Essential Oils for Allergy Relief

Fall allergies can be tough; itchy eyes, sneezing, headaches - yuck! Sometimes prescription, or over-the-counter medicines, are necessary, but here are some natural solutions that have helped me.

 There are several essential oils that can be used to treat allergy symptoms by helping with respiratory distress and easing breathing.

• Eucalyptus 
• Peppermint 
• Blue Tansy* 
• Clove Bud 

Here's how to use them:

• Place 5 - 10 drops in your electric or candle diffuser 
• Put 8 - 10 drops on a cotton balls leave one on window sills at night (away from children and pets) 
• Drop a few drops of oil onto a light bulb that is on and the heat will disseminate the scent 
• Add 15 drops to a carrier oil like jojoba and after 24hrs, use as a chest rub 
• Add 4 - 8 drops to a bowl of steaming water place your face above the bowl using a towel as a tent to keep the steam in Add 6 - 8 drops into your humidifier 

These oils are for external use only. If you are pregnant, please check with your Doctor before applying essential oils to your skin.

 *Blue Tansy really is blue and can stain fabric.

 Written by Erica of Becca & Mars

What I'm Working On - Open Eyes Press

I definitely got inspired over the summer to add some color to my print collection. My new Can series has bold hues, but still remains true to the graphic print style I love so much. The designs are available in 11x14 prints, and blank note cards (which are also great for framing!).

Written by Rachael Kondylas from Open Eyes Press

Sugarloaf Craft Festival Freebie!

So, you love crafts and you love free things?!!!
Perfect!

Pottery by Gail Markiewicz

The friendly folks over at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festivals have offered up 2 free tickets to their show on October 5-7 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds!

Just leave a comment below to enter this amazingly perfect giveaway!
Winners will be notified on Oct 1!

This not-to-be-missed craft event includes more than 250 artisans, featuring an array of sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, wood, metal, furniture, home accessories, photography and fine art.

Fri. & Sat. 10-6

Sun. 10-5 

For more info, visit their Facebook page!

Favorite Etsy Shop: BeautiSHE

This fabulous Etsy shop, BeautiSHE that is located in California, takes reclaimed items such as mirrors, wall hangings and candle sconces and turns them into great new pieces that would brighten up any room in your house. Check out a selection of their items below.

Your CHOICE of Color.... Set of Two Upcycled Painted Vintage Homco Candleholders http://www.etsy.com/listing/107375221/ornate-candle-sconcesyour-choice-of

Aqua, Teal, Greys and Greens - Modern Ornate Frames Set of 6 Upcycled Painted Frames 

Bright Owl family Teal Lime Green Aqua Yellow Upcycled Vintage Metal Owl trivets 

Modern Candlesconce Collection of 4- Teal Gray Grey Green Aqua.. Upcycled Ornate Scrolly wall modern candleholders 

Large Vintage Yellow Ornate Mirror 

Written by Abby Bohn from www.abigailleigh.etsy.com

Mind Your Business

MIND YOUR BUSINESS – Free Sessions for Baltimore’s Creative Leaders...yes FREE!

Monday, September 24th: Get the scoop on Merchant Services, Copyright, Arts & Entertainment District Tax Incentives, and Liability Insurance

Monday, October 29th: Get the scoop on Women & Minority Businesses, Small Business Resources, Contracts, and Business Entities (LLC vs. Non-Profit vs. Fiscal Sponsorship)

Both events run from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Located at
Union Mill
1500 Union Avenue
Hampden, Baltimore
 
These events are FREE, but you must register first!

Summer Vegetable Wrap - recipe?

Summer might be winding down for most of us, but summer vegetables are still in abundance. YAY!

While I have many recipes that I turn to in the summer months that make GREAT use of summer veggies, this is a quick treatment of those veggies that is almost a non-recipe. And with school starting up soon, I know many of us appreciate QUICK meals. This is one of those.

Ingredients
Flatbread or tortilla
and
Any combination of the following:
Carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumber, sweet bell peppers, onion, tomato, avocado
lettuce

Special Sauce (optional) (amounts to taste)
Rice wine vinegar
garlic chili sauce
peanut butter


Technique
Julienne, Slice, Chop, or Shred the vegetables
Place on flatbread
Whisk sauce ingredients in a small bowl, drizzle over veggies
Roll

ENJOY!

So colorful! 

SO delicious!

SO very healthy!

and so versatile too. 

You can swap out veggies. You can change the sauce (try ranch dressing for your kids). You can add feta cheese. (or your cheese of choice)

One tip: I tend to enjoy this wrap the most when the vegetables are julienned very thin. This seems to help everything hold together very well. But really - there is no wrong way to make this ! 

ENJOY!

Written by: Janice of Doxallo Designs Studio

Get Out of the House Tonight!!!

Stop by Case[werks] this Friday for the opening reception of HOUSE SHOW! The show studies and celebrates the idea of the rowhouse as storyteller. Co-curated by Marianne Amoss, Marian April Glebes, Sarah McCann, and Jessica Young of D center Baltimore, the exhibit examines how these familiar structures serve as narratives, recording and telling our personal stories and the stories of streets, neighborhoods, and entire cities.  It's a great excuse to get out of the house! 

September 21st, 6 – 8 pm 

The exhibit is at Urbanite@Case[werks] from September 21 through October 24, 2012.   Gallery open 9 a.m. To 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Urbanite@Case[werks]
Case[werks] Showroom & Gallery
1501 Saint Paul Street, Suite 116
Baltimore, MD 21202 

Perry Hall Apple Festival

If you are in Baltimore County this weekend and like apples, visit the Perry Hall Apple Festival.

2012 Perry Hall Apple Festival
Saturday & Sunday, September 22–23, 2012
10am–5pm
Chapel Hills Farm and Nursery
4350 Chapel Road, Perry Hall, MD 21128
410-256-5335

Rain dates Septemember 29-30
Experience Perry Hall's “Spirit of Community” in a weekend of Fall Fun with Craft Vendors, Great Food, and tons of Family Activities!

Activities
Blue Grass Band • Pie Baking Contest • Pie Eating Contest • Sack Races • Bobbing for Apples
Pony Rides • Tractor Drawn Hay Rides • Train Rides • Gator Wagon Train
Petting Zoo • Mini Hay Maze • Pedal Tractors • Face Painting

Food
Pit Beef & Turkey • Hamburgers & Hot Dogs • Fries • Soda
Apple Cider • Funnel Cakes • Caramel & Candy Apples • Baked Goods

Favorite Etsy Shop: MaryJudy

Bright colors! Funky patterns! Bold shapes!

That barely scratches the surface of items in one of my favorite Etsy shops - MaryJudy Ceramics. Her work just makes me SMILE.


Mary Judy says this about her work:
All original hand-built kooky & colorful ceramic art from Dr Seuss to Beetlejuice !

What's not to love?

A few years ago, in an effort to 'be good to myself', I began buying myself a birthday present each year. One of my first purchases? A little quirky happy colorful dish like the one below. (though mine is small)

Mary Judy Ceramics, serving bowl

 And I am seriously considering one of these square bowls. It is perfect for business cards as shown but I think it would also be great for keys or loose change sitting in the entryway of a home.

Square dish - perfect for business cards or keys or change - PERFECT Back-to-School Teacher Gift

 And just look at this pitcher! How fun and irresistible is that?

Playful Pitcher

Check out Mary Judy's ceramic shop on Etsy for more fun items!


Written by Janice of Doxallo Designs Studio

Repurposed Plastic Bangles

Recently I got a stash of my grandmom's old plastic bangles that she originally got from the 5 and 10 store. Although I love bangles the years had put a bunch of nicks and dings on them so I decided to give them an facelift. This project is super easy and cheap. One of the best parts is that you can not only use old bangles you can use all those bits and pieces of embroidery floss that you have left over from other projects.

Supplies
2-skeins of embroidery floss*
plastic bangle
scissors
white craft glue

*You can use more than 2 colors, I encourage using as many as you want.

1. Tie embroidery floss to the bracelet. Make sure to double not it so it doesn't slip off.
   
   
2.  Wrap the embroidery floss around the bracelet making sure to cover the short tail by wrapping the embroidery floss over it.
   
   
   
3.  To change colors tie one color of floss to the other. Make sure to double knot it tightly so the knot doesn't slip (3A). Closely trim the tails of the floss making sure to keep the one long strand attached to the skein.
   
   
4. Continue wrapping the bracelet until it is entirely covered.
   
   
5. When you get to the end, tie a double knot to secure the floss (5A). Place a dab of white glue on top of the knot (5B) then using your finger tip lightly work the glue into the knot. Let the glue dry thoroughly. Check to make sure the knot is secure, you may want to apply more glue if not. After the glue is dry and the knot is secure trim the tail of the floss.
   
   
   
   

 

Written by: Kolleen Kilduff from Design by Night

What I'm workin on - Doxallo Designs

Rings, Rings, Rings

And yes -

MORE rings.

I seem to go through periods where I create particular items of jewelry and right now I am definitely in a ring period.

Big Time.

I am working in two collections: "Secret Garden" and "Waves"


The Secret Garden Rings follow a theme in my work that explores life and the intersection between our public and private journeys. These rings are microcosms that reflect the quiet reflective parts of our lives.

Secret Garden Ring, Sterling Silver and Amethyst by Doxallo Designs Studio

Secret Garden Ring in Sterling Silver by Doxallo Designs Studio

The Waves Rings are a celebration of summer. A permanent reminder of warm sunny days relaxing on the beach listening to the waves wash up onto the sand. The stones are little pops of color reminding me of bathing suits, beach towels, and umbrellas dotting the beach.

Waves Rings in Sterling with Peridot and Amethyst by Doxallo Designs

Written by Janice of Doxallo Designs Studio!

Favorite Etsy Shop—Graphic Anthology

Ah! How wonderful it is when my worlds collide!

 I was browsing on Pinterest for the 5th time today (wish I was joking...do they have AA for Pinterest?) and I found this really cute print from Etsy...which sums up my whole day pretty much:

Time for Coffee print 

How cute is this? So then I naturally started browsing through the shop it came from...and as I suspected...other cute things! Go check out Graphic Anthology for other cute stuff like this:

Always Say Please and Thank You print 

 Shut the Front Door print 

 Eat Dessert First print makes me want to redecorate my kitchen!! 

 written by Lauren of JerseyGirlDesign

Merry Mart Applications are Live!

Summer is ending, kids are going back to school and the holidays are just around the corner so it's time to get ready for Merry Mart!

Merry Mart will be accepting vendor applications for the Sunday Dec. 2nd show starting now! We are looking for high-quality, handmade work in a variety of media. Merry Mart is an annual holiday craft show held at the Creative Alliance, and has become a tradition now that people look forward to!

Click here to apply now! Applying is FREE…so get to applying Please remember to read the application carefully. And don't worry, there's no fee to apply. Applications must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59 PM on Friday, September 28, 2012. Vendors will be notified of acceptance by Friday, October 5th.

Written by Kolleen Kilduff from Design by Night

Friday Finds: Back to School

Are you ready for school to start again? Check out these Etsy finds and you will sure to be ready.....

School Rocks - Back to School Shirt - 2nd Grade Rocks - Boys or Girls - Can be customized to grade of choice by Birthday Couture

Sandwich and Snack Baggie Reusable Eco Friendly Blue Lagoon Fabric by Glowgirl http://www.etsy.com/listing/104243104/sandwich-and-snack-baggie-reusable-eco

Journal, Composition Notebook, Recipe Book, Scrapbook, Diary, Doodle Book - Yellow Back to School by Snappi Girl Creations

Burlap Door Hanger Pencil Back to School Teacher Burlap by Piece of my Mind

 Written by Abby of Abigail Leigh Handbags www.abigailleigh.etsy.com

Summit of Awesome!

The Summit of Awesome is an annual conference that brings together crafters and makers from across the U.S. to learn, grow, and be prosperous in today’s economy.
With a desire to help sustain the handmade movement and support independent crafters within the community,  Hello Craft welcomes independent business owners and makers to the Summit of Awesome each year.

Here are a few of the awesome speakers that will be on hand...

• Small Manufacturing with FabLab
• Own Your Awesome with Kelly Rand
• Bookbinding with Grace Dobush 
• Finance 101: The Basics for Crafters with Jennifer Dunn of Outright
• In Writing with Kate McKean and Grace Dobush
• What’s the Deal? New Wholesale Opportunities with Tina Seamonster
• Licensing and Copyright for Crafters with John Mason of Washington Area Lawyer for the Arts
• Pitch Your Craft Book! with Kate McKean (pre-registration is required)
• Advanced Email Marketing with Amy Ellis of MailChimp
• The Retail Experience with Allison Lince-Bentley of Bits of Thread

This year’s Summit of Awesome will be on Saturday, September 8 at Fab Lab DC (1418 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20002).

Hampdenfest this Saturday!

Hampden is all things Bawl'mer, and to celebrate that, Hampdenfest on September 8th, features 4 stages of live music, a mac and cheese cook off, and toilet bowl races among many other interesting events. BEST members Design by Night will be there with their beautiful hair accessories, along with wonderful upcycled jewelry by Charm City Company, and Spry Sprout with our geeky baby stuff like the Natty Boh guy and Utz girl burp cloths. So come on out to see one of Baltimore favorite neighborhoods do it up right, Hon!

Photo provided by Spry Sprout

Hampdenfest
September 8th 10am - 7pm
"The Avenue" On and around West 36th St. Hampden, Baltimore

For more information, visit hampdenfest.blogspot.com.

Written by Miranda of Spry Sprout

OUTSIDESHOW, Sideshow's Super Duper Flea Market!

It's that time again! For the 2nd time this year, the sidewalks around AVAM (American Visionary Museum), will be packed with a host of vendors that will be selling original art, books, toys, antiques, vintage clothing, and collectibles. As well as number of our BEST crew: Block Party Press,Damn Good Doormats, JennyJen 42,JerseyGirlDesign, The Littlest Bean, Nikdapooh Designs,sugar paperie,Susan Brandt, Whoop and Mackwire.

Sage Green and Brown Bonsai Tree Necklace - Tranquility by Block Party Press

Pug Rug- Hand Painted doormat by damn good doormats

Eco Turquoise Folded Note Card, Vintage Map with Greeting by Sugar Paperie

 

Music, food trucks & tons of fun, so bring the whole family for an amazing time and endless bargains. Flea Market runs from 9AM  to 3, this Saturday, Sept. 8, outside of AVAM. For more information and directions go here.

Found Footage Festival

Hey, whatever happened to that VHS tape?... Sunday, September 9th, the Creative Alliance hosts Found Footage Festival, an "acclaimed showcase of odd and hilarious VHS videos scrounged from thrift stores and garage sales across North America" (creativealliance.org). Hosted by veterans of The Onion and Late Show with David Letterman, this show is packin' some seriously professional funny. Check out their webpage for clips, info, and, of course, found footage. : ) 

Found Footage Festival
Sunday, Sept. 9th
7:30pm
Creative Alliance 3
134 Eastern Ave $10/$5 mbrs

 Written by Rachael of Open Eyes Press.
 Photo courtesy Found Footage Festival.

Knitting and Kneedlework Circle at the Woman's Industrial Exchange

The Woman's Industrial Exchange, located at 333 North Charles Street, was originally created after the Civil War to allow women in need a way to earn a living from their crafts. Today the Exchange is Baltimore's headquarters for all things crafty with an active craft shop, newly re-opened tearoom, apartment and space rentals, and full offering of craft classes and other activities. Every Thursday from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. you can bring your knitting, needlework, or anything else you might be working on and enjoy tea and refreshments plus a comfy place to sit, chat, and share. The Exchange is located at 333 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, 21201 For more information visit their website at womansindustrialexchange.orgor catch them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/womansindustrialexchange 

 Written by Baltimore Soaps and More Baltimoresoaps.etsy.com

2012 Ballston Arts Market

Saturday, September 8th   

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue Joins the Fun!   

With September comes the last days of summer and the first days of fall. So, even though autumn doesn't officially start until the 22nd, celebrate the change of seasons a little early with a visit the Ballston Arts Market on September 8th from 10 AM - 4 PM. Presented to the community by the Ballston Business Improvement District (BBID), the Ballston Arts Market is the only upscale, handmade art market in Arlington!       

  

Located in Welburn Square, (across from the Ballston Metro stop) the Market is held on the second Saturdays of every month through October with a revolving array of artists.

   

Arts & Dogs - What more can you ask for?

Whether you are looking for a new best friend, or simply want to give to a wonderful cause, join us on September 8th and visit with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. Lucky Dog is an all-volunteer, non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless animals and educating the community on responsible pet ownership. Lucky Dog will be at the market all day to share information and host an artist raffle, in which all ticket sales benefit their wonderful organization. Please support Lucky Dog by purchasing a raffle ticket or just saying hello at the Market on September 8th.

September's market also features:

• FREE admission
• FREE raffle to win an artisan basket worth $250    
• FREE live, acoustic jazz by Market favorite, Veronneau (noon - 2 PM)
• FREE hula-hoop demos all day by pretty.hot.hoops. 

Conveniently located at 901 North Taylor Street, between North Stuart and North 9th Streets, (across the street from the Ballston Metro) the Ballston Arts Market offers one-of-a-kind hand-crafted gifts, jewelry, apparel, accessories, paper goods, ceramics, bags and so much more!   

The 2012 Market dates are: September 8 & October 13. For more information, a complete vendor list, updates and a glimpse of the Market's art, check out the Ballston Arts Market blog.   

The Ballston Arts Market is sponsored by Piedmont Properties. The Ballston BID preserves and enhances Ballston as a vibrant, innovative and attractive urban community to ensure the competitive success of its existing and future commercial properties.    

Buy Original. Stay Local. Support the Arts.