Baltimore v Paris

Baltimore designer/travel addict/design*sponge contributer/fluid movement performer/all round wonderwoman extrordinaire Anne Dittmeyer said goodbye to our fair city this month and has left her job at AVAM, and all of the above, for grad school in Paris. She wrote a fun goodbye and thankyou note comparing the two cities, (and for emphasis, even points to a STYLE article that does the same!) you can read her post HERE on her awesome blog, Prêt à Voyager. (images by Felice Cleveland).
Good luck, Anne!

Eyeballs at the Visionary

Can't get enough of handmade?
As IF you really needed another reason to visit the american visionary art museum...
CCCM's own Cotton Monster (aka jennifer strunge) is now selling monster eyeballs at the museum's Sideshow Giftshop - quite possibly the best giftshop in Baltimore.

Odosketch. New ways to Procrastinate

Did you already apply for Holiday Heap?
Waiting patiently to hear if you got in this year, and don't know what to do with yourself?
Check out my new favorite form of online procrastination.
Odosketch.
Because this is 2009. (Who doodles with a pen & paper anymore right?)
Love it.

Found via CanYouBeMoreSpecific

Baltidome: Check it out!

Here's a Baltimore based website to keep on your favorites list: www.baltidome.com

Baltidome is a website which focuses on greening it up in Baltimore city! You'll find links to artists that specialize in upcycled art & design as well as listings of antique and vintage shops . Thinking of throwing out that cat scratched chair or your favorite shoes w/ the worn out soles? Baltidome includes a list of restoration services, like re-upholstery and shoe repair, as well as bike and computer repair shops!

Never ridden public transportation in Baltimore? Don't be intimidated, Baltidome has some tips for first-timers.

Looking to downsize but don't know where to start? Baltidome has a listing of places to donate or sell items you no longer need, so they don't end up in a landfill! And what about those items that you don't know how to dispose of like batteries, light bulbs, building scrap...RECYCLE 'em!

Check it out! There is a wealth of info here, wrapped up in a pretty package...Baltidome, brainchild of longtime resident Tina Carroll, is chock full of fun collages/drawings that make clicking around all the more worthwhile!

And if that weren't enough to keep you busy, don't forget to check out the Baltidome Blog!

Become a Fan on Facebook!

Here's one more great way to keep in touch and make sure you're one of the first to know about our upcoming crafty events!  If you are one of the trazillion folks on Facebook AND if you wanna show your love for Baltimore's craftiest mob, take a moment to "Become a fan" of the Charm City Craft Mafia!

Click HERE to see our Facebook fan page, and click the "become a fan" button! Easy-peasy! 

Opening Reception of CHROMATOSE, a juried painting exhibition.
Friday, August 21 from 7 - 10 pm
Nudashank Gallery - H&H Building
405 W. Franklin St.
3rd Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201


Artists:
John Bohl (Baltimore, MD)
Edward Max Fendley (Washington, DC)
Tatiana Berg (Providence, RI)
John Slaby (Philadelphia, PA)
Herb Rieth (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Heather Brammeier (Peoria, IL)
Ryan Browning (Mt. Airy, MD)
David Ross (Westminster, MD)
Darren McManus (Lambertville, NJ)
Andrew Kaufman (Brooklyn, IA)
D'Metrius Rice (Baltimore, MD)
Nicholas Moenich (NYC)
Bill Dunlap (Cumberland, MD)
Stuart Lorimer (Scotland)
Ted Gahl (Providence, RI)
David Staniunas (Columbus, OH)
Djed by JDay

August 21st - September 19th, 2009.
Gallery hours by appointment.
nudashankgallery@gmail.com

Free Opportunity for Craft Vendors THIS WEEKEND

"Your Inner Glow" by Jane Andrle Gillette
See below for an opportunity for FREE vendor space this weekend at the Inner Harbor Arts Fest:
Sponsored by Maryland Art Place!
--------
Immediate Opportunity: Baltimore's first Inner Harbor Arts Festival

Attention MEMBERS (and non-members) of the Maryland State Arts Council Visual Artists Registry!
Immediate Opportunity:
Baltimore's first Inner harbor Arts Festival, August 22-23, 2009
Free Display Space Available for Seven (7) MAP - sponsored artists!
Don't Delay! First come, first served!!!

To apply, visit: artfestival.com/items/index/apply_artist

When you apply, please note that you've been referred by Maryland Art Place through the Maryland State Arts Council Visual Artist Registry.

HOLIDAY HEAP 2009 APPLICATIONS!

Photo by Tasha McKelvy

Charm City Craft Mafia is thrilled to announce our 3rd annual Holiday Heap - an indie craft fair in Baltimore!
Holiday Heap 2009 will take place at St. John's Church - 2640 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21218 - on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. The fair will run 10am-5pm.

We are now accepting applications through midnight, OCTOBER 5th.
You can find our form HERE.
There is a $10 non-refundable fee to apply, and a $65 vendor fee if accepted by our 15 person jury.
your application will not be complete until you pay the $10 fee
Applicants will be judged on craftmanship, originality and skill. We look for great photos, easy to navigate websites (if applicable), good pricepoints, and try to gather a group of both local and faraway vendors that work together to create the best and most unique shopping experience for our shoppers.

We can't wait to see what's in the running this year!!!
APPLY NOW!!!!!

-CCCM

HOLIDAY HEAP - DATE CHANGED & CONFIRMED.

ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!
Charm City Craft Mafia is pleased to announce that the 3rd annual HOLIDAY HEAP craft fair will be held
DECEMBER 5th, 2009. 10am-5pm at St. John's Church in Baltimore.
Applications will be up by the end of August and will be announced right here on the blog.

This date is a CHANGE from what we've been telling people inquiring through email.
Please pass this information on to any of your crafty friends/family that might be interested in participating in this years show, and accept our apologies for any inconvenience the rescheduling might have caused.
We expect this years Heap to be the biggest and bestest yet, and we can't wait to see you all there!!!

Fondly,
CCCM

Learn a new skill!

From Danamarie Hosler, of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team:

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

VIA BEST blog