Summer is here!

Well, at least in my book anyway. The skies are bright blue and the clouds are poofy. FINALLY, we are getting a break from the rain. I've got some really exciting stuff going on in the few weeks too.

Tower Grove Farmer's Market - 5/29/10

This weekend is my market day with Bobbi of DownZipper. Sharing with Bobbi is always a good time, she always has great snacks and she makes me giggle like I'm still in middle school. Her stuff is not to be missed either, Bobbi makes the cutest and most wonderfully colorful kids stuff around as well as some lovely stuff like doggie head embroidered tea towels for the grown-up folks. I'm fully stocked and ready to go with lots of new jewelry designs, dog collars and market totes. Be sure to stop by our tent and say hi!

I can't decide what I love best about the market - the delish veggies, the parade of adorable babies, the fabulous pups that help their people shop or the handmade goodness. Tough call really. They are all pretty awesome! If you aren't familiar with the area, the market is behind the playground in the very center of the park. For a detailed map, visit the market website www.tgmarket.org. Oh! If you are a yogi in the making or want to give yoga a try, there are free yoga classes at 9 right next to the market. Kinda makes me want to get all stretchy.

Green with Indie Craft Show - 6/5/10 - Webster University's Grant Gym

This green-themed craft show will feature vendors who sell vintage goods, upcycle, recycle and repurpose to make handmade morsels of wonderful. I don't normally get an opportunity to flaunt my vintage stock in person (I mostly sell it in my Etsy shop), so I'm pretty excited to bring it out. Among the stash I have some Donna Reed-esque everyday dresses, brooches, kitchy floral tumblers and a stack of fabulous grape hardsided suitcases for sale in addition to my usual handmade fare. The show is being hosted by my crafty family, The Craft Mafia, with many of my artistically inclined relatives in attendance in addition to lots of other talented folks. We've got a website up and running with all the details including handy maps and a list of vendors.

Soulard Market Park Arts & Crafts Fair - 6/19/10 - Lafayette & 9th

The dynamic duo of South City Studio and DownZipper will be reunited again. Who knows what sort of shenanigans will ensue? This one is going to be an absolute blast! There will be tasty treats, beer on tap for the thirsty crowd, oodles and oodles of handmade crafts, make and takes for the kiddos and live music. This is a family-friendly good time. The fair is sponsored by Paste, The Soulard Business Association and The St. Louis Craft Mafia - super powers of fun, innovation and craftyness who are joining forces for the second time to bring you a fabulous event in a series of three summer shows. Vendors will include folks from ShowMe Etsy and The St. Louis Craft Mafia as well as lots of other talented local artists and crafters from Missouri and Illinois. *Bonus, you get two-for-one-fun because not only will the fair be going on, but the Soulard Farmer's Market is right next door so you can grab some fresh fruit and veggies on the way out. Five servings a day ya know. That's thirty-five a week per family member. Yipes. Don't forget your granny cart.

Soulard Market Park Arts & Crafts Fair

I'm super duper excited about this new series of shows that will be held in the Soulard Market Park right next to the historic Soulard Farmer's Market. The show is sponsored by the Soulard Business Association, The St. Louis Craft Mafia and Paste. (If you're interested in participating, there's still time to apply, just visit the Paste website for the application information.) This is going to be a great show with tons of indie artists and crafters, live music and tasty treats.

I'll be there all three dates:

May 15

June 19

July 17

Stay tuned for more info...

November? Already!

Geez, time sure does fly. I can't believe we're already almost half way through November!!! That means the holidays are right around the corner and as usual I won't be getting much sleep. This weekend I'm doing a trunk show at Concordia Turners in south city from 9 - 3, then I'll be crafting 'round the clock until the first weekend in December when it's time for Big Ass Indie & Artropy (Dec 4 & 5). Somewhere in there I need to find some time to make gifts for my family. Anybody have an elf for hire?

Right now I'm feverishly working on finishing some felted coffee sweaters. Yes, sweaters for your coffee cup. They are made from upcycled wool sweaters and have needle felted designs. They're a great alternative to the disposable cardboard thingees - just toss it in your pocket or purse. Oh, bonus, they're way cuter and can also be used to keep your soda/water cup from sweating all over the place. Gotta love that! I've only stabbled myself with the felting needle 10 or 12 times so far. At lunch today, after I fed and trained my fake Facebook fishies, I did some work on these.



Oh! Oh! Oh! I got word today from my buddy Meg who works at St. Louis Children's Hospital that the babies are toasty warm with Needles for Newborn tiny hats! YAY!!!! Warm babies. Thanks again ladies!

Since Needles for Newborns was such a success, Paste and I are going to host another fun charity event for December, Crafting with Purpose. It will be the first in a (sort of) montly series of charity knit-along events. This time we're including scrapbookers and card makers too. The charity is The Haven of Grace, it's a shelter and rehabilitation center for homeless pregnant women and their children. It's a WONDERFUL organization. Join us Sunday, December 13, from 10 - 8 (Please RSVP to pastesoulard[at]gmail.com). We'll have some tasty snacks and lots of laughs. If you'd like to participate, but aren't particularly crafty, we'll always accept cash of course, but you can also donate supplies or bring a treat to keep the ladies energized - then hang out and play with us! Hope to see you there.

Later gators.

Thanks Ladies!

A big special thank you and a 1,000 hugs to the fabulous women who came out to support St. Louis Children's Hospital at the Needles for Newborns event. YOU ARE FABULOUS! I am truly touched by the time and care that was put in to the adorable hats, blankets, booties, mittens and gowns for the little peeps. Snaps to Nadines Gin Joint, Ferraro's Pizza, Carondolet Bakery, Soulard Coffee Garden and Johnny's for the generous donations of food that kept our tummies full and happy so we could stitch the night away. It was a pleasure to gather with all of you and I'm so excited to have made some new friends and catch up with old friends. Y'all are a hoot! If ya wanna see pics of all the sweet stuff that was made, click here.

Since Needles for Newborns was such a success we've decided to launch a sorta-monthly series of gatherings at Paste for charity called Crafting With Purpose and have Needles be the big annual event. The next event will be on December 13 from 10-8 and will benefit The Haven of Grace, a shelter and rehabilitation center for homeless pregnant women and their children. In addition to needle artists, we've decided to invite the scrappy/card making folks as well. When you're starting a new life, words of inspiration are important! I hope you will join us and bring your big hearts!

Lastly, a big gigantic thank you to my partner-in-crime, Katie of Paste in Soulard.

You are awesome (even if you can't tie your own knots)! Without you and your generous donations of space, time, organizational skills, supplies and snacks none of this would be possible! Thanks for letting me help! Love you bunches, ya big softie!

'Nuff of that mushy stuff, I gotta go start a Twitter fight with @Pastecrafts now.

Go! Go! Go!

I feel like I'm always saying that things around here are busy, but lately, it's been insane. My day job has been keeping me late on the regular and my weekend/evening crafty gig seems to be a flutter with activity in the few gaps between. Don't mistake me, I'm not complaining, I'm grateful for all the new opportunities that the universe has offered up! I am truly blessed to work with so many interesting and wonderful people; it makes hard work a lot more fun!

Last weekend was Indie Underground with my Craft Mafia ladies at the Lumiere Hotel. Although sales weren't what I'd hoped, the people watching was FANTASTIC. I've never seen so many cougars and wacky shoes in one location in my life. The amount of posing and admiring of self that was going on was gut-bustingingly hilarious. About half way through me and one of my crafty girls in crime started keeping a list of famous nearly-look-alikes - there was Phyllis Diller with her cowgirl boots and giant pink feather boa, Posh Spice in her ass-bearing short shorts, Erkel in giant black rimmed glasses and hitched up pants and oh so many more. There were fabulously dressed and sophisticated too, but they weren't nearly as fun to gawk at.

This week has already started off with a bang. Last night I taught a class on polymer clay at Paste, which was super-duper fun. Tonight was my glass class at Third Degree Glass Factory and I got to play with fire! We made beads with polka dots, square ones, round ones and flat ones. I can’t wait to snap some pics to show y’all. Tomorrow is the Wine Tasting…Craft Making event at Paste where I’ll be teaching some lovely ladies how to paint and wire wrap wine glasses while they sample vino. This weekend is the big event I’ve been chattering about forever, Needles for Newborns …Crafting with Purpose. A bunch of knitty chics will be gathering to whip up some goodies for the preemie babies at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. On Sunday I plan to practice lying down horizontally on my couch. All day. Possibly changing channels once in a while.If I don’t bump in to you in my travels in the next few days, here’s to you and hoping you have a great week! Stay crafty!!

The Big A$$ Weekend

After a whirlwind of activity in the last week I'm glad to have a couple days of quiet-ish time in between activities. Last night was a marathon meeting for Girls Guide and we got a ton done. Tonight and tomorrow will be nice and mellow. I have a few things to do, but nothing as intense as last weekend. Getting ready for Big A$$ Indie damn near killed me. Of course I waited perhaps a bit too long to really get my butt in gear, so I had weeks worth of activity to cram in to a weekend. Oh well, its done, submitted, I was pleased with the results and I'm REALLY excited about the show this weekend. I hope y'all will come check it out this weekend at Mad Art.

The kid got back from Mexico today and she smells like heaven - sand, salt water and sun tan lotion. I'm glad she's back too - this mama doesn't like to go more than a few days without some kid love and it has been a full week. Since she's a teenager affection is rationed in such small amounts anyway, ya know?

Tomorrow afternoon I have the dreaded allergy testing where I will be poked, proded and injected with stuff that makes me itch like a mo fo. After I have a handful of Claritin washed down with some Benedryl I have big plans for the dog park. I'm going to sit on my kiester with Bobbi and watch our unofficial black dog club (Mackie, Zipper, Noodles and Bibi a.k.a. Debbie) romp and play. I might throw a fudgesicle on top of the whole thing if I'm feeling extra adventurous.

I'll need my energy for this big weekend. Friday night I'm working at Mad Art from 7 to 11. Saturday morning I'm up at the crack of dawn to work a booth for Paste at Soulard Farmer's Market. Sunday afternoon it's back over to Mad Art to pick up my stuff. Somewhere in there I'll hang with my kid and sleep some. Maybe eat.

Speaking of...I better get my arse to bed. Toodle-loo!