tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85862043598042729622024-03-04T20:05:28.577-08:00baltimore by handC.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-41364396313164450682013-03-10T09:16:00.002-07:002014-02-15T08:00:27.073-08:00bbh has moved!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603ud6LJ0tXj7ZgYCbwJuP34wK-Nrf8UK5_Q1rSY9sCVS4PJ9nC0dfIjLAInR-2mR-raixum2m0iiMFHulhSZJHqVF-NnRiZo9XckCapjm2i-Bvh55WZr1yxxae0_jf6mgnlbs5lk_jaI/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-02-13+at+10.44.10+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj603ud6LJ0tXj7ZgYCbwJuP34wK-Nrf8UK5_Q1rSY9sCVS4PJ9nC0dfIjLAInR-2mR-raixum2m0iiMFHulhSZJHqVF-NnRiZo9XckCapjm2i-Bvh55WZr1yxxae0_jf6mgnlbs5lk_jaI/s640/Screen+shot+2014-02-13+at+10.44.10+PM.png.jpg" height="355" width="640" /></a><br />
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We've got a new site! Visit us from now on at <a href="http://www.baltimorebyhand.com">www.baltimorebyhand.com</a>. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-26866773784721950152013-03-03T20:10:00.002-08:002014-02-11T17:08:03.035-08:00art moxie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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so, i found this note on my front door...<a href="http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/index.php/Wahoonie">whahoonie</a> (just in case you're wondering).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-62896576802355687642013-03-03T19:49:00.001-08:002013-03-03T19:49:08.508-08:00savage love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoP9evK4JI4_M-yzsdBGv-HOy8vC6PJEEEL-Ot3o84_MReKWyd1QSDUqR7S21F7eS23X5YwT_gS8mUwxetrgrMY4hJavhwISaDNEiOQJMDQZE4tz9isAPQ1XGIoESaKRABj-IMTKlfsM9/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoP9evK4JI4_M-yzsdBGv-HOy8vC6PJEEEL-Ot3o84_MReKWyd1QSDUqR7S21F7eS23X5YwT_gS8mUwxetrgrMY4hJavhwISaDNEiOQJMDQZE4tz9isAPQ1XGIoESaKRABj-IMTKlfsM9/s640/IMG_2043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa3-zjUdlwA2gt2XMrggqrv6B4YD_fcc7heiJ5aXHuSXtOQHnL__5kcTq40AJC0EFpxN9cGd1k6vQ0AhBVSBvgxz_rsm02ysxaJxfR0BNhJ5ThNr7sFkl2YABrxFXavMQcB0bQz34A7l1/s1600/T%2526W+-+January+11%252C+2013-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa3-zjUdlwA2gt2XMrggqrv6B4YD_fcc7heiJ5aXHuSXtOQHnL__5kcTq40AJC0EFpxN9cGd1k6vQ0AhBVSBvgxz_rsm02ysxaJxfR0BNhJ5ThNr7sFkl2YABrxFXavMQcB0bQz34A7l1/s640/T%2526W+-+January+11%252C+2013-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Third generation upholsterer Warren Savage of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_YoVDNRTRg">T&W Furniture Repair & Upholstery</a>.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-79786479469622151162012-08-22T18:49:00.000-07:002014-03-30T11:27:14.087-07:00vacationland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am heading to Maine next week...Portland, Damariscotta, Belfast, and lots of little places in between. Think apple orchards, rocky beaches, pine trees, farm parties, wild blueberries, art galleries, and oodles of handmade goodness. See you soon!</div>
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<i>Quote by Terry Goodkind.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-3135025740690310992012-08-21T19:48:00.000-07:002012-08-21T20:24:39.015-07:00fashion is life: interview with atelier grand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOniPuWRBm9X6in3ArMLsQX2ghqWiPf3RmTBWnwwpke91beHc6Dqo6TK-p4znztbncjHKqIEQ9DRvJwpwX8kgfjX3O7yc9xT6HKXRoG8xlAPOI0Ks7_s-9RBlKuXkHg3nWUaGfBwBn_zL/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.35.43+PM.png.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOniPuWRBm9X6in3ArMLsQX2ghqWiPf3RmTBWnwwpke91beHc6Dqo6TK-p4znztbncjHKqIEQ9DRvJwpwX8kgfjX3O7yc9xT6HKXRoG8xlAPOI0Ks7_s-9RBlKuXkHg3nWUaGfBwBn_zL/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.35.43+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZ8KgP2MOQSQCIFMJNB5rLrffpwp11_S0Xr83oSrTPIzaHVHPw5W01d10_FoAN6zHRpktby-1bb4uav0r12036i-qwUofgqObiB2LzdKdRR1oKIbCZJQGAVxLalPl5SdAXqjCedST7qkJ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.20.06+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<b> </b><br />
<b>Tell us about yourselves. </b><br />
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Our original names are Santoria Renae Williams and Jacqueline Shelby Netti. Shelby is 21, Sandy is 20, and we were born and raised in Baltimore. We met working at Target in 2011 and instantly clicked and became great friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZ8KgP2MOQSQCIFMJNB5rLrffpwp11_S0Xr83oSrTPIzaHVHPw5W01d10_FoAN6zHRpktby-1bb4uav0r12036i-qwUofgqObiB2LzdKdRR1oKIbCZJQGAVxLalPl5SdAXqjCedST7qkJ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.20.06+PM.png.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZ8KgP2MOQSQCIFMJNB5rLrffpwp11_S0Xr83oSrTPIzaHVHPw5W01d10_FoAN6zHRpktby-1bb4uav0r12036i-qwUofgqObiB2LzdKdRR1oKIbCZJQGAVxLalPl5SdAXqjCedST7qkJ/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.20.06+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<b>When did you learn to design clothing?
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(Sandy) I learned how to sew in an after school class in middle school. As far as designing, I have my own sense of style when it comes to fashion, and I use that to design our clothes.<br />
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(Shelby) Designing clothing started for me in middle school, as well. Back then I was never into sewing or learning how to sew. Designing was all I did in school on my free time. It was like a hobby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZN3K4ylHaQF6IAy6Qt5NP9Lb0sCNZdETTjjFuJFWuepumZx9FBSObebyUN5-SIOrIRClIrgN_KBC68bDB4zb2VbiMlrI1k8fpODq0yFShVS8L5WsMrOIyodiVaeJ_mI0KQNwbr1MD9bO/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.24.04+PM.png.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZN3K4ylHaQF6IAy6Qt5NP9Lb0sCNZdETTjjFuJFWuepumZx9FBSObebyUN5-SIOrIRClIrgN_KBC68bDB4zb2VbiMlrI1k8fpODq0yFShVS8L5WsMrOIyodiVaeJ_mI0KQNwbr1MD9bO/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.24.04+PM.png.jpg" width="478" /></a> </div>
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<b>Describe your process. </b><br />
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Usually when doing a line, we design separately and then come together with our pieces. When we pick out fabric we search for the fabric that is best for us, and the line. Sometimes we already know what we looking for in a material like sequins, colors or a pattern.<br />
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<b>Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
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Inspiration for our designs comes from everywhere. It can be clothing in a magazine, thrift shop, the television for Shelby (movies for Sandy). Or, people we meet… inspiration can come from anything. Fashion is our everyday life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_cyfKF89FwFDahfhOhaMcqrSU0hG8bW4WPOzGpBcaX7u81-o0O0cPJTXscuMrIIF-Gy9Vu7dwx8Pv8KY9vfBmiIXcXBkYtxTZE4sNIE0yCSIRgsEib1VUSq0LzxlfZ11_EtstRYfWwTt/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.39.44+PM.png.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_cyfKF89FwFDahfhOhaMcqrSU0hG8bW4WPOzGpBcaX7u81-o0O0cPJTXscuMrIIF-Gy9Vu7dwx8Pv8KY9vfBmiIXcXBkYtxTZE4sNIE0yCSIRgsEib1VUSq0LzxlfZ11_EtstRYfWwTt/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-21+at+10.39.44+PM.png.jpg" width="378" /></a> </div>
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<b>Share something about you that most people don't know. </b><br />
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(Shelby) I love clothes, but shoes are a strong interest of mine. I’ll pick out a pair of shoes before even thinking about my outfit. I live for shoes.<br />
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(Sandy) Okay I am very clumsy, and fall over the place. Falling is part of my everyday life, so if I have a day without me falling, tripping or any type of embarrassment… I always expect something horrible to happen!<br />
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To see more work by Atelier Grand, visit them on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AtelierGrand?ref=seller_info&atr_uid=0">Etsy</a>.<br />
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<i>All images courtesy of Atelier Grand. </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-55095077897433332162012-08-21T09:55:00.001-07:002012-08-21T09:55:45.902-07:00an exercise in purgingI met Matt Connelly during a Sunday brunch at Golden West. When I asked him what he did for a living he said, "I'm an artist and I work in a lumberyard." A little while later he told me that he has a show up at <a href="http://www.dionysusbar.com/">Dionysus</a>. "You can go there and just take a painting off the wall."<br />
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Apparently, all of the art in Matt's show is free for the taking. "It's an exercise in purging," he explained. "The show consists entirely of old work that has resided in dark corners for years. I am trying to give these paintings happy homes; I am also trying to get rid of them." <br />
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Purging is typically a sudden act, born from the compulsion to get rid of something, but Matt's gesture seems more like a call to awakening. <br />
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"The art was originally hung for sale, and after a few weeks I decided to just give it away. The response has been positive. When the walls get sparse, I put up a few more paintings."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvYNy85nTq49tVSDBUFxYclh66GzdDs8NvpgLVYq3fCUbspqSzJmnSrsToTmfwL6JhH9e5bocFfk36qaVq81M9IiflFEMXSlAUTx3rBzuAhsz_6sX85PqYJoBa9x5hnNKw-FU2xsMUwvJ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-20+at+8.35.26+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvYNy85nTq49tVSDBUFxYclh66GzdDs8NvpgLVYq3fCUbspqSzJmnSrsToTmfwL6JhH9e5bocFfk36qaVq81M9IiflFEMXSlAUTx3rBzuAhsz_6sX85PqYJoBa9x5hnNKw-FU2xsMUwvJ/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-20+at+8.35.26+PM.png.jpg" width="498" /></a></div>
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<i>Images courtesy of Matt Connelly.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-21091585595433771192012-08-20T14:05:00.000-07:002012-08-20T16:12:34.834-07:00step on a crack, break your mother's dishes<a href="http://ibreakplates.com/about/">Juliet Ames</a> is bombing Baltimore with broken plates and guess what? It's beautiful. <br />
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"I started thinking about these china bombs a while ago after seeing <a href="http://planetoddity.com/painful-wall-cracks-filled-up-with-lego-joy/">Jan Vormann's work</a>. Last week, summer restlessness kicked in and I thought it would be fun!" <br />
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Here's how it works: Juliet finds a loose bit of blacktop in an "interesting shape", brings it back to her studio and recreates that shape of out of a plate shard. She then fills the original crack or hole in the blacktop with the shard (aka: china bomb).<br />
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"I've only done 3 so far, in my neighborhood. I will be doing a few in more public places to make a contest out of finding them."<br />
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I wonder if the Department of Transportation would ever consider incorporating Juliet's project into their <a href="http://www.baltimorecity.gov/Government/AgenciesDepartments/Transportation/Potholes.aspx">pothole response system</a>...how cool would that be?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-13170321353476636692012-08-15T08:16:00.000-07:002012-08-15T10:11:06.477-07:00love is an ingredient: interview with ashley litecky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Tell us about yourself.</strong> </div>
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I’m a mid-west girl at heart. I was born outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota and for the first 5 years of my life I was surrounded by aunties, uncles, snow, and Sicilian food. We moved to Maryland when I was around 6 where I grew up in the suburbs of Columbia. The folks who designed the townships of Columbia created networks of trails that wound through patches of woods and contained creeks and ponds. It was in these woods that my fascination in plants began. I remember gathering moss, leaves, and small plants and making terrariums. In the summers my friends and I would play along the forest edges and pretend that we could communicate with the fairies that lived under the May Apples.
My interest in mystical experiences found in nature and plants started in these suburban woods, but my interest in health started with a series of illnesses. <br />
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As a child I was always sick. I had asthma that would send me to the emergency rooms at least twice a year and I would find myself covered in rashes at the slightest touch of grass, cats, and tree pollen. At the age of 13, when nothing else seemed to work, my mom brought me to a Naturopath. He changed my diet, gave me herbs, and taught me how to breathe. In 6 months all of my symptoms were gone. This was the start of my journey in the world of natural health.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu71TpDoRGwwvUgUMh26pLIxtW8Bkw-ZCz0FgBNKhJJlb09LF7M1XG3C9p_ayyTd3LZwIMWEUsIZhmHxDU7MpJ9ZwRUHO5GjcOIAW7b1oRhvVp0eEbk_K9-YeecMdeCSGRznUgc9apqXme/s1600/Baltimore+by+Hand-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu71TpDoRGwwvUgUMh26pLIxtW8Bkw-ZCz0FgBNKhJJlb09LF7M1XG3C9p_ayyTd3LZwIMWEUsIZhmHxDU7MpJ9ZwRUHO5GjcOIAW7b1oRhvVp0eEbk_K9-YeecMdeCSGRznUgc9apqXme/s640/Baltimore+by+Hand-004.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I attended college at University of NC – Asheville where I took my first yoga and meditation class. I was hooked. I found myself thirsting for more knowledge about Eastern Philosophy, ancient plant remedies, and yoga.
During my years in Asheville I studied plants, worked on organic farms, practiced yoga, and started visualizing my professional future. My junior year in college was spent in Australia studying Aboriginal Culture, Myth, and Medicine and practicing yoga where ever I could find it. After graduating college, I set out in search of a clinical herbalism graduate program which I found in my own backyard; the <a href="http://www.tai.edu/">Tai Sophia Institute</a> in Laurel, Maryland.
After completing my M.Sc in Clinical Herbal medicine in 2008, I began teaching yoga full-time, managed a yoga studio, and started building my herbal practice and my apothecary. <br />
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In January of 2012 along with friends and colleagues, we opened <a href="http://www.skyhouseyoga.com/">Sky House Yoga</a>, a donation-based wellness collective that offers yoga, herbal medicine, astrology, acupuncture and educational workshops.
It’s funny, I remember when I was 24 or 25 I had the realization that I would never be able to take a traditional career path. My interests were too eclectic and I needed a job that allowed space for creativity, study, self-expression, and one that honored the esoteric. When I entered into the fields of yoga and herbal medicine, I knew that it would not be easy, and that traditionally these fields brought a very modest pay. But here I am. I have no regrets and every day I am grateful that I am able to make a living doing what I love.
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<strong>Describe the Sky House apothecary and your process for making the products you sell there.</strong><br />
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The Sky House Apothecary is an herbal dispensary housing over 200 herbs in their raw form. We carry tinctures (alcohol based herbal extracts), dried herbs, powdered herbs, essential oils, and homeopathic blends. The Apothecary is mostly used for making customized formulas for herbal clients that we see at Sky House. We also have a range of pre-mixed herbal teas for sale.
The formulas we have are based on what we see as common complaints or areas that most often need support. Our most popular tea, <a href="http://www.skyhouseyoga.com/herbal-products.html">“Deep Green Healing Tea”</a>, is a blend of nourishing and supportive herbs like Nettle, Holy Basil, Licorice, Elder Flowers, and Cinnamon Bark. “Deep Green Healing Tea” is high in minerals and is supportive to the adrenals, the immune system, and balances blood sugar. When I teach at <a href="http://www.skyhouseyoga.com/workshops.html">retreats</a>, this is the tea I bring and brew for groups. It is tasty, dark green, and everyone seems to benefit from the grounding and relaxing energy of the tea.
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All of our herbs are 100% organic and blended by hand. We use recycled packaging and our labels were donated to us by a local graphic designer. All of our products have a donation range so people can pay what they can afford. In addition to teas we make our own <a href="http://www.skyhouseyoga.com/herbal-products.html">White Sage smudging sticks</a> which are great for clearing energy and cleansing spaces. We sell bags of Triphala powder for those with digestive issues and <a href="http://www.skyhouseyoga.com/herbal-products.html">Kava powder</a> for anxiety and relaxation.
In the next few months we will be launching a line of tinctures for the fall cold/flu season. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0Z5TkfVvgdwPQ3MnqJ3Sgsou8hu36DqCXE6Jcpxm1F2Gr2JnSRmNHnrhRuonSeLPmuzIiDHSQi2hSo0S-re22lmzC4cQK5nAxVXbTxuqeXx9pVJLtnTceMtQZ1u5wQ7u7-tjOmXN7U5R/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+8152012+94318+AM.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0Z5TkfVvgdwPQ3MnqJ3Sgsou8hu36DqCXE6Jcpxm1F2Gr2JnSRmNHnrhRuonSeLPmuzIiDHSQi2hSo0S-re22lmzC4cQK5nAxVXbTxuqeXx9pVJLtnTceMtQZ1u5wQ7u7-tjOmXN7U5R/s640/Fullscreen+capture+8152012+94318+AM.bmp.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<strong>Is there a spiritual component to your work?</strong><br />
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There is absolutely a spiritual component to my work. Much of what I learned about plants and their healing properties has come from connecting to the more subtle energies of the plants. For example, you may have three plants that help with sleep, but one is heating, one is cooling, and one is specific for waking up at 2:00AM. The more we learn about these subtleties the better we can match a plant to a person. I see this as spiritual work. It is like trying to re-unite two friends and figuring out the correct timing, frequency, and environment. <br />
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I also think blending herbs opens us to connecting to the spirit of the plant and studying how they either work together, or in some cases DON’T work together! Blending herbs calls upon the deductive power of the rational mind yet does not limit us from using our intuitive centers. When these work together I think the medicine is at its most powerful.
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In every tea you’ll see that the last ingredient is “love." I really think that creating a sacred space for blending the teas, and adding love, changes the tea. If the power of a thought can create an action in our own lives, I believe that adding some good vibes into our products has the potential to ripple more good vibes out into the world.
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<strong>In addition to making herbal remedies, you also lead workshops that teach people about local plant life and how to make their own herbal remedies. Why is it important to you to share this art of making medicine with others?</strong>
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We are all on this planet together and how we take care of ourselves directly impacts the world. The land we live on is rich and full of medicines that are gentle on our bodies and on the planet. When we learn about the plants that are growing in our local areas, like our front yards, we start to develop a kinship with them. In other words, having a relationship with something makes us want to get to know it and to protect it. It's a small way we can connect to and care for our planet.
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Making plant medicines is a wonderful way to conserve our financial resources and cut down on transport and production costs.
In the plant world, when we find a plant that contains a poison, we can often find a plant that carries the antidote growing nearby. For example, when we find poison ivy, within a few meters usually we can find its antidote, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens">jewelweed</a>. In the same way, many medicinal plants that grow near human places of habitat can be used to treat many of our western illnesses that come from over exposure to local pollutants and over consumption of processed foods. One great example is dandelion. We think of this as a pesky weed, but it is one of the best liver cleansers, detoxifiers, laxatives, and is a great source of potassium. I think all Americans would benefit by eating this local medicinal plant and I wonder if it is an accident that it grows all around us.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq263CmWRahsPBtwY3z0KxKQHHsXkVCSlWhM-8dtsUD_gRljQ39rv5EFOZIYRsIq8wIcUzJ1RFHqlYJ2rl0WxS6KjATDLQUnEWUCUwPOgHyNhTEZWrxomjM_zSdT7Qb3rg2uUqcLYL2Wh/s1600/Screen+Captures1-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq263CmWRahsPBtwY3z0KxKQHHsXkVCSlWhM-8dtsUD_gRljQ39rv5EFOZIYRsIq8wIcUzJ1RFHqlYJ2rl0WxS6KjATDLQUnEWUCUwPOgHyNhTEZWrxomjM_zSdT7Qb3rg2uUqcLYL2Wh/s640/Screen+Captures1-001.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<strong>What are some of the greatest challenges you've encountered on your journey to building an independent business?</strong> <br />
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The greatest challenge was opening our doors and then having empty classes and treatment rooms. We had a wonderful grand opening with over seventy people yet when we opened our doors on the first day of business, no one here! Our first reaction was sheer panic. Did we do the right thing? Will anyone come? What next? Through patience, faith, and self-study, we looked at what we had in front of us and did our best.
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It has been a continual learning experience. Some classes fill, others remain empty. Some herbal clients come back, others don’t. I‘ve learned that it is not just the structure of a business that makes it work, but the spirit of the business. Time and time again I see how the spirit of my offering affects the outcome more than strategy, which can sometimes even hurt the business. I don’t have a formal business background, so there may be things that I don’t see. Our business plan was probably weak, our capital was low, but our hopes and work ethic were high. We came up with a model that inspired us and utilized the strongest skills in each of us.
We are now eight months into our first year and things are going really well. We continue to study the business like it is a garden, trying to predict its future needs. I would advise anyone interested in opening a small business to follow their heart, have someone to handle the books, watch your business like a small child, and give, give, give!!
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<strong>Share something about yourself that most people don't know.</strong>
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I am stubborn. Really stubborn. In astrology I am a sun and moon sign Taurus, and we are considered zodiacal “bulls in the mud”. Having two important planets in Taurus is a gift in many ways. Taurus is an earth sign and is ruled by the planet Venus, the planet that governs love, beauty, and material possessions. I have a pretty good eye for beauty and decoration; I can fix up old things and make them pretty. The earthy energy of Taurus is also what has attracted me to plants. Plants are pretty and valuable, two things that Taurus likes.
My stubbornness is something I am constantly working on. I get really fixed on things and it takes me a really long time to let them go. In most cases I know better, but there is something inside that needs time, a lot of it, in order to process things. With plants, the good thing is that when I know a plant, my memory is strong and I will never forget something that I found to be true. The down side, is that it can take me hours to make a formula and if I am out of an herb I wanted to use, it can paralyze me. Haha, this is probably more than you wanted to know!!<br />
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<em>Sky House Yoga offers yoga classes, astrology services, and herbal consultations. Join them on August 25 for a free class on Plant Essences, or, visit the studio for an Herbal Medicine Apprenticeship Program open house on September 23. For more information on herbal classes and workshops, visit the Sky <a href="https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=22592">House Yoga website</a></em> <em>or the <a href="http://plants-whisper-yoga.blogspot.com/">Plants Whisper Yoga</a> blog.</em>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-16483088863968716712012-08-14T06:28:00.001-07:002012-08-16T23:09:08.561-07:00L to the O to the LOh thank you, Glen Hibline, for a good laugh on this dreary Tuesday morning. Each of these Mitt Romney poops greeting cards are "embellished with shiny copper pennies right out of Mitt Romney's ass." Yes indeed. Check out more of Glen's hilarious cards (many of which are Baltimore-inspired) <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/GlenIllustrates">here</a>. <br />
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<i>Image courtesy of Glen Hibline.</i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-88677634341602434642012-08-13T08:26:00.003-07:002012-08-15T11:27:44.378-07:00in memory of raising hell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiDhK3P6E2KrUbgPKicq6h08wEOtCUMflYFmdCUl54HUY1E_dw3EVRyiHlIXgqBOiHuMGiYGxZJksTlh0O-U0GiDznIzilHd3PoXC-X0Ww3Rzq6UbuB3ICvhoQlwZn2-SmpjHPxXT0T8Y/s1600/Screen+Captures1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiDhK3P6E2KrUbgPKicq6h08wEOtCUMflYFmdCUl54HUY1E_dw3EVRyiHlIXgqBOiHuMGiYGxZJksTlh0O-U0GiDznIzilHd3PoXC-X0Ww3Rzq6UbuB3ICvhoQlwZn2-SmpjHPxXT0T8Y/s640/Screen+Captures1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Posted as a tribute to photographer Alex Ulrich, who was killed on Friday during <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-08-14/news/bs-md-ci-mt-vernon-shooting-vigil-20120814_1_neighborhood-ambassador-victims-dean-palmere">a shooting</a> in Mid-Town.</div>
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<em>Images courtesy of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HELLBENT/123620627723775?sk=photos#!/pages/HELLBENT/123620627723775">HELLBENT</a>.</em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-769511955537801392012-08-07T15:18:00.001-07:002012-08-13T12:30:55.476-07:00hey you! go win a shawn theron painting!!Join artist <a href="http://www.sogh.org/sogh.org/SOGH.html">Shawn Theron</a> (whose work was recently featured in <a href="http://bride.baltimoremagazine.net/"><i>Baltimore Bride</i></a>) at <a href="http://www.mrrainsfunhouse.com/">Mr. Rain's Funhouse</a> on August 19 at 6PM for the SOGH Shindig 2012. Shawn will have new work for sale and Mr. Rains will offer their Starving Artist Menu. One lucky guest will win a painting! Visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SOGH-Shawn-Theron/84443917660">SOGH</a> on Facebook for more information.<br />
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<i>Image courtesy of Shawn Theron.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-87572302851409128062012-08-07T08:33:00.000-07:002012-12-11T09:21:56.380-08:00the art of resistance: interview with hannah brancato<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TvOGO0SMxnub6gyg2WdEzW8hQw4EEVlc-VgxVFNN_HLMDt4UqWQA_zgr8hfIjGx9w3azTXbJ-M0XzPO0do1o73KiCnSg5ly9cgHp_A81kQ5s07G_2RT1iOmhJsduBG5lSTUFlpvhYiT6/s1600/hannah7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TvOGO0SMxnub6gyg2WdEzW8hQw4EEVlc-VgxVFNN_HLMDt4UqWQA_zgr8hfIjGx9w3azTXbJ-M0XzPO0do1o73KiCnSg5ly9cgHp_A81kQ5s07G_2RT1iOmhJsduBG5lSTUFlpvhYiT6/s640/hannah7.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
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<em>Hannah Brancato is a curator and an artist. She received her <a href="http://www.mica.edu/Programs_of_Study/Graduate_Programs/Community_Arts_(MFA).html">MFA in Community Art from MICA</a>. Brancato is currently organizing a series of actions and events to <a href="http://hannahbrancato.com/#YES-Consent-Is-Sexy">fight the culture of rape</a>; working with activist collective <a href="http://www.artismyoccupation.org/news_and_projects/2012/may/20/illuminating-hidden-histories-greenpants-collectiv/">Greenpants</a> to create large scale projected videos about hidden histories and injustices; coordinating a women's leadership project, <a href="http://mothermadebaltimore.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/who-we-are/olympus-digital-camera-25/">Mother Made Baltimore</a>; and teaching part time at the Maryland Institute College of Art. </em><br />
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<strong>Tell us about your background.</strong><br />
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I grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey and Connecticut. As a kid, I was always interested in storytelling, making images, and making things, but I didn't always consider this to be art and wasn't exposed to much contemporary art. As a middle child in a big family (seven siblings altogether), I had lots of practice communicating. At MICA I met working artists who participated in a variety art worlds and that was when the idea of being an artist became a reality for me. I've always been someone who is interested in context, mediating, and approaching things from a few different angles at a time, so when it became clear that these characteristics were as necessary to being a contemporary artist and that these ways of thinking could become a part of my work, I realized I could make a life as an artist.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sddq7vg3gIbDTPqar_7D9YWcsurIQhswlFfluFtKtaVz3pj-MBtfrZMJAYyvRMqJiewkSPE90Uk7w1UShJTiH1G9DysyeMrOXo7iXbbYJUd2BDrk92genVXgdASglbMd53G6ikNiU9_L/s1600/hannah1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sddq7vg3gIbDTPqar_7D9YWcsurIQhswlFfluFtKtaVz3pj-MBtfrZMJAYyvRMqJiewkSPE90Uk7w1UShJTiH1G9DysyeMrOXo7iXbbYJUd2BDrk92genVXgdASglbMd53G6ikNiU9_L/s640/hannah1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>In your personal statement, you say that producing art and culture is an effective form of resistance. At what point in your career did this belief begin to guide your work?</strong> </div>
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In 2007 I travelled to Turkey with a group from MICA. Though I expected to learn about textile production and history while in Turkey, we were constantly surrounded by tourist industries that were selling vaguely ethnic looking items made in factories throughout the world with no connection to Turkish culture. But in one town, we met a group of women who were making and selling dolls modeled after Turkish women. I was struck by how profound it was that these women were profiting directly from an industry that otherwise did not seem to benefit poor or working class Turkish people, and definitely not women. And, they were doing that by selling simple hand crafted dolls - not labor intensive carpets. The experience made me think about how a group of women working together might be able to change or alter things where I lived, in Baltimore. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-joJDCCl958oDDQIMcv8RX34mt8bR-Nd4fbVrw3_vXlJcamGw6PN3wRcIvGbWdNAHNo96ujmEMTFkEwX96P2JRphV7LyuwQ1uWrP9u4lz6_ZLmZ1EmyhVEbh9Sv6vEC_saqPdeXCvu0Fx/s1600/hannah2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-joJDCCl958oDDQIMcv8RX34mt8bR-Nd4fbVrw3_vXlJcamGw6PN3wRcIvGbWdNAHNo96ujmEMTFkEwX96P2JRphV7LyuwQ1uWrP9u4lz6_ZLmZ1EmyhVEbh9Sv6vEC_saqPdeXCvu0Fx/s640/hannah2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Upon returning from Turkey, I began working as a volunteer at the <a href="http://www.hruth.org/">House Of Ruth Maryland</a>. The projects I did there were intended to create a healing space for participants, and also to build awareness of domestic violence. My approach to community art turned out to come back to the way that I thought about art as an undergrad, but after the trip to Turkey I added another couple of elements to the mix. Instead of only thinking about the way that viewers experience the end product - the thing made by the artist - I began to focus on how the process of making art can create change, on the political and social context in which art is made, and how art can perpetuate old ideas or create new ones.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39HrbBhXxYyRIfPHr7W0DbD5b2ul8qwSDfdPqRqL9siDfnlA1PGwl7XeUcL_9YZ6hHJgkOsM2_AyRIGS-qG8WdcX7VOYy8QczAyyAdkhy44LbSOAi3GzQcP3YFWNeVgrZxmQrBZYXye-6/s1600/hannah6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39HrbBhXxYyRIfPHr7W0DbD5b2ul8qwSDfdPqRqL9siDfnlA1PGwl7XeUcL_9YZ6hHJgkOsM2_AyRIGS-qG8WdcX7VOYy8QczAyyAdkhy44LbSOAi3GzQcP3YFWNeVgrZxmQrBZYXye-6/s640/hannah6.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<strong>How, in your opinion, does the act of making something become a vehicle for social change?</strong> <br />
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I've found that a lot of change happens through the process of making projects in a group. <a href="http://mothermadebaltimore.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/who-we-are/olympus-digital-camera-25/">Mother Made</a> is a project in which a group of women facing financial challenges are working together to build a social enterprise. We are making and selling bags and dyed items like scarves and napkins, but we are also building a really specific and small community that provides emotional support to the ten women involved. We are trying to build a horizontal structure in which the workers make decisions for the program, and most people in the group are not used to being leaders in that way. <br />
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We now have regular meetings during which we make decisions for the program, but the first one was amazing. The group needed to decide how money for a particular job would be divided. I saw people in the group speaking up and taking ownership in a way that they hadn't until that point. I saw women who hadn't been part of decision making in a job before come to the realization that their opinion mattered and that voicing the opinion was important to the well-being of the group. This meeting was emotional and exhausting because so many light bulbs were going off, so much learning was happening and the group was really building itself. This is an example of individual growth really clearly lending itself to social change, because the people in the room became aware of their agency - their ability to act and the make a difference in their world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CqGTh6aUV5pW_oK26uwHeK0d5fs229SVGkSXZz0E2sJT5323JEQVaiWA_qJvaxmMMtdN5cktSXXoNVIm98EwolFNnN5b2JXD4ZLMp5SCkr1bW-iF2pAa0yr4Y0LQz5zgupu4oZjwMyP1/s1600/hannah3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7CqGTh6aUV5pW_oK26uwHeK0d5fs229SVGkSXZz0E2sJT5323JEQVaiWA_qJvaxmMMtdN5cktSXXoNVIm98EwolFNnN5b2JXD4ZLMp5SCkr1bW-iF2pAa0yr4Y0LQz5zgupu4oZjwMyP1/s640/hannah3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<strong>What does Baltimore City offer that is particularly appealing to you as a working artist?</strong><br />
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I love Baltimore because it is a small city with a lot of history. Everyone knows everyone. After only working as an artist, in neighborhoods and doing activist projects for about five years, I've begun to see people I know from a community center at a United Workers action, or I'll meet someone at an art opening who later gets involved with <a href="http://mothermadebaltimore.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/who-we-are/olympus-digital-camera-25/">Mother Made</a>. And though it is a city full of injustices, it is also a place with a history of resistance, of communities fighting for social justice, and I've learned a lot from becoming a part of that history. It is inspiring and moving to be a part of creating real change, and to be able to work with other people who really understand the role that art and culture has to play in making that change.<br />
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<strong>Tell us a personal tidbit about yourself that most people don’t know.</strong><br />
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I know the words to most of Mariah Carey's songs.<br />
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<em>All images courtesy of Hannah Brancato. To see more of her work, visit <a href="http://hannahbrancato.com/">http://hannahbrancato.com/</a>. </em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-37961995807240512662012-08-04T11:15:00.002-07:002012-08-04T11:15:59.927-07:00the beauty is in the detailsLatina Gilyard of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoleStitch?ref=pr_shop_more">SoleStitch</a> uses recycled/repurposed materials to make these unique statement pieces. No two items are alike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlVAorrUuGzqEH9ThzLG-TDUSrma8rXHfGjMn6KMMbeqQQoQ5atG7mnZLBqwi_c5wGFN4GpEnUlGFe6HSqduvb7BXmmkYvLYVyWzCb5xJSHb3fx2vuOxEqrJauZ8_VpmE3Kt9MpK9wwin/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-04+at+2.00.17+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlVAorrUuGzqEH9ThzLG-TDUSrma8rXHfGjMn6KMMbeqQQoQ5atG7mnZLBqwi_c5wGFN4GpEnUlGFe6HSqduvb7BXmmkYvLYVyWzCb5xJSHb3fx2vuOxEqrJauZ8_VpmE3Kt9MpK9wwin/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-04+at+2.00.17+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6tjuWV75b7DJGLD19ta3_3uE-w0McE-uyqHl5MEWjAELWfz6cmWdAICis2cnKi5uUXd7pgfDzGZh6Z-S2kbVfMXKzCxz1PPnLP07AFIiToPpD0kul2k11VA26LrIofuX20mdYOwap1YC/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-04+at+1.58.09+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6tjuWV75b7DJGLD19ta3_3uE-w0McE-uyqHl5MEWjAELWfz6cmWdAICis2cnKi5uUXd7pgfDzGZh6Z-S2kbVfMXKzCxz1PPnLP07AFIiToPpD0kul2k11VA26LrIofuX20mdYOwap1YC/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-04+at+1.58.09+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof7nJ8FnSjZnU_27ZXYbI-mJ7VZUULDxwbNlKeRTxhjOHHhcyKvF7-1gmBbIvZDw6hSdzZFiocugYnaItbJEqnYVCSLQs3pfzed8GetCHVT1MdObUZ_GeZIhtqXLgmnoA4rmNyRVYB3tL/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-04+at+1.59.15+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof7nJ8FnSjZnU_27ZXYbI-mJ7VZUULDxwbNlKeRTxhjOHHhcyKvF7-1gmBbIvZDw6hSdzZFiocugYnaItbJEqnYVCSLQs3pfzed8GetCHVT1MdObUZ_GeZIhtqXLgmnoA4rmNyRVYB3tL/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-04+at+1.59.15+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>All images courtesy of Latina Gilyard.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-11881419938338789462012-08-03T06:27:00.000-07:002012-08-03T06:27:12.896-07:00what weekly wutCheck out <a href="http://whatweekly.com/2012/08/02/baltimore-by-hand/">this feature article</a> in What Weekly, written by the oh-so-fabulous <a href="http://whatweekly.com/author/dharna/">Dharna Noor</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOYzqKlofhGm6GN4qsY4gE1lTwlIWd_8L2z3WfBSXgImru6US1vNc07NNvr4YoAJR3aOMrxCqDYeW-zuxAhZ-euCsttqWROGX_CVSWJKSImBelm4c1RzhZRWC7N43BeCsUXgxsBz5Jdu7/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOYzqKlofhGm6GN4qsY4gE1lTwlIWd_8L2z3WfBSXgImru6US1vNc07NNvr4YoAJR3aOMrxCqDYeW-zuxAhZ-euCsttqWROGX_CVSWJKSImBelm4c1RzhZRWC7N43BeCsUXgxsBz5Jdu7/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-90189387253329674562012-08-02T21:13:00.000-07:002012-08-03T13:04:35.719-07:00chaos is bliss (and well-organized)Browsing through the selection of goods at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SHOPOrganizedChaos?ref=seller_info">Organized Chaos</a> is like taking a blissful dip in a pool of torn and studded denim. Seriously, these threads are rockin'. And don't be fooled into assuming that tearing, studding or tie-dyeing are easy tasks. Each piece was obviously crafted with care and a discerning eye for the sexy. American Apparel can go to h-e-double hockey sticks. These shorts (and bow ties) will turn heads AND break necks!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zYw54vhCqFiAlnxy0CzxM7yStlqVSdanBYY5J_gm45ulwpAsed4B4MJphOUuRIsvJf2VOOFcyB-1FRQD2lSKCQE647hzgKMLd-q9zdY23kY0XiiV522pPLZb5QCkCrrw7oDh3FtcUJC4/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-02+at+11.56.19+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zYw54vhCqFiAlnxy0CzxM7yStlqVSdanBYY5J_gm45ulwpAsed4B4MJphOUuRIsvJf2VOOFcyB-1FRQD2lSKCQE647hzgKMLd-q9zdY23kY0XiiV522pPLZb5QCkCrrw7oDh3FtcUJC4/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-02+at+11.56.19+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgFzKaF0mwq9vk34rbVFaSOB4x-1WogdgKi4yHHAFugErta8qIAU4LwFTNDaVBSBdbJ7ygJLnPb7ihBN7cHtrOBHsNyGjo8D-pCHX9psUYJIEeSFwj1bZ0D76EMN4emREO4sCn02nLDm3/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-08-02+at+11.55.59+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgFzKaF0mwq9vk34rbVFaSOB4x-1WogdgKi4yHHAFugErta8qIAU4LwFTNDaVBSBdbJ7ygJLnPb7ihBN7cHtrOBHsNyGjo8D-pCHX9psUYJIEeSFwj1bZ0D76EMN4emREO4sCn02nLDm3/s640/Screen+shot+2012-08-02+at+11.55.59+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Images courtesy of Organized Chaos.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-50817044758585681262012-08-01T09:33:00.000-07:002012-08-02T21:14:59.643-07:00meet the makers of 2hands marketJill Davolio, Ally Tierney and Carleen Birnes are three designers from Annapolis who met quite by chance and share a love for making things. In 2008, they put their hands and heads together and launched the <a href="http://www.2handsmarket.com/index.html">2hands indie craft market</a> to showcase emerging independent designers. Now in its fifth year, 2hands is known for its diverse selection of high caliber handmade wares and has become an indelible part of Maryland's craft scene.<br />
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<b>Who are the women behind 2hands?</b>
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There are three of us behind 2hands market. Our skill sets are so unique to each other. Jill is a graphic designer, illustrator and professional musician. When she sings, you will literally be transported to your happy place. She loves working with felt and lace to create headpieces and jewelry. Ally is a classically trained Shakespearean actress. She learned how to sew backstage making costumes for performances and has since traded in velvet and satin for leather and canvas to create handbags and jewelry. Carleen made a career switch from corporate PR to opening a bead store in the early aughts. Now she splits her time between teaching jewelry classes and creating a line of jewelry for Whole Foods. <br />
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<b>How did you all meet?</b>
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It was kismet. Ally took one of Carleen's metal clay classes, and they became instant friends. Jill met Carleen one day at the library after their kids started coloring together. Ally quickly made her way into the mix thanks to her mutual love of crafting. Thus the trio was born. After working together so successfully on the market, Jill and Ally decided to open a wedding styling and accessories business, aptly named 2hands studios
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<b>On the 2hands website, you mention developing a dialogue and connection with customers. How does that happen?</b>
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This is the magic of an artist-driven market like 2hands. Shoppers get to meet the actual creators behind the wares that they fall in love with. Artists get to tell their stories, sharing what inspired the design along with how it's made. The artist and the shopper connect on a meaningful level. There is undeniable value in that exchange. This is the experience we endeavor to provide for everyone selling at the market and walking through the door.
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<b>How has 2hands evolved and what are your plans for the future?</b>
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This is our fifth 2hands market! The first market consisted of seven vendors (including the three of us) in a tiny space at a neighborhood cafe. Jill took turns performing while working her booth! With each new market, we've grown a little more, always staying true to our mission of showcasing independent emerging artists, against a backdrop of live acoustic music. This year we plan to expand to 40 vendors! We will keep the market an annual event in November, and possibly add another market in the spring with a nod toward weddings...we're excited for what the future holds. <br />
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<b><i>August 6 is the deadline for accepting applications to this year's market</i><i>, scheduled for November 3 on the historic Holy Grounds at Severna Park Community Center. That's only six days away! <a href="http://www.2handsmarket.com/vendors.php">Apply now!!</a></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-89365490727034731142012-07-31T07:42:00.000-07:002012-07-31T10:07:13.627-07:00specks and keepings showcases baltimore artistsSpecks and Keepings is featuring a new collection of Baltimore-born handmade objects. Artists <a href="http://cargocollective.com/natalieebaugh/">Natalie Ebaugh</a>, <a href="http://jessicahans.com/">Jessica Hans</a>, and <a href="http://www.davidubias.com/">David Ubias</a> have joined the ranks of this most whimsical online shop - all under the auspices of crafter extraordinaire, <a href="http://www.specksandkeepings.com/category/hillery-sproatt">Hillery Sproatt</a>. Stay in the loop by <a href="http://www.specksandkeepings.com/contact">signing up</a> for the Specks and Keepings mailing list or send an email to <a href="mailto:info@specksandkeepings.com">info@specksandkeepings.com</a> to make an appointment for a studio tour.
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<i>All images courtesy of Specks and Keepings.</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-52864451471968537952012-07-30T05:38:00.002-07:002012-07-31T10:08:36.264-07:00a few of my favorite things: photo artThese exquisitely crafted pieces by Lauren Beacham of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jerseymaids">jerseymaids</a> might be described as dreams within a dream. Each object is made using analog film, which is what gives them their ethereal quality. What a precious way to capture a memory.<br />
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Lauren, who was once the director of <a href="http://www.mcguirefinearts.com/">McGuire Fine Arts Gallery</a> in Frederick, is now a full-time, self-employed Etsy seller. Read more about her in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2012/quit-your-day-job-jerseymaids/">Quit Your Day Job</a>. <br />
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<i>All images courtesy of Lauren Beacham. </i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04099670477196765820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-66229152986367151782012-07-29T07:54:00.000-07:002012-07-29T07:54:27.004-07:00featured crafter: sarah templin {radica textiles}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue textile design.</strong>
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I started working with textiles way back in the day when, like many other high school girls, I experimented with altering thrift store clothes. That little taste of what textiles can do was enough to get me hooked on the sculptural possibilities that fabric lends: I started making a lot of clothes and sculptures out of fabric in college and for years afterwards. Ultimately, the allure of making the fabrics themselves won out over making things out of fabrics. <br />
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<strong>What materials do you prefer to use and why?
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I learned how to screen print repeat designs on textile yardage, which is a slightly different technique that screen printing posters and t-shirts. You need to have a very long padded table to which your fabric is pinned. The screens are especially large and usually require two people who stand across the printing table from each other, passing the squeegee across the screen to each other in order to "pull the print." Every other spot is printed all the way down the table. When that ink is dry, you go back and fill in the blanks. The same process is repeated for each color of a design.
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<strong>What is your process like?</strong> <br />
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When I design a new print, I most often work in the sunny third floor studio space of my row home with a brush and India ink or with a pen to create a drawing or motif. I then scan the image and manipulate it into a “repeat” form on my computer, meaning a textile motif that seems to repeat seamlessly along the yardage to create a uniform pattern.
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<strong>What does Baltimore City offer that is particularly appealing to you as a working artist?</strong>
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Baltimore is such a good city for people who like to forge their own way. Between the tight knit creative community, the affordable cost of living, and overwhelmingly supportive general population, I can’t believe my luck that I somewhat randomly moved here.
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<em>Visit </em><a href="http://radicatextiles.com/"><em>Radica Textiles</em></a><em> to learn more about products, custom orders, textile-related projects or for other general information.</em>C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-55125189349540549592012-06-28T16:48:00.000-07:002012-08-02T09:43:17.551-07:00wanderlust: houstonWas recently in Houston and while there, felt delightfully overwhelmed by its active craft scene. Perhaps you don't believe me, or maybe you're thinking, "Houston? Really??" I'm here to say, "Yes, really." Despite the oppressive heat (which is the only drawback to being there in June), Houston is a vibrant city full of great restaurants, cool people, and an absolutely thriving world of art and craft. Because there are no zoning laws the city is peppered with shops and galleries where art is being made and <u>consistently</u> sold. Gosh, my head was spinning!<br />
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Among the inspiring people I met/places I visited: <a href="http://www.crafthouston.org/">The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft</a> where artist-in-residence <a href="http://www.rachellevasquez.com/">Rachelle Vasquez</a> graciously invited me into her studio full of crocheted animals.<br />
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Also bought a decadent ring made from plastic by <a href="http://leslieshershow.com/">Leslie Shershow</a> <i>and </i>saw the show, <a href="http://www.crafthouston.org/exhibition/interstitial-spaces-julia-barello-beverly-penn/">"Interstitial Spaces: Julia Barello and Beverly Penn"</a> - a collaborative exhibition of large-scale installations made from dyed X-ray and MRI film (Barello) and plants cast in bronze (Penn). I chatted briefly with curatorial assistant Ashley Powell, who said, "The line between fine art and craft is being blurred with both functional and non-functional works made from traditional craft media. We leave it wide open and show a bit of everything."<br />
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I wish you could have all come with me to <a href="http://www.hello-lucky.com/about.html">Hello-Lucky</a>, which is an undeniably cool shop owned by artist <a href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2011/03/100_creatives_teresa_oconnor.php">Teresa O'Connor</a>, where everything for sale is handmade by Texas artists and crafters (they accept online orders, btw). Oh, and my favorite by far (best for last) was <a href="http://www.spacemontrose.com/index.html">Space Montrose</a>, which sells work by all independent artists and crafters. Couldn't get enough.<br />
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If you haven't been to Houston, y'all, go there. If you have been there and somehow missed out on all of this, go again. Lastly, if you want to see more random shots from my trip to Texas, visit my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/undertheleaves/">Flickr page</a> (because I seriously could not put my camera down). <em>UPDATE 8/1: Forbes has rated Houston as <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2012/07/26/houston-tops-our-list-of-americas-coolest-cities-to-live/">America's Coolest City</a> (Baltimore made the list too)! Also, check out this recent <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-design-lovers-guide-to-houston-apartment-therapys-design-destination-guide-174104">Design Lover's Guide to Houston</a> on Apartment Therapy.</em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Image of rings from Leslie Shershow's </span></strong></em><a href="http://leslieshershow.bigcartel.com/product/diamond-rings"><em><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">online shop</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"> - buy one today!</span></strong></em>C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-53070804186274710872012-04-24T10:22:00.002-07:002012-04-24T10:35:31.043-07:00win free tickets to sugarloaf!Delight your senses at this year's <a href="http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/timon/fall/">Sugarloaf Crafts Festival</a> on Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29, 2012, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheohpgiK8vskdtaJ_g8U0uH_XUWVDvelTBHr1OhieRO5ss8AkKG7U6VPO68LN1NKIYZf0WEZVWVaqeXZ7s31XsccPGCFI3coxs2GBjNkr21K7J284LPtDETGgouoSvnckpW_tXhNkRr91S/s1600/Baltimore+by+Hand-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheohpgiK8vskdtaJ_g8U0uH_XUWVDvelTBHr1OhieRO5ss8AkKG7U6VPO68LN1NKIYZf0WEZVWVaqeXZ7s31XsccPGCFI3coxs2GBjNkr21K7J284LPtDETGgouoSvnckpW_tXhNkRr91S/s640/Baltimore+by+Hand-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In addition to hosting more than 250 craftspeople from around the country, this season’s Festival will spotlight the materials and techniques, unique items and non-stop activity that appeal to each of the five senses: <br />
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•See – In addition to seeing the work of participating artists, visitors will see the skill and talent that goes into each handmade piece at on-going demonstrations throughout the Festival. Master craftspeople will show their techniques in papermaking, copper spinning, metal sculpture and other mediums. While everything at the Festival can be “seen,” the Timonium Festival will feature a large number of fine artists and photographers whose view of nature and exotic locations offers a unique perspective of the world.<br />
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•Hear – Many crafts are made for hearing, from handcrafted musical instruments and wind chimes to twirling mobiles blowing in the wind. The stories behind the artists’ beautiful work are also part of what makes each item so special. Craft lovers will hear about the creativity and inspiration that goes into each one-of-a-kind piece directly from the artists who make them. Other sounds of the show make for fun and pleasurable browsing, including continuous live easy-listening piano-jazz and live performances of contemporary music.<br />
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•Taste and Smell – The festive experience at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Timonium is enhanced with gourmet foods available to sample and purchase from more than 35 small-batch purveyors, including candies and chocolates, hearty soups, artisan breads, jams and dips, syrups and olive oils. The wonderful aromas of organic lotions and soaps, and artisanal potpourri will excite guests’ sense of smell.<br />
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•Touch – The Festival is a “please touch” experience. Sugarloaf Crafts Festival artists invite visitors to peruse the crafts with more than just their eyes – from trying on luxurious wool outerwear and bejeweled accessories to feeling the textures of handcrafted wood and metal home décor. In addition, children can participate in interactive dress-up theater presentations held by Middle Earth Studios.<br />
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Hours for the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival are Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28, 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, April 29, 10am to 5pm. Admission is $7 when <a href="http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/timon/fall/">purchased online</a> and $9 at teh door. Children under 12 are admitted free. <br />
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Here's the cool part: <strong>I have free tickets to give away!</strong> Send me an email at <a href="mailto:zuccarini.christy@gmail.com">zuccarini.christy@gmail.com</a> with 'Sugarloaf' in the subject line and include your name and address. The first six people to email me before tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon will receive 2 free tickets!C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-50109576454933889782012-04-21T10:11:00.001-07:002012-04-21T10:13:49.793-07:00yummy & co. is on fab.com!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEcMMvXFISGwZepJh6seUM55Nxy9Pdzp_Ywvt3VvWPijYZCHQworPg3JVVqpZoAHn-lgROhW70_d1e2QI0jxCCSvIkCqAod6qYQkIR1JNN5pTUSgag4Va2T4Dce-LGLt_uV_og0UbxF5t/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-21+at+1.07.07+PM.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEcMMvXFISGwZepJh6seUM55Nxy9Pdzp_Ywvt3VvWPijYZCHQworPg3JVVqpZoAHn-lgROhW70_d1e2QI0jxCCSvIkCqAod6qYQkIR1JNN5pTUSgag4Va2T4Dce-LGLt_uV_og0UbxF5t/s640/Screen+shot+2012-04-21+at+1.07.07+PM.png.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Check out Jennifer Wilfong's fab designs on <a href="http://fab.com/sale/5173">Fab.com</a>!C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-72612885502428526002012-04-10T13:50:00.003-07:002012-04-10T13:53:29.086-07:00apply now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezGs5Tg5zYx7gFJjFllW0ZeKMxWcuGpQa3f4Sa-zmbHoPjHF0faaDImkiXlk103iTscL5V6aTeZkwfNEpf2fe85UUiUdVW3ZzyEH2lgiw_uWOuH6Vo0s0TVW42rZoPDY8XTQMsW1or6xy/s1600/ApplyNow2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezGs5Tg5zYx7gFJjFllW0ZeKMxWcuGpQa3f4Sa-zmbHoPjHF0faaDImkiXlk103iTscL5V6aTeZkwfNEpf2fe85UUiUdVW3ZzyEH2lgiw_uWOuH6Vo0s0TVW42rZoPDY8XTQMsW1or6xy/s400/ApplyNow2012.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><br />
Applications are available <a href="http://holidayheap.wufoo.com/forms/pile-of-craft-2012/">ONLINE</a> through April 22nd.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-47620203630630106042012-04-09T10:13:00.002-07:002012-04-09T10:14:11.391-07:00think spring with red prairie pressCelebrate the bit of chill that's still in the air with these comfy pieces from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RedPrairiePress?ref=seller_info">Red Prairie Press</a>. Made by Rachel Bone and her husband Phil Davis, each design is created and printed by hand in the couple's basement studio in Baltimore. Sweatshop free, baby!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC1bModG_CB-FVtCEA-rCRgUzOx5ggt2tXqbngm4-Dd-OjOAIgcB6Aj5wzTZB5VQU3yjv0kx7i_y_C34lRaGEQ4wu3ODqWAye1ojhxskMcELqtgFJsPpm3ncK_ooRya9E_CWxTBfVLqJ8/s1600/il_fullxfull_323098978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC1bModG_CB-FVtCEA-rCRgUzOx5ggt2tXqbngm4-Dd-OjOAIgcB6Aj5wzTZB5VQU3yjv0kx7i_y_C34lRaGEQ4wu3ODqWAye1ojhxskMcELqtgFJsPpm3ncK_ooRya9E_CWxTBfVLqJ8/s640/il_fullxfull_323098978.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<i>Images courtesy of Red Prairie Press.</i>C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8586204359804272962.post-31194316778030773322012-03-21T16:09:00.003-07:002012-04-09T14:22:03.817-07:00be unconqueredAbdu Ali Eaton of <a href="http://eatonthis.com/">fashion blog fame</a> will be releasing his first music project this coming summer. Entitled “Invictus” (meaning "unconquered" for all you non-Latin speakers), Abdu’s project embraces identity, being an individual, and living life to the fullest with no mercy. <br />
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“This project represents the struggles of being an outcast, a minority, and a victim of oppression,” he says. “I believe that being pushed to the outskirts of society, living in the darkest alleys, and, in some cases, being socially jailed, pushes a person or a community to be liberated, claiming true freedom. This freedom births beautiful subcultures seen from the gay community to the African American community.” <br />
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I asked Abdu if he thinks of Invictus as something handmade. “Well, first and foremost, I am a writer. Whether I am expressing myself through poetry, editorial journalism or music, it's all about the physiology of words. So with this project I'm creating “handmade” melodies, rhythms, and lyrics that express a particular meaning. It's all about piecing a puzzle together with words, and then setting them to music so that anyone who listens can understand that meaning.”<br />
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<object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F32027277&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=ff7700"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F32027277&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=ff7700" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object> <span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/abdu-ali/banjee-musick">BANJEE MUSIC</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/abdu-ali">EatOnThis.com</a></span><br />
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Be on the watch for it.C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16445198480705568517noreply@blogger.com0