8th Annual Recycled Art Market at City High

This Saturday is the 8th Annual Recycled Art Market at the City High/Middle School (1720 Plainfield). This is our favorite show of the year — this year there will be more than 70 booths showcasing goods made from primarily recycled materials. 

Every year, we like to debut at least one new product, this year it will be kitty bowties. Bows are made from recycled neckties and fabric scraps. These dapper accessories are perfect for all you're cat's upcoming formal holiday occasions!*

We will also have most of our standard items available too. Last year the booth was full and the day was busy. We're looking forward to seeing many familiar faces again this year. 

Items are one-of-a-kind and of limited quantity, so get there early for first dibbs! Generally, 11 am to 1 pm are the busiest hours, so if you want to avoid the crowds, plan accordingly! See you Saturday!

*Miss the show or want a sneak peek at some ties, check out ScrappyLynn.etsy.com

Handmade Michigan

I was all over the state this past weekend checking out various holiday craft shows. It was a whirlwind of art and crowds, holiday music and laughing Santas. I came out of the weekend full of inspiration and ready for the holidays. 

Friday evening I stopped by the 27th annual UICA Holiday Art Market. Held at Steelcase Town Hall, the UICA show is known for it's talented artists and modern selections.
 

Saturday morning I swung by the Lowell High School for the 32nd Annual Lowell Art Market. The show had more than 100 artists, including ScrappyLynn, and massive crowds all day long. It was a fairly epic show with all sorts of holiday inspired crafts and food items.

From Lowell, I drove to Detroit for the 10th Annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair put on by Handmade Detroit. This show was quite different from the others, it had much younger artists and shoppers, and the pieces were very unique. Shoppers were very excited about what they were seeing.  

So to recap my weekend, I want to share some of my favorites selections, most of which are from Michigan artists.

Lynne Tan Bird Feeders

Colleen O'Rourke collages

Manny Made

Circuit Breaker Labs

Wordart from Type Shy

Enamor

Crave Jewelry

Cool Critters

Aromaholic Lip Balms

I am very thrilled by the DIY and Shop Local trends that have made it possible for so many Art shows to pop up and thrive. It is so great to see so many people reveling in handmade, on-of-a-kind goods.

But before I end this post, I want to take a major sidebar to mention Detroit's Masonic Temple which was the location for the Urban Craft Fair. The building itself was a work of art. Completed in 1926, it has been the largest masonic temple in the world since 1939.

Located on Cass Corridor not far from the motor city casino, the building takes up a full city block. Within the massive structure there are ballrooms, auditoriums, theater, lodging, bowling alleys, and gymnasiums; totaling 1037 rooms. Detroit's Roller Derby team even plays here in the Drill Room, which has a sprung wood floor.

In April 2013, the building was threatened with foreclosure over $152,000 due in back taxes owed. The debt was paid off in May, and in June, it was revealed that $142,000 of the bill was footed by singer-songwriterJack White, whose mother used to work at the temple. 

While the building could use some maintenance and TLC, it is definitely being utilized as is. From the little bit we saw, there was a swing dance gala, a club with DJs on multiple stages, and a formal dinner reception, all going on at the same time as the craft fair. Experiencing this building was an added bonus to the Urban Craft Fair.

You can tour parts of the building by clicking on the panorama button at the bottom of this page.

Saturday's Recycled Art Market Kicks Off Season

It's the beginning of craft show season, and kicking it off, is our favorite show of the season, the Recycled Art Market at City High/Middle.

I will be there showing with ScrappyLynn, showcasing some favorite pieces: bird ornaments, cat nip mice, mittens and slippers — all made from sweater scraps!

It costs $1 to enter the show (to benefit the school's PTA) an the show runs from 9 am to 4 pm. Snack and lunch will be available for purchase. It's the perfect opportunity to jumpstart your holiday shopping with something recycled and unique!

Fall: Summer's Parting Gift

There's no denying it's Fall. It's hard to say goodbye to Summer, especially knowing what's coming, but perfect Fall days make it a little easier—they're like Summer's parting gifts.

We had ourselves an exceptionally Fall Fall day at Fallasburg Festival in Lowell a few weeks ago. A beautiful day of of crafts, shopping, cider, dumplings, chili and sweet annie.

Sweet Annie is something I've only ever come across at Fallasburg Festival. It's a plant that has tiny yellow, dusty flowers and smells potently of.... a sage like scent. According to motherearthliving.com it is an "annual herb, native to southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and Iran, is a favorite of crafters in this country for its versatility and sweet, lingering fragrance."

People go to Fallasburg specifically to get sweet annie. Why we've seen it no where else is a mystery as they couldn't make bunches fast enough to sell!

Personally though, I go to Fallasburg for the cider and the crafts. And this years artisans were stand-out fantastic. Nothing inspires me to shop more, than a unique, well-done, handmade item. Now if only I had the foresight to Christmas shop for others rather than treat myself!