What Inspires Me: Manhattan's Fashion District

Like many artists, my heart races at the sheer mention of the Big Apple. Sometimes, when I'm feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities of the real world, I escape to the anonymous streets of Manhattan where I can stroll and dream endlessly of new products for Sugar Paperie. One of my favorite spots to spend an entire day is the Fashion District. This neighborhood is filled with tiny little shops offering ribbons, trims, buttons, and fabrics. It's easy to get bitten by the creative bug and let your mind soar. And it's healthy for the eyes to feast on such pretty things. M&J Trimming is one of my favorite trim boutiques. I could seriously bring my lunch and spend the day here!

Being surrounded by artists and designers scouting out the perfect button for their newest design is exhilarating. And the fashion business is often an unglamourous labor of love.

After an visually exhausting day of sourcing new materials, I take a break at the Ginger Man for a toasty sandwich and ice cold drink. The good life, indeed.

Written by Sugar Paperie.

Last Day for the ACC Show

Click here for more information.

Get Organized–Memo Wall Tutorial

Who couldn't use a little more organization? This memo wall tutorial by Poopscape Projects is a clever and inexpensive way to organize all those memos, cards and photos you have hanging around on your desk.

For full instructions on how to create this Memo Wall, click here.

Indie Artist Celebration!

Date: February 26, 2011

Time: 12-5pm
Location: The Loft at Antique Imports, 125 N. East St., Frederick, MD (directly across the street from Eleganza Yarns).

Register NOW for Workshops!

Celebrating all things Indie!
•Live Music

•Door Prizes

•Drawing

•Free Fiber Demos
•Free Romi Trunk Show

Join us for this FREE Meet & Greet Trunk Show with our featured Indie Artist Celebration designer, Rosemary Hill. Nationally acclaimed and Ravelry famous, Romi will show off lace project samples and answer questions about technique, design and the project process.

Date: Saturday, February 26
Location: The Loft at Antique Imports
Time: 4-6pm

Workshops by Rosemary Hill (Romi) and Kim Dolce (Dolcehandknits)

…the Indie Artist Celebration 2011 will feature over 20 Indie fiber artists, demos, door prizes, a drawing and live music!

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to meet some of the small fiber and craft artists you love, and buy their incredible products!

For more info, including hotels and local resources, go to Eleganza Yarns Blog.

2011 vendors:
Cedarland Farm, Blue Ridge Yarns, Alpacas of Windswept Farm, Shelby B, Angel’s Kiss Alpacas, Wild Hare Fiber, Crazy 4 Dyeing, Mid Valley Fibers, Accessories of Old, Seacolors Yarns, Central Virginia Fiber Mill/Kearney Country Alpacas, Shalimar Yarns, Persimmon Tree Farm, Nancy’s Fancy Fibers, Dolce Handknits, Donna’s Decembers, Biggs & Featherbelle Soaps, Designs by Hannah Six, Simply Cupcakes!, Gnomegarden Yarn and Fiber…and more to come!


Written by: Dawn; Gnomegarden Yarn and Fiber

Friday Finds - Rainbows

If you've seen my work, you may have guessed that I like color... and today is my birthday, and I'm planning on treating myself to some rainbow goodness to help chase these winter blahs away!

hand-knit, rainbow striped scarf from phydeaux


rainbow fringe scarf by LuzDesigns


rainbow MacBook sleeve by dudush


glass rainbow by abundantglass


circle skirt by yystudio

My Three Things

Here are my three things. Can you tell how they relate?

"The Hope Lion" by MATTY8080

Bobo Sweet Brooch by Beautyspot

"Hello Spring" Print by Myzoetrope

ACC....THE place to be in February

Where is that you might ask?

It is none other than the largest juried indoor craft show in the nation! And it is right here in Baltimore!

The American Crafts Council Show features more than 700 of the country's top contemporary artists.

With so many artists gathered under one roof to present their latest masterpieces - there is sure to be something for everyone!
Jewelry, clothing, furniture, home décor and more! The array of talent is staggering. The show is definitely THE place to be for anyone with an interest in the highest quality artisan made items.

Held at the Baltimore Convention Center, February 24-27, 2011, the show features artist demonstrations, alternative crafts, 'green' crafts, a new "under $100" section, and much more!

Purchase tickets at the door or save by purchasing online (print and carry your tickets)

Written by DOXALLO DESIGNS

MICA Workshop tonight!

I Heart Art: Baltimore is offering the second workshop in the Etsy-sponsored series of free workshops. Tune in tonight, Tuesday, Feb 22, from 7–9 p.m. It’s on a first come, first serve basis. Etsy will post the live workshop link on the Etsy Community Blog at 6:30 p.m.

What I'm Working on - JerseyGirlDesign

Over the past year, I've gotten such a positive response to my glitter-resin rings, I wanted to keep on expanding, and exploring the possibilities and most importantly answer the question: what exactly can you cover in glitter?

So what I have been and still am working on currently...barrettes!

Just a fun sparkly, pop of color for every day wear! I'm working on lots of colors, and different shapes and sizes, so there is something for everyone.

And so that your bottles of wine don't get jealous...wine stoppers!!

written by Lauren of JerseyGirlDesign

I Heart Art: Baltimore - Meetup this Friday!

The American Craft Council show is a gathering of more than 700 of the country’s top contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor artists from across the country. Please stop by and meet members of Etsy, BEST, and MICA, for our second I Heart Art: Baltimore meetup. Get hands-on experience doing bookmaking with Julie from Etsy, building polymer clay with Jen Wilfong of YummyandCompany, and even make your own buttons! The event begins at 6PM, and admission after 6 is only $6 (normally $16)! For more information, visit the ACC’s website here.


In addition, don't forget to check out demos by BEST members Megan Van Wagoner and Janice Fowler. Megan will be leading Printing on Porcelain at 4pm, and Janice Fowler will be leading Metal Castings at 5pm. See you there!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Knap

Even though I make jewelry, which I typically end up wearing myself as well...I am always tempted by new designs I find on Etsy! one of my new favorites, Knap is a shop based out of Japan...the pieces in this shop are made of sterling silver and different colored glass, and it is stunning!!
These beautiful designs are also very reasonably priced, which made me impulse buy them, moments after discovering this shop! I am now the proud owner of these dark glass drop earrings...and bonus- they shipped and arrived so quickly!!!

Along with these fantastic earrings, there are other items available, like handmade sterling rings and necklaces...go shop Knap!! you won't be disappointed!

Written by Lauren of JerseyGirlDesign

Random Baltimore Photo

Patapsco State Park, by Sugar Paperie

How Sew?

If you're looking for a good resource on all things sewing, look no further!

Print available at BlockPartyPrints!

BurdaStyle is here to save the day!  Their mission is to "use the web to bring the craft of sewing to a new generation of designers, hobbyists, DIYers and anyone looking to sew".  They offer patterns for sale as well as free patterns!  Another cool feature is their "Technique of the Week"!  Sew, stop procrastinating... BurdaStyle is chock full of info, how to's, contests, and networking opportunities.

Friday Finds - Huckleberry Finn

kateblack

rkbratney

Litkids

Going to Market

Have you ever wondered how your favorite boutiques and galleries find their amazing items? 

Typically they "go to market" where they find one of a kind,  handmade goods.  One of these markets is the Buyer's Market of American Craft, which takes takes place in both Baltimore and Philadelphia.  Here, you can find hundreds of craftsmen, showing off their new lines and taking lots of orders.  This year you can also find two Baltimore crafters taking their designs to the market! 

Both Allison Fomich of TigerLillyShop and Jennifer Wilfong of Yummy and Company will be at the Philadelphia Buyer's Market, February 17-21.

Shop Local-Terra Firma

Many jewelry artist in the Baltimore area already know about Bill and his shop Terra Firma but for those of you that don't, he is like Baltimore's own treasure! His shop may not be fancy and not the easiest to find but he sure has the best selection of jewelry supplies this side of the Rio Grande. Not only can you find a great selection of beads and findings but he carries raw silver materials (including chain by the inch, wire and sheet) and a great selection of tools. Everything and everything from simple hammers and pliers to torches and flex shafts. Bill is my first 'go to' for supplies. You can't beat the experience of hand selecting your tools and materials. Plus, Bill and his staff are super nice and a wealth of information.

You can find them in Pikesville, check out their website for directions. www.tfeinc.biz

What I'm Working on: Tarabu

I'm working on a scrap quilt - a queen-sized one that is royally kicking my butt. I have underestimated every aspect of this quilt: from how long it would take to fussy cut about a million charm squares to the learning curve necessary to make jersey knits play nice with woven shirtings.

This is no ordinary quilt. With the exception of the white sashing and part of the backing, it is comprised entirely of boxer shorts. You heard me: twenty years' worth of novelty boxer shorts.

It started with a bag of fabric that, thankfully, had the waistbands all removed. From there the 5" squares were cut out, fussing around the side seams. Of course some prints were so grand they refused to be cut.

The pattern is a disappearing nine-patch. I gave up on finding a way to truly make all those different years worth of prints play well together and have rigidly compartmentalized them with white sashing.

Currently, it's quilted and awaiting binding. In case you have a smaller bed, this is what over 100 square feet of queen-sized quilt (not comforter) look like when being basted:

Written by tarabu

Etsy Favorites: VectorCloud

I adore VectorCloud. Every piece is laser cut from wood by a Queens, New York product designer. Every piece has so much personality and is so affordable, it is hard to resist a purchase. Also, the artist is happy to make custom work. The possibilities are endless!

Random Baltimore Photo

Dragon Boat love!

photo by E11y

What's new in the sweatshop!

Since receiving my college degree in painting, I have always had this vision of being able to paint in my huge painting studio everyday. My dream got a bit sour my first year in the real world while only making a big whooping $7000 my first year, working at a popular soap shop in the inner harbor back in 1985. I never stopped painting, but reality made me go back to school to get my teaching degree. I was brought up in a sewing crafty family and started using my sewing machine to make my paintings on pillows and handbags for the past 4 and half years. I have been working pretty hard to bring my painting with my jennyjen42 products. This year, I put it all together and began to make wall hangings: sewn environments with felt appliqué birdies. This is a sneak peek of my first ones.These hangings, plus a couple more are now listed in my shop here.

Just a Few More Days to Become a BEST member!

As a member of BEST, you’ll have access to a large, generous community of experienced Etsy sellers through the Google Group and the opportunity to participate in meetings and workshops to meet up with all of the local crafty folk. (You can work on upping your business game or just hang out!) Your Etsy shop will be accessible through the Shop Local feature on our website, as long as you tag items correctly. You’ll be more visible to the local (and some national) press - many of our members have been contacted through the team for interviews. You’ll have access to craft show resources, like ride-sharing and supply rentals. Plus, we’re pretty fun to hang out with!

Memberships are $40 / year for all new members. (After the first year, you have the option to take on some responsibility for a lesser rate.) Membership will be open until February 16th, and then not again until July. Email us today for a link to the membership form!

Friday Finds: LOVE!

Cupid the plush monster miniature red and white Little Uggle by TheJaeBird

Animal Lover Scarf in Cranberry by Xenotees

Valentines Day assorted Truffle Box 1 doz by LollipopsSugarShoppe

Handmade Carved Ring by yummyandcompany

Fabric Design with Spoonflower

This past December I exhibited at the One of a Kind Show in NYC in the Etsy Pavilion. I picked up as much swag as I could while I was there. Got some bumper stickers, letterpress calendars and a this little DIY ornament kit designed by Anda. She told me she had been designing some fabrics on Spoonflower and that the ornament was something she had created using the site.

Well, I just thought that was so cool. I have been a long time textile lover and appreciator. Doing upholstery and reusing Japanese fabrics, I see lots of great patterns and textures come through the studio. Here are some great Spoonflower examples I found on Etsy:

from WonderFluffshop

from swankyswell

from scarletfig