Shop Local: Patterson Park Flea Market & Craft Fair in Baltimore, MD on May 14, 2011
If you live in the Baltimore-Washington area and have ever been interested in viewing my items in person, there is an excellent opportunity this weekend. I’ll be peddling my wares at the Patterson Park Flea Market & Craft Fair. I’ll bring all of the vintage and refashioned goodies from my Etsy shop and sell them at my booth, just look for the large SerendipiT sign. I’ll even have goodies that I haven’t had the opportunity to list in my store, like recycled tshirt tote bags, hats and more. This event will kick off Saturday morning at 9am and last until 3pm and you can find us near Lombard Street and Patterson Park Avenue, by the White House and Fountain.
The Spring 2011 Patterson Park Flea Market and Craft Fair will be presented by the Butchers Hill Association on Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM.� The event is located in the northwest part of Baltimore�s Patterson Park near familiar landmarks � the Pagoda, the Marble Fountain, and the White House.� Vendors and buyers will enjoy a great outdoor setting, live band music, and picnic food and beverages offered by Butchers Hill.
We hope that you’ll join us in this 20-year-plus flea-market tradition, either as a vendor selling �fleas,� both old and new, or crafts, creations, and other valuables, or by kicking back for a day of fun and bargain-hunting.
So come out and enjoy Baltimore in Spring, shop for some local handmade crafts and unique vintage finds and be sure to stop by and say, Hi!”.
Filed under Events, Local to Baltimore | Tags: Baltimore City, Butchers Hill, Craft Fair, crafts, eco-friendly, Etsy, Flea Market, gifts, Patterson Park, refashion, SerendipiT, spring, sustainable, thrifty, vintage, Washington | Comment (0)Stuff I Love: Paper Made from Poo!
Yes, you did read that correctly. I am referencing paper recyled from excrement. Ewwww…. Well, The Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Company has a cute little slogan that reads, “We take the OO out of Poo”. This paper has been crafted from the undigested plant fibers left behind by elephants. It’s allowed to dry, cleaned and then made into paper. According to their website, they can make 25 large sheets of paper from a single elephant dropping. In addition, their website gives great elephant facts, including this one:
Did You Know? – Surprising Facts About Elephants
~ Elephants eat 300 – 600 lb (130 – 270 kg) of food per day – 60% of that food leaves the elephant’s body undigested.
I love this product because it’s unique, sustainable and helps endangered elephants while creating a useful and attractive final product. The line of safari and sea life paper products are adorable! The best thing is that by developing the recycled poo paper industry they are contritubting to the welfare of elephants:
Products With a Purpose
Our purpose is to successfully sell our goods in order to complete a truly creative sustainable cycle:
where raw materials with little other use are utilized to make a useful and functional product all the while providing jobs and opportunity along the way and ultimately selling our goods at a profit from which a portion
is directed to a worthwhile cause: elephant welfare and conservation.
Basically, our sustainable cycle works like this: as with all creatures on our planet, elephants need a clean environment and a good diet. With these needs met, an elephant produces a lot of dung, which we collect and use to make our products. We work with various conservation parks (and mahouts) to gather the dung(which is full of fibrous material and makes great paper). We then process the dung into paper sheets from which our products
are made. The more we sell to customers like you and to stores across the country and around the world
…the more we can contribute as a portion of the profits from each item you buy is contributed to elephant welfare and conservation programs!
What a great cause! They also offer fundraising for clubs, associations and environmental groups. So, embrace the poo, it may just be the paper of the future.
SerendipiT Donating 100% of Sale Proceeds to Japanese Aid Organizations
The catastrophic events that have taken place in Japan over the last week are almost unimaginable, the suffering of the survivors nearly inconceivable. Fortunately there are several charitable organizations already providing aid. For this reason I am temporarily converting my Etsy shop over to serve as a means to collect donations to support the efforts of these organizations. While I have my personal favorite, I wanted to provide everyone with a choice. Therefore I have listed 8 charitable organizations that are currently providing relief specifically to the people of Japan right now.
Do you want to help Japan? I will donate 100% of your purchase to one of the organizations listed here specifically to aid with the rescue and rebuilding efforts in Japan. To communicate your selection just list your choice in the “convo to seller” at checkout:
AMERICAN RED CROSS: Emergency Operation Centers are opened in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help.
GLOBALGIVING: Established a fund to disburse donations to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.
SAVE THE CHILDREN: Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency health care and provision of non-food items and shelter.
SALVATION ARMY: The Salvation Army has been in Japan since 1895 and is currently providing emergency assistance to those in need.
AMERICARES: Emergency team is on full alert, mobilizing resources and dispatching an emergency response manager to the region.
CONVOY OF HOPE: Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance.
INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities.
SHELTER BOX: The first team is mobilizing to head to Japan and begin the response effort.
Thank you for your generosity and kindness in this time of need for the Japanese people.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth of SerendipiT.etsy.com
SerendipiT sources fabrics from previously loved clothing and recycles these textiles into hand-crafted EcoChic fashion. This eco-friendly process reduces our consumption of raw materials and precious resources. Refashioned clothing and accessories are true sustainable fashion that helps you to reduce your environmental impact on the Earth.
*Proud Member of the Fashion: Remix Team (tag: fashionremixteam)
*Proud member of the Recyclers Team Guild (tag: wastenot)
Stuff I Love: Crab Card by sweetperversion
As you may know from reading previous blog posts, I am the owner of my very own Etsy Shop, SerendipiT where I sell hand-made, sustainable fashion crafted from sustainable (used) fabrics and accessories from recycled materials. I am also a member of several teams and even lead one the Fashion:Remix Team. With all of this Etsy activity, I see hundreds of awesome items every day. While I always mark my favorite shops and items, there are some that are just too awesome not to share. So, with that being said, I’d like to kick-off my newest blog intallment, “Stuff I Love”. This could be monthly or weekly, but will probably end up being daily because there is just too much great stuff on Etsy not to share the love.
Here it is, the Crab Card by sweetperversion. simply stated, the card reads, “Good for eatin’, not for spreadin’”. Truer words were never spoken. Enjoy!
Filed under Stuff I Love! | Tags: Etsy, gifts, SIL! | Comment (1)Etsy Shop Feature: Interview with Lola’s Jewels
I enjoy handmade craft for many reasons as you may already know from previous posts. The benefits of purchasing handmade are many, you provide living wages to someone that you can get to know rather than supporting a faceless corporation who may be purchasing from abused workers overseas, you can ensure quality and customer service are a premium and help the economy by ensuring that hard working, creative and entrepreneurial designers can practice the craft of their choice. You can purchase items online, at a craft fair or even your local farmer’s market. However, every so often I would like to take the time to feature and help you get to know some of the handmade artisans who have setup virtual shops on Etsy. This is the first shop feature that I’ll be promoting here and it’s an interview with Lola’s Jewels.
I’ve decided to start with this shop because it’s local to me. Lola’s Jewels hails from my home town, the lovely Charm City, Baltimore, Maryland.
ICouldSewDoThat: First, tell me a little something about yourself.
Lola’s Jewels: I am a mother of three wonderful children. I work full time and love to design jewelry in my “spare time”. This actually relaxes me. I even have my 7 year old daughter making her own jewelry. I love to read and enjoy lots of time with the family.
ICouldSewDoThat: So what inspires you?
Lola’s Jewels: My inspiration definitely comes from my family. I named my shop Lola’s jewels after my daughter and I hope she will design and create jewelry to add to the shop one day. She has a great imagination and an eye for design, so we shall see.
ICouldSewDoThat:As you may know I love eco-friendly design and have been trying to “green” up a bit for a variety of reasons. What about you, do you consider yourself environmentally conscious?
Lola’s Jewels:I am definitely eco-friendly! Waste not want not! My scrabble tile jewelry is made from upcycled game pieces. The shell items in my shop are made form actual sea shells found while on vacation with my family in Florida. There will be more upcycled jewelry coming soon!!
ICouldSewDoThat:Have you found any other shops that you really love to shop in or are inspired by on Etsy?
Lola’s Jewels:I have many favorite Etsy sellers. There are so many talented people on Etsy.
ICouldSewDoThat:“I love it when….”?
Lola’s Jewels:People love my creations! There is no better compliment.
ICouldSewDoThat:For Baltimore locals is there a way where we can shop local and catch you outside of your Etsy store?
Lola’s Jewels:I will be at local craft fairs in the Spring and you never know where else…… keep your eyes open for Lola’s Jewels!
ICouldSewDoThat:What’s are some totally random facts about you?
Lola’s Jewels:Dessert is my favorite part of the meal. I see the beauty in everything. I love Sunsets!
ICouldSewDoThat:Thanks so much for taking the time to share a little bit about yourself and your craft.
Be sure to check out the shop and look for Lola’s Jewels locally in Baltimore. You can follow her on Twitter or friend her on Facebook.
Remember to shop local and buy handmade!
Filed under Activism, Environmentally Focused, Products, Shopping, Website | Tags: Baltimore City, crafts, eco-friendly, Etsy, gifts, recycle, sustainable, thrifty | Comments (2)Etsy Seller Giveaway: Win your choice of any print from cindycolumbia1958
Cindy is an artist with a shop on Etsy selling original acrylic and mixed media art. Etsy hosts many and varied teams where sellers group together based on geogrpahy, style, interests or craft genre. Cindy and I are both members of Team Discovery who is hosting this giveaway event. Please visit the blog and follow the directions to receive an entry for a chance to win your choice of any print from Cindy’s shop.
Here’s the rules:
- The winners will be chosen by random.org on December 23. The winner will be announced here and he or she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted or does not respond, another winner will be chosen after 48 hours.
- The giveaway will end at midnight eastern time on Wednesday, December 22.
The winners will be chosen by random.org on December 23. The winner will be announced here and he or she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted or does not respond, another winner will be chosen after 48 hours. - Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. The more entries you post, the more chances you have to win!
- This giveaway is open worldwide.
So, to get your entry be sure to visit Cindy’s shop and find your favorite item, then visit the Team Discovery blog and tell everyone which is your favorite. *Please see details on the blog for even more opportunities to win. Now Sally Forth and Tweet the Deets!
Filed under Giveaways | Tags: crafts, Etsy, gifts, giveaway, TeamDiscovery, thrifty | Comment (1)Threadbanger Tutorial: How to Refashion a Sweater into a Brimmed Beanie
I’ve been busy crafting for Christmas, so unfortunately I haven’t completed any original tutorials recently. However, here is a really cool one that you can use to make last minute gifts for friends and family. The brimmed beanie is loved by boys and girls of all ages, so head to your closet or the thift store and grab an old baseball cap and a sweater that’s really cook, but you totally won’t wear and get to work.
Filed under DIY, Tutorial | Tags: crafts, DIY, eco-friendly, gifts, recycle, refashion, sustainable, Threadbanger, thrifty, Tutorial | Comments (3)What’s So Scary About Halloween?
If you guessed it’s environmental impact, you’d be right. The amount of waste generated by this annual celebration is truly terrifying! The tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween has been around in the U.S. since the early 1900′s. With all of the parties, costumes and candy for trick-or-treating Halloween is one of the largest, most expensive and wasteful traditions second only to Christmas. As environmental awareness has begun to gain traction in recent years more families are beginning to look at ways to reduce waste and, due to the current economic climate, expenses. Fortunately both of these are good for the environment and hopefully will help result in more sustainable traditions for future generations. One group that has formed for the purpose of creating “healthier and more Earth-friendly holidays” is Green Halloween. A small grass-roots movement, now sponsored by a collection of household named organic and natural food producers and smaller sponsors focused on health and the environment are backing this group who have helped to raise awareness and organize opportunities for people to participate in making Halloween a healthier holiday. If you’d like to participate in a Green Halloween this year; here’s a list of tips from their website to get you started:
Spread the Green this Halloween
Get started with these simple steps
- Bring Green Halloween to your city by becoming a volunteer coordinator, or offer to help the coordinator in your area
- Host a costume exchange for National Costume Swap Day (second Saturday of October)
- Help spread the enthusiasm for Green Halloween® via Twitter, Facebook or your blog. Here are some pre-written Tweets, posts and articles to make it easy.
- Talk to your children’s school about Green Halloween®
- Talk to your children about Green Halloween® and how you can participate as a family
- Talk to community businesses about helping you celebrate a Green Halloween®
- Contact your local grocery store and ask them to stock Green Halloween® items
- Ask us for some informational Green Halloween® post cards and hand them out wherever you can
- Stage a Green Halloween® party
- Organize a Green Halloween® neighborhood bash
- Make a Green Halloween® window sign (or buy one here) and give away Green Halloween® treats and treasures
- Purchase Green Halloween® products
- Become a Green Halloween® sponsor
- Host a post-Halloween candy composting party
- Sign up for our newsletter (from our homepage)
- Contact your local press/ media about Green Halloween®
- Write about Green Halloween® in your blog, or include a blurb about us in someone else’s blog
- Send us your ideas for next year
Downloadable action kits and materials to help you spread the green*
- Neighborhood action kit
- Parent action kit
- Teacher action kit
- “10 Easy steps” (tip sheet)
- Green Halloween posters: small and large
- Green Halloween® logo
- 2010 Sponsors sheet
- 2009 5×7 Postcard
- Green Halloween® Blurbs, Articles, “Tweets” & More
*If printing, please use recycled or tree-free paper.
Thank you!
The website has lots of great ideas, helpful hints and even a marketplace where you can purchase green halloween items. As for my family, my now teenage daughter and I, will plan to continue the tradition of wearing thrifted, swapped, recycled halloween costumes. We use basic black clothes and update them each year with different accessories. I’ve been wearing the same main black costume every year for about 10 years, but thanks to a bit of creativity and some careful accessorizing have managed to be everything from a devil to an angel, with masquerade, goth, and vampire in between. This year I’m going as a raven, with a change to my mask and the addition of a thrifted feather boa. Americans spend on average around $5 billion on costumes, decoration and candy, so give your family a little economic stimulus by focusing on refashioning your costume, upcycling your decorations and enjoy the opportunity to spend more time at home and less time at the mall.
Here are a few of my favorite recycled halloween supplies:
My Green Halloween! (check out the Etsy Treasury by clicking the link)
$19.00 USD
$25.00 USD
$0.75 USD
$15.00 USD
$255.00 USD
$10.00 USD
What I’ve been up to on Etsy
Hey, here’s a peek at both my personal shop (Serendipit) and my team’s shop (Fashion:Remix). Please keep us in mind for your personal wardrobe updates and gift giving. We all make and sell eco-friendly refashioned or recycled clothing and accessories.
Filed under Environmentally Focused, Products, Shopping, Uncategorized, Website | Tags: crafts, design, eco-friendly, Etsy, fashion, gifts, refashion, SerendipiT, sustainable, thrifty, vegan, vegetarian | Comment (0)Baltimore Clothing Stop & Swap
Boy am I sorry I didn’t see this sooner! I was posting a comment on the Baltimore Sun this morning and to the right saw and ad for the Baltimore Clothing Stop & Swap. I had never even heard of this, but I was immediately excited. Woohoo, someone is organizing clothing swaps in my very own city! I love clothing swaps because you can shop for free and reducing your carbon footprint by reusing the clothes that someone else no longer wants. I love to swap out my closet at least twice a year and since I discovered clothing swaps I don’t have to feel bad about it anymore; It’s glorious. I clicked on the link and noted that they were having a swap this Saturday, May 1 from 10am – 6pm in Mt. Vernon. I’ll be out of town on Saturday celebrating my Dad’s birthday, so unfortunately I’ll have to miss this one. The good news? They are traveling all over the city (and have been since early April) through the middle of May. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for the next swap so that I can spruce up my wardrobe for Spring. The Baltimore Clothing Stop & Swap has it’s own website here where it says:
Baltimore Clothing Stop & Swap:
Style & Sustainability Through Common Threads
April 18 – May 17, 2010All ages, genders and sizes are welcome to participate in a new kind of shopping experience that benefits the environment and the Baltimore community. Donate, trade or take clothing and accessories in an exciting, outdoor, store-like, money-free exchange. (Even if you do not donate, you may take up to three items!) The Baltimore Clothing Stop & Swap will travel to a variety of locations throughout Baltimore city for one month.
The swap is free and open to the general public.
Their mission is simple, “The Baltimore Clothing Stop & Swap’s mission is to raise awareness about recycling, focused on secondhand clothing and accessories, through an exciting and free service that benefits the environment and brings together the Baltimore community.” There are two very important differences from the little clothing swaps that I attend (usually put on by friends at my local bar/restaurant The Parkside):
1. You can only bring Ten (10) items to donate
2. You have to tag your items
Still, choosing only ten preloved items to donate may be the hardest part and if shopping for free means that you have to fill out some little paper tags I think it’s worth it.
Here are the remaining events; see you there!
Saturday, May 1
Mount Vernon Park, North Square
699 North Charles St
Baltimore, Maryland
10 am – 6 pm
JUST ADDED:
Sunday, May 2
Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar
Underneath the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday & Saratoga streets
7 am – noon
Sunday, May 9
Patterson Park (specific address not yet determined)
10 am – 6 pm
Friday, May 14 – Monday, May 17
Maryland Institute College of Art, Mount Royal Station, Frost Plaza
1300 Mount Royal Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21217
Fri: 11 am – 8 pm
Sat-Mon: 11 am – 5 pm
