Thanks, Folks!

That's it folks. Another craft season at Ballston has come to a close once again. Thank you, thank you to all of the amazing people who have made our sweet community market one of the coolest destinations for the best crafters in this area. Period.

The wonderful Ballston BID, Kelly & The Shooshan Company, teh Piedmont Group the artists, the musicians, the shoppers, the supporters and whoever else is reading this post right now - THANK YOU. Here it is. Sweet. Simple. To the point. There would be no Ballston Arts Market without you.

Please enjoy some photos from our last market of 2012. Now, here's to a bigger, brighter and even craftier 2013!!

Penny & Paul keeping things warm

awesome display by Sarah Cecelia

 Red Prairie Press - LOVE it

Grey Moggie Press - Here's to 2013!

green all the way with Becca & Mars 

more of Fast Snail's fantastic designs

Snowday Designs colorful plushies

collars, collars & more collars by Furtastic

Market fave Snakehead Run - We love 'em!

the guys of Threesound

Creative Capes hard at work

Halloween fun with Peace, Baby! Batiks

Stay classy, Arlington.

he Richmond Craft Mafia's Handmade Holiday Extended Deadline!

Hey everyone! One of the best Holiday shows in the area, The Richmond Craft Mafia's Handmade Holiday has extended their crafty deadline. You have until Monday (tomorrow!) to send in your applications. And trust me. You want to send in your applications. Our buddies at the Richmond Craft Mafia know how to put on a helleva kick-ass craft show.

What: The Richmond Craft Mafia's Handmade Holiday
Date: Saturday, December 8  
Where: ArtWorks in Richmond's Manchester Arts District  
Fee: $75

Apply right NOW!

FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season - TODAY!

Wow. I can't believe the FINAL MARKET OF THE SEASON is TODAY! Where did the time go? Seriously.

Although, bittersweet, it's gonna be a fantastic day full of beautiful autumn weather, free stuff, music and crafts!  So, get on over to the Ballston Arts Market celebration from 10am - 4 pm!

We'll have:  

• TWO LIVE BANDS starting at noon: Snakehead Run & Threesound!  
• FREE admission 
• FREE Ballston Arts Market tote bag to early visitors  
• FREE raffle to win an artisan basket worth $250  
• FREE demos by select artists 

And let's see ... what else. Oh, yah. Only the best local art around - 35 artisans all in one place displaying and selling their hand-crafted goodies.

Now's your chance to get a jump on your Holiday shopping at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season TODAY, Saturday, October 13th from 10 AM - 4 PM! 

Second annual Last Chance Holiday Craft Show December 8th!

There are so many great Holiday crafts shows this year! Here's another one to add to your crafty roster:

What: Second annual Last Chance Holiday Craft Show
When: December 8th from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Faith Community Church, 5315 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214

They are looking for quality, handmade work in a variety of media. All crafts must be handmade by the seller and no re-sellers allowed.  This year's show will have live music, an excellent food vendor, free craft activities for the kids and free parking.

Applications can be found HERE and are due no later than midnight October 26th.  Vendors will be notified of acceptance by November 2nd.

There is no fee to apply so what are you waiting for?

Falun Dafa Association - October 13th!

We at the Ballston Arts Market LOVE all kinds of arts -- visual, musical and performing. This Saturday, visit with the Falun Dafa Association of Washington D.C. and find out more about Shen Yun 2013.

Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts was established in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture.

Stay awhile and discover new forms of art at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market THIS Saturday, October 13th. Then, enter to win the Artisan Gift Bag, which will include 2 FREE tickets to this performance! 

Exhibitor Map - THIS Saturday, October 13th!

Holy craft. I can't believe the FINAL Ballston Arts Market is this Saturday! Where did the season go? Check out the map for the awesome artisans we have lined up for October 13th! See where your favorites will be exhibiting for the last time this year.

1. Fast Snail
2. Becca & Mars
3. Nikdapooh Designs
4. Maki Uchida Designs
5. Holland Cox
6. Jean-Louis Monfraix
7. Jillory
8. Burnt Creative
9. Peace, Baby! Batiks
10. MOTHERBORED
11. Grey Moggie Press
12. Creative Capes
13. Red Prairie Press
14. Steven L, Miller Words & Images
15. Sarah Cecelia
16. Becca Kallem / Duck Drake Studio
17. Jon Wye
18. U.S. Wood Toys
19. BoxBoy Demented Decoupage
20. UglyKittyReduex
21. Noctiluna
22. Sharp Shirter
23. Penny & Paul
24. FUlun DaFa Association
25. Tree to Art
26. Furtastic Collars
27. Twisted Oak Press
28. Tres Jolie Designs
29. Snowday Designs
30. Bette's Bags
31. Mary Ellen Larkins
32. Melissa Lew
33. Jules' Jewels
34. Warped

Two Bands - October 13

Since THIS SATURDAY is our final market of the season, we have TWO BANDS performing!

 - From  noon - 2 PM jam with local favorite jug band, Snakehead Run

 - Then from 2:30 - 4 PM, catch some rockin' vibes with Threesound.

See you this Saturday, October 14th for awesome crafts and kickin' music!

Furtastic Pet Collars - October 13

Attention pet lovers! The Ballston Arts Market has got you covered! Furtastic will make their debut at THIS Saturday's Market with tons of handmade collars and leashes for your furry best friend.

They even have ties for the more cultured of doggies.

Catch Furtastic at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season THIS Saturday, October 13th.

P.S. The ties look great on cats, too!

This SATURDAY is the FINAL Market of the Season!

Oh, wow! I kinda have mixed feelings. Although I am looking forward to THIS Saturday's Ballston Arts Market, it makes me a little teary because it's the final show of the season. So, let's go out with a bang! Check out some more of the kick-ass artisans we have lined up for this Saturday's Market.

Red Prairie Press

Duck Drake Studio

Grey Moggie Press

Nikdapooh Designs

MOTHERBORED

Bette's Bags

Jon Wyw]e

Warped

BoxBoy Demented Decoupage

Penny & Paul

Mary Ellen Larkins

Twisted Oak Press

Hope to see all Saturday, October 13th for the FINAL MARKET OF THE SEASON!

Etz Hayim Artist Holiday Expo

And here's another fun show to add to you Holiday roster -- the Etz Hayim Artist Holiday Expo! This year, the event will be on Sunday, December 2nd and be held in their newly renovated building.

What: Etz Hayim Artist Holiday Expo
When: December 2nd from 11:30 to 4 pm
Where: Congregation Etz Hayim, 2920 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington
Fee: $65

I particpate in this local art show every year and have a blast. They are still looking for a couple of more crafters. Contact Laurie Effron at leffron@gmail.com from more info and an application.

UglyKittyRedeux - October 13

Let's heat it for Market favorite, UglyKittyRedeux! Artist Renee Lavinsky returns to the Ballston Arts Market with her handmade jewelry, housewares and stationery, all made from recycled and reclaimed materials.

By night, Renee is a crafter-extroidinaire, but by day, she is a full-time Environmental Scientist-extreme, so she knows the importance of recycling, reclaiming and reusing.

From earrings to tie tacks, UglyKittyReduex has it all! Check out her lovelies at the the FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season on October 13th!

Lyon Park Holiday Craft Fair

Hey crafters! Each year, my neighbor and friend, Jeannette, puts on a really fun and successful craft fair in Lyon Park (Clarendon). She is still looking for some awesome artisans to join this season. And, yep. I'll be there selling the piggies.

This is a small craft show, but the neighborhood always comes out and supports it. Wanna participate? Here are the details:

Where: Lyon Park Community Center (Clarendon)
When: Saturday, November 17
Cost: $40 (I think that includes table.)

Email Jeannette at jywickrph@aol.com for more information and an application!

Penny & Paul - October 13th!

Let's hear it for Penny & Paul -- a brand-new artist making their debut at the Ballston Arts Market on Saturday, October 13th!

Autumn is here and winter is on its way, so it's time for cozy hats and and warm baby booties! And Penny & Paul have a bunch of cool, colorful designs for you to choose from for yourself and the little ones in your life.

Check out Penny & Paul at the FINAL market of the season on Saturday, October 13th.  

Halloween Shopping at the Ballston Arts Market

It's October. You know what that means. Halloween shopping at the Ballston Arts Market! Check out some of the awesome Halloween-themed items our artist have created with All Hallows Eve in mind!

Fast Snail

BoxBoy Demented Decoupage

Peace, Baby! Batiks

Creative Capes

Twisted Oak Press

Tsai-fi

Jon Wye

Check it out at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season on Saturday, October 13th!

Peace, Baby! Batiks - October 13th!

Peace, Baby! Batiks are one-of-a-kind T-shirts and bodysuits for babies and toddlers. Artist, Corey Maloney, uses a combination of stencils and free-hand drawing to create the designs on her wonderful kiddie clothing.

Each item is 100% cotton, 100% adorable and washed several times to ensure the colors won't bleed. Plus, Peace, Baby Batiks, so Corey uses recycled garments whenever they can.

Check out their new Halloween designs at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season on Saturday, October 13th.

Tree to Art - October 13th!

Tree to Art brings a piece of nature's beauty into your home with hand-crafted creations. Enjoy wood-carved boxes, votive candle holders and whimsical cutting boards made by artist, Jeffrey Oh.

My favorite are the piggy cutting boards, which are reversible and marked "Raw" one side and "Cooked" other for additional safety. Clever!

Catch Tree to Art at the final market of the season on Saturday, October 13th!

Becca & Mars - October 13th!

When it comes to skincare products, people are becoming cautious of using chemical ingredients.  Steff and Erica, Becca & Mars founders, share that same concern. This led to the inspiration to develop a bath and beauty line using 100% natural products; nothing artificial.

Becca & Mars believe that nature creates the best ingredients.  Based out of Baltimore, their products are hand-crafted in small batches or made to order; therefore, they deliver the freshest quality product.  They use all natural ingredients,  glass jars and recycled packaging materials.  No mass-produced, plastic-wrapped and over-packaged items and no chemicals, parabens or artificial fragrances.  Nope! Becca & Mars is a vegan friendly company and currently 100% of their product line is vegan.  

Let's give Becca & Mars a big Ballston welcome at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market of the season on Saturday, October 13th! 

Holiday Craft Market at TC Williams

Hey Crafters! Are you looking for more Holiday shows to add to your crafty roster? If you are, our buddies over at TC Williams High School know how to put on an awesome show. Here are the details:

The Third Annual Handmade Holiday Craft Fair will take place at TC Williams HS (3330 King St. Alexandria) on Saturday, November 17th from 10am - 3pm.  This free event will host 40+ local, handmade vendors and will raise money for Joining Hearts and Hands, an organization that helps build schools in Kenya and Tanzania.  If you are interested in becoming a vendor or would like more information about the show, please contact Jen Moshier at Jen.Moshier@gmail.com.

I'll be keeping you posted on some other Holiday shows in the area all week! So, check back here soon ...

Holland Cox - October 13th!

The bright colors, the vivid patterns -- everything about Holland Cox reminds me of the beautiful autumn colors! And did you know that every handbag at Holland Cox is carefully handcrafted by designer Valerie Williams from her original patterns?

Each and every one is limited edition, so there will never be more than three of any colorway! You won't see Holland Cox handbags being carried by everyone. Nope. Only those who know why handmade is better than mass-produced, and why personal style is better than being trendy will sport a Holland Cox.

And handbags aren't the only thing Valerie is known for. Check out the Holland Cox etsy boutique for more fashionista shopping.  Then, pick up your own Holland Cox original at the FINAL Ballston Arts Market  of the season Saturday, October 13th!

Red Prairie Press - October 13th!

Great news, design fans! Red Prairie Press joins the Ballston Arts Market for the last show of the season on Saturday, October 13th, and this gal is thrilled to have them join us!

Red Prairie Press' designs are hand drawn, original and inspired by traditional folk art, Scandinavian design and objects in nature. They print on tees, onesies, scarves and more, by hand on a manual press with water-based inks. Plus, they do their best to use worker-friendly and eco-conscious materials.

They recycle, carpool and occasionally help old ladies get their kittens down from trees. Yep. They are the real deal. And we got em all day, Saturday, October 13th.

Warped - October 13th!

There is so much to loved about Warped bags (and pins and T-shirts!), where do I start? Not only are the look and feel of these colorfully intricate bags unique and just plain cool, they are each hand-spun by artist/designer Jennifer David in her basement studio in Virginia.

Get your own, original Warped bag at the Ballston Arts Market FINAL MARKET celebration on Saturday, October 13th!  

U.S. Wood Toys - October 13

These wooden pets are in need of good loving homes. They don't eat and they don't make much of a mess.  It is recommended that their new owners be between the ages of six months to four years, but they will welcome owners of all ages.

Get your own all-natural, eco-friendly wooden toy by U.S. Wood Toys at FINAL market of the season, October 13 of the Ballston Arts Market!