Thursday, December 29, 2011

REMINDER: Last Chance to Become a FOUNDING MEMBER!

Mail your TAX DEDUCTIBLE membership donation on or before THIS FRIDAY, December 30, 2011 to become a FOUNDING MEMBER and help us reach our goal of $5,000!


Membership starts at just $25 and includes many great benefits!

More information on membership is available HERE.

Your generous support will allow us to continue offering craft workshops, supply swaps, markets and other events to encourage creative expression and commerce in Downtown Flint!

THANK YOU!

P.S. Remember to join us for a SPECIAL craftLAB on NEW YEAR'S DAY (THIS Sunday, January 1, 2012) from noon-3pm at The Lunch Studio!  We will be making 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 spiral notebooks.  More info is available HERE.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Handmade Birthday Cards!



Flint Handmade is looking for handmade birthday cards!

If you make or illustrate cards, consider sending a few birthday cards to Flint Handmade to use in 2012 for a special initiative for our members.  :)

And, there's still time to become a FOUNDING MEMBER and help us reach our goal of $5,000! 

CLICK HERE for more information on membership.

Memberships donations and/or birthday cards can be mailed to:

Flint Handmade
P.O. Box 13473
Flint, MI 48501

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

P.S. If you don't make cards, but have some handmade birthday cards on hand or pick up a card or two at a craft fair and would like to send them to us, that's fine, too! 

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Second Saturday Giveaway: December Winners!

We want to thank everyone who commented on our December Second Saturday Giveaway featuring Lisa Napier of Lisa Napier Sews!

The awesome commenters for December were Kristina, Jen, EngelAugen, Janel, Chelle, Nicole Stevens, DesiAnima, handleber, Missy Healey, Tessie, Kimba, Kara, Gwen P., Jan, April, Cath, Anne, Theresa, Jeniel, Susanna Tippett, Mary P., Jill, aallen66, jackieleigh76, Karen and Dana L.

Just for commenting, all of you will receive a FREE Flint Handmade button in your choice of red, blue or yellow! Ask at the Flint Handmade table at any of our events and we'll make sure you get your button.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for! The randomly selected winner of the Apron is...


...Missy Healey!!! Congratulations!

Lisa was so generous...she gave us a second item for a SPECIAL BONUS GIVEAWAY!  The randomly selected winner of the Bag and Coin Purse Combo is...


...Jan!!! Congratulations!

Missy Healey and Jan, send us an email at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will make arrangements for you to receive your items! You have 30 days to claim your prize. :)

SPECIAL NOTE: As usual, we are taking the month of January off from Second Saturday Giveaway, but check back for a new giveaway on February 11, 2012!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Last-Minute Handmade Holiday Gifts in the Flint Handmade Shop at The Lunch Studio!


Need a last-minute holiday gift?


Check out the Flint Handmade Shop


We have Flint Handmade Knuckles Logo Merchandise 
and plush monstas from Frankenstitch Productions!


We also have crocheted and embroidered items
from yarnscratch and much more!

The Lunch Studio Hours
Tuesday, December 20 to Friday, December 23: 8am to 3pm
Saturday, December 24 to Monday, December 26: CLOSED

If business is slow, The Lunch Studio may close early,
so be sure to call ahead at (810) 424-9868!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

January craftLAB: Spiral Notebooks!

Join us for a SPECIAL craftLAB on NEW YEAR'S DAY (Sunday, January 1, 2012) from noon-3pm at The Lunch Studio!


We will be making 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 spiral notebooks with the hole punch that was donated to Flint Handmade by our friend, Kate Kehoe of Chicaloo Photography & MoreThank you, Kate!

You can make a New Year's Resolution log, a journal, a sketchbook or any other spiral notebook.

PLEASE BRING FILLER PAPER FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK. 

You can bring 50-100 sheets of lined paper, blank paper, colored paper, whatever your heart desires!  We will have a paper cutter on hand for you to cut your paper to size.

All other supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring any of your own papercrafting supplies (including scissors, scrapbook paper, stamps/ink, etc.) if you would like to use them!

Flint Handmade hosts FREE craftLABs on the first Sunday of every month at The Lunch Studio in Downtown Flint! Come explore and express your creativity!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Flint Handmade Memberships Make Great Gifts!

Looking for a special gift to give a creative friend or family member for the holidays?

How about a gift membership to Flint Handmade!

Download the membership brochure and form HERE.

Your loved one will get all kinds of great benefits, such as:

Craft Advocate Level ($25-$49/year)

20% Discount on FH Knuckles Merchandise
Early Admission/Previews of Certain FH Events
Members Only Raffles and Drawings
Invitation to Annual Members Only Craft Social
FH Member Table Sign (For Members who Vend)

Craft Innovator Level ($50-$99/year)
All Benefits Listed Above Plus:
$5 Gift Certificate for FH Knuckles Merchandise
Listing on FH Website with Bio/Website/Etc.
Reduced Rate on Vendor Fees (If Selected to Vend)

Craft Visionary Level ($100+/year)
All Benefits Listed Above Plus:
$10 Gift Certificate for FH Knuckles Merchandise
Handmade Item Valued at $10+ from Local Crafter
Invitation to Join FH Advisory Council 


BONUS: Gift Memberships at any level purchased by December 31, 2011 include a limited edition chrome-finished, laser-engraved keychain in a gift box ONLY available to our FOUNDING MEMBERS!

Just complete the membership form in your friend's name.  Be sure to include a note indicating "Gift Membership From" with your name and contact info so that we can send you your tax deductible donation letter.  So easy!

Upon request, we will also email you a Flint Handmade Gift Membership Certificate that you can print and give your loved one.  Membership packets, including the keychain, will be mailed in early 2012.

Several of our current members received their memberships as gifts...and have expressed great appreciation to the gift giver!

Flint Handmade Member Sarah Richter says: "My mom gave me a Craft Visionary Level Membership to Flint Handmade as my big Christmas gift this year. She knows how much I love crafting and she really wants to encourage my creativity. It's one of the best gifts I've ever received! Thanks, Mom! ♥"

Download the membership brochure and form HERE.

If you have any questions about gift memberships, email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com.

Thank you for your support.  :)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Second Saturday Giveaway: Win an Apron OR Bag Combo from Lisa Napier Sews!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

For our December Second Saturday giveaway, we are featuring Lisa Napier of Lisa Napier Sews!


This is Lisa in her craftroom.  I asked her to tell me about her workspace:

"My workspace is right in my bedroom. I have everything I need at my fingertips.


My sewing table was my Grandma Adelia's and I sew with a picture of her next to me.


I have my books and patterns for references/ideas/how to/inspiration on sewing, crocheting, crafting and art.


I have a little bit of everything for all sorts of projects I currently do and for some future projects as well.

In the summer I take my sewing outside. I just set up everything I need right out on the patio so I can take in the fresh air. Summer is my favorite time of year."

Lisa really does fit A LOT of craft supplies in one room!  She has...

...fabric and thread...

...baskets of yarn...
  
...crochet hooks and books...

...scissors and much more!

I asked Lisa how she got into crafting:

"I've been crafting for as long as I can remember. I've been exposed to it all my life. Everything I know about sewing I learned from my mom and grandma. Everything else I just picked up along the way. If I see something I like I take a good look at it and try making it later. It will become one of those "I think I can make that" project.


I always liked fashion so I started out making myself my own clothes. I made pretty much all of my son's Halloween costumes throughout the years and he always seemed to ask for a costume that had no pre-made pattern to follow so I had to make them from scratch.  He even decorated my sewing machine with stickers when he was a toddler.


My first crocheting project was a baby blanket for my son. I really love how when you crochet you are actually making your own fabric. Plus it gives me something to do while I'm watching television."

It turns out that Lisa is a classic movie fan!  When I visited, she was watching an old Lauren Bacall movie:

"When I sew in my room I have TCM (Turner Classic Movies) on. Turn on my television and TCM is on! I love all the old movies and actors: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Humphrey Bogart."
 

In fact, I got a photo of her with an old movie playing on the television.  Also featured are items represening her other two passions: Elvis and Hello Kitty! 
  

Lisa even has a small Hello Kitty Pez Dispenser Collection in her craftroom for inspiration.


Lisa also makes papercrafts like the bottle cap magnets above.


She has plenty of paper for another project that she wants to try...decoupage!


Lisa hopes to cover these three nesting boxes soon.


When I visited, Lisa was planning to decoupage the holiday countdown calendar shown above.


And, by the time I had a chance to post this interview, she already finised the front of the calendar!  (Photo: Lisa Napier)

My final question for Lisa was about the projects she would like to work on in the future:

"A new wardrobe for myself is my future project.  I think it's time to start sewing for me again. I use to make myself clothes all the time and have put it off to the side over the past few years.


I use to work at the Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet store and dressing up was required. Since I couldn't afford the really nice designer clothes I started making myself my own work wardrobe and used a lot of brocade fabric, which is my favorite material.  Anything made with brocade fabric turns out quite nice no matter how simple it is. 

Customers use to ask me where I got my clothes from or what designer it was!" 

Well, we definitely think that Lisa could be a designer based on the clothes she made for herself...and the TWO prizes she donated for the giveaway this month!

PRIZE 1: An awesome floral apron with front pocket, which I made her model in the kitchen!

PRIZE 2: A bag and coin purse combo made from a fall leaves print!

For YOUR chance to win the apron OR the bag combo from Lisa Napier Sews, just complete steps A and B:

A) Follow Flint Handmade via the blog, Twitter, Google Reader or whatever newfangled "following application" tickles your fancy. Or, if you don't do the whole following thing, email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will add you to our email list.

B) Leave us a comment in response to this blog post by 5pm on Saturday, December 17, 2011 answering the following 2 questions:

1) How do you follow Flint Handmade?

2) Tell us which prize you would rather win (apron OR bag combo) AND how you would use it if you won.

Please be sure to answer BOTH questions to qualify for the drawing.

The winner will be selected at random and posted on the blog within one week after the deadline. The winner will have 30 days to claim the prize.

We hope to hear from YOU and we hope you enjoyed our December Second Saturday Giveaway!

SPECIAL NOTE: As usual, we are taking the month of January off from Second Saturday Giveaway, but check back for a new giveaway on February 11, 2012! 

Thursday, December 8, 2011

December 2011 craftLAB Recap: Embroidery!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

Almost 30 people turned out for our FREE craftLAB workshop on embroidery at The Lunch Studio on Sunday!

Sarah Richter of yarnscratch and Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods lead the workshop.

Sarah and Nicole brought lots of great supplies...

...and some fabulous examples of their embroidery work!

Sarah (standing) instructs Jenni (l) and Jenni's mother and daughter.  Three generations of embroiderers!

Happy ladies embroidering! 

Nicole (l) shows Jess and Danielle (r) some embroidery stitches.

Such a cute picture!

Flint Handmade gave everyone a Butterfinger wreath to say Happy Holidays!  Hayley was very appreciative.
 
Men embroider, too!  Rocky demonstrates his new skills.

Extreme close-up!

Jenni's daughter (what was her name?!?) with her awesome embroidered ornament.

Can you tell that Christa loves the color purple?  :)

Nicole started a sweet little heart before the workshop ended.

If you have ideas for craftLABs in 2012, please email them to us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com.

We WILL be hosting a special NEW YEARS DAY craftLAB on Sunday, January 1, 2012 from noon-3pm at The Lunch Studio.  Stay tuned for more details!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

2011 Membership Campaign: Update 1

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

On October 4, 2011, we launched our FIRST EVER MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN!

As of today, just two months later, we have received exactly $1,975.00 in TAX-DEDUCTIBLE membership donations...THAT'S ALMOST $2,000! 


We are almost halfway to our goal of $5,000 by December 31, 2011...but, we still need your help! 

Please consider becoming a member of Flint Handmade.  Membership starts at just $25 and includes many great benefits! 

More information on membership is available HERE.

Your generous support will allow us to continue offering craft workshops, supply swaps, markets and other events to encourage creative expression and commerce in Downtown Flint!

THANK YOU!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

November craftLAB: Embroidery with Nicole Stevens and Sarah Richter!

Join us for a FREE Embroidery Workshop at craftLAB on Sunday, December 4, 2011 from noon-3pm at The Lunch Studio!

Learn the basics of embroidery from Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods and Sarah Richter of yarnscratch!


Make an embroidered ornament on wool, a door hanger on felt and/or a small wooden hoop wall hanging!

All supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring any of your own embroidery supplies (including scissors) if you would like to use them!

Flint Handmade hosts FREE craftLABs on the first Sunday of every month at The Lunch Studio in Downtown Flint! Come explore and express your creativity!


Don't forget to check out the 6th Annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair this weekend, too!