Upcycle Exchange Wish List for Indie Craft Revolution.

The Upcycle Exchange wish list for Indie Craft Revolution is live and ready for download. Doing a little spring cleaning? Many of our members & vendors at the show use upcycled materials in our creations. Check out this list to find out what you can donate to receive sweet deals from our crafties at the show!

Use your Upcycle Exchange coupons in-person with member artists who are participating in the show! Check out the Artists page to see their individual donation incentives.

Shop at Stick to Your Knittin’ Kitten & Donate to Master the Met.

STL Craft Mafia member Amy Rickles of Stick to Your Knittin Kitten is donating 10% of the sales from her shop between now and March 5 to the American Lung Association via Master the Met. We caught up with her to find out more about the local event and how others can get involved. Read on, my crafties.

What is Master the Met?
Master the Met is the 2010 Fight for Air Climb to raise money for the American Lung Association. It takes place on March 6, 2010. Participants (myself included) will be climbing 42 flights of stairs (that’s over 1000 stairs!) to the top of the Metropolitan Building in downtown St. Louis. Each participant pays a $25 registration fee and must raise at least $100 to participate in the event.

How did you get involved?
A friend of mine learned about the event and decided to get a team together to participate. Our team is called Drinkers with a Climbing Problem. I decided to participate in this event because I have personally been touched by lung-related issues: my grandpa died of emphysema and related problems in 2007; several of my family members have severe asthma, and I have mild asthma; and the mother of a friend of mine was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I also thought that training for the event would a good way for me to improve my health.

How can our fans participate/get involved?
The event is currently full, so it is too late to sign up to participate in the climb itself. However, there are still several ways to get involved. I am donating 10% of my sales through March 5 to the American Lung Association, so any purchase from me will help this cause. They can also donate directly to the American Lung Association through my personal page, through my team page , or through the main Master the Met site.

New Member :: The Sparrow Fist.

Established in 2007, The Sparrow Fist is home to lovely collection of beautifully designed jewelry and hair accessories. Lydia’s work feels modern with a vintage twist. Check her out on Etsy to see her fabulous creations!

Meet Lydia.

When did you start crafting?

I have been dabbling in different crafts forever. I got more serious about it at the end of 2006 which led me to open my shop in 2007.

What types of materials do you use for making your products?

I use a lot of ribbon (vintage and new), paper flowers, random trinkets, and pretty much anything that has the potential to be turned into something wearable.

How did you find your way to your current medium?

I started doing only jewelry for the most part when I opened my shop. When I fell in love with some of the hair accessories online and in magazines, I decided I would give it a go. Something really clicked with designing and making hair accessories and it’s probably my favorite thing to make at the moment.

Anything new in your plans for 2010?

I am really interested in working more with felt and fabric in my jewelry.

What’s your workspace like?

Chaos. I try to reign it in with bins and whatnot but in the end it’s really just organized chaos.

What inspires you?

It depends on the day really, a visually interesting film one day or the feel of a certain era another day. At the moment, I am really into films like Bright Star and Atonement, and the feel of those movies and the way women dressed – a sort of disheveled elegance.

When do you feel most inspired?

After a good nights sleep.

What shows have you done?

I haven’t done a ton but I can’t really remember them all either. Some off the top of my head would be Strange Folk, Green with Indie, Big Ass Indie Craft Show. Currently I am gearing up for the Indie Craft Revolution show.

What was your first big project?

I don’t really do big projects per se. My first large output of designs though was probably the first Strange Folk I did. My fingers were sore from all the bending, cutting, wrapping, fastening. It was great though and I am glad I did it.

Pimp your fellow crafters. Name three favorites.

That’s actually really hard! I have so much love and respect for the talent that’s out there. If I had to choose I would say Mermaid Garden Party, Fancy Lamb, and Beqi Clothing.

Tell us one random fact about you…

I have a thing for maps.

Vote for The Fancy Lamb in the 2010 Rikrak Studio Handmade Olympics.

Vote for our very own The Fancy Lamb in the Rikrak Studio 2010 Handmade Oympics: where the handmade world comes together to celebrate making things! Robin (The Fancy Lamb) is nominated in the “Thrifty-forward, Sustainability-Minded” category for her amazing handmade pieces created using one-of-a-kind vintage items. Check out the work in her shop and then go vote!

Call For Artists – Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair.

Hey all you artists out there! The application for the 48th Annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair is now available at www.juriedartservices.com. Deadline for application is March 15, 2010.

LOCATION: Peoria, Illinois (half way between Chicago and St. Louis) Peoria Riverfront Festival Park 200 NE Water Street Peoria, Illinois 61602

FAIR DATES: September 25-26, 2010 Friday: Patron Preview Party Saturday: 9:00 am-5:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm

$10,000 TOTAL AWARDS
Best of Show: $2,500
10 Awards of Excellence: $750

…“I was so pleased to be part of such a class act. The artists were stellar, the audience appreciative, the Peoria Art Guild phenomenal. I will be applying again next year. The 1000-mile round trip drive was certainly worth the time and effort. And I dearly hope you will accept my work once again so that I may take part in the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair 2010”– 2009 participating Fine Art Fair Artist

Say the Art Guild folks…”Ask the artists who have exhibited in Peoria. No one does it better. We excel in artist amenities from complimentary lunch and breakfast to an Artist Awards dinner that is standing room only. We work hard to make your experience in the heart of the Midwest one you won’t forget. With 35% of our exhibiting artists new each year, we never tire of hearing “Wow, I never thought I’d do this well and have this much fun in Peoria Illinois!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION
call 309-671-1093
www.juriedartservices.com
www.peoriafineartfair.com
www.peoriaartguild.org
On Facebook

Miss Lemon Featured in Alive Magazine’s 5th Annual Buzz List.

Check out our very own April Tate (Miss Lemon) and our fellow STL crafties in ALIVE Magazine’s signature feature story profiling St. Louis’ 25 most influential people, places and ideas of the year on newsstands now! Meet ALIVE’s 2010 Buzz Listers face to face at the Buzz List Launch Party this Friday, Feb 5 at Lucas Park Grille. Congrats April!!

New Member: Mermaid Garden Party.

Cara McKinlay is one of our newest members and brings enthusiasm and creativity to the table in spades.  This girl’s got mad skillz and it is our pleasure to introduce you to her.  We know you’ll love her as much as we do – and that’s a lot! Here’s an interview short to get you started.

What’s your company name? Mermaid Garden Party

When did you open for business? July. 2008

What types of products do you make? I sell post cards and little screen printed arts.

What is your favorite to make? I can’t pick! I love making both.

What types of materials do you use for making your products?
I draw most of my illustrations then use a computer to upload & outsource those designs. I use recycled paper and envelopes, biodegradable plastic, wood, staples, ribbon, and lots of hot glue for packaging and finishing touches.

Anything new in your plans for 2010? New product? New material? New medium?
Oooh, I love new ideas and projects! Right now I’m working on having my designs printed on bigger fabric (as well as screen printing myself!) and I hope to sew some goodies. I’m also playing around with hand painted canvas art mixed with recycled stuff… but I always have weird ideas, we’ll see what happens!

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The Foundrie Brings Indie Crafts to the Big Bad Mall.

Want to shop for handmade goodness this holiday season after the craft shows? How convenient would it be to have said crafty goodness right smack dab in the mall where you are shopping anyway? Our genius member, Shelah (Destroyed by Design) fulfilled your (and our) wishes by bringing us The Foundrie! We would like to extend an enormous virtual high-five to Shelah!

Read on to find out more and be sure to stop by this season for your handmade holiday~

A new concept in retail shopping, The Foundrie is a seasonal pop-up shop that will highlight the best in handmade goods, including clothing, jewelry, house wares, and other merchandise. Featuring some of the best local St. Louis artisans as well as designers from across the country, the boutique will serve as a destination for unique and high-quality holiday shopping.

In addition, The Foundrie will play host to exclusive trunk shows and artist demonstrations during its limited-time engagement. A full schedule of events will be available at www.thefoundrie.com.

The Foundrie is the brainchild of Shelah McClymont, a visual merchandiser by trade and well-known local jewelry designer.