Cephalopod Ink :: Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature!

The gorgeous aquatic themed work of Cephalopod Ink is one of the amazing pottery vendors you will find at this year's Handmade Holiday!

Here's a little bit more about Cephalopod Ink...

Describe your studio.
Crazy! Right now I make everything out of my 2 bed, 2 bath apartment. My studio is in one of the bedrooms, my office is in the other bedroom, by bedroom is in the living room, I glaze in one of the bathrooms, and the kiln is outside on the patio. I do what it takes.

Is there a story behind your shop name?
Cephalopod Ink... 1st part, cephalopods are my favorite category of animals. I love scientific terminology, and it fits well with the graphics I use that are scientific drawings from the 1800's (the other half of my graphics I draw myself). 2nd part, ink, cephalopods produce ink; ink is a play on words of inc, and it looks like my pottery is decorated with ink. And it's just plain fun!

What's your soundtrack while you're working?
Usually audio books, my favorite is Harry Potter.

What are your influences?
Scientific discoveries about the ocean.

Love Elaine :: Handmade Holidays Vendor Feature!

You can shop for these wonderful handmade stockings by Love Elaine and lots of fabulous stocking stuffers too at Handmade Holiday!

Here's a little bit more about Love Elaine...

Describe your studio.
My "studio" is one of the spare bedrooms in our house, and its currently a mess beneath piles of fabrics for orders and Christmas Stockings - it closely resembles what I would imagine Santa's workshop looks like at this time of year! We just moved in this past summer, so the studio hasn't been touched yet - but there are lots of future plans in the works including another trip to Ikea and a stencil for the wall!

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?
The Holidays are my favorite time of year! I just love sharing time with friends and family and enjoying all of the festivities of the season. My favorite part of the Holidays is decorating the Christmas Tree. My Mom and I used to do it together each year, and we'd put on Christmas music and drink hot chocolate - doesn't get any sweeter than that! Since I started Love Elaine, I love that I get to be a part of other people's holiday traditions. Its a great feeling to know that each year people all over the county pull out my stockings and tree skirts to decorate for Christmas.

What's your newest crafty creation? Is there specific item you'd like to feature for the show?
Although its not a new item, one of my latest items I'm excited about is my iPad sleeve. Its super girlie and features fabrics that have become my signature style - bright, modern and fun - along with a ribbon closure to tie a big bow!

Also, although my Elf Stockings are not new, I do have new fabrics - and I am just so in love with the Holiday Owls! And, it works great with almost any fabric - blue or pink! Great for kids, or for the kids in us all!

Is there a story behind your shop name?
Yes, there's always a story, isn't there? Unlike what most people think, Elaine is actually my middle name, and it also happens to be the middle name of all the women in my family - my mother Cherie, both of my Grandmothers and my sister, Stephanie. Love is my paternal Grandmother's maiden name. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful women in my family to support me - they are all creative, independent and strong! They taught me to sew at a young age and encouraged me to start a business. They are my biggest support system, without whom, Love Elaine wouldn't exist!

What's your soundtrack while you're working?
If I'm listening to music, its all over the place - Kesha, Brittany Spears, Lady Antebellum, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Black Shleton, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Kanye West... If I'm not listening to music, I love to put on a DVD - I'm a sucker for chick flicks and I like the background noise to keep me company.

Shop Local for Small Business Saturday!

Isn't this embroidered map of the United States amazing?! This is a handmade necklace from one of our vendors for Handmade Holiday, Il Gatto Selvatico, and it is a perfect illustration for Small Business Saturday {today!} and for shopping handmade locally. Major congrats go to IGS for having their embroidered map necklace featured in the Shop Local section of the latest Etsy Finds email about the Holiday Sales Weekend. You can see this piece in person and shop for many other fantastic handmade pieces at Handmade Holiday next month. Until then, go here to see what Richmond, VA independent craft businesses have to offer online.

Stay tuned for more Handmade Holiday Vendor Features...

Moon's Creations :: Handmade Holidays Vendor Feature!

Moon's Creations is our first Handmade Holiday Vendor Feature! Her crocheted creations are just adorable. Visit her Etsy Shop for a peek of what you will find at her booth for the show.

Here's a little bit more about Moon's Creations...

Describe your studio.
I call my studio the "Bunny Mines." It is a room that is cold year round, and being on the western side of the house, often dark. But while working there, I'm always "unearthing" new little bunnies.

What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?
My favorite thing about the holidays is spending time with family. I don't get to see my family as often as I'd like and coming home for the holidays always feels magical.

Is there a story behind your shop name?
Moon's Creations is a two part name. The first being named after me, or my Chinese name, Moon Yen. The second being the story of the rabbit on the moon. With Moon Buns being the start of my shop, I thought the name would be fitting.


Happy Thanksgiving!!

Handmade Holiday 2011 Crafters & Designers

The Richmond Craft Mafia, producers of Handmade Holiday:

Bees Knees Studio 

Crystal J. Silk 

MonkeyDog Studio 

Nicole Lee Designs 

Phil Barbato 

Silver Tree Art 

Tasha McKelvey 

Twist Style 

Our awesome vendors for 2011:

ADKnits

Almanac Industries

Amy Keith Barney

April Scott Kids

Ashton Keely

Bowerbox Press

cameraSHY photography

Cephalopod Ink Ceramics

City Girl Sews

Clever Cat Bags

Dawn Stitches

Designs by Nancy

EHL Creations

Ergane

Fisticuffs Leather

Flytrap

Funnelcloud Studio

Green Porch-Lights Cards

Holland Cox

Il Gatto Selvatico

illegible ink

Itty Bitty Press

JohnTome

KShonk Designs

Lazymuse Productions

Love Elaine

Lucky Accessories

MASHULU by Artina

Meredith Studios

Metamorphosis Metals

Mimosa

Mint House

Mister Oura

Modern Atelier

modern june

Monkey & Me

Mood Swing

Moon's Creations

NeedleNoodles

oelle m

Pinkkiss Pottery

Red Prairie Press

rightpawleftpaw

S. Tector Metals

See Katie Sew

Spaghetti Kiss

spot.on Designs

Sprout Head

Squidfire

Sweet Fix

The Courtesy Press

The Cupcakery

The New Woodsman

The Soap Shack

turnerbots

Yummy & Company

ZouZou's Basement

Handmade Holiday 2011 press release

Skip the hectic holiday shopping trip to the mall and join the Richmond Craft Mafia at Plant Zero on Sunday, December 11, from 11 to 5 for the Seventh Annual Handmade Holiday.

The Craft Mafia has culled the craftiest, most creative folks from far and wide to join the hottest, all handmade, holiday market in the Richmond area. Want an idea of what you’ll see at this year’s show? Think modern takes on traditional crafts like pottery and knitting, as well super fresh styles of jewelry, t-shirts and clothing, bath and body products, toys, art, and many more totally awesome handmade goodies. 

Rubbing out the mass produced is a serious undertaking, but the RCM is dedicated to supporting the handmade movement, and making the Handmade Holiday event hugely different from run of the mill craft shows. Each show is painstakingly juried to bring Richmond the most amazing variety and quality of handmade designs, and to ensure that loyal attendees and supporters of the movement never see the same show twice.

Check out what vendors will be participating this year, and get event details and directions by visiting the event website at www.richmondhandmadeholiday.com. You’ll also find a sneak peak at some of the vendors’ favorite items! To learn more about the Richmond Craft Mafia, please visit http://www.richmondcraftmafia.com

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