Freedom For Birth Premiere Showing 9/20

Baltimore's Freedom For Birth premiere showing is this Thursday, 9/20 at 6:00 p.m.  at the Patterson Park branch of the Enoch Pratt Library, Baltimore, MD  Jeremy Galvin, president of Maryland Families for Safe Birth, will lead a discussion on the effort to implement licensure for Certified Professional Midwives in Maryland.  The film is a fundraiser for MFSB but funds cannot be accepted at the event so please donate online at the MFSB website. For directions to the libary click here. Other showings are taking place the same day in Hagerstown and Libertytown.  Please see the MFSB website for more info. Also check out the online auction happening from now through noon on 9/23 by clicking this link.

Quote of the Day

"Craftivism to me means participating in the economy on my own terms."

-Kate Heck of Kate's Cauldron

katescauldron.etsy.com

cookiedoughcreations.etsy.com

Kathy Mathews's 15 year old craft business, Cookie Dough Creations, started with a single gingerbread man and has grown to feature hundreds of different salt dough ornaments inspired by every season and occasion.  As she approaches her 1,000th online sale since opening her Etsy shop in 2011, Kathy sat down with us to discuss her life as a crafter in Union Bridge, Maryland where she lives with her husband, two children and dog Mojo.

CCC:  I see on your Etsy shop profile that your dog Mojo is your constant companion while you work.  Do you think this may be because you have a habit of regularly dropping raw dough on the floor or that he is snatching bites off of your table when you step away?

   

KM:  That’s a very good question! It could be but it’s more than likely because he’s one of those dogs that has “separation” issues and can’t stand to be by himself. I’ve been very careful never to call my ornaments “cookies” in front of all our dogs. For some reason all dogs know what that word means!

CCC:  I see you have a shop category called "Career Gift Ornies."  Care to elaborate?

cookiedoughcreations.etsy.com

KM:  I no longer have that category, I’ve changed it to “My Job Ornaments” which hopefully is a better phrase. It’s just where I have all my nurse, teacher, librarian, etc. ornaments. Any ornament associated with a job or career.

    

 CCC:  Where do you purchase your supplies and do they express concern over your salt addiction?

KM:  Since you’ve brought that up, I have had a number of very strange comments regarding hypertension from the cashiers in the grocery store when I’m buying salt. Believe it or not, Walmart is currently the best place to purchase it unless the grocery store is having a sale!

CCC:  Where exactly IS Union Bridge Maryland?

KM:  Union Bridge is located between central and western Maryland. I prefer to think of us being closer to the western part of the state as that area has been referred to as “God’s country” due to the beautiful, rolling countryside. Almost nothing but mountains and farmland as far as the eye can see!

CCC:  Have any famous people purchased your wedding favors that you care to gossip about?

KM:  Not that I’m aware of but maybe someday!

CCC:    I read that your husband provides you with much needed technical support for your business.  Would you considered loaning him out to other crafters?

cookiedoughcreations.etsy.com

KM:  That’s a good idea, I’m sure we Etsians could keep him extremely busy!

Tomorrow people across the country will rally for birth change.  The rallies have gained a lot of media attention and two are planned in Maryland.  Please plan to attend and bring your family as well as a sign to carry.  Here is the national website http://www.improvingbirth.org/

The rally in Columbia will be held at 10:00 a.m. at 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia, MD 21044 (Columbia, MD Mall front of the LL Bean Store). They will continue with the Rally at 11 am cross the road by the Lake Kittamaqundi with a whole family Picnic.  Please see the event's Facebook page at 

http://www.facebook.com/ImprovingBirthNationalRallyForChangeColumbiaMd

Contact the coordinator Ann by clicking here.

The Hagerstown Rally  is at 10a.m.-noon, intersection of Robinwood Drive and Medical Campus Road in Hagerstown, Md. By Robinwood Professional (Medical) Center. See their Facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/NationalRallyForChangeHagerstownMd Contact the coordinator Jennifer by clicking here.

Get Your Craft Labels Using Today's Groupon Deal

photo credit myownlabels.com

Any crafter who has shopped for custom printed labels for his or her products knows the drill - pricey artwork set up fees, minimum orders in the thousands, high cost per label, etc. etc. Homemade labels can be workable IF you happen to own a crazy good printer AND want to invest tons of time in learning graphics software.   Many of us would rather be crafting than fussing with such things and so today's Groupon offer is a great deal!  Get $40 worth of custom printed labels for  $21.  See the offer here.

Crafting and Activism in One Weekend!

baltimoresoaps.etsy.com

On Saturday June 23rd at 10:00 a.m., join Barbara Stratton of Baltimore Soaps and More in NE Baltimore City for Soapmaking 101.  Learn the basics of cold process soapmaking including lye safety, using an online lye calculator, lining molds, mixing, cutting, curing, and ph testing. The cost for the class is $50 and each student gets to bring home 20 oz of soap to cut and cure themselves.  On Sunday June 24th at 4:00 p.m., join Barbara once again for VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) 101.   Topics include single vs. double layer suture, VBAC after multiple cesareans, risks/benefits of VBAC vs. repeat cesarean, Maryland hospital cesarean rates and VBAC numbers, selecting a careprovider and birth location, tips for improving your chances of success and more.  Cost is $45/couple. Siblings are welcome and light refreshments will be provided.  Pre-registration required for either class by 6/17.  Contact  Barbara for more information.

Interview with Nancy from N.Fallon Design Studio

On her blog titled The Life and Times of One Loopy Knitter, Nancy from N.Fallon Design Studio describes herself as a person who creates, knits, edits, makes art, draws, writes, worships the color green, loves cats and is a devoted believer in the potential for the good in humanity.  Here's our interview with where she talks about how she manages her schedule as a crafter and what it is like to work with yarn when there are cats around.


CCC: I noticed you posted on your blog about how you structure your workday as a crafter.  Care to elaborate?

nfallondesignstudio.etsy.com

Nancy: Yes, I did a post a while back about daily stress management tips and how the flow of my day goes.  I start every day with what I call my morning routine.  This helps me make sure that I don't neglect myself and my own needs before I start my work day at home each morning.  First, I do any household chores that need attending, then I drink a large glass of water, eat breakfast, workout, shower, and get dressed.


Afterwards (M-F) I sit down on the computer and knock out whatever is on the calender for the day from marketing to social networking, blogging, packing orders and answer emails.  In the afternoons, I hit the post office, go supply shopping, or run other errands if need be.  Otherwise, the rest of the afternoon is mine to design and create.


CCC:   I love the buttons that you work into your purse designs.  Where do you find the buttons you use?

nfallondesignstudio.etsy.com

Nancy:  Thank you.  I generally pick them up from the aisles of the craft stores I hit.  But I'm obsessed with handmade buttons.  There's so many gorgeous button crafters and vintage button sellers on etsy.  These can get quite pricey though and would drive the prices of my own work way up.  But I'm always up for getting handmade button gifts! 


CCC:  I see you are a fan of cats.  Do you find it particularly challenging to work with yarn when there are cats around?


Nancy:  Not particularly, contrary to what you might think.  My cats are pretty calm and obedient.  However, Lucy, one of my two, likes to snuggle up on my lap from time to time and to her that's my cue to drop what I'm doing and pet her.  If I don't, she's going to bite and paw at anything in her way (and that's often yarn) because she knows of no way quicker to get attention!


CCC:  When you are in your car waiting to make a turn and the car behind you passes you and turns first does this affect your belief in the good of humanity?


Nancy:  It is a serious personal challenge to live in Baltimore and retain this opinion sometimes.  But I will tell you that when faced with a situation like that, although it's easy to get mad, getting mad doesn't change what happened.  The only affect it has is on you and your day.  If you choose to tell yourself they had a good reason to do it and just move forward with your day, life will be a lot less stressful for you.  


CCC: Can you edit the punctuation in that last question for us?


Nancy:   Hahah.  By "editing"  I don't simply mean that I edit text.  As a blogger that comes up quite often and I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit punctuation happy myself.  I use the verb edit more to color my life as an artist.  I find reflection on one's own work to be the highest form of art.  I was trained conceptually in school (and what that means is that it was a small school so they went for the conceptual rather than the big time spending on technical equipment- ha) and realize that no piece is ever complete no matter what it is that you make.  There's always a design kink to work out or something that an artist continues to strive for that's always just beyond them at any given time.  That's what drives our boats, right?