Friday Finds- Getting ready for colder weather!

I saw these hats at the Crafty Bastard's fair- so cute, and so many colors. The blue one was my favorite.


Amelia hat from Rocks and Salt

This makes me think of a sea creature laying eggs on your neck to keep it warm!


Green Crocheted Neckwarmer from Jack Rabbit

You can’t go wrong with cute wristwarmers.


Striped Fingerless Gloves - Dark Grey, Beige and Green from Morrgan's Creatures

Post written by BowerboxPress

Twenty Things - VW Studios

1. I grew up in the rustbelt and have an innate love of old industrial buildings.
2. For most of my childhood I wanted to be an architect or an engineer.
3. At night, I often dream about my hair being different. They are the kind of dreams that seem so real I'm surprised when I look in the mirror in the morning.
4. I swam on a synchronized swim team for 10 years. Then I became the coach.
5. Cleaning always makes me feel better when I'm down.
6. I recently discovered the wonder and richness of plain old swiss cheese. Mmmm.
7. Before I die I want to experience first-hand the vastness of the ocean by sailing between two continents.
8. My studio is in an industrial complex that is shared with big-rig trucking companies.
9. I love to cook and hope to someday write a cooking blog.
10. I studied Swahili in college. Who knew a language could have seven different genders of nouns?!
11. My grandmother taught me to make friends with all living things, even spiders.
12. I'll eat almost any food you put in front of me--at least once!
13. Orange, blue, green, and dark red are all my favorite colors (why pick just one?), but I almost always wear neutrals.
14. As a lifeguard, I walked around swinging my whistle around my index finger.
15. I once had a job digging back-country latrines in northern Minnesota.
16. My dining room is painted brown.
17. Biking is my preferred mode of transportation whether the trip by two miles or 200.
18. I'm infatuated with audio books.
19. I teach ceramics.
20. I'm also a graphic designer.

Would you like to be featured? Email your twenty things (keep it clean, please!) to baltimoreetsy (at) gmail (dot) com. Be sure to include your photo, name and URL.

Happy Birthday, Jill!

aka JillPopowichDesigns

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!

Fall Giveaway

Don't forget about our fall gift certificate giveaway, worth $200! All you have to do is join our mailing list (if you have not done some already) AND visit a participating artists' shop and leave a comment on the original post about your favorite item(s). Winner will be chosen at random on Thanksgiving Day - just in time for Cyber Monday! Good Luck!

(image by dandelionblu)

Renegade

Featured Seller: Little Llama

I found little llama on Flickr and immediately fell in love with her nature-inspired jewelry, which is set off by beautiful photography.

The piece I covet the most is this necklace. I love the way the natural look of the wood contrasts with the shape of the bead.


little llama says of her work, “Often I tend to make jewelry that’s simple and sober, yet striking. Other times I feel like making more colorful and bold jewelry, so you’re sure to find some variety. Nature and all sorts of photographs form a real inspiration source to me.”

A good example of this natural inspiration can be seen in this necklace—a very natural shape in a striking color and setting.


Finally, check out the amazing texture of these earrings. I bet they would catch the light beautifully.


Post written by bennyandheidi

Random Baltimore Photo

For more information, please click on the image.

Tutorial: How to Make Earwires

Handmade earwires are one of those things that add an extra personal touch to your jewelry. When I first became a metalsmith, I learned all these fantastic techniques, but would still purchase my earwires. I decided to take it upon myself to learn how to make my own earwires and as it turns out, they are pretty easy to make. Below are some easy instructions for some simple, sterling silver earwires.

Materials you will need for this project: 20 gauge Sterling Silver wire, ruler, round nose and flat nose plyers, wire cutters, pen, leather or plastic hammer, anvil, jewelry file and sand paper

Step 1: Cut 1.5" lengths of wire. You can adjust the length of wire you need according to the type of earwire you are planning to make.

Step 2: Make a small loop at the end of the piece of wire with your round nose plyers. Consider making a mark on the plyers to remember your spot - so your loops will be the same size.

Step 3: Holding the loop in place with one of your fingers, wrap the wire length around the pen (mandel). Repeat for all lengths of wire, and check to be sure that your pieces are the same size.

Step 4: Use your round nose (or flat) plyers to make a curve towards the bottom of the earwire. Repeat for all pieces, checking to be sure you are curving all pieces in the same place. Trim earwires as neccessary (and to your liking).

Step 5: Harden the earwires by placing them on your anvil and tapping with a plastic or leather hammer. You want to use a plastic/leather hammer so you don't mark up the metal.

Step 6: File the bottom of the earwires until they are smooth. You may also use a cup attachment for your flex shaft/drummel to round the bottom of the earwires. Run the earwires over some sandpaper, if necessary.

Voila! You now have made your very own handcrafted earwires. You can make many pairs at the same time, so you'll be all stocked up. Have fun crafting!

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