Craft-A-Day apps on sale!

Quirk Books has a special treat for you as we creep
closer to the holidays.

Through January 8th, their four seasonal Craft-A-Day apps are specially priced at a mere $0.99 each!

The four seasonal Craft-A-Day iPad apps offer daily inspiration based on seasonal themes to kickstart creativity. With easy-to-follow instructions, free downloadable patterns, links for supplies, and fun animations, Craft-a-Day challenges you to make something special every day!

• Craft-A-Day Winter: Decorate your home with a Felt Snowman 
tree ornament; visit family in style with a Mini Snowman Gift Tag;
or make your own Plush Fox.

• Craft-A-Day Spring: Craft an adorable Bunny Finger Puppet; Paper Butterfly Mobile; or keep your books dry in a Rain Drop Tote Bag.

• Craft-A-Day Summer: Celebrate the harvest with a Strawberry Garland; brighten your fridge with a Turtle Magnet;
or work-from-home outside with a Dog Gadget Sleeve.

• Craft-A-Day Fall: Make a Pumpkin Garland; Leaf Gift Tag for Thanksgiving travel; or show off with a Witch Hat Barrette
for Halloween.

With any or all of these apps, you can:

• Find new ideas for making craft projects each day of the season

• Browse loads of simple seasonal crafts anyone can make

• Follow handy patterns, how-to photos and animations

• Print free downloadable craft patterns and templates

• Share your crafts with friends via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, and email

• And much more!

You can learn more about the Craft-a-day book here!

Funky Five: Halloween

I love Autumn and Halloween decorations! Here's five Halloween finds found via Pinterest. Visit my Autumn/Halloween board for tons more inspiration!

1. Free I Heart Halloween Printable from Agape Love

2. How-to: Witches Spell Books by Design DNA

3. Spider Web Doily Pillow by Crap I've Made

4. How To Cross Stitch on a (Fake) Pumpkin by Elsie Marley

5. How-to: Halloween Paper-Mache Cat from BHG.com

Crafts for a Cause

Saw this on the Create: blog & just had to share. When things are no longer at the forefront of the newscast, we tend to forget all the needs here at home. Click here to download supply list (includes shipping address). Click image for a larger view.

This Week's Events

Thursday, August 4
DADA BAZAAR, 8pm-2am
Dada Restaurant, 52 N Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, FL

Thursday, August 4 through Saturday, August 6
Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival
(Thur, Fri, Sat) 9am-7pm, (Sun) 10am-5pm
Amish Acres Historic Farm & Heritage Resort, 1600 W. Market St., Nappanee, IN

Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 7
Uptown Art Fair
(Fri) Noon-8pm, (Sat) 10am-8pm, (Sun) 10am-6pm
On Hennepin Ave. from 28th St. to 31st St. & “The Mall”, Minneapolis, MN

Musecon, (F) 2pm-Midnight, (Sat) 9am-11:45pm, (Sun) 9am-4:15pm
Westin Chicago Northwest, 400 Park Blvd., Itasca, IL

Saturday, August 6
Maker’s Market, 9am-Noon
Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park & Arts Center, 13480 Dowell Rd., Dowell, MD

Buninyong Makers Market, 10am-2pm
Buninyong Town Hall, Learmonth St. (A300 Hwy.), Buninyong, Victoria, Australia

Horseshoe Craft & Flea Market, 9am-4pm
46th & Tennyson, Denver, CO

Whole Foods Hollywood Hootenanny, 10am-2pm
Whole Foods Hollywood, 4301 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, OR

The City Flea, 11am-5pm
W. Central Pkwy. & Vine St. at the Cincinnatus Mural, Cincinnati, OH

The Creative Collective Craft & Fine Arts Fair, 10am-9pm
The Historic Headhouse Shambles, 2nd & Pine St., Society Hill, Philadelphia, PA

Hip Happening Bazaar, 11am-5pm
Sellwood Masonic Hall, 7126 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland, OR

Cedar Park Centennial Anniversary Celebration, Noon-8pm
Cedar Park, 50th & Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA

Saturday, August 6 & Sunday, August 7
Tomorrow’s Stars Youth Art Fair, 11am-5pm
Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, August 7
First Sunday Arts Festival, Noon-5pm
Calvert & West St., Annapolis, MD

Vintage Village Hall, 10am-4pm
Kendal Parish Hall, Kirkland, Kendal, LA9 4DL

Flint Handmade Craft Supply Swap, Noon-3pm
The Lunch Studio, 444 S. Saginaw, Flint, MI

This Week's Events

Friday, March 25
Brocante Lux, 11am-8pm
Market Square, 91 King St., St. Catharines, ON

Friday, March 25 through Sunday, March 27
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, (F/Sat) 10am-6pm, (Sun) 10am-5pm
Connecticut Expo Center, 265 Reverend Moody Opas, Hartford, CT

40th Annual Bayou City Art Festival, 10am-6pm
Memorial Park, 635 S Picnic Ln., Houston, TX

Saturday, March 26
Craft Candy Spring Fair, 10am-4pm
Millennium Gallery, Arundel Gate, Sheffield S1 2PP, UK

Craft Jam, 10am-4pm
Rollway Skating Rink, 121 S. 2nd St., Hammonton, NJ

Chicago Craft Social, 1-4pm
Catalyst Ranch, 656 W. Randolph, Suite 3W, Chicago, IL

Buninyong Makers Market, 10am-2pm
Buninyong Town Hall, 408 Learmonth St. (A300 Hwy.),
Buninyong VIC 3357


Saturday, March 26 & Sunday, March 27
Portobello West, 11am-5pm
Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver, BC

Brooklyn Flea, 10am-6pm
1 Hanson Pl. (at Flatbush Ave.), Brooklyn, NY

Shower of Crafts Craft & Art Fair, (Sat) 10am-4pm, (Sun) 11am-4pm
College of DuPage Athletic Arena, Glen Ellyn, IL

DeLand Outdoor Art Festival, (Sat) 9am-5pm, (Sun) 10am-5pm
Earl Brown Park, 750 S. Alabama Ave,. DeLand, FL

9th Annual Pakenham Maple Run Studio Tour, 10am-5pm
Pakenham, ON (map of participants on website)

Piney Woods Art Festival, (Sat) 9am-5pm, (Sun) Noon-4pm
Enterprise State Community College (on the track), 600 Plaza Dr., Enterprise, AL

Sunday, March 27
Panther City Bar Bazaar, Noon-7pm
Lola's Saloon, 2736 W. 6th St., Fort Worth, TX

Plan your handmade shopping ahead of time with Funky Finds' Handmade Events Around the World calendar page!

The Curious Canvas

I have featured The Curious Cake Shoppe, a great source for baby items & gifts, previously. But crafter Tania Cardenas launched a new business several months ago called The Curious Canvas featuring unique works of art. Tania says that these canvases combine her love for graphic design, photography, & textiles into one neat little package. I love that they are so quirky & unique, refreshing for those of us who need a break from things that are so serious! Sew What is the perfect addition to any craft or sewing room. And I can't help but love the swine complete with spectacles (pictured)! In her "spare" time, she also runs DFW Craft Shows, a valuable site for crafters, as well as shoppers, in the DFW area. Visit Tania, who will be showcasing both of her product lines, at the 3rd Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling in March.

Funky Five: Valentine's Day

1. Pewter Heart Button Bracelets by Amy Peters' Studio

2. Recycled Wooden LOVE Sign by Oh Dier

3. Paper Valentine Heart Tee by EmersonMade.

4. DIY Felt Valentine Envelopes by The Crafting Chicks

5. Natural Love Blank Card by Yvonne4eyes

Black Dog Publishing

Black Dog Publishing specializes in producing beautifully illustrated books that embrace subjects including design, fashion, & music. The company's latest book release is Outside the Box: Cardboard Design Now. Following on from the success from Paper: Tear, Fold, Rip, Crease, Cut, the book takes a detailed look into this versatile material, and how it is used in a creative, artistic and practical way in contemporary art and design. Once overlooked as a material with predominantly staid practical uses, cardboard design is now perceived as a medium of infinite possibilities. Also included are profiles of some of today’s most inspirational & provocative artists & designers working across the fields of art, design & sculpture. If you would like to order this book & receive a 40% discount, simply email Jessica Atkins at jess@blackdogonline.com with your delivery address and "Funky Finds Offer" as the subject of the email.

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats marybelle, Laura Stewart & misscaseylee! Black Dog Publishing is giving away three copies of Outside the Box: Cardboard Design Now. To enter, visit Black Dog Publishing and leave a comment on this post noting which book(s) you are most interested in reading. Giveaway ends at 9pm EST, Sunday, October 31.

Upcoming Events

WHAT: The Philadelphia Collection
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 23 through Saturday, October 2
WHERE: Events held throughout Philadelphia, PA

WHAT: Chicago Craft Social
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 24; 7-10pm
WHERE: Evanston Vineyard Church, 2495 Howard St., Evanston, IL


WHAT: 4-Legged Fashion Show
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 24; 6-9pm
WHERE: Lexus RiverCenter, 633 W. 3rd St., Covington, KY

WHAT: 32nd Annual TACA Fall Craft Fair
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 24 & Saturday, Sept. 25, 10am-6pm; Sunday, Sept. 26, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Centennial Park, 2600 W End Ave., Nashville, TN

WHAT: Halloween & Vine 15th Annual Halloween Collectibles Art Show
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 9am-2pm
WHERE: Hermann Sons Hall, 860 Western Ave., Petaluma, CA

WHAT: Liverpool's Big Vintage Fair
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 10am-5pm
WHERE: Liverpool Students' Union, The Haigh Bldg., Maryland St., Liverpool

WHAT: Market Day
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 9am-2pm
WHERE: 300 SW 5th St., Des Moines, IA

WHAT: Whole Foods Market - Laurelhurst Craft Fair
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 2-7pm
WHERE: 2825 East Burnside St., Portland, OR

WHAT: Fourth Wall Arts Salon
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 7-9pm
WHERE: Trinity Center for Urban Life, S. 22nd St., Philadelphia, PA


WHAT: Day In the District
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 10am-5pm
WHERE: Fort Worth Cultural District

WHAT: FAB! Festival & Block Party
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 1-5pm
WHERE: East 4th Street between Bowery & 2nd Ave., New York, NY

WHAT: All About Uptown Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25; 11am-10pm
WHERE: Fairmount St. between McKinney Ave. & Cedar Springs, Uptown Dallas, TX


WHAT: 1st Annual Manayunk EcoArts Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25, 11am-7pm; Sunday, Sept. 26, 11am-6pm
WHERE: Main St., Manayunk, Philadelphia, PA

WHAT: Strange Folk Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25 & Sunday, Sept. 26; 10am-6pm
WHERE: Community Park, 401 E. 5th St., O'Fallon, IL

WHAT: The Raymond Thunder-Sky Folk Art Carnival
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25 & Sunday, Sept. 26; 11am-6pm
WHERE: Building Value, 4040 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH


WHAT: World Maker Faire
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25, 10am-7pm; Sunday, Sept. 26, 10am-6pm
WHERE: NY Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Queens, NY

WHAT: Bust Magazine Craftacular at World Maker Faire
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25, 10am-7pm; Sunday, Sept. 26, 10am-6pm
WHERE: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY

WHAT: Old Pecan Street Festival
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 25, 11am-10pm; Sunday, Sept. 26, 11am-8pm
WHERE: E. 6th St. from I-35 to Brazos St. & N. side of 5th St. to S. side of 7th St., Austin, TX

WHAT: The Manchester Vintage Fashion & Textiles Fair
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 26; 10am-4pm
WHERE: The Armitage Centre, Mosley Rd., Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6HE

WHAT: Crafty Conspiracy Craft Night
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 28; 7-9pm
WHERE: The Ruby Kitchen, 1263 Univ. Ave., San Diego, CA

Upcoming Events

WHAT: SXSW Artists Market
WHEN: Thursday, March 18 through Saturday, March 20; Noon-9pm Each Day
WHERE: Guero's Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress, Austin, TX

WHAT: Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
WHEN: Friday, March 19 & Saturday, March 20, 10am-6pm; Sunday, March 21, 10am-5p,
WHERE: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks, Pennsylvania

WHAT: Swap O-Rama-Rama's re:MAKE Fashion Show
WHEN: Friday, March 19; 7pm
WHERE: Chicago, IL

WHAT: Swap O-Rama-Rama
WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 9am-5pm and Sunday, March 21, 1-5pm
WHERE: Chicago Waldorf School, 1300 W Loyola Ave., Chicago, IL
ETC: Screening of Handmade Nation Saturday at 6pm

WHAT: Craft Happy
WHEN: Saturday, March 20; 10am-4pm
WHERE: Niles Banquet Hall, 37270 Niles Blvd., Fremont, CA

WHAT: IndieSacramento
WHEN: Saturday, March 20; 10am-3pm
WHERE: The California Museum, 1020 O St., Sacramento, CA

WHAT: Maribyrnong Makers Market
WHEN: Saturday, March 20; 9:30am-3:30pm
WHERE: Seddon Uniting Church Hall, Gamon St., Seddon, Victoria

WHAT: 78704 Artisan Market
WHEN: Saturday, March 20; 11am-5:30pm
WHERE: Austin, TX - Intersection of S. Congress and Gibson
ETC: Event is held every Saturday

WHAT: Go Green Expo
WHEN: Saturday, March 20, 10am-6pm and Sunday, March 21, 10am-5pm
WHERE: Pier 92, 12th Avenue & W 55th Street, New York City

This Week's Events

WHAT: The Pin Show
WHEN: Thursday, February 25; Doors open at 8pm
WHERE: Union Station, 400 S Houston St., Dallas, TX

WHAT: Handmade Nation Screening
WHEN: Thursday, February 25; 7pm
WHERE: MICA, Falvey Hall, Brown Center - 1301 W. Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD
ETC: Free & open to the public!

WHAT: Launch Party for Deep Down Clothing Line
WHEN: Thursday, February 25; 7-9pm
WHERE: Parts & Labour, 1117 South Congress, Austin, TX

WHAT: The WonderCraft: Grand Opening at The Art Pad
WHEN: Thursday, February 25; 6-9pm
WHERE: The Art Pad, 4520 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX
ETC: Free drinks & munchies. Goodie bags to the first 25 guests. Photo booth by Lucinda Lewis.

WHAT: Friday Night at The Crucible
WHEN: Friday, February 26; 6:30-9:30pm
WHERE: The Crucible, 1260 7th St., Oakland, CA
ETC: Free Admission. Adult beverages will be served.

WHAT: Attleboro's Winter Craft Fair and Art Sale
WHEN: Saturday, February 27; 6-10pm
WHERE: Ground floor of Attleboro City Hall, 77 Park St., Attleboro, MA

WHAT: Clutter City
WHEN: Saturday, February 27; 10am-4pm
WHERE: Norwich Arts Centre, 51 St. Benedicts St., Norwich NR2 4PG, United Kingdom

WHAT: Silver Lake Art Craft & Vintage
WHEN: Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28; 10am-4pm
WHERE: Micheltorena St. Elementary School, 1511 Micheltorena St., Los Angeles, CA
ETC: Event is held the last weekend of each month.

WHAT: Ipswich Indoor Bazaar
WHEN: Sunday, February 28; 8am-1pm
WHERE: Ipswich State High School, 1 Hunter St., Brassall, QLD

Upcoming Events

WHAT: Valentine Trunk Show brought to you by The Gypsy Wagon

WHEN: Wednesday, February 10, 5:30-8pm
WHERE: Veritas Wine Bar, 2323 N. Henderson, Dallas, TX
ETC: Folk Art, Local Jewelry, Gifts, Sussies for All, 1/2 Price Wine

WHAT: Handmade Nation Screening
WHEN: Friday, February 12, Screening at 7pm, Directors Q&A after screening
WHERE: Rock Paper Scissor Collective, 2278 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA
ETC: Admission is a sliding scale of $7-$10 at the door.

WHAT: An Affair of the Heart
WHEN: Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14
WHERE: Oklahoma City Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, OK
ETC: Admission is $6 - good for all three days.

WHAT: Renegade Handmade's Valentine-Making Workshop
WHEN: Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13 - 12-5pm each day
WHERE: 1924 W Division St., Chicago, IL

WHAT: Valentine Craftacular
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 10am-4pm
WHERE: High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington, Madison, WI

WHAT: Brooklyn Indie Market's Valentine Fling
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 11am-6pm
WHERE: Starting Artists, 211 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY

WHAT: Twin Cities Maker "Minne-Faire"
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 2-6pm
WHERE: Hack Factory, 3119 E 26th St., Minneapolis, MN
ETC: Art Show & Party 7-11pm

WHAT: Indie Craft Bazaar
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 1-6pm
WHERE: Cinema Paradiso, 503 Southeast 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL

WHAT: Indie Banditas Traveling Bazaar
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 9am-5pm
WHERE: 370 Brien Dr. SE, Bainbridge Island, WA

WHAT: Cards, Scarves and Emotional Scars
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 12-3pm
WHERE: VIX Emporium, 5009 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA

WHAT: "Let Me Count the Ways" Opening Reception
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 6-10pm
WHERE: Vox Sacramento, 1931 H St., Sacramento, CA

WHAT: Sono Flea Market
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 1-8pm
WHERE: 19 North Main St., South Norwalk, CT

WHAT: Vignettes Valentines Sioree
WHEN: Sunday, February 14, 11am-5pm
WHERE: Vignettes, 4828 Newport Ave., San Diego, CA

WHAT: Crafters Smackdown 5
WHEN: Sunday, February 14, 1-5pm
WHERE: Congregation Beth Sholom, 7525 E. Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage, AK

Will You Be My Valentine?

1. Valentine Necklace by Sunday Afternoon Housewife

2. Hand-dipped Chocolate Treats by RhodaRose

3. The Valentine Toddler Tote by All Decked Out Boutique

4. Valentine's Day Magnets by Kate Grenier

5. Love Birds Card by Caroline Creates

6. Valentine's Day fashions for your little sweetheart by Miss Sugar Pops - Enter code: valentine to receive 20% off your total order.

7. DIY: Felt fortune cookies tutorial from Martha Stewart

8. Handmade Love Birds Buttons by Tessa Ann

9. XOXO Sweet Words Cut Outs by Elle's Studio

10. Red Chocolate Heart Candy by Calabasas Candy Co.

11. Heart Strings Pillow by quiltish

12. Vintage Style Chenille Valentine's Day Ornaments by Old World Primitives

13. Gold Charms at Paula's Kit Club

14. Needle Felted Love Bird by The Felt Menagerie

15. Recipe Card by Me Too Lord

16. Valentine Mini Album Kit by goshery

17. DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas on Tip Junkie

18. Hello Lucky! Tarzan Monkey Greeting Card at Luxe Paperie

19. eco coffee sleeve by she sews lovely

20. Zipper Heart Ornament by Bogate Designs

2010 Handmade Olympics

The RikRak Studio recently announced the 2010 Handmade Olympics! Now's your chance to show the world your own creative creations or send some hand-making love out to other crafters that inspire you in the hand-making world! Plus, there are over $2,000 worth of amazing handmade & vintage prizes! Here's how it will work:

* There are 8 fun handmade Olympic events, each based on a tenant of my the RikRak blog!

* For each event, you can nominate ONE of your own fabulous creations, shops, blogs, etc. (please read rules for each event) + nominate ONE of your favorites from another shop, site, blog, etc.

* By nominating yourself + others, you will automatically be entered in the randomly chosen FAN prize pack drawing (the first of many prizes!) - a $50 shopping spree in the rikrak shop!

* Once nominations close, the judges will take a look at the amazing nominations in each category. The judges will announce a short-list for each category of their 10 favorite nominations!

* Once the short-lists are announced, EVERYONE will get a chance to VOTE on their very favorites!

* The top-3 vote-getting WINNERS in each category, as determined by you, the readers, will be awarded a prize!

.................

So, here's what you need to do:

1. Nominate + spread the word between January 11-31.

2. The FAN PRIZE will be randomly selected from the total nominations on February 1.

3. The judges' TOP 10 shortlists will be announced February 8.

4. VOTING will then begin on each top 10 event list February 8-17.

5. The top 3 vote-getters in each event will be announced on February 18 & awarded their Gold, Silver & Bronze prize packs.

.................

The events are: (just click on the links to enter each one!)

{Event 1} :: our favorite handmade goodie with an innovative design

{Event 2} :: our favorite handmade goodie for kids

{Event 3} :: our favorite handmade eco friendly goodie

{Event 4} :: our favorite handmade item that inspires loveliness + wellness (in our homes, for ourselves, etc.)

{Event 5} :: our favorite handmade personality/group forwarding kindness thru hand-making

{Event 6} :: our favorite thrifty-forward, sustainable-minded blog, shop or site

{Event 7} :: our favorite FUN-FILLED handmade OR vintage goodie

{Event 8} :: our favorite hand-making focused blog

.................

Find out more about the prizes & all the rules on the RikRak blog.

DIY Life

DIY Life is a helpful website that highlights the best in "do-it-yourself" projects. You'll find all types of projects from hobbies and crafts to home improvement and tech. There's an article detailing 7 Fall-Inspired Crafts, as well as an article that tells how to keep bananas fresh. Thanksgiving hosts and hostesses are sure to enjoy the Countdown to Thanksgiving tips, too. And pet owners don't want to miss the sister site Paw Nation for lots of pet information, including a how-to regarding the trimming of your cat's claws. Now THAT'S a true DIY project!

Mixx Make - October 24 - Austin, TX

If you are in the Austin area, you want to mark your calendar for Mixx Make on October 24. The event, presented by Electric Promotions & TwoGroove, will be held from 9pm to 2am at Mixx located at 612 E. 6th St. You'll have the opportunity to create DIY Halloween masks, groove to the sounds of Panjoma, Focus Group, and the Team Fabrication DJs. In addition to live music, you will enjoy a spooky smorgasbord of crafts by The WonderCraft, coffin cake goodness from Blue Note Bakery, red rum compliments of Treaty Oak and much more. There will also be a photo-booth by Trevor Ray Thompson onsite. On top of all that, there will be a guitar giveaway! Entry is $6 if you RSVP at online or $8 at the door. The first 50 people through the door get a special treat. Costumes are encouraged & possibly rewarded, but optional.

Chicago Craft Social

Mark your calendars for the next Craft Social taking place on August 14 in Evanston, IL. The event will run from 7-10pm at the Evanston Vineyard Church located at 2495 Howard St., Evanston, IL 60202. The second Chicago Craft Social allows you to meet other creative types, enjoy some dessert, and spend an evening whipping up a nifty project to take home. Sounds perfect to me!

Dozens of tables will be set up in the giant lobby of the Evanston Vineyard Church & each one will feature a different project theme ranging from decoupage to jewelry making. You can bring your own project* to work on and sit with other people doing their own thing, or pick a table and join a project leader who will show you how to make something cool. Another cool aspect is that guys are welcome! If you sell your handmade goods online, run a craft store, or have a creative business you'd like to promote, you can bring promo items to place on a designated table. Space is limited, so reserve your spot now!

- Admission: $5 to help cover costs. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

- Bring: Your own supplies, if you like. A list of project choices and supplies will be listed on the blog closer to August 14.

*If you bring your own project, the organizers ask that it not involve fire, electricity, or messy stuff like aerosol sprays.

Even Saint Valentine would appreciate these finds!

Only twelve days 'til Valentine's Day! Here's a few ideas for all the Cupids out there that need to do a little shopping.

1. Grams Gems, one of our participating Spring Fling vendors, has some great Murano heart pendants to choose from. Show some love year-round!

2. Another Spring Fling vendor, Dark Candles, offers unique gift sets that are perfect for men, as well as women. We have purchased a variety of scents from Dark Candles and have loved them all.

3. Julie Collings has several craft bits that are Valentine-themed. The Valentine girls and boys are charming.

4. Story of My Life also has some great Valentine craft items, including exclusive Lucky in Love clear stamps.

5. The tags found at Seasonal Delights are lovely. The Love Bird tags are especially nice.

6. The embroidered heart pocket by Aqua Art Studio is a sweet deal at only $5!

7. My Good Greetings offers terrific kid's Valentine's. The 4x5 inch 100% recycled content cards provides little ones with a "green" alternative for Valentine's Day.

8. Patti Holcombe of Dreaming Giggles Design has great Love-themed artwork available, as well as wreaths made using recycled wool sweaters.

9. I love the plush hearts by Dallas-based artist Christina Wezwick. Midnight Snack is a great source for fun fat-free treats!

10. I can think of nothing better than a little love monkey that is ready to wish you a happy Valentine's Day. Spirit Mama has lots of great polymer clay offerings.

11. If you just can't make up your mind, you might want the Love/hate earring set by Paw and Claw Designs.

12. Jennifer Squires is offering Valentine’s themed modern fine art photographs that will help illustrate the love you have for your sweetie.

13. Oh how I love the Valentine Love Pairs found in Rosie's Bears and Bitty Critters shop!

14. And, if you'd like to create your own sweet Valentine, don't miss all the wonderful projects featured on The Long Thread blog.

Halloween & Fall Goodies - Part 4

1. Earth Expressions has a great selection of pendants, including several that are perfect for Halloween. I especially like the creepy owl pendant, as well as the Happy Skull.

2. This year I have enjoyed collecting Halloween themed art. The Decorated House has a wonderful collection of artwork & illustrations. The masked Beau Bunny is fantastic! They also have several great Halloween cards.

3. I love all the handmade pouches created by The Dainty Squid. The Kitties & Pumpkins pouch is a great accessory for Halloween. And how wonderful is the Day of the Dead print seen on this coin purse?

4. If you prefer to create your own Halloween decorations, check out Scraps of Time for lots of great supplies. The Toil and Trouble add-on kit has wonderful images.

5. Horror Decor definitely has a unique offering of home dècor items. The Massacre throw pillow will definitely spook your guests, as will the blood splattered lamp shade.

6. Get your little ones in the Autumn spirit with an adorable pumpkin onesie from Annie Jack Designs. The customizable baby bibs are also very cute.

7. Elsie's Flat has lots of great aprons that will keep hostesses in a festive mood. I love the Halloween Candy Corn apron that looks more like a cute dress than an apron.

8. Have you read Twilight? I just finished the book this weekend & cannot wait to get started on the second book. If you love it, too, you might want one of the Twilight-themed pendants from Designs by Appletree. I don't know about you, but vampires make ME think of Halloween!

9. Caseybots has fun plushies that are great for Halloween. Frankencritter & Draculum are fun for small children without being too scary.

10. The Small Object has a fun project showing how to decorate pumpkins with felt leaves & wooden acorns. Perfect for Autumn!

11. Matthew Mead is a wonderful source for unique templates you can download for free. I love the vintage images!

12. Bats tend to be thought of as creepy animals, but the plush bats by The Small Cat Club are too cute. Sola is my favorite! And don't miss the fantastic artwork.

13. Moon's Creations lists a new Halloween Amigurumi each day in October. Who can resist the little pumpkin & gold forest bun?

Kitschy Digitals

Danielle Thompson creates a fantastic line of digital art supplies that are inspired by vintage Japanese Kitsch and modern-day Kawaii. The digital kits are great for crafters of all kinds. The high-resolution downloads can be used in a wide varity of crafts, such as scrapbooking. Danielle recently released Halloween Treat-Topper and candy wrapper downloads that are perfect for your upcoming party. There's several digital kits that include patterned papers, embellishments & adorable girls named Olivia, Skyler & Matilda. She also sells some tangible products, such as gift tags and wrapping paper. I made the comment to this talented artist that her designs would make lovely embroidery projects (a hobby I'm currently obsessed with) and she said that is coming in the future. I can't wait!