UglyKittyReDeux was featured on Etsy’s front page three times last week. Three seperate times. Three separate items. I didn’t even know that was possible!

I

II

and III, From the Craftcult.com archives

I’m going to celebrate since this will never happen again!

Holiday Heist, an arts and crafts show organized by the DC Craft Mafia, will be held Saturday November 21st from 12 to 6 pm at The Soundry in Vienna, Virginia. The event is free and open to the public, and free craft workshops will be held throughout the day. All proceeds from raffle ticket sales will benefit The Washington Humane Society, who will be on premises 3-6pm hosting an open adoption for puppies and dogs that need homes. The Soundry is a former auto body shop that has been converted into an affordable space for local artists, independent (indie) crafters and musicians to create, rehearse, network, show, sell, teach, learn and promote.

Holiday Heist will feature a wide selection of handcrafted gifts from over 30 vendors, from fine art & photography, to clothing & accessories, jewelry, baby gifts and more! This is not only a great opportunity to shop local and support small businesses; this is a chance to find that unique something, that special gift that no one else will give (um, remember that Gap scarf set that you bought your best friend? She received two more sets just like it that year).

DCCM members April Stanley-Njari of April Mist Jewelry will teach paper bead making at noon as part of our free craft workshops program, and Vanessa Alsondo of Ninnycat Crochet will be on hand at 1pm to conduct crochet lessons. At 2 o’clock Laura Lee and Allison Lince-Bentley of the DC Threads Sewing Lounge will demo a simple and fun sewing project for beginners.

“Not only does our festival help local artists and satisfy a demand for handmade products, but it’s also a way to give back to the community,” explains Erica Burns, of Erica Burns Designs, of the group’s goal to raise funds for charity. “Since our first show, we’ve helped to raise funds for The Washington Humane Society. To add to the fun, we hold raffles for shoppers to win door prizes, with 100% of the raffle ticket sales going to the WHS. Everybody wins!”

“The Holiday Heist craft show is Sustainable Crafting philosophy at its best,” Vanessa explains. “Local craft and indie businesses, the Soundry, and the Washington Humane Society are all supporting each other to improve business, the arts, and lives, and to promote social awareness. The DCCM will continue to select venues, charities/organizations and vendors that either can benefit from or will foster Washington DC’s art community.”

This sense of community is highlighted by the fact that DC Craft Mafia is a part of a network of other sister groups which began in Austin, Texas and has spread nationwide to 30 cities. DC Craft Mafia represents the Metro DC area, Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland.

“We host Crafty Drinks, a monthly social networking happy hour for crafters and indie business owners,” says Shayne Rioux of Novelty Kitten. “It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, share resources and crafts. Even passers by, who don’t craft, stop by our tables to say hi and get in on some craftiness after seeing our promo signs!”

Meet the Mafia and Holiday Heist vendors Friday 20 November from 6-9pm at Jammin Java in Vienna for a pre-show happy hour.

Remember these? Remember how excited I was?

Well, we’ve expanded – to rings!!

Each ring is made with a different security envelope cast in resin in a silver-plated pewter ring.  They’re fully adjustable too!  

Now available in the shop!

Originally posted May 1, 2009 on the DC Craft Mafia Blog

Not sure why, maybe it’s genetic. I come from a long line of crafters and people who had to make everything they needed – gardens, woodworking, sewing. Or maybe it’s just because I’m a total control freak and it’s just more reliable to do it myself .

But, I’m not alone. The DIY movement is living the high-life right now. Martha Stewart on daytime TV, “Handmade Nation” (screening this weekend at the Summit of Awesome in DC) being attended by thousands, and major craft shows like Crafty Bastards, Art Star Craft Bazaar, Spring Bada-Bing, and Bust Craftacular, and Renegade are popping up across the country and inspiring many more.

So why do we “DIY?” I figure some people are simply born with a natural propensity to create. Some call it creativity or control-freakism. Others see it as a way to “stick it to the man.” With consumerism getting higher all the time, stores are competing more and more to cut their costs and claim to be the “lowest price this side of the Mississippi,”it’s satisfying to know that something you made from scratch has love and care put into it. Others do it to be environmentally friendly or to save money. Whatever the reason, I fully-support the DIY movement.

So I thought I’d try my hand at the top ten reasons you should DIY:

(poster by BoldandNobel)

1. It helps save money. If you look back through history, recessions, etc. are always followed by a resurgence of the handmade movement. Buying fabric for a dress is cheaper than a new dress, gardening is cheaper than going to the grocery store. Plus, people may not be able to pay to have things mended .

(photo of EtsyLab class, via EtsyLab Flickr)

2. It’s fun. Everyone needs a hobby and making things is a great one!

(bag by ShaggyBaggy on Etsy)

3. It’s environmentally-friendly. I’m sure it’s not coincidence, but there is also a huge green movement in the crafting community. The amount of recycled materials available are not only earth-friendly, they’re cheap (see reason #1). Recycled materials also encourage you to be creative, “What could I make with that old coffee sack.”

(from the DC Craft Mafia Flickr Group)

4. It’s a community. I’ve met so many wonderful people through crafting! Above, are some of the awesome people I’ve met *cough* the Mafia! Mary, Erica, and Shayne talking crafts and more, I’m sure. There are bitch and stitches, kitting groups, quilting circles, and even the Etsy Forums! People everywhere are getting together over a love of handmade.

(tote from weatherandnoise)

5. It reduces your consumerism. Well, I guess that’s not entirely true. You can still be a consumer of handmade items, and if you really get into it, will probably buy more than you would at the mall. But, at least your new items will be made by hands, with love. Either way, you’re staying out of the Mega-Marts that are taking over the world.

(Etsy pack from greenka)

6. You get exactly what you want. Being able to make what you want, also lets you make it however you want. Even if you’re working with someone else, having something handmade for your gives you ultimate control on the outcome – colors, shape, size, style…it’s up to you!

(by jcjewelrydesign on Etsy)

7. It’s personal. Nothing says I love you like a handmade gift. Remember making cards and pasta necklaces for your aunt’s birthday? She loved those more than all the Hallmark crap in the world. She may still even have them. Being able to give a gift that you made yourself is the ultimate way of showing someone how much you love.

(photo from emmegab via Flickr)

8. It’s tradition (or could be). So many of our craft are handed down through family traditions. For example, I learned painting from my grandmother. People used to hand make things out of necessity – sewing clothes, knitting blankets, etc. Today, that necessity is overpowered by readily-available, inexpensive merchandise, people don’t *need* to learn to make things by hand. However, it’s a wonderful way to bond with family and friend. It gives you a chance to spend time with your grandma, mother, father, uncle, etc. and learn something new from them. It’s also something great to share with your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc. Pass the craft on!

(photo from Say Llama on Flickr)

9. It instills confidence. It’s so satisfying to hold up something you’ve worked so hard on and know that you put your love and time into it. Whether it be a necklace or a pie, making it yourself teaches you that you can do things for yourself.

(nesting dolls from sherla on Etsy)

10. It exercises your creativity. One of my firm beliefs is that creativity is not based on having all the supplies you could ever need at your disposal, but just the opposite. Creativity comes from being forced to use what you have….what can I make with green paper, glue, and old wire? Exercising your brain like this will help you see ways out of any situation, or give you new ways to solve problems at work, or thing of new products that could end up of Oprah’s favorite things.

Why do you DIY?

We all know that I love making stuff, and that my attention span is about that of a music video…thank you MTV.  So when I get an idea and follow it all the way to completion in 48 hrs I usually ends with me running around the house going “Eeee, look how cute this is! Eeeee!”  My boyfriend has designated these such items as “squeakers.”  

This squeaker is long in the making actually.  I have been collecting security envelopes for a while with hopes of making tons of fabulous things…but what?  The button idea was already taken…so now what?  

I don’t remember when or how, but at some point a few weeks ago, it hit me.  Oh wait…no, it was my Mom’s idea!  That’s right!  She had been helping me collect envelopes for a while and I told her that I wanted to try making resin jewelry – she was the one who put two and two together.  

We carefully selected our favorite security envelope patterns, cut them, and discovered how easy it is to use resin.  We ordered some pewter pendants and got to work.  I’m absolutely thrilled with the results.  It took all my will power to keep from playing with the pendants for the 36 hrs they took to dry, but they’re done and they’re in the shop!

So it’s not 4 AM, and I’m not Walmart (thank God), but I am offering a little bit of a sale. 
FREE SHIPPING for all US orders.  For international orders, $5 of shipping!  That means if shipping is less than $5, it’s free, but if it’s more, you’ll get $5 off! 

Just let me know how you found me in the Notes to Seller section when checking out!  Just something simple, “Etsy search for calendar,” or “the Ugly Kitty website.”  I can either send a revised invoice or refund the shipping if you’d like to just run through the checkout.

My UglyKitty will be representing at the Squidfire Winter Art Mart on Sunday, December 7th!  Check us out from 12-6:30 at the Lyric Opera House (110 West Mount Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201).  I’ll be at the DC Craft Mafia Booth!

So I haven’t been around much…like at all.  Between traveling for work, invitation orders, and getting ready for the UnUsual Suspects Show (see previous post) things have been hectic to say the least.  Oh, and I have a cold so all I really want to do is watch Law and Order SVU, Dirty Jobs, and Unwrapped with an Ugly Kitty on my lap.

Well, during that time, I did manage to complete my newest pride and joy – Quasi calendars!!

I may be a bit biased, but seriously, isn’t she adorable.  You can almost feel the sneeze on the back of your neck.  

I designed each one from some of my favorite photos.  They’re laser printed on white cardstock and come in these nifty little CD jewel cases that double as a holder.  You just open and flip back – too clever!  Anyway, they’re in the shop!

(blatantly copied from the DC Craft Mafia Website)

Your shopping list that is! We’ve got an amazing group of artists and crafters lined up for the DC Craft Mafia Unusual Suspects Arts & Crafts Fair on Saturday, November 1. We’ll be sharing a little bit from each of our participants over the coming days, but you’re gonna want to see these in person!

Arty4ever
Bead Jewelry by Shopgirl
Bette’s Bags
Bitchen Stitchen
Bunny Butt Apothecary
Chiaroscuro
Cindy Cole
Class Attire
Creatively Yours Enterprises
Designs by Tia
DogStar Designs
Erica Burns Designs
Finch Metal
Flying Machine Gifts
Gayla Lee
Generations Tie Dye
Get Wired Designs
Glittery Blue
Green Porch-Lights Prints
Herban Lifestyle
huffalo designs
Jewelry Works
Keen Designs
LeMair Handcrafts
LMNOProducts
Mad Hatter Ceramics
MenoKnits
Miscelena Handmade Papercrafts
Moonlight Bindery
Nancy Nelson Jewelry
NeedleNoodles
Ninnycat
Novelty Kitten
oblinaknit
Ohmelisa!
Organidog
pinkkiss pottery
Polly Scoots
Preppy Style
REALM Jewelry
SapphireChild Orchids
Sara Rose Tutus
See Katie Sew
Shelby B’s Designs
Shobha Ohal
Something Earthy Pottery Studio
Spaghetti Kiss
SquidFire, Inc.
Sugar Paperie
The Guestroom Closet
The Palace of Varied Industries
My UglyKitty
Whamodyne
Wynn Creasy Fine Art LLC
Yellin’ Moon Designs