4 years ago ...

Four years ago I married my best friend at Boone Hall, surrounded by our friends and family. The weather was perfect - for Charleston in September, that means it wasn't hot and not a hurricane in sight. My friend Steven Fiore played my favorite song by the Damnwells as I walked down the aisle. 

While planning my wedding, I found etsy. Here are some handmade pieces that made all the difference to me: 

Charms for my grandparents who have passed.

Borrowed Image.

Mr. & Mrs. pillows, made by my mother-in-law.

A Thank You umbrella, creating our Thank You cards. 

A flower in my hair.

Bridesmaid jewelry, custom created by Charleston's own Muy-in Molly.

Jerseys, for the Groomsmen from Hola Ola.

I love this handmade movement. I love that everything from your invites, to your jewelry, to the decoration, to your rings can be custom designed for your event. What better way to be thoughtful, creative, and different? Thank you artists for all you do - and making our special day even more special to us!

One day less ...

In the effort to give myself and the jury a little more time to go over applications, I'm moving the last day to apply for the Market back one day.

The last day to apply is now Sunday, October 6th. That's still over a week away, so please share if you know vendors who should apply. Looking forward to seeing old and new applicants alike!

Click here to apply.

Jail Break is looking for vendors!

Jail Break Charleston is back at the Old City Jail on November 16th and is looking for vendors. 

If you haven't been to Jail Break, check out their website. This event is fantastic - bands, dancers, comedy, performance art .. gallery, venue, dance club, restaurant, runway - all in one.

Click here to apply!

About: 

JAIL BREAK returns Saturday, November 16th, and this Fall the inmates who attend the festival and fill the Old City Jail with their artwork and crafted goods, with their comedy and choreography, their music and their fashion are collaborating like never before to resurrect the spirit of PUNK! The locally imagined, locally constructed and locally governed music and arts festival of Charleston is embracing the pastime of Punk and and its celebration of unabashed expression, commitment to the do-it-yourself lifestyle and passion-driven rebellion. Like the pioneers of Punk who forged some of the most evocative progressions in music, art, literature, dance, film and activism, the inmates are running the show, without boundaries. The music will be more diverse, the dance bolder, the fashion more excessive, the artisans market more interactive, the artists exhibit will be raw and original, and the comedy returns with no-holds-barred. Look for surprises throughout the jail as never-before-seen installations line every floor, and experience the first original, collaborative performance piece of the festival, entitled Punk: Art Untethered, an In-Your-Face Interface of Movement, Light and Sound. Conventions will be broken and the Old City Jail will lend itself to the community and the chaos of creation unlike ever before.

JAIL BREAK takes place Saturday, November 16th, 2013 and is presented by Entropy Arts, the American College of Building Arts and Ear For Music. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the festival. Advanced tickets may be purchased at www.jailbreakcharleston.com, or at the following locations: King Dusko, Artist and Craftsman, Redux Contemporary Art Center, Artisan Tees, Dancefx, and JLINSNIDER.  The festival begins at 4 p.m. and ends at 11p.m.  Artwork will be on sale by local artists, artisans, and vendors.  Food trucks will be on-site and alcohol will be available for purchase.  The Old City Jail is located at 21 Magazine Street, 29401 in Charleston, SC.

Christmas in September

I know it's way too soon for this. Even the stores wait until after Halloween to start putting up Christmas decorations. But looking at all of the Artist Market applications for the December 7th Holiday Market has me thinking Christmas. 

One of my favorite decorations is an Artist Market find (surprise, surprise) - my quilted forever wreath from One Mor Quilt. Full disclosure: I'm biased. One Mor Quilt is the work of my mother in law, so I know first hand how much work goes into these quilts.

This handmade wreath features hundreds of little pieces of fabric - check out the close ups below. That's a lot of effort hanging above my mantle. And it doesn't shed needles. 

It'll take Elvira a little time to make you one of these, so you should probably order soon. This is one time you want to think Christmas ... in September.

A little about Elvira Gastaldo, owner of One Mor Quilt:

I started quilting in 1973 when fabric was not what it is today and methods of construction were archaic. I made templates using cereal boxes and then drew each piece of the pattern on the fabric, cutting each piece out with a pair of scissors. I can make 6 quilts today with the time spent on just getting one ready back then. Quilting was a means to an end back at that time (if I wanted one, I had to make it) and my creative inner self went to Antique Reproduction Samplers (Counted Cross Stitch) on linen. As we traveled the world, I was able to take this easily along for the ride. Upon moving to Maine in 1999, quilting found me when I was asked to be the faculty adviser for the Quilting Club. This actually translates into teaching one evening a week during the academic year. I know that this is what I am suppose to be doing. I am suppose to be passing the art and tradition of quilting on to the next generation. I love sharing my gifts with family and friends and now have decided to share them with you.

Almost 1000 ...

Our LAM Facebook page has 921 likes. 921. We're so close to 1000. That's more people than the Music Farm can hold. That's how many people came to the last market. That's a cheap 1 bedroom apartment downtown. That's a little less than 3 years worth of days. About how long the Artist Market has been around. Huh. 

Help us get to that milestone number by liking us on Facebook. When we get there, we'll celebrate with a thousand giveaways. Well, not 1000. But at least a couple.

1000 people. I hope to see all of you in December.

Now Accepting Applications

That's right, we're ready! We are now accepting applications for the Holiday Artist Market, scheduled for Saturday, December 7th.

Just go to the "Apply to be a vendor" link above and fill out our application.

Just a reminder - everything needs to be handmade or vintage. 

There's no fee to apply, but there is a fee to participate. The Market provides all the advertising (print, radio, posters) and one 6' table and two chairs per vendor. You'll need to have your own SC license to vend ($20). 

Email me if you have any questions.

Can't wait to see old and new vendors alike!

I don't know this market ... but I want to.

I recently ran across Vintage Charlotte and am intrigued. I love Charlotte. I spent three years there after college. It's a fun city - Panther's games, Tremont Music Hall, my favorite used book store, dinners at Dish ... but I never went to a vintage/handmade market. 

So I don't know this market. But I want to.

Time to mark the date in my calendar.

And Charleston vendors - applications are open. 

Indie Craft Parade - This Weekend in Greenville!

Time to pack the car and head to Greenville - the Indie Craft Parade is this weekend!

Beautiful Greenville. The lovely peace center. 76 fantastic vendors. 2 days. 

Check out their Facebook page for more details. Or better yet, just check out this video:

Indie Craft 2012 from Indie Craft Parade on Vimeo.

I'm going to go ahead and assume this sold you. Be sure to say hello to some of our Artist Market vendors:

Pearla Anne

Ink Meets Paper

Adele Thornhill Ceramics

Finkelstien's Center

Owlette

Don't skip this fantastic event; it only happens once a year, so don't miss out!

Sat, Sept 7 & Sun, Sept 8
Admission is free.
Greenville, SC