Meet Holiday Heap's Bowerbox Press!

Bowerbox Press is owned and operated by MICA graduate, Val Lucas. Val rescued a 1901 Colt's Armory letterpress from a basement in Baltimore, and after two months of cleaning and restoration... Well, you'll see her masterpieces at Holiday Heap!

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Bird Nerd Printer

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
It's the song my press sings while I'm working- ka-CHUNK ka-CHUNK ka-CHUNK!

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
In front of the small press in the living room printing cards, or folding & packaging what's dry from last week.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
Ceramics. I took a few ceramics courses and loved it!
 
Grilled or deep fried? 
Grilled, unless it's a candy bar!

Meet Holiday Heap's Carlybird Weaves!

If I were to describe my Charm City Craft Mafia friend, Carlybird Weaves, I would say this Amazon indie crafter is a weaving, loud-hymn singing, old-timey listening, hula-hooping rascal. (Actually, I think she may have said it first...)

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Weave.  Sing.  Over-think.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be? 
This is impossible (see above--I over-think everything)....but maybe North Salem, a lovely fire and brimstone shape-note tune written in 1799.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Drinking a beer, trying to figure out how to organize my time and space.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft? 
Books.  I love handmade books!

Grilled or deep fried?
Grilled (cheese).

Meet Holiday Heap's HVM Designs!

HVM Designs is a one-woman crafting factory, powered by Charm City Craft Mafia member, Heather von Marko. In business since August 1st, 2005, operations have taken over the third bedroom of the family's small row house! 

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Wears many hats.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
"If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" by Cat Stevens.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Home, next to kids, yarn in hand, slippers on feet.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
POTTERY OMG. 

Grilled or deep fried?
Grilled.

Every Ticket Helps

For the past four years, St John’s United Methodist church has graciously hosted each incredible show the Charm City Craft Mafia has organized. But the church has been host to a much greater mission for more than twenty years now.


During the blustery cold December of 1987, in response to a news broadcast highlighting lack of available shelter for the homeless, Carol and Rich Berman approached their church's congregation at St. John's United Methodist Church with the idea of opening an emergency homeless shelter.

The vision was to improve the well-being of the community as a whole, and to help break the cycle of homelessness by providing quality, compassionate service to people in need.

In January of 1988, Heart's Place Shelter opened its doors in the basement of St John's church, providing shelter, clothing and food for men, women, children, and families.

...it continues today.

Heart’s Place Shelter provides much more than the basic necessities to men and women and families in need. They work to create plans for each individual to gain independence and become healthy and self-sufficient. They provide three meals a day, laundry services, hot showers and safety.

You can help Heart’s Place Shelter this holiday season by purchasing a raffle ticket (or three!) at Holiday Heap on Saturday, December 4th 2010 at St. John’s church. One lucky person will win a HUGE basket filled with a collection of handmade goods from members of the Charm City Craft mafia as well as from many of our super talented vendors! Think Biggs and Featherbelle, 2hawks2fishes, Namoo, Found Studio and so many more!

All money raised from the raffle will be donated to Heart’s Place, and the more money we can raise, the more people they can help.

Holiday Heap is this Saturady, December 4, 2010 from 10am to 5pm at 2640 St Paul Street, Baltimore MD 21218, inside St John's Church.

Meet Holiday Heap's El Jefe Design!

Simply put: El Jefe always delivers heavy-weight design.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Failed rock star.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
Rollins Band's Hotter and Hotter.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Either putting my two boys to sleep, wrapping posters for shipping, or catching a concert.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
I think my wife would appreciate it if I started making jewelry.

Grilled or deep fried?
Sigh. Deep fried.

Meet Holiday Heap's littlest bean!

When Jen (aka the littlest bean) was a child, one of her favorite things was opening a brand new box of crayons – 64 glorious colors hidden in a little cardboard box. She loved the limitless variations that were possible. As she got older, even though her wardrobe began to consist of mostly black, she still gravitated toward colorful bits like a raven. Buttons, yarn, fabric, beads, even glass rod… She would take it all home.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Loud, loving spaz.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?  
Hmmm, my work?  I'm not sure... but the song that's in my head most often while I'm working is "No Sleep 'til Brooklyn."

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Sitting in the living room, watching movies and cutting felt.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?  
I love installation work. I could dream up installations forever and ever.

Grilled or deep fried?
Grilled.

Meet Holiday Heap's jennyjen42!

JennyJen... The name given to her new life... 42. The age where she became a kid again. This painter-turned-seamstress has a mission to create a unique line of handmade gifts that are fresh, practical and have a fun sense of spirit and nostalgia to them. Her narrative pillows and tote bags are inspired by the bird parties that are frequently held around JennyJen’s bird feeder in her Baltimore backyard.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself. 
flexible work-a-holic

If your work had a theme song, what would it be? 
Let me think... Bluebird by Buffalo Springfield.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you? 
Dinner, sweat shopping, and relaxing with my English fellow.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft? 
Making plushies!

Grilled or deep fried? 
Grilled.

Meet Holiday Heap's Elisa Shere Jewelry!

Elisa Shere Jewelry is all about rustic sterling silver jewelry made from recycled materials. The jewelry is carefully handcrafted from scratch using recycled, non-mined sterling silver that was processed in an earth friendly refinery. How cool is it that she has also eliminated most chemicals from the studio?!

First things first. Congratulations to our new Holiday Heap Mom!


In three words or less, please tell us about yourself. 
Super woman.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
I've given this some thought and I think my work would have more of a soundtrack than just one song. My work varies based on my love of color/feminine themes and my love of organic/geometic themes. So, I would say my soundtrack would be "The Royal Tenenbaums". Lots of interludes, energetic sounds, more introspective songs. It makes sense.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Right now, either snuggling my new baby or trying to get a few minutes up in my studio making beautiful jewelry for Holiday Heap.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
I wish I could sew or knit. I've always been terrible at these, but would love to learn.

Grilled or deep fried?
If I had to choose just one, I would say deep fried.

Meet Holiday Heap's Tasha McKelvey!

When googling "Tasha McKelvey," you'll find her listed under "handmade clay goodness." Her woodland and garden-inspired pottery is sure to be a huge Holiday Heap hit.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Pottery Making Fool

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
The Beatles' "Blackbird"

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Hanging out or in the studio working - if I'm lucky I might get to have a beer.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
Quilting, I just love quilts and patchwork!

Grilled or deep fried?
Deep Fried!

Meet Holiday Heap's City Sparrow!

All City Sparrow items are hand made in her Baltimore City row home. Production is overseen by City Sparrow's nosey cat, Gizmo.



In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
fabric plants bicycles

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
that's a really hard question. i love music and listen to it all the time, especially while i'm sewing. maybe something by frank sinatra would be appropriate.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
cooking dinner and sewing while friends are in the basement making music. i love the sounds and smells of productivity.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
i would paint or draw. i'm really terrible at both.

Grilled or deep fried?
deep fried all the way.

Meet Holiday Heap's pidge pidge!

pidge pidge is run out of a cozy third floor apartment in upstate NY with a grumpy cat, Pigeon. The old floor loom and pidge pidge are sandwiched between a sewing machine and a giant stack of fibers in a tiny red room.



In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
fibers freak!

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
David Bowie's "Sound and Vision"

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
I've got off from the day job on Thursdays! I'm cooking a lazy dinner and then weaving late into the night, listening to reruns of Car Talk and This American Life... Maybe a little internet as well.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
I loved the pottery class I took in college. All of my bowls and cups were lumpy and weighed a ton, but if I had a little natural talent...

Grilled or deep fried?
Roasted :)

Meet Holiday Heap's The Broken Plate!

The Broken Plate Pendant Co. is where boxed up, unloved, dishes from Grandma come alive and are given a renewed purpose.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself. 
I Break Plates.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be? 
Breaking Dishes by Rhianna

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you? 
Watching Modern Family.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft? 
I wish I could sew!

Grilled or deep fried? 
I want to say grilled, but we all know it would be deep fried.

Meet Holiday Heap's 2 hawks 2 fishes!

2 hawks 2 fishes comes with a disclaimer: 2 hawks 2 fishes is not responsible for any magical effects these hand made goods may have. We can't wait to see her at Holiday Heap this year!

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
walker, not talker

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
At My Window by Townes Van Zandt

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?

Home, playing my guitar for my 2 cats.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?

Songs.

Grilled or deep fried? 
Grilled, definitely.

This Sunday at the Metro Gallery...

the alps >> a bizarre bazaar
november 28 :: metro gallery :: 2-10pm

1700 North Charles St

Baltimore, MD

This Sunday, from 2-6pm the Metro Gallery is hosting an array of holiday gift making workshops, a few craft vendors, and some good-vibe ambiance with live music and hot toddies! Later on from 6-8pm, a friendsgiving (byo leftovers), and afterthat a dance party. What a great way to spend a sunday and get your craft on! Facebook invite here!

WORKSHOPS by >>
matt muirhead :: stenciling cards
katie feild :: pop-up holiday cards
annie howe // bmore papercuts :: alt. snowflakes paper-cutting
julie bent // lot201 :: recycled, fingerless, felted glove-making

ALT-GIFT FAIR with goods sold by >>
pellinore press
motobus
zensations by jen
+ MORE

MUSIC by >>
martin kasey
Peaks [patrick rife]
+MORE
-------------
2-6pm WORKSHOPS + ALT-GIFT MKT.
6-8pm henna tattoos, films by scott braid + eric hatch + a FRIENDSGIVING feast [byo-leftovers + drink our hot toddies]
8-late pm dance party

Meet Holiday Heap's motobus!

Holiday Heap's vendor, motobus, is really interested in 'zakka' - the things that make people feel happy. so she draws! she make lots of buttons. and when she has more time she makes other things too!  

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
me make cute.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
"doo do doo doo ..."

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Honey, I'm home!

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
I'd like to be more industrial and make more usable things or be magical at baking.

Grilled or deep fried?
Both.  I'm from Texas, they're both on the plate and the plate is BIG.

Meet Holiday Heap's Sew Ono eco apparel!

"Recycling is love." Sew Ono is sustainable fashion. Made from reconstructed thrift store finds and friends and family discards. Not part of the fashion industry, part of the eco fashion movement.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
I Heart Recycling 

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
Strutter by KISS

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
On the couch hand sewing buttons.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
Screened t-shirts with ambiguous phrases.

Grilled or deep fried?
Grilled. Unless it's a Snickers!

Meet Holiday Heap's Cutesy but not Cutesy!

Diane Koss carried around stuffed animals throughout her childhood. Today, she makes one-of-a-kind monsters for her shop, Cutesy but not Cutesy.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Fluffbeast Connoisseur

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
REM's Furry Happy Monsters. Hands down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwfMstI3bpA

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
I'm on my living room floor surrounded by fluff, laptop by my side chatting with some of my favorite fellow business owners, listening to Pandora radio, and possibly eating a cupcake of sorts.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
In college I was a jewelry designer for a little while and I miss working with metals sometimes.  But I also have always been interested in printing (screen, letterpress, etc) and bookmaking.  So maybe that, since it's something I've never really done for an extended period of time before.

Grilled or deep fried?
Grilled.

Meet Holiday Heap's Hillery Rebeka Sproatt!

Hillery Rebeka Sproatt lives and works in Baltimore, where she makes prints, drawings, and embroidered objects. She is a collector of small things.

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself. 
more cute socks

If your work had a theme song, what would it be? 
A poorly sung song that I made up.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you? 
In my studio working or walking the dog.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft? 
I would like to learn how to weave. I want to draw with weaving.

Grilled or deep fried? 
Deep fried.

Meet Holiday Heap's Biggs & Featherbelle!

Sisters Kelly and Kasey Evick created Biggs & Featherbelle in January 2003. A magazine article inspired the pair to make 'melt and pour' glycerin soaps as Christmas presents. With backgrounds in the Fine Arts and Fashion, the two had fun creating unique recipes, packaging and clever names for each item. The gifts were a big hit then and now seven years later, they are still providing products that everyone enjoys!


In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
The Soap Sisters.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
Ozzy Ozbourne - Mama I'm coming home. It's hard not to sing it when you are cutting up hundreds of bars of Momma Bar....everyone does it. Corny....yes.

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Eating a late dinner at home trying to wind down and watching survivor.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
Anything with fabric!

Grilled or deep fried?
Grilled and preferably with cheese!

Meet Holiday Heap's Bmore Papercuts!

The Charm City Craft Mafia could not be more excited about this year's Holiday Heap! With only 17 days left before St John's Church is packed with artistic mayhem, let's introduce you to some of our show's amazing vendors and let you see what really makes these crafters tick!

Meet Bmore Papercuts!

In three words or less, please tell us about yourself.
Papercutter. Puppeteer. Performer.

If your work had a theme song, what would it be?
No specific song but something with accordions in it like the
soundtrack to Amélie!

It's a typical Wednesday night. Where are you?
Yoga.

If you could create a craft, other than your craft, what craft would you craft?
Anything related to printmaking, silkscreen and letterpress.

Grilled or deep fried?
I should say grilled but my true answer has to be fried.

[Editor's note: There will be a quiz - with prize! - at Holiday Heap about these favorite vendors. Keep reading. More details soon.]

HOLIDAY HEAP 2010 VENDOR LIST!

just a few of the HOLIDAY HEAP 2010 Crafty Vendors!
It's HOLIDAY HEAP COUNTDOWN TIME! Just over 3 weeks to go!!
Our complete Vendor list is up on the Charm City Craft Mafia website!

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW!

Holiday Heap 2010 is December 4, 2010. 10am-5pm at 2640 St. Paul Street in Baltimore. This is the EIGHTH juried craft show we've organize together, and we are so excited to introduce you (or, reunite you, as the case may be) with all of the 46 talented participating artists. We are also excited for the Curbside Cafe burrito truck, The coffee from Red Emmas, the music, the holiday cheer and the fine people of Baltimore coming together to buy local + handmade for the holidays.

Help spread the word by RSVPing on "The Facebook!"

Craft as Economic Catalyst (Ignite Baltimore 6: Megan Auman)

Becket Hitch - a New Craft Market in Baltimore

Guess what - It's NOVEMBER already. Nearly winter! Time to start thinking about holiday shopping, candy, and cold weather.
A great time to kick the season off with some craft fairs, don't you think? While you anxiously twiddle thy thumbs awaiting this year's Holiday Heap - why not check out a posh NEW type of fair in Baltimore's Woodberry neighborhood.

Introducing Becket Hitch, a makers market at Woodberry Kitchen. Becket Hitch will be an intimate pop-up shop style market of about 11 artisans - all offering handcrafted products with an emphasis on high quality and great design. We have our eyes on the Jewelry of Ashley Buchanan + K. Flick Studios, and the scandinavian knits of Churchtown Chapeau Co. (Check out all the talented vendors here)

Becket Hitch is November 13th from 10am - 3pm. There is a small cost to attend, but tickets include entrance to the market, valet parking at Woodberry Kitchen, small bites and a drink (yes, an alcoholic one) while you shop!
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door. Can you remember a time when you spent less than one bajillion dollars eating at Woodberry Kitchen? Us either (because we order the entire menu). So this is a fantastic deal.

for more info, visit - www.becketthitch.com
for one of the best meals you'll ever eat, visit - www.woodberrykitchen.com