PATCHES

check them out...i'm done with the shows so everything is getting posting in my shop! so keep checking in!

Updated SHop!

Come Shop ! Come visit my newly updated shop with new items and a spruced up holiday banner! Shop from the comfort of your own home! Local and don't want to pay for shipping! Order on line and convo me that you want to pick up your purchase at Double Dutch this Sunday and I'll refund your shipping costs. Guaranteed 2-3 day shipping for those of you who are late shoppers! So, come check it out. 2 more days for donations to the Maryland's Food Bank! 10% of your order will be donated!

Holiday Trunk SHow

Shop local and get a last chance to purchase from BEST members at one of our favorite boutiques, doubledutch. There will be sweet treats to eat while you browse the wares. And when you make a purchase from a BEST member, you'll be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate to doubledutch! Give it as a gift, or treat yourself.

Stop by this Sunday, December 14th, from 11am - 5pm. We'll see you there!

doubledutch is located at 3616 Falls Rd, Baltimore, Maryland 21211, just off the Avenue.

Finding New Fella's to Sew

Our BEST team has been challenged to be part of Etsy's shop local section of the Storque. We have to post pictures of our favorite spots around town. So I thought it fitting to go to Cylburn Arboretum. If you haven;t been there it is a must go to...but maybe wait until the renovations are finished ad go int he spring. They have this wonderful museum full of taxidermy birds in their habitate..a must if you are a diorama fan. So, on this freezing day, Pat and I set off to take many pictures of me for this article. This was my favorite. I'll keep upi updated and wehen it will post.

Merry Mart This Sunday!

ok..ok...ok .. i know..i know...i've been posting about more and more craft shows that I am in...good news that is.. I applied to all of these shows not thinking I would get in! Boy how things change in just one year! Here is yet another great show for your shopping pleasure. The Creative Alliance is a great place for holiday shopping with its holiday cheer and cash bar! Lots of awesome crafters..including many BEST members. So stop in this Sunday in Highlandtown hon!


Artists:
Dina Alexander Art Jewelry, The Broken Plate Pendant Co., SPAGHETTI KISS, Daedalus Books & Music, Sweet Pepita, Megin Diamond Designs, this chickadee, danamarie hosler & greenstarstudio, Dandelion Blu Jewelry, Bowerbox Press, Devin Mack, MackWire, Jennyjen42, Nancy Ziegenfus-McIntosh, The Littlest Bean, Linda Moul, Rebecca Patterson Baked at 275*, PINK KISS POTTERY, Jill Popowich Designs in Metal, Tu Vida Jewelry & Design, heidiroland - daring earrings!, Elisa Shere Jewelry, Baltimore Glass Works, City Neighbors Charter School , Sugar Paperie, Mark Supik & Co., Stephney Wallace, Yummy & Company.

For more information, visit the Creative Alliance. See you there!

Have You Seen It?..b-more magazine strikes again

I know I've been slacking on the posting...even with such great news and events happening. Check out December's Baltimore Magazine ....There's a cool owl pattern you can download......For those of you who'd like a sneak preview of the Made in Baltimore issue, it's now online! (It's much better in print, though!) Check out my BEST friends..pictured below... in their featured posts too!

Bazzart This Friday & Saturday

I am so excited about getting into this show! Bazaart at the American Visionary Art Museum is a wonderful collection of artists ranging from folk to funky. This year, many a member of BEST will be there ! Here's the details.

Friday Evening • November 28 • 5:30–8:30PM: Bazaart PREVIEW PARTY & SALE
An opportunity to get the first shot at the original creations by 50 regional artists and craftspeople prior to the Saturday Bazaart extravaganza. Spend a relaxing evening strolling among Bazaart artisans and their wares while nibbling light fare, and perhaps enjoying a beverage. Music TBA. Location: American Visionary Art Museum, Jim Rouse Visionary Center, 3rd Floor. Admission to Preview Party & Sale: $20 at the door.

Saturday • November 29 • 10AM-5PM: BAZAART: Artful Holiday Shopping
A Holiday Marketplace of original creations by 50 regional artists and craftspeople. Painting, sculpture, papercrafts, metalwork, jewelry, textiles, mixed media, and other work that simply defies categorization. FREE ENTRY. American Visionary Art Museum, Jim Rouse Visionary Center 3rd Floor

image courtesy of briansacawa

Maryland Food Bank Donations

10% of All sales on Jennyjen42 will be donated to the Maryland Food Bank! Stay updated to my shop for more products. Get a god start on your Holiday shopping while suporting a good cause!
Look on BEST blog for more BEST member offers for our charity donations. This will only be for the next two weeks!

I think I found a good Rooster!

I just home from Holiday heap and wanted to just let my brain go ahhhhhh after a long day of an excellent craft show...will post later about it. I wander onto grain edit and found their post on this amazing book by Miroslav Sasek .The Czechoslovakian born illustrator who is well known for his This Is Series of children’s books. Most of the books in the This is series are centered around a certain city, for example This is San Franscisco or This is Paris, but in this case it’s an international organization. Through Sasek’s playful ink and gouache illustrations, he guides us through the building. I wish I had books like these when I was a kid. I could stare at this for hours.
I love this Rooster as well as the rest of the illustrators. THis is the style I am trying to grab with my sewing machine. IT is the style that I grew up with as well as the voice of the pictures of my favorite books!

Holiday Heap TOmorrow!!!

So i'm so excited for tomorrow's holiday heap! I liked selling jennyjen products in Pittsburgh, but missed getting to see old friends! So I hope to see some! I've been spending too much time in the sweat shop and not being able to spend time with the people I love. including my Patrick! So please ignore the icky weather and stop on bu the warmth of St. John's Church for your kick off for the holiday season!

Holiday Heap 2008 is a juried indie craft fair featuring over 50 renegade crafters from the area and beyond. A free event, open to everyone, and perfect for purchasing out-of-the-ordinary gifts for the upcoming holiday season. Held in the heart of Baltimore in the beautiful neighborhood of Charles Village, the fair will take place November 15th from 10-5pm at the 2640 Space at St. John’s Church (located at 2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218). It is the Charm City Craft Mafia’s FOURTH fair of this type, and the second annual Holiday show. Look for Handmade jewelry, clothing, toys, ceramics, paper goods, knitwear, bags, accessories, soft sculpture, books and more! Music provided by Sleepy Records, Snacks provided by Red Emma’s Bookstore, Super fun post-shopping interviews with new local craft group HELLO CRAFT, and a chance to win the mother of all raffle baskets full of — you guessed it — goodies from all of your favorite Craft Mafia members, to benefit a local arts charity.
BEST will be there ! Come by and say hello!



See a list of vendors here.

Virtual Trunk Show TOMORROW!!!!

BEST will be part of this virtual trunk show, tomorrow, November 13th, starting at 7 pm. Stop in and check it out! Participating members will be offering 10% off purchases in their shops from 7 - 9pm EST, and anyone who makes a purchase during this time will be entered in a drawing for a goody bag by BEST members.

You must have an Etsy account to participate / purchase, but it's easy and free to sign up, and really, you should have one!

Thank-you Handmade Arcade!

I'm in a craft show hang over today! What a great weekend. My first trip to Pittsburgh and to Handmade Arcade. What an amazing group of people to be a part of. Everyone was so nice and supportive. I got many a compliment on my sewing skills from many a grand mom! Again my best compliments come from all of the smiles I see when people, of all ages, look at my birdy birds! I wanted to thanks Larry Rippel for the great photo's. Check out the his site here to see more great photos of the event.
Now...back to the sweat shop tp restock for Holiday Heap!!!!

Hoping for The FInal Result

I hope my dream comes true today....that our knight in shiny armor gets to rescue us! I hope the majority has truly woken up. Patrick and I walked tot he polls tp find ourselves in a very short line. next to a long line. don't understand how our district works...we went after the morning rush hour so maybe that why it was short...I had to re-post this amazing work of art....in hopes of a knock-out!

YES WE CAN!!!

Barack Obama x Z-Trip x Shepard Fairey x Fresh Pressed from Barack On! Obamathon on Vimeo.

UpCOming INfo

Again, I apologize for lack of posting. Life has been insane...between 5 big shows coming up back to back , being glued to the TV for this amazing election and then...the big news...I. along with a number of my BEST buddies, will be featured in December's Baltimore Magazine issue. They're doing a huge MADE in BALTIMORE feature that will highlight a number of DIY'ers craft people who make products by hand. I've been hired to make the feature title page out of felt applique and fabric...as well as do a tutorial on how to make my owl felt applique pillow! Oh so exciting...but there hasn't been much time to breathe! Patrick has helped me with my new postcards for the holidays...simple and to the point. Email me if you want one sent to you. THe front is from one of my new pillows with my new feathered friend...Mr. Rooster!

so sorry...

man...i can't believe how insane life can get in just a couple of days...exciting crazy though! i can only give hints about being Baltimore Magazine for December.....then its going to be craft show after another starting Nov. 8-9 in Pittsburgh. Than is on for a constant month....so I've been trying to get as much inventory that I can mustard up without getting a divorce! Wednesday will be our big number 3! we celebrated this weekend with a wonderful dinner at Ruth Chris and a purchase of a wii......We've been working on photo's and write-ups and pattern making...and other hush hush things....so stay tune. Sorry I've been lacking on the posts..will work on that one when I can!

New Items

Zipper pouches and Rooster Tote

very busy...just accepted into the Charm City Craft Mafia Holiday Heap...5 major shows starting Nov.8 ...yikes!!!!

insomnia Pic of the night

yes its 12:33Am and a school night..i just had a very long weekend that started last Thursday..and reality of going back to school today was a little much. however, it has truely hit tonight with my brain going a hundred miles a second and me NOT sleeping. So instead of laying there yelling at my brain to shut-up..i adventure here to my neglected blog to post something. i wondered on to design*sponge to find Grain Edit's guest posts...i really love this design sense..what I keep reaching for when I'm cutting those felt shapes with my sewing line applique's...yes I have much to show you ..later this week...with some more sneak peaks on jennyjen stuff....but anyway...my favorite pic's come from Dave Cuzner's blog ...though there are many..please go check it out... Cuzner's feature of a children’s book entitled thomas written by Mary Harris and illustrated by Cliff Roberts in 1956. The book tells the story of a young girl and her cat thomas and the adventures/trouble they get into.I love the pic of the book cover with his cat!

The Regional Assembly of TExt On-Line shop

one of my favorite shops has gone on-line....a good thing since they are in vancouver..the assembly of text founded by Rebecca Dolen & Brandy Fedoruk who met while attending the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Just in tome for the upcoming season for giving....here is a great shop to begin . I'm really diggin' the recipe box as well as tree line tee shirt...but I think my favorite is the bird cards.

welcome Mr. Rooster

I made a new birdie for my collection...Mr. Rooster....look for him to star in some up coming pillow and hand bag designs. i'm also working on a lap top section for my flap bags! stay tune....

BEST Virtual Giveaway

rezay the RECYCLIMAL by Greenstarstudio

The Baltimore Etsy Street team is excited to announce our new Virtual Giveaway! In preparation for the holiday season we have decided to giveaway $10 gift certificates from each of the following Street Team Members shops!

SweetPepita
BlockPartyPress
JenyGwen
JerseyGirlDesign
JillPopowichDesigns
JennyJen42
TigerLillyShop
BennyAndHeidi
BowerboxPress
ElisaShereJewelry
CEKCustomDesigns
JenMenkhaus
VWStudios
DorsetHillBeads
DandelionBlu
WynnStudio
Miscelena
SugarPaperie
SpaTherapy
TheBrokenPlate
GreenStarStudio
Holy Smokes! That's a lot of cool stuff you can win, worth $200! Check the blog to get the rest of the scoop!

BEST meets Matt of Etsy

friday at Rockets a number of the BEST crew got to hang out with one of our hero's.. matt stinchcomb, vp of communications at etsy. Allison, aka tigerlily met him in the etsy treehouse , where she found out that Matt would be in B-more this week. A DC native, Matt had lots of compliments of the area as well as some good memories of Maryland. A very down to earth, positive and up-beat fella....we're hoping to have more encounters with him. You can see how we were all beaming that night! Look out for some news on BEST some time on etsy.

photos by tigerlily and jennywren