Yinibini Baby Debut at ArtSpring!

Have you guys been over to ArtSpring in Silver Spring yet? If not, (and if so!) this is the perfect opportunity to swing by this wonderfully artsy boutique.

Brand-new Ballston Arts & Crafts artist, Yinibini, would like to invite you all to the Yinibini Baby Debut- Spring and Summer Collection, to be held this Saturday, February 27th, at ArtSpring located at 8519 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring Maryland.

This event will take place from 3pm - 6pm, so don't miss you opportunity to be one of the first to get a glimpse of this talented artist's new line of bibs, burp cloths and all things baby!

Need a Tent?

Before you know it, the weather will be warm and the outdoor shows will be in full swing. Are you ready? Do you need a tent? If you do, I know someone who'd be willing to part with her tent for $120, which is an awesome deal for this type of tent (see below). It sells for around $230 in the stores!

She purchased it 2 years ago, but has only used it 3 times. Okay, it's a little dirty, but it has no mold or tears in any of the panels. If you are willing to pick it up from her house in Alexandria, it's all yours! And, yes, the tent comes with the four walls.

Just email Lauren at lauren.urban@gmail.com. And while your at it, check out her website for some colorful and unique fused glass art and jewelry.

American Craft Council This Saturday!

Don't forget about the 2010 American Craft Council Show in Baltimore this weekend! The DC Craft Mafia will be there on Saturday to have some awesome crafts on hand, PLUS we'll rock this show with FREE card and jewelry demos by AprilMist & Ninnycat. bLuGrn design, EHL Creations and This Little Piggy will be on hand, too! So, please stop by and say hi!

More than 700 top contemporary craft artists will present their latest handmade works including jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor items at the 34th annual American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, February 25-28, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The largest, juried indoor craft show in the nation, The American Craft Council Show in Baltimore has something for everybody. New this year, the retail show will consist of four full days with a special $6.00 ticket price Friday evening after 6 p.m. as well as a new Lawn & Garden category.

See you there!

Unique Creations on Facebook

I admit it. I love Facebook. I'm a huge fan. I jumped on the Facebook bandwagon a long time ago. So, it makes total sense to me that we all should capitalize on this free marketing tool. The latest Ballston A&C Market artist to hop onto Facebook is Unique Creations.

Go ahead. Friend Amy and her chinken and ninja bracelets!

bLuGrn design & Alice in Wonderland

Wow. That's the only word I could think of when I saw bLuGrn design's new jewelry creations. Okay, okay, I may be a little biased. After all, I am a collector of all things Alice, but when you see these silver silhouette necklaces, you'll be wowed, too.

Spectacular renditions of the grinning Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit & Alice and the Caterpillar (complete with little hooka!) & Alice , metalsmith artist, Lucia Tschen Hamilton, is right now working on the Dormouse--one of my personal favorites.

Just in time for the movie, which looks fan-frickin-tastic!

Melissa Lew Bradford on Thrillist

Yet another Ballston Arts & Crafts Market artist has made the likes of Thrillist. Congrats, Melissa Lew Bradford.

Check out her article below!

"Because you’d better buy her something, head to Thrillist’s V-Day Gifting HQ for more ideas"

This Herndon-based crafts-chick tinkers out damn classy jewelry, broken into two categories: "Fine Silver Creations", which includes the likes of the pink-ruby-inlaid Cherry Blossom Bracelet, and "Wearable Art", with Eastern-inspired bamboo pendants featuring everything from butterflies, to goldfish, to a pair of magpies, which apparently "symbolize marital love". So goldfish it is.

These things win awards at bead festivals, so you know they're legit. Check them out at Dekka, or at MelissaLew.com."

Way to go, Melissa.

2010 Blog Update!

After five years, I thought it was time to give our little Arts & Crafts Market blog a new, more modern look. What do you guys think? I hope everyone likes it.

Winter Wonderland

Yep. It's a winter wonderland out there, with more snow coming. 10 to 12 inches more. So, I'm thinking most of the District will have off for the next couple of days. I say, let's use this free time to let our creative juices flow and craft, craft, craft! I made three piggy banks so far today.

And why not use this time to get your 2010 Ballston Arts & Crafts Market submission form all filled out and emailed to me? Just send 'em my way: Jessica@iloveballston.com.

And if you need an application, go online or just holla. I'm right here. At home. Stuck inside. Not going anywhere. But it's nice and warm.

Grumpy Haters!

This is awesome. The applications keep rolling in! (If you haven't sent yours in, now's the time!)

I just received an app from a Ballston A&C Market newbie--Grumpy Haters! Her plusies are hysterical! You have to check them out. But what I what found the most fun was her sense of humor. If you need any inspiration for a artist statement (or life in general), just see below.

"Grumpy Haters came into being thanks to a few years of selling on Etsy. Anyone who does knows it can be a somewhat, well, there are days where chewing glass might be a more productive and pleasant experience. But we stay. Muddle on.

Life as a dewy eyed seller is short. One day you are Twittering like a slap happy ding dong and the next thing you know, your cheery little wrapper is crumpled and your sweet, sweet icing lies on the floor like so much Dexter splatter.

Grumpy Haters both bemoans and celebrates a sellers fate with everything we make. It's a difficult transition, let Grumpy Haters help you through this most difficult time. Allow us to provide you with companions who understand what you are going through and who don't mind when you hurl them across the room in frustration or despair.

Grumpy Haters is really for anyone who can see the humor in continuing to do anything occasionally akin to poking yourself with a stick because somehow, you still have hope. Plus, you like to make stuff. And the money is no slap in the face either, is it? Grumpy Haters promises to never, ever tell you to 'Keep Calm and Carry On' but rather embraces the occasional and well deserved seller freak out.

Grumpy Haters understands. "

Well said, Grumpy Haters. Well said indeed.