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

Last chance to apply to Holiday Heap

APPLY NOW!
applications are due October 8th at midnight!
Go ahead - inspire us!

Don't forget to apply..to Holiday Heap that is!

APPLY NOW!
applications are due October 8th at midnight!
Go ahead - inspire us!

Holiday Heap 2011 - Applications are up!

Holiday Heap will be Charm City Craft Mafia's TENTH indie craft show, and we are super excited. On December 3rd, 60+ vendors will descend on the 2640 Space in St. John's Church for our annual holiday fair selling handmade items to Baltimore shoppers and warm-hearted gift givers alike.

Crafters from Baltimore and beyond bring their very best wares for this festive holiday show. The only thing that could make it more spectacular is YOU, crafty folk!

APPLY NOW!
applications are due October 8th at midnight!

Pile of Craft is coming!

It's almost that time, Baltimore!

Pile of Craft is almost here!

Mark your calendars, folks. This year's Pile of Craft will be taking place on June 25th.

For more information, including a list of all the amazing vendors (so you can start making your shopping list), follow this link to the Charm City Craft Mafia's Pile of Craft page.

Merry Mary and Holiday Heap This Weekend!

As if you didn't already know, the Baltimore crafty selling season is upon us. We survived Black Friday and many of us wondered if Cyber Monday was actually legit... But really, there are many places to spend holiday gift dollars this time of year. Where will you spend? You may want to think about keeping your hard earned dollars local and support the economy you live in.

Are you ready to be that "conscientious consumer"? Go crazy at these super fun shows this weekend!

This one always rocks my socks off! Charm City Craft Mafia presents Holiday Heap 2010 on Saturday Dec. 4th, from 10am-5pm. Never a dull moment at this show, shop early for the best pickin'. You snooze, you loose!


You can count on great handmade shopping at the Creative Alliance in the Highlandtown Arts District this Sunday December 5th, from 11am-5pm. If you are looking for unique items that will be remembered for years to come, don't miss this warm and fuzzy event!
Everything you need to know about Merry Mart can be found here.

It is SO much fun to shop these awesome shows. See you there!

Pile of Craft THis Saturday!

This Saturday is Charm City Craft Mafia’s 4th annual Pile Of Craft! A one-of-a-kind craft fair for Baltimore, featuring 40+ of the country's best handmade crafters selling their own housewares, stationary, screenprinted & sewn apparel, jewelry, handbags, hats, knit items, woven scarves, plush toys, ceramics, comic books, prints, paintings and more! Support handmade and local artists and meet them in person!

A number of BEST members will be participating in this awesome event:

Jamie Zollars, Sweet Pepita, Maneating Flower, Elisa Shere Jewelry, The little Bean, Found Studio, Boxerbox Press, Sugarpaperie, The brokenplate, Tigerlilyshop ,Yummy and Company, jennyjen42, Dandelion Blu , and Block Party Press.At our BEST table will be: greenstarstudio, Design by Night, Atelier-Beads, and Jill Popowich designs. Check out the vendors page here.

Pile of Craft is absolutely free to attend and open to all ages. I hear a rumor that a photobooth will be there! Don’t miss this amazing event!

June 26th 10-5pm

2640 St. Paul Street

Baltimore, MD 21218

Pile of Craft 2010 - Apply Now!

Applications are open for Charm City Craft Mafia's Pile of Craft 2010!!!
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Pile Of Craft is a super awesome annual juried Spring craft fair, featuring handmade and original items from 40+ talented artists from all over the country. Apparel, ceramics, handbags, jewelry, fine art, scuplture, homegoods and more - made by hand, sold by the artists themselves!
Want to be a vendor? You can APPLY HERE. Applications to Pile Of Craft 2010 are open until April 2 at midnight, and we will be announcing the accepted vendors by April 9th.

Good luck!!

Chocolate, Baltimore Style

Wow (and yum!) Check out these stunning chocolates designed by area artists for Artisan Confections, in Arlington VA. Fellow BEST member, Val Lucas' modern chic design is second from the left. Also representing Baltimore is the talented Rachel Bone of the Charm City Craft Mafia. Baltimore is proud of you, ladies!

3rd Annual Holiday Heap This Saturday!!!

It is that time of year again! This local craft show is my favorite of the season. The venue hosts a handmade loving crowd, the building has a warm and fuzzy feeling. Grab some coffee, listen to the DJ and feel good about shopping local.
This cool Charm City Craft Mafia show never lets us down!

Don't miss it!
10am-5pm
Saturday, December 5th
Saint John’s Church, 2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218

Not only can you buy handmade, but there will be an awesome gift basket raffle benefiting Art with a Heart, a local non-profit providing access to art activities for disadvantaged families, children, and people with developmental and physical challenges. Take a chance and give back.

We hope to see you this weekend! The following BEST members will be vending this year:

TigerLillyShop
Jen Menkaus/Littlest Bean

Sweet Pepita

Elisa Shere Jewelry

The Broken Plate Pendant Company

Yummy and Company
JennyJen42

Block Party Press

BEST (JillPopowichDesigns, DesignbyNight, dandelionblu & greenstarstudio)

Pssst! Wanna Help the Mafia?

The Charm City Craft Mafia is looking for an intern to help out with all things crafty! Learn all about community craft, event planning, group organization and marketing this season with some of the hardest working folks this side of crafty town and make friends to boot! Email us at charmcitycraftmafia@gmail.com to find out more.

Holiday Heap Applications are up!

Photo by Tasha McKelvy
Charm City Craft Mafia just announced their 3rd annual Holiday Heap - an indie craft fair in Baltimore! Holiday Heap 2009 will take place at St. John's Church - 2640 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21218 - on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. The fair will run 10am-5pm.

They are now accepting applications through midnight, OCTOBER 5th. You can find the form HERE.

Good luck!

Holiday Heap Date Announced!

Via the Craft Mafia blog:

Charm City Craft Mafia is pleased to announce that the 3rd annual HOLIDAY HEAP craft fair will be held DECEMBER 5th, 2009. 10am-5pm at St. John's Church in Baltimore.

Applications will be up by the end of August and will be announced right here on the blog.

This date is a CHANGE from what we've been telling people inquiring through email.

Please pass this information on to any of your crafty friends/family that might be interested in participating in this years show, and accept our apologies for any inconvenience the rescheduling might have caused.

We expect this years Heap to be the biggest and bestest yet, and we can't wait to see you all there!!!

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.

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