Applications to the 2012 Spring Craft Market

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

We will be announcing the selected vendors for the 2012 Spring Craft Market very soon!

In the meantime, we wanted to provide some general information about the applications we received and selected.

Total Applications Received: 103
Vendor Spaces Available: 44

Due to space limitations, we were only able to select fewer than 1 in 2 applicants (42.7%).

We assigned every application to one of 10 primary craft categories.

Total Applications Received by Primary Craft Category

1) Ceramic/Pottery: 3 Applications (3% of Total Applications)
2) Bath & Body Products: 5 Applications (5%)
3) Plush/Toys/Baby/Kids: 6 Applications (6%)
4) Clothes/Shirts: 8 Applications (8%)
5) Purses/Bags: 8 Applications (8%)
6) Fashion/Hair Accessories: 10 Applications (10%)
7) Paper Goods/Art/Photography: 10 Applications (10%)
8) Home Decor/Housewares: 13 Applications (13%)
9) Knit/Crochet: 13 Applications (13%)
10) Jewelry: 27 Applications (26%)

To ensure a wide variety of unique, handmade handmade goods, we selected 2-6 vendors from each of the 10 primary craft categories. 

The final tally shows that each of the 10 craft categories make up 5% to 14% of the selected applications.

Selected Applications by Primary Craft Category

Ceramic/Pottery: 2 Applications (5% of Selected Applications)
Bath & Body Products: 4 Applications (9%)
Plush/Toys/Baby/Kids: 5 Applications (11%)
Clothes/Shirts: 3 Applications (7%)
Purses/Bags: 4 Applications (9%)
Fashion/Hair Accessories: 5 Applications (11%)
Paper Goods/Art/Photography: 6 Applications (14%)
Home Decor/Housewares: 6 Applications (14%)
Knit/Crochet: 3 Applications (7%)
Jewelry: 6 Applications (14%)

We also make every effort to feature new and returning vendors.

Selected Vendors by Previous Vendor Status
New Vendor: 16 Vendors (36% of Selected Vendors)
Returning from 2011 Holiday Craft Market: 20 Vendors (45%)
Vended at Previous Flint Handmade Event (Not 2011 Holiday Craft Market): 8 Vendors (18%)

We also tracked how many selected vendors are Flint Handmade members.

Selected Vendor by Flint Handmade Membership Status
Members: 14 Members (32% of Selected Vendors)
Non-Members: 30 Non-Members (68%)

Note: Flint Handmade membership status has no impact in the vendor selection process for our Spring or Holiday Craft Markets.  However, members of Flint Handmade will be invited to participate in a special members only vending opportunity in the future.

So, there you have it! 

Although we are not able to select all applicants, we feel that we have lined up an excellent array of new and returning vendors whose handmade goods represent a large variety and fair distribution of craft categories!

Make a Creative Leap Day on February 29th!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

Flint Handmade is announcing a new tradition for Leap Day!

Every four years, an extra day (February 29) is added to the calendar to accomodate the fact that it takes the earth 365 1/4 days to revolve around the sun.

We want to encourage ALL arts, crafts and creativity organizations to promote and celebrate every February 29th as Make a Creative Leap Day!

Perhaps you have wanted to try a particular craft for a while?  Or, maybe you have been inspired by nature to incorporate certain color combinations into your art? 

What if you have been meaning to try out a new recipe?  Perhaps you have passed by a fabric, yarn or ceramics shop for years and never took the time to stop in? 

FEBRUARY 29th IS THE DAY TO MAKE A CREATIVE LEAP! 

We hope that making a creative leap on Leap Day will help motivate YOU to express your creativity all year long.  :)

Seeking Donations of Scrabble Crafts!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

At the 2010 Cool City Art Auction, we had a Marilyn Monroe themed table.

At the 2011 Cool City Art Auction, we had a Wizard of Oz themed table.

At the 2012 Cool City Art Auction, we will have a Scrabble themed table!

If you make crafts out of Scrabble boards, boxes or game pieces, please consider donating an item or two to Flint Handmade! 

Your donation will help us raise funds in support of our efforts to promote creative expression and commerce in Downtown Flint!

Donations can be mailed to:

Flint Handmade
PO Box 13743
Flint, MI 48501

Please be sure to include your name, email address and the retail value of the item with your donation.

If you have questions, please email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com.

The 2012 Cool City Art Auction will be held on Friday, March 23 from 5-10pm in Downtown Flint.

Stay tuned for more information!

Special thanks to Sara and Abby of Heaven Sent Crafts for the donation of Scrabble board mini-notebooks like the one pictured above!

NOTE: We are still seeking location sponsors for the 2012 Cool City Art Auction! Email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com if you are interested!

Second Saturday Giveaway by Kate Kehoe: Win a Vaccum Tube Bot from Deets!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

Note: Second Saturday Giveaway for this month was postponed to today (the third Saturday of the month) due to our very special announcement last Saturday.  :)

We have another guest post for our Second Saturday Giveaway.

Last year, I annnounced that whenever possible, our featured crafter from the same month of the previous year will do the interview and take photos with a new featured crafter!

Our November 2011 Giveaway featured an interview and photos of Carla Gibson of Chuber Pottery by Ali Misner Harris of Alexandria's Soap Garden who was featured in our November 2010 Giveaway.

This month, our February 2011 Giveaway featured crafter, Kate Kehoe, interviews and photographed her friend and fellow crafter, Deanne Neiburger.

Check it out!

Interview and Photos of Deanne Neiburger of Deets by Kate Kehoe of Chicaloo Photography and More for February 2012 Flint Handmade Second Saturday Giveaway

Deanne in her workspace.

Kate: Tell us about your workspace.

Deanne: I began working from home in 1999, and over that time moved to various rooms in the house as our first and then second children were born. In 2009 we broke ground on the studio space I am in now - an amazing space above our new garage. Going from a 10x10 room to a 20x30 loft space has played a huge role in growing my business.

Deanne's polymer clay.

Kate: What is your favorite craft tool/material?

Deanne: I have played with polymer clay for nearly 15 years now, and the material still challenges and excites me.

Lots of spare parts.

Deanne's collection of vacuum tubes.

Along with the clay, I am inspired by beat up old objects, and particularly tiny parts from watches, geeky gadgets and, of course, vacuum tubes.  

Deanne using her favorite craft tool...her fingers!

Kate: What is your favorite craft tool?

Deanne: My fingers. I do use a couple of simple wooden clay tools and a sharp blade, but the majority is done without any.

A few of Deanne's sculptures and tools.

Kate: How did you get into crafting?

Deanne: I come from a long line of crafters: my mother was an amazing seamstress, my grandmother's crochet abilities were unmatched, and my aunts and sisters and I all follow in the family tradition of crafting and constantly learning new skills. Along with sculpting, I love to draw, crochet, sew, build, be a "handyman", scrapbook, and I'm sure lots more.

Some of Deanne's drawings.

 A collage Deanne created out of vacuum tube boxes.

Kate: How did you come up with your company name?

Deanne: Deets was the nickname my sisters and cousin called me growing up. With its new meaning as slang for "details" and my own obsession with the tiniest ones in my work, I thought it would be a good fit. I also have worked under the name Caketop Workshop in the past, creating one of a kind custom wedding sculptures.

Deets tags.

Kate: What do you listen to/think about/watch while you craft?

Deanne: Red wings hockey whenever possible!! My musical tastes are rather eclectic. Currently the most frequent tunes in my heard in my studio are MC Frontalot (nerdcore rap), Lily Allen, Ingrid Michaelson, various African artists (King Sunny Ade and Doudou N'Dyia Rose are my current favorites) and lots of bluegrass. Ben Miller Band is fantastic, and I adore Mountain Heart. Oh, and fantastic classical music as well. Like I said, eclectic.

Polymer clay robot heads waiting to be attached to vacuum tube bodies.

Kate: What projects would you like to work on in the future?

Deanne: I have three large thyratron tubes waiting for the right moment to become something awesome!

Huge tubes.

I have also begun many more figure drawings and sculptures now that I have the space.

Sculpture in progress.

Kate: Provide a description for the item you are donating for the giveaway.

Giveaway bot will be similar to one pictured above.

Deanne: The giveaway is for one of my vacuum tube bots - a cool little guy to adorn your desk or shelf. His head is made of polymer clay, with various metal findings and a vintage vacuum tube body.

For YOUR chance to win the Vacuum Tube Bot (valued at $16) by Deanne Neiburger of Deets, just complete steps A and B:

A) Follow Flint Handmade via the blog, Twitter, Google Reader or whatever newfangled "following application" tickles your fancy. Or, if you don't do the whole following thing, email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will add you to our email list.

B) Leave us a comment in response to this blog post by 5pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012 answering the following 2 questions:

1) How do you follow Flint Handmade?

2) What other types of sculptures could Deanne create out of polymer clay and/or vaccum tubes?

Please be sure to answer BOTH questions to qualify for the drawing.

The winner will be selected at random and posted on the blog within one week after the deadline. The winner will have 30 days to claim the prize.  You must check back with the blog to see if you won!

We hope to hear from YOU and we hope you enjoyed our February Second Saturday Giveaway by Kate of Chicaloo Photography and More!

Flint Handmade Wins Recycling Award for Craft Supply Swaps!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

WE WON!  WE WON!

Flint Handmade is being presented with the 2011 Recycling Award from Keep Genesee County Beautiful for our Craft Supply Swaps!

Special thanks to you our friend Jessica Burton-Billings, who nominated us for the Recycling Award!

Here is what Jessica said in her nomination:

Achievement - Briefly describe the beautification and/or clean up effort, its purpose, and what was accomplished.

"Flint Handmade hosts a free to the public craft supply swap biannually. This event started in 2009 with about 10 people in attendance. By February 2011 there were over 100 attendees!

This program encourages attendees to recycle items they no longer have a use for which reduces waste. People can clean out their closets of crafting materials, home décor items, and vintage ephemera and know that it will be appreciated. These swaps accept everything from baby food jars to expensive fabric and vintage clothing patterns.

Flint Handmade encourages the community to see usefulness in every item. It is an outlet for recycling items that could be difficult to repurpose otherwise."

Enhancement - How did the beautification and/or clean up effort improve the visual landscape of Genesee County? Will the project be continued in the future? What made this effort unique and outstanding?

"The swap encourages participants to experiment with their creativity. There’s nothing to lose if the materials are free! Word of mouth and social networking bring new recruits each time.

With such a response, Flint Handmade is looking to host more frequently. The crowd flocks to the Lunch Studio on Saginaw Street, and they leave with materials to make their corners of our county a little more beautiful. The entire program is free and not for profit, run by volunteers with their personal resources in a donated space.

Flint Handmade recently gained 501c3 nonprofit status, so with more donations all of their endeavors will grow. These swaps are a unique way to invigorate Genesee County from the inside out by inspiring community members to be creative, share, and waste less."

The Recycling Award will be presented to Flint Handmade at the 8th Annual Keep Genesee County Beauty Community Beautification Leadership Conference on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 8am-1:15pm at the University of Michigan-Flint.

To register for the FREE conference or for more information, check out the Keep Genesee County Beautiful Conference Program.

I attended the conference last year and had a fantastic time. I hope to see YOU there this year!

FREE Yudu Screenprinting Demo for National Craft Month in March!

Join us at craftLAB on Sunday, March 4, 2012 for a

FREE Yudu Screenprinting Demonstration

from noon-3pm at The Lunch Studio!

Bring shirts, tote bags, hoodies, aprons, tea towels...

anything you want screenprinted

with the Flint Handmade knuckles logo!

Check out the photos from our

October 2010 and March 2011 Yudu Demos

to get ideas of what to bring.

ONE item screenprinted for FREE per person.

Additional items are just $3 per screenprint for members

and $5 per screenprint for non-members.

NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME! 

Download the membership brochure HERE.

We will also have FREE cupcakes and punch for all

to celebrate March as National Craft Month!

Ryan Eashoo Show Facebook Fundraiser for Flint Handmade!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

Our February Second Saturday Giveaway has been postponed to next Saturday to bring you this VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Ryan Eashoo Show has pledged to donate $500 to Flint Handmade...just as soon as their Facebook page reaches 5,000 fans!

So, PLEASE "like" their page and tell all of your friends to "like" The Ryan Eashoo Show page, too!

Your support will allow us to continue offering craft workshops, supply swaps, markets and other events to encourage creative expression and commerce in Downtown Flint!

THANK YOU!

February 2012 Craft Supply Swap Recap

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

Wow...what an amazing event!  Over 100 people attended our 3rd Annual Winter Craft Supply Swap!

The Lunch Studio was PACKED with enthusiastic Swappers!

Flint Handmade Member Amber of Handleber drove up from Westland!

Flint Handmade Member Hayley of Hayley's Paper Love checked out paper, of course!

Flint Handmade Member Robert of Sweet Jimmy struck a pose with knitting needles and his red Knuckles grocery tote.

Flint Handmade Members Sarah (l) of yarnscratch and Dana browsed the selection of craft books.

Flint Handmade Member Miranda (r) of Ellie Belle Boutique and some new firends got in on the swapping action!

Lots of great FREE supplies!

Love when people bring their Knuckles bags!

   

Even babies love swapping!  Check out the thread spools "necklace" this little tyke picked up!

More babies!  My nephew, Henry attended his first of many Flint Handmade events...awesome hat, dude!

Special thanks to all of our WONDERFUL voluteers!  From left to right: Jodi, Amy, Michelle, Russ, Antonia, Danielle, Juanita and Becky.  We could not have done it without you!

MARK YOUR CALENDERS

4th Annual Summer Craft Supply Swap

Sunday, August 5, 2012 from Noon-3pm

The Lunch Studio in Downtown Flint

New Goods in the Flint Handmade Shop for Valentine's Day!

We haved added TONS of new handmade goods to our Flint Handmade Shop inside The Lunch Studio just in time for Valentine's Day!

Our shelves are FULL of great gift ideas for your sweetheart!

Felt and button accessories from Handleber.

Soaps with delicious scents like mimosa and lemon drop from Aromaholic.

Album cover notebooks, photo coasters and NEW quote magnets from Chicaloo Photography and More.

Cat toys, prints and cards from Circle Cat Studio.

Illustrated cards by Sloe Gin Fizz.

Don't forget about our Knuckles Logo Merchandise ranging from $1 buttons to $15 shirts for toddlers, youths, men and women!

The Lunch Studio Hours

Monday-Thursday: 8am-4pm

Friday: 8am-7pm

Saturday: 11am-3pm

Seeking Location Sponsors for Cool City Art Auction!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

Flint Handmade (FH) is seeking location sponsors for the Greater Flint Arts Council (GFAC) Financial Plus Cool City Art Auction!

We will again be located at The Lunch Studio and we would LOVE to feature your busines/organization!

The sponsorship levels are as follows:

$50 Sponsorship – 1 ticket ($25 value), logo on GFAC event promo material

$100 Sponsorship – 2 tickets ($50 value), logo on GFAC event promo material, hang your banner at The Lunch Studio during event

$150 Sponsorship – 3 tickets ($75 value), logo on GFAC event promo material, hang your banner at The Lunch Studio during event, place your promotional material on FH table during event

$200 Sponsorship – 4 tickets ($100 value), logo on GFAC event promo material, hang your banner at The Lunch Studio during event, place your promotional material on FH table during event, link to your website on all FH electronic event promo material

$250 Sponsorship – 5 tickets ($125 value), logo on GFAC eventpromo material, hang your banner at The Lunch Studio during event, place your promotional material on FH table during event, link to your website on all FH electronic event promo material, your business/organization name announced three times during event

Email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com if you would like to become a sponsor! 

NOTE: We are accepting sponsorships until March 16th, but the deadline to have your logo included on GFAC event promo material is February 9th, so email us today!

EVENT INFO:

The 2012 Financial Plus Cool City Art Auction will be held on Friday, March 23 from 5pm to 10pm.  Six nonprofit arts organizations will be in various locations along Saginaw Street in Downtown Flint with hundreds of handmade goods in the silent auction. 

Food, beverages and live entertainment will be available at all locations.  Tickets are $25 each in advance ($30 at the door) and grant access to all six locations.

Tickets will be available for purchase in March.  All tickets purchased at The Lunch Studio benefit Flint Handmade.

Want to know more about past Cool City Art Auctions?

Check out our posts from 2011 and 2010!