Indie Craft Show!

Saturday, May 15 12:00p-6:00p.
Meet Your Makers is a super-sized version of Cleveland Craft Coalition's monthly craft bazaar. Meet and mingle with oodles of artists, designers, and makers of all kinds of swell stuff from the Greater Cleveland Area. Enjoy complimentary refreshments as you relax in the “living room” and gush over all the neato stuff you just bought!

Shop for one of a kind sock creatures by Zombie Socks, hand knits by Embrace Imperfection, kick ass totes by Atomic Burnout, irreverent greeting cards by Candra Squire, yard and wall art by The Sign Guy, hand built ceramics by CMS designs, and more!
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Update: This was a whole lot of fun! Many thanks to the vendors and thanks to everyone who came out to support these local artists and crafters! We appreciate it. And we'll definitely do this again! Stayed tuned...

National Craft Month: Blogs

Ah, blogs... what would we do without them? Here are two craft related blogs that I visit weekly if not daily. (We'll share more blogs in the coming days.)

Craftzine's blog is a plethora of information on anything craft: make it, bake it, sell it, whatever you want to do, it's here! Want some ideas for what you can do with plastic bags? Wine bottles? Or even granola wrappers? Check craftzine.com. Want to find interesting, from scratch recipes? Check craftzine.com. Want to discover some really cool art that artists are creating today? Check craftzine.com. Want to do a project you never knew you have to try? You got it - check craftzine.com.

Oh Etsy! How do we love thee? Let us count the ways...
If you haven't bought from Etsy, posted your own art on Etsy, or even heard of Etsy, let's get you hip to this amazing place called Etsy. The Etsy blog covers many topics. Buying and selling on Etsy, tips, featured artists and articles (my favorite being "Quit Your Day Job"), news, projects, and more! This is what they have to say about themselves, "Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade." Oh yeah... I got chills...

What craft blogs do you visit weekly? Daily?

~Linda

National Craft Month: Shops

~Are you a Westsider? Then visit Birds of a Feather in Avon! This shop not only carries gorgeous yarn (I once spent over $200 in one visit. No kidding.) but carries wonderful fabrics too. They have tons of classes and host meetings. You can book space for your own group or join a group! There's even a group to knit or crochet for charity. How lovely is that?

~Earlier we mentioned River Colors Studio in Lakewood. This spacious shop invites you to "Go ahead -- touch, discover, play, let your mind run free", and it's easy to do that... I kept touching this luxurious hot pink cashmere yarn and fell in love. Take a look at their online store. They have a nice book selection and the staff is very helpful and very knowledgeable and willing to help you with practically any question you may have. Like all good specialty shops, they have classes and I've noticed many groups chatting and knitting at the tables too.

~In Cleveland is Fine Points on Larchmere! This beautiful Victorian house is stuffed with amazing specialty yarn! They have classes, special events, and Trunk Shows! The staff is friendly and will take a moment to help you with your project. They also have an online store. On the second floor is a boutique featuring designer clothing and accessories. I'm still trying to figure out when I can by this gorgeous coat by An Ren!

Whether you visit one of these shops or all, plan to spend some serious time. There is a lot to see!

~Linda

National Craft Month!

As we mentioned in a previous post, March is National Craft Month! In honor of this, we'll feature some great craft blogs, Cleveland area shops, and local workshops and classes where you can learn a craft or even share your craft!

Up first is Stitch Cleveland! This fun, bright, sunny, beautiful space is run by Heidi and Megan, a mother-daughter team of seamsters. Visit them for lessons and classes whether you're a beginner or an expert. They carry beautiful fabrics and notions and they have many projects on display as well as books to inspire you. They are also super friendly and their enthusiasm for their craft is contagious! So stop in for a visit, take a class and make your own clothes, a quilt, toys, art, whatever!

Also, meetings of the Crochet Club and Church of Craft are held at Stitch Cleveland regularly! I told you it's a fun space.

Stitch Cleveland is located at the corner of Sloane and Detroit Rd. in Lakewood right next door to River Colors Studio (a full scale yarn shop) and Blackbird Baking Company.

*****Note: Stitch Cleveland moved! They are at 18117 Detroit Road in Lakewood. Check out their website for more information.