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

Call for Entries - Bazaart

Preview Party: Fri Nov. 29, 5:30pm-8pm, Marketplace: Sat Nov. 30, 10am - 5pm

Application Deadline: Must be postmarked no later than July 13, 2013
     Application Fee: None
     Exhibitor Fee: $200 for 10'x10' space

BAZAART, the American Visionary Art Museum's (AVAM's) annual holiday marketplace of original creations by over 50 regional artists and craftspeople, is back for the 2013 holiday season! Featuring the artsyiest artistrys & craftiest crafts, ranging from painting to sculpture to jewelry to handmade clothing and accessories, BAZAART has become a Baltimore tradition attracting thousands of holiday shoppers each year to AVAM for this one-of-a-kind show! The AVAM is located on the south side of the Inner Harbor at 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230

Check here for more information and here for the application.

Posted by Susan Brandt.

Call for entries - Hampdenfest

Show: September 14, 2013
(Saturday, 11am-7pm)
Application due: July 30 (by mail)
Recommended to apply early to reserve space.
     Application fee: none
     Booth fee: $150 for 10'x10' space, exhibitor must provide their own tent

If you didn't apply in time to get into HonFest, never fear, there is another festival in Hampden and this one has a reputation as being more successful for craft vendors.


Hampdenfest is a neighborhood arts festival that features 4 stages of music and art performances, an activity area for kids, an emerging artists exhibit and a film festival, as well as four blocks of arts and crafts vendors and other wares from a wide range of merchants and artists. Hampden itself has hundreds of local businesses which are consistently listed in Baltimore Magazine and the City Paper's Best of Baltimore.

For seekers of great food and an engaging atmosphere, HampdenFest offers an abundance of Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay and local Hampden cuisine, including pit beef, crab cakes, and locally brewed beer from The Brewer's Art. A mix of national and local independent rock, folk, punk, acoustic bands and DJs will perform throughout the day, live, at any of the festival's four stages.

And...a race of toilets! Of course.

Click here for more information and here for the application.

Posted by Susan Brandt.

Call for Entries - Festival on the Hill

Show: October 12, 2013
(Saturday, 11am-5pm)
Application due: August 15 (space is first come, first served)
     Application fee: none
     Booth fee: repeat or neighbor vendor (21217 zip code): $45 New Vendors: $60 for 10'x10' space


We are excited to be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the festival this year.  It should be sure to bring out a larger crowd than usual.

Festival on the Hill is celebrating its 60th anniversary of the Festival this year. It takes place in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore (21217) which is close to MICA.

Enjoy a variety of music, gourmet food, arts & crafts, the Kid Zone, and much more. The festival is organized by Memorial Episcopal Church and proceeds support a diverse group of community organizations through the Church's grants program.


Click here for more information and here for the application.

Posted by Susan Brandt.

Gunpowder River Artfest 2013

Come visit BEST members at Artfest 2013!

Nelly's Echo, contestant of the reality television program, The Voice, Midlife Crisis, and Ruut will play music this year.

New food vendors include: Groovy Girl Cupcakes, Prigel's locally owned and organically farmed creamery will offer hand dipped ice cream, Food by Fire will supply the main fare, and of course, Brickers Famous French Fries will again serve up plentiful helpings of fresh, hand cut fries.

This year all wine tastings will include a gifted wine glass! Make art matter in Maryland and come to the show!

For more information, visit www.nbcaf.com/artfest.html

When: Saturday, June 1, 2013 

Time: noon-7pm 

Where: Boordy Vineyard (rain or shine).

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

CNN's Dream Jobs Featues Tigerlillyshop

Here is the LINK! We were featured on CNN's American Morning today with footage from our everyday lives and our studio !!!

Erin's body product line from www.krugsecologic.etsy.com was also featured.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/business/2010/01/26/feyerick.dream.jobs.cnn

Wanna learn some new skills?

You know what Fall means, right? Yep. Back to School.

You're never too old to learn some new tricks and this semester you can pick up some new tricks of your own.
I've been teaching Adult art courses at School 33 for the last few years and am happy to say I'll be back with another round of exciting classes to inspire even the MOST beginning of beginning students. I promise.

*********
Drawing with Light: Beginning Drawing for Adults & Teens

Learn to draw in 8 weeks! Even if you’ve never picked up a pencil before,
you’ll walk away with new skills & drawings you can be proud of.
This popular drawing class uses light, and simple observation techniques
anyone can employ to create confident & masterful drawings from the first
class!
Students will move sequentially through new concepts & techniques, beginning
with line drawings and concluding with complicated still lives and
interiors. Other coursework will include work with a live model &
portraiture.
Individual instruction and student centered lessons make this the perfect
class for the beginner AND the experienced artist looking to brush up on
basic skills.
Mondays 6:30- 9:30pm
Monday, August 17, 24, 31, Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5th
Class Cost: $180 plus materials
Instructor: Danamarie Hosler, www.greenstarstudio.com
contact: knitimal@gmail.com
Materials: compressed charcoal, vine charcoal, black ink, a sumi or
watercolor brush, charcoal pencil, HB & 2H pencil, micron pen, a sketchbook,
kneaded eraser, white rubber eraser, drawing paper (Roughly $50 for
materials)


Wednesday Night Whip Up!

Wish you could draw? Wonder what it would be like to paint? Intrigued by
printmaking? Popular Baltimore teacher, illustrator,
muralist & fiber artist Danamarie Hosler will lead students through a little
bit of everything. You'd be surprised what you can whip up in one night!

This 6 week course allows students to try their hand at a variety of
traditional & non-traditional art making techniques--- see what they like &
gain some new skills without having to commit to a single course of study.
Each night, students will be introduced to a new material & will leave with
a small piece of finished work! Learn how to use your new skills to make
great gifts & functional art.

A great way to spend a Wednesday night--- casual atmosphere, perfect for all
skill levels. And you don't need to invest in a bunch of stuff either,
because all materials are included!
Wednesdays 6:30- 9:30p,
Wednesday, August 26, Sept, 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30th
Class Cost: $160 (all materials included)
Instructor: Danamarie Hosler, www.greenstarstudio.com
contact: knitimal@gmail.com

********
To register for classes, just email me!
AND, just for BEST Blog readers: sign up with a friends and you both get $15 class cost! Just register with the code: BEST15

How to Make a Pinwheel!

It is a nice little trip down memory lane when every summer I walk into a store and see some of the same toys that have been summertime favorites since I was a kid. Plastic buckets and shovels, big colorful rubber balls, jacks, balsa wood planes, bubbles and pinwheels were the toys I begged my mother for every summer when we went to Woolsworth.

Well of my now crafty life and in memory of my childhood’s past I decided to make my own pinwheel. Although I do not play with them much, I like to put them in plants as a reminder that summertime is here and I should work less and play more. And if you have children making a pinwheel is a great rainy day craft.

What you will need:
1 – 8.5”x11” sheet of cardstock paper
1 – wooden dow
6” wire (I used 20 gauge)
2 – medium/large beads
needle nose pliers
ruler and exactor knife or scissors

1. Click here to download the PINWHEEL_template.pdf. Print out template at 100% on the cardstock paper.
2. Cut along green outer cut line. You will be working with a 7.5” square.
3. Cut along the cyan inner cut dotted lines making sure to stop at the end, leaving the center in tact.

4. Punch a small hole on the side of each corner and the center of the square where indicated.
5. Coil the wire around one end wooden dow. Sting one of the beads through the wire and then insert the wire through hole in the center of the paper square.

6. Take one of the hole punched corners and bend the paper over and insert the wire into the hole. Continue this with each of the corners. Use your hand to keep the pinwheel in place.

7. Add the other bead to the wire and use the pliers to bend the remaining wire over into a loop to secure the wire. Now all you need is some wind to see your pinwheel in action.

Note: If the pinwheel gets caught on the stick try bending the wire a bit until it is sitting correct and can turn freely.

written by: kolleen of Design by Night

Summer of Craft

In another life, before our daughter was born, my husband and I traveled for hours to attend craft workshops in the mountains. And I can tell you, it had to be something really special to get a couple of urban dwellers out of their comfort zone and into the middle of nowhere (and I, of course, mean 'middle of nowhere' in the nicest way).


Letterpress

Geoff learned how to create daguerreotypes and I took a metalsmithing class focused on incorporating treasures collected on my travels. And fresh back from Cuba, I had me some treasures.

Penland School of Crafts is a national center for craft education dedicated to helping people live creative lives. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Penland offers one-, two-, and eight-week workshops in books & paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles, and wood. The school also sponsors artists' residencies, community education programs, and a craft gallery.

Jewelry

So whenever summer rolls around, I think of my time at Penland, immersed in the craft I loved with the person I loved the most. That's my kind of summer. I reckon in 10 years or so, we can make it a family trip. Until then, my husband and I take turns flipping through the catalog, remembering and dreaming.

There are still openings in select workshops in this coming session! But, be warned... you'll really, really want to go.

The Jewelry Project

Hey Jewelers! You've got mad skillz! Put 'em to good use...

The House Of Ruth’s shelter based Art + Craft Program provides therapeutic and educational resources to clients, facilitating communication, healing, and growth through craft and community. While providing a recreational outlet, the program also provides an opportunity for women temporarily staying in the shelter to create a lasting impact on its programs, giving back to a community defined by constant change.

Operating out of the Art + Craft studio, the Jewelry Project raises funds to provide ongoing monetary support to the Art + Craft Program. All jewelry sold through this project is hand made by shelter clients, staff, and volunteers. You can find Jewelry Project products at in Baltimore City at Elements of Fashion, Shine Collective, and the Women’s Industrial Exchange, in addition to special events throughout the year.

Find out more at thejewelryproject.blogspot.com

Spring. Clean. Custom. Craft.

What do Spring cleaning and Squidfire's 2009 Spring Art Mart have in common? Treasures.

Jewels from the Sea
Is there a better souvenier than a smooth cool stone fresh from the ocean? You chose the best ones! The most beautiful. The best shapes. The smoothest edges.


StoneWear Bracelet from Shelly Daly

Bring Shelly your flattest shaped beach stones to be made into pendants, earrings or bracelets. Enjoy your treasures every day.


Favorite Old T-shirts
You have t-shirts that are tired and worn. T-shirts that you will never ever wear again. It's OK. We all do. It's time to give them new life. It's time for you to enjoy them again.


custom tee from Sweet Pepita

Sweet Pepita will turn your favorite old t-shirt into a tee for your favorite little one! Just drop off your old t-shirt, choose a size (from 0-6 months through 5T), and pick your favorite color of organic cotton to combine it with. Now that's a super cool heirloom!

Sentimental Broken China
Who chipped your favorite plate? Whether grandma’s plate was broken in a move, you knocked over mom’s vase during a late night party, or if you threw a piece of your wedding china across the room, Juliet from The Broken Plate will turn those shards into a new piece of jewelry!


custom jewelry from The Broken Plate

These make perfect wedding party or family gifts!

Maps from Journeys Past
Maps don't belong tucked away in a drawer. Maps are for dreaming.


France Map Journal from Bowerbox Press

Bring Val from Bowerbox press the map you bought on your honeymoon, or the one you used on that first trip you took solo. Turn your travel memories into a journal to record notes in your future travels.

If you live in an old house, chances are you're handy. Or someone in the house, at least, is! And you handy folks will probably have some copper scrap that you don't know what to do with.



Necklace Made From Recycled Copper on Silk Cord from Yummy and Company

Bring your copper scraps to Jen and she will form them into a charm or pendant for a necklace or key chain!

And don't worry if you can't find anything in your house to transform into something really special... You can always request a custom piece!

Tamara from Block Party Press can customize just about any piece she makes by color or product type (ring to earrings, pendant to ring etc..) and can create custom imagery as well. Jen from Jenny Jen 42 can make a pillow design into a hand bag and vise versa. Jussara from Spa Therapy Works will create soaps, lotions and deodorants in custom scents just for you! Jill Popowich can customize any piece with different stones, different sizes, material finishes or even work with you to create a custom
piece of jewelry.

You can find these artists and more at Sqiudfire's 2009 Spring Art Mart tomorrow, Saturday May 9, from 11-6pm in Mt. Vernon Square (Between Charles and Cathedral Streets) Baltimore, MD 21201

March Mending Month

OK, so maybe we are halfway through March, but please check out all the great mending tips from CRAFT! Good for your wallet and the environment!

Indie-Pendant Business - Adornment Craft Center and Gallery

Are you ready for a new vice...?



Wanna get hammered...?

No.... of course, I don't want you to develop a drinking problem!
I just thought you might enjoy picking up a new craft!
I stopped by Adornment to pick up some supplies and was thrilled to hear about all of the fun new classes and activities they have lined up this spring.

Adornment Craft Center and Gallery is a unique facility located in Baltimore in Meadow Mills, where you can buy the supplies needed for your projects, use the facilities to create your art, and then sell your masterpieces in their exclusive salon. The supply center offers everything you need for jewelry making, including beads, sheet metal, plexiglass, wire, PMC, glass, gemstones, findings, magazines, books, flexshaft supplies, sandpaper, files, saw blades, and they even have snacks!

They have a full metal studio, rooms and benches for rent. They also offer classes, workshops, and parties.

Party on!

Post written by Yummy and Company

Summit of Awesome

In case you missed this on Hello Craft news. Sounds awesome!

May 1st - 3rd, 2009
Hello Craft’s
SUMMIT OF AWESOME
Convene * Learn * Show
Washington, D.C.

Mark your calendars! Hello Craft is excited to announce our 1st ever Summit of Awesome to be held the first weekend of May in Washington, DC. We’ve got lots of fun activities planned and exciting events we can’t wait to tell you about! If you’re an indie crafter, from dabbler to pro, this is the place to be in May.

The Summit of Awesome will officially begin Friday, May 1st with seminars, workshops, and other fun surprises running through Sunday, May 3rd. There will be informal tours of DC’s coolest indie shops and a welcome reception for early arrivals on Thursday, April 30th.

Join the email list and we’ll let you know when it’s time to register. In the meantime, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with any suggested seminar topics, workshops and other fun things you’d like to see at Hello Craft’s Summit of Awesome.

Volunteers Needed! Hello Craft is looking for volunteers to help us at the Summit of Awesome. If you are free on May 1st, 2nd or 3rd and want to work with a rad group of crafters, please email us at hellocraftinfo@gmail.com.

Keep it Green, Handmade and Legal!

I first found out about the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) In mid December. And even though I've read countless articles and spoke with congresspersons' and senators' aides about this new law, I've kept the gravity of the future of my business and handmade children's products everywhere locked away so that I could keep going. I asked my friends and family for help and wrote, emotionally removed from my words. Now, with 2 weeks left before the February 10th deadline, I beg you to call your senators and congresspersons to tell them how this law will affect you.


I was (and am still) very lucky to have some really amazing jobs. I've worked with the kindest and most helpful people over the years, and for this I am so grateful. Of course I've had my share of crappy positions, too. In my early teens, I worked at 3 different fast food restaurants. 2 at the same time... I left one and drove straight to the other trying to save every damn minimum wage penny. I was robbed on North Avenue working a day shift. It was not dramatic. A man tried to flimflam me, but I was wise enough not to be bullied into giving him the crazy amount of change that he demanded. I was not wise enough, however, to close my drawer and he reached over the counter, grabbed what he could and stormed out of the place. Management promptly docked my pay.

Sewing clothes for my daughter and for kids all over the place is the most enjoyable and fulfilling work I could have ever dreamed of. Seriously. I take great pride in knowing your baby looks cool. I built a business I believe in. I use only recycled and organic fabric because I care about our environment and our children's future. And, like I said, I want them to look cool.


If for some reason this law goes into effect as-is, unamended, we will survive. We will lose a major chunk of income, our families will have to work even harder to make ends meet, but we will survive. Yes, we will lose thousands upon thousands of dollars in merchandise and non-refundable fees. Childhood will become much more homogenized. We will most definitely cry some more, but we will survive.

I know congress and the senate and the CPSC can hear us... we just have to make sure that our voices are so strong that they can't ignore our pleas. We will survive and we will keep on fighting because we are scrappy like that. And everyone who supports us, well they're scrappy, too. Yeah you are! And we love you for it. Thank you.

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.

Wrangle Up Those Crafty Kids

And take them to Amazing Glaze in Mt. Washington to create their own ceramic treasure! OK, so the ceramic part is all taken care of, but you can choose from hundreds of vessels, tchotchkies, and functional or decorative wares just waiting for your child's artistic touch.


I have fond memories of drawing on a melamine plate when I was younger. I think. I might have fabricated this memory... who knows. Anyway, in my mind, I thought it was so awesome that my drawing would be made permanent. I felt so special, and my work so important. When my daughter was born, I couldn't wait until she was old enough to take her to this ceramic workshop we passed every time we went to the grocery store. I forgot all about it, because, you know, things get a little crazy when you add a baby to the mix.

Enter the terrible twos. These are the days when we just have to escape. Get out of the house! Do something unexpected, for no reason at all. This is when I remembered. It was perfect. Messy, but perfect. And my daughter painted a Christmas ornament that I hope will last forever. Her grandparents are going to be so psyched and proud when we give it to them!

Made in Baltimore

Thank you, Baltimore Magazine, for this amazing holiday shopping issue! It's practically a directory of indie crafters in Charm City, and it is so gratifying to see all of our friends together in one slick looking mag. Get a copy now, before we buy them all up!

Thanks, Rachel, for the image :)

Hello Craft!

Hello Craft is collecting stories about making and buying handmade. This will be a weekly podcast hosted by Tina Seamonster. Tina is a regular Cut the Craft and Storque contributor and gnome and zombie extraordinaire.


Call the toll-free voice-mail line at 1-888-317-3785 and tell Tina, Sara, Kim and Kelly your story in under 5 minutes and it might appear on a future episode of their soon to be launched podcast. They want to know everything from who inspires you to make, buying your first sewing machine, how the handmade community effects your life, crafting injuries and failures and brilliance and successes.

So how do you do it? It’s easy!

1. Decide what story you want to tell.
2. You can either record it yourself and email it to them if you have the know-how or call the toll-free voice-mail line (1-888-317-3785) and leave a message up to 5 minutes long.
3. Please start your message like this: "Hello Craft! My name is *your name here* and I make *blank*. If you don't make anything, then say, "and I buy handmade". Then tell your story. Extra points if it is funny or sad!
4. At the end, give your email address, business name, etc. and they will edit out the email address. They just need to be able to contact you.

Email tinatheseamonster@gmail.com with questions. The phone number is toll-free in the US. Be sure to contact them if you are outside of the US and would like to contribute. Get your stories heard!