This Weekend, Too! Merry Mart

Merry Mart is a unique craft show featuring a diverse mix of art and craft from Baltimore and beyond. BEST's own Jen Menkhaus of The Littlest Bean and Allison Fomich of Tigerlillyshop helped to organize and run the event again this year!

This is a warm and fuzzy 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! If you are looking for unique items that will be remembered and appreciated for years to come, don’t miss this show. Shop local and expect to find great gifts at this handmade marketplace this holiday season!

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

As always, it will be held at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson on December 4th, 2011, from 11am-5pm.

Mindscapes Art Opening at the Creative Alliance

Wolcott, 2011, Acrylic

Local artist Regina Tumasella has a solo show opening at the Amalie Rothschild Gallery in the Creative Alliance tomorrow, June 2^nd from 5:30-7:30pm. You should attend! If you can’t make it out, the show runs until June 18^th.

Written by: Erin of Holler & Whistle

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!

Merry Mart 2010 Call for Entries!

It's that time of year again where we all look forward to the signs of the winter show season!

We are pleased to announce BEST Baltimore Craft members Jen Menkhaus of Littlest Bean and Allison Fomich of Tigerlillyshop will be coordinating Merry Mart this year! This annual holiday show will be held Sunday December 5th at the Creative Alliance, located at 3134 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD

Merry Mart is now accepting vendor applications through October 11^th. Vendors can find the easy online application process here: http://merrymartbaltimore.blogspot.com/p/home.html

This is and warm and fuzzy 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! If you are looking for unique items that will be remembered and appreciated for years to come, don’t miss this show. Shop local and expect to find great gifts at this handmade marketplace this holiday season!

New this year Merry Mart will have an online presence and a juried vendor selection! We are looking for high-quality, handmade work in a variety of media. Inquiries and questions: merrymartbaltimore@gmail.com

Ok artists and crafters, show us what you’ve got!

Baltimore Life, SalsaPolkaLooza, This Weekend!

image by greencitybaltimore

SalsaPolkaLooza is a multi-cultural street festival hosted by the Creative Alliance in Highlandtown. Attend this free event and get a whirlwind of culture and fun in a one block radius!

Kids can paint a community mural all day. With sloppy paint and brushes in hand, they can make their mark on the giant painting! There are lots of other art making stations for kids provided throughout the day.

image from tigerlillyshop

The list of performers, both music and dancing takes you around the world! I took a salsa lesson last year and then later I was doing the polka! This year the Love Peace Project gets the crowd going with hip hop African drum fusion, then later Mexican and Russian folk dancers hit the stage. There are break dancers, face painting, and you can even make your own music video. Shop Arts and Craft vendors, too!

Get some Caribbean food, a Dos XX or 2, and get cultured in this diverse community. Highandtown is a neighboorhood like no other! People from all walks of life really feel welcome at SalsaPolkaLooza! Ultimately, this is Baltimore's unconventional cuture at it's best! Your family will definitely have fun and make some great memories.

This Saturday July 10, from 12:30-5:30 FREE!!!

Lantern Parade - This Weekend!

****Please note, the parade will now take place on Sunday the 25th!

BEST’s own CEK Custom Designs will be one of the many arts and crafts vendors at the 10^th annual Great Halloween Lantern Parade taking place in Patterson Park. Come check out the Haunted Hamlet; a pre-Parade Festival of food, drinks, goodies, arts, crafts, and activities! This is a great event for the whole family!

10th GREAT HALLOWEEN LANTERN PARADE - Eureka!

Sun Oct 25, 2009

Festival 3pm-9:30pm

Line-up 7pm

Parade & Magic Lantern Show 7:30pm

Directed by Molly Ross and produced by CA with Friends of Patterson Park and Southeast CDC. Patterson Park, Eastern & Linwood Aves. Free! Fees for some Haunted Hamlet activities.

Get complete info here.

This Weekend - Charm City Kitty Club

The Charm City Kitty Club always puts on an amazing show, inviting exceptional talent from far and near to perform at the Creative Alliance three times a year. The next show, Friday and Saturday October 2-3, 2009, is sure to be another incredible queer experience.

The mission statement,the CCKC sets out to carve a unique social and cultural niche for lesbian, dyke, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and genderqueer individuals as well as our allies, pretty much sums up the wonderful mixture of people that put on and participate in the performances. Don’t miss the next kitty show!

For more info visit charmcitykittyclub.com

Craft and Film at the Patterson!

The Charm City Craft Mafia along with the Baltimore Women's Film Festival, is hosting a crafty film fest and craft supplies swap this weekend!

Don't miss this fascinating fall collection of films created by women! Feature documentary Fresh Women follows the lives of six female artists in San Francisco struggling to balance work life, art life, and family life. The shorts Knitting Lesson, Grandma Goth, and Bella Bella round out the bill with portraits of spirited, crafty women. The event includes Q&A with filmmaker Mary Dalton (Knitting Lesson) and the Charm City Craft Mafia's special craft supplies swap: Trade your leftover materials, pick up some new craft supplies, and network with other crafty folks.


Knitting Lesson

The event will take place on Sunday, September 14th from 12:00 to 3:30 at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson (3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224). Admission is $10, $8 for members, students, and those who bring craft supplies for the swap.

You can get your tickets at the door, by calling 410-276-1651, or by clicking here.