Holiday Heap: A Not-to-miss Craft Show & Raffle!

The Charm City Craft Mafia's 5th Annual Holiday Heap Craft Show will take place Saturday, December 3rd at St. John's Church (2640 St. Paul Street) from 10am-5pm. This year's fair will have 65 of the best local and national crafters, as well as a yarn-spinning demonstration by Three Ravens. This year the Charm City Craft Mafia's raffle will support Arts Every Day, a Baltimore non-profit whose mission is to strengthen learning by making arts education and cultural experiences an integral part of the education of all City Schools students. The raffle will feature two baskets heaped full of goodies plus a third raffle to win illegible ink's "The Animal Alphabet" print (a 24x36" linocut with watercolor detail) perfect for an alphabet lover of any age or your favorite K-8 teacher!

Can't wait to see you there!

It's COMING!

I know summer is on it's way usually in June because of two things:

1. Cucumbers are almost ready to be harvested for cucumber margaritas, cucumber salad and cucumber soup; and 

2. A giant "pile of craft" is staring at me from the living room.

Be sure to come visit the illegible ink family this Saturday, June 25th from 10am-5pm at St. John's Church (2640 St. Paul Street). There's sure to be a new fox print!

Ho-Ho-Holiday Heap!

HOLIDAY HEAP

December 4 from 10am-5pm

St. John's Church

2640 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, MD

Shop handmade and have fun while doing so at the Charm City Craft Mafia's 4th Annual DIY indie arts and craft show. There are over 45 super talented, crafty vendors showing off apparel, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, paper goods and so much more. The illegible ink family will be on hand to unveil a whole new line just in time for Baby illegible ink's arrival in early January!

Last Chance: Apply NOW for Holiday Heap

On a whim I decided to google "last chance," and wow, what a mistake that was. The first two pages list how it's the last chance for meaningful relationships, having children, adopting fuzzy little pets, saving your soul and of course, a slew of pitifully lonesome songs...

Apply NOW for the Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap 2010! This year's awesome INDOOR indie craft show will be held December 4 from 10-5pm at 2640 St. Paul Street (St. John's Church), Baltimore, MD 21218.

There is a $10 application fee and then accepted vendors will pay an additional $75 for an 8' space. (includes one 8 foot table & two chairs).

The deadline for applications is October 8, 2010 at midnight. If you have questions, please email charmcitycraftmafia@gmail.com.

T.G.I.F. - Etsy's Craft Party!

This has been an unusually hectic week for the illegible ink family with oppressive heat, thunderstorms, day jobs, two upcoming craft shows on the same day, carving new plates and a sprinkle of family barbecues. Wait a minute. That sounds like a pretty normal week... Either way, we are really excited to kick back tonight as members of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team and Charm City Craft Mafia co-host the Etsy Craft Party at Roosevelt Park in Hampden.

All the coolest crafters, family and friends will be enjoying "dinner and a craft project" near Poole Street (across the park from Falls Road) starting at 6pm. The weather forecast says a high of 86 degrees with sun and a light breeze, so please plan on joining us with your colorful blanket and favorite picnic items!

March Madness is CRAFT MADNESS

When Pile of Craft rolls around, I'm finally feeling that spring has finally sprung!

Holiday Heap is thump, thump, thumping at my door!

It's hard to believe Holiday Heap is only three days away and I have so much left to do before the show. At least I've shortened my list somewhat... There's one more plate to carve and print, a stack of prints to watercolor and then some final touches for framing.

Here's a sneak peak of a new dino-friend rumblin' and stumblin' into the illegible ink booth!

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!

Super Art Fight Championship: The 4-Way Dance

Get ready for the next generation of live entertainment in Baltimore! Pairing cutting-edge artists in the art of creative combat before a blank wall of canvas, the audience is drawn in as a new masterpiece is created before their eyes. And then the WHEEL OF DEATH comes into play...

Even though I should probably stay at home for last minute printing, framing and sleep in preparation for Artscape, I clearly have the best plans lined up for Thursday, July 16th. I'll be at the Ottobar (doors open at 8pm; show starts at 9pm) to watch "The 4-Way Dance" with my Mafioso hero, Michael Bracco, taking on Garth Graham, Nick Borkowicz and Jami Noguchi.

In the studio...

I have a to-do list a mile long and it just seems to be getting longer this month! May, June and July are going to be busy months for illegible ink (and all my little helpers). Feel free to drop me and line and let me know what images you'd like to see from illegible ink. Right now I'm working a friendly dinosaur!

And be sure to come visit at the upcoming show schedule:

• May 9: Squidfire Spring Art Mart, (Charm City Craft Mafia tent) Baltimore
• May 30-31: Art Star Craft Bazaar, (Booth #42) Philadelphia
• June 20: Pile of Craft, Baltimore
• July 17-19: Artscape, Baltimore

Planning my patio garden!

This weekend I have a ton of things to do: my friend, Linda of Little Flower Designs will be at the Fine Furnishings and Fine Craft Show; Val of Bowerbox Press is having an open house to show off her fantastic letterpress;
Black Cherry Puppet Theater latest show feature a giant sock puppet (need I say more?);
and clearly, I cannot forget the Summit of AWESOME!

But I am also hoping to have time (maybe I won't sleep?) to work in our little backyard patio garden. I'm thinking nasturtiums for the window boxes since they will get full sun and can take a bit of a beating. Then definitely all my herbs - basil, dill, lavender - and sing with me "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme." Oh, and we just got some of those upside-down, hanging tomatoes.

All the garden thinking has me searching for some garden print inspiration. You know my Summer Garden print but I am also digging the work of Pittsburgh (by way of the west coast) artist, Noelle Griskey and Pink Bathtub Designs. Check it out!

Happy Earth Day!

It's raining in Baltimore (cannot get the Counting Crows out of my head this month!) but the good news is all my herbs have survived the winter and happy, green shoots are poking out of the dirt just in time for Earth Day. In this spirit, here's what I've got going on so far today:

• For the insider tips on going green in Baltimore - and upcycled art and design - visit Baltidome.
• Three green restaurants that I've put on my list as must-have meals for Earth Day: Dogwood Cafe, Feast@4East and Woodberry Kitchen.
• Come visit me on May 9th and check out my new "green" line at Squidfire's Spring Art Mart. I'll be "wo-manning" the Charm City Craft Mafia tent with Bowerbox Press, HVM Designs and Pink Kiss Pottery.

illegible ink - Made in Baltimore

Step aside, tea cozies and clay handprints. Some of the coolest stuff in town is coming out of the region's burgeoning craft scene.

Baltimore Magazine knows the craft scene in Baltimore has exploded and they are all too happy to pick up the pieces—in the form of jewelry, ceramics, soaps, pillows, tees, and stationery. The article rounds up 50 locals who create—many in their spare time—some pretty astonishing work. It also features five profiles of crafters—illegible ink included—where readers learn even more about our methods and daily juggling of family, work, and art.

Visit Baltimore Magazine to read the December 2008 feature, Made in Baltimore.