Thursday, May 31, 2012

Quilling craftLAB Recap

We had a great time learning the coiled papercraft known as quilling during our May 2012 craftLAB!

Jenni (left) is our new craftLAB Coordinator!  She will be leading the majority of our craftLABs from now on! She is pictured here with her daughter Mallory.

Sarah is as colorful as the quilling paper!

Maureen (left) and Jeanette start quilling!

Jenni was so prepared with a demo board!

Lovely quilled tags to match a lovely smile!

Hayley's son really took to quilling!

Mallory (left) and her friends show off their handiwork.

Jeanette's quills!

Jenni and her awesome demo board!

Check our more photos from our Quilling craftLAB HERE!

P.S. Jenni is leading our Decoupage craftLAB this Sunday at The Lunch Studio.  Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Crafting the Small Business Workshops at Maker Works in Ann Arbor


Flint Handmade is sponsoring this fabulous series of workshops at Maker Works in Ann Arbor about the business side of crafting!


We hope to bring some of the panelists to Flint in 2013 for our very own series of crafty business workshops!

In the meantime, we are working to arrange a ride share from Flint to Ann Arbor.  Email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com for more information.

See the press release below for more information:

Crafting the Small Business
 is a 9-week series delving into the logistics (and fun!) behind owning and managing a small business that caters to the 'handmade marketplace' in southeast Michigan, the state of Michigan, the U.S. and abroad. 

The handmade marketplace is no longer an underground scene. It is an expansive network of online marketplaces, individual online stores, indie craft fairs, crafting blogs, opensource project websites, and independent Brick-and-Mortar stores. 

Crafting the Small Business aims to empower beginner and intermediate crafters by offering face-to-face time with experts from around southeast Michigan, including bloggers, sellers, instructors and consultants.

The sessions include:
  • June 7 - Visioning: How do you get there from here
  • June 14 - Pricing and Revenue: How to get paid and not lose money
  • June 21 - Your Marketing Toolbox
  • June 28 - Art of Giving Great Service
  • July 5 - Pop-up Events and Shows [Featuring Flint Handmade Executive Director, Crystal Pepperdine!]
  • July 12 - Lighting is everything: Photography & Styling
  • July 19 - Into the online Marketplace
  • July 26 - Building On: The brick and mortar store [Featuring Flint Handmade Executive Director, Crystal Pepperdine!]
  • August 2 - Ethics of handmade: Taxes and Insurance
Crafting the Small Business series meets every Thursday night, starting June 7- August 2. Each event session tackles a different topic and hosts a variety of panelists and hands-on workshops.

Registration opens May 1 and will remain open throughout the entire 9-week series.
$300 for entire 9-week series.
$35-$45 per session if individually purchased.
A limited number of scholarships are available.
Register by callling 734-222-4911! We can then answer any questions that you may have!

Learn more by visiting:

Hope to see you there,

Thea
Membership Coordinator
membership@maker-works.com

Maker Works
3765 Plaza Dr.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
734.222.4911

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Summer 2012 Craft CSA: May Subscription!

We are so excited to share the May Subscription of our Summer 2012 Craft CSA with all of you!


Craft CSA Subscriber Andrea picked up her bag at the May craftLAB on Quilling!


Our Featured Crafter for May 2012 was Dieshawn Holmes of Angelic Soaps and Gifts.

Dieshawn received $50 to develop and create handmade items for our 10 subscribers.  

She decided to make 20 bars of lemongrass sage soap.


Each of our 10 subscribers received two bars of the soap, a printed newsletter and two Bonus Crafts!

The Bonus Crafts for May were a felt flower ring (Value $5) from Amber of Handleber and a illustrated greeting card (Value $4) from Nicole of Sloe Gin Fizz.


Craft CSA Subscriber April was VERY happy to receive her featured and bonus crafts at the 5th Annual Spring Craft Market!

If YOU are interested in becoming a Subscriber, Featured Crafter or Bonus Crafter for Summer 2013, please email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Second Saturday Giveaway: May Winner!

We want to thank everyone who commented on our May Second Saturday Giveaway featuring Pat Merewether of Patsarts!

Special thanks to Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods for such a great interview and photos!

The awesome commenters for May were Teya, Amanda, Cplanck77, popantalone1 and Sandy.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for! The randomly selected winner of the "Blue Butterfly" Art Print is...


...Sandy!!! Congratulations!

Sandy, send us an email at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will make arrangements for you to receive your item! You have 30 days to claim your prize. :)

We want to encourage everyone to participate in the next Second Saturday Giveaway to be posted June 9, 2012!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

May 2012 Volunteer Work Party: Prepping for Craft City at Buckham Alley Fest!


Join us at Flint Crepe Company in Downtown Flint on Saturday, May 26, 2012 from 11am to 2pm for a Volunteer Work Party!

Maureen (l) and Sarah tied ribbons on cards

We need help preparing for our upcoming event Craft City at Buckham Alley Fest.

Volunteer tasks may include making guitar pick keychains, stuffing Flint Handmade cards in business card holders, etc.

New and returning volunteers are all welcome!

Flint Crepe Company will be open for business (their crepes are DELICIOUS!) and each volunteer will receive one free beverage courtesy of Flint Handmade.

We hope to see you there! :)

P.S. If you can, please RSVP on our Facebook Event Invite. Thank you!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

June craftLAB: Decoupage!

Join us for a FREE Decoupage Workshop at craftLAB on Sunday, June 3, 2012 from noon-3pm at The Lunch Studio!

Learn the basics of decoupage from Flint Handmade Founding Member Jenni Snyder!


Bring your own item for decoupaging, such as a photo frame, trinket box, wood plaque, vase, etc. 

All other supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own paper (e.g. vintage magazines, sheet music, photos, etc.) if you have something you specifically want to use for decoupaging. 

Flint Handmade hosts FREE craftLABs on the first Sunday of every month at The Lunch Studio in Downtown Flint! Come explore and express your creativity!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Second Saturday Giveaway by Nicole Stevens: Win an Art Print from Patsarts!

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

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.

Our February 2012 Giveaway featured an interview and photos of Deanne Neiburger of Deets by Kate Kehoe of Chicaloo Photography & More who was featured in our February 2011 Giveaway.

This month, our May 2011 Giveaway featured crafter, Nicole Stevens, interviews and photographed her friend and fellow crafter, Pat Merewether.

Check it out!

Article and Photos of Pat Merewether of Patsarts by Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods for May 2012 Flint Handmade Second Saturday Giveaway

Walking up to Pat Mereweather's house is like stepping into a favorite movie. A rambling farmhouse with gardens, a gargoyle perched atop a balcony...right away you know you're at the home of an artist.

The inside of the house is no different - a pile of books here, a stack of sketches there, everywhere you look your eye is drawn to some other painting or curiosity.

The second floor of the house is Pat's studio, with vaulted ceilings, skylights and two balconies. Her husband helped her design the studio so that she would have a space of her own to work.


Pat began crafting when her children were young and money was tight. She wanted to give them gifts, so she made embroidered books, dolls and costumes.

Loving idea of making 'something' from 'nothing' Pat began making gifts for other people, too.  She added making candles and crocheted items to her ever growing list of skills. It amazed her when people began wanting to buy her crafts!

Eventually, she began using the name Patsarts when selling her goods. The name suits her, because she truly loves all forms of art.

One of Pat's current something-from-nothing projects is to take old wine bottles (collected from family and friends) and form beds in her garden for herbs and vegetables. The effect is eye-catching when the light glints off the bottles. Plus, it's a great way to upcycle a material that usually gets recycled or trashed.


Pat's garden is a craft project in itself! Everywhere you look you see another flower pushing its way out of the ground or another statue peeking out of the brush. The property backs up to forested land, so Pat has lots of space to create vegetable beds and intriguing little pockets of natural art.
 

One of the best views from Pat's garden is back into the forest - an old hammock covered in moss provides cover for the tiny flowers springing up underneath. It's those tiny details that Pat notices and the kind of thing that will probably show up in a painting some day.


Back in the house, Pat's love of nature and gardening continues. Tiny sprouts are carefully raised in teacups on the kitchen windowsill.


While Pat's studio at home is wonderful, with a retired husband and three active dogs, it's sometimes difficult to get any work done at home. Her youngest dog, Boo, is especially “helpful” when she's trying to work!


Luckily, Pat was given an amazing workspace at The Elms Gallery in Flushing. The building was once part of McLaren Hospital, but now is a set of workrooms and a full scale gallery.

Pat's room was once a lab, and is equipped with cabinets, a counter-top and even a sink!
 

While painting, Pat listens to a lot of music. She loves classic rock, but after reading about the Mozart Effect (the idea that Mozart's music can create short-term improvement at certain tasks) she listens to more classical music now.

Pat finds inspiration in music, books, nature and even her family and friends. Her workspace is filled, not only with her art, but with the things that invigorate her creativity.


The Elms Gallery opened in April and Pat had paintings displayed in several hallways. With more events scheduled, Pat is planning to do more paintings as well as some mixed-media artwork in the near future.


You can find Pat's work online at Zazzle and in person at The Elms Gallery in Flushing.


For the Second Saturday Giveaway, Pat has donated a print entitled “Blue Butterfly." The print is a part of a larger watercolor piece that is very special to her.

For YOUR chance to win the "Blue Butterfly" Art Print (valued at $15) by Pat Merewether of Patsarts, 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, May 19, 2012 answering the following 2 questions:

1) How do you follow Flint Handmade?

2) What is your favorite 'something-from-nothing' art/craft project?

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 May Second Saturday Giveaway by Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

"Yarn Bomb" Public Craft Project for Craft City at Buckham Alley Fest!


Flint Handmade is again taking over the sidewalk next to the Rutherford Parking Structure during Buckham Alley Fest on Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Downtown Flint for the Second Annual Flint Handmade Craft City! 


Craft City is a self-contained DIY community within Buckham Alley Fest to support the craft businesses our generous members.

We will feature jewelry, bath & body products, clothes, accessories, plush toys, papercrafts and much more, including a free gift for visiting the Flint Handmade table.

NEW FOR 2012: We are featuring a "Yarn Bomb" Public Craft Project in Craft City! 

In addition to bringing craft to the streets during Buckham Alley Fest, the "Yarn Bomb" Public Craft Project will include opportunities for learning how to crochet/knit for beginners as well as social crocheting/knitting for all skill levels in June and early July in Downtown Flint!

For information on participating in the "Yarn Bomb" Public Craft Project, email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com.

For information on vending at or attending Craft City at Buckham Alley Fest, visit OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE at flinthandmade.org.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Give Handmade for Mother's Day!

We have new Mother's Day cards in our shop at The Lunch Studio!


Our amazing graphic designer, Yasmin Ladha, has created these witty cards for her Circle Cat Studio line of handmade goods.

We also have soap, jewelry, crocheted hats and many more items made by local crafters in the shop that would make perfect Mother's Day gifts!

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13, 2012.  Give handmade!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

5th Annual Spring Craft Market THIS Saturday & Spring 2012 Members Only Raffle Winner!

REMINDER: Flint Handmade will host the 5th Annual Spring Craft Market THIS Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 10am-4pm at The Masonic Temple in Downtown Flint!


The Spring Craft Market will feature a large variety of unique, modern handmade items such as original illustrations, screen-printed shirts for adults and kids, reconstructed jewelry, knit and crocheted goods, hand-poured candles, natural bath and beauty products, plush toys and much more from 45 vendors!

The first 25 shoppers of the day will receive free goodie bags filled with vendor coupons, merchandise, and other treats.

The Temple Dining Room inside The Masonic Temple will be open for sit-down and take-out lunches from 11am-3pm.

Admission is free for all. Donations welcome.

The Masonic Temple is located at 755 S. Saginaw Street in Downtown Flint, MI 48502.

BECOME a MEMBER of FLINT HANDMADE
and JOIN US at the MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW!
Friday, May 4, 2012 from 6pm-8pm
New Members Welcome!

***

SPRING 2012 MEMBERS ONLY RAFFLE


Congratulations to Hayley Morris!

Hayley is the randomly selected winner of a $25 Gift Certificate to Angelic Soaps & Gifts in our Spring 2012 Members Only Raffle!

Hayley, stop by the Flint Handmade table inside the auditorium at the 5th Annual Spring Craft Market to claim your prize!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

CALL FOR VENDORS: Flint Handmade Craft City at Buckham Alley Fest!

Flint Handmade is again taking over the sidewalk next to the Rutherford Parking Structure during Buckham Alley Fest on Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Downtown Flint for the Second Annual Flint Handmade Craft City!


Craft City is a self-contained DIY community within Buckham Alley Fest to support the craft businesses our generous members.

We will feature jewelry, bath & body products, clothes, accessories, plush toys, papercrafts and much more!

Many of the Flint Handmade Craft Markets are juried, but Craft City is a first come, first serve vending opportunity for all current and new members of Flint Handmade who wish to sell handmade goods.

Approximately 2/3 of Craft City vendor fees will go directly to Buckham Alley Fest to ensure the continued success of the overall event.  Last year, Flint Handmade donated $1,000 to Red Ink Flint, the sponsoring organization of Buckham Alley Fest!

This year, the remaining vendor fees and new Flint Handmade memberships will support our mission as a 501c3 nonprofit organization to promote creative expression and commerce in Downtown Flint!

To apply to Flint Handmade Craft City, please CLICK HERE.

For more information and photos from Craft City and Buckham Alley Fest 2011, please check out our Craft City Recap Blog Post and the Flint Journal Article about the event.