a long weekend of craft

want to see an amazing array of craft all under one lofty roof? then get yourself down to beautiful baltimore, md for the american craft council show! it starts today and runs through sunday and features some fantastic artisans from both beltways.

on the main floor, check out:

caitlin phillips, rebound designs (booth #529)



shannon delanoy, sweet pepita (booth #319)

and in the altcraft section, go see:

juliet ames, the broken plate pendant company



danamarie hosler, greenstar studio



elisa shere, elisa shere jewelry



val lucas, bowerbox press



sherry insley, dandelion blu

beach baby blue

here's a custom ordered tote with a couple of cute extras. bring it all down to the beach with this roomy 13"x17" bag and keep everything from suntan lotion to sunglasses organized in the array of slip pockets. there are five up front, three square and two slim strips, and three more inside. the lining of the bag also has an inset zipper pocket. the perfect place for little things that you don't want lost to the tide. and there's an attached strap with a clip to keep keys from getting left behind in the sand.

the straps are double reinforced with interfacing that provides extra durability and strength. and the entire bag also has an added layer of the same stiff interfacing for structure and shape.

a rose is a rose is a rose

indeed

a recent thrift score!

two for the road

here we have two chickadee project bags, made to order in two different styles. represented are the tote and drawstring styles. both will happily help hold yarn and various parts of in-progress projects. and they'll do it in style.

and now for something totally awesome

the second annual hello craft summit of awesome is heading west! this year they are holding their fun and informative craft conference in portland, oregon. pack your bags!

don't you forget about me

this is a pretty slow time of the year at chickadee central. there won't be any shows to speak of until spring rolls around. but there are two cool places to shop for chickadee creations and they are as close as a click. find just what you are looking for in the little shop of chickadee on etsy:

or at the home of eco-friendly craft online, cosa verde.

february freebees!

many of us in the mid-atlantic region are on the verge of a serious meltdown. the recent onslaught of snow has left us cooped up in our condos, huddled in our houses and unable to leave our apartments. with more of the white stuff in the forecast, it seems like we'll never see signs of spring. but don't despair! lovers of the painstakingly handcrafted, nostalgic and overwhelmingly cute can rejoice! oh meaghan is coming to the rescue with a week-long giveaway of delightful designs from her online shop, oh ginger.

need something to chase away the chill and usher in some spring fever? look no further than the first offering of the week. two of her very creative and clever cubicle art pieces ought to wake up that joyful sleeping giant in your snowbound soul. bright, cheery and lovingly hand-stitched, they can be yours for the price of FREE! visit her website every day this week and simply add your two cents to the bottom of the post for a chance to win.

(all images a la ohmeaghan.com)

my girl friday

ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the latest member of the chickadee crew! she's going to be quite a big help and is already showing off her determination and work ethic. her resumé includes:

• ability to stand patiently and without complaint for hours on end,
• high tolerance for multiple pin pricks,
• adjustability,
• and modeling expertise.

we're still getting acquainted but soon her talents will be put to good use.

meet brandy!

she's a fine girl

that 70's bag

the latest print is super groovy


coming soon to a fibre space ™ near you!

snow leopard

...the elusive suburban species

carol's cat sanctuary © 2010

white-in

clouds so swift / rain snow won't lift
gate won't close / railings froze
get your mind off wintertime
you ain't going nowhere

( thank you bobby dylan )

pocket poppet

fun with leftovers! this fabric was way too cute to let any of it go to waste. so here's a matching portable pocket with some special stitches.

these little ladies seemed to need some more attention. to make them stand out, the outside fabric was backed with quilt batting and then the dolls were outlined with straight stitches. the pouch may be soft but it is no pushover. a layer of interfacing was fused to the lining to give it strength and shape.

welcome to the dollhouse

here's a special order cut from some super cute fabric:

the chickadee cafe apron seems to be catching on. it is a wrap-around style with plenty of pocket options. this time is it made from a single fabric instead of two contrasting ones. although this version isn't reversible, it is still lined so no seams are exposed.

snow business

the mid-atlantic region has been blanketed in a snowy shroud. looks like the fluffy stuff has finally stopped falling from the sky. outside all seems quiet and still. inside, there's been a flurry of activity (pardon the pun). the little shop of chickadee finally got the update that was promised last month. these portable iphone pockets are a perfect way to keep your precious safe and warm.

brightly colored cottons are given added stability with a layer of interfacing. and a plush flannel lining ensures freedom from scratches while also providing a bit of cushion. there's a slip pocket in front for cards and cash, and a removable ring on the side to hold keys or swing from a belt loop. snap it shut and you are ready to go. measuring approximately 3 1/2" x 5", they'll fit a phone with or without a standard-sized hard shell case.

visit the shop to see more!

cards on the table

meet the chickadee business card buddy!

a fine way to display your calling card, this low-sided oval bowl is a cousin to the larger, circular clothesline bowls that you know and love. same core of cotton clothesline, wrapped with cute recycled fabric. it is now resting comfortably on the counter at fibre space, but it would also be a great addition to your craft show display or desk. countless customizations available!

enough about me...

...let's talk about what some of my crafty friends have been up to lately. you've already met the amazing gaggle of panguins that pang of pretty little fings put together. now let's see what that crafty gypsy who calls herself dandelion blu has gotten into.

the dandelion blu dungeon workshop is in full swing preparing for the american craft council show at the end of the month. quite an honor, and she certainly deserves it. take a look at some of the new pieces she is working on for the show. they are stunning!

check her out, along with some other amazing indie crafters, in the alt craft section of this year's acc show. and be sure to visit her blog to see what will come out of her studio next.


and oh ginger has a brand new webpage to share with everyone. she's synthesized her three other web log ventures (queering domesticity, heirloom tomato, and call me ashby) into one. now you are just one click away from the online home of everything meaghan:

above are some awesome new brooches that she's created. congrats to her on the new crafting and the dotcom! can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

pretty little panguins!

be warned...you might not be able to stand the incredible amount of CUTE assembled below. these are the latest plush wonders to waddle out of the pretty little fings studio. they'll warm your wintry heart.

kiddie city

some more to show from santa's sack of special orders! here is a twin set of child-sized craft aprons. their deep pockets are perfect stash spots for crayons, markers, paint brushes and other tools of the trade for aspiring artists. a mini version of the adult, they measure 13" x 10". most importantly, they are 100% washable!

when someone gives you lemons...

make them some super sweet, never sour, chickadee knitting project bags!

v. had some fabric leftover from making herself cheery curtains for the kitchen. she turned it over to this chickadee with instructions to make her as many project bags as possible. there was just enough fabric leftover from the tote construction to add a cute little inside slip pocket to each one. now her amazing array of hand knit works-in-progress have happy homes.