual Arts: Works on Paper.

The Deadline is July 30, 2009. Details can be found here.

We would like to congratulate BEST core member Megan Vanwagoner.

What I'm Working on- Sweet Pepita

These days, the question is more like 'what am I not working on'...



Hey Boyfriend! sleeveless hoodies Our version of the sweater vest. It's urban and oh so anti-Wall Street. Layer it over a short or long-sleeved tee or sport it as-is!



Sweet Pepita Tunics My new favorite outfit... These are so pretty and yet so wearable. As the kids grow, these tunics can be worn as tees. Gotta love the value in clothes that can be worn for multiple seasons!

Hey Boyfriend! Images from Tya Anthony

My New Favorite Shirt

... was handmade in Baltimore!

I finally got myself something for a change at Pile of Craft. The only trouble I had was deciding which one of these beautiful pieces from Red Prairie Press to get. Because you know I want them all!


Blue Lace Ladies Cap Sleeve Tee


Folk Garden Tunic in Plum

I chose the first one with the Queen Anne's Lace print. I love how delicate and feminine it is. But see, my birthday is around the corner and I'm feeling pretty confident that if I drop enough hints, my husband will be giving Rachel a call soon for more of her beautiful tees!

Happy Birthday, Elisa!

creator of Elisa Shere jewelry!

Happy Father's Day!

By snaulkter.

They don't call me Tigerlilly for nothin'!

These beauties are growing in pots in my concrete backyard in Highlandtown. We live in one of the most barren parts of our neighborhood. I have watched the greening efforts on my block fail as people disregard the new trees and flower pots as some of the residents meagerly try to maintain them against the odds. Our yard is fenced, so things are out of reach from metal pipe wielding kids, trash, and you don't want to know what else...

In my insistance on beauty, I bought an Asiatic/Oriental lily bulb mix for my blazing hot backyard about 2 yrs ago and have been totally stunned at the blooms that we have gotten from them! These pics are the second wave of lily blooms I have had. We have already had melony-orange and speckled freckly yellow/orange go by. White, yellow, and my stargazers are going to open in about a week or so. These plants are totally fool proof if you give them the basics. If I can grow them here, you will probably have luck with them, too!

Happy Birthday, Robyn!

a.k.a. Raygun Robyn!

Pile of Craft.....presents Gifts that make us Smile!

In these tough economic times...boy have we heard that statement enough these days....wouldn't you like to surround yourself with things that make you smile? Not sure what those things could be? Well many vendors at the Charm City Craft Mafia's Pile of Craft will assure you many an item that will put a smile on your face. And if you're thinking I don't deserve such a present but maybe my best friend who has been down in dumps lately.... could use a smile and a hug..here's the place to find it. Nothing exclaims loving like a handmade item! Here are some examples of some sure smile makers!

wavio the KNITIMAL one of a kind Art Doll by greenstudio
Birdy Bath Tote by Jennyjen42
Drawings for Books by motobus

I heart you tile by Kiss My Crafts

Countdown to Pile of Craft - 2 days to go!

No matter who you are shopping for: guys, girls, kids or even a mom-to-be, Pile of Craft has your T-Shirt needs covered!

Sweet Pepita

Spaghetti Kiss

The Broken Plate Pendant Co. & MuthaCrafter

Red Prairie Press

Twenty Things : Jan Baum

1. I’d love to become an international design tour guide.
2. Summer of 2008 I had a 6 pack.
3. I love getting in the mood for a type of food and then eating that day after day.
4. Book whore.
5. Learning junkie.
6. I can sign ‘orgasm’. [Thanks, Mike]
7. Old folks homes don’t freak me out…I worked at one in high school and now I kinda like them.
8. I would love to live around the world.
9. I am a pack animal. [but not a rat]
10. I love natural hot springs, especially in the Pacific Northwest.
11. The Shining was the fit movie I ever saw, I was in junior high.
12. I chose The Women of Cell Block H when my TV intake was restricted as young human.
13. I dressed up in a nude colored body suit, painted myself with a cat pattern and walked down a Halloween catwalk at a prominent Philadelphia Halloween party…
14. The night Nicky Scarfo. Jr. got shot in South Philly it was two blocks from my apartment. Good times, good times. No wonder my heart belongs to Philly.
15. I watched two seasons of Six Feet Under in one sitting. Love that show.
16. Don’t see anything wrong with being Type AA.
17. In 7th grade I won second place in a gymnastics competition- floor routine.
18. I love the speed: Fast.
19. I’d love to learn to surf.
20. There is a good chance I will die of skin cancer.


Jan Baum is a Professor and Director of the Metals and Jewelry Department of Towson University and an all around cool chick.

It's a Win-Win

At Pile of Craft this year, CCCM will be auctioning off two baskets full of awesome craft goodness! The tickets are only $1 each and all proceeds benefit Youthlight, an after-school program that provides middle and high school youth in Baltimore with access to quality, in-depth photography instruction, media literacy education, and leadership training. (Students from Youthlight will be at Pile of Craft as well to talk about their program and sell their prints so be sure to stop by their table!)

Some of the goodies in our raffle baskets include...
Handmade pins and barrettes from HVM Designs
T-shirt from Sweet Pepita
Felt brooch and earrings from littlest bean
Eyeglass case from JennyJen
Rodeo girl print from 2hawks2fishes
Screenprinted ties from Spaghetti kiss
Helping hands from Pink Kiss Pottery
Little Monster from Cotton Monster
and more exciting items from Bowerbox Press, Carlybird Weaves, illegible ink, Kiss My Crafts, Phampershand Press and Red Prairie Press!

Support Youthlight when you come to Pile of Craft, this Saturday. See you there!

Youthlight Shines

My husband introduced me to freelance photographer Marshall Clarke years ago at MAP's annual fundraiser Out of Order. His kindness was striking and sincere. My husband, a college professor, had recently sent his students to help Marshall with the Youthlight Photography Project

The Youthlight Photography Project is a comprehensive thirty-five week after school photography and media literacy program targeting youth ages 11-18 and is based in the Baltimore City communities of Hampden and Southwest Baltimore. Youthlight delivers a comprehensive, creative, youth-centered after school program to address the artistic, emotional, and cognitive development of middle and high school participants. Youthlight achieves these goals by providing students with a safe space to create, positive adult role models, empowering activities, leadership development, and alternatives to violence and high risk behavior.

Girl with Space Candrea, age 15

At the time, I was tutoring kids after school at the Hampden Family center. It was no surprise, then, to run into Marshall one evening there at the center. My students, suddenly renewed with energy at the sight of him, alerted me to his presence shouting, "Hi, Mr. Marshall!"


Youthlight student taking photo

The Youthlight Photography Project empowers middle and high school age youth to document their lives, explore their creativity, build leadership skills, and encourages them to engage as activists in their neighborhoods through the creation of photographic images and community media.

You see, Youthlight provides these kids with much more than an education. It gives them something to create, something that they have artistic control over, something to be proud of.

The Charm City Craft Mafia is so proud to be sponsoring Youthlight Project at this year's Pile of Craft! Come meet and talk with Marshall and his students about the work they're doing. The students, of course, will be exhibiting and selling prints. And be sure to purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a basket of way crafty goodness from Mafia members and the Baltimore Etsy Street Team. All money raised will be donated to Youthlight.

We cannot wait to see Marshall's students shine.

Pile of Craft is this Saturday at St. John's Church in Charles Village from 10am to 5pm.

Countdown to Pile of Craft - 3 days to go!

Here are a few goodies you might find at this years Pile of Craft show for the crafty kidlets in your life!

The Littlest Bean

Sweet Pepita

Green Star Studio

Bower Box Press

Favorite Handmade Item

My father is a furniture builder and carpenter. Growing up, I was accustomed to going to him if I felt that I needed anything in particular and asking if he could make it for me. Throughout my life, he's made me several pieces of furniture, shelves, even toys as a kid. Saturday mornings, my brother would put in his request for a sword, and come back later to find one fashioned out of wood. We also had wooden bow and arrow sets that we got to decorate with markers.



After graduating college, I taught myself to knit. My need for a sewing storage system grew and grew until I just had to contain the mess. So again, I went to my dad, and together we designed a new sewing box. My favorite part is the inset Australian lace wood panel on the lid. He has such an eye for beauty and it was exactly what I needed.



I still think it's funny when people say they need something and they go off shopping. My first thought when I need something is how can I alter something I already have to fit this new need. I've even been out shopping before and decided not to buy things because I think, oh, that's a great idea, I'll go home and make that.



Creating is just second nature to me and I'm so glad I was raised in a handmade home. Hopefully this is a memory I'll be able to pass on the family I'd like to have in the future.

Written by Nancy of Nfall2rt Design Studio.

Baltimore 500: Racing to Save Lives

It is the perfect time to adopt a cat or kitten from a local shelter here in Baltimore. It’s a very busy time at our animal rescue facilities around town and they are all racing to adopt 500 kitties by the end of the month. During June adoption fees are completely waived at any of the organizations affiliated with The Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance.

The participating shelters include The Maryland SPCA, The Humane Society of Baltimore County, BARCS, Baltimore City Animal Control, & Baltimore County Animal Control Division.

For more information, contact any of these locations or visit Baltimore 500 online.

Submitted by Kathy of The Garbologist’s Wife.

Favorite Sellers: Follow the White Bunny

Jenny Hart is all over the craft world news lately. I saw her at Art Star Craft Bazaar and loved her patterns. It got me thinking--what about embroidery!? Embroidery is something that has always appealed to me, as a big fan of any type of fiber art. Right now, I am loving these patterns by Follow the White Bunny and think they'd be a perfect place to start!



Hibernating Bear Pattern

Nicole, from Holland, offers seven cute embroidery patterns via PDF so you can get started right away.



Anteater Pattern

She also has a flickr group where people post their results.



Set of 2 Bunny Patterns