Etsy Meetup This Friday!

Come join us for the second annual Etsy Craft Party, sponsored by I Heart Art: Baltimore. This year, we'll be meeting up at Maryland Institute College of Art in the Fox building, rooms 214, 215 and 218. We'll have fun, free, activities for all ages, including glass painting, a papercut project, and funky make-your-own hon glasses! So put on your best crafting gear, and come out and play!

RSVP here! We can't wait!

HONfest 2011!

Hampden is having the 17^th annual HONfest Sat June 11^th from 11am – about 8:30pm and Sun June 12^th from 12pm – about 6pm. Come out for tons of fun Hon!!! There will be many exciting things going on including Bawlmer’s Best Hon Contest, live music and acts all day long, a frozen drink and beer bar, a glamour lounge to get that distinctive Hon beehive and also many artists and crafters including our very own BEST members: Fiorella Jewelry, Yarnings by Seanna , Woop , CEK Custom Designs, Jersey Girl Design, and

Abigail Leigh Handbags. Get all of the info for HONfest here. Hope to see you there!

Written by Abby of Abigail Leigh Handbags

Ten Question Tuesday - Kim O'Brien of K.O'Brien Jewelry

Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.

Hey there! I am Kim O'Brien, maker of shiny objects with dashes of color.

When/how did you start your business?

My business started in 2009 when I signed up for my first series of craft shows and started stumbling my way through the craft world. After moving closer to Providence in the fall of that year I met many more artists and started to get a better grasp of what fairs to sign up for and what stores to consign with. My business really took off in 2010 when I moved into my current studio and out of my father in law's basement. It is amazing how your surroundings can inspire you.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I spend time with my adorable bernese mountain dog and my equally adorable husband. This family of three loves to explore Providence, have dinner with friends, play games and cuddle up to watch movies in our cute bungalow apartment.

What first made you want to become an artist?

When I was little I was either drawing or reading. My grandmother signed me up for drawing lessons for my 11th birthday. I soon realized there were drawing tools other than crayons and settled into a world of charcoal, pastels, pencils and gummy erasers. I carried my drawing tools everywhere with me. In high school I couldn't fit art classes into my schedule for the first year and I missed getting my hands dirty. Once I started art classes my sophomore year I rarely surfaced from the art room again. With my teacher's encouragement I knew I needed to apply to art school and make it my goal to make stuff for a living.

What inspires you?

Nature, it's always nature. Shapes, textures and colors from plants, flowers and trees find their way onto my sheets of silver. I am forever exploring new ideas b y taking pictures of dried weeds, pods and little flowers in bloom. My phone has thousands of photographs on it and I use it as a diary of sorts to refer back to. Lately my shapes are simplified and more like gestures of what I discover outdoors. One day I will get back to realism, I miss the painstaking planning of near perfect recreation.

What's your favorite thing about your craft?

My tools. I collect old hammers and other odd tools. I may not have an immediate plan for the tools I collect, but I know that texture on an old rusty hammer will be just perfect for one project or another down the road. And I love wielding a torch, it makes the greatest sound when I strike the flint to get it going and then hisses with flame. All of these loud, rusty objects used by my hands result in delicate pieces of silver jewelry. To me, it is making beauty out of chaos.

Where would we most likely find you working?

At my jeweler's bench in my mill building space. My bench is a hunk of thick wood which my grandfather "borrowed" while working at the university I later attended. (I love that he has a part in my work space.) And I love that I am surrounded by white painted brick walls and windows. Such a luxury after starting off in a basement studio.

What's your favorite music to listen to while you work?

I often listen to NPR, books on tape or loud music. Mostly Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine or the Juno soundtrack. (I am currently taking suggestions as my playlist is getting a little old.) But one of my favorite sounds is when the fellow do wnstairs is tuning his steel drums. It is quite peaceful.

What's your favorite thing right now?

Homemade peanut butter cups. They are divine! I just got into making juice too. We will see where that goes; it is terribly new for me.

If you could have one wish for the craft community, what would it be?

Universal healthcare! And for every last one of us to have a special someone to help carry those dreadful tent weights. One more thing, for no one to ever be asked again, "did you make all of this?"

You can check out all of Kim's work in her Etsy shop

Favorite Etsy Shop : Elizabeth Frank

Elizabeth Frank is one of my favorites on Etsy. Her work features 3 things that always catch my eye when I'm looking for art: bright colors, whimsy, and use of found objects. Elizabeth carves most of her artworks from fallen aspen that she gathers in the mountains of Northern Arizona and New Mexico. She then combines the carvings with vintage and found objects. Here are some of my favorite of Elizabeth's pieces:

Lady of the Wildflowers

Born with a Tail

Tiny Red Bunny Monster

Random Baltimore Photo

Click here for more info about this photo by teh_kittycat

Tigerlillyshop = Allison Fomich Upholstery

Vintage Octagon Stool Before

Vintage Octagon Stool After

Some of you may already know that before my button jewelry and botanical nature jewelry ever came to be, I supported myself as an upholsterer. It's true! I apprenticed in Canton at the Old Broom Factory building on Boston St. after I graduated from MICA, oh so long ago in 1998. The skills I learned there have taken me far. I have had lots of experience with interior decorators, antique dealers, and many many customers who need custom upholstery work.

I have worked on many styles of furniture from antique to modern using vinyl, leather, tufting, buttons, channeling... skirting, trim, fringe, cushions, window seats, the list goes on and on. I no longer do boat cushions or recliners (live and learn!)

If you would like to learn more about my work, you can peek into my upholstery workroom thought my the new Facebook Page I recently set up: http://www.facebook.com/AllisonFomichUpholstery

I plan on having updates of projects as they move through the shop.

I have a variety of fabric companies that I can order custom fabrics for my customers. Velvets, vinyls, traditional stripes and damasks to contemporary faux suede, animal prints and many more.

Look for me, you might see my new ad in the Urbanite!!!!

Charles Village Festival: June 4th and 5th

Start the summer right ... enjoy continuous live entertainment on two
stages, a variety of crafters, including BEST's own Becca & Mars and Abigail Leigh Handbags
, beer/wine
and food vendors at the Charles Village Festival. For the kids, there
will be games, music and face painting.

Charles Village is known for its quirky, bohemian roots and was named
one of the Top 10 Neighborhoods in America by the American Planning
Association in 2008. All proceeds raised from the weekend event
benefit the following:
Charles Village Civic Association
Charles Village Recreation League
The Village Learning Place
Friends of Wyman Park Dell

Admission to the two day event at Wyman Park Dell is free."Doors" open
at 11:00am Saturday. For an additional $10, there will an guided
garden walks through the neighborhood.

For more detailed information and directions, visit
http://www.charlesvillagefestival.com.

Written by: Becca & Mars

Free Recycled Fabric Flower Workshop – Registration Open!

We will be holding another BEST-led workshop on Tuesday, June 7th!

In this workshop, Koleen Kilduff of Design by Night will be demonstrating how to repurpose old bridesmaid and prom dresses into fabulous flower brooches and headbands. She'll be showing 2-3 different style techniques in the demo.

Most woman fulfill the duty of bridesmaids approximately three times in her lifetime, two thirds have been in three to five. According to statistics, over 80% of bridesmaid dresses are worn only once. So what do you do with these hidden poofy organza, satin, chiffon monsters in your closet? Turn them into stylish accessories of course!

Attendees should bring:

• Fabric Scissors

• Millinery Sewing Needles

• Glue Gun and glue sticks

• 1-Plain Headband (can be fabric, plastic or metal)

• Straight Pins

• OPTIONAL: Old bridesmaid, prom or formal dress made from a combination of satin, organza or chiffon

Recycled dresses, as well as other materials will be provided by the instructor. Each participant will leave with two finished projects, a headband and a brooch.

A little bit about Koleen: Design by Night is a one woman and two dog crafting machine that creates feather and flower hair accessories and brooches for women. Her tutorials have been featured in a National Magazine. When she is not crafting, you can find her combing through thrift stores and yard sales looking for old bridesmaid dresses, retro jewelry and other eclectic items to repurpose into handmade flowers pins, headbands, hats and other fashion accessories.

You can view more of her tutorials : http://designbynight.blogspot.com/

The workshop will be held at the MICA Fox Building, room 218. There are only 20 spaces available, so reserve your spot now!

Gunpowder River Artfest!

Great art, food, wine and music!
Gunpowder River Artfest is being held this year at Boordy Vineyard in Hydes, MD. The artfest is sponsored by the Northern Baltimore County Art Foundation. The event features juried artists from around the area, live music, food and great wine.

Join BEST's Sugar Paperie and check out her handmade cards, Doxallo Designs fine jewelry, and studioG 's fused glass items and hand turned pens.

Date: June 4th, 2011
Time 11:00 am- 8:00 pm
Admission: $12 adults, $10 teens (13-20) Kids FREE

Admission includes wine tasting for those 21 and up, parking, live music and children's activities.

For more information visit the NBCAF website at http://www.nbcaf.com/

Written by Stacey Phinney of studioG

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