get your sew on..

first off happy holidays, dear readers! i can't believe that christmas is here. in the spirit of giving, check out burdastyle's blog post about how you can pay it forward:

"We are asking out members and friends to donate a handmade bow ties to be auctioned off at the ACS Pink and Black Tie Gala on May 7th 2009.

Want to help? Download the David Bow Tie pattern Sew it up in pink and/or black fabric and send it to us here at BurdaStyle by May 4th 2009."

merry christmas, and once all the glitz and glam of the holiday season is over - remember that you can stretch the "giving" all year round - it's called karma, loves!

Get your butt in gear for the new year

It's that time of the year when most of us with art/craft businesses are wound down - taking a break from a (hopefully) busy holiday season. Here is a great, short, motivational podcast from Alyson B. Stanfield, author of the Art Biz Blog, on how best to utilize this down time and prepare for success in the new year.

Upcycled Tin Can ornaments

I found this tutorial and thought it was so simple and beautiful, it needs to be shared. I love recycling/upcycling and the lovely shapes of the ornaments are great. I know you wouldn't have to stick with leaf shapes but it's just a bit of creative fodder to get those juices flowing!

Aluminum Can Ornaments from Little House in the Suburbs

A Handmade Holiday Thank-You

A *Huge Handmade Holiday Thanks* to our participating crafters and designers, the folks at the Visual Art Center of Richmond for providing such a wonderful venue & for putting on a great party on Friday, our super awesome volunteers, the members of the Richmond Craft Mafia for all your hard work - and, of course, everyone who came out to show their support for our local craft scene here in Richmond.

Here's a few photos from Handmade Holiday on Friday and Saturday. If you missed it you can still do some shopping with our crafters and designers online - checkout www.richmondhandmadeholiday.com for interviews and links to everyone's websites or Etsy.com shops.

Handmade Holiday is Today!

Psst, Here's an Insider Tip from the Mafia

Psst, since you are a friend of the Richmond Craft Mafia, we wanted to let you in on an insider tip:

You can get Tickets to the Handmade Holiday Preview Party
at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond
on Friday, December 12th from 7 - 10 pm for a steal of a price!

Instead of the advertised price ($20 in advance) - we pulled some strings and our friends are getting a break. To redeem your discount on the Friday Preview Party - The Boss says you have to give them a call at (804) 353-0094. Use the promo code "ROSEBUD" to get the discounted price of $10 in advance for the Preview Party Tickets! If you wait until the last minute, then entrance to the Preview Party will be $15 at the door.

Inside you will find wine, cheese, appetizers, music and most importantly: FIRST DIBS on the handmade goods. Tickets Sales for the Preview Party benefit the Visual Art Center of Richmond :)

The countdown has begun!

Handmade Holiday is this Friday! Gah! I cannot make jewelry fast enough. To distract myself from inventory madness I've been nosing around through the vendor list to see what kind of great things are going to be for sale. I am, after all, way behind on my own holiday shopping. Here's what I love so far:


Yuletide Greeting and Happy New Year Cards/Oversized Gift Tags from Ernst and Thistle.


Aren't these just excellent? I love the idea of using them for holiday cards instead of picking out the least offensive box of cards at Target.


I also adore this little baby jar pincushion from Hersey is my Baby:



I'm not much of a sewer, but it'd be a cute place to keep the spare buttons that come with new clothes.


I'm always looking for funny odds and ends to go in my husbands stocking, and these buttons from Phil Barbato are freaking awesome:



And seriously, who wouldn't want a cool t-shirt from Popidiot? An idiot, that's who wouldn't.


(hey...I think I know that guy!)


And OMG. Hamster! Nugget! from oelle m.


What are you looking forward to checking out?

Originally Posted by Adrien at www.richmondhandmadeholiday.com

Don't forget...

Hey all! Thanks to everyone who made the opening of the Fawn Shop just fabulous. It was a great crowd. Don't forget that the shop will be open this week for a limited time. Stop by and say hi!




ALSO, this weekend is the Handmade Holiday! Woo! If you haven't been reading our HH blog, please check it out: http://www.richmondhandmadeholiday.com/

You'll find vendor information, artist interviews and more. Get to reading!

We're Everywhere!

Lots of good press lately! Our very own Jen Wells Mageau of Miss Pickles Press was featured in the December issue of Richmond Magazine. You can read it here.




Richmond Magazine also has a brand new shopping blog and it has Richmond Craft Mafia all over it! Page down for an article about an Erin Taylor Designs trunk show and another about the Fawn Shop. (We'll see you there, yes?)

The Fawn Shop

coming to 201 w broad street - very, very soon, is a chance to support local artists and shop local for the holiday season. grand opening will be first friday - come out and see what we've been working hard to create...

• opening night: Friday, Dec 5, 11am-10pm
• Saturday, Dec 6, 2-5pm
• Sunday, Dec 7, closed
• Monday, Dec 8-Friday Dec 12 11am-7pm
• Saturday, December 13, 11am-5pm