Highlandtown Wine Festival, April 27th

What could be better than wine and feathers! Come see me this weekend at the 11th Annual Highlandtown Wine Festival.

Drink some wine and help celebrate the tradition of home wine making. The wine festival features a homemade wine competition, wine tastings, children's activities, arts and crafts, food, and music.

When: Sunday, April 27, 2014
Time: 1 - 6 pm
Where: Corner of Conkling and Claremont Street

Holiday Market at Belvedere Square , Saturday December 7th

Have you heard about the newly renovated Belvedere Market,the opening of Shoo-fly Diner and the re-opening of Senator Theatre? All will be celebrated Saturday Dec 7th at The Holiday Market. Great shopping from local artisans, caroling, Santa,and some wonderful bands will provide entertainment. If you get chilly, head into the market for a cuppa tea, or glass of wine, and then back outside to find that perfect, unique, and locally made gift.

Baltimore Etsy Team member Fiorella Jewelry will be there, as well as other local artisan including Corradetti Glass, Johns Hopkins University Press, Bmore Papercuts, Red Bicycle Studios, Austin Wayne Designs, Tommy Sheldon Photography...and many more.

See you there--submitted By Clare Hayes, Fiorella Jewelry

Pile of Craft this weekend!

Come see BEST members this weekend at the Charm City Craft Mafia's annual Spring Craft Show!

PILE OF CRAFT
June 22, 2013
10am - 5pm
2640 St Paul St, St John’s Church

Honfest this weekend!

Come visit BEST members this Saturday and Sunday at HonFest in Hampden. It's Bawlmer's Best Time!

When:
June 8: 11am to 10pm
June 9: Noon to 6pm

Where: located on the Avenue (36th Street) in Hampden

For more information visit the Honfest website.

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

Apply for Spring Bada-Bing!

Show: Saturday, Apr 20 • Application Deadline: March 05, 2013

Spring Bada-Bing is an annual indie craft show in Richmond, Virginia that is filled with over 50 of the best local, regional, and national indie artists and crafters we can find. Spring Bada-Bing, presented by the Richmond Craft Mafia, runs from 11am-5pm on Saturday, April 20th, 2013, and will be held at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Show Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013

For more information and to apply visit SpringBadaBing.com/apply/

Get Grumpy this Holiday!

Meet all your last minute handmade shopping needs this Saturday at GRUMP at Artisphere!!

"GRUMP is the best ever alternative holiday craft show and is your chance to shop local this holiday season. Let’s be real, the mall is sad and full of Pillow Pets and online shopping is lonely. So, join 40 of your favorite local makers as they show and sell handmade goods. From kids clothing made from vintage t-shirts and handmade soap to plush anteaters and t-shirts about zombies eating pizza, GRUMP’s mix of vendors should help you score something unique for everyone on your list. It is like shopping Etsy.com in real life, but without having to rely on a search function. And with a tacky-sweater photo booth and DJ"

I also hear that there will be a real life Yeti and a giant hot dog.  What more could you ask for? This is one of the last craft shows of the year, so don't miss out on the fun! 

Plus meet some BESTies:

 Nikdapooh Designs

The Littlest Bean 

Block Party Press

Charm City Craftivists Last Chance Holiday Craft Show this weekend!

Still looking for that perfect, locally made holiday gift? Many of our area's handmade craft shows may have passed but you still have one more chance! Check out the Charm City Craftivists Last Chance Holiday Craft Show to be held Dec. 8th, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 This juried show will feature a wide variety of quality handmade crafts by Baltimore's top crafters including some brand new faces to the Baltimore craft scene! Make sure to check out the five minute photo booth where you can have your photo taken and later order prints online.

There will also be free craft activities for the kids and a visit from Santa at some point during the day too! The food vendor will be offering a wonderful assortment of mostly locally sourced foods including chicken corn soup and pulled pork sandwhiches, plus cold and hot beverages including locally roasted Zeke's Coffee. Heck, the food alone is worth stopping by!

Free parking plus free admission seals the deal.

 Vendors will include BEST's own Charms City Company, Doxallo Designs, Greenwood Creations, Wood Art for Living, and Baltimore Soaps and More.

 Written by Baltimore Soaps and More

Last Chance Holiday Craft Show Applications due 10/26

Applications for the second annual Last Chance Holiday Craft Show to be held Dec. 8, 2012 at Faith Community Church, 5315 Harford Road are now live! The show hours are from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  We are looking for quality, handmade work in a variety of media. All crafts must be handmade by the seller - no re-sellers allowed. This year's show will have live music, an excellent food vendor, free craft activities for the kids, and free parking. 

 

Applications can be found at www.charmcitycraftivists.blogspot.com and are due no later than midnight October 26, 2012. Vendors will be notified of acceptance by November 2nd. There is no fee to apply.

 

Written by Baltimore Soaps and More

Final Ballston Arts Market of the season!

 

 

Now's your chance to get a jump on your Holiday shopping at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season on Saturday, October 13th 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, VA.

Located in the shady, tree-lined 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.

Catch your favorite artist at the FINAL MARKET OF THE SEASON!

Don't miss your opportunity to buy your family and friends the best hand-crafted Holiday gifts around from Baltimore Etsy Street team members Becca & Mars and Red Prairie Press

October's market also features:

• FREE admission
• FREE Ballston Arts Market tote bag to early visitors
• FREE raffle to win an artisan basket worth $250
• FREE live music by Snakehead Run (noon - 2 PM) & Threesound (2:30 - 4 PM)
• FREE demos by select artists

written by Erica of Becca & Mars

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

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

Pile of Craft

The Charm City Craft Mafia’s Pile of Craft, an indie and alternative craft fair, will take place on Saturday, June 16th from 10 AM to 5 PM at St. John’s Church, located at 2640 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218. The event is FREE and open to the public.

 Shoppers at Pile of Craft will delight in finding one-of-a-kind gifts, home goods, apparel, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, paper goods and so much more! Over 45 vendors from across the nation will come together for an amazing day of artistic talent. You'll see local BEST favorites like The Littlest Bean, TigerLilly Shop, Yummy & Company, Namoo, Found Studio, The Broken Plate Pendant Co, and Sugar Paperie, as well as new indie craft talent from Baltimore and beyond. Keep your eyes open for Hannah’s Ideas in Woods, Julia E. Dean Pottery, Planted, Transient Bag Co., A Fiber Circus, Horrible Adorables, and Metamorphosis Metals!

In addition to having the quirkiest, most exciting art shopping experience of the summer, shoppers will be able to enjoy treats from roaming snack-vendor Kinderhook Snacks, lunch from Baltimore's Gypsy Queen food truck and a coffee from Red Emma's coffeehouse.

As with every show - Craft mafia will be raffling off a charity basket of handmade treasures donated by the craft mafia's talented vendors and spectacular sponsors!! This year, all proceeds will go to local non-profit "Great Kids Farm" – providing opportunities for Baltimore City Public School students to understand and participate in every aspect of food preparation from seed to fork. Raffle tickets will be $1 at the door, and one lucky shopper will win a huge basket filled with a collection of handmade goods from many of our super talented vendors!


For a full list of vendors, information on the fair and more information on the Charm City Craft Mafia and our fairs, please visit pileofcraft2012.wordpress.com.

Written by:Kacey Stafford from Found Studios

HonFest 2012 this weekend!

Bawlmer's Best Time! Come out and see Design by Night and Charms City Company of BEST at HonFest 2012.

June 9: 11am to 10pm
June 10: Noon to 6pm

This nationally recognized festival covers four city blocks on 36th Street (The Avenue) in the neighborhood of Hampden. Hampden is a revered old-style Baltimore neighborhood, filled with quirky shops, quaint restaurants and endearing residents. HonFest gives local storeowners the opportunity to spill-out onto the sidewalk and showcase their wares. HonFest is a favorite destination for young and old, tourist and resident. Check out the schedule and direction page for directions to Honfest!

MAGFest January 5-8

MAGFest is an annual music and gaming festival held once a year. This year the festival takes place in National Harbor, Maryland at the beginning of January. The festival is 4 days of non-stop games, concerts and shopping. Guests this year include: Nobuo Uematsu and his band EARTHBOUND PAPAS whose musical success includes music from the Final Fantasy Series, voice actor Wes Johnson from games such as Fallout 3 and the Elder Scroll Series, and James Rolfe creator of The Angry Video Game Nerd, just to name a few.

MAGFest is a registered event so you must register in advance by visiting http://magfest.org The event takes place January 5-8, 2012 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center.

Written By: Kelly of Kelly's Keychains (http://egyptianruin.etsy.com)

Off the Mall Holiday Craft Show

Eco Snack Pack by Open Eyes Press

Visit BEST members Design by Night, Open Eyes Press, Yarnings by Seanna and Heavens to Bessie this weekend at the Towson Commons Rotunda. The Towson ARTS Collective is having an Off the Mall Holiday Show. The show will feature Handmade Gifts and Collectibles, 2 for 1 beverage coupos, goofy gift swap, music & a kids art table. Plus there is FREE Parking in the garage!

Where: Towson Commons Rotunda, York Road and Pennsylvania Ave.
When: Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Birds Nest Necklace by Heavens to Bessie

Downtown Holiday Craft Market at Center Plaza

The Baltimore Downtown Partnership is hosting a two day Holiday Craft Market in Center Plaza this year, where you can shop local handmade goods on your lunch break! The market will be setup in the corridor between Charles Street and Lexington Market, and runs Tuesday, Dec. 13th, and Wednesday, Dec. 14th, 11am-2pm each day. BEST's own Damn Good Doormats, Anime Hatmania, Wood Art for Living, Yarnings By Seanna, Susan Brandt, and Open Eyes Press will be there offering up their awesome handmade goods. We hope to see you there!

Center Plaza is a central public space in Downtown Baltimore that acts as a corridor between Charles Street and Lexington Market. Click here for map.

In the event of inclement weather, the market will be held on Thursday, Dec. 15th.

Holiday Craft Show this Weekend!

On December 10, the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 8672 in Jarrettsville, MD will hold it's first Holiday Craft Show. BEST member Linda's Paperie will be there along with over 25 other handmade vendors.

When: December 10, 10am to 4pm
Where: 1714 Morse Road, Forest Hill, MD 21050

Written by Linda's Paperie

Handmade Holiday

Richmond Craft Mafia's Handmade Holiday will be at Plant Zero on Sunday December 11th, 2011! The show exclusively features the work of indie crafters and designers.

For more information, visit www.richmondhandmadeholiday.com.

MICA Art Market Makes Holiday Giving More Art-Filled and Handmade

Come see Yarnings by Seanna, Holler & Whistle, greenstarstudio, Damn Good Doormats and Sugar Paperie at the MICA Art Market.

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) presents its fifth annual MICA Art Market Wednesday, Dec. 7-Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in Brown Center's Leidy Atrium, Falvey Hall lobby and Rosenberg Gallery, 1301 W Mount Royal Ave. This festive, four-day sale features illustrations, paintings, prints, posters, sculptures, mosaics, stationery, T-shirts, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, book arts, toys, wrapping paper and so much more designed and created by more than 250 MICA students, faculty, alumni and staff.

The MICA Art Market, sponsored by the MICA Alumni Association and Master of Professional Studies in the Business of Art and Design, provides an opportunity for holiday shoppers and collectors to find new works by emerging artists as well as collectibles from leading artists in their respective fields. Visitors will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the artists about their work while enjoying the market's lively atmosphere and supporting the local economy.

The market fosters student professional development and peer-to-peer networking, and provides funding for need-based student scholarships.

Top Image by Tania Talbot