Meet the artists of Coffee + Crafts

The first ever Coffee + Crafts trunk show at the Root Cafe is only about a month away, so I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you who will be there and the sorts of crafty awesomeness that they will be bringing!  For more information about the show, check out the event page on Facebook and while you are there go ahead and RSVP!

Thursday December 15

Chris Sorensen
Crafty and creative in her own right, Chris is also the owner of the awesome Lakewood brick-and-mortar shop called Crafty Goodness.  Chris works in a variety of media and will be showcasing both her own work as well as work from her shop.  You can check out her website, craftygoodnesscle.com to see more!

Photo curtsy of Chris Sorensen

Kat Remick
Kat makes fun and festive headbands, hair clips, fascinators, ornaments and more!  Learn more about Kat on her website; kittenkaboom.wordpress.com

Photo via HausOfKaboom on Etsy

Amy Annico

The Cleaner Wiener Dog Soap Company specializes in sulfate-free dog soaps derived from organic ingredients which are simple and clean. Liquid and bar soaps are available for your dog’s bathing enjoyment. Amy will also be selling glass-block and upcycled bottlecap jewelry in dog and holiday prints.  To see more of Amy’s products, check out her website or Etsy shop.

Photo curtsy of Amy Annico

Friday December 16

Arooj Ashraf
Handwoven scarves, hand-stitched purses, pressed flower greeting cards and hair accessories.  Learn more about Arooj on her website; arooja.com

Photo curtsy of Arooj Ashraf

Katherine Johnson
Quilted mug rugs and coasters using some repurposed fabrics or embellishments, and greeting cards using some recycled papers/cards/embellishments.  Find out more about Katherine on her website; theartfulhausfrau.blogspot.com

photo curtsy of Katherine Johnson

Saturday, December 17

Meagan Shuttleworth
Lovely trendy, retro aprons for those who want to add a little style to their everyday chores in the kitchen or entertaining guests! Handmade flowers are added to each apron as a reminder to stop and smell the roses!  See more from Meagan on her website; The Witty Tales of Trendy Meg and see more aprons in her Etsy shop

Photo via Trendy Meg on Etsy

Ingrid Nolan
Fused plastic bags/accessories, coffee take-out cozies, crochet/knit hats, scarves, and fingerless gloves.

Photo curtsy of Ingrid Nolan

Emily Lindberg
Upcycled items such as crocheted owls made from plastic grocery bags and recycled fabric collages, as well as some coffee related stuff and maybe a few things to keep you warm as well!

Sunday, December 18

Brittany Charek

Fun, funky and useful novelty guitar picks made from recycled scrap plastic (recycled gift cards, ID cards, advertising, etc).  Grab a pack of assorted picks or just “pick” out your own.  Check out all of Brittany’s great stuff over on her Etsy shop.

Photo via holdenallen on Etsy

Joanna Wilson
Beautiful hand-embroidered greeting cards.  See more in Joanna’s Etsy shop.

photo curtsey of Joanna Wilson

Denise Kareliski
Fleece scarves, headbands and matching purses.

photo curtsey of Denise Kareliski

Cleveland Craft Coalition November Art and Craft Bazaar

As you likely know, November marks the beginning of the holiday season! (Already?! Ah!!) If you really want to occupy Wall Street, stay out of the big box stores and do your part to support local, handmade art this holiday season.

Join the Cleveland Craft Coalition for our November 12th Art and Craft Bazaar from 1p.m.-5p.m. at bela dubby!! We will have 17 artists with all sorts of great, handmade things that would make great gifts- for someone else, or for yourself!

If you haven’t already, check out the event page for this bazaar so you can RSVP and invite your friends!

Check out the artists that will be featured:

Arooj- henna tattoos, pressed flower greeting cards
Bethany- (http://www.etsy.com/shop/beethingsstudio)- jewelry
Bridgette- beaded, hemp and wire jewelry
Catherine- (http://www.kittenkaboom.wordpress.com/)- headbands, fascinators, hair accessories
Chris- (http://www.etsy.com/shop/craftygurll)- pottery, ornaments, sushi sets
Colleen & Liz- knitware, wallets, feathered accessories and whatnot
Emily- (http://www.zween.wordpress.com/)- a wide variety of upcycled items; from plarn handbags to funny greeting cards, to magnets and jewelry.
Ingrid- snarky cross stitch, amigurumi
Kristen- totes, record bowls
Margaret- (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MagsImagination)- polymer clay decorative items
Nicki- (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ZombieSocks)- zombie sock monkeys
Rachael- (http://www.crankypants.etsy.com/)- handcrafted hair accessories
Rhiannon- (http://www.etsy.com/shop/Snikitty)- voodoo dolls, hair accessories, cat toys, ornaments
Samantha- (http://thesnowstore.net/)- crocheted amigurumi
Sarah- (http://www.tbysarah.com/)- herbal teas, herbal products, tea accessories, aromatherapy products
Tina- quirky housewares, kitschy prints

But wait, there’s more!

Check out the Events page at the top of my site for all the other great events coming up between now and Christmas!

Call for Artists: Coffee + Crafts @ the Root Cafe

What is Coffee + Crafts?

Coffee + Crafts is a four-day-long indie craft trunk show event taking place at The Root Cafe December 15th-18th from 4-7 pm.  Each day three different artists will showcase their unique items to the public in the warm, inviting, and community-centric atmosphere of The Root Cafe.

What we’re looking for in an artist/crafter for the Coffee + Crafts show:

Quality-  No matter what you make, make it well!  You will be asked to submit 3-5 photos of your work.  Make sure those photos are accurate representations of your work so that it shines!

Variety- We want to offer a variety of items at this event, which is why we will be showcasing three different crafters each day of the show.  That means a total of 12 crafters will be represented over the course of the 4 days!  When applying, please indicate all the dates you are available to exhibit your work.  The more dates that you are available, the more likely you will be to be chosen.  That said, you may still be chosen even if you are only available one of the dates.  In addition to having a variety of different crafters at this event, we also want the products that these crafters offer to be different as well.  In other words, this isn’t going to be a show of 12 jewelry artists, or 12 crochet artists, etc.

Cohesion-  Though variety is important, we also want this event to have some cohesion, so we will be looking for items that fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Coffee related (ceramic mugs, coasters, take out cup cozies, etc)
• Environmentally sustainable (items made from recycled, organic, or sustainably harvested materials)
• Holiday related (greeting cards, ornaments, etc)
• Winter apparel

Uniqueness-  If you have ever been to the Root Cafe you’ll realize that it’s not your average coffee shop.  It’s one of a kind, it’s eclectic, it’s…unique!  We’re looking for vendors who embody this.

Outgoing personality-  With only three artists showing each day, we hope that this will give vendors the opportunity to make personal connections with the patrons of the Root Cafe.  Remember that what you do is interesting to a lot of people.  Don’t be afraid to tell your story (about who you are, how you got started, how you make your items, etc).  This is all part of the alour of buying handmade, so don’t be shy!

Sound good to you?

Great!  We’d love for you to apply!

How to apply:
Just email zween.mail[at}gmail.com to receive your application or if you have any questions about the show.  Applications are due by October 31st, so don’t delay!

Coffee + Crafts has it’s own page on this site!

Click the Coffee + Crafts button at the top of the header to view all the pertinent details about this event.

Two crafty shows NOT to miss

Today, October 6, 2011 is a BEAUTIFUL day!  So come on out to the Sandusky Art Walk at 5pm for a lovely stroll while the weather is still nice. I’ll be debuting two new products at this event, so stop by my table in front of Kharma Salon & Boutique (125 W. Water St., Sandusky, OH 44870) and say hello and check out my table of items made with recycled materials.

The art walk officially lasts until 9pm, but since it is an outdoor event, I would suggest coming out before dark, as most vendors (including myself) have been packing up once it gets too dark to see.

This Saturday, October 8th is the Cleveland Craft Coalition’s October Spooktacular!  This event will be held at the Bela Dubby coffee shop (13321 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH) from 1-5 and will showcase 17 of the spookiest and creepiest vendors in all of North East Ohio.  If you’re in the Cleveland area I hope to see you there!

Car Kulture and Hell on Wheels Craft Extravaganza

I love old cars! I don’t know a lot about cars, of any age, but there is something about old cars that’s just cool. When it comes to cars in general, all I really care about is reliability, gas efficiency, and safety. But when it comes to classic cars, it’s all about the style! Most of all, I love rounded corners and cute, small frames (like the cute blue one above parked outside of Crafty Goodness. The lovely lady in polka dots is none other than Chris Sorenson, the owner of Crafty Goodness). I love to see restored classic cars, but even the ones that own their oldness are fun too…

Wendy and I were in awe at this VW pop-up. Believe it or not, their were at least two of these (that I saw) at yesterday’s car show but I really liked the paint job and pop of yellow canvas on this one…

But enough about the cars.

To take advantage of the heavy foot traffic up and down Madison Ave, Crafty Goodness participated in the Hell On Wheels Craft Extravaganza along with several other local businesses (Spitfire Saloon, Goddess Blessed, Breakneck Gallery, and Keyhole Gallery). Chris invited several crafty businesses to set up table displays in front of and inside Crafty Goodness which included Artables and Buza Bags…

Beethings Studio (background) and pottery by Cindy (foreground)…

By the way, how cool is this shirt (and henna)?!

The lovely and talented Arooj was producing the most amazing and intricate henna designs and teaches henna classes at Crafty Goodness.

I had a table for zween set up indoors, but spent most of my time working on a new plarn owl purse outside to take advantage of the lovely weather.

The best thing to come out of this show was all the great contacts and connections made both between us makers and between Crafty Goodness and the general public. Because the shop is still fairly new, there are still many people in the Lakewood area discovering Crafty Goodness for the first time. I spoke with one local Lakewood gentleman who said that if it weren’t for the cars, he would have never known that Crafty Goodness was here, but how glad he is to know it exists now.

The truth is, this happens a lot. Most people, even if they really appreciate handmade and locally produced items, don’t actively seek out shops like CG or even craft shows (except maybe during the holidays). That’s why I think these types of events are so important and have the potential to be such a success. These people didn’t come out to shop for handmade items; they came to look a cool cars, listen to some live music, and maybe grab a bite to eat and a cold beer. But in addition to these things, they got to see some pretty cool handmade items and meet the people who make them. Now their experience of the event was that much fuller and hopefully a seed was planted so that they may return the next time they’re looking for that extra special gift or unique item for their home or wardrobe.

If you missed this event never fear. The car show is an annual event in Lakewood, and I’m sure that it only gets better each year, as more people with classic cars become aware of it. But remember that Crafty Goodness and the other brick and mortar shops on Madison Ave are their year round and always appreciate your support. So buy local; it’s good for you, your community, and your dog.

Gearing up for the Hell on Wheels Craft Extravaganza Tomorrow!

What do you get when you cross Mods vs. Rockers on W. 117th with the Car Kulture Show on Madison Ave? Hell On Wheels, obviously!

Mods vs. Rockers is the ultimate scooter/bike rally, and the Car Kulture Show is the place to check out 1972 and older vehicles (back in the day when cars were fun to drive and look it!).

August 20th be a busy day filled with classic cars, hot rods, mopeds, bikes and of course crafts.  Madison Ave. will be closed down from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. between Warren and Hilliard, and the bike rally will be going on from noon until at least 6 p.m.

The Cleveland Craft Coalition has come up with a brilliant plan to get people to check out both events by raffling off a gift basket!  In order to be entered, just stop and pick up a map at…

1) Spitfire Saloon (1539 W117th Street in Cleveland); or
2) Crafty Goodness (15621 Madison Avenue); or
3) Goddess Blessed (15729 Madison Avenue); or
4) Breakneck Gallery (17020 Madison Avenue); 0r
5) Keyhole Gallery (will be set up at a street booth on Madison)

…and then visit 3 of the stops.  How easy is that?

The prize basket is going to be amazing; Buckeye Beer Engine has donated a gift card to our cause, so have a beer and some Plum Sauce on them. Crafty Goodness will be including some handmade goodness, while Breakneck, Thirstees and Spitfire will include t-shirts and other swag. Please remember, by attending this event supporting local art, you will be helping the economy right here in Lakewood. And that is a great feeling! View the Facebook invite here.

Parallels

Often since our return to the U.S. my husband, Jon, and I will see something and it will remind us of our time in Morocco.  Maybe we’ll overhear a conversation in Arabic, or see an object that looks Moroccan (or even from Morocco), or sometimes it’s just a situation we find strikingly familiar.

Today Jon picked up our sheep skin (a gift from a Moroccan family in 2008 after our first Eid Kabir in the country), which we keep on our floor in front of our couch, so as to take it on the porch and shake out the dirt and dust.  When he picked it up however, he discovered that the bottom was quite damp.  We surmised that this may be due to the heat that we’ve had lately and the fact that our downstairs neighbor keeps her air conditioner quite low, thus causing condensation to form under the sheep skin and making it damp.

Our porch gets a lot of sun this time of day, so he decided to drape it over the railing to dry out; just as one would do in Morocco.

Oh Morocco, with its cold, wet, rainy winters and its hot, dry, sunny summers.  Below are some pictures of what spring cleaning looks like in Morocco.  You will see this on every rooftop and through all the streets.  Women turning their homes inside out (literally) to dry out their rugs, blankets, couches (pondges), wooden sadaries (the platform for the pondges), pillows, mattresses, shoes, and pretty much anything made of fabric or wood.

Not only does the sun dry out these items so well, it also disinfects (and helps fight mold).  Yes, this is something that Grandma Virgie always taught me and Moroccans know very well.

Some Crafty Goodness in August

If you’re a regular zween reader than you’ve heard me talk about Crafty Goodness before.  But for those of you how haven’t heard, Crafty Goodness is a shop that sells all handmade items by local artists and crafters (local to the Cleveland area).

Each month Crafty Goodness hosts and participates in several events and has really become a hub for creativity and a place for both indie crafters and the craftily challenged alike to gather and learn from each other.

Here are some of the events planned for August:

Madison Avenue Art Walk

Crafty Goodness, Rockflower Studio and Goddess Blessed will be hosting an Art Walk on Saturday, August 13th from 12-6pm.  Come and check out all the great local art found on the Western end of Madison Avenue.  We invite all the attendees to decorate our sidewalk areas between our stores (chalk provided at each location).  Let’s bring Madison Avenue alive with art!

Hell on Wheels Craft Extravaganza

What do you get when you have Mods vs. Rockers at the Spitfire Saloon and the Car Kulture Show on Madison Ave? Hell On Wheels, obviously! Join us August 20th between 12p.m. and 6p.m.-ish for a day of mopeds, bikes, cars and crafts!  The Cleveland Craft Coalition will be set up in two key locations: the Spitfire Saloon (1539 W. 117th CLE) and Crafty Goodness (15621 Madison Ave LKWD) with many great stops in between!

Drop In & Craft

In addition to these awesome events, you can also Drop In & Craft every Thursday at Crafty Goodness.  The crafting menu offers something for everyone, from children to adults.  Let the kids come and make a mess at Crafty Goodness while you create something too; painting, jewelry, sewing and more!  Tons of projects that take 30 minutes or less and cost a mere $5.  (Click here to view the pendent I made during one of the first Drop In & Craft sessions).

I hope that lots of you come out to support Crafty Goodness this August!

 

A Little Summer Adventure

After Jon came home from work this afternoon he suggested that we take a little bike ride down to Lakewood Park.  It’s a beautiful park and we’ve been there a couple of times before.  It’s amazing how much is going on there!  We started our ride around 7 pm and when we arrived we stopped for a while and watched a couple of innings of a kid-pitch baseball game.  Nearby the baseball diamond was a skate park area with lots of kids on skate boards, bikes, and even unicycles!  Further North are some tennis courts, a swimming pool, and an enormous playground area with lots of swings and jungle gyms.  Past that is a large covered picnic area with grills and another baseball diamond overlooking the lake.  Once you get into this area it’s mostly open grass dotted by trees and criss crossed  with winding paths for walkers, joggers, and bikers.  Just before you reach the edge of the park there’s a couple of sand volleyball courts then at the Northern most point is a ramp that snakes down to the water where there’s a brick promenade.  From here you can see downtown Cleveland to the East or walk along the promenade West.  The park was a buzz of activity with people using each of these areas that I’ve described, while at the same time not seeming to be overly crowded.  The atmosphere was laid back and relaxing with everyone out to enjoy a beautiful summer evening and perfect weather.  This Monday, July 4th, Lakewood Park will have a fireworks display which I’ve heard is particularly spectacular.  Since Jon works early that day we plan on ridding our bikes once again to enjoy the show.  What have you been doing with all this gorgeous and relatively mild summer weather we’ve been having?

Wine Box Craft Display

Today was the second day of the Lakewood Street Sale, and although it was a bit of a wash with all the rain, I was able to try out a new card display that I recently made.

I found two of these wooden wine boxes on the side of the road one trash night years ago while I was still in school and thought they were pretty cool.  They’re still one of my favorite trash hunting finds.

It didn’t take much to turn it into a display.  I just stapled some gross grain ribbon to the insides to keep the lid at about 90 degrees and then added a couple of more strips of ribbon to clip more cards to. Here the cards are displayed with little gift boxes made from 100% recycled materials, mostly junk mail.