Pledge to buy handmade!

Start off the holidays on a good foot- take the Handmade Pledge! By promising to only buy handmade goods this holiday season, you are not only going to get lots of hugs and kisses from the recipient, you will also support the indie community. Handmade Holidays are the way to go!

You don't know where to buy handmade goods, you say? Start out with these local shows:
*Bishop Arts Hoedown- Thursday, November 1st in the Bishop Arts District of Oak Cliff. contact julie@themakesite.com for more info
*Junius Heights Arts and Crafts Bazaar, November 11th at the Garden Cafe on Junius St., Dallas- coinciding with the Junius Heights Home Tour, come out and meet local artists and do some shopping.
***Hipsters Handmade Holiday Bazaar*** at the Dallas Market Hall on Dec. 1st with love bands, crafts, and demos. www.urbanstreetbazaar.com
*Deck the Halls- being thrown by Armhole and the Texas Tarts, you can't miss this party at the Sons of Hermann Hall on Sun., December 2nd. contact jacky@texastarts.com for info.
*Winter Art Fair- December 8th at the Alex Sanger Elementary School at 8410 San Leandro Dr. Dallas, 75228 call (972)749-7600 for more info.
*of course, you will always find a treasure at the Deep Ellum Sellums which occur every second Saturday of the month on Elm Street in Deep Ellum from 8:30-11:30p.m.

and you can always make your own creations, as well! You don't know how to start? Take a class at Make Studio at 313 N. Bishop Ave. and impress your loved ones! Julie will teach you everything from sewing and silkscreening to jewelrymaking and fused glass!

contact us at dallascraftmafia@yahoo.com for more info.

This has been a crafty PSA from your local Craft Mafia. signing off--

We're Back & Ready For More!

The Girlie Show was wonderful! I had a ball meeting so many of the Girlies and shopping the show! It was truly a fun show, so well run -- with great music and really quality vendors! We're all gearing up for more great shows over the next couple of months, so stay tuned for more! We'll be toting our wares in and around Dallas, Texas and beyond!

Halloween is just around the corner! We have just started utilizing our etsy shop and have a few seasonal items for sale! Check it out: http://dallascraftmafia.etsy.com/

I love the felt monsters that Superchica made-- really fun and festive decorations that are handmade with Halloween love!

Craft Recipe: Jack-o-Lanterns

There are so many ways to make fun carved pumpkins these days! I am a fanatic when it comes to carving.

First, I draw a design on a piece of paper and hold it up to the pumpkin to trace-- using a pushpin to poke a hole every couple of centimeters so that I can remove my paper and see my design in holes on the pumpkin.

Next, I cut the top making a key-hole shape (it keeps the lid from falling in) at the top and scoop out the insides using a pumpkin scoop or a big serving spoon. When I'm done scooping, I take the pumpkin to the sink and rinse it out-- it gets rid of some of the stringy bits and makes it less sticky to work on. I also try to carve out a flat space for my candle/light. Cut a small hole on the backside of your pumpkin an inch or so down from your top for a vent-- it helps from the top of your pumpkin lid going black!

For the carving, I use pumpkin saws, carving knives, or kitchen knife to cut out my design. Other great things to use are electric drills (they make perfect polka dots!). Another fun thing to do (if you are a carving fool like me) is to use carving tools just to remove part of the pumpkin shell/skin -- it creates a cool glow effect with a lit candle. These do last a lot longer-- but I recommend electric/battery powered candles on these.

To preserve, I use vaseline or petroleum jelly around the cut edges-- it seals it and keeps it from deteriorating so quickly.

Other fun things to add and do: Paint! Add it to a carved pumpkin or use it for a no-carve solution! Great for small children!! I have been known to spray paint or use other acrylic craft paint a pumpkin to match a theme-- from 60's to a disco ball. Think about using glow sticks or strobe lights to fill your pumpkin-- very fun effects! you can also use fake finger nails for teeth or pipe cleaners and styrofoam balls for antennae or crazy eyes! Using other bits of the pumpkin for tongues and eyeballs are easy to! just use a toothpick to secure it to your pumpkin.