Amy of Flint Handmade is an INSPIRATION!

Flint Handmade wanted to share this awesome email we got from Becky Clark! Becky has sold her gorgeous jewelry at Flint Handmade events and attended the No Sew Tote Bag Workshop faciliated by FH Committee Member Amy Kelsey of www.MadeWithLuv.com.

Well, Becky was SO inpired by Amy's excellent instruction at the workshop that she sent us the message and photos below. Enjoy!

Dear Flint Handmade,

I was inspired by Amy. I've had the book "Simply Sublime Bags" that she used at the workshop to make the no sew tote for a couple of years and never made anything from it.

I decided to get it out and try something. I made the keyhole clutch on page 53 with a fat quarter and less than an hour of work.

Here's another one from page 32, the caution bag. I made it from poison stickers my husband had laying around the barn.

Thought I'd pass some pictures along. It was fun to make. Tell her Thank You.

Becky


Ok, this is Flint Handmade again!  Thank YOU, Becky, for the message!

Anyone else out there want to share a crafty inspiration story on our blog?  Email it to us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com!

Bang to a Different Beat = HUGE SUCCESS!

Wow!  We had an awesome time at Bang to a Different Beat!  Thanks so much to everyone who came out to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  :)

Overneath performed a high energy set during the fashion show.  :)

The models had fantasic hairstyles by Summerset Salon Day Spa. Some models wore or carried items made by Flint Handmade vendors!  Here's a model carrying a bag by Ms. Christa's Rockin' Accessories.

Stereoluxxx performed a super dance friendly set. They are such talented and fashionable guys. ;)

The Flint Handmade girls (l-r: Michelle, Crystal and Amy) were well behaved at the beginning of the night...

 ...and then vamped it up at closing time!  :)

If you noticed in the above pics, Flint Handmade member Amy began the night in a new sweater dress from the mall...

...and then bought an even newer dress made ENTIRELY by hand by Always the Forest! Doesn't she look fly?!?

And, of course, our vendors had sweet merch for sale.  Check 'em out!

Stephanie of Always the Forest with her husband, Billy.  So cute!

 Christine (l) of CLKcreative and Anne. Such pretty smiles!

Theresa (l) of TiLT Creations and her mom, Peggy. We love moms who support HANDMADE!

Christa (l) of Ms. Christa's Rockin' Accessories and Miranda.  Christa was so sweet and let Crystal of Flint Handmade wear a pretty white and yellow flower in her hair to match her yellow polka dot dress! :)  Too bad the flower didn't show up in any of the photos!  lol  We'll get you a pic of the flower, Christa!

Amanda (r) of Amanda's Creations and Shawn.  We love the patchouli soap!

Heather of The Heathermonster Creations at her adorable table...also wearing a pretty hair flower from Ms. Christa!

Unseelie Designs! We'll have to get a picture of you at your table next time, Amanda.  :)

SNEAK PEEK: Bang to a Different Beat!

Flint Handmade wants to see YOU at Bang to a Different Beat on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 7:30pm!  We're gonna have music, fashion models, dancing, and vendors galore!

Here's a SNEAK PEEK at the models during rehearsals!  The venue is spacious and beautifully decorated in pink, black and white.

And here's a pic of our Executive Director, Crystal, rockin' a brown and cream shirt (under the green jacket) made ENTIRELY by hand by one of our vendors at the show, Always the Forest (http://www.alwaystheforest.com/)!

Our other Flint Handmade vendors at Bang to a Different Beat will include:

Made With Luv (http://www.madewithluv.com/)

Aisle 3 (http://www.aisle3.etsy.com/)

beautiful JUNK (http://www.beautifuljunk.etsy.com/)

TiLT Creations (http://www.tiltcreations.etsy.com/)

CLKcreative (http://www.clkcreative.etsy.com/)

The Heathermonster Creations (http://www.heathermonster.etsy.com/)

Unseelie Designs (http://www.unseeliedesigns.com/)

Amanda's Creations (http://www.luthiensingollo.etsy.com/)

Ms. Christa's Rockin' Accessories (http://www.mschrista.etsy.com/)

Admission is $10 and all proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  We hope to see you there!

The Return of Aisle 3!

You can usually find her evocative, brightly colored, upcycled goods on Etsy and in various Flint Handmade and Creative Alliance events, but since the birth of her son last fall, Aisle 3's creator (and Flint Handmade's Director of Technology) Michelle Stolz has been on one-year crafting hiatus.

Well people, wait no longer...she's back! And back she is with these warm and cozy wool coasters and crisp, clean diaper changing pads. There's more, oh yes there is...but you'll have to wait for the Flint Handmade Holiday Craft Market on Saturday, December 5th to see it!

Upcycling Crafts at the Flint Public Library!

Posted by Crystal

First, lemme just say that I am a library junkie. I am a HUGE fan of the Flint Public Library (FPL)! I love checking out classic movies and new books and vintage cds. I love going to the books sales and concerts and special events. And, now, I love crafting at the FPL!

The Cody and West Flint Branches of the FPL are hosting a special series called Around the Branch Table: Lean and Green. They are conducting FREE workshops on ways to be creative while saving money AND the environment. :) How cool is that?!?

So, I went to the Upcycling Craft workshop at the Cody Branch...and had an AWESOME time! Mercedea was an excellent instructor and we made three different crafts in just an hour and a half. I made...

...a cassette tape change purse...

...a t-shirt tote bag...

...and a record bowl!

For instructions on how to make these nifty crafts, visit http://www.fpl.info/fpl/gogreen/ OR come to the FREE Upcycling Crafts Workshop at the West Flint Branch on Monday, October 19, 2009 from 6pm-7:30pm. Maps and directions are available at http://www.fpl.info/about/branches/index.shtml.

All materials are provided at the workshop, but if you had a specific cassette or t-shirt or record you wanted to use, you could just bring it along. Hope to see you there! :)

No Sew Tote Bag Workshop!

Wow! We had an AWESOME No Sew Tote Bag Workshop! Amy was an EXCELLENT teacher and all of the participants were so happy with their FREE totes!

Thanks again to Flint Club for the Opportunity Knocks grant that is allowing us to host the Handmade for the Holidays Creativity Workshops. :)


MaKenna, Tanya and Frances (l-r) smiling for the camera!

Beth (l) and Dawn are ready to make a No Sew Tote Bag!

Shelby (l) and Joy are excited for the FREE workshop!

Instructor Amy irons a pillowcase while Michelle looks on.

Becky (l) and Sarah melt the ends of their straps so they don't fray.

Amy demonstrates setting the snaps!

Such serious faces! LOL Everyone really wants to learn how to do this!

Look at all these hard-working crafters!

Everyone was helping out!

Becky was the first one to finish her No Sew Tote Bag! Too cute!

Karen shows off her BEFORE craft tote (an old paper bag) and her NEW No Sew Tote Bag which fits all of her supplies!

Katie, Becky, Jennifer, Susanna and April (l-r) and their adorable bags!

Tanya, Sarah, Nayyirah, Maureen and Karen (back, l-r) hold up their finished totes. Instructor Amy smiles in the front at a job well done!