"Back to School" Spirit

Ok, so I'm not heading back to school but since the majority of friends are teachers or grad students, I couldn't help having some school spirit!

I've got my new Sharpie color pack (which came with the new Sharpie pen!), a recycled notebook to jot down my next print ideas and help keep track of my "to do lists," and my favorite Seattle beans (Caffe Vita) arrived in the mail earlier this week.

All I need to do is buy myself an apple and I am set for the first day on Monday, right? I guess it might be healthier to purchase an actual Red Delicious but I'm partial to paper and this modern apple letterpress print from Lulu Dee seems more my style.

My Summer Plum Crumble

I think one of my favorite things to do when I get home early from work this summer (other than run around with the pups) is to check out Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) on the Food Network. I now own two of her cookbooks (Back to Basics and The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook) and am orchestrating my own little Julia & Julia experiment. Of course, I'm starting backwards... with dessert.

This week I tried her Plum Crunch recipe from Back to Basics. It was quick and easy to make and so far all my taste testers have reported back favorably. I'm thinking the plum mixture (plums, brown sugar, flour and creme de cassis) would be a perfect pie filling as well.

What dessert should I try next? I'm thinking Brownie Pudding.

4 Little Wise Guys

A screenprinting buddy just turned me on to Mibo (www.mibo.co.uk); she knew I wouldn't be able to resist these "Wise Guys." These little paper owls are a perfect DIY project and all you need is a printer, paper, glue stick, ruler and scissors. For about $1.70, you can buy the print-at-home kit online and these four little guys will land as a PDF file in your inbox!

Mark your Calendar - December 5, 2009!

[Insert Jaws theme song.] The Charm City Craft Mafia is thrilled to announce the 3rd Annual Holiday Heap - an Indie craft fair right here in Baltimore! Holiday Heap 2009 will take place at St. John's Church - 2640 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21218 - on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. The fair will run 10am-5pm.

The Mafia is accepting applications through midnight, OCTOBER 5th. You can find the application form HERE. There is a $10 non-refundable fee to apply, and a $65 vendor fee if accepted by the 15 person jury. Please note: your application will not be complete until you pay the $10 fee.

Applicants will be judged on craftsmanship, originality and skill. The Mafia looks for great photos, easy to navigate websites (if applicable), good price points. They try to gather a group of both local and faraway vendors that work together to create the best and most unique shopping experience. So, apply now!

Call for Printmakers - Last Call, that is!

The Hexagon Gallery is pleased to announce Hexchange, a Baltimore-themed portfolio exchange for emerging printmakers. Hexchange will be on exhibit during the month of October, in conjunction with Second Saturdays, a new initiative from the Station North Arts & Entertainment District to bring community arts and music awareness to the area. Following the exhibition, Hexchange will become a part of the permanent collections at the Hexagon Gallery and Goya Contemporary in Baltimore, as well as the International Printing Museum in Southern California. Hexchange is also receiving promotional support from the Bmore Art Blog, the Contemporary Museum and the Station North Arts & Entertainment District.

There are 50 spots in this portfolio. Register now--spots are filling up! (Hexchange is almost full! artists from Bmore (of course), Philly, NYC, Providence, Portland, Honolulu, Oakland, and more!) All artists participating in the exchange will receive a portfolio of 50 different prints.

Fee: $10 for artists in East and Central time zones, $15 for artists in Mountain and Pacific time zones. Artists outside the continental US will be given a payment estimate upon inquiry. This modest fee will cover constructing portfolio mailers, return postage, and exhibition postcards (also to be sent to each artist prior to the show). Your registration will not be complete until we have received your payment.

Print requirements:

• Baltimore-themed, edition of 55
• 11x15 inches
• paper choice and bleed are up to you
• remember to sign and number prints

***Important*** All editions must be received, with your own interleaving, by September 18th, 2009. No extensions, as this will give us just enough time to collate, construct cases, and hang the exhibition.

Questions? Contact Phuong Pham at art@hexagonspace.com.