Cool Sign Generator

Made with My Cool Signs.Net
Perhaps it is just because I returned from New York City, but this sign generator just struck my fancy. Type in what you like and post it all over your web pages and social networking.

Felt Club: Our Favorite Craft Event

Once again, Handmade has the great honor of sponsoring Felt Club, a truly unique craft event (notice I did NOT say craft FAIR.) Oh no, my friend, Felt Club is way more than that. What is it then? Well, it is quite simply put an event chock full 'o fun and goodness. A fabulous emcee, Charles Phoenix, a sticky mascot, Gluey Gluerson and 150 of SoCal's brightest indie crafters along with some top notch craft celebs like Crafty Chica doing demos and (as if that weren't enough) some top secret, hush hush entertainment. (OK I made up the top secret part, but I do know there is some great entertainment in the works.) Set for the Shrine on November 16, 2008, this year's Felt Club will also feature Swap-O-Rama-Rama on the upper level. Look for Handmade's booth there. We'll surely be handing out our famous silver totes and have our artists on hand for demos and autographs.

Handmade Opens in Shanghai

If you have been a fan for a while, you knew it was only a matter of time before we went global...so here is our new look. Upscale and classy, huh? Thought you'd like it.

OK, OK...so it's not really us. My husband went to Shanghai on a business trip and found this store selling great handmade items and bought us a few including an ethnic inspired necklace as well as a lenticular (that's a fancy word for picture changing... you know those buttons that say hello when you look one way and goodbye when you shift your view.) necklace. This one particularly cracks me up as it has eye-chart inspired T's and I love the irony that you will absolutely never see this properly with the shifting effect. Way to mess with your friends.

Larz is running for President!

The news is out. Many of you have known of Larz's secret campaign to run for president with his sock monkey running mate. His platform is of course highly slanted toward animal rights and security for the aged, nevertheless, his campaign is hitting its stride.

Dale Talley Furniture

Dale's art furniture is inspired by what he can recycle. He often uses found objects, old pieces of wood, glass and screening, hardware etc to create his wall cabinets, mirrors and standing furniture. With a keen eye you may find a secret compartment that contains a picture of what Dale used to make the piece. Oh, so long ago we were on HGTV's now defunct show, Awesome Interiors together...My House + Dale's Art = Awesome TV.

Thaneeya McCardle

Here are some pieces by artist Thaneeya McCardle. They definitely pack a punch. I particularly love her brightly colored patterns and attention to detail on both the small pendants and the wall art. I also strongly connect with Thaneeya's life purpose "to live a genuine life, imbued with meaning, with openness and awareness for all that is around and inside of me." She has definitely achieved her goal to "honor the path that we are all on by shedding light and adding color along the way."

Bughouse Art & Design

Bughouse has an amazing selection of original art prints, boxes and furniture. For those into vinyl (records not fetish outfits) there is a whole slew of images of record players, LPs and cassette tapes (whaaaaat?) Check out more here and here: bughouse.com

Sacchetto Bags Now on SALE

Yes, it's true, the popular Sacchetto bags are now on sale. Available in black, pink and silver the large totes are now 25% off. Why not buy two?!

Tila Tequila or Bust

Well, we couldn't talk about it for the longest time, but now we can. The top rated MTV dating show filmed at Handmade a while back, but we were all sworn to secrecy. We closed the store so the final two contestants could spend some quality time finding the perfect gift for Tila. Both of them did find something meaningful and special to give to her. Unfortunately, that part ended up on the cutting room floor! OH SO SAD!!! If you look closely at the final episode when C walks down to meet Tila on her date she is carrying our signature black gift bag in her left hand. She sets it down by her side when she sits at the table. MTV never showed her getting her gifts, but rest assured she got some great ones.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians

In case you didn't catch it on E! Handmade was featured in the top rated E! channel show. Kim's mom mistakenly placed at our shop the calendar Kim made for her boyfriend...racy pics and all. Kim came in to buy them all up and our very own Larz made sure to put our famous candy in the bag! Check out the air dates here: http://www.handmadegalleriesla.com/
Later, Kim gets back at her mom. She has Handmade sell a large risque poster of Kris posing only in the American flag!

Your LA Showcases Handmade!

The publicity continues! The popular TV show YOUR LA came by to do a segment on us. The hostess, Ariel, not surprisingly, already knew us! She had a gift to buy for a friend so the piece was true reality television as I helped her through all 5000 square feet of Handmade to locate the perfect gift. Want to know what it was? You can see the spot here: http://www.handmadegalleriesla.com/media.html

Craft: Issue 06 Party at Handmade!

The folks at Craft: are having a six city release party for their latest issue. We are the lucky LA venue. Join us on March 9 from 12-4. Felt Club's Jenny Ryan and Cathy (of California) Callahan will be on hand to help you make your own fun monster. Delicious snacks and to-die-for doorprizes could be yours. Come in and have some fun! You could be the winner of the Craftzine first-year box set.