Q&A with Sweet & Light

Jayne Hudgins, the owner of Sweet & Light, makes her first appearance at the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market on June 13th, and we couldn't be more excited to have her. Just for us, the busy artists takes a little time out to answer life's most poignant questions. :)

1). Sweet & Light. It reminds me of June! Please tell me how you came up with your name.
I've heard many successful artists advise to make what you love and your kindred spirits will find you. "Sweet and Light" pretty much describes all my favorite things: Sweet candy colors, soft feminine florals, girlish sensibilities, and always remembering to not take things too seriously. It's also about the nostalgia associated with vintage linens and retro prints. That's "sweet and light" to me.

2). What inspires you when you are designing?
My inspiration is always changing. There are so many creative people sharing their art and craft on the internet. It's a great resource for getting the creative juices flowing. And of course, I'm inspired by the fabrics themselves. I use mostly vintage, reclaimed, and re-purposed fabrics and as soon as I set eyes on them, the finished item is already taking shape in my head. And lately I've been finding so much inspiration in plants, flowers and animals in my neighborhood. Spring in the DC area is truly beautiful!

3). My favorite item in your boutique is the Li’l Strawberry Change Purse. What a creatively cute idea! What is, currently, your favorite item to create?
Thanks! The strawberry purse is fun to make, but right now I'm really enjoying making appliquéd linen wristlets. Laying out the designs and doing the free form machine embroidery is such fun. It's kind of like drawing with a sewing machine. Each one is a little different, with its own character. These are an item I've designed especially for the Ballston Craft Market.

4). What three words would you use to describe your craft? (Besides “sweet” and “light”!)
Feminine, fresh, and eco-friendly

5). Where can we find your craft outside the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market?
Well, you can always find select wares in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6104091, but the Ballston Arts and Crafts Market will be my first show. I'm still new to the DC area, having moved here from Indiana last year, and I'm just getting a feel for all the craft shows DC has to offer! There will certainly be more in my future. Until then you can follow my work at my blog, http://www.sweetandlight.typepad.com/. I will post news about upcoming shows there.

Transcendence 3 is Mine, Mine, Mine!

See this necklace? Yep, this beautiful, award-winning, hand-carved necklace? Well, it's now mine. Mine all mine! I completely fell in love with this piece when I first saw it at the May 9th Market and told my husband, Dave, about it. A month later, a package arrived for me. It was one of the best birthday presents ever. Thanks, Dave!

Melissa Lew, the Herndon artist, will return to the Ballston A&C Market in August, so mark your calendars, people. This is a great opportunity to see one of the area's most the most talented and talked-about jewelry artists.

Transcendence 3 (my necklace!!) was awarded first place in the category/Best in Show (Handmade Beads) in the 1st Annual Bead Museum Washington DC's Celebrating Beads International Jewelry Competition. (Phew!) Hey! I've earned (or should I say bought) bragging rights!

Q&A with Don Becker

Our first interview is with the Puppet Master himself, Don Becker.

1). What three words best describe your craft?
Unique. Encompassing. Playful.

2). Who (or should I say what) influences you?
The shape of the clay as I start molding it around is how most of the figures get started. As I mush and shape it, a face starts appearing and then it all starts from there. Lord knows where the initial thought comes from! From that point it probably from somewhere deep in my head! HAHA!

3). My favorite puppet of yours is the troll-like creature with the golden orb. (Soon he shall be mine!) Do you have a personal favorite?
I can't say I have a personal favorite. There are a few that I am proud of after I made them because of some technical thingy that I figured out or some kind of look that I was able to achieve.

4). You have a rather impressive client base, including The Smithsonian. I have to ask: What did you create for them?
I have built figures for the Discovery Theatre and at the American History Museum I built some figures at the beginning of the "American at War" exhibit (I think that is what it is called). It is kinda of a Punch and Judy show, you press the button and the figures move talking about the tea tax.

5). Where can we find your craft outside the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market?
I have just started doing the craft shows again so we shall see. I am sure an Internet presence is in the future. [http://www.dbpuppet.com/gallery.htm]

Find Don Becker Puppets at Booth #16 on June 13th!

Q&A with The Ballston A&C Artists

Get to know the artists of the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market!

Each and every week we will spotlight a different artist (appearing in the corresponding show) and ask them a series of 5 interesting questions.

So, what are we waiting for? Let's begin!

The First of June

Is it me or do you also get a really cool feeling when June 1st hits? Maybe it's because I think of June as the prettiest month of the year, or maybe it's because my birthday is in June (the 7th, ya'll!) or maybe it's just because I can take long evening walks with my dog, Scout, and it doesn't get dark until 9:00!

Just thought I'd share some good vibes ... Are you guys gearing up for the June 13th market? Once again, I'm pysched.

HandMade Mart!

Hey guys! Don't forget to stop by the Handmade Mart tomorrow, May 31st in Silver Spring. They will have amazing crafts galore! I plan on making it for sure.

More Pics from Kristina Bilonick Studios

Hey! Check out Kristina Bilonick Studio's blog for more pics from Opening Day!

Sneak Peak!

Here's a sneak peak at some of the amazingly talented artists who will be struttin' their stuff at the next market on June 13th!

Phil Barbato

Allen Pearson Photography

Karma Krafts

Hope Augustini

Love My Paper

Yellin Moon Designs

Sweet & Light

imoM

Herban Lifestlyes

Pretty Little Fings

Hey ! Check out the Pretty Little Fings blog for nice recap of last Saturday's show. Scroll down a little for the great pics.

Opening Day Photo Shoot!

Thanks to Sara and her trusty camera we have some awesome shots of Opening Day! Oh, by the way, I can't take credit for the gorillas. They stopped by with the bananas and carnations all on their own. Enjoy!

Amy from Unique Creations hard at "work."

Thanks for the bananas, Gorillas!

Nancy's pottery never fails to amaze.

Stroll around and get to know Welburn Square.

Let's dance to Bad Hair Day!

Opening Day Success!

Well, guys, give yourselves a round of applause. Thanks to you, the crafty vendors that you are, Opening Day in Welburn Square was a huge success. Folks turned out in record numbers to the Market not only because of the talent (that’s a given), but because you guys helped spread the word with your websites, facebook pages and street teams.

This season is off to an awesome start. If you have any creative ideas to make the market even better, let me know! Seriously. Drop me line. Let’s all work together to bring our Ballston Arts & Crafts Market to the next level.

Oh, and I have to give props to the weather, too. I think I may have even seen a bluebird!

Stay tuned to the blog for new pics of Opening Day!

Rain or Shine!

Look at it outside! It's beautiful!

So, I know what the weatherman has forecasted, but I say phooey! The Market is on rain or shine--and I really believe it's going to shine.

But, in the off chance that there is severe weather tomorrow (major rains, lightning, etc) you can call my personal cell phone number, (202) 536-9714, for an update on whether the market will be open. Anything lighter than that, and we'll be at the square setting up.

Once again, setup is from 8 am-9:45 am, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful Opening Day tomorrow!

Bird is the Word - OPENING DAY!

Oh, boy! Oh, boy! I can't believe Opening Day is this Saturday! Where did the time go? Well, I am happy to say, we are psyched and ready to make this Market the best around.

We have print & online ads coming out in the City Paper this week and have been featured in the Washington Post's DC Scout calendar! How sweet is that?

If you guys have any last-minute concerns or questions,I'm just an email away. Or, if you want to tell me how excited you are, too, I feed off positive energy!

Remember the (Ballston Blue) Bird is the word, so get the word out!

New Postcards!

Just wanted to give you a head's up! Expect a bunch of postcards in your snail mail any day now. Just like the poster, plaster your area with these bad boys! Let's really get the word out and make this the best season yet!

Poster Child!

It's sunny, it's rainy. It's sunny, it's rainy. I wish the weather would just make up its mind already ... And by that I mean decide to be 76 degrees and sunny from now til October 10th!

Anyway, did you get the poster? What do you think our our poster child--the Ballston Bluebird? He just keeps popping up everywhere, doesn't he?!

So, help us spread the word! Hang posters in your coffee houses, Metro stations, work billboards, and libraries! And give the Market a shout out on your websites. Let your neighbors and customers know where you will be the second Saturday of each month!