BBQing with the BEST

sometimes I laugh when I say our team's acronym...BEST...sounds a little like we are full of ourselves, no?  just kidding of course...but yesterday we had our annual BBQ for the Baltimore Etsy Street Team (ahh, BEST) at the lovely home of Jill :)

and no pun intended...it was really the BEST time ;)  especially the pudding shots that Kolleen made...sugar free too!

okay, enough of that word...but seriously, the food was endless and delish...so many fun and crafty conversations going on...and a HUGE fire pit and some roasted marshmallows...


all in all...a great night :)

A hot pink treasury!

I have been sorely neglecting my business, both in production as well as the Etsy side since school started in August...but I am thrilled to have some of my delightful hot pink earrings in this treasury featuring lots of my BEST friends :)

It's June!

how is it already June!?  I can't believe summer is just around the corner...quite honestly, it's felt like the dead of summer here in Baltimore for a few weeks now...somehow we went from 75 degree days straight into the 90's, and I for one am not happy!  I love the spring, and we got completely jipped out of it this year! 

so in the spirit of calling it an early summer...go search on Etsy for BESTUSA2011 and you can find some awesome items for sale, that are Fourth of July inspired!

lots of red, white and blue goodness!!

What I'm Working on - new designs in clay!

last week I got to attend a workshop held at MICA, taught by my friend Jen, clay expert extraordinaire...and I am hooked!  I had purchased myself some clay a while back, because I got a starter kit for PMC (precious metal clay- it's clay that turns to silver when you fire it!!) but it's so expensive, I was afraid to use it until I felt comfortable with the medium, and polymer clay is the perfect tool to practice with!

needless to say, I haven't had much time to play around with it, but on Tuesday last week, I took a study break, and dove in head first! 

here are some of the fun designs I made, and fired in my oven when I got home :p

and now I've been sketching some ideas for resin jewelry that incorporates some clay pieces in it...I can not wait to have something done to post on here...but until then...here are some of the fun colors of clay I had bought a while back when it was on a super sale!

 

the workshop was put on by Etsy, MICA and the Baltimore Etsy Team (BEST) as part of the I Heart Art project!!

great responsibilities

since joining BEST (Baltimore Etsy Street Team) a few years back, I've really started to embrace living in Baltimore, and making some great new friends to make me feel more at home...well this year, they asked me to be one of the Core members, which comes with more responsibility, but I am up and super willing for the challenge!

so now a few times a year you'll get a newsletter written by yours truly- if you subscribe...if not, go here and sign up!! - and I help coordinate posts for our team blog..

very excited to be more involved with this fabulous group!!

March for the Animals

it's hard to believe that it's been almost 7 years since I went to the adoption day at Petsmart for the Maryland SPCA and picked out my furry friends...it's hard to remember a time before they were with me, and even though the early morning wake-ups can be annoying, the unconditional love makes up for it :)

so when it comes time to give back, the SPCA always has a special place in my heart :)  and on March 12th, while I'm working away taking the Praxis exam (eek) my BEST friends will be out walking in Druid Hill Park supporting this great organization! 

if you'd like to help, click here to make a donation!!

tutorial - pom poms!

my wonderful and crafty friend Kollen of Design by Night posted this awesome tutorial on her blog- and it took me back to college, when my room mate Kait and I were big knitters...so naturally, we used our yarn to make fun pillows- essentially these pom-poms in a MUCH larger size...but I wanted to share with all of you, because Kolleen is the queen of tutorials, and these are just too much fun, not to make!!

happy crafting :)

for the step-by-step instructions with awesome pictures, click here!

BEST Treasury - Grey & Pink

part of two more great treasuries featuring a lot of BEST members!!

 

Baltimore in Black and White - Treasury

very excited to be a part of this awesome treasury of BEST shops Black and White designs!

 

what we're working on

**As seen on the Baltimore Craft Blog**

About a year ago I had a vision of how I wanted my designs to grow. While finishing school took up most of my time I thought it would just be that, a dream, a goal, but with the motivation and genius of Jen of Yummy & Company, our 'ah-ha' moments have recently started to become reality.

In a Reese's Pieces moment - you got chocolate in my peanut butter!...well you got peanut butter in my chocolate! - our first collaborative effort was to take some of the Yummy Ruffle rings and coat them in resin and glitter. The result was oh so sparkly and lots of fun!

 We then took to the bench and tried our hand at soldering. The result was my original vision, to take my glitter collection to a new level, on a smaller scale, with earrings, pendants and eventually rings! The ideas are just flowing, and we're having trouble keeping track of them all! I couldn't be more excited to work on the next ideas we'll come up with, in between the fits of laughter and the trials and errors with our tumbler!

CRAFTERMATH...

This Thanksgiving weekend, instead of going out in the madness of the malls or chain stores, bring your holiday shopping lists to the first annual Craftermath event at West Potomac Academy in Alexandria, Virginia.  This event is organized by the students in the Design LAB at the school, who's mission is "to promote independent artists and designers and build a community of creative’s that assist and inspire. We look to build events and opportunities to promote our local creative community." 

From 10 am - 3 pm you can come out and shop the handmade event, featuring some of your favorite BEST members, including:

Adornments by Atelier-Beads 

Fuzzy Mug















JerseyGirlDesign 

Namoo 















Yummy & Company 




The event takes place at West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Road, Alexandria, VA 22307.  For more information, visit their website.

Decor Galore Sale at the Junior League of Baltimore

This weekend, come out to support the Junior League of Baltimore at their Decore Galore sale, which kicks off with the Sip, Savor and Shop event on Friday night- a sneak peak from 6-10 pm at 1830 York Road, in Timonium. 

The following day, is the all-day shopping event, from 9am - 5pm where you can find gifts including jewelry, accessories, clothing and decor for your home!  Among the vendors, you can find me as well as a few of your favorite BEST members, including:

Design by Night

Glowgirl Fibers 

Namoo

Sweet Pepita

Yummy & Company

The Junior League helps at-risk families in the community, so you can not only get a jump start on your holiday shopping, but help a great cause as well!

Fells Point Festival

another weekend, and another local craft show...this time the Fells Point Festival...another weekend I wouldn't have made it through, without the good company of my BEST girls! 

the second day was cold and rainy, but we got to meet a real live gummy bear!

Federal Hill Festival

and if I wasn't tired, crazy or busy enough...the day after we got back from Vegas, was the Federal Hill Festival...at least it was local, so I didn't have to travel too far...and I had good company for the day!

let the season of craft shows, continue! 

my first wholesale experience

well, what can I say about the BMAC show?  it was an experience...a great (long) learning experience...with a few great friends to help me through it.  on one hand, I really didn't know what to expect, so it's hard to be disappointed, but it made me realize so many things about my work...what it is and what I want it to be...how to make it better and how to approach wholesale in the future. 

I made my first line sheet...met some nice people, and am hoping I might hear from a shop or two in the future...

it's an Etsy Partayyyyy!

sometimes in the world of art you can feel isolated...working, toiling at your craft...so it's nice to get out, and play with fellow artists...and this time it was fellow Etsy-ers as well as just fans of the arts...all gathered together to picnic, and do fun crafts in a park in Hamden :) 

we made lawn flamingos, networked and just had some good food and good times :)

one application down...oh so many to go...

first show that I've officially applied to for the 2010 spring craft show circuit...


Richmond Craft Mafia's Spring Bada Bing!

Squidfire 2009

Squidfire Holiday Art Mart December 12th 11am-6pm
Du Burns Arena
1301 S Ellwood Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224


come on out to see BEST!

Greenbelt Festival of Lights Craft Fair this weekend!!

come out and see BEST at the Greenbelt Festival of Lights craft show!!

Greenbelt Community Center
15 Crescent Road,
Greenbelt, Maryland 20770

Vote for BEST!!

the Baltimore Sun is running a poll- The Mobbies- for Maryland's Outstanding Blogs...and we need your help! Please go and place a vote for the BEST blog (Baltimore Etsy Street Team) under the Art & DIY sections!!

















you can vote once a day...so what are you waiting for??