Handmade Arcade: a review and all the stuff I bought

Handmade Arcade this year was so much better than last year.

1. It was not in a filthy warehouse with absolutely no heat.
2. It was in an armory with a working bathroom and big huge tanks and stuff (and heat and lights and windows and doors).
3. I wasn't pregnant.

Because this is a two day show, I had time at the end of the first day and at the beginning of the second day to do some shopping. Also, because it's so close to home (about 1.5 hours), I had some helpers. I usually don't have much time at all to shop at craft shows so this is a big bonus for me. You don't get into this business if you don't like the whole movement (but that's a post for a different day which may discuss why I don't consider myself a visual artist anymore or maybe for just right now).

Zadie was being an absolute angel: sleeping in the stroller when prompted, eating solid food like a big girl, going home with Grandma at the end of the show so Mr. Lemon and I could actually eat a meal out together (Welcome to Moe's!), and being a gorgeous model of the yeti ringer onesie and bean romper lines SO I bought her tons of stuff.

First of all, this amazing elf hat by Sweet Pepita. She will wear this in the Spring.

This amazing horned yeti creature with a red bird on his head by Cutesy but not Cutesy. You gotta see the kid grab this beast by the horns and chomp on that bird. It's really cute.

The squirrel card to make the "S" for the alphabet in her nursery by esoule. We will probably frame the gnome. The wallet is for me and was made by the people at Get Felt Up who were very nice.

I got these cool legwarmers in a trade with Little Lumpkin who also made a Christmas present for my niece. I was so excited to finally be able to meet all of the family as Sarah and I were pregnant at the same time.

Finally, I bought some more fabulous Tim Gunn magnets from Tiny Rat who makes these really cool plastic canvas creations too.

If you didn't make it out, check out the vendor list on the website. Almost everyone has an Etsy shop so you can still buy their cool stuff.

Good Morning, Baltimore

Hey, if you're in the Baltimore area on Sunday, Dec. 7, head over to the Lyric Opera House for the DIY Holiday Art Mart because we'll be there.

It's from 12 - 6:30 so we're making an excessively long day trip out of it. I will have all the new yeti stuff with me as well as a few little surprises.

Vendors and other info here.

If you don't feel like checking out the site, the address is 140 West Mount Royal Avenue so you can Crackberry some directions.

EtsyKids Trunk Show

I was selected to participate in the EtsyKids Trunk Show in Etsy.com's virtual labs. I've never done anything like this before. In fact, I find chat rooms a little too fast paced for my old bones (I'm 34).

But Trunk Shows are cool. Sellers, like me, get to talk (or type) about their shops, their items, and processes. I don't usually get the chance to do that so I'm pretty excited.

There are 16 of us from the EtsyKids street team. We are also showing a couple of items from a shop of our choice.

There are door prizes and there will also be a coupon code given out at the show. Mine will be for free shipping -- anywhere. The show will start at 8:00 p.m. EST and to find us click here.