Upcoming Craft Events: February 22 to 24

Lots to do in the coming weeks fellow crafties. Marimello is trying to keep tabs on the application due dates for you too, so expect another couple of muy importante lists coming your way. For now, here's your weekend agenda.

Today:
STITCHES West kicks off in Santa Clara. If you haven't been, STITCHES is just about the biggest yarn junkie fest with classes, shows and a marketplace to die for. It runs Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring extra empty luggage. You'll need it.
Applications are due for the San Diego North Park Craft Mafia's Spring Line Up happening March 30th at the Silver Gate Masonic Hall

Saturday, February 23:
If you got a seat, don't forget to plop down into it at Machine Project in Echo Park, Los Angeles. This is the last weekend for Sewing 101, and it looks like there's still room for a few more students.
And as usual, you have the usual NYC events: The Market NYC and Artist and Fleas

Sunday, February 24:
[UPDATE: The Southpark Flea Market CANCELED DUE TO RAIN]
Today is your last chance to see Interlaced at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. Interlaced is a showcase of textile processes using alternative media and if you go Marimello would LOVE to hear about it. The exhibit is curated by Jiseon Lee Isbara and Heidi Schwegler and artists showing include Lanny Berger, Jerry Bleem, Elizabeth Brim, Cat Chow, Lyn Christiansen, Arline Fisch, John Garret, Lonna Keller, Lindsay Ketterer Gates, Aaron Kramer, and Tracy Krumm.
In San Francisco, check out the Mission Indie-Mart. Check out the wealth of independent local designers, offering everything from one of a kind fashions and reconstructed vintage to offbeat crafts, handmade jewelry and fun antiques. Enjoy cheap beer, hot plates, local DJs and the cream of the crop of SF’s indie designer scene.


Do you have an event you would like to promote. We simply can't find everything out there and try as we might we miss a few. Please send Marimello your event details and we'll be sure to post them on the calendar.

Craft Communication Congress

Everyone has already written up the Craft Communication Congress, but we really like this link fest on We Make Money Not Art. Call us lazy, but it is a nice round up.

Of course we wish we'd been at the congress. We're obviously obsessed with discussions about making, weird science, and trips to Berlin, so we're particularly sad about missing this one. But of course, we're involved in a Craft Congress of our own and Maker Faire is coming up sooner than you think.

There's something to be said for sitting around knitting on your couch with the cat, twirling simple yarn into something useful, but on the other hand, participating in events like the Congress or the Faire puts the whole handmade movement in perspective. It's a bit of an ego trip, but who doesn't want to hang out with like minded people and ride silly motorcycles?

New Craft Spectacular: Get Right Outta Town

Marimello has been contemplating the necessity of a new Los Angeles craft fair. Wouldn't it be fun if you could go to a little indie craft shopping every weekend? Wouldn't mixing and mingling with other crafties be a swell addition to an otherwise football-filled coupla days?

We want to know your thoughts. What have you been dying to see at a craft fair? Any special vendor types you think are missing from the usual mix? What kind of howtos would have you hanging on the edge of your seat? Would you have rocking tunes ala DJ or live band? What part of your stash would you bring and leave or trade on a big table of free goodies?

Inquiring minds want to know...Leave a suggestion in the comments or email the elves at marimellodesign [at] gmail [dotty] com. And derrr, anyone who gives us feedback will be immediately enslaved to help out with the project. Or at least be subject to more brain picking.

We can't wait to hear from you!

I Heart Rummage: Rocktober Extravaganza

Our friends over at I Heart Indie are having a swell event on October 7 (that's Sunday) at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle. Boy do we wish we were in Seattle soaking up the fall, but it's still 80 degrees outside here. Some of you maybe are jealous of that, but we here at Marimello are freaking sick of our anemic end of summer/fall season...sigh.

Anyway here's the dirt from Cassandra:

It's Rocktober!

Halloween is a favorite in the IHR peeps' household! We love all the spookylicious goodies you find at this time of year. This month at IHR we have a few very cool and spookylicious artists for you to check out for your Halloween goodies!

Look for TC Leathercraft, new to the IHR scene! She has some of the most glorious handmade leather masks and accessories! You will swoon for these!

Our own Miss Oblivious of Payne Creations has promised some extra-out-of-the-ordinary dolls for us us to choose from for this ghoulish holiday season!

We are also lucky to have Carla Sonheim Creative back with us. Carla comes to us all the way from Colorado! She was hugely popular last year when she came to town, so any of you who have been longing to see her fabulous art again, don't miss your chance to see her!

Our special guest for October is everyone's favorite local boutique where you can find your favorite IHR artists during the rest of the month! Bouncing Wall! on Queen Anne! Owner Kim is creating a little artist of her own - due any time now! Congrats!

Our DJ for October will be DJs unka-neecie! 2 dj's, one idea... bring more to music

We still have issue #2 of the IHR Zine available! This issue showcases our wonderful toymakers!

There are just a few vintage IHR t-shirts left, and we have buttons and stickers so you can show off your good taste in shopping!

Remember to support your local Rollerderby Team, The Jet City Rollergirls!

And if you have a chance, send a donation to Ginger's Pet Rescue to help her keep on doing the amazing work she does.

So if you are LUCKY enough to be in Seattle this weekend, go check out IHR at the Crocodile and tell them Marimello sent you!

I Heart Rummage is Back

From our dear friends at I Heart Rummage:

Greetings!

Welcome back to IHR!!! Hope everyone had a good summer! We're rarin' to get back into some shopping action and have a fun-filled few months in store for everyone. This month's show is noticeably NOT on the first Sunday. As you all must know by now, we were at Bumbershoot on the first Sunday, and we had a fantastic time! Thanks to all who came by the booth!

The special guest for this September's IHR is our good friends from Tacoma, UrbanXchange. If you haven't had a chance to get down to the shop yet, owner Julie Bennett will have a handful of treasures from her shop, including some pieces from her own local Tacoma designers.

Our DJ for September will be one of our faves, DJ Jessie Beans! Look for her to start selling again too!

OH! And our NEW issue of the IHR Zine is available! This issue showcases our wonderful toymakers!

The September IHR is being sponsored by IZZE Sparkling Juice. IZZE will be providing free sparkling juice beverages to everyone (while supplies last).

Recently we were contacted by the Washington Lawyers for the Arts. We would like to work together to help aspiring artists & designers protect their growing businesses through education. Currently the WLA is putting on a class called Counterfeit Chic. Read more about it below. Artists & designers pay only $10 to attend! You are guranteed to save many times that much by learning to protect yourself!

We have good news to report - one of the recent death row dogs was adopted by a relative of an IHR customer! That's two dogs we have helped save now! Thank you to those kind hearted customers of ours! We love you!

And thanks again to the Crocodile Cafe for letting us meet here each month! We'll be back in two weeks for the normally scheduled Oct. IHR! We know you can't get enough of us!!!

Where are you showing off this fall

We know. The holidays always sort of sneak up on everyone. Maybe more so if you are planning on showing off this fall at a craft show or two. So here's a friendly reminder that applications are out for Felt Club XL and Boston Bazaar Bizarre. We in Marimello-ville are still stuck in our 90 degree heat wave though. So don't excpect any wooly scarves any time soon. We might be up for NaNoSweMo, but that is all up to the weather. If we are still knitting in euroflax come November, we're gonna cry.

And speaking of Felt Club, this week we're off to the L.A. County Fair to see what they're up to.

Stitch Applications are due Today

From our Friends over at Naughty Secretary Club and the Austin Craft Mafia:


If you have been debating whether of not to show your clothing line on the runway or sell you handmade goodies in the craft bazaar on Nov 10th, debate no longer. Stitch must have your application in today as we are choosing the designers and vendors on Thursday.
Application here.
We are also still interested in swapping sponsorship packages for tote bags. If you want your tote bags in the hands of 500 Austinites email Jennifer at info [at] naughtysecretaryclub [dot] com We ask that the bags be large enough to hold magazines and that you can donate at least 10. Tote bags must be received by October 1st.
Want to sponsor Stitch? Join companies like Simplicity, Etsy, Duncan, Sublime Stitching, Dremel, Bust Magazine, Sakura, Baby Lock and more by supporting Austin’s largest independent fashion show and craft bazaar. We have packages for as low as $100! Email Jennifer at info [at] naughtysecretaryclub [dot] com if you are interested. This is a great way to spread the word about your business! We’ll see you at Stitch Nov 10th at the Austin Convention Center.

Should I Stay or Should I Go: Weekend Plans

We here at Marimello are too bogged down with important work to even consider setting foot outside the house this weekend and if you're like us, you have a will of steel! However you also might need some distraction in between moments of inspiration. What a conundrum.
There, there, Marimello will make it all better…

You should stay:
International Fiber Collective needs your help to cover a gas station with craft. So craft a 3'x3' square and send it on in.
Craft and Adorn both have new issues out. Get thee to a bookstore (ok that means going a little bit out) and cuddle up with your mags.
But if the bookstore is too much of a trip there's always a bit of reading to do online. May we suggest you peruse Sisterhood of the Needle. Our favorite is definitely the mother-daughter team who both needed shoulder surgery after too much knitting. Cheesey? Yes, but Marimello likes it too.
Finally, nothing says distraction like a good i-cord project. And nothing says too much time on your hands like a headphone cord cozy. But surly you can think of something that needs an initial a la LaVerne and Shirley, or maybe some one you love needs a curse word emblazoned on a pennant.
Or you could do your work...sigh.

You should go:
Giant Robot NY is showing Susie Ghahremani's work and there is an opening tomorrow. You all know Susie from Boy Girl Party. The best part is Susie will be there handing out free copies of Craft and sample of the sampler.
Down New Zealand way, you can hit up Craft 2.0. Our noses have been pointed decidedly south ever since we heard about Lynda Dorrington's plans to turn Perth (yeah yeah we know, different country) into some sort of arts and crafts utopia.
Back on this side of the equator, there's a Recraft Fair happening in Somerville, MA on Saturday. Besides music and loads of free stuff, our friends from Magpie will be there.
Also free and also tomorrow, there's Craftanostra, hosted by the St. Louis Craft Mafia. If you had a private jet, you could make both events, because Craftanostra goes until 1 a.m. Best part? Drinks at the bar.
If you're in our neck of the woods, head over to Fiber Fest in Santa Monica. We might duck out for a moment and head over too. We hear there's an alpaca that needs petting.
And while alpaca-petting may get us out of the house for a moment or two, this Toronto event is our favorite. Maybe it's their offer of weenies, or maybe it's because 20 vendors are all cramming into some one's backyard. More likely it's that afterward, they having a clothing swap and chocolate tasting.

Oh did we say we were going to make your weekend easier? We meant harder.

Image Ann Taintor. She is hilarious.

Apathy is a Bitch

We know it's hard to get off the couch sometimes. Hell we rarely get into real work clothes here at Marimello. And don't even start to tell us about how damn near impossible it is to will the computer into your hands. We know. But apathy is a bitch people. And it can mean death for a craft business as well as an event. Organize all you want.
So today we have sad news to report. The IHR Craft Swap we mentioned on Friday has been canceled. Not because people weren't interested, but because because enthusiasm doesn't necessarily translate into activism.
If you're going to be enthusiastic, don't just send an email, send cash. Sign up for volunteer work. If you want to see something happen, be part of making it happen.

How To: stay off the internets and seek out 3D peeps

There's so much to do this weekend, we thought we'd give you a head start deciding:
In LA, get your ipod and head down to Swap Meet. Have a beer and go pirate the music. Maybe have a few beers, get up on the stage and sing the music. But remember the warning posted on the site, "According to recent legal decisions, inducing anyone to use physical space for the purpose of sharing music may render the space-time continuum illegal. Use the space-time continuum at your own risk!"
If you're near Santa Monica on Saturday, check out Fashion Swap Meet. It may not be super crafty, but you are sure to get some good inspiration. Stop by our Maker Faire friend's booth, Custom Industries and tell them we sent you.
Speaking of not crafty, Marimello will be missing you all this weekend and heading out of town to San Diego and ComicCon. Bet you didn't think we were such nerds, but truth be told, we had a huge crush on The Preacher.
If you too won't be in Lalaland either, there's still too much to do.
Friday, Etsy is putting out the Trashion in Brooklyn. Come make trash into treasure for free! As it should be, we think.
If that doesn't satisfy your crafty needs, then on Saturday check out NYCreates in Red Hook (Brooklyn).
Sunday, in Portland, clap your hands for Handmade Bazaar. It's a tim tested, Pacific Northwest approved craft fair that Marimello wishes we had a teleporter for.

Heck, if you aren't anywhere near any of these event, don't cry. Check out Handmade Bazaars instructions for starting your own bazaar. And if starting traditions is your thing, but a whole craft fair sounds a little daunting, may we recommend starting up a craft night at your local pub. Heck, that's where you'll find Marimello. Tonight we'll be lapping up the crafts at Craft Night, hosted at Silverlake's oasis, Akbar.

If You Want To Employ This Sweater

Do you have a band? Did you make your own instruments? Did your friend make you all matching sweaters? Do you make your own merch to sell? Are you the merch girl that every band needs?
Marimello needs to talk to you.
Don't ask why, we are mysterious curious.
OK, ask why. We're working on a piece about music and passion. We have a task for you and an ear to lend to any damn story you want to tell.
And don't just email us to make fun of our guitar. It's pink and your boyfriend didn't buy you one. And regarding the chord, so what? Marimello can't play guitar, but check out the fine fine ruffles on that mini dress! Hand knit baby!
marimellodesign [at] gmail

Marimello Hearts I Heart Rummage

Here in LA the Crocodile Cafe is a shitty chain restaurant we haven't seen in a while and are not sure if it is still in business. However in Seattle the Crocodile Café is muuuuch cooler and every first Sunday of the month, they host I Heart Rummage.

According to Marimello's Seattle correspondent, "it's the cute craft fair that your mom would drag you to as a kid but has all the stuff you want. Like Etsy come to life…and with you can get breaky before or after you shop if you find yourself famished." Check out the vibe on the new video here.

Food? Crafts? How could we resist? But not being in Seattle we hit the internet and met up with Cassandra Lanning who has been running a one-woman show for the last year.

IHR though has been around for almost six years, throwing events on the first Sundays of almost every month. [CORRECTIONS ABOUND!] You can catch them next at Bumbershoot.
That's right, Bumbershoot. Craft+Food+Music. It's like Heaven except it still costs money.
The next regular show at the Croc is September 16.

But IHR isn't just a pretty craft fair. Says Cassandra, "We are currently offering a series of free summer craft classes to our customers as well as other vendors. The classes are being taught by several of our expert vendors in the areas of jewelry making, needle felting, card making, sewing and home-brewing (yep, that means BEER!)." They're building a full-fledged crafting (albeit a little tipsy) army.

Contact Cassandra and check out their site here. Stay tuned Mello readers, for more IHR events.

(And P.S. Seattalians or Seattlites or whatever you are calling yourselves these days, Marimello's got a craving for some clouds. You never know when we'll be invading!)

Open Letter From the Editor to The Great Northwest

Dear Pacific Northwest,
While I type this, it is exactly four billion degrees outside and a helicopter is really harshing the mello in the Marimello compound.

It has come to my attention that while your traffic also sucks and the weather will make me suicidal, there is stuff we will otherwise miss dearly if we are not immediately snuggled into your tree lined bosom. So I would like to request that you northern states band together and put together a set of sky buckets for the Marimello staff and haul us up there for all the fun. It is exactly no fair that you did not invite us in the first place and we feel a sky bucket ride is the only fair compensation for our woe.

Please drop us all off at the following stops:

PDXEtsy, where our fellow Etsians will gather and bring the wonder that is Etsy to life.

Churchmouse Yarns & Teas where our hero, Amy Singer of Knitty.com makes her first and only Seattle-area appearance at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas on Bainbridge Island. I also require spots for the staff at her evening class wherein she reveals the non-wool secrets of her book, No Sheep for You! Failing that we will need spots in her daytime lace classes.

Felt Club Rules!

For anyone in LA who braved the heat, The Ukranian Culture Center and Felt Club was where it was AT yesterday! (Lucky for Marimello, we were posted at the door where the breeze was at it's strongest.) Go support our new friends and check out the vendor list at Felt Club. If you missed it, be sure to make the next event in their new and improved digs on November 18th! Stay tuned for details and deadlines if you are planning to apply to be a vendor.

Ready, Set, Film: Marimello Spaces Out!

Oh NO! In all our anger and frothing at the mouth earlier about what a crap week it has been we forgot to send out the love for the very cool the 48 Hour Film Project happening this weekend in Los Angeles. If you haven't heard from you film school hottie this weekend, maybe this explains it all. Come out in droves next weekend, when the films will be screened. If you think you're on deadline, or you think the pressure for an upcoming event is too much, then you haven't lived through making a film in 48 hours. These people are indie hardcore!
In a nutshell, the 48 our Film Project is exactly what it sounds like only harder. Participating teams have an infinite time period to put together a crew and cast, but only 48 hours to write, edit and complete the entirely original film. The hard (or fun, depending on your yum/yuck threshold) part is keeping them honest. At 7 p.m. on Friday each team was issued a mandatory set of rules including a genre, a character's name and occupation, a prop and a line of dialogue. Films are due on Sunday at, duh, 7 p.m.
Now, Marimello likes a tight deadline as much as the next journo, but when it comes to crafting, we haven't seen much of this balls out, indie spirit. Just for spite, in the coming days Marimello will post a timed crafting challenge. We just have to think of something accessible and ludicrous enough to make you balk and pony up. Get your sticks out and dig through your most unappealing leftovers. You know that's where we'll be heading first.
Ready, Set, Craft.

Functionality Friday

The nice thing about these pillows is that Marimello's mascara will blend right in as she crys herself to sleep tonight thinking about how she could be going to Maven Fair up in the Bay Area, but is not.
In fact there are a lot of crafty events for Marimello to miss out on this weekend. That doesn't mean you shouldn't go though:
Providence RI will be the home of the Providence Open Market
Baltimore MD's got Squidfire's Spring Art Mart
Pittsburg PA's got Craft Factory
And there's even a new Craft Festival in Brooklyn. Where all know everything is cooler than in L.A. Snivvel.
Looks like we may need to bust out the beer cozy from last week and dab our eyes with these fab new Hankies from Mud Flap Grrrl.

Stitch N'Pitch: Call the Paparazzi

Extra Extra! Little Ms. Popular to been seen knitting in public!

Knitting in public is fun! You all know this already: not only can the warm fuzzy blankie feeling relieve the pressure of a dreaded dr. visit, but the people you meet when your craft is in your hands are ten gazillion times more interesting. I find people bubbling over, telling stories about their mothers when in the presence of any craft. In my experience it is a very safe bet that even if I was decoupaging the dentist's own Sunset magazines to his table, someone would let fly with a story about their grandma's tatted bedspread.

Which is why I am wondering what crafting in public will mean at Stitch n' Pitch. I mean sure, we've all knitted through a child's ball game (well in my case, a sibling's soccer game). And certainly those of you with a decent transit system can attest to the joys of crafting on the go, but this is a real honest-to-gosh Major League Baseball event. Drunk morons will spill devoted baseball fans fans will pour over my precious precious project. This could be a better ego trip than rewriting my resume, or it might be an interesting door opening onto the wide world of felting with beer.

So take me out to the ball game people! Join me in LA May 22nd and in SD July 22nd!