Welcome to the family, Kachina Herbs!

The Hollywood Craft Mafia is proud to introduce the newest mafiosa in South Florida:

This lovely lady is Kelli, the supersmart genius behind Kachina Herbs, offering tea, salves, toothpaste and other products designed to treat anything from muscle pain to respiratory disorders. This is no casual "smell this, feel better" stuff -- Kelli practices clinical aromatherapy, researching uses of herbs and essential oils around the world and using her findings to create some seriously successful products. And she really knows her stuff--she's written a book on safe application of aromatherapy, and teaches a certification class right here in South Florida.

Some of our favorite Kachina Herbs swag: her toothpaste in flavors like mint, cinammon and peppermint, packaged in "old school, like our grandmothers used to use" jars; skincare salves suited for even the scaliest of skins; and her unique blends and synergies of essential oils that have been used to treat acne, excema and even psoriasis.

Kelli's working on building her Etsy store now, but you can always find her at her myspace, too. Stop by and welcome her to the craft mafia family!

Uncommon Thread Wearable Art Show

This is something pretty cool that someone in nearby Baton Rouge contacted the New Orleans Craft Mafia about:

There's a call for artists out for the Uncommon Thread Wearable Art Show, which will attempt to merge fashion design and visual art. Put together by the people at Culturecandy.org and the Baton Rouge Gallery, this juried competetion will be judged Suzanne Perron, who has previously worked for Vera Wang. Artists will be judged on craftsmanship, innovative design, dramatic detail and use of alternative materials.

Artists from all over the country are encouraged to submit proposals. Entry forms and more info can be found at their website. The deadline for entries is September 17. Accepted entries will be presented in a staged dance performance, and there will also be a musical collaboration, combining a local DJ with a string quartet.

Pretty awesome, huh? I hope some Craft Mafia folks submit entries. Maybe if I can find the time I'll come up with something myself.

Cut Out + Keep

I first met Cat Morley on the Readymade magazine forums. Later I found her on MySpace and began to follow her blog at www.cutoutandkeep.net. Cat is a crafty computer whiz from the U.K.

I am telling you all this because, it just so happens that Cat recently launched a site (not so much a site as a new "home" for crafty types. The Cut Out + Keep site has all kinds of free crafty goodness - from craft projects to Cat's blog on all things artistic, to a forum where you can post your own questions and projects. And get this - Cat even writes and designs her own online magazine called Snippets.



Check it out, sign up for an account, post some projects, and as it says on the logo "don't run with scissors."

Meet the (Sacramento) Mafia!

In honor of the Sacramento Craft Mafia's first-ever show, indie*galore presents A Week of Mafia Madness!

Keep reading over at indie*galore all this week to learn more about a mafia member each day!

And a few mafia members have already been written about previously: Sacred Snatch, My Punk House, Little Lovelies and Mohair Circus.

Please click on over!

whats up in the 'burgh?

Pittsburgh Craft Mafia is rocking out this summer! We're holding Craftology classes every month featuring different speakers on issues like Craft Show Basics, Selling and Merchandising Online, Legal Issues, Website 101, and a lot more!

We're also sponsoring Crafterbation nights where we get together with local crafters and hang out, talk crafts, network, or just come out to enjoy Tuscany Cafe's awesome long island iced teas.

News From A Crafty Broad

When I'm not dreaming up new goodies for Ciara Loves You! and holding up my blog duties for the Hollywood Craft Mafia, I'm usually traveling for my day job as a travel writer. Most recently, I had the amazing experience of cruising along the Black River and Solimoes Rivers in Brazil, both parts of the Amazon. Swimming with dolphins, spotting parrots and toucans, narrowly avoiding a sloth attack (seriously) -- the trip was just beautiful. And so were the goodies I got to bring home: jewelry handcrafted out of local materials by the women of the Novo Airao village.

It's DIY, Amazon-style! Everything here is local: wood carvings from area trees, incredibly sturdy string that you could just peel off of a certain type of palm, and some of the most colorful beads I've ever seen, actually hollowed out seeds from fruits like assai.

And I really couldn't resist showing off my new BFF, the sloth:



Hope this crafty news from abroad inspires you as much as it did me, to use the materials close at hand to create totally new and beautiful works of art! Who else uses natural materials in her/his crafts?

Get Made in Sacramento

If you live in or near the Sacramento area, please be sure to stop by one or both of our upcoming events and Get Made!

Sunday, June 24th, 2-10pm
Get Made, Sacramento!
The Sacramento Craft Mafia is holding their first-ever showdown at Willemina's Restaurant & Bar. Stop by for lunch and shopping from 2-10pm. Tunes provided by the Tip Top Trio. Come get some kick-ass handmade jewelry, housewares, wearables, and more.



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Stop, Shop, and Stroll!
Second Saturday, July 14th, 6pm-10pm
The Coffee Garden
2904 Franklin Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95818
(916) 457-5507


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