Craft in the News

So many new friends from Craft Con this last weekend! It's nice to see their shining faces popping up in the news. Yesterday, Sacramento Craft Mafia was the Lifestyle/Scene feature in an article titled Handmade With Attitude. The article points out something Marimello is particularly fascinated with--that this group, like so many other crafty groups, germinates online before moving out into the three dimensional world. The article also touches on a major talking point of Craft Con--that be they local, like a craft mafia or global, like Etsy, having our networks online enables us to participate in the creation of a new "think global, act local" movement.

"Such global dreams are part of the crafting phenomenon's social-movement dimension, complete with a countercultural, political tone that appeals to those interested in living more simply and greenly (many popular crafts use recycled material). Its earnestness shows up in terms like "craftivism" and the online circulation of 'buy handmade' pledges."

Check out the rest of the article here, and congrats on the press Peptogirl!

Craft Resurgence Crest: Say it Ain't So

Personally we LIKE football glowing the background while we craft, but when the boys aren't looking, we switch to the DIY network.

Rumors are swirling around the blogs that the DIY Network may be canceling some of the programs we all love though. Average Jane Craft has drawn up a letter and encourages readers to write to the network and express their concerns. Go for it if you like, however upon a little further digging, we discovered that the network is not canceling the programs, just reshuffling their schedule to accommodate their core audience's tastes. Which of course makes sense for a business that survives on advertising revenues.

The one thing that we found has actually been canceled is Vicki Howell's Knitty Gritty marathon on Super Bowl Sunday. Last year this time, we didn't have cable, so watching was out of the question. But this year we won't have the chance. Here's the scoop from Vicki's blog:

Oh, before I forget, I just got word that DIY nixed the Knitty Gritty marathon (aka the Knit In), 2008 in favor of a bathroom renovation they're calling, the Toilet Bowl. Soooo, I know I told a lot of people that the KG special would air on Superbowl Sunday but that's apparently no longer the case. I'll keep you posted on any new developments but in the meantime, if you're looking for more Knitty Gritty love and want to tell the network(s) about it, here's where you can send your comments:
DIY Network Viewer Comments
HGTV Viewer Comments

Toilet Bowl?

Canceling a program sucks. There's no way around it. But, moving the crafty programming to 2 in the morning works great for us night owls. Sure, it doesn't do much to introduce crafting to people who might not otherwise give it a try, but that's our job. Make a point to take your knitting (or whatever) with you somewhere. Bar, Superbowl party, whatever; people are curious and it will keep your hands out of the cheese dip.

And if you're looking for something charitable to do with your Super Bowl sit fest, consider checking out other charities to which you could be donating, and do something for them. Knit a hat. Knit an afghan square. Check out the Witch Fire Project, hint hint. Let the football lull you, crack a beer, and get to it.

Craft Congress Invite

So Craft Congress is in the planning stages again. You can check the site here, or you can just read the about info right here on Marimello if you, like we are lazy:

CRAFT CONGRESS, the first-ever gathering of organizers in the DIY/indie craft community, is now a sweet memory!

Fifty indie craft organizers came together in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, to share ideas, find ways to work together for our mutual benefit and to make our craft community even better.

While some questions were answered, many more were raised. So, that leaves us with the task of planning the Second Annual Craft Congress in 2008!

If you'd like to help plan the 2nd Annual CC, contact: Gloria in Pittsburgh at: gtforouzan (at) gmail.com. We'll need your help with:

1. Planning topics for discussion.

2. Fund raising to keep Craft Congress affordable for participants.

3. Getting the word out to all of the organizers around the world.

We’re reaching out across the U.S.A., U.K., Canada, Australia and every where that crafty types are at work. Please help us get the word out.

Organizers please join our Yahoo group, (to brainstorm, plan, etc.), by going to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/craftcongress2007

Old Mother Leary Left the Lantern in the Shed

And when the cow kicked it over, Marimello shrieked and said, GOOD GOD it's a hot time in the old town tonight.

OK not to pound it into your heads crafty friends, but it is still crazy here and it is a wonder that the poor little elves can type as you dear editatrix dictates. Their poor little eyes are swollen so, but you know we can't be bothered with typing ourselves with this washcloth over our eyes.

Speaking of washcloths! The Witch Fire shop is open for business and the donations are rolling in. Obviously it's time to put the red eyed elves to work photographing this luxurious stuff. So if you haven't already, roll on over to the shop on Etsy. And keep rolling back for more new stuff. The word has gone out to the fashionista friends of Marimello and we expect great things to be coming our way!

Check out the shop on the right over there and see what's happening. If you want to donate and get some FREE PRESS, head on over to the blog or give us an e-jingle.

Inferno in SoCal

Hey Crafties,
Wracking you brain for ways to help out the parched/burnt communities in Southern California? Know some one who's been evacuated. The Marimello clan alone has about 15 members evacuated from 7 homes. It's enough to make our heads spin.

And spin they did, until we settled on this idea for a charity raffle/donation site. We thought we would set up a collective to raise money for charities in SoCal. Through this new blog, Marimello is looking for donations of items that are less than $5-$10 (your cost), anything bigger will be put into a raffle. The drawing for these items will work thusly: names will come from a pool of anyone who donates, buys, or just sends in a good contribution story will be entered.
Email or leave comments if you can help!

Check it out here: witch-fire.blogspot.com