Call for Entries - Artscape

Show: July 19-21, 2013 (Fri & Sat, 11am-9pm; Sun, 11am-8pm)

Application due: March 31, 2013

     Application fee: $40

     Exhibitor fee: $500 for 10'x10'x7' space

Artscape is America's largest free arts festival, attracting 350,000+ attendees over three days.

Artscape features:

• 150+ fine artists, fashion designers and craftspeople
• visual art exhibits on and off-site, including exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize
• live concerts on outdoor stages
• performing arts including dance, opera, theater, film, experimental music and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
• family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, competitions, children's entertainers and street theater
• international menu of food and beverages 

For more information about Artscape click here.

For a direct link to the application page click here.

Baltimore Sun photo

Written by: Susan Brandt

Friday Finds - Cat Mania!

 

In my house, it's all about cats! We have two cats, my daughter lives and breathes cats, we have cat books, cat encyclopedias and so on. So, love them or hate them, here are some adorable cat finds from Etsy sellers.

Funny Cats Set of 4 Stickers
Made by PopDecals

Cat in Glasses Tote Bag
Made by Zyzanna

Cycling Art Cat
Made by Jamie Shelman

 

Written by: Erica, owner of Becca & Mars, and mom to 8-yr old cat expert

St. Patrick's Day: Did you know...?

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th every year by Catholics and non-Catholic, Irish and non-Irish, but did you know...?

1. St. Patrick's given name was Maewyn Succat.

2. Patrick was not Irish. He was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave.

3. Patrick died in 461 CE

4. Boston held the first St. Patrick's Day celebration in 1737.

5. The first St. Patrick's Day parade anywhere was held in New York City in 1762.

6. Blue was originally the color associated with St. Patrick.

(sculpture by Frank Brito in the Smithsonian's American Art Museum)





7. McDonald's Shamrock shake and a little girl with leukemia led to the first Ronald McDonald House.

8.
The Plumbers Union, Local 130, dyes the Chicago River green every year. (Click for video)

9. The third largest market for Guinness is Nigeria.

10. The ratio of 4-leaf clovers to 3-leaf is 1:10,000.

Written by Susan Brandt

Planning a Spring or Summer Wedding?

If you're planning a spring or summer wedding, now is the time to finish tying up those loose ends!

Still looking for bridal jewelry or attendant gifts? Look no further than the Best of Baltimore Crafts wedding items! 

Clicking this link will take you to an ETSY page that features several local crafters who make custom jewelry, favors, accessories, papergoods and more. 

But to be sure to order soon, it's a super busy time of the year for those of us in the custom wedding industry!

Niche Features BEST Crafter Jennifer Wilfong of Yummy & Company!

If you haven't checked out Niche's new blog now is the time!  As a crafter, it's such a thrill to even be on their radar!  So I about jumped out of my chair when they said they'd like to write an article about my work and what inspires some of the designs I've created.   Niche has been an invalubable resource for retailers and galleries looking to find one of a kind crafts for years and is a great source for any aspiring crafter!

And You Thought It Couldn't Be Done....

A triple baby shower!

Check out some of these pics from the shower we threw for three of our lovely BESTies who are with child! 

Everyone brought a dish and all presents were either handmade or hand-me-down!  Here are a few of the great things the girls received.

Gorgeous quilts by Tara of Tarabu

Amazing sewn bags by Deb of Glowgirl

OoAKies by Dana of greenstarstudio

Can't wait to meet the new generation of BEST!

A Little BEST at the Fenton Street Market

 

Stop by the Fenton Street Market Saturday!  There's really something for eveyone!Vintage clothing, architectural salvage, books, food, ceramics, jewelry teas, soaps, candles, handmade fibers, toys and antiques galore!

4.24 Market, originally uploaded by Fenton Street Market.

Be sure to stop by Lana Bella and Yummy & Company of BEST!
Oh, and did I mention there'd be fresh, made-to-order crepes?!

The market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Fenton Street and Silver Spring Avenue (click for map) in downtown Silver Spring, rain or shine. Free parking is available in public lots across Fenton Street.

My Three Things

Mojito Necklace by PoleStar.

Summer Sangria Necklace by Carollai.

Merlot Drops by BEST’s very own Jill Popowich! Can you guess what these three things have in common? We made this one easy for you!

Written by Lauren of Jersey Girl Design.

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse

There is a new, must see book, out right now which serves as an amazing jump start if your brain is feeling a little slow in the creativity department. 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse features 1000 images of objects made from recycled material made by artists from all over the world, and includes many Etsy artists, including yours truly, TheBrokenPlate. There just so happens to be an article in the Storque this week, written by the author Garth Johnson about the book. Go check it out! What are some of your favorite objects in the book?

Baker Artist Awards

So, a bunch of BEST artists are nominated for Baker Artist awards! Feel free to stop by and vote for your favorites!

The site is amazing and is designed by the BRILLIANT team over at Fastpot!

This site is really on the cutting edge, you can even stay updated of nominations through your iphone!

So cool!

Twenty Things- Dandelion Blu Jewelry

1. I am recovering wedding and event photographer. I owned my business for 5 "seasons," and it almost killed me.

2. Although I am professional photographer, I rarely have a camera on me, and when somebody says "we should get a picture of that" everybody turns to me expectantly...

3. I have several rescued animals, and lost dogs seem to find me everywhere. My dream is to one day have a sanctuary where packs of homeless dogs can run and be guaranteed a home for life.

4. On the topic of animals, my other dream is to one day have enough space for a goat, a pig, and free range chickens (not for eating.)

5. On the topic of chickens, I have seen a chicken "running around with it's head cut off." Growing up my dad made an incubator and thought it would be educational for us to see chicks hatch. Pretty soon we had a huge flock and well, some became dinner.

6. I love ketchup. I would put it on pretty much anything if it was socially acceptable. I consider french fries to be just a vehicle for the ketchup.

7. I am directly related to Edwin P. Hubbell, the scientist who discovered the "Big Bang Theory," and for whom the Hubble Space Telescope is named for. When it was launched, my family got to go to Florida to see it.

8. Halloween is my favorite "holiday." I eat up all those ghost story shows, and consider October the best month for t.v. watching.

9. I can't wait till my boy is old enough for trick or treating, I want to make his costumes- yeah I'll be "that" mom, and he's going to be "that kid in the homemade costume."

10. My Dad and I both think the house I grew up in was haunted. Also, every year my friend and I go on a ghost tour. We've exhausted all the ones in the area. I believe.

11. My guilty pleasure is watching "90210" re-runs on the Soap channel.

12. Speaking of "90210," when I was in college at UMBC I got a job at Planet Hollywood in the harbor. I was working at the opening and Luke Perry (aka Dylan McKay) was there. I was really disappointed in how short he was...

13. I do not sing in public. Ever. Not even Happy Birthday. I've been caught lip syncing it!

14. I never held a little baby till I had my own.

15. I am not a natural red head- gasp! I've been dyeing my hair so long I am not sure what color it is naturally.

16. My Grandmother is a professional clown named Petunia. She went to Klown Kollege and everything!

17. My Grandmother also used to have a champagne pink Cadillac and she used to have her hair dyed to match it.

18. I love to vacuum, my Dyson Animal is one of my favorite possessions. I also have a robotic vacuum that I named Rosie. I've been known to just start vacuuming at friends houses.

19. I actually really like my Mother in law.

20. Mango is my favorite flavor, gardenia is my favorite smell, baby sneezes are my favorite sound, fall is my favorite time of year, shades of blue/green are my favorite color, and near the ocean with my husband, baby and dogs, is my favorite place to be.

Would you like to be featured? Email your twenty things (keep it clean, please!) to baltimoreetsy (at) gmail (dot) com. Be sure to include your name and URL.

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.

Handmade Mart!

Join BEST members Dandelion Blu, Tigerlilly Shop, Block Party Press, and Sugar Paperie this Sunday, May 31st, in Downtown Silver Spring for the first ever Handmade Mart! Come for Indie Crafts and Indie Rock, 10am-5pm on Ellsworth Drive between Fenton and Georgia Ave. We hope to see you there!


Dandelion Blu
Block Party Press


Tigerlilly Shop


Sugar Paperie

BEST is going to Art Star!

The weather this weekend is going to be perfect for a little travel, some great shopping and hanging out at one of the coolest DIY craft shows on the east coast. It’s the Art Star Craft Bazaar and it’s this weekend at Penns Landing Great Plaza, Saturday and Sunday (may 30-31) from 11AM to 6PM. Over 100 artists and crafters! Get there early and get one of a 250 free tote bags (silk-screened with Julie’s west’s Bazaar Logo) and filled with gifts from sponsors, vendors and coupons for area restaurants and shops. So, when is the last time you’ve been to Philly the City of Love? Less than 2 hours away on a beautiful sunny day in the 70’s. Stop by to visit these BEST members who will represent the Baltimore handmade scene:

Yellow Leaf Broken Plate Pendant with Vintage Dangle Beads

by The Broken Plate Pendant Company

Raven, Hand Colored Woodcut with Letterpress

by Bowerbox Press

Jade Drop Earrings

by elisasherejewelry

Monster Truck long-sleeved infant t-shirt

by sweetpepita

Palmistry by Worndress

Birdy Party in Blue by Jennyjen42

Nandi bag by Dari

AVAM Bridal Happy Hour!

Please join BEST members at the 8th annual American Visionary Art Museum's Bridal Happy Hour!
Thursday April 2nd, 5:30-7:30. Enjoy food and cocktails and view work by some of Baltimore's best wedding vendors. And best of all, it's free!

Why go handmade for your wedding?? There are many reasons!
-Have custom jewelry, paper goods and spa gifts created that are as a special as your wedding.
-Support local and woman owned businesses.
-Many BEST artists use sustainable and green materials in their work.
-Give your wedding a handmade touch that is unique.
-Show your bridal party and family your appreciation with gifts that are created just for them!

Participating BEST artists:
Block Party Press
Dandelion Blu Jewelry
Elisa Shere Jewelry
Jill Popowich Designs
The Broken Plate
TigerLilly Shop
Spa Therapy Works
Yummy & Co.

Hope to see you there!

Get Back to School!

Do you have questions about wholesale? Taxes? Copyright? What about getting great images of your work? Or effectively promoting yourself on the web?

Maintaining a successful business is hard work and can feel overwhelming when you are the person responsible for everything from design to production, accounting, marketing, shipping and sales. It's time to step out of the studio and arm yourself with information. You know how they say 'knowledge is power'? In the business world it's also time, money, success and probably sanity, too.


image by mare.bowe

Register for BEST's first business meet-up at the Creative Alliance this Sunday, January 25th. The meet-up will feature roundtable discussions led by Cynthia Blake Sanders, MD Lawyers for the Arts; Rebecca Cason, former director of the Buyer's Market of American Craft; Jen Menkhaus, working crafter and one of the founders of the Baltimore Street Team; Nita Gale, web designer; Ariella Levin of Baltimore's Best Bookkeeper; and Thomas Wynn, professional photographer.

Practical discussions will include legal and accounting basics; marketing, wholesale and pricing; and looking your best– on the web and in promo photos. Lunch will be provided (mouth-watering white bean hummus sandwiches!), a great time to get connected with other local artists and crafters to make new friends, show off your work, and share ideas. Come join us!

Details:
Sun Jan 25. 10am-2:30pm.
Adv reg $25, $20 CA & BEST mbrs. Walk-in $30, $25 CA & BEST mbrs. Includes lunch.

Gift Ideas: Shop Local Baltimore with the BEST

Etsy posted this awesome story featuring BEST and Craft Mafia members in our very photogenic city! What a treat! You can see all the beautiful pictures and the full article here

redprairiepress: "Baltimore may have a rough reputation, but once you're here, you realize this city is just proud of itself, and thus, proud of you for making art in its borders. People here love knowing that what they're buying comes from here, and they love having certain things to claim as Baltimore's own. The city is big enough that it has a diverse mix of happenings, but small enough that on any given day, most people are connected to at least one of them because they'll know one of the organizers or artists. Enormous community pride and a small-world feel? That's the best support you can ask for, as a local business."

Two Good Causes and a Ton of Craft!

First stop... Hamilton. Be sure to attend the Benefit for the Gaffney Family. The pot-luck dinner and silent auction is tonight, Wednesday, October 8 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Faith Community United Methodist Church.

Bid on an assortment of fantastic gifts from members of the Charm City Craft Mafia and the Baltimore Etsy Street Team. This includes clothing from Red Prairie Press, Jewelry and accessories from dandelionblu, the littlest bean, BEETREE by M.E., Tigerlilly Shop, Jersey Girl Design, HVM Studios, Bake Sale Designs and CEK Custom Designs, rock n roll and funky cool baby gear from Bitchen Stitchen and Sweet Pepita, and paper goods and more from Kiss My Crafts, Red Prairie Press and HVM Studios!

Faith Community United Methodist Church
5315 Harford Road, Baltimore
(Corner of Harford Rd. and Gibbons Ave., parking is in back)

And there's more! Bid on a Basket of Charm City Craft Mafia Member Goods through the Shop-a-Paw-Looza 2008 Online Auction !



Is this not a win-win situation? Help the animals and get good craft? The estimated value of this basket of craft is $120 and includes these gifts...

* Notecard sets from HVM Designs
* Ceramic tile from Kiss My Crafts
* Toddler tee by Sweet Pepita (18 - 24 mos)
* Ceramic bowls by Pink Kiss Ceramics
* Cat print by Illegible Ink
* Flower hairpins and broaches by Bake Sale Designs
* Sleepy Records CD

Get bidding and good luck!

Benefit for the Gaffney's

The thing about this crafty scene is that it brings people together who otherwise may just be stuck in the house. OK. Maybe it's just me who would be stuck in the house. It brings us together and we become part of the greater community. We have all formed relationships, not just with fellow crafters, but with folks who support us, who come out to just see what it is that we do.

I met my friend Marie at Pile of Craft this spring. We'd met in passing a handful of times (this is Baltimore), but when the two of us made the connection that we'd crossed paths before, and realized that we have sooo much in common, we became quick friends.

Not long afterward, she told me that her good friends, The Gaffneys (Alana and Matt and their 3 kids, including newborn Jimmy) recently lost everything in a house fire in Lauraville (If you read City Paper, you might have seen Jimmy featured on the cover in the article on homebirth). No one was hurt, but they were, and are, still in need of help.


A group of friends and supporters is holding a benefit and silent auction to raise money for the family. You can visit the database in the group they've set up online to bid on items before the event. Please keep in mind that every dollar raised will go to directly to the Gaffneys to help them get back on their feet and begin to replace some of the things they've lost. The auction will end on Wednesday October 8th at a pot-luck benefit to be held in Lauraville/Hamilton, at the Faith Community United Methodist church on the corner of Gibbons and Harford Rd at 6:00pm.

Local shops, restaurants, massage therapists and acupuncturists have pulled together to auction their goods and services in order to help and members from The Charm City Craft Mafia and the Baltimore Etsy Street Team are busily combining talents and compiling one fabulous basket of craft just for this event. If you've been wanting to begin your collection of craft, there is no better reason to start than with this. And like I said, every dollar raised will go to directly to the Gaffneys.

Please join the Gaffneys and their friends for a pot-luck dinner and last chance bidding. Winners will be announced at the benefit on Wednesday, October 8th.

The pot-luck benefit and silent auction will be held at the Faith Community United Methodist church on the corner of Gibbons and Harford Rd at 6:00pm.

Please R.S.V.P. by voting in the poll at the Gaffney Auction group's homepage

Our New Digs

Some of you may have already noticed, but we have a brand new website. You'll be able to get a closer look at our members, and easily find out what we're up to next.

We also just sent out our first newsletter! Check it out! And make sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates and be entered to win crafts!