Already sick of the snow, Baltimore?

Plan your craftcation in sunny Ventura, California!

This just in from a crafty comrade on the west coast...

Craftcation, Indie Business and DIY Conference,
Comes to the Ventura Coast in Spring 2012

Delilah Snell and Nicole Stevenson, co-producers of Patchwork Indie Art & Craft Festival (a bi-annual Southern California event showcasing emerging artists, crafters and designers) bring Craftcation, an indie business & DIY conference to Ventura on March 22-25, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The first of its kind in Southern California, this beachfront three-day conference
features panel discussions and DIY workshops with leading industry professionals on art, craft and food-centered small business.

A wide range of “how-to’s” catered toward the crafting entrepreneur will cover
such topics as indie business start up or expansion, maximizing social media,
branding, selling at craft shows and on Etsy, merchandising, accounting, legal
issues, wholesale and more.

A sample of DIY crafting workshops slated for the conference includes screen-
printing, needle art/sewing, cheese making, canning/preserving and jewelry
making. Recreational and networking activities such as beachside yoga,
cocktail/barbeque socials, and historical/art trolley tours of Ventura promise to
round out the vacation angle.

Craftcation attendees will have the opportunity to learn the inside track of
starting, maintaining or expanding their indie business while networking with
peers/professionals and gaining skills in hands-on workshops.

Sounds pretty great to us!

Call for Entries- Women: An Exhibition

Call for submissions!

What makes women awesome? Who are the amazing women you know? How have they

impacted your life and work? What effect have they had on the world? This exhibition invites

artists and designers of all genders to create work that celebrates the incredible women they

have known, loved and been influenced by. It is a chance to recognize and pay homage to all

that the women in our lives have contributed to us.

By showcasing the work of female artists and designers, exhibiting work about women’s roles in industry and projects about women known personally (colleagues, family, friends, mentors, role models, etc.) this show will celebrate all the facets and roles of women in our lives.

This exhibition is curated by Sarah McCann and presented in partnership with D:center

Baltimore.

For a full prospectus and to apply, go to www.sarahbmccann.com. Submissions are due January 31.

Trohv

A BIG Thank you to one of our sponsors:

If you haven't heard, the best home decor and gift shop in Baltimore has a new name! Trohv, formerly Red Tree in Hampden is the same GREAT shop with a new title!

trohv \’trōv\ n [alter. of trove (discovery, find)] (2010) :
a collection of artful objects discovered or found.

Guess what else? Trohv opened a new shop this year in the historic Takoma Park neighborhood of Washington, DC! Click here to map it so you can plan your visit NOW! The new shop is a spacious 8,000 square feet of fantastic vintage and new uncommon finds! Click here to find the Baltimore location!

Don't live in the Baltimore/DC area? Never you fear dear... you can now SHOP TROHV ONLINE! The clever goodness will be shipped conveniently to your doorstep! Whew! That's a relief!

Working on your holiday gift list? This is the place to go for those one-of-a-kind gifts that will make everyone on your list ecstatic!

Gifts for Gals

Gifts for Guys

Host/Hostess Gifts

Now is the best time of year to check out Trohv for all around feelings of comfort, joy & coziness! There is also a stocking stuffer section you don't wanna miss! You will find all kinds of TOMFOOLERY: mustache bandages, bacon soap, bacon floss, pickle lip balm, squirrel underpants and MORE!

Thank you Trohv for your consistent support of the Charm City Craft mafia and for your love of local/handmade goods!

Clementine

A BIG THANK YOU to one of our sponsors

If I could eat somewhere everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner without hesitation I would pick Clementine! It's comfort food without pesticides & antibiotics and as much as possible is locally sourced!

I was thrilled to learn that Clementine is starting a MEAT CLUB in collaboration with Genuine Food Co! This will allow customers to purchase a share of meat that is picked up in increments at Clementine. This is a much more economical way to purchase grass fed meat without chemicals! Plus, one of Clementine's owners, Winston--will be providing recipes that will help nerds like me to know how to properly cook different cuts of meat! Yippee, sign me up! Click here for more info!

Clementine has a charcuterie offering house-made pates, sausages, butters, rillettes, and more! Call ahead 410-444-1497 to reserve your special order for that lovely holiday meal you are planning!

Now that they have expanded Clementine has plenty of space to host your holiday party/event! An artfully created atmosphere with local art and found fixtures is sure to make you feel like you are in Brooklyn, NY--HIP!

Click here to make a reservation on Open Table!

Coming soon from Clementine...Green Onion Market also located on Harford Road! Yay!

*Thanks so much--Clementine-- for your support of local artists and Charm City Craft Mafia!*

Chop Shop

A BIG THANK YOU to one of our Holiday Heap sponsors:

A one-stop shop for all your hair, skin, and body needs! Owner, Lisa Hawkes always makes me feel like a queen! The chop shop is located at 4321 Harford Road in the heart of the Hamilton- Lauraville Mainstreet. I've been getting my hair cut at Chop Shop for several months now and it seems almost every day someone asks where I got it cut! Not only will they fix up your hair-- you will find these additional services to rave about:

* Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork

*Brow& Lash Tinting

*Facials & Body Treatments

*Waxing

*Bill the Barber (for the menfolk)

*A Movie Theatre (that's right, you can rent out a 20 person theatre,

how cool is that?)

Just when you thought it couldn't get better...

Chop Shop has an ART GALLERY

Contact the Chop Shop if you are interested in showcasing your work!

They looove supporting local artists!

Need a thoughtful gift this holiday season? I highly recommend a gift certificate to the Chop Shop! I'd like to have one under my tree...hint, hint!

Call 410.426.2300 to to set up an appointment with Lisa, Shannon, Nicole,

Arika, or Bill the barber.

Thank you, Chop Shop for your continued support of the Charm City Craft Mafia!!

Meet Holiday Heap Vendor, Little Flower Designs

List your shop name and give a brief description of your work and process.

Little Flower Designs, handmade by Linda Johnson. My wares are handmade by me in my Huntingdon Valley, PA studio. I make simple forms then hand etch and glaze my illustrations onto each piece. My work features birds, flowers, trees, text and other nature inspired themes.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

My favorite holiday tradition is putting up our christmas tree, especially now that we have a little one! I can't wait to see her little face light up when she see's the lights and all the ornaments. My personal tradtion is buying a new handmade ornament from a fellow crafter. I love knowing who made our ornaments and hope to pass this tradition onto our daughter. And of course sharing the season with family and friends!

Do you have anything new that shoppers can look forward to?

Shoppers can find many lovely gifts at my table including, cups, bowls, platters, vases and holiday ornaments.

Meet Holiday Heap Vendor, Kittner Studio

List your shop name and give a brief description of your work and process.

I just started selling on Etsy ;) and can be found at etsy.com/shop/KittnerStudio. I am making my jewelry using frit, resin and marrying them with my hand made, mixed metal bezels. I've also been creating many little found treasure collages from vintage liquor  and cigar labels. I will also have a selection of assemblage work made from found pieces, including playskool blocks.

Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration usually comes in the middle of the night when all is quiet and I process the happenings of the day. Or in the middle of the day, when I'm singing along with Aretha, Ella, Bonnie or any of my other Ipod studio mates.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

My Favorite holiday tradition is celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas by having a Jewbilee tree.