Merry Mart Sunday!

Come see BEST members at this year's Merry Mart. Merry Mart is a craft show featuring a diverse mix of art and craft from Baltimore and beyond. This is a creative and festive indoor show that showcases local Baltimore talent with unique handmade work. Shoppers will find one of a kind gifts, clothing, handbags, plushies, felt accessories, ceramics, soaps, kids toys, mixed media, amazing jewelry, and great art!

Support artisans and get great gifts all in one day!

You can find the vendor list and preview of their work here: http://merrymartbaltimore.blogspot.com/

When: December 2nd, 2012
Time: 11am-5pm
Where: Creative Alliance at the Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore MD 21224

Holiday Heap is this Saturday - don't miss it!

A Baltimore holiday tradition for many is heading to Holiday Heap in search of the coolest gifts.  Put on by the Charm City Craft Mafia, Holiday Heap is taking place this Saturday, December 1st, from 10-5 at St John's Church (2640 St Paul St, Baltimore).

 

Click here for the list of talented vendors.  Here's a sneak peak!  

Alice & Wonderland Journal by Sugar Paperie
 

Charm City Print by Nargol Arefi

Cable Knit Mitten Necklace by Block Party Press

What I'm Working on: Susie Brandt

Cards You Can Wear. Scarves You Can Send.

These are scarves for the season. Merry Christmas is repeated on the scarf which I hand-painted in festive colors. The scarf is then tucked into a card that says, what else, Merry Christmas. The scarf card can be mailed for $.80 or simply presented to the lucky recipient.Other "scarf cards" say Thank You, Celebrate, Congratulations, or Happy Birthday.

These are great tokens of appreciation for service providers or from a business to valued clients.

Another option is for a business to customize a beautiful scarf with their name or catch phrase.

Written by Susan Brandt

Favorite Etsy Shop: Cynthia's Attic

This Etsy store is so much fun to visit, it's sort of like the Cyber version of taking a long walk in a new city and finding a crammed to the ceiling antiques store around some forgotten street. You feel a breath of anticipation when entering and know that there is a treasure inside waiting to be found. And with 26 pages of items in Cynthia's Attic, it could be a wonderfully long browse. Here are a few of my favorites-

This vintage flour sifter would be cheerful and useful while making Holiday goodies.

 

 

This Kodak Brownie Camera has a bakelite case, and would be a great display item for photography or vintage buffs and also fun to use.

 

I have so many fond memories of reading Nancy Drew's adventures under the covers with a flashlight.

This 1967 collectible truck has just the right amount of patina. Could be a wonderful gift for that hard to buy for man on your gift list.

By Clare Hayes, Fiorella Jewelry

It's getting cold out there!

Fall is upon us and the air is getting chilly! Etsy is a great resource for finding fashionable ways to stay warm. There are some amazing knitters out there!

The shop Rima and Genute makes incredible hand knit socks:

The shop City Crochet makes adorable candy striped mittens:

For maximum warmth, an over-sized chunky sweater from Perfect Knit:

Written by Holler & Whistle

Holy Hedgehog!

Imagine my delight when I saw these cute things in the catalog of Crate & Barrel's subsidiary company, Land of Nod.  Made by Baltimore's own Jen Strunge, of Cotton Monster!!

 

The site even has a fun little bio on the featured artist.  

You can get your own handmade Cotton Monster on her shop, or at Holiday Heap!

What I'm Working On: Susie Brandt

When I take my silk scarves on the road to craft shows it makes my day when people admire them. It's great for an artist, who often works alone, to get validation from people who see her work. Sometimes, however, these very nice people go on to say, "I just don't wear scarves." These products are for you. They are made with my hand-painted silk scarves stretched over 6" x 6" canvases.

They can be displayed individually or in groups. You might group three of the same color, related colors or just pick your favorites.

They are newly available at my Etsy shop or come see them in person at an upcoming craft show like Merry Mart on December 2. I will be at several other craft shows in the upcoming months as will many of us BESTies. Please check out the BEST calendar which lists upcoming shows as well as which BEST members will be attending.

Written by: Susan Brandt

Tutorial: Lampshade

How to Make a Lampshade

Anyone who has shopped around knows that finding just the right lampshade to replace or renew an existing base is no easy task.  Not only can pre-made shades be expensive, they usually come in a very limited variety of designs and colors.  Well, limit no more!  This tutorial from Amanda Brown at Design Sponge shows you how to make a custom drum shade using any fabric of your choice.  Check out the full how-to here, and pickup your shade making supplies online at Lamp Shop. 

Anyone who has shopped around knows that finding just the right lampshade to replace or renew an existing base is no easy task.  Not only can pre-made shades be expensive, they usually come in a very limited variety of designs and colors.  Well, limit no more!  This tutorial from Amanda Brown at Design Sponge shows you how to make a custom drum shade using any fabric of your choice.  Check out the full how-to here, and pickup your shade making supplies online at Lamp Shop. 

Written by Open Eyes Press.  Photo courtesy Design Sponge/Amanda Brown.

My Three Things

All of these things from Etsy are not like each other, but still have something in common.

 

 http://www.etsy.com/listing/92848724/blunderbuss-pistol-1780-gun-avon-glass

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110231951/felted-wool-christmas-ornament

http://www.etsy.com/listing/111244673/blue-orchid-cobalt-8x10

 

Written by Clare of Fiorella Jewelry

Don't Forget to VOTE!

by Justin Rothshank

Warm and Fuzzy

So it looks like the weather is cooling down and it's about that time when you need to gear up for the chilliness that is sure to occur!   That's why I'm psyched that I spied  DeNada  at the last show I attended.   It was fun watching shoppers try on her amazing designs, I loved everything!

I went over at the end of the show to see them close up and give my compliments to the designer, Virginia.  I was so stoked when she offered to trade!!!  I ended up selecting a medium "Tile" print cowl that will be perfect for all my winter shows this season.  Now I'm actually excited for it to get cold!

Random Baltimore Photo

by Clare Hayes Fiorella Jewelry

Yummy & Company: What I'm Working On!

Arm candy!!!

Just in time for the holiday season! 

It's always nice to have a new product to offer customers at the holiday shows, so I've begun working on a bunch of new bracelets! 

 

Or if you can't make to any shows this holiday, you can always check out my Facebook Page for new designs and online holiday offers!!!

2Hands Market this Weekend

Get an early start on holiday shopping at the 2hands Indie Craft Market! The fair takes place on Saturday November 3rd from 10am to 3pm at the Holy Grounds Youth Center in Severna Park, MD. The event features local artists, live music, and some yummy gourmet treats. Stop by and visit our B.E.S.T. members: Drinking for Art, Littlest Bean, Susan Brandt Scarves, Yummy and Company, Fuzzy Mug, Holler & Whistle, Wood Art for Living, Greenwood Creations, Becca and Mars, Found Studio, Spry Sprout, and Nikdapooh Design

Smiling Rudolph Merry card by Fuzzy Mug

For more info and directions, click here. We hope to see you there!

Written by Holler & Whistle