We're looking for a Few Good Crafters

Hello friends!

We have recently graduated a new crop of RCM alums, which means it's also time to bring in a fresh round of new faces to our group. Therefore, we are opening up the application process to join the Richmond Craft Mafia!

What is the Richmond Craft Mafia (aka RCM)?

I sure hope you already know the answer to this one! We are a non-profit consortium of independently-owned arts and crafts businesses from the Richmond metro area. We have members from Colonial Heights to Northside to the West End, and everywhere in between. We put on two craft shows each year - Spring Bada-Bing and Handmade Holiday - and provide networking and support for our member businesses as well as the community at large.

What does joining the RCM entail?

 You will be expected to:

• join us for regular meetings (scheduled at the membership's convenience),
• participate in the planning for our two annual craft shows + other events
• contribute to online conversations regarding the group's needs (this primarily occurs on Facebook at the moment)
• vote on various decisions
• bring new ideas for events and out-reach projects to the group
• contribute to our blogs, newsletters, social media, and other marketing efforts
• assist on various subcommittees (PR, financial, etc...) according to your strengths and the needs of the group

What are we looking for in a new member?

First and foremost, we're looking for new members who will fit well into our organization. You should be friendly, willing to help out, and able to contribute.

We're looking for balance in our membership. This includes the type of business you run, the strength of your business, the new perspectives you'll bring to the group, etc...

Critically, we need you to be able to devote time to RCM, especially in advance of our two craft shows. These two shows have heavy planning periods in February-April, and in October-December each year. We are working out the details of the show, coordinating lots of moving pieces, and trying to construct the best show possible. We need all hands on deck in order to pull it off. Furthermore, we are working on less intense projects throughout the year, like classes and seminars for the community, that will require your input.

If you have a very busy family life right now, or if you're constantly on the road attending craft shows, or if you're already working three jobs, then now is probably not the right time for you to join the group. This doesn't mean we don't like you! It just means that now isn't the best time for you to add another commitment to your schedule, and we absolutely respect that. Please consider your existing commitments carefully before choosing to apply.

How many new members are we looking for?

That depends. We're not looking to replace our new alumni on a one-to-one basis, we're trying to round out our group for the future. We're also more than happy to consider partnership businesses, which could influence how many applicants we accept. While we want to accept every phenomenal applicant, we also need to respect the limits of a well-run group, which means limiting the number of members. Finding the perfect number of new members is a little bit of alchemy, as we balance new people with our existing crew.

So who's in the Richmond Craft Mafia, anyway?

Our current members and their businesses are:

Maryellen Kim, Twiststyle
Janet Lundy, Monkeydog Studio
Sarah Turner, Turnerbots
Jay Frank and Bri Bevan, Itty Bitty Press
Nicole Lee, Nicole Lee Designs
Kelly McCants, Modern June
Suzanne Vinson, SilverTree Art
Phil and Meghan Barbato, Phil Barbato

If you're interested...

Please send an email to rvacraftmafia at gmail.com with the following info:

Your Name(s):
Address:
Telephone number:
Email address:
Crafting background:
Business name:
Business website(s):
Business description:
Date business started:
Why do you want to join Richmond Craft Mafia?
What RCM events have you attended or participated in?
What skills do think you would you bring to the group?
What's your opinion of the Richmond craft scene?
Do you have any professional experience working in a group environment? If so, tell us about it.
In a group project setting, do you tend to lead or execute?
Do you have a "day job," or is your crafty business your full time gig?
Have you ever organized a large community event? Or a small one?
What do you like best/least about Richmond?
3 interesting facts about you:
Additional comments:

Martha Stewart Living's American Made at Hardywood

Every now and then we hear about cool events happening in RVA and pass the info along to our fellow crafters and artist friends. Here are the details of a very cool event happening this week, hosted by Martha Stewart Living’s American Made:

Martha Stewart Living's food editor and author of Mad Hungry Cravings, Lucinda Scala Quinn, would like to invite you and your vendors to a unique meet up this Thursday, hosted by Martha Stewart Living’s American Made celebration.

American Made is a movement for individuals and communities who have turned their passion for handcrafted, well-designed goods into small businesses in food, fashion, beauty, community, design, crafts, garden, and technology.

In our second year, we are celebrating around the country with MeetUps: gatherings of communities and American Made small businesses in different towns and cities, with Richmond being one of them.

I want to invite you to our next MeetUp, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery this Thursday, May 2nd, from 6-9PM with the RVA Street Foodies to celebrate the best of Richmond, with great beer, great food, and great local artisans.

Just like the movement, the American Made MeetUp is for all ages and is an open invitation to small businesses and the local community: spread the word to your favorite local Richmond artisans, small business, crafters, fashion mavens, and beyond!


For more details about Martha Stewart Living's American Made visit: http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade

Today is the day!!

TODAY!! 

Saturday April 20, 2013, 11am - 5pm, Hardywood Park Craft

Who: The Richmond Craft Mafia and our full list of vendors!!

What: “Spring Bada-Bing: locally brewed crafty goodnesss” is an independent artist craft show in Richmond, Virginia

Where: The show will be held at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Here are the directions!!

When: Saturday, April 20th 2013 from 11am to 5 pm

Why: Because, after 8 years, we still want to bring unique, innovative shopping to RVA – this time with beer!

Vendor Spotlight: RVA Coffee Stain

Richmond is always brimming with creativity and new crafty business are always sprouting up! RVA Coffee Stain is one that you will see today at this year's Spring Bada-Bing. Douglas Orleski creates digital sketches of places that make RVA a sweet place to live and more. All prints are made using a stylus on the program Sketchbook Pro. He has been cartooning for 5 years and has been making cartoons that people like for 4 months. How impressive that he has already been on Virginia This Morning and had an article in RVANews!! 

 

So clever that every piece comes with a vandalized baseball card. 

 

And you should also be on the lookout for one of his art abandonments around town. So fun!

Don't miss ART 180 tomorrow!

I may be a bit biased here, but as a former high school art teacher, ART 180 definitely makes my heart flutter.  I love seeing all the wonderful work they do around the city. ART 180 partners with other organizations to serve children living in challenging circumstances in Richmond.  Their goal is to provide opportunity's for our city's youth to discover ways they can positively engage in and influence their surroundings.   Professional artists and volunteers work with youth after school for 12 weekly sessions. Each program grows from the needs and interests of the group of young people being served.

The young artists are asked to explore crucial personal statements that reinforce their sense of identity and purpose, such as: What is a hero? What do I want people to know about me? How can I make my community a better place? Programs culminate with some kind of public presentation of artwork. These have included billboards, art exhibits, poetry readings, CDs and DVDs.

What Do You Stand For? Project

Please stop by their table to speak with them a bit more about their programs and pick up some their products.  All the proceeds from the sale of their items benefit future ART 180 programs.

See you all tomorrow!

Vendor Spotlight: The Cupcakery

Spring Bada-Bing is less than 24 hours away! Aren't you excited?! We sure are!! We have more lovely vendors to tell you about, and it is always a treat to get a behind the scenes peek at an artist's studio and get a little insight directly from them. Here is a bit more about The Cupcakery, an SBB veteran...

My name is Cindy and I own a little shop near and dear to my heart, The Cupcakery. No, I don't sell cupcakes, but the things that I do make and sell are just as sweet! I started my business in November 2007 as a newlywed, handstitching up felt cupcake ornaments and selling them on Etsy (hence my shop name). It started off as a little hobby and quickly turned into a big passion and dream of mine. I have two daughters, Emmabelle and Zoey, and they constantly inspire me to create. I like to mix my love for vintage fabrics and bright colors to create things my girls love, and of course I make some to share with my shop :) 

photos: a snapshot of what my studio looks like daily, a little self portrait, a sneak peak at some hair accessories, and one of my new favorite dresses that I'll be selling at the show!

Vendor Roundup: RawJawBone Graphics and Red Prairie Press

We're so close to the big event that I can almost taste the beer!

To get you even more excited we have to awesome vendors to highlight tonight, RawJawBone Graphics and Red Prairie Press.
RawJawBone Graphics says of his work:

When I create art, the first thing I want to do is make the 13 yr old kid inside of me (who is currently locked up in a 36 yr old body)look up and say "AWESOME!" I like my art to have the big and bold effect of the comic books, cartoons and video games that inspired me. When I grew older, I gained my inspiration from movies, books and of course art (ancient and modern).

His work pops with color and eye-catching graphics. I bet you'd turn a few heads with an octopus like this on your shirt:

Next up we have another screen printer and designer: Red Prairie Press. Red Prairie Press is an eco-friendly operation that uses water based inks to print her adorable hand-drawn designs. 

For the cat lover in your life (I'm sure you know at least one).

The range of clothing at this year's Spring Bada-Bing is outstanding! We hope you're just as excited as us and don't forget to rsvp to our Facebook Event!

Vendor Spotlight: PrayerMonkey

Did you know you could crochet metal? Well, PrayerMonkey does - enameled copper wire to be exact. Her work is part sculpture, part stitchery, and part fractal geometry. 

 

Along with her ever-changing line of jewelry for him and her, she has recently added faux insect taxidermy, which is also crochet from wire and mount in frames her husband makes from reclaimed wood. 

It's always intriguing to see the process of an artist. PrayerMonkey shares with us the description of her process: 

One of the things I like to incorporate into my jewelry is found/recycled materials. In this case, pottery from thrift store plates. I choose bits that I think would be interesting and mark them. My dear husband then cuts the shapes I have traced with a tile saw. I crochet a setting around then with enameled copper wire and turn them into necklaces, rings, brooches, etc.

Vendor Round-Up: Mood Swing Studio, Matt Butler and Needle Noodles

We are around the 36 hour mark until our 8th annual Spring Bada-Bing. So excited!!!!  In this round-up, a couple more of our crafty neighbors from North Carolina making the trek up to vend at the show.

Teacher turned print maker, Matt Butler didn't consider himself a creative type until he took a printmaking class at a community art center four years ago. Prints featuring  bikes, food and typography matched with his tongue in cheek sense of humor quickly found like minded fans among the craft community. Each print is created from hand carved linoleum blocks, then inked and pulled on his 80 year old cast iron press giving each finished piece it's very own individual charm. Find more of his prints at www.themattbutler.com


Kristen Randall of Mood Swing Studio has been making her one-of-kind and limited edition recycled vintage jewelry and beaded collage pieces for over 7 years.  In addition to dabbling in new designs using enamel techniques, her storybook charms made from vintage children's books are always a big draw. (And super cute!)
Mojo in full swing, her bohemian influenced style can be found over at http://www.etsy.com/shop/moodswing


Christen Haden of Needle Noodles crochet toys are always a big favorite at the show. Rayguns, deep sea divers to valkyries, and much more. Along with finished toys, Christen also sells patterns so you can try your skills making your own amigurumi. Find more amigurumi awesomeness and her book Creepy Cute on her website: http://needlenoodles.com