It's Over! We did it! And boy are we tired!

What a great day, eh? Thanks to all our fabulous vendors who completely blew us away with the insane level of talent and display and overall greatness they brought to the event. Thanks also to everyone who sent swag to make the day completely covet-worthy and thanks especially to everyone who came out to support indie craft. We love you guys.

Man, I could use a nap.

I Covet.

Rather than do a specific spotlight today, here's a list of stuff I love:

Rings from The Broken Plate:

Drawings from Devoted Bee:

Wristlet from Holland Cox:

The Etsy Labs! In the house!

Spring Bada-Bing
Sunday April 22, 2007
10:00 am until 4:00 pm
at The Marquee in Richmond, VA

Display Ideas

There are about 1,000 things I ought to be doing right now, but yesterday was the first time I had a chance to work on *my* stuff for the show, and I just have to show off. As an added bonus, it's a tutorial!

I have been through about 50 different displays for earrings, and I generally don't like any of them. Most recent was the Case Of Doom, a big acrylic spinny case, which works well for some things but kind of sucks because a) no one can figure out how to turn it and b) someone has to go in and get stuff out. Not convenient for group shows.

And so I present to you, my latest display, which is by far my favorite:



Also it was amazingly easy to make. Really, it took all of two steps, which I will share with you.

Materials

• A big box. Lucky me, Michaels had some cute vintage-wanna be trunks on sale for half price. If you're not as lucky, the local thrift store might have something to fit your needs.
  
• Ribbon that matches the big box. I got a wee little spool from Michaels that was just long enough for $0.99
  
• Glue Gun. Don't leave home without it
  
• Screwdriver
  

First things first. The box I got from Michaels had a little brace on it to keep it open when you set it down, and also prevented it from opening more than 90 degrees. Using the screwdriver, I removed the two screws holding the brace so I can open it up enough to see inside properly.



Then cut the ribbon in lengths that are *just* long enough to fit across the box. You don't want them to be slack at all. Decide how far apart you want your rows, and cut enough ribbon for them.

Use your hot glue gun to secure the ribbon to the box. Start by gluing down all of one side on one half of the box, to get your spacing right. Then go back to the first one you did, and pull it really tight, then glue in place.



Voila! An earring display.



Hang your earrings on it by the hooks, not the earring card. Just slip the back of the hooks over the ribbon. It's a little hard to see, but I took a picture with the ribbon twisted a little so you can see what I mean.



It works best with earring cards that don't have a lot of top weight, otherwise the cards tend to fall forward on the display and look silly. I haven't thought of a way to attach post earrings to it (except for peircing the ribbon), but feel free to share any ideas!

And remember, if you like earring displays, you'll LOVE Spring Bada-Bing! Come out on April 22 to see all the crazy inventive displays folks come up with!

Vendor Spotlight

We have one vendor who has something nobody else has: jewelry. Haha, kidding. Try: handcrafted perfumes. How often do you see that? Modern Atelier is wonderful and the only way to buy a signature scent that really is signature, because who wants to go back to the time when everyone was wearing Colors de Bennetton and Obsession? Remember that? It was awful. AWFUL. Don't even get my started on Drakkar because, damn.




Modern Atelier makes fragrances for men and women and also has an entire line inspired by Richmond, which I think is really, really cool. Here are some descriptions:

Kuba Kuba - Juicy Pineapple, cool mint, and sweet, spicy rum - a tribute to everyone's favorite Fan restaurant.

Flowers in the Fan- Inspired by the many small gardens in the Fan that manage to fill a space with every flower imaginable. White dogwood, magnolia, and narcissus are sweetened with a drop of honeydew melon.

Cookie Factory - Even though the FFV cookie factory has closed up shop, if the wind is just right, you can still smell the freshly baked cookies wafting.

Belle Isle - rose, jasmine, and violet, on a bed of soft vanilla and dark, sexy base note.

Byrd Theater - all the scents of the vintage movie palace - Hot Buttered Popcorn, Ooey, Gooey milk duds, and an icy cold Coke.

Nice, right? They all sound amazing (thought I have to tell you, I worked at the Byrd for years and the perfume smells WAY better than the actual theater. The real deal was a serious stink that got stuck in your clothes for days. Not great. Perfume is, though. Okay.)

Anyway, if you're not excited about this, you're fired.

Press! Is Awesome!

We're all really happy with the nice article in Brick Weekly and you should be too:

http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/thehole/keeping_things_crafty/

How nice is it that they linked in some of the vendors? I love that.

Vendor Spotlight: More Squid.

Just so things around here don't get too girl-centric (not that we're not awesome), how about a vendor who has something for guys too? This is not just a chick show, even though the Richmond Craft Mafia is all women. And most of our vendors are women. And...shit. Okay, here's something good: Squidfire!

Squidfire is for men and women and babies and squid. They make ultra effing cool t-shirts like you wouldn't believe:


Squid Swarm (check out the dude! wearing the shirts! Stuff for guys!)

Mantis:

Pterodactyl (the P is silent!)

God, I love a squirrel:

Shrimpfire! How cute is this baby?

You guys wear me out with the cute. Dang.

Proof That We're Hot & Vendor Spotlight

Last night we had our photo shoot for Brick Weekly and I think it turned out pretty damn good:

photo by: www.jaypaulphoto.com

Nice right? We worked it with our pliers and irons and such, which we are clearly too sexy for. Supermodel! (sorry. I'll stop now.)

Vendor Spotlight, you say? You got it. How about Needle Noodles? I am 100% biased because I have two of her critters sitting on my desk in front of me right now. I need more. You will have to push me out of the way to get one for yourself and I work out, so I win.

Okay, maybe I'll let you look or something. Anyway, enough about me. Here's a peek at the wonderful world of Needle Noodles!

crochet pink robot:

Tiny. Stealthy. Deadly. Cute. Amigurumi Ninja:

crochet sushi with optional catnip!

Photo shoot, Brick Mag, Vendor Spotlight, oh my!

So apparently we (the Mafia) have to get prettied up in our best black attire tonight and get a group picture taken for Brick Weekly, who loves us. (Why wouldn't they? I mean, what's not to love?) Press for Spring Bada-Bing is so lovely and we're delighted, except for the photo part because I don't have time to get my hair all cute and my face reorganized by tonight. See also: giant horn-like zit on my chin. Of course. I do have new shoes, though, so that's something.

Okay, on to the Vendor Spotlight? Who's it going to be today? Okay, just to show you I don't play favorites (alright, I do, but not today) here's a vendor I haven't actually met or bought stuff from but I did gasp in delight when I saw the application sent in by Free Victrola Downloads.

I mean, damn. How insanely great is this? Taking old books and making them into funky little iPod houses. I LOVE IT.

Le sigh. So much love for this, I can't even tell you. Okay, if that doesn't tempt you, nothing will. Here are the details again:

Spring Bada-Bing

Sunday April 22, 2007

10:00 am until 4:00 pm

at The Marquee in Richmond, VA

PS.

Sorry commenter! Here's the info:

Spring Bada-Bing! Sunday April 22, 2007 from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm

at The Marquee in Richmond, VA.

One Week! Holy Crap! Swag Bags! Vendor Spotlight!

Wow, yesterday was our swag-bag stuffing party and we got some GREAT swag from all over! Thank you thank you thank you to everyone who sent in promos and samples and cards. We were very pouty over having to give all that stuff away because WANT. FOR ME. Anyway, this is just a reminder to all y'all who are coming: SHOW UP EARLY. The swag bags went really fast last year and I don't want any tantrums from those of you who miss out.

Okay, we have this show in one week! GAH! So much to do! It's all coming together really smoothly though, so that's nice. We are all so ready to get this show on the road, you don't even know. I, personally, think it's going to rule.

NOW, it's time for another vendor spotlight, don't you think? Today's spotlight is: BeesKnees Studio. Kate and I were fortunate enough to be set up across the aisle from Erica at a show last fall, and other than being the super nicest girl, she's also ridiculously talented. AND, she has the distinction of actually making a living as an artist. Those of us (me) who went to art school and currently work a desk job are very, very proud, because we know how hard that is to accomplish. Check it out:

Tiny art! So sweet!

Tempting, no? There's going to be so much great stuff at this show. Thank God I get paid next Friday, is all I'm saying.

Kelly Spotlight! Which she doesn't want but TOO BAD.

This is a break from the lovely vendors to brag about one of our own: Kelly of Dada Haus. Kelly is a freaking STAR, you guys. She doesn't do autographs either so suck on it and just be jealous.

Or, you could just tune into the DIY Network and watch her on an upcoming episode of Craft Lab. I KNOW. How cool is that? Kelly is being all squicky and bashful about it (which I understand, as I am filled with weirdness at the thought of seeing myself on national television which, I have to admit, has never actually been an issue, um, at all.) but some of us ignored her pleas and decided we needed to brag about her whether she likes it or not.

So:

Craft Lab on the DIY Network: April 11th and May 15th.

Vendor Squidlight

Do you have a noticeable lack of squid in your life? How about zombie squid? All stocked up? No? Well damn, what you need is Cleo Dee's. For serious! They will fullfill all your squiddie needs, even if you didn't know you had them (and trust me, you DO.)

I lost my fool mind last year over the Cleo Dee squiddies and bought myself a zombie and one for a friend. Kate bought squiddie embroidery that read, "I will F you right up." That's right. And holy crap:

SQUID ONESIE.

SQUID TOTE BAGS.

SQUID PATCHES.

OMG OMG!!!1

I'm feeling a little faint now, so I think I'm going to go lie down. In the meantime, why don't you consider exactly which squid you need in your life. Okay.