The following is a press release from ArtsUnion:

The Somerville Arts Council & Boston Handmade
present an ArtsUnion Event: the 3rd annual
BOSTON HANDMADE MARKETPLACE
in Union Square, Somerville
SATURDAY, JULY 10, 3 - 7 P.M.
(rain date Sunday, July 11)

ArtsUnion continues the 2010 series with the Boston Handmade Marketplace in Union Square, Somerville. The outdoor market features work by Massachusetts artists, craftspeople, and artisans associated with Boston Handmade and Etsy.com. Curated by Jessica Burko and Boston Handmade, the fair promotes local, independent businesses producing handmade, one-of-a-kind works in small studio environments, not factories. More than 25 artists and craftspeople will be on hand to sell handmade jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, art, photography, toys, and sculpture.

Also on tap will be live music by The Grown Up Noise, One Happy Island, and acraft demonstrations by The Common Cod Fiber Guild. Boston Handmade and Etsy.com help people make a living by making things. From the creative to the curious, items at the Boston Handmade Marketplace will be one-of-kind, limited edition, and produced by local artisans.

Thanks in part to The Somerville Arts Council and Etsy.com, local artists, artisans, and craftspeople associated with Boston Handmade will be in Union Square Somerville for our 3rd year showing and selling handmade jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, art, photography, ceramics, glass, soaps, and more!

designer birth announcements

Cleveland, OH - June 14, 2010 -- Who doesn’t like receiving an invitation in the mail? That wonderfully thick envelope and heavy cardstock that announces the opportunity to celebrate a special milestone or reconnect with family and friends. The intricate details of that piece of cardstock let guests know how special the day will be. Custom paper cuts, bold colors and eye-catching layouts might not seem like much, but they speak volumes to the recipient.

In nine years, Luscious Verde has taken custom stationery from ordinary to extraordinary. The Cleveland-area design company has managed to help thousands of clients announce their special events in a truly custom way.

Fashionistas in search of designer birth announcements and stationery can now purchase select distinguished Luscious Verde designs directly through their new e-commerce store.

In 2001 Luscious Verde entered the custom stationery market, a market whose focus at the time was white and cream paper. Since then, the company has taken the luxury invitation industry by storm with extraordinary handmade invitations and gorgeous custom stationery with saturated cardstock. Their fun and innovative designs are featured in popular publications such as InStyle Weddings, People and Brides Magazine. They’ve also designed chic and unique invitations and stationery for well-known politicians, professional athletes and popular celebrities such as: Heidi Klum, Courteney Cox, Jenna Elfman, Gwen Stefani and Jon Stewart. Recently, the company was awarded two Trendy Awards from Stationery Trends Magazine.

For more information about Luscious Verde and the stationery and invitation design services they offer, visit http://shoplvc.com.

About Luscious Verde

Since 2001, Luscious Verde has offered truly custom stationery and invitation design. The Cleveland-area company has been recognized by publications like InStyle Weddings, Brides Magazine, People and Stationery Trends for their stunning and unique handmade creations. Luscious Verde prides itself on always being environmentally friendly and consistently giving back to the community.

Denim slippers made from an old pair of jeans. Photograph: Nancy Minsky

by Nancy Minsky

Handcrafting old jeans, with style and imagination, can give your wardrobe a burst of fresh fashion without the designer expense.

The appealingly soft textures and faded colours of worn denim make it the perfect fabric to sew into "new" things. So yank those long-forgotten jeans out from the back of your closet and discover what you can create!

If you have intermediate sewing skills then you can easily stitch yourself a pair of proper denim slippers. When you're finished, slip your feet into these soft, soothing slippers and pad around your home feeling lovely and comfy. Or just put your feet up and glow with satisfaction while you gaze at your resourceful - and chic - handiwork.

For instructions go to  -   http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/may/18/how-to-make-slippers-from-jeans

Tools and Materials
ClayCraft clay (white, yellow, blue, red)
Thin blade scissors
Small detail sticks or toothpicks
Cookie rack
24-gauge floral wire
Craft glue
Floral tape
Vase
Green clay-covered Styrofoam
Leaves or plastic floral fillers (optional)

For instrcutions go to  -  http://www.marthastewart.com/article/clay-flowers?xsc=eml_crd_2010_05_13

Elizabeth Berthoud has always been comfortable around a sewing machine. As a girl, she stitched clothes and even designed her own prom dress. As an adult, she often duplicated brand-name fashion dresses, pants, shirts, hats and belts for her children — simply by examining the original item briefly, then going to work at her machine to create a near-exact replica.

As her four children grew and the task of caring for them did, too, the Rowley mother didn't have as much time to sew. Then a new idea came to her one day when her husband received a lot of neckties from a family member for a new job he was starting.

There were so many beautiful, silk ties that he couldn't possibly use them all. So Berthoud starting thinking about what she could do with them. She decided to sew them all together and create a handbag.

"People really liked the bag, so I started making some for gifts," she said. "Then I began picking up any fabric or remnant I could. ... It was all great fun."

From a pair of shorts found on clearance, which made for a great handbag with outside pockets, to colorful place mats that brought a new texture to her bags, the early versions all sold for $40......

Read more at  -  http://www.newburyportnews.com/pulife/local_story_105233005.html?keyword=topstory

Cary, NC, April 07, 2010 --- Event April 18, 2010

A local handcrafted shopping event at the Chatham Street Café in Downtown Cary.

April 18, 2010, 3:00-6:00 PM (Cary, NC)—The Chatham Street Café is set to host “Handmade for Haiti”, an afternoon of shopping for local handmade items to benefit Doctors Without Borders. A selection of eleven local artists and designers will be selling accessories, bath and body products, home décor items, jewelry, soy candles and more.

The vendors are:

- Dillardville Birdhouses--Whimsically crafted and hand painted birdhouses made from recycled materials
-Janice Originals--Fine designer jewelry
-JustNeem--Natural body care products with Neem from West Africa
-Mama Turtle--Natural hand poured soy candles
- Meg Smither--Original design and hand painted silk scarves
- My Kid’s Laundry--Custom made children clothing & hair accessories
- Mutant Angel--Hand embroidery
- Old North Images--Photography from the Old North State
- Sassy Strands--Creative jewelry designs
-SSD Jewelry--Mixed metal & etched hand crafted jewelry
- The Chubby Dove--Custom handmade home décor for all ages

Proceeds from a charity raffle as well as a portion of all vendor sales will be donated to Doctors Without Borders. Raffle tickets will be for sale at the event for $5 each for a chance to win fabulous products or services from area businesses and artists, including original Rachel von Roeschlaub paintings, a voucher for Carolina RailHawks game tickets, and gift cards for services from Skin Sense, Namaste Yoga, and more. Food and Beverages will be available for purchase.

Coordinator and artist Kellie Loomis is excited about the local buzz around this event. “Handmade for Haiti” is all about helping out Doctors Without Borders to aid in the Haiti relief efforts, focusing on post surgical care and mental health. Although many other organizations are leaving Haiti, Doctors Without Borders is maintaining a presence.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, natural disasters, or exclusion from health care in nearly 60 countries. For more information about Doctors Without Borders, visit www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

The Chatham Street Café is located at 140 E Chatham St in Downtown Cary. For more information, visit www.chathamstreetcafe.com.

Mixed-up Dolly, the possibilities are endless....

by Wells_Jaqui

UK artist Rachel Sherman has been making beaded jewellery for the last 20 years after making herself a Marmite necklace in polymer clay, which attracted a lot of attention. 

Her products are completely unique, available only from either Wells market on a Saturday or online at Mixed-up Dolly and it’s easy to see where their attraction lies. Miniature, handmade replicas of well-loved brands that are not only stylish, but immensely cute!

There is a large market in America for these quirky creations. Lots of ex-pats love the ‘Best of British’ range which includes Marmite, Heinz Beans, Mars bars etc. Rachel has been featured in a book about Marmite, in a couple of jewellery-making magazines and on various blogs which can generate a lot of sales. 

Some of her most memorable transactions include when she was asked by the CEO of Ginsters to make him some Ginsters pasty cufflinks bearing the new image! Also, the wife of the CEO of Premier Inns commissioned her to make her husband some cufflinks with the Premier Inn moon and stars logo. 

To see more of the range, please visit www.mixedupdolly.co.uk or stop by for a chat with her at Wells Market every Saturday.

SOURCE  _  http://www.wellspeople.co.uk/news/Local-business-survive-credit-crunch-8217-careful-Wispa/article-1957226-detail/article.html

A noticeable variety of graceful, modern and recent compilation of Indian Wedding Invitations, Exclusive Indian Wedding Invitations, Royal / Farman Indian Wedding Invitations, Indian Wedding Invitations Cards is accessible in such stylish materials as Handmade paper, Vellum paper, Velvet, Cloth, Tissue, etc. Each of the Indian Wedding Invitations Cards is 100% customizable as per your conditions and it can be used for any religion or class.

These indian wedding invitations cards are prepared of advanced superiority resources and breathtaking designs and they are used for many purposes in making of Wedding Cards, Program Wedding Cards and General Wedding Cards Invitations such as Birthday Parties, Sweet 16 Invitations, Wedding Invitations Announcements, Silver / Golden Anniversary Invitations Cards, Gala Dinners Invitations Cards, Wedding Programs Invitations Cards, etc. We also present synchronized Wedding Invitations which are prepared in identical designs to the main wedding and thematic bright methods to generate a long-lasting feeling with a smart and attractive style statement.

As the handmade wedding cards play a chief job in bringing all the unique people in the bride and grooms life together, our highly creative designers have come up with a enormous catalogue of handmade wedding cards. Look through our vast in-house stock of traditional and modern Hindu symbols such as Ganesh, Om, Swastik etc and choose the ones you prefer. Also handmade wedding cards without religious motives can be tailored with die cast signs or initials as per your specifications.

Mackmark's inventive compilation of handmade wedding cards will definitely light up the hearts of all your near and dear ones. So go ahead and select what you like the best from our huge and extensive collection of Handmade Wedding Cards.

For more detailed information about our services or to find ideas and step by step instructions to make Designer Handmade Wedding Cards visit:http://www.mackmarkcards.com/Handmade-Wedding-Cards/index.html

SOURCE  _  http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2010/03/30/4699490.htm

CARLSBAD — An interest or love of art is all that is required to become a member of the Carlsbad Art Appreciation Class.

"We always meet at someone's house," said Gerri Mattson, artist and class member. "We're always hoping to get new members. Those who are interested should come to a meeting and see if they'd like to join."

Currently, there are around 20 members. Members rotate hosting meetings in their home. The host receives help from other members with providing light refreshments. Coffee and visiting take place 30 minutes before the class starts.

Mattson was host for the March meeting and also gave a polymer clay demonstration. Polymer clay is a sculptable material based on the polymer polyvinyl chloride, commonly known as PVC. It usually contains no clay minerals, and is only called clay because its texture and working properties resemble those of mineral clay.

Leading brands of polymer clay include Fimo, Sculpey, Premo, Cernit and Kato Polyclay. The clay is sold in craft, hobby and art stores and is used by artists, hobbyists and children. It can also be purchased online......

Read more at  -   http://www.currentargus.com/ci_14760625

basketmaker Anne Bowers

“I grew up doing needlework—sewing, needlepoint, crewel embroidery,” says basketmaker Anne Bowers. “I was always doing crafts.”

Bowers has lived in the Panhandle all of her life, growing up in Shepherdstown, and later living in Martinsburg, then moving back to Jefferson County when she married.

Her airy studio in her old farmhouse in Middleway is filled with basketry material and baskets in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some have the expected shapes of Easter baskets and market baskets, while others are intricately fashioned in the shape of seashells. Tiny, delicate baskets are nearly as small as thimbles.

Bowers’ initiation to basketry came about 28 years ago when she worked in a Shepherdstown shop called The Needle Shop, and the owner decided to put in basketry supplies.

“I didn’t think they would sell,” Bowers recalled, “because I didn’t like the feel of the material on my hands. Then I made my first basket, and I loved it!”...

Read more at -  http://www.wvobserver.com/2010/03/basket-maker-anne-bowers/