Favorite Show of the Year

I'm finishing up work for my favorite show of the year, Out of Hand this Sunday, Dec. 6 from 10-5pm. Best crafts, nicest people, great organic food and... seated massage!

What a perfect combination!

Out of Hand Craft Show
Knights of Columbus
201 Homeland Avenue
(off York Road & Woodbourne OR Charles Street behind Notre Dame)
Take 83 to Coldspring East, turn left on Charles Street. Go 4 blocks, turn right on Homeland Avenue. KOC building on right side, there will be a sign out front.

Plenty of adjacent parking even if it snows!

Come early to beat the crowd! There are even some great bargains from an established local artist who clears out her stock for the year to make way for new work.

And did I say, great people, good food and massage?

A very short list of participants: Sandra Magsamen, Mary DeMarco of La Contessa, Plum Blossom, The Devil Made Me Do It, Green Star Studios, Rick Shelly and Anita Klein!

See you there!

My MVP

See that young man a few posts down? That's my son, Ian. He is a quiet and thoughtful boy with a wry sense of humor. He is studious, friendly, kind, he plays soccer and squash and keyboard and is thinking he might like to be a runner. And he just got the MVP of the Year award on his soccer team! My husband, Walter and I, are SO proud of this boy, who put his all into his soccer team, never missed practice, always had a good attitude, supported his team mates and was rewarded for his quiet, positive team role. This young man could not make us any prouder of him....like his brother, Marshall, he has eclipsed me in his maturity and intelligence. This soon to be man has made us tearful with pride in the person he has become. I am so grateful for these two amazing boys that are my sons! We must have done something right along the way and I'm almost sure it was massive doses of love!

Hollyfest this Saturday

Hollyfest at the Friends School of Baltimore is this Saturday. It's a big, family oriented show with LOTS of vendors with cool, handmade stuff as well as inexpensive stocking stuffers. There's an elf booth where kids can make secret gifts, music, food and lots of bustle and fun. I'll be there with FuzzyMug, who makes wonderful animal prints. Stop by for a visit. I have lots of new designs as well as my newish NeckWreath kits. After this show, my son Marshall will be home to enjoy Thanksgiving with us and then one more show for the season! I have pledged to get handmade, locally grown gifts this year for the holidays, so I'll try to take some time to do some shopping at Hollyfest, too!

Ian's Fun Facts

Did you know gum was originally developed to strengthen your jaw muscle? Either did I until my 14 year old son told me...this must be what he remembers about what he learned in school today! Just thought I'd share that with you!

SHOP BALTIMORE THIS SEASON

BEST Baltimore Craft has just unveiled a very cool link on our website called Shop Local... just in time for the holidays. A sampling of member's work is shown by category which makes it a simple task to find just what you're looking for. One click will take you to a member's shop to see all their work.

BEST Baltimore Craft has almost 70 members now and seeing the work in this context is extraordinary...it's clear that a unique body of the work is coming out of Baltimore! New York and LA ain't got nuthing on us, baby!

Click on the image at the top right of the page to see more!

First Show of the Holiday Season

My first holiday show is this weekend at the Harford Day School in Belair. This is my inaugural year at this show, but I hear its a great event with lots of quality vendors. I'll have lots of new StoneWear pieces to see and a new display, too! Other BEST Baltimore Craft members at the show will be Dana of greenstarstudio, who makes those cuddly knitimals and Alison of Tigerlilly whose copper acorn is shown above . For more information and directions, click here.

Art Jewelry Magazine Pick of the Week

Gotta toot my own little horn a bit...I was the Editors Pick of the Week on the Art Jewelry Magazine blog. See the link here. Not a big deal, but a deal!

New discovery; Louise Fischer Cozzi

I happened on Louise's work through a daily email I receive called Polymer Clay Daily. You can sign up for it here. The variety and scope of what is done with polymer clay is breathtaking and I love getting a taste of it even though it is far from the medium I work with most often. I am amazed daily with different visions of not only jewelry but sculpture, vessels and fine art. Enjoy Louise's work above, check out her etsy shop (which sadly, doesn't have many sales) or visit her extraordinary website. She'll also be in Baltimore for the Walters Art Museum's annual jewelry fair Nov. 20-22 and later in February at the ACC Craft Fair.