Haiti Relief

I'm sure you've all heard about the horrible earthquake in Haiti. When we heard, we all wanted to help however we could, as many of you probably did. In speaking with many BEST members over the last few days, it is clear that while we've already given, we hope to be able to give more. So, we've decided to donate portions of our Etsy sales... and the shops below are participating.

10% of sales this week will go to the Red Cross International
Response Fund- yummyandcompany

25% of sales this week will go to the Red Cross International
Response Fund- jenmenkhaus

10% of each sale for one week to Doctors Without Borders/
Médecins Sans Frontières- AtelierAdornments

$5 from each sale this week will go to the Red Cross International Response Fund- thebrokenplate

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red
Cross- sweetpepita

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red Cross- galla15

10% of all sales until the end of January will be donated to the
American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Haiti- lolamiren

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red Cross- dandelionblu

$5 from every sale through the end of January to Doctors Without Borders- tarabu

$5 of every sale till the end of January to Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation- jennyjen42

10% of sales now through 1/20 to American Red Cross- Namoo

You can also give directly to the Red Cross on their website here or donate $10 to Haiti relief by texting “Haiti” to 90999. Thank you.

Reminder - BARCStoberfest

BARCStoberfest has been rescheduled, and is now this weekend! Get all of the info here.

Art for the Animals

Sowebo Arts, in partnership with Zella’s Pizzeria at 1145 Hollins Street 21223 will present an exhibition of art to benefit BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter), opening August 6 through October 5. They will be presenting animal-themed work from artists in the Baltimore-Washington area. These will be sold and the commission will be evenly shared between BARCS and SoWeBo Arts, Inc. The August 6 opening will be from 6 – 8 PM. Admission is free.

BARCS is the non-profit animal rescue organization that operates the former Baltimore City Municipal Animal Shelter. BARCS, in conjunction with Baltimore City Animal Control, take into the shelter 12,000 animals a year. BARCS houses over 450 animals on any given day and sends thousands of animals out to rescues and adopters every year. During these trying economic times BARCS is averaging 40 animals or more a day entering the shelter. With reduced grants and contributions, BARCS is in great need of funding. Your support is greatly appreciated. SoWeBo Arts supports causes like BARCS and community building through the arts.

Show runs Aug 6 to Oct 5
Reception: Thursday, Aug 6, 6-8pm

Contact Debra Rahl at 410-608-7381, or debra.rahl@baltimorecity.gov for more information.

Post written by Lauren of Jersey Girl Design.

Trade Your Art Supplies For a 10% Discount!

Please help us help Art with a Heart, Inc. carry out their mission by bringing craft supply items to one of the BEST artists at Artscape. As a "thank you" for your donation, BEST is offering a one-time 10% discount off a single item purchased at Artscape from one of our participating BEST artists. Please bring any unused craft (or office) supplies or gift card to our BEST tent at Artscape or to any of our participating artists at Artscape to receive the discount. One discount per person, and the offer is only valid on purchases made at Artscape on July 17, 18 & 19th. Our booths are located on Charles St. in the DIY section - we will be in booths 16-21 and also in the Artists Market along Mt Royal in booth E114. We look forward to seeing you there!

They need:

* Deco Markers / Paint Markers
* Elmer's Glue
* Erasers
* Fabric Glue / Fabric-Tac
* Hot glue guns and glue sticks
* Glue sticks
* Markers
* Masking tape
* Mod Podge
* Paint brushes
* Pencil sharpeners
* Pencils
* Single hole punchers
* Scissors
* Scotch Tape
* Tacky Glue
* Aluminum foil
* Beads
* Disposable/plastic bowls
* Elastic string
* Glitter glue
* Jewelry hardware
* Mat board
* Mat cutter
* Mini hot glue gun sticks
* Paper towels
* Puffy paint
* Screw gun
* Sculpey clay
* Self-hardening clay
* Tag board/poster board
* Thread
* Watercolor paper
* Wire

All donations will go to Art with a Heart, Inc. See you there!

Image by SpareButton.

Help Locally

The Guitar Center in Glen Burnie is trying to raise money for one of their own, Sean "Spalm" Palm, who has fallen on some extremely hard times. He's been on a medical leave of absence since January. He suffers from a precursor of Parkinson's Disease as well as seizures. Since then, his home has gone into foreclosure, his car has been taken, and he's been living in a homeless shelter a short distance from the hospital he visits for testing twice a week.

The Guitar Center will hold a silent auction at the event, which will take place April 11 at 7 p.m. at Sonar. Tickets are available at the Guitar Center and all proceeds will go directly to Sean. To donate an item, contact Matt Bowers at mbowers@guitarcenter.com or visit the event link on Facebook for more details.

Bands performing that night include Crash Ink, Black Day Seven, Evolver, and The Carbon Kin. Come out, have a beer, hear some great live music, and support a friend in need. Hope to see you there!

Submitted by Erica of CEK Custom Designs

Handmade Help

If you're like me, you've been eying the news of the bushfires and worrying about the people and animals affected by this horrible event. Well, here's a start - you can view and bid on auctions or donate here, at Handmade Help, you can donate to help the animals here, at the RSPCA, or if you're feeling crafty you can make a joey pouch to donate by following the tutorial here.

BEST supports the Maryland Food Bank

With Thanksgiving and the holidays fast approaching, the members of BEST want to take the time to give a little something back to our community. Several members will be donating money from the sale of the their items to the Maryland Food Bank.

The Maryland Food Bank provides nearly 14 million pounds of food annually to 1,000 Network Partners - including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, low-income day care centers, after-school programs, senior centers, rehabilitation centers, and other feeding programs. They supply food for over 50,000 Marylanders each week who otherwise would go hungry or not eat enough, including families with children, the elderly, the homeless, the homebound, low-income workers, the recently unemployed, and people with AIDS and other health problems. For every $1 contributed to the Maryland Food Bank, they are able to provide 3 meals to Maryland’s needy families and individuals.

From November 27^th through December 11^th, the following participating BEST members will be donating the following:

1. jenmenkhaus.etsy.com - 10% from entire store

2. jennyjen42.etsy.com - 10% from entire store

3. blockpartypress.etsy.com - 10% from entire store

4. RobotZ.etsy.com - 10% from the entire store

5. yonpli.etsy.com - 10% from the entire store

6. yummyandcompany.etsy.com-10% from entire store

7. spatherapyworks.etsy.com- 15% from all soap sales

8. threewheelsdesign.etsy.com - 10% from entire store

9. bennyandheidi.etsy.com- 10% from entire store

10. vwstudios.etsy.com - 10% from entire store

11. lulaandme.etsy.com- 2% of all sales from store and shows

12. elisasherejewelry.etsy.com - 10% of all earring sales

13. thebrokenplate.etsy.com - $5 from each sale of Holiday Theme Plates

Take some time to visit these fantastic Etsy shops, support handmade and know that when you make a purchase between Nov. 27- Dec. 11^th, you will be helping to provide food and services to someone in need this holiday season. Here are some other ways to support the MD Food Bank:

• Make a direct monetary donation to the here:

• Purchase and donate food through the Food Bank's “Virtual Food Drive”

• Deliver the food directly to the Maryland Food Bank at 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road. Please call 410-737-8282 to arrange your delivery.
  

• Volunteer Opportunities

Maryland Art for the Cure

October may have come and gone but a cure for breast cancer has yet to be found. Lisa Kyle, artist and breast cancer survivor has organized an art show and sale called “Maryland Art for the Cure” where the proceeds of art sales will go to Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Koman for the Cure. Opening reception is Friday November 14th from 6-9pm, tickets can be purchased by contacting Lenore Chapman at Info@marylandartforthecure.org or by phone 410. 771. 1008. The opening reception will include a jewelry auction with pieces donated by both Grillo & Co. in Towson and Jill Popowich Designs. The exhibit will continue thru Sunday the 16th, admission on both Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th is free. Stop by to support the search for a cure and see the work of such talented Maryland Artist.

BEST gives back

The Baltimore Etsy Street Team is proud to be giving back with our first “Craft Supply Drive!” Please bring any unused craft (or office) supplies or gift card to our booth at Hampdenfest on September 13th, and receive a coupon for 10% off any one purchase from a BEST member at the show!

All supplies will be donated to Art with a Heart, a Baltimore charity which provides interactive, hands-on art activities to disadvantaged families and children, and to people with developmental and physical challenges. They lost many of their supplies to a fire this summer, and we would love to help get them fully stocked again!

Most Needed:

• Deco Markers / Paint Markers
• Elmer’s Glue
• Erasers
• Fabric Glue / Fabric-Tac
• Hot glue guns and glue sticks
• Glue sticks
• Markers
• Masking tape
• Mod Podge
• Paint brushes
• Pencil sharpeners
• Pencils
• Single hole punchers
• Scissors
• Scotch Tape
• Tacky Glue

Also Needed:

• Aluminum foil
• Beads
• Disposable/plastic bowls
• Elastic string
• Glitter glue
• Jewelry hardware
• Mat board
• Mat cutter
• Mini hot glue gun sticks
• Paper towels
• Puffy paint
• Screw gun
• Sculpey clay
• Self-hardening clay
• Tag board/poster board
• Thread
• Watercolor paper
• Wire

Knit-in

On Sept. 9 from 8 a.m.-10 p.m., 5 percent of sales at Whole Foods in Mount Washington will be donated to the Greater Homewood Adult Literacy & ESOL Program.

The day’s events will include live music, healthy snacks, crafts for kids, and a gathering of knitters from around town for a “Knit-In for Literacy”. Knitting instruction for beginners will be offered, so if you can, bring some extra yarn and needles for the newbies.

What could be better than knitting and organic groceries? Helping people learn to read.

Change for a 10

ART 180, a nonprofit organization that gives young people in challenging circumstances a voice through the arts, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. In honor of the occasion, they have created a super-cool, large-scale collaborative project called Change for a Ten.

Visit their website to download the template, then paint, write, sew, or draw your own $10 bill about the change you’d like to see in the community. Use any material you like - just keep it the size of a dollar bill. Submit along with a real $10 donation to ART 180 (0 East 4th Street #56, Richmond, 23224)

All of the "dollars" will be exhibited at a special anniversary celebration at VCU's Brandcenter on October 10, 2008. You can see what they've gotten already or read about it on their blog.

March, and er, well April for the Animals

Some of our animal-loving members will be marching for the animals this April 2oth in beautiful Druid Hill Park. To help meet the team's fundraising goals, some members will be donating proceeds from their etsy shops to the cause. It's always a fun day, so join our pack or help us out by donating.

And check back soon, as we'll be posting updates as well as special gifts from some of our members when you donate!