Handmade gets hot for Valentine's Day

Looking for a hot, sweaty, and potentially dirty way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year? Why not enroll in a glass blowing mini-workshop at Corradetti Glassblowing Studio? Put on your sexiest pair of rough-and-tumble jeans and head over to their Clipper Mill location, where you'll learn to tranform molten glass into a 3" floating heart solid paperweight.

Choose between two workshops (multiple one-hour time slots are scheduled througout each day):

• Saturday, February 6th - open to ages 8 and up. Cost is $55.


• Wednesday, February 10th - for adults only, this workshop includes wine and cheese from Woodberry Kitchen. Cost is $65.

Spaces are filling quickly, so register online today!

Indie Fixx Haiti Relief Fundraiser

It's Day 9/10 of the Indie Fixx Haiti Relief Fundraiser - an online silent auction of items donated by indie crafters, designers and artists. 100% of the proceeds raised will be given to the Red Cross International Response Fund, in support of those who survived the earthquake in Port au Prince. Local crafters Yummy and Company, Block Party Press and Sweet Pepita are participating in the auction.

Bid now at Indie Fixx while there's still time left!

This year's picks for AltCraft

Seven local indie artists have been selected (from hundreds of applicants, mind you) to present their work at the 34th annual American Craft Council Show on February 25-28 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Juliet Ames (The Broken Plate Pendant Company), Danamarie Hosler (Greenstarstudio), Val Lucas (Bowerbox Press), Shawna Pincus (Pinkkiss Pottery), Elisa Shere (Elisa Shere Jewelry), Sherry Insley (Dandelion Blu), and Velina Glass Studio will join other indie artists from around the country in representing the AltCraft category of this massive event, where over 700 of the nation's top contemporary craft artists present their work each year.

What used to be a small category with a handful of indie artists, AltCraft has expanded to feature 20 crafters whose work demonstrates DIY techniques and/or utilizes sustainable, eco-friendly materials and methods.

Congratulations ladies, for navigating a rigorous jury process and strutting your stuff at one of the world's most prestigious craft shows. We'll see you there!

Image courtesy of Bowerbox Press.

Baltimore by Hand revived

I am thrilled to be re-launching Baltimore by Hand: a blog about the indie craft community in and around Baltimore.

I first began Baltimore by Hand in August '08 as a daily blog at baltimoresun.com. After a year, it was absorbed into B'More Green, where I now blog about green living alongside Sun reporters Meredith Cohen and Tim Wheeler.

While I love contributing to B'More Green (and will continue to do so), I've missed writing exclusively about the local handmade movement and ALL that it encompasses. This blog will feature local artists, crafters and designers, DIY projects, upcoming events, places to shop, and other handmade happenings.

Here's how you can get involved in Baltimore by Hand:

• Help spread the word! Add (or update) the link to Baltimore by Hand on your website or blog: http://baltimorebyhand.blogspot.com/
• Become a fan of Baltimore by Hand on Facebook
• Follow Baltimore by Hand on Twitter
• Join the Baltimore by Hand group on Flickr
• Write to me at zuccarini.christy@gmail.com if you'd like to be featured or know someone who would!

I hope that each and every one of you will take part in making Baltimore by Hand an entertaining and inspiring read. Your thoughts and ideas are always welcome so please don't hesitate to share your world with us. It's a blog - there's room for everyone!

Coming soon!