Here I am with the talented and adorable Jessie Oleson of CakeSpy fame. I’m not sure how this happened, but we are randomly making the same face! (Photo courtesy of Thea Starr.)

I didn’t buy as much as I wanted to, but I came away with some lovely treasures.

This is some handmade felt by Nikki Wheeler. Not sure what I’m going to use it for, but I’m looking forward to playing with it!

Being a complete textile addict, I grabbed up a couple bracelets made of recycled merino sweater pieces by Plain & Tall by Sarah Stoller. I told myself I was going to give them as gifts but the more I look at and touch them, the more I feel like they might have to stay mine.

Finally, I’m absolutely in love with the work of LaRu. The one on the right is supposed to be a belt buckle, but she gave me permission to turn it into the biggest sweetest pendant in the world… all mine!

I also arranged some swap-y goodness with Ugly Baby Shower Art, and a future custom cuff by Greenbelts.

Finally, I know I’ll be stalking the webshops of QueenHeron Creations and Greenleaf Knitting in the near future.

Thanks to the Marlo and the EtsyRain Leadership Team for putting this show together. More of Thea’s show photos here.

6″ wet felted wool tortilla with the Virgen de Guadalupe on one side by Bee Mice Elf.

It made me snort-laugh. Clicky.

The fourth annual Urban Craft Uprising Holiday show is this weekend, and I’ll be there! From the website:

That’s right folks; this year will knock your socks off! We have some of the BEST indie crafters coming to Seattle to strike your fancy for all your holiday needs. Over 100 vendors under one roof for one stop holiday shopping that will make you feel good about the holidays. Support local and independent designers! Shop outside the box!

Date: Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th
Time: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Where: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
Admission: Free!

Clicky.

Due to popular demand, this holiday season the plushes return to gallery hanahou! Made with love by 30+ artists and crafters from all over the world, these original and affordable soft toys will range from cooky critters to adorable anthropomorphic objects.

December 4 2008 – January 7 2009
Opening party: December 4, 6-9pm

And, if you’re like me and can’t be there to check it out, there’s a preview pre-sale online now! I’m totally amazed at what other artists have created… here’s mine:

More awaits you. Clicky.

From their website:

WINTER WONDERLAND SHOPFEST
Monday, December 1st
11am-2pm and 4pm-8pm

Kick off your holiday shopping and support KidsQuest! Local vendors will share unique products and The Explore Store will offer a 15% discount (that’s 25% off for members).

From 11am-2pm bring the kids and KidsQuest staff will watch them while you browse and buy. From 4pm-8pm join us for adult only shopping with wine and snacks. 15% of all your purchases go to support the Museum’s educational programs.

Come see me and the other vendors, ‘kay?

Mini Monsters at Maker Faire Austin – CRAFT Video Podcast from make magazine on Vimeo.

The Mini Monster kit she mentions also has a fill-in-the-blank personality profile to help you give your new friend an outlook on life. They have a ton of fun kits for sale at the Maker Shed, and I’m not just saying that, I swear. My favorites, besides the monsters of course, are the Felt Bird Brooch Kit, Wet Felted Flower Kit, Designing Automata Kit, and the Yarn Spinning Kit. They have a lot more, and there’s a 10% discount until the end of November using promo code CRAFTER. Clicky.

One city, two great events and I’ll be at both. Please you come too, ok?

First up, we have the You Bazaar, featuring 30+ select craft vendors selling quality handmade wares and a series of rotating workshops throughout the day with some of your favorite plush designers, including me!

You Bazaar
November 2nd 2008, 10am to 5pm
San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park
Free admission!

This will be a fun family friendly event to kick off the Plush You SF Show:

Plush You! SF
Opening Reception: Friday, November 7
6pm – Midnight
Double Punch Gallery
1821 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94133

The show runs through November so if you can’t make the opening, you can still check it out.

The 4th annual Plush You! show at Schmancy opens this Friday, Oct. 10th from 5 – 8 p.m. I’ll be there gawking at the genius of others, and I’ll have some pieces showing there myself.

Don’t live in Seattle? Plush You! is growing this year with shows and workshops scheduled for November in San Francisco, and December in New York.

Come play with us as Urban Craft Uprising hosts our very first CRAFT magazine release party! Join us Sunday, September 7th, 12 – 3pm ahem, 1 – 4pm, to celebrate.

CRAFT 08 has a focus on weaving, so we’ll be right at home at Stitches – the ‘not just your typical fabric store’ in Capitol Hill. We’ll have free hands-on craft projects including paper looms from the mag and Kristen Rask from Schmancy will be there to teach us how to make button rings. (I’ll be doing demos of my Felted Flower Flair Kit, also featured in the magazine.)

When you add in the snacks, door prizes and the irresistible fashion fabrics, notions, and yarn at Stitches, you have a must-attend event on your hands! We hope you’ll stop in, have some nibbles, and CRAFT with us.

i have to go to see the new collection of soft sculptures by sara lanzillotta, of devout doll fame, debuting this friday. you should be there.

the show is called “wonderland,” and the pieces are based on the alice in wonderland stories by lewis carroll.

head to gargoyles statuary august 15, 5-9 pm. if you can’t make it to the emerald city, go shopping for sara’s delightful work online instead.