Embroidery at the ACC show

I'm looking forward to feeling better by the end of the week so that I can go to the ACC show and visit some exhibiting friends, and see what's new this year. Just found out about Historically Inaccurate (HI for short) who will be at the show this year. These really crack me up!

CCCM in Southern Living Magazine!

We were interviewed for this article about Craft Mafia members back in 2007, and although it's my old studio that is shown, and Jen's old studio that she's standing in, we still run the same businesses, and, I think, have the same general outlook on things. That photo makes me miss the old shed, but reminds me that there was no heat or AC out there. Just me and the crickets.
Pick up this month's Southern Living Magazine and flip to pages 6-8 of the Mid Atlantic Living section! Since you're making the purchase anyway, you could also read the rest of the magazine, which this month features delicious looking layer cakes, Gardening tips from Disney, and the answer to "what beer goes best with Duck Salad?" foreal.

Hello Craft and ACC

I'm writing from bed this morning as I managed to wake up with a second round of this winter's flu yesterday and can't seem to function properly. Since I'm lingering somewhere between a mellow sleepiness and a wide-awake-feeling-sorry-for-my-pitiful-self, I'm at least thrilled to catch up on some podcasts from my friends over at Hello Craft. This week's edition features some great local crafters, and highlights the American Craft Council Show, going on this week (Tues-Thurs. is wholesale only, Friday-Sunday is retail & open to the public). Listen to that podcast as well as previous podcasts HERE and be sure to check out the ACC show this week. $14 at the Baltimore Convention Center. I suggest hopping on the light rail if you can, as parking down by the inner harbor is tricky & expensive. Good luck!

Indie Fixx Closing Sale

Just got word that Jen of Indie Fixx is closing the shop connected to her indie craft blog. We hope she'll continue on with the blog, but we also hope you'll take advantage of the STEALS that this closing sale has. Handmade items from some of your favorite crafters- 20-50% off. Get them while you still can. SHOP HERE

Beautiful Folk Music For Free

I am DROOLING and SWOONING over this new folk compilation on SpliceToday.com (a worthwhile site to check out regardless of this compilation, in fact) featuring contemporary artists covering old folk songs. Many of the contemporary artists are from the fair city of Baltimore! Caleb Stine, Walker & Jay, Wye Oak, Tommy Tucker and Noble Lake are just the first few I recognize. Really a delicious auditory treat, and I'm so pleased to see such love for my favorite type of music here in Baltimore. Thanks to those who made this happen, whoever they might be. Listen to the mix HERE for FREE!!!!!
Thanks to Kathy, my favorite new folk singer, for alerting me to this.
(PS- there's even a cover of Long Black Veil, which reminds me of certain faraway friends who love that song WAY too hard)

Tubby Bird Creatures

I'm sort of in love with these ceramics from Ninainvorm. She both makes her own screenprinted ceramics and applies her own screenprinted images to vintage ceramics as well. I'm really into all the birds with human faces I've been seeing lately. I guess it's a vintage/folksy concept... but I still love what people are doing with it in these here modern times. Check out this beautiful illustration from one of my Etsy Favorites, Ashleyg:

Alone time

Apologies for my quietness this week.
I'm working on a new painting and I think the end result will be exciting enough to make up for the lack of entertainment on this blog... maybe not, but at least I'm having fun and getting in my dose of NPR and some great Smithsonian Folkways discs I checked out of the library on friday.

This weekend Phil and I are going on a field trip of sorts to NYC, to see my sister-&-brother-in-law, eat fancy food, stay in a fancy hotel (thanks to credit card points) and carefully regard the habits of city folk living north of the Mason/Dixon line. Not only do we get to spend time galavanting with these fine people on Saturday, but we get to go on a Scott's Pizza Tour on Sunday!!!!!
To all of our friends in NYC and beyond - I hope you'll consider joining us for the latter.

work hard... but only if you like what you're working on.

The End of Analog

Welcome to the future, America. Tomorrow, February 17th, if you don't have a digital converter box, your television will turn to into a rotten pumpkin at midnight and your entire life will be ruined. To celebrate/mourn the end to static and poor resolution, there is an art opening tomorrow at the Metro Gallery. See below for the lineup:

Tue Feb 17, 2009
DEAD AIR Exhibit Opening: THE END of Analog Party
Doors 8pm, Show 9pm
$6. Light snacks. Cash bar.
Bands: Lo Moda, Plans Plans, and Edie Sedgwick
VJs: Joe Reinsel, Chris LaMartina, and Guy Werner
Exhibiting Video Artists: Vin Grabill, Atomic TV, Phil Davis, Kristen Anchor, and Preston Poe
Metro Gallery
1700 N Charles St
www.themetrogallery.net videokea.wordpress.com/

Stuff To DO

We're ditching town for a quiet country farm weekend of housesitting tonight, but I wanted to let you know about the Friday To-Do list i've been posting each week on the Craft Mafia blog. If you have weekend arts/crafts/DIY related events you'd like us to feature, please feel free to email charmcitycraftmafia@gmail.com!

Please know that Phil is not dropkicking a rooster in this photo.
The Rooster is leaping and ambushing Phil's foot (because Phil was chasing the hens).

Happy Weekend.

Best Of the Best.

My friend Nogeeshik just sent me an email containing the "best of national geographic photos" for 2008. It was my intent to pick my favorite one and post it here....but i couldn't. so here are a lot of them. if you want more... let me know, and I'll forward the entire thing.
The world appears to be a pretty awesome place. I think I'll get off the computer right now and go check it out.

This Weekend

Besides acting all lovey dovey and going on a choco-sugar-binge this weekend, you might check out the second Maestro Sensational production : an evening of puppet acts, songs, romance and more! For Grown-ups! Hosted by the biggest sock in show business, Maestro Sensational! Maestro and his chorus of feisty sockophants will perform tender bits of comedy sure to warm your heart on the cold winter night of Valentine's day. House band Walker & Jay provide tunes and soundtrack for the evening of puppet performances by various Baltimore artists including Matt Gemmel and Liz Ensz, Sean Blue, Dawn Swartz, Dana Schloss and more!
Tell your friends! It's a mere $5. The cheapest Valentine's Date you'll find in town this weekend... and a significant other is not required.
Saturday February 14, 2009
Doors open 8pm
Show starts @ 8:30
at Black Cherry Puppet Theater in SOWEBO
1115 Hollins Street Baltimore, MD 21223 (directions at blackcherry.org)

Goodbye to Craft

I just read the devastating news (via designsponge) that one of my favorite magazine's, Craft Magazine is closing. The final issue comes out this month, with Amy Sedaris on the cover. They will maintain their web presence, which is a relief, but will cease publication of their printed editions.


Dear recession, please go elsewhere. Love, rachel.

And one for everyone

Oh yes, and this new scissors tee, inspired by crafters, makers, doers and thinkers of things.... and also the embroidery on cowboy shirts that we love so much.
Notice how we were able to take these shots outside, with Phil wearing only this tee. That's because it is SO warm here this week! Baltimore is supposed to hit 68 today. How's that for a valentine?

Dutch Tulips in Charcoal

We also just posted this new shade of the dutch tulip tunic on etsy... I printed one for myself a while back, thinking it would be nice to have something i printed to wear, that was a little different than what I sold... but then of course.... everyone asked for the color I wore but didn't sell. I guess I should know better...
Viola. Here it is in Charcoal.

Olive is the new Black

Just listed our olive scarves on our etsy shop, immediately sold one, posted again, sold another, and posted again. If you're quick, perhaps you'll be able to snag one - if not... i'll have them up on Red Prairie Press by end of week as well :)

Dorophy Tang Cameras

Artist Dorophy Tang (I couldn't find a website for her. Do you know of one?) worked with Lomography to design an outer shell to the beautiful Diana camera (I believe she did it in 2008). It features a plastic lens that produces "dreamlike" photography and adjustable aperture for wide angle shooting at low cost. Not sure what's going on with the sand, but it appears to be in more of her work as well. Makes you think it was just found on the beach, in a pile of sand and broken teacups.
can you tell that patterns are on my mind?

Weekend Recap

Not much to report today... I'm working on some pattern designs for a project involving chocolate, and pondering filmmaking, animating, painting and storytelling from a very inspiring weekend.

This weekend I:
- met a body builder.
- made a Valentine of sorts for some far off friends (i won't show it until I know they've received it, so I don't ruin the half-surprise)
- went to see Coraline (AMAZING. PLEASE go see this movie and support these talented animators)
and yesterday
- hit a milestone of running for myself by managing to cling onto phil's optimism and energy and run five miles alongside him.
I have to admit.... I may be starting to enjoy myself.... if only it didn't hurt so much, I'd even suggest I like running. What I like, is the END of running, when the whole world looks better, and you feel strong and healthy and tired but proud. Also, it was 63 degrees outside yesterday, and we got some much needed vitamin D. ahhhhh.

I feel like I've dreamt about these.
Made me laugh so hard, I had to put them up here.
$58 at Celapiu

Love

I've had this song in my head since about 11am.
Ironically, I've been working on designs (project description to come) on the computer all day... so I'm not sure what inspired mountain music... maybe because our itunes shuffle hearts Ralph Stanley recently.
Does yours ever seem to keep going back to one artist? Usually, ours is really into playing Johnny Cash, but now it's Ralph Stanley.

you can't make these things up. It's alive. and country loving.

400

Phil and I went on a buy-local shopping spree all over Baltimore this weekend. We started out just taking a walk...but then he needed a new wallet (thanks Mud & Metal), we needed some baby gifts (thanks Red Tree & Sweet Pepita), We got thirsty (common ground), We found some records we liked (True Vine), and then we were proud of ourselves, so we bought pastries at Puffs & Pastries, and stopped at Provident Bank (well... it's a local chain at least) and Atomic Books on our walk home. Not sure what spurred our desire to shop... but it felt good to spend money locally. Good Karma.
That said, It felt wonderful to see that our 400th item sold on etsy today is going to a shopper right here in Maryland.
Thanks to everyone for shopping local, and for supporting handmaderight now, and always, we appreciate you immensely for helping us along piece by piece through this sticky economy. We hope we can continue to return the favor.

Etsy Buy Handmade RedPrairiePress

We Make It Art: Artist on Artist Interviews.

under question by Rachel Sitkin

From Rachel Sitkin at We Make It Art: This is a blog to showcase local artists. The idea is for one artist to go to the studio of another artist and interview them and take pictures and/or video. I am open to non-local artist participation but I'd prefer that either the interviewer or interviewee be local. You could interview anyone, any medium, visual art, music, literature, or multi-discipline. Ideally there would be at least two interview posts/month. If you are interested in conducting an interview let me know so I can assign you a week. Feel free to pass this on to other artists you think would be interested. Thanks!

3191

I'm sort of addicted to all things that come from Port2Port press, and the 3191 projects are no exception. If you don't know already, you should. Two friends (Mav & Stephanie) that live in Portlands across the country (Portland, MA and Portland, OR) take photos everyday for one year. They post each day both photos right next to each other as a diptych... and they almost always look amazing together. These photos make you want to cook more, rest and relax more, and be more awesomely wholesome. They also make you want to be best friends with both of these ladies.
First they did mornings. Then last year they did evenings. And they published a book of their mornings while they were at it. The book sold out, so they're printing it again. And next friday, they start a new project called "3191 miles apart" with a similar premise. So addicting. Check it out HERE.

There are some really talented people scattered about this town, and most of them have the sort of unpretentious day jobs (dog walker, video rentals, theater worker, waiter, bartender, art supply store employee...) that stereotypists cast artists in. Hard work for little pay, but a flexible schedule, the sometimes slight relevance to one's interests (Dogs, Beer, Food, Movies, Art)... and the assured run-in with some inspiring crazies (My fellow former-Pla-Za coworkers will I'm sure, remember the many characters in Mt. Vernon fondly)... The Charles Theater might just be one of the establishments holding the most talented team of employees. Is it because they pay really well? doubt it. But there are enormous benefits to working at this theatre: free popcorn and coca cola, free movies, free social interactions... and now? There's also a worker's art gallery/wall at the Charles Theatre! Nice. They're having an opening Thursday. You ought to go:

Presenting works by members of the Charles Theatre Workers Union.
February 5 through March 31.
Opening Reception: Thursday, February 5, 7 – 9pm.
Charles Theatre Workers Art Wall, 1711 North Charles Street.

Favorite Projects...

I never did get around to saying my favorite things from 2008... but one of my favorite projects is shown above.
Tshirts (design & printing) for my friends The Spinto Band - which you can purchase HERE.

New Week, New Month, New Blog!

Did you know that the Charm City Craft Mafia has a brand new blog on blogger?
check it out HERE, and add us to your google reader!!