Handmade Harvest Brings Crafty Goodness to Black Friday!

Thank you SOOOOO much to everyone who came out for Handmade Harvest on Black Friday!  We had about 100 people in attendance!  Almost $2000 was transacted, so it was a GREAT sneak preview for the Holiday Craft Market on Saturday, December 5!

And now, pictures from Handmade Harvest!

Katie and Becky

Steph's Monstas

April and Her Roller Derby Christmas Stockings

Jackie and Glen Check Out the Raffle

Happy Kids with Bead Ornaments

Check out TONS more pictures from Handmade Harvest at our BRAND NEW flickr!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flinthandmade/

Hope to See YOU on Black Friday! :)

Want to shop the day after Thanksgiving but dread the long lines, parking mayhem, and frantic shoppers?

Come to Handmade Harvest, a FREE family-friendly alternative to the chaos of "Black Friday" at The Lunch Studio! Ten local Flint Handmade vendors will be selling their unique handmade goods, including jewelry, children's toys, paper crafts, purses/totes and much more! Flint Handmade encourages everyone to give handmade gifts for the holidays, so this is a great opportunity to find something special for the friends and family on your shopping list!

We'll even make it easy and comfortable with FREE goodie bags for the first 25 shoppers, FREE craft activities for the kids, and FREE cider and donuts for all. The Lunch Studio will be selling delicious soups and sandwiches to keep your tummy full while you shop!

Along with all the shopping and free stuff will be a LIVE AUCTION to raise funds for Flint Handmade. The auction will start at 1pm with items valued at $5 to $50 from our featured vendors, local businesses and other friends of Flint Handmade. Bidding will start at half the retail price.

Handmade Harvest is on Friday, November 27, 2009 from 11am-3pm at the Lunch Studio in Downtown Flint (444 S. Saginaw, Flint, MI 48502). We hope to see you there!

Flint Handmade seeks to nurture a local handmade economy and environment in Flint by organizing and promoting craft markets, offering opportunities for social crafting and creative expression, and educating the public about the personal and commercial value of handcrafting.

Madison Academy Craft Show!

Posted by Crystal

Flint Handmade had a great time tabling at the Madison Academy Craft Show on November 7! A big thank you to Jennette for inviting us and for being such a huge supporter of Flint Handmade!

Me (l) and my friend Gwen at the super cute Flint Handmade table!  My beautiful JUNK was also on display. :)

Susan (l) of Susan's Knit Knacks gets some help from her daughter, Charise, and son, John.  I hope I spelled their names right!

Heidi of Madge and Gert (http://www.madgeandgert.com/) has the most AWESOME soy candles!  She will be vending at Flint Handmade: Handmade Harvest on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  :)  We hope you join us!

Holiday Papercrafts at The Flint Public Library!

Posted by Crystal

So, I went to another AWESOME craft workshop at the Cody Branch of the Flint Public Library! Jackie taught us how to make these nifty paper ornaments with just paper circles, glue, and ribbon. Too cute!

That's Jackie holding up the ornament made by her husband, Glen!

For instructions on how to make these fun and easy ornaments, visit http://www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/card-ornaments.shtml OR come to the FREE Lean and Green Workshop at the West Flint Branch on Monday, November 16, 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 have specific paper you wanted to use, you could just bring it along. Hope to see you there! :)

Soap Making: Cleaning Up with Flint Handmade!

We had an awesome time making soap on Sunday!  This was our last of three Handmade for the Holidays Creativity Workshops funded by Flint Club. We love you, Flint Club (http://www.flintclub.org/)!

Ali Misner of Alexandria's Soap Garden (http://www.asoapgarden.etsy.com/) taught everyone how to make all natural soap. Check out the pics!

Ali giving instructions before we get started. :)

Safety first when working with lye!

Christa bought the cutest crocheted bat from Sarah Mascara while we waited for the lye to reach the right temperature.

Amy, Kathy and Michelle (l-r) prep the soap molds by lining them with plastic bags.

Ali carefully pours the lye into the pot while Christa stirs and Becky watches.

Susanna, Dawn, Beth and Jennifer (l-r) smile for the camera while stirring their soap to mix the natural oils with the lye. We see you sticking your tongue out, Susanna! ;)

Thank You, Flint Club! We all really appreciate the Opportunity Knocks grant you awarded to Flint Handmade. Lots of people got to learn new skills and express their creativity because of YOU! :)

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.  :)