Short Street Cakes Presents: Howard Street Handmade!

Summer Break!

2009-07-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

Howard Street Handmade will take a break in July and August, to go to the beach, sleep in, and do other such summertime what-not. We will see you in September for the blow-out back-to-school crafty extravaganza, September 19th!
This is where I want to go.

Howard Street Handmade, this weekend!

2009-06-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

June 20th... featuring 20 vendors, half returning, half brand new! (Father's Day, anyone?) xo

Howard Street Crafty Supply and Sale BONANZA was GREAT!

2009-06-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

Howdy All!
I just wanted to write a quick not and thank everyone who showed up last Saturday for a day of workshoppy goodness, free beer, and crafty supplies. At the end of the day, I realized I spent over 12 hours at Howard Street, and I was happy as a lark.

The morning photo workshop was a blast - and with a banner turnout, so we will definitely be doing that one again for those of you who had schedule conflicts, were out of town, or simply didn't want to roll out of bed at 7 am on a Saturday. Yeah, I know.

The print workshop with Robin Van Valkenburgh, of Runny Bunny fame, was also AMAZING, thanks to Robin's ingenuity, the help of an incredibly lovely assistant, and the miracle of image transfer. Seriously - Robin invented a way to make eco-friendly waterbased screenprints with materials you can find around your house (if your house is somewhat crafty by nature.)
And yes, if you missed out on that workshop, there are more coming in the future my friend! Imagine - a workshop where you can bring your logo or design, and leave with not only t-shirts or letterhead with that design, but also the skills and equipment to produce more, and more at home! Fantastico!
In the interest of making future workshops more accessible, I have created a handy dandy little survey on the sidebar of the blog - please let us know what times would be most convenient for you to take the classes you want, and also let us know what other subject of craftiness give you that special tingly feeling!
And last, but not least, thanks to all of the vendors who came armed with crafty supplies for the final segment of BONANZA! I really enjoyed meeting all of you - it was so cool to see a bunch of other crafty folks who are dedicated to reusing and upcycling raw materials. If you weren't in attendance for the fun, there were giant displays of fabric - by the yard and scraps, yarn, buttons, ephemera, vintage toys, quilting supplies, vintage sewing machines, paper, cradboard doohickeys, and much more. My very favorite finds? I confess, for a large amount of the time I was trying to exercise strength of willpower by not browsing an hence gathering more things, instead of passing my things onto other crafty hands, but alas, it was a battle doomed from the get-go. I found treasures, oh my. One, a chenille vintage bedspread featuring two preening peacocks, and another more mysterious tangle of pink and orange sequins that screamed 1960's and called to me with a siren song so familiar to many of the handmade set "You need me. You want me. You have no idea what I am, or what that gold stuff tangled in the middle is, but I have the untapped potential of crafty goodness that is creativity." Thanks, Mary.

Howard Street Handmade Crafty Swap Bonanza This Saturday!

2009-06-03T06:30:00.001-07:00

Hey friends! We are so psyched about this weekend's Howard Street Handmade! From 8am to 3pm, there will be three different workshops for new and experienced crafters. Starting at 3pm, there will be a crafty supply swap ($3 bonanza ticket) and sale ($10 table to sell all your used crafty materials).

Also, an update: Music by Wildflowers (Juan Holladay and Eliza Sydney, featuring harp, guitar, and vocals) will take place between 2 and 4 pm.
And we are happy to announce that we will be giving out samples of beer from the Wedge Brewery at Howard Street, as well as featuring our Wedge Stout Cupcake in the Cake Shop. Can't wait to see you there!

The Ginger Stout Cupcakes made with Wedge Imperial Stout:

Need Directions? Click Here.
More Info? Click Here.
Love,
Jodi (Short Street Cakes)

Announcing: The Two June Howard Street Handmade Events!

2009-05-22T14:29:00.001-07:00

Lets start at the beginning.
On June 6th, from 8am to 7pm, Short Street Cakes Presents the newest incarnation of Howard Street Handmade: The Crafty Supply Sale and Swap Bonanza! Here's the rundown from one of our organizers (and resident HSH logo artists, ass-kicker, and all around awesome mama), Katie Elkins of Scrumdidlyump fame!
One June 6th Howard Street Handmade will host a fabulous day of low-cost
workshops and a Crafty Supply Swap + Sale Bonanza. Howard Street Handmade
takes place at 227 Haywood Road in East West Asheville, next to our lovely
sponsor, Short Street Cakes.

The day will progress in three acts, (eat your heart out Ira Glass):

*Part I - *8 am -10:30 am

- *A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - But you Need a Few of Those Too*

Low-Cost Photography and Writing Workshop
Bring your work and we will do a hands on photo shoot! Learn how to take great
photos of your work with minimal equipment. We will play with props, lighting and help each other write great descriptions of our work, and gain skills to sell more of your work! Great for Etsy or for building a portfolio to approach galleries and shops!
cost - *$5 *
brought to you by scrumdidlyump
*All proceeds from this class will go to the Howard Street Handmade marketing fund!*

*Part II - *11:00 am - 1:30 pm
- *That Felt GOOD!*
Felting basics workshop
Learn how to make your own felted soaps with needle felted designs!
cost -* $10 *+ supplies
brought to you by MellowKnee

- *Yo Mam**a Likes Prints*
Low-tech Printing basics workshop
Make your own stamps and learn how to print on paper and fabric.
cost - *$10* plus supplies
scrumdidlyump + special surprise guest

*All classes are first come, first serve. Reserve your spot today by emailing howardstreethandmade@gmail.com.

*Part III - 3:00 pm - 7 pm

The Crafty Supply Swap + Sale Bonanza*

- *The Sale - Downstairs*
Vendor Table fee - *$10*
3 ft tables available to sell all those crafty supplies you've been making/hoarding.

- *The Swap - Upstairs*
Bonanza ticket -*$3*
Buy a ticket, bring some crafty stuff you don't want, take away some stuff you do.
BYOB. (Bring Your Own Basket)

Sign up quick, because spaces are going to fill quickly!

Now, the second event, is the monthly tradition we have all come to know and love: The Howard Street Handmade Craft Market! This month's HSH will take place on June 20th, and will feature the usual awesomeness from returning and new vendors, as well as Music! Outdoor Vendors! A Cake Walk! and maybe BEER!

For more info, visit the Howard Street Handmade Blog!

we love you.
xo
jodi and short street cakes and the Howard Street Handmade organizing team.

12 Reasons to Shop Local Indie Markets

2009-05-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

12. You like to buy clothes, art, jewelry, handmade books, things to make your home pretty, quilts, pottery, and other such goodness.

11. You like to own things that are one of a kind - that way no one else will ever have one just like yours.

10. You like being able to custom order things directly from the person who will make them, so not not only do you enjoy Reason Number 11, but you get that special feeling that it was made just for you.

9. You like to shop local because it keeps money in the local economy! Yay!

8. You also like to shop local because it means being able to walk, ride your bike, take the bus, or drive a short distance to shopping fantastico.

7. Your friends sell at local markets.

6. Buying handmade items at local indie craft fairs means quite often you get a bargain... because booth fees are often less expensive for the artist than selling in a gallery or doing wholesale, you get the savings! Woot Woot!

5. You get to meet the people who make the things you love.

4. You like free music and raffles.

3. Sometimes there are cupcakes and accordions.

2. If you get in a big room full of creative people, the creativity can be infectious. the good kind of infectious, not like swine flu, uh-oh call the CDC infectious.

1.To quote Carly Simon, "Nobody does it better
Though sometimes I wish someone could
Nobody does it quite the way you do
Why'd you have to be so good?"
Bet you didn't know that song was about indie craft markets, didya?
See you at Howard Street! Chek out the post about June sixth Crafty Supply Sale and Swap Bonanza... we will be doing low cost workshops in the morning and crafty sale and swap in teh afternoon! Sign up to vend or take a class by emailing howardstreethandmade@gmail.com

Power to the People! - Rosetta's Rockin People's Market

2009-05-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

I love Rosetta and her restaurant.
Now she is organizing a market right across from the restaurant on Lexington The People's Market. The People's Market will feature, "arts, crafts and personal yard sale items, including performance art."
Yay! I know I am going to check it out, how about you?

Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 12:00pm - 6:00pm

check out Rosetta's blog, too.

Lovely, Lively Hazel Anne

2009-05-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Anne Gettee is a smart lady. I just finished checking out her blog, and I am impressed. She has come up with a very clever (and free) way to make cutting patterns easier.

I won't spoil it for you, you should just go check it out yourself.

Anne makes and sells handmade clothing for adults and children with a surprising combination of high end fabrics.

I love the vibrant colors and graphic patterns... her designs remind me a lot of kimono I saw in Japan.

She has great mother and daughter outfits and Portland Capes too!

Check her website and her shop on Etsy.
Then, this Saturday, head on down to Howard Street to check her out in person!

Journal Junky - Addicted to Paper

2009-05-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

I knew a guy in college who was addicted to paper. He slept in a nest of it, on a bare mattress. After meeting him, and then avoiding him for the remainder of his college career, I somewhat over analyzed my own love for that crinkly crisp goodness that is paper. After all, it was kind of like having three cats, going on four and then meeting the crazy cat lady.

Thankfully after some self-reflection, I realized I wasn't nuts (after all, my own bed, if unmade, sported clean linens, a fact I had always before taken for granted) I just like paper.

Nicole of Journal Junky loves paper too, although I suspect in a good way, not in a nesting schizo way.

At this point, I may need to mention that I took some DayQuil this morning, and my thoughts appear to be running a little more rampant than per usual. Forgiveness is divine. Nicole, I hope you have a sense of humor and tolerance for weird introductions.

Back to Nicole and her gorgeous work, and away, away from the crazy.... Proof positive of Nicole's love for her "creative urban paper fun," are her many original journal designs. She uses lots of bright colors and fun patterns.

I especially love the skunk journal, and the wordy birdies.

Bonus points for Journal Junky because all of the journals are made with recycled materials!
And - there is no way you can beat her prices.

It just keeps getting better, folks, because Journal Junky can also make custom journals!

For an amazing, earthfriendly handmade journal, I know just where to go. Thanks Nicole, for making awesome stuff and see you at Howard Street!

canoo - tippy and tyler eat your hearts out

2009-05-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Now, I would like to introduce one of my favorite people.

The above statement is one I have a hard time with logically, mainly because I have only hung out with Krista a few times, but I tend to think that logic only works in sterile environments and that most of the time when things don't make sense like we think they should, we should just go with it. And Krista is awesome, just one of those people who glows, and manages to make creations that glow too.

What does she create? Check out her shop on Etsy for a good sampling of knitted goodness and of course, upcycled sweater monsters.

Milo got one of them for Christmas.... he has a pocket on his rear which I envisioned leaving teeth for the tooth fairy in, but alas, Milo has decided to hold onto his teeth until they increase in value after I explained the concept of inflation to him. But the monster still has a spot of honor next to Milo's pillow, which is more thabn Hello Kitty or Piers the Fox can claim.

canoo is also now home to other,more mundane animals such as a pig and a cat. There are some killer diller magnets, and pincushions too. All in all, you should definitely check it out.

Krista describes her Etsy persona as " a worrisome monster who, at the age of 35, still can't figure out how to put on deodorant without getting it all over her shirt."

I feel your pain, canoo.
Come to Howard Street Handmade this Saturday and feel some squishy monsters.

Sparrow is migrating to Howard Street this Saturday!

2009-05-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

I must admit, I get excited about accordions.

I also get excited about rad people I meet.

When I meet a rad person with an accordion - whew!
Needless to say, I am very happy to announce that the infamous Sparrow and her accordion will be joining us at Howard Street Handmade this Saturday. So put on your dancing shoes and see you at Howard Street!

Simplify - Patty Bilbro

2009-05-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

One Thursday afternoon, about a month or so ago, Milo and I headed over to the Clingman Cafe to have a snack before heading on to the dog park. It has become a ritual, since I started taking Thursday afternoons off in January, I have been going to Milo's kindergarten class to help with "Writer's Workshop," and then come 2:30, off to the cafe. It's great. Milo loves it because the nice lady behind the counter talks inventions with him, and they have really old Nintendo Power magazines, which review the games that will actually play on his old-school pawnshop GameBoy. I love it because they have Hellboy comics, play the Ramones as background music, make a mean bagel with cream cheese and lox, and have killer art.

Case in point - Patty Bilbro's ceramics. On this particular Thursday, Patty's work, which I had never before seen was being featured in a ceramics exhibit put together by a fellow Howard Street Handmaiden, Courtney Murphy. The entire exhibit was magnificent, and soon I was eyeing a few pieces in particular.

I always touch ceramics in exhibits, unless there is an explicit sign asking me not to. I encourage you to do the same. Why? As someone who works with clay, it is almost like a siren song, irresistable and automatic. My hands start imagining what a piece might feel like before I even touch it, and I love being surprised. I would say about half of experiencing a piece of ceramic work is in the tactile realm. Textures, weight, shape, and dynamics are much more experience of the hands than the eyes. If you're not touching things, you're missing out.

So, I started picking up pots. There were two artists whose pieces fascinated me in particular: Patty Bilbro and Julie Covington.

One covered dish in particular fascinated me.... you know the story about Pandora's box? Well, I sympathize with good old Pandy. I have a serious problem not opening things that have lids.
Imagine my delight when I discovered... A GIRAFFE!

After that I had to look inside each and every one of Patty's pieces, to make sure I had found every member of the hidden menagerie.

During this safari of sorts I found out something wonderful. Patty's pots are not only beautiful and playful visually, they feel GOOD. Kudos, Patty! I am looking forward to seeing and holding more of her work at Howard Street this Saturday. See you there!

FishyFishyQuilts -Green Dream Machine

2009-05-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

OK, I had to share this upcycled coffee bag wall hanging I found on fishyfishyquilts Etsy shop!

Ellen mentioned that she was collecting coffee bags at the last Howard Street Handmade and I was curious to see what she was doing with them.

Now I just have to figure out how to get one of my very own!

I love it when people take everyday objects and re-purpose them into beautiful things, and I don't know if you have ever noticed, but coffee bags are often pretty complicated little showpieces of graphic art.
I have one hanging on my wall right now that I couldn't bear to part with after the caffienney goodness was gone. Now I know just who to give it to.

sweet and dirty's emporium - good stuff

2009-05-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

Once again we have a new role call of folks who will be at the next Howard Street and at the top of my list is Sweet and Dirty's Emporium of Good Stuff.

Good Stuff, indeed!

Logan and Dave, the creators behind the name, offer a lovely selection of handmade bags, knit items and jewelry in their Etsy store. You can also check out their website here,
and don't forget their blog.

I am particularly impressed by the fact that they have sixteen furry legs in their house - dogs? cats? hippies? And a new baby!

I think this might be the secret behind their beautiful creations - it sounds like they have a house full of mammalian love!

I am super excited to check out their work in person. See you at Howard Street!

2009-04-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

Crow's Eye Studio- Mmmmm... Sandwiches and Quilted Goodness

The Earl of Sandwich invented the tasty treat that bears his name in order to keep his hands clean while he was playing cards. He was all about protecting the cards, Crow's Eye's Studio is all about protecting the sandwich.
Check out her awesome sandwich holders! Her shop on Etsy has a wide variety, very reasonably priced I might add. They are a great gift for anyone who packs a lunch, or loves to picnic.

Crow's Eye does more than make utilitarian teats, they also offer absolutely gorgeous fabric art paintings! Gwen, the woman behind the fabric, has been sewing seriously fro about 9 years.

She shares her daily mantra in the description of this beautiful piece:

Anything one cares deeply about doing is usually scary.

I agree. And I am looking forward to asking Gwen about this piece, First Flight on Saturday at Howard Street Handmade!

The Runny Bunny - Rockin' Robin

2009-04-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

When I was about 8 years old I had this awesome toy called Fashion Plates. It was basically a bunch of heads, torsos and legs on plastic rectangles that slid into little slots. Then you placed a piece of paper over the plastic pieces, rubbed like mad with your favorite crayon colors, et voila!
Ok, actually it wasn't my toy, it was my older sister's and she had left a pile of meticulously rendered designs in the box after she outgrew it and gave it to me.

After designing a few blase ensembles it occurred to me that I was limiting myself based on my sister's preconceptions, and the Three Headed Leggy Lady was born. then the Leg Headed Torso Girl and of course the Headless Woman, in her many incarnations.

The first time I saw TheRunnyBunny's work on Etsy, it was a charteuse owl. I remember following the link to Robin's shop thinking "This owl is like my eyes' favorite flavor of candy!"

Little did I know what that shop held in store for my eyes! I found Robin's slip cast mutants, and I suddenly wished for my Fashion Plate Freaks once again.

Puppy heads on shepardess bodies, ladies heads on owls bodies, babies heads everywhere, wings and 70's kitsch, weird ephemera seamlessly frankensteined into something new, and thankfully not ALIVE!

I don't think I could handle a world where herds of tiny baby headed owls romped through the brush hunted by poodle headed victorian ladies. Although, what are humans if not the ultimate adaptors, and I would pay a pretty penny to see anyone of Robin's creations do a well choreographed performance of "Puttin' On the Ritz." Wow, Robin could I make a music video with your creatures?!

I digress. That tends to happen a lot when I look at Robin's work, though. Her meldings of mundane mass produced cutesey figurines into her own special brand of art sets the mind reeling with associations, and strange emotional responses.

The incomparable Miss Robin Van Valkenburgh is the woman behind the slip cast madness that is TheRunnyBunny.

Robin is beyond description (although friggin' gnarly almost begins to do the job), so I won't even try.

If you want to meet her, you will just have to hoof it to Howard Street this Saturday. In the meantime, check out her shop on Etsy.

She has owls, she has awesome DIY kits, and of course, freaky fun. For more fun, check out her rockin' blog.

ButtonFlowers - The World is In Bloom

2009-04-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

There are flowers everywhere!
This part of the year is my absolute favorite - when the trees are speckled with neon green and flowers are shooting up in the most unexpected of places.
Take Buttonflowers for example - never before have I considered the fact that my notions box could produce a garden in full bloom, but Celia Barbieri has a green thumb stuck in there among the thimbles.

Visit Buttonflowers online and you will find earrings and bouquets handcrafted from buttons found all ove rthe world. Celia says that her craftiness had been with her since childhood, and I think that her playfulness shines through in her work.
I am very excited to check her flowers out in person!
See you at Howard Street!

TheAyBeeCees - With Books Under Our Arms

2009-04-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

There is something very sensuous about paper. Actually, there is a lot very sensuous about paper - the way it feels against fingertips, the sound of pages turning and sheet rustling, and of course, the smell. Having spent a large portion of my childhood afternoons in the neighborhood library, waiting for my mom to finish playing her ballet classes and come pick me up - I associate books and paper with comfort and peace, as well as liberation.

There is nothing quite like a blank page in a book. It is like a question waiting to be answered. And the difference between confiding that answer in the pages of a handmade journals and jotting it down in your PDA is the difference between whispering a secret to a good friend and writing an email to your cell phone company.

Ok, well maybe that is a slight exaggeration, but I think you get the point. I am a fan of handmade book, and TheAyBeeCees, whose work will be featured at Howard Street Handmade this coming Saturday is deserving of my adoration, and yours as well.

Jean Potter creates her work in a "tree house of a studio," and gets bonus points because she like NPR and cacti. Her work includes handmade journals, calendars, planners and more.

I especially love her Narcissus journal, which features a beautiful print of one of my favorite myths. I can just imagine filling it up with sketches and watercolor doodles to accompany my daily musings a la Frida.

The colors Jean combines in her creations remind me quite a bit of Kahlo actually - they are so vibrant!

Jean's shop on Etsy is full of handmade books that beg to be seen in person, so take a peek (or even a gander at her shop online) and then treat yourself - come visit her in person at Howard Street!

TheAyBeeCees so inspired me, I had to dig out a quote from Virginia Woolf to share:
"I have sometimes dreamt that when the Day of Judgement dawns - the ALmighty will turn to Peter and will say when he sees us coming with out books under our arms, "Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading."

Cache Bags - Mama's Got a Brand New Bag!

2009-04-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine in college was addicted to bags. He had a bag for everything - one for the gym, one for the computer lab, one for classes, one for visiting home on weekends, one for his DJing necessities, one for camping, one for going to music shows, and many many others. At the time, I enjoyed teasing him - but now his maniacal obsession makes more sense to me.

There is something very liberating about being able to compartamentalize life into various pockets within pockets within bags and have them lined up and ready to grab as I head out the door for an adventure of any sort, prepared in a manner that would make any Girl Scout proud.

This portable organizational phenomenon seems to manifest itself in a sublime state in the work of Daniele Odell Wickel, the fabric artist behind Cache Bags. Daniele creates one of a kind messenger style bags, shoulder bags, zippered pouches, purse, you name it. She uses a wide variety of fine fabrics to create a myriad of bags.

So you may ask yourself, "What is a cache?"
Here is the answer cortesy of likemybag.blogspot.com, home of Cache Bags:

CACHE: hand made bags, each one unique!!

I find myself fantasizing about possibilities while perusing her blog "Hmmmm.... this one would be great for grocery shopping, and this one would be perfect for the beach, and ooooh, look that one would be great for walking around fectivals.

Cache bags are not only functional, and beautiful, but they are STRONG. Plus, they come with the full endorsement of Danielle's three sons, and she creates them with a vintage Singer sewing machine. I LOVE IT!!

See you at Howard Street!

gleaming -

2009-04-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

gleaming - you spin me right round

I was thinking about circles today. Mainly because I was dying eggs, and eggs always make me think of circle and ellipses and how the tiniest things in Nature echo the largest. Or is it vice versa? Like eggs and planetary orbits. Anywho, there I was with green and orange fingers smelling like pickles, when I had a random urge to visit gleaming's shop on Etsy.

And what do I find? CIRCLES!
The talented Beckie Harmon use all kinds of circular doodads to build her sublime jewelry - buttons, pennies, and quarters for example. Not only that, but she also handpicks her chains from thrift store and the other materials she uses are all upcycled or found objects! More CIRCLES!

I love the shipwrecked necklace, and also the way that Beckie incorporates vintage paper and sheet music is amazing. Her work has depth that comes from her use of textures and symbols and layering... I love the fact that each of the pendants has a found object inside which you can't see. Pure magic, right in time for spring.

I have to wonder - do people who have the knack for finding awesome ephemera have an unfair advantage at egg hunts? I was thinking about inviting Beckie to mine.... but now I don't know.

Crafters! Build a Birdhouse!

2009-04-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

(or bat house, or birdbath...)

the Bountiful Cities Project Presents:
The 7th Annual Birdhouse Auction!

On April 18th, 2009, starting at 5pm, The Bountiful Cities Project hosts the 7th Annual Birdhouse Competition, Live Auction, and Celebration of Spring at the Courtyard on Lexington in Downtown Asheville to raise money for Urban Agriculture.

Featuring handcrafted birdhouses from local artists, the 2009 Birdhouse Auction will be a festive celebration of springtime! Dozens of locally made birdhouses, both functional and artistic, will be on display. The entries will be judged, with exciting prizes going to the top three winners. The entries will then be auctioned off in an old-fashioned live auction, while attendees enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, and peruse the plants for sale. The location is the beautiful brick courtyard behind Bouchon French Restaurant on Lexington Avenue in Downtown Asheville. The 2009 Birdhouse Auction will be a lovely springtime evening celebration among friends and community!

Funds raised will go directly to the Bountiful Cities Project (BCP) to support the work of community gardening and urban agriculture. BCP is an Asheville-based non-profit with a 9-year history of supporting community gardening, urban agriculture, and food security for the Asheville community. The mission of the Bountiful Cities Project is: “to create, on urban land, beautiful community spaces that produce food in abundance and foster a learning environment for social justice and sustainability.” BCP works in and partners with 10 Asheville communities to grow food in the city: Shiloh, Burton Street, Montford, West Asheville (including Vance and Hall Fletcher Elementary Schools), Stephens-Lee, and others, running educational, youth and outreach programs and connecting communities to the resources they need to begin growing food in the city!

Community Gardening and Urban Agriculture are enjoying a renaissance as individuals recognize the health, environmental, economic and social benefits of growing, eating, and purchasing local food. BCP helps the idea become reality! Donating a birdhouse, and attending the party, will help BCP to fulfill its mission and enrich the patchwork quilt of gardens growing all over the city of Asheville.

Birdhouses are still being accepted! Donations accepted at the French Broad Food Co-op and the Short Street Cakes’ Cake Shop at 225 Haywood Road.

Children and youth in the Shiloh Community eating food from their garden as a part of the Bountiful Cities Project's Strong Roots Program:

Next Howard Street Handmade April 18th!

2009-04-05T04:52:00.000-07:00

On April 18, 2009, from 11am to 5pm, Short Street Cakes will host the second in a series of local, handmade Craft Markets called “Howard Street Handmade,” located at 227 Haywood Road, at the intersection of Haywood Road and Howard Street. Over 20 vendors featuring all-handmade crafts will display their wares in the beautifully renovated brick building adjacent to West Asheville’s newest Cake Shop!

Vendor applications are still being accepted for future Howard Street Handmade markets. Artists interested in vending at Howard Street Handmade should email howardstreethandmade@gmail.com, or stop by the Cake Shop at 225 Haywood Road to pick up a hard copy.

Woo Hoo!
See you on the 18th...

First Ever Howard Street Handmade was a Success!

2009-03-22T05:41:00.001-07:00

All photos by Zen! Thank you, Zen, for sharing your talent and photos with us.

Nectarline, Juicy and Tart

2009-03-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

I LOVE upcycled clothing. Not only does the practice help the environment, but there is something undeniably intruiging about taking something and transforming it entirely.

You know when Scarlett O'Hara turned her green velour curtains into a gown complete with gold tassles?

I know the whole point of that was to say that she was poor and had to make do, but I always wanted that dress.

Nectarline has invoked the same spirit with her pillowcase dress, which is chic in a way that I never thought bedlinens could be. The sleeves and the gathered bodice are great touches, and make the entire form really work!

These earrings, made from wooden beads are also gorgeous!

And Nectarline doesn't stop with jewelry and clothing - check out this fabulous lampshade!

See you at Howard Street Handmade this Saturday!

Laverie - Whole Lot A Shakin' Goin On

2009-03-20T05:19:00.001-07:00

I like to shake my tail feather, and for me an important part of getting ready to go dancing is a good skirt. Molly, of A + Pottery, said that when she was little the true test of a good skirt had to do with its "twirl factor." If it didn't have good twirl, five year old Molly wouldn't wear a skirt.
Looking around Laverie's shop on Etsy, I was reminded of the twirl factor and found my feet tapping.

I love these skirts because they are form fitting and slightly longer in the back, giving them that steampunk bustle look that is so hot right now. Add some big boots, a fascinator and googles and you're ready to hit the town.

Or how about these lovely copper velour fingerless gloves? The lace edging has just the right amount of girly and they look so soft!

If you want to try on some of Laverie's goodies, come to Howard Street Handmade. She also sells at Hip Replacements, and don't forget about Etsy!

scrumdidlyump - yours truly

2009-03-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

So now for some shameless self-promotion.
Howdy. I am Katie Elkins, a gnarly nanny by day and ceramic artist nights and weekends. I don't have a cape or super powers, but sometimes I do feel like I have an alter ego. A really muddy one.
Most of my work is handbuilt mid range stoneware. I try to use earth friendly glazes, and almost everything is food safe, microwave, dishwasher and even oven friendly.
I spend a lot of time with kids - most importantly my own son who is six and likes to help me out with my pottery design. Right now he is working on a three-spouted teapot.
I studied ceramics in Japan and finished my BFA at Guilford College, where I learned how very funny and heartwarming Quakers can be.
I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and I feel like all that iron seeped into my bones in my formative years. I went to work with my mom until I was in kindergarten - spending most of my hours in a ballet studio, under a piano with lots and lots of ankles to look at and draw on the backs of my mom's discarded sheet music.
Now I live here in Asheville, and hope to soon start a craft lounge with some awesome laddies I met through Etsy and Isaac Dickson Elementary School. Things are rockin' - and if I can stop falling into manholes they will be even better.
See you Saturday!

Aphotic Rosary - Dark Beauty

2009-03-18T08:38:00.001-07:00

Naydeehn, aka Aphotic Rosary, is a woman after my own heart. She finds the components of her jewelry on the sides of interstate ramps, the road, and everywhere she goes. Rusty metal and delicate cameos, beadwork and chain combine in her work for fantastic contrast. Can you say steampunk genius?

She also uses skeleton keys from the church she grew up in (one wonders how they are unlocking their doors these days), and my personal favorite is her necklace incorporating typewriter keys. It would be the perfect accessory to wear to a showing of the Vagina Monologues.

With this much style, you can't go wrong! Kudos to Aphotic Rosary, and see you at Howard Street Handmade!

Wired Women - All Tangled Up In Blue

2009-03-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

Coffee, genetics, and chocolate - thats what this jewelry is made of! Wired Women is the product of three southern sisters Babra, Brenda, and Debbie - who just happen to spend their summers in Homer, Alaska. Wow, talk about extremes!

Their lovely jewelry is hand forged from copper and silver, with a bit of color from a wide range of gemstones.

Everything in the sisters' shop on Etsy looks extremely comfortable to wear, and the good news is that they can adjust everything for a custom fit!

I especially love their use of spirals and the soft blues of some of the stones. The copper pieces look like potential mother's day gifts to me!

If you want to see their work in person (I always like to try on jewelry in person), come by Howard Street, and at other times they sell at the Grove arcade and Willow's Dream in Asheville.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand We Are (drum roll please)....

2009-03-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is the finished and full list of everyone vending with Howard Street Handmade!
This guy wants you to come to Howard Street Handmade

1. FishyFishy Quilts
2. Courtney Murphy
3. scrumdidlyump
4. Crafty Amigas
5. Anna Toth
6. Laverie/ Two of Hearts
7. NectarLine
8. A+ Pottery
9. The Dolls
10. Aphotic Rosary
11. Whale Road
12. Crows Eye Studio
13. Darryl the Bookie
14. Old Gold
15. Overlap
16. Mary, June, and Lauren
17. Wired Women
18. MellowKnee
19. Piece Blossom
20. Dejahmi

overlap - she is the BOMB

2009-03-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I run across something so awesome that I want to simultaneously shout out loud about it to everyone I know and keep it really quiet hush-hush so someone else doesn't hog it all. Ever have that dilemma? You might if you visit overlap's shop in Etsy.

Overlap is full to the brim with handsewn and upcycled goodness, and its a good thing for you, gentle reader, I promised to blog about this spectacular shop, because otherwise the desire to keep this little secret all to myself might have won out. I am not including the picture of my favorite item however in hopes that I will get it all for my own, and only a large amount of bribery would pry it out of my handmade-loving arms! So there.... Anyway, about this lovely shop:

Leigh Anne Hilbert is a one woman sewing studio, here in Ashvegas. She taught herself to sew at an early age and has traveled around studying leatherwork and costume design, which is I guess how she came to create such awesome and snug hats. I have always noticed that costume designers have a flair for the headgear. Maybe they have to take haberdashery classes in costume school, I just don't know.

Leigh Anne's baby and toddler bomber helmets make me want to search out friends who have recently had kids just as an excuse to buy one. Really, they are that cute. Since they were inspired by Leigh Anne's son's bare head, one can assume that they are very comfortable, and that Elias is a very lucky boy with lots of style opportunities in his future. I was also thrilled to read that Leigh Anne loves using upcycled fabrics and wools, along with vintage print, "materials with depth."

I love her use of colors too - the green scarflette is my very favorite color and perfect for the spring that is popping up all around us here in Asheville.

Speaking of springg, did you know that Howard Street is on the spring equinox? Eggs all around.

And Now, a Word About Our Sponsor - Short Street Cakes

2009-03-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

Meet Jodie, an average vegan cake baking woman entrepeneur of sweet tooth fame. Well, I guess when put that way, one has to admit that Jodi is superlative, and her cakes doubly so.

Besides, I think most people in Asheville must have met Jodi at this point. Short Street Cakes just opened their new location at 225 Haywood Road last month, but Jodi has been rockin' the baking scene in Asheville for the last three years from her home base, with the worlds most awesome Fridgedaire oven, The Flair. If Jodi had a sidekick, I think it would be the Flair.

Several magazines have also featured Short Street lately, and it seems like everyone I mention the cake shop to says "Oh, I know Jodi!"

Why, with all of the fuss? Check out her new menu, it might lend a clue. I personally and eagerly await my first bite of classic coconut cake, and just the thought of a mexican chocolate cake makes me think I need more fiestas in my life.

Not only does Jodi have the knack for making delectable treats appear within walking distance of my house in West Asheville, she also has a real passion for community.

Walk into Short Street Cakes, you smell the cake, you see the cake, and you also see local handcrafted goodnes. Art by local painters hangs on the wall, funky napkins, potholders and aprons by local seamstresses are displayed in a vintage hutch next to the counter, and gorgeous hand bound books by Becca Lane are there too.

And the people! I have only ever once been Jodi's sole visitor - and that was long before the shop was even open. Short Street Cakes has turned what was a gray little empty building into a new vibrant facet of Asheville culture and culinary arts. Brava!

So, Howard Street Handmade? Jodi's brainchild. Not like when Artemis jumped out of Zeus skull, because we wouldn't wish anything crazy like that upon the lovely lady baker, but the good kind of brainchild that makes her mama proud. When we first started talking about ideas for the space next to the bakery, Jodi kept coming back to a dream of hers to display local arts and crafts and create a space that the neighborhood needed and would use. I am excited to see who HSH will be when she grows up!

Courtney Murphy - 'Tis Nobler to Build

2009-03-05T06:27:00.001-08:00

A good banana is hard to find. This morning I was checking out the bananas in the local cafe - they didn't meet my rigorous standards - when I noticed the bowl holding them.

In short, the bowl made up for the bananas, and I knew that it was Courtney Murphy's work.

There is no shortage of potters and ceramic artists in the Asheville area, and even though I am one myself and have an eye for work of the clay persuasion, it speaks to Courtney's strength that her work is so instantly recognizable. It is hers and hers alone.

After the banana incident, I decided to check out her website. Choc full of gorgeous photos and information about her work, I found out that Courtney studied in Denmark, and she draws a lot of inspiration from children's art. "Aha!" I thought. Picasso once said "it took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child," and I am reminded of this by Courtney's work, which has a simplicity and grace that I suspect to be the product of much discipline.

I, for one, am looking forward to seeing Courtney's work at Howard Street Handmade!

mellowknee - the knitty gritty

2009-03-05T06:05:00.000-08:00

Melanie (aka mellowknee) is rad. Rad to the R-A-D. She also owns a really cute pet rat, to the R -A - T, but that is another story.

In her shop on Etsy one can find hats, scarves, wristbands and awesome knitted bows, which are the perfect accessories for chasing white rabbits down holes.

I met Melanie through the Asheville Etsy Group. She works at the Asheville Free Book Exchange, where I volunteer at times and organized a craft show there last holiday season. She also has offered to share her knowledge and skills involved in making plarn - yarn from plastic grocery bags! Did I mention
she is rad?

Melanie has done a fair amount of chasing herself. She traveled up and down the east coast in kayaks, trains and cars, relying on the kindness of not-so strangers. She stayed in NC, because it is "the most beautiful place" she has ever seen.

We surely are glad to have this gal, and her beautiful work!

FishyFishyQuilts

2009-03-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

"I can't wait to get sewing!"

above - Russian Rhapsody Moda Quilt - All Flowered Up

Ellen of FishyFishyQuilts sat across from me, talking about her work at Short Street Cakes the other day with a familiar gleam in her eye. Not that it was familiar in her eyes in particular - we only met a few weeks ago when planning for Howard Street began. I knew that gleam because I have seen it everywhere I have ever traveled and encountered creative people. Ellen and Michie of FishyFishyQuilts definitely qualify for their fair share of gleaming. If you don't believe me, which you should, check out their website!

One of the niftiest things about Howard Street Handmade for me is that I get to meet 0ther crafty folk in my neck of the proverbial woods.

below - Hip To Be Square Quilt

So, I was excited when I got home to look up Ellen and Michie's work and see what it was that Ellen couldn't wait to start working on. Excitement is infectious, and after visitng their shop on Etsy, I agree with Ellen - their quilts are gorgeous and something to look forward to seeing in person!

My personal favorites are featured here. Their Russian Rhapsody quilt is pure genius - reversible! It's like two quilts for the price of one, which is great if one moves around the furniture and changes things up often to prevent boredom, like I do.

I also really dig the fact that they use all natural fabrics, such as cotton and bamboo. They also use upcycled fabric at times, and their quilts are washable. Especially important if you're looking for a baby quilt, which they make as well. Here is my favorite quilt of the wee people variety:

Ellen also takes credit for what promises to be the best Howard Street Handmade idea as of yet
at the show we will be giving a group demo throughout the day on crazy quilts. Everyone who comes to the show will be able to add a piece to the quilt, and at the end we will applique our logo to the finished quilto loco, et voila! Our very own banner, created by everyone present. Pretty darn cool, if you ask me.

See you at Howard Street! Tell your friends, families and neighbors!

Welcome to Howard Street Handmade! Applications for vendors are at the bottom of the page.

2009-02-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

Short Street Cakes
presents

Howard Street Handmade
indie craft fair
March 21rst
11-5

227 Haywood Road
"East" West Asheville, up the hill from River Arts District

Coming soon:
Check out a list of fabulous crafty co-conspirators who will be joining us at Howard Street selling their wares and doing free craft demos!