Trash to Treasure

This coming weekend I'll be in Prince George's County, MD for the Trash to Treasure show sponsored by the Maryland National Parks people. Just a couple miles outside the east side of the DC Beltway, Watkins Regional Park is a HUGE wooded area complete with a Nature Center. Parking is plentiful and free, admission is free, and if this year's show is anything like last year's, there will be dozens upon dozens of talented vendors whose work is mostly or entirely based on sustainable materials, re-used or re-purposed materials, or items created entirely from materials that would otherwise end up in the waste stream. I saw whimsical creatures made from old guitar and violin strings, items made of wood that would otherwise have been firewood, jewelry made from creative findings, wall hangings and sculptures created from plastic soda and detergent bottles, cheese boards made from flattened and fused wine bottles, soy candles in used baby food jars, and of course my own work, which is in large part made from second-hand items given new life with some creative dyeing. There were three rooms of artisans inside, and this year they're opening some outdoor space for the hardier crafters to set up tents. Me, I'm done with "outside" this year. LOL I want to be dry and warm and not have to worry about wind and rain, so I'm taking advantage of a great setting.

Come visit me, and all the other artisans, at Watkins Regional Park this weekend if you are looking to get started on holiday shopping. Show opens at 10AM and goes till 4PM.

Directions from the web page:
"From the Capital Beltway (I-495), take Exit 15A (Central Avenue) east. Continue for approximately three miles. Turn right onto Watkins Park Drive (Route 193) and follow the park signs to the facility.

From Route 301, turn onto Central Avenue (Route 214) west. Continue for approximately three miles (past Six Flags America). Turn left onto Watkins Park Drive and follow to the park entrance on the right."

Onwards and Upwards

Hello all! Trying to get back into the swing of the blogging thing as I decide where to go from here. Stick with Etsy or try another online selling venue? Sell online or stick with craft shows and Facebook? Give it up entirely? Remain a hobbyist forever or take the plunge and incorporate?

To top it off, a number of health issues have been coming to call, the most prevalent being the Constant Headache (most likely a migraine that is constant but not a full-blown headache, just a perpetual avoidance of bright light and loud noise, a bad combo for a preschool music teacher LOL) and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is short for My Immune System Is Eating My Thyroid Gland And The Side Effects Suck.

That said, I've still got tons of tie-dyed stuff around the house that will be happiest once it finds new homes with people who will love it and wear it. :-) Two craft shows this month: Trash To Treasure in Upper Marlboro, MD - set in a HUGE park, a lovely setting and run by awesome people who even FEED us! - and the Liberty High School Instrumental Music Boosters' show in Eldersburg (Carroll County), MD. If you're local to either of these, come on out! If you're not, by all means do send me a message and let me know what I can dye for you! The Holidays are on the way, and there's still time to do custom work and get it to you before Christmas/Hanukkah/Yule/Festivus/Other. :-)