Before we officially say goodbye to 2009 and usher in a brand new year of crafting, Hello Craft would like to thank all of our friends, family, dedicated bloggers, members and readers for supporting our organization during it’s inaugural year.

… and what a first year it’s been!

We hosted our Shopper Show & Tell at craft fairs around the country…

Launched our Hello Craft Podcast…

Produced the first annual Summit of Awesome in Mid City DC….

Took a Field Trip to the Biggs & Featherbelle factory…

Co-produced the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair…

and brought our Make Something Awesome Area to the One of a Kind Show NY!

So here’s our toast to everyone who supported not only Hello Craft, but the global handmade movement in 2009.

We hope that this year has been most prosperous and inspiring for all, and we look forward to another fabulous year of hand-sewn, hand-drawn, decoupaged, silk-screened, baked, soldered, embroidered, knitted, crocheted, felted, and letter-pressed items to get excited about.

XOXO,
Kimberly, Sara, Tina & Kelly
Hello Craft Directors

Here, in ACC Baltimore Part 1, I’ll share some of our favorite shopper stories and images for the weekend.

Purchased: Stamped sterling silver earrings
Made by: Jennaca Leigh Davies

Reason: Bought them for her mother because she was ungrateful to her for a longtime.  She thought the earrings were very refreshing after lots to repetitive and expensive crafts.

Purchased: Feather Headband
Made by: GALVIN-ized Headwear

Reason: She’s an art teacher and likes to wear things that help her stand out from other teachers. Also, great example of colors and texture for students.

You may recognize this shopper (and her good taste) from Etsy, where she shares her handmade finds and seller tips as daniellexo.  Was nice to meet you, Danielle!

Purchased: Ceramic Bird Vase
Made by: Little Flower Designs

Reason: On her wedding day, she had a moment alone after walking the dog when she looked out the window and (being a city girl) saw her first blue jay ever.  She has been wanting something with a blue bird on it since.

Purchased: Plush ring
Made by: Raeburn Ink

Reason:  Because it is awesome, light weight & voluminous.

Purchased: Carnelian Earrings
Made by: imogene

Reason: Love the color and they match her pants!  She’s really loving the warm pumpkin rust color right now.

Purchased: Mug with butterflies
Made by: Justin Rothshank

Reason: She liked the unevenness and they way it feels in her hand.

Purchased: Wooden Flip-Car Toy with Ramp
Made by: Baldwin Toys

Reason: For grandson and his father who refuses to grow up. The toy is going to make them laugh and laugh.

Purchased: Purse
Made by: Laura Maclay

Reason: So darn cute! I love the look. Very simple but very professional.

Purchased: Puzzle piece hand cut glass necklace & earrings

Made by: Dena Pengas Glass

Reason: Love the color, way it felt, the idea, the fit.  Truly handcrafted & handmade.

Dena also makes really cool glass lego jewelry in a wide variety of colors. Above is a collection of her Lego earrings.  Visit her site to see the pendants, necklaces, cufflinks, rings and more.

I did some shopping of my own at Erica Gordon’s booth, aka Steele Toe Studios.  I’ve been a fan of her work for years and planned to pick up a recycled bike tube belt (the result of a collaboration between Erica and Alchemy Goods, makers of the famous Ad Bag).  While Erica helped other customers, I admired her recycled bike gear buckles and took the chance to hold her multifont buckle, an item I’d been eyeing online for sometime.  I couldn’t put it down.  I really enjoy the solid weight of the cast metal and different dimensions of the raised letters.

Also of note, was Erica’s clever use of a digital picture frame to showcase images of her at work with red-hot metal rods, which struck me as an extremely effective way to educate and engage shoppers not familiar with the creative process.

Like I said, the ACC Baltimore show is huge!  You can see more shopper photos in our Flickr pool.  In part 2, I’ll show you more work from the artists that caught my eye and offer some well-designed booth examples.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day:

Purchase: Plush from Plants & Animals

Reason: Fuzzy

Purchase: Cards (1 Gocco printed, 1 screen printed) by Levi

Reason: Awesomeness!

Purchase: Bag by Maluhia Designs

Reason: It’s really cute.

Purchase: Body care from MeMe Cosmetics. Already owned the hat from Knot Ugly.

Purchase: Clock made with bike parts from 1.by.liz

Why: Gift

Purchase: Necklace and earrings

Reason: 22nd wedding anniversary gift

More photos after the jump.

Purchases: Calendars and stationery from Cecily Ink

Reason: Teach design and have used her work as examples in class. Love her stuff.

Purchases: Bird Light switch plate from Bishop Lennon & buttons. Ornament made in DIY area at Crafty Wonderland

Purchase: Card from Suga Press

Reason: Unique, local and very beautiful

Purchase: Owl from Plants & Animals

Purchase: Poppy scarf from from Bella Sisters.

Reason: Favorite colors and matches 90% of my wardrobe.

Purchases: Octopus shirt from Flapper Girl and Herbivore shirt from Salmon Street Studios

Reason: Gifts for daughters. One is a marine biologist and one is a vegetarian.

Amazing jackets from Bella Sisters.

The day was rather overwhelming with the abundance of eye-catching, hand-crafted goodness, no doubt we missed something utterly amazing. Tell us about your Crafty Wonderland finds in the comments. You can check out the entire vendor list at CraftyWonderland.com. If you are in the Portland area, a smaller, more intimate Crafty Wonderland is takes place every month. Visit their site for details.

We often feature the work of crafters we meet at shows like Crafty Wonderland in our Etsy favorites. Click the SHOP tab at the top of this page to see what’s got our eye at the moment.

Purchase: Blood Pillow by Kelly Rand
Why: Couldn’t resist!

Scarves, hats and yarn were popular items:

De*Nada Designs had comfy warm scarves and mittens.

Purchase: Seafoam handspun yarn from Folktale Fibers
Why: It’s beautiful!

Purchase: Scarf from Kitten Rockswell

Why: Amazing!

Purchase: Hat from Pile of Craft (that’s my company).

Why: I like the yellow

Purchase: Pile of Craft scarf made with soft yarn from Woolarina Handspun

Why: I wanted it!!

Purchase: Scarf from Kitten Rockswell

Why: A gift for a friend. Cool colors.

Purchased: More Cowbell! baby outfit from 60 Bugs
Why: My friend had a second baby so I had to get her the latest craze!

Purchase: Melvins Poster from El Jefe Designs
Why: I really like his Black Cat Posters. I like his jams!

El Jefe talks to Booty Market shoppers

Purchase: Egg necklace from Kristina Bilonick
Why: I wanted it for a long time. Egg admirer.

Purchase (that’s me): Stag thermal from Kristina Bilonick
Why: Love it! Perfect for the season.

Looking for more gift ideas?  There were handsewn beer koozies, zombie and gnome ornaments, and even maybe some gocco printed fabric envelopes (which you can find this Saturday at the Mutiny’s Trunk Show).

Have you purchased handmade goods the world should know about?  Tell us about them in the comments.  Don’t forget to include links to your favorite items or shops.

Hello Craft will be at the 3rd annual Craft Mutiny Booty Market to take photos and get stories on all the handmade holiday shopping and selling. Stop by our photo booth to participate in post-shopping interviews and have your photo taken with your sweet purchases for our blog.

The Booty Market is your one stop shop for fantastic handmade finds from Craft Mutiny members and East Coast vendors such as Daisy Lacy, Block Party Press and De*Nada Design. Check out the website to see the complete vendor list.

When: This Saturday, December 6th, Noon-6pm
Where: Hilda’s Giftshop in the National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle NW DC)
This event is sponsored by DEKKA, Miss Pixies, and Chipotle.

Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are crazy full of holiday shows in the next month. I listed a bunch for you over at the Crafty Bastards blog. Check it out, here.