Join Us at Another Damn Craft Show June 13th!

I am busy making Fuzzy Soaps™ for Another Damn Craft Show at Art Enables on June 13th. This “juried collaboration of artisans with one simple mission: to celebrate the local DC arts-and-crafts scene” is being organized by the amazing Jessica Blaszczak of This Little Piggy and Beth Baldwin of Tigerflight, two leading creatives/organizers for the DC area craft scene. It also features many, many of my favorite DC-area crafters. You can read more about the show and the featured artists on the Another Damn Craft Show Blog!

The soaps are an old customer favorite, available only at shows. Made with organic soap and wrapped in sustainably raised and dyed merino wool, these little weirdos are practical and fun. I will have them in a variety of colors and flavors!

I hope you can join us!

Saturday, June 13, 2015
11am – 4pm
Art Enables
2204 Rhode Island Ave, NE
Washington, DC

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Please Join Us at Treat Yo’ Self Artisan Market on 2/8!

We hope you can join us for Treat Yo’ Self, an artisan pop-up event at Derek Brown’s trifecta of Shaw Neighborhood restaurants Eat the Rich, Mockingbird Hill and Southern Efficiency. The event will be held on February 8, from 3:30-8:30, and we’ll be selling Valentine’s Day gift sets for him and her. Each venue will will offer food and drink specials for the day and will feature a music soundtrack curated by Derek Brown and One Love Massive.

Treat Yo’ Self is a pre-Valentine’s holiday market offering locally made distinctive gifts for from a hand selected group of DC-area artisans chosen for their consistency in quality, appearance and sustainability. It’s a perfect way to get something special and different for yourself or your boo this Valentine’s Day. 

Hope to see you there!

How to Make an Upcycled Bottle Cap Table!

My husband has been saving bottle caps for as long as I’ve known him, saying that someday he planned to make something out of them. He wasn’t sure what it would be, and the bottle caps kept accumulating. Inspired by the colorful collection, I decided to turn them into a practical gift for him. And given the volume of caps, I thought it would be good to make something that used A LOT of them!

In combing through Pinterest, I found lots of bottle cap craft inspiration. The ones that used the most were tables, so that’s what I set off to make for him.

Here is a list of the items I needed to cover a 2’x3′ table:

• 1 small table
• Lots of bottle caps (I used 486 for a 2′ x 3′ table)
• 1″x2″ wood strips for trim
• 2″ wood nails
• Wood filler
• Aluminum foil
• 16oz Gorilla Glue
• 2 quarts ready-mixed grout
• 2 quarts of pre-mixed epoxy resin
• Sandpaper
• Large grout sponge
• Grout float
• Bucket filled with warm water
• Newspaper to catch the drips
• A well-ventilated, minimally dusty room in which to work
• At least 3 days to allow for curing time (in other words, don’t start this on Christmas Eve!)

I found a sturdy, basic little table at a local thrift shop. It had a cluster of tiny princess and heart stickers stuck to the top, which I decided to just leave since I didn’t require a perfectly smooth surface.

I started by separating the caps by color, then laying them out to see what type of pattern I could make given the colors and quantities I had. Once I figured it out, I removed the caps, placing them in cups by color.

In order to make the grouting and lacquering easier, I added a rim to the edge of the table by nailing on some 1″x2″s that I had cut to size.

Because the table had rounded edges, and I am not skilled or patient enough to cut the trim to fit, there was a gap that had to be filled.

I improvised by stuffing in some tightly wadded aluminum foil into the corner to fill in the space.

Then I filled in all of the gaps with wood filler to prevent any grout or lacquer from seeping through. Once the wood filler was dry, I sanded it and removed any loose pieces.

Next, I glued the caps into place starting from the outside. I used Gorilla Glue, which worked well. It provides a strong hold, but doesn’t dry instantly, so you can adjust the caps as you work. You don’t need to use a lot per cap, just a few drops. Once I had glued down all of the caps, I let it dry overnight. The instructions say it is 80% dry in 2 hours, but fully cured in 24.

Next, I grouted the caps to give it a tiled effect. Using a grout float, I carefully worked the grout in and around the bottle caps, making sure there were no gaps. I then used the float to smooth the top to make it even and to the point where the caps were just visible. I then used the dampened sponge to wipe across the grout until the bottle caps were visible and the grout was even. It took a lot longer, and required more patience than I had anticipated! I then let it sit for 24 hours.

Finally, I covered the entire surface with epoxy resin, making sure to fill in all gaps. I again let it sit overnight. While not perfect, I was very happy with the results!

Extraordinary Things Start Small: WunderAround Blown Glass Trunk Show at Herban Lifestyle 11/29

Here is our interview with Etsy artist Beth Hess of Wunder Around. She will be demo’ing how to make terrariums using her handblown glass vases at our Small Business Saturday event, which takes place Saturday, November 29 from noon to 4pm at our Merrifield Store.

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When did you start your line and why?
I enjoy making colorful, functional pieces of blown glass that can be used (and enjoyed) everyday. I’m well into year two of my Threads Collections. These are highly touchable pieces with lots of texture. I started making white vases with various colors of “thread” on the outside and the collection has grown from there. I started my Duos Collection last year after returning from a trip to Iceland. The colors I saw there just begged to be recreated in glass. I started the Duos Collection to capture the intensity and juxtaposition of colors that I saw, and continue to find new color combinations around me everyday.

What were you doing previously?
I’ve always been a crafter and I love to experiment with new mediums and techniques. I took my first glassblowing class five years ago in June and fell in love with it. My professional background is in communications and I spent more than a decade helping nonprofits and businesses tell their story.

What do you love about owning your own business?
Doing it all. I enjoy things like making signage and updating my website in addition to the actual making.

What is the most challenging thing about owning your own business?
Doing it all. There’s always more that I could be doing, so prioritizing and making the best use of my time is a constant battle; along with keeping up with things like bookkeeping.

What inspires your work?
Color and the challenge of transforming 2,080 degree clear glass into something else entirely. Each color behaves differently as you’re working with it. I love the challenge of making an idea a reality in glass, the process of working with the glass itself and seeing what happens when light passes through the results.

Where do you see your line going from here?
I’ve been working for a while now with two-colors in each piece and recently started adding a third, and working on some new shapes to highlight them. I don’t know yet where it all will go, but am enjoying the process.

Artist of the Month: Beth Hess of WunderAround

The following post is by Beth Hess of WunderAround

I love making colorful, beautiful pieces of blown glass that help make your everyday feel special. Handmade by Beth Hess, each piece of Wunder Around glass is built layer by layer with heat & air, starting with a gather of clear glass from a 2,080° furnace in Hyattsville, Maryland.

I think the stuff of everyday life can be special—from the glass you drink your morning juice in, to the bowl that collects your junk mail. And that having a fabulous vase to put flowers in is a great excuse to bring some home, to surprise your coworker or say thank you to your mom.

My seasonal offerings include blown glass pumpkins, which make a great addition to your mantel or table, and colorful blown glass ornaments add handmade sparkle to your tree year after year. New for Fall 2014, I have created handmade terrariums feature clear glass and clean lines. They are great for air plants, small plants and the tiniest of fairy gardens.

You can find more about Beth’s products and process at her website, Etsy store, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages!

The Business of Crafting: Upcoming Workshops with Kelly Rand

One of the most surprising things I found when I moved to this area nine years ago was the very active, highly involved crafting community – not something that is top of mind when you hear someone say, “Washington, DC.” When people ask how I have grown my business from a small Etsy Shop to what it is today, I always give credit to the support and resources provided by my fellow local crafters. In particular, Hello Craft and it’s board members (Sara Dick, Christine Ernest, Kelly Rand, Tina Seamonster, Debbie Lee and Liz Eckstein who were at the forefront of the DIY movement) have provided professional-level educational and networking opportunities for crafters interested in taking their businesses to the next level and have drawn nationally-recognized experts to their events.

In 2012, Kelly, Christine, Sara and Kimberly Dorn published Handmade to Sell, so that people everywhere can learn from their years of experience. And now, Kelly is offering a series of workshops, both in-person and online, for those who want to dive deep on various topics related to the business of crafting (here is a video one of the workshops she presented for Etsy).

Following is a list of Kelly’s upcoming workshops (in-persona and online) taking place from today through October. For more information on Kelly, her books, her workshops and speaker services, you can check out her website KellyRand.com. I highly recommend them!

Navigating the Handmade Marketplace

Join Kelly at the Maryland Institute College of Art for a lecture on how to navigate the handmade marketplace as an illustrator.

Monday September 15, 2014
12:15 pm
MICA, Lazarus Center Auditorium
131 West North Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland
Open to the public

Start Your Creative Business (The Right Way) WORKSHOP

Tuesday September 16
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
at Analog
Washington, D.C.

Have a great business idea but not sure what to do next?
Get ready to work through common questions and misconceptions and start to think like a business with Kelly and Lisa. This, in person, interactive workshop will help you develop a clear picture of what it takes to start your creative business in Washington, DC. Think of it as a two-hour business boot camp, but with a softer kick in the pants.

During this workshop you’ll learn how to develop a product line, who your target audience is, how to price your product(s), the ins and outs of DCRA, how to budget and plan effectively. All while enjoying light refreshments.

You’ll also receive a workbook with class notes and resources that you’ll find handy long after the class concludes. As well as your very own copy of Handmade to Sell to help you further your business goals after the workshop.

Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair

Find Kelly on Sunday September 27, at the annual Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair at Union Market. She’ll be offering hand carved animal stamps from her Cute Animal BFF series, stamp making kits and stationery kits. She will also be doling out crafty business advice. Sign up for a local business class or take home a workbook aimed at making your crafty business a success. So stop by, purchase a stamp or book and ask your burning business question. The Crafty Business Doctor is In.

Starting Your Creative Business (The Right Way) ONLINE Workshop

Monday September 29 through Friday October 3, 2014

Can’t make it to Kelly’s in-person workshop on how to start your creative business? Join her online! This is a special introductory price, so sign up today!

Get ready to work through common questions and misconceptions and start to think like a business with Kelly and Lisa. This, online, interactive course will help you develop a clear picture of what it takes to start your creative business. Think of it as a weeklong business boot camp, but with a softer kick in the pants.

During this course you’ll learn how to develop a product line, who your target audience is, how to price your product(s), and how to budget and plan effectively.

You’ll also receive a downloadable workbook with class notes and resources that you’ll find handy long after the class concludes.

Once you sign up, you’ll receive information on how to access the class. All you need is a WordPress login.

Marketing Your Creative Business

Tuesday October 7, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Old school
Wednesday Ocotber 8, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. New school
At WeWork: Wonder Bread Factory

You’ve done your research, designed an amazing product line or list of services, and set out your shingle to alert people you’re open for business. But no one’s coming in, yet. In this two part marketing workshop, we’ll teach you how to market your creative business in a smart and effective way to find your customers and make them into fans.

In Part One: “Old school” you’ll learn marketing 101 which will lay a solid foundation for your future outreach. From finding your audience, to press releases and print advertising, you’ll walk away with an understanding of what magazine and newspaper writers need and want to be able to write about you.

In Part Two: “New school” we’ll build upon the lessons learned in “Old school” and teach you how to apply those lessons to the online world. We’ll talk about paid and earned media online and how to run effective online outreach tailored to your business.

As a part of this workshop series, you’ll receive digital handouts such as a sample press list, a sample press release and more. All aimed at helping you to hit the ground running.

Hosted by Lisa Rowan of Beltway Vintage and Kelly Rand, author of Handmade to Sell

Buy your tickets now for Marketing Your Creative Business

Artist of the Month: Emily Landsman, HopsalotSnacks

The following post is by Emily Landsman, Owner of HopsalotSnacks, the Herban Lifestyle August 2014 Artist of the Month.

Hop hop hop! I’m Miss Dolley Hopsalot, a kooky house rabbit from Arlington, Virginia.

Hopsalot Snacks started with a hungry tummy. My human had been making delicious crunchy snacks for me for many years when I suggested she share them with her human friends who also have bunnies! These yummy snacks are hand made with timothy hay and organic fruits and veggies and baked to crunchy perfection for a long lasting treat.

 

Our Quilted Floppin’ Pads allow your hopper to flop comfortably in an enclosure on the living room carpet. Made of cotton/cotton blend fabric and backed with heavy felt, these quilts have several layers of batting for ultimate floppability.

 

We also make special treats for dogs using left over grains from beer and organic whisky production. These (alcohol free) snacks are special edition treats and are for sale only when grains are available to us. Woof!

 

Recently we began to make fun catnip toys for our feline friends in fun shapes. Your cat will love playing with squishy cat faces, RatTony rats, and slithery snakes!

 

All of our snacks and toys are hand made with lots of care.

Check out our Etsy store for new products all the time.

 

2014 Martha Stewart American Made Awards

We are a 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Award Nominee!

The American Made event occurs annually in New York City and serves to bring together entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the country that are focused on crafts, style, design and food, etc. Each year Martha Stewart Living recognizes several small businesses in these categories that are dedicated to entrepreneurship and their communities. These selected businesses earn the title of American Made Winner along with some great publicity and promotion materials.

In determining the winners, the following criteria will be taken into account:

Innovativeness, demonstrated creativity, and originality of idea

• Originality and level of creativity
• Clearly identifiable customer need
• Customer value and usability

Workmanship

• Quality of materials used
• Attention and care paid to product details and/or customer satisfaction
• Level of craftsmanship involved in production

Appearance

• Unique design aesthetic
• Visual appeal of product packaging
• Compelling logo and/or typography

Embodiment of American Made theme

• Use of local components and processes
• Engagement of local community

A panel of judges and Martha Stewart herself handpick most of the winners, but the audience does have a say in choosing one lucky winner.

You can check out our profile here and, if we make it to the semi-finals, vote for Herban Lifestyle starting September 15th!

Artist of the Month: Emily Landsman, EHL Creations

The following post is by Emily Landsman, Owner of EHL Creations, the Herban Lifestyle June 2014 Artist of the Month.

I have been a photographer for more than twenty years and enjoy finding new ways to look at ordinary objects. I love taking kooky pictures with my many different Polaroid cameras and using the images to make greeting cards, belt buckles, tiles, magnets and more. Polaroid transfer prints are made by under developing Polaroid pull-apart films and transferring the images to non-photographic surfaces. The resulting images have an antique or ethereal quality. Polaroid image lifts are made by developing Polaroid pull-apart films as normal, soaking the image to remove it from the paper backing, and transferring the emulsion to non-photographic surfaces. Each print is different and has its own characteristics.

You may have heard that Polaroid is no longer producing instant film. I collected dozens of packs of several different types of film for my artistic usage before they became unavailable. Once all existing film is used, this transfer process will no longer be possible, making these images all the more unique.

You can find more about Emily’s pieces on her Etsy Store and Website 

Artist of the Month: Michelle Sasscer, Babus Toys

The following post is by Michelle Sasscer, owner of Babus Toys, Herban Lifestyle’s April 2014 Artist of the Month.

Women have traditionally learned their crafts from their mothers and other family elders, and Michelle Sasscer is no exception – her mother taught her how to knit, albeit over the phone, 3,000 miles away, while Michelle was laid up with a broken leg in a 3rd floor flat in San Francisco.  It was very slow going at first, and she timidly moved from basic stitch swatches to washcloths to eventually scarves.  After a multi-year hiatus, she returned to the craft in earnest in 2011, relishing the opportunity to nestle into an easy chair with gorgeous yarns and new patterns.

But it wasn’t until 2006 that she learned about felting, and when she finally started to experiment with the technique, she was immediately, completely hooked.  Something about the smooth, fuzzy, warm wool texture and apparent magic of all of those stitches melding into one thick solid material, was irresistible.  And not coincidentally, this all came about while she was making toys and decorations for her newborn son, Nicholas (who was nicknamed “The Babus”, in utero, just like his daddy had been).  The moment she saw Nicky’s reaction to his first set of felted wool teething rings, Babus Toys was born, at least in her mind.  Many years later, Michelle has created toys and treasures for babies as well as children of all ages.  Using choice, sustainably produced yarns from Michigan and Peru, as well as an organic line from Australia/US, Michelle makes every piece by her own design and with her own hands, from that original Gnot teething ring to nesting finger puppet sets, to mermaid dolls, even ornaments (once she even made a bride and groom squid couple as a wedding cake topper). Oh, and her mom Ruth is still helping her out, doing yeoman’s work as a supplemental knitter.  Michelle works out of her home in downtown Silver Spring, MD.

Babus Toys can also be found in Michelle’s Etsy store, on Facebook, and at Eastern Market in Washington DC.