New Orleans Craft Mafia Celebrates Our 5th Birthday on Thursday, June 24!

Cinco de Craft Mafioso – New Orleans Craft Mafia’s 5th Birthday Party Fiesta!
Thursday, June 24, 6pm – 10pm
The Factory, 8314 Oak Street, New Orleans

The New Orleans Craft Mafia is celebrating its first 5 years of bringing crafty alternatives to the Crescent City with a birthday bash on Thursday, June 24. The event, dubbed “Cinco de Craft Mafioso”, will take place from 6pm – 10pm at The Factory, a new crafty workspace at 8314 Oak Street, which will begin teaching screen-printing classes on July 7.

Cinco de Craft Mafioso is a celebration of all things crafty. The event is free and open to all ages, and will feature free craft workshops, including t-shirt recycling and screen-printing. Bring your old t-shirts in and revamp them – we’ll show you how to breathe new life into your old tees!

The event will also feature a crafty marketplace with handmade goods by members of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, as well as music and snacks. Be sure to stop by for free beer (while it lasts!) and get there early because the first 20 guests will receive a free New Orleans Craft Mafia tote bag filled with handmade goodies!

Please RSVP on Facebook and share the link with your friends!

New Orleans Craft Mafia needs your swag!

The New Orleans Craft Mafia is proud to once again sponsor the Alternative Media Expo, presented by Antigravity Magazine. The Alternative Media Expo ‘10 is scheduled for Saturday, April 17th from noon-6pm at the warehouse in the Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA), and will feature tons of exhibitors with comics, ‘zines, fashion, crafts, music, film, design, community activism and much more!

Admission is $5, and the first 100 paid attendees through the doors will receive swag bags courtesy of the New Orleans Craft Mafia: a reusable shopping bag filled with freebies and product samples from various indie businesses. These bags present a great opportunity to get the word out about your business, band, or organization. Vendors exhibiting at the Expo are also highly encouraged to participate in the swag bags and leave a lasting impression on visitors.

Get the word out to this diverse group of customers who seek to support independent businesses by including your product samples in these swag bags. Product samples may include, but are not limited to: CD/DVD samplers, comics and magazines, small jewelry or accessory samples, t-shirts, blank notecards or stationery, sample size soaps or cosmetics, gift cards, or other small samples of your products. If you choose to send in samples, we ask that you send a minimum of 25 samples.

Some swag suggestions include, but are not limited to: coupons, stickers, buttons, magnets, pens, etc. We ask that you do send actual swag items and not just promotional materials such as business cards or flyers. You may attach business cards, etc., to any donated swag, of course. (If we receive ONLY business cards or fliers from you, they will NOT be included in the swag bags.) If you are interested in sending in swag material, we ask that you send in the full amount of 100 items.

The deadline for sending in swag & samples is Wednesday, April 7, 2009. Items may be sent to:

New Orleans Craft Mafia swag bags
c/o Kerry Fitts
P.O. Box 791922
New Orleans, Louisiana 70179-1922

Those interested in dropping off samples and swag locally in New Orleans may bring them by UP/ Unique Products at 2038 Magazine Street during regular business hours (Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm, Sunday noon-5pm). Please make sure your items are marked as being for the New Orleans Craft Mafia / Alternative Media expo swag bags.

For more information on contributing to the swag bags, please email mallory [!AT] neworleanscraftmafia.com

A Very Important Benefit

Many of you may have already heard... one of our fellow mafiosas, the founder of the San Antonio Craft Mafia, Katherine Brown, is fighting glioblastoma, in layman's speak that's stage 4 brain cancer. The San Antonio group has been touched deeply by her illness and are holding a benefit for Kat and her children. Please help in any way you can. Have friends in San Antonio? Please tell them about the the event. Have a blog? Feel free to repost.

For more information about Kat and her illness you can read articles in the San Antonio Express News and The Handmade News.

Handmade Austin Women Annual Spring Show this weekend May 2nd + 3rd

Handmade Austin Women 4th Annual Spring Show

May 2nd and 3rd, 2009

It's the weekend before Mother's Day!

Saturday 10am-6pm

Sunday 12pm-5pm

Handmade Austin Women presents the fourth annual Spring Show on May 2nd and 3rd, the weekend before Mother's Day. Handmade Austin Women are dedicated to unique design, and the highest quality in handcrafted work. We organize our show to promote the profound benefits of sustaining women artists at work here in Texas. We support Austin's cottage industry and the growing character of our local, independent economy.

Handmade Austin Women are pleased to announce the 2009 lineup:

• Trisha Allen ~ Uniquely Recycled, Art Cards


• Jenifer Nakatsu Arntson ~ Accessories, Wallets and Handbags


• Jo Bridges ~ Paintings


• Lisa Crowder ~ Studio Jeweler, Metalsmith


• Kathryn Davis ~ Mixed Media Collage Handmade Accessories


• Jamie Jo Fisher ~ Contemporary Art Jewelry


• Laura Freeman* (aka Luna Tart) ~ Ukulele


• Chia Guillory ~ Sunhats, Fashion and Accessories


• Laura Imhoff* ~ Singer Songwriter


• Heather Jarry* ~ Marionettes


• Gabel Karsten ~ Still Life Painting


• Beverly Mangham ~ Art Assemblage and Clay


• Christa Mares ~ Sculptural Crochet


• Melanie Schopper ~ Functional Ceramics


• Cherie Weaver ~ Drawings, Paintings

*musical entertainment

A family-friendly musical marionette matinee begins every other hour on Saturday. Live music plays on Sunday. Both days we offer complimentary tea and coffee service. Additionally, the Ginko Studios gardens will be open for viewing. Our show grounds are handicapped accessible, but call ahead for special-access arrangements.

For information, (512) 293-9505 or see us online at: www.handmadeaustinwomen.com

Handmade Austin Women

Spring Show 2009

Hosted by: Ginko Studios

Located at: 800 Gullett St.

Austin, TX 78722

(512)389-1920

This event is supported in part by Women and Their Work. Please visit www.handmadeaustinwomen.com for more information.

Download Letter-Sized 2009 Poster [PDF] [JPEG]

A great cause and yummy yummy treats!

Since I closed my business, Amet and Sasha, I've been a wee bit silent on the crafting front. And why is that you might ask? Because I'm exploring food, baking to be exact. I'm even heading off to pastry school this spring. Can you believe it??!? Well, maybe you can, but my head's still spinning.

One of my new projects is a food blog. It's just a wee baby of a blog, but if you like to eat, which I'm pretty sure is almost all everyone, then maybe just maybe you'll like my wee baby of a blog.

But this is not why I'm writing. I'm writing because this month I'm taking part in a wonderful cause. It's a fundraising effort for a school lunch program in Lesotho. What's in it for you?? Amazing prizes. No, seriously... good good stuff. So please visit me and see how you can win some great food-related prizes while helping with a fantastic cause.



If you have a blog and would like to help me tell the world about the raffle please do. There are SO many food bloggers out there donating to the cause. I'm donating a huge box of amazing brownies. Other people are donating things like Le Crueset products, cookbooks, classes.... so many great things.



I hope your holidays are warm, cheery and full of many many tasty treats!

The San Diego North Park Craft Mafia is looking for vendors for the Holiday Hit List 2008!

Time flies when you are having fun crafting, and the holidays are approaching fast! We are already busy planning the spectacular 2008 Holiday Hit List and we are looking for vendors! This will be a super HUGE event -- to be held at the NTC Promenade at Liberty Station in Point Loma on Sunday, December 7th. If you have a crafty independent business and are in or planning to be in the San Diego area the first week of December, then you don't want to miss out on this opportunity! All of the details can be found here on the San Diego North Park Craft Mafia website. Hurry -- you only have until October 3rd to apply! This is going to be an epic show with entertainment, giveaways, craft demos, fashion show, and more!

Sunday, Crafty Sunday !

The San Diego North Park Craft Mafia is now hosting monthly craft shows the first Sunday of each month! For every show we will be featuring various local indie vendors for plenty of shopping enjoyment. Our next show is June 1st from 12-5 at Filter Coffee House at 4096 30th St. in beautiful North Park. Coffee and shopping -- what a lovely way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon!

If you are in the San Diego area, and would like to participate in the next Sunday, Crafty Sunday event, check out our FAQ's page with the link to the application.

Bazaar Bizarre & Maker Faire SF

Maker Faire and Bazaar Bizarre are happening THIS weekend!

Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. It's for creative, resourceful people of all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make things.

72 Crafters! A smorgasbord of handmade items, many cleverly made with recycled materials. Something for everyone—jewelry, toys, lotions, art, glass, fiber arts, ceramics, handbags, baby items, even crafting supplies.

Saturday May 3rd, 10am-6pm
Sunday May 4th, 10am - 5pm
Bazaar Bizarre & Maker Faire SF
San Mateo Fairgrounds

Check out the other vendors here and here. Hope to see you there!

Big time Stitch news!!

So I'm sure all of you have been wondering where the $%^$^&$*&%^* we've been... I know, I know... we've been a bit mum over here. Quite simply Stitch 2007 was awesome and amazing and wiped us out! We just needed a little break. Well, we're back and we're gearing up for our next show. When will that be you ask?? Well, we're changing things up this year...or next year to be more precise. The next Stitch will be held in April of 2009! Maybe it's the dreamy Texas spring, maybe it's exhaustion from 2007... who knows. But we're very excited about this change. We're hoping that with the spring weather on our side this will open up the possibility of an indoor outdoor venue. We also have a ton of other ideas up our sleeves and as our plans get nailed down we'll bring you all of the latest news. Until now, sit tight... we'll be back soon with tons more Stitch news.

Now Accepting Vendors!

Down to Earth - Earth Day Craft Show
The show will be held on Saturday, April 19th, 2008 from 10am to 5pm at Sacramento News & Review Parking Lot (1015 20th Street, Midtown Sacramento).

Contact Katie Reeves or Erika Ashley Garcia for details and application!

Craft Con 2008

I am super-duper excited because I just found out that this year's Craft Congress (now known as Craft Con) is being held in San Francisco!

Straight from the Craft Con site:
Craft Con is a business development conference for the craft community. People who make things of all types, of all backgrounds, will come together to talk about the business side of crafting, how they market themselves, and the philosophies behind it all. The conference will be held April 4-6 in San Francisco, California.

Last year's Craft Congress was the first event of its kind, bringing together an amazing group of craft promoters from all over the country and as far away as England to network, share ideas, and discuss the future of the resurging movement.

I just applied and I'm crossing my fingers that I get in, since there is limited space available. It's really terrific how crafters are coming together to network, share business advice, and figure out how to spread the word about DIY culture. Yay for Craft Con!

Spring Line Up in San Diego March 30th -- call for vendors!

Hello fellow mafiosas! The San Diego North Park Craft Mafia is ecstatic to be announcing our huge spring spectacular show—the Spring Line Up! It will be held on Sunday, March 30th at the Silver Gate Masonic Hall in North Park. This event promises to be enormous, and of course will be completely entertaining. Are you are planning on being in the San Diego / Southern California area on March 30th, and are interested in joining us to be one of our many fabulous vendors? Then check out the online application here . The deadline for applications is February 22—don't delay! We would love to have you be part of our Line Up!

New Orleans Craft Mafia wants your swag!

The New Orleans Craft Mafia is proud to sponsor the Alternative Media Expo, presented by Antigravity Magazine. This will be the sixth edition of the Expo, and this year's event will feature over 70 exhibitors with 'zines, comics, films, crafts, photography and handmade clothing, independent record labels and artists with CDs and records, indie and grassroots organizations, filmmakers and much more!

The Expo will take place on Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 from noon-7pm at the Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp St.) in New Orleans, LA. The admission fee for this all-ages event will be $5.

The first 150 paid attendees through the doors will receive limited edition cotton tote swag bags, courtesy of the New Orleans Craft Mafia, filled with freebies and product samples. These bags present a great opportunity to get the word out about your business, band, or organization. Vendors exhibiting at the Expo are also encouraged to participate in the swag bags.

Some swag suggestions include, but are not limited to: coupons, stickers, buttons, magnets, pens, etc. We ask that you do send actual swag items and not just promotional materials such as business cards or flyers. You may attach business cards, etc., to any donated swag, of course. If you are interested in sending in swag material, we ask that you send in the full amount of 150 items.

We will also be accepting product samples, which may include, but are not limited to: CD/DVD samplers, comics and zines, small jewelry or accessory samples, t-shirts, blank notecards or stationary, or other small samples of your products. If you choose to send in samples, we ask that you send a minimum of 25 samples.

The deadline for sending in swag & samples is Friday, February 15th, 2008.
Items may be sent to:

New Orleans Craft Mafia swag bags
c/o Claverie Crafts
P.O. Box 9399
Metairie LA 70055-9399

For more information on contributing to the swag bags, please email mallory [AT] neworleanscraftmafia.com

The Sacramento Craft Mafia does Bazaar Bizarre

Bazaar Bizarre was amazing. It was a lot of fun and very well planned and well attended!

Check out more photos on my Flickr!

Bazaar Bizaare San Francisco this weekend!

The Sacramento Craft Mafia will be at Bazaar Bizaare San Francisco this weekend! Stop by to see Peptogirl Industries, Mohair Circus, Rosebud Designs, and My Punk House!

Post taken from the Craftzine blog:


Come to Bazaar Bizaare San Francisco this Saturday, December 15 from 11am - 6pm at the San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park (next to the Strybing Arboretum at the corner of 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way). Admission is just $1.00 at door to shop from over 90 vendors at this family friendly event. I'll be there all day working the CRAFT magazine booth (come by and chat with me!) and will be teaching the Quick and Easy Photo Ornaments workshop from 2:30-3:30pm. Wrokshops will be happening all day and you can check out the schedule here. For more info, visit the Bazaar Bizarre site.

IndieSacramento

Whew! IndieSacramento has come and gone. When we opened the doors at 2pm, there was a line going out the door! The swag bags were gone within the first 15 to 20 minutes. The event was a great success and I hope we can do it again real soon!

Check out the IndieSacramento Flickr group!

Check out the Sacramento Craft Mafia blog for a more detailed post and stay tuned for the next IndieSacramento event!

IndieSacramento

Don't forget to mark your calendars for IndieSacramento THIS Saturday!

* Holiday Shopping: Sacramento's largest indie/ alternative craft fair
* FREE Admission! ($1 donation is appreciated)
* FREE swag bags to the first 150 patrons
* FREE music by local bands
* Cupcake Decorating for the kids (and adults), by Capital Cupcakes
* DIY demos & classes
* Fashion Show
* and Door prizes!

DON'T FORGET TO BRING CASH! Hope to see you all there!

Saturday 12/1 is the Queen City Craft Bazaar.
The Burlington Craft Mafia is sponsoring a raffle to benefit Art From the Heart. Two gift bags will be given away containing handmade goods from the members.

This Saturday! Invite your friends!

Brought to you by the Norfolk Craft Mafia!

Get Made for the Holidays with the Sacramento Craft Mafia

This Second Saturday, November 10th, from 4-10pm at Deep Art Yoga (2030 H Street, Midtown, Sacramento) is the first holiday show of the season for the Sacramento Craft Mafia.

Called "Get Made Holiday", you can expect an art and craft show like only the SACRAMENTO CRAFT MAFIA can bring!

Click here for larger view

Start your art walk early with the SCM at Deep while enjoying  live music, free hot chocolate and amazing INDIE handmade items that you will not find anywhere else. Live holiday music, area art and over 15 vendors!

Also see the debut of Sacramento Craft Mafia's fundraiser cookbook "Crafty in the Kitchen" with  over 40 pages of member recipes including appetizers, cocktails, desserts and more! A real gift in itself.

Need some bling for your holiday decor? Be sure to stop and see the spectacular Sacramento Craft Mafia holiday tree. Decked out in SCM colors of pink black and white and featuring Mafia made ornaments that are all for sale for a tiny price of $5 each!!!!!!!!

(And thanks, Shonda, for organizing and writing up this great promo text!)

Hope to see you all there!