Thinking out-of-town? Renegade Chicago’s summer show is September 7th & 8th, and they are accepting applications for both indie crafters and vintage sellers (for the Vintage Bazaar within RC) through June 7th. Check out the Renegade Chicago website for more deets and to apply!

Per Small Craft: “As you meet the people behind the crafts, you find that they tend to have personalities as vivid as their work. On Saturday, May 11, we’ll host two of the Midwest craft scene’s most vivid personalities: Lish Dorset and Betty Floored. Lish will talk quilting 101, and guide us though a simple project – a mug rug! Betty will fill a pop-up shop with her retro-styled skirts, aprons, pillows, and bags. And of course, there will be free coffee, tea, and homemade vegan baked goods for everyone. It’s a day to relax, learn, and shop, while getting to know some of the people who make our local craft community so special.”

Lish also posts about it here.

Saturday, May 11
Pop-Up Shop open 2:00 – 6:00 pm
Skillshare begins at 3:00 pm
Trumbullplex Theater
4210 Trumbull
Detroit

There’s a new website for all you crafters who love to sell their work to check out, whether you are looking to go on a “crafty world tour”, learn about some local shows that are accepting applications, or just need some tips or inspiration for your craft show display. Hip Hip Handmade Shows posts open calls to indie art and craft shows nationwide, plus lots of other useful information to help grow your crafty biz through shows, like how to judge your success at a fair, how to research a show, and “booth candy” to inspire your own tablescape.

Did I mention that HHHS was created by Stephanie of Phantom Limb and co-founder of Handmade Detroit? We wish Stephanie the best of luck with her new venture, and are sure that Hip Hip Handmade Shows will help bring a little more luck to your next craft show and business too!

Maker’s Mart will host almost 50 handmade artists from the area (lots from Michigan!), amidst Artomatic 419, which features over 500 visual, literary and performing artists all housed in a warehouse space in downtown Toledo.

Vendor list can be found here.

Maker’s Mart
Saturday, April 20, 2013
11a -11p
830 Summit Street Building
Toledo, Ohio

Free Admission!

Fun news coming out of Pewabic Pottery. Well-known event designer David Stark has collaborated with Pewabic Pottery to create a beautiful, yet simple, dinner plate available for purchase at the pottery’s store this June. David is in Detroit to be part of a Culture Lab Detroit lecture on April 18 - you can learn more about the event here.

Courtney Fischer will be leading the skillshare this month, making garden markers out of old silverware, while Marcy Davy from All Things Grow runs the pop-up shop, selling handpulled prints.

More information can be found on the Small Craft site.

Small Craft Returns to the Trumbullplex
Saturday, April 13
Pop-Up Shop open 2:00 – 6:00 pm
Skillshare begins at 3:00 pm
4210 Trumbull
Detroit

The OMG! Award goes to Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching. Jenny was tapped by ESPN to created this embroidered portrait of Detroit Tiger Justin Verlander. Love it! Check out the video to see it in a new commercial.

The discarded arm material was almost launched into the trash when I caught my daughters nude baby doll lying nearby. Our own Miss Lish has crafted dolly dresses for this babe before, but more than a few of them are missing or in tatters from playing with them so much! Those sleeve lengths were screaming to be repurposed!

I have a sewing machine finally but must confess, getting it out for one or two things just doesn’t happen. I usually need a whole stack of hemming projects and a long afternoon to get it running. I decided to make this outfit simply by snipping two folded triangles about a half an inch wide to made diamond shaped arm holes. I re-trimmed the length so baby wouldn’t trip and there you have it! A new summertime dress for an 8 inch doll.

You crafty types ever see a random project in the strangest places? Please share!

Looking for a way to add a pop of spring color inside? Check out my easy DIY art project on the Reware Vintage blog, using some ’80s “season” cards (you can easily recreate your own with some paint chips from your local hardware store).

It’s that time of year again! The call to makers for Maker Faire Detroit 2013 is now open. This year Handmade Detroit will NOT be presenting a craft fair within the show. However, crafters are more than encouraged to apply to participate in the show on their own, either as a commercial vendor or as a hands-on participant. Simply apply through The Henry Ford’s event registration page.

Questions? Email makerfairedetroit@thehenryford.org.