Last Minute Shopping Guide

I recently purchased some awesome products from my fellow Etsy sellers. Here are a few ideas for you last minute shoppers or heck buy something for yourself!

This Chickadee makes these colorful wanderlust wallets that are just perfect for popping into you pocket instead of lugging around a big old bag. There are three internal pockets and a clip ring - for your keys or to attach to your belt loop. Get yourself one and hit the road.

I originally purchased this as a Christmas gift but, as you can see from the water marks on the label, I have decided to keep it for myself! Herban Lifestyle creates glorious bath and body products. This is the Lemon Souffle Whipped Sugar Body Scrub and all I can say is wow! It smells lemon fresh and leaves your skin silky soft and exfoliated. Go ahead and buy yourself some, you deserve it!


When I wear this scarf from See Katie Sew everyone compliments me on it. It is thrifted and new material in a patchwork pattern on the front and fleece on the back. So not only does it look good, it also keeps you warm. There are only 4 scarves left in her store and they are on sale so get yours fast....

Pimp My CFR

Bring me your plain Jane paperback Code of Federal Regulations and I can turn it into a classy hardback set you will be proud to have on your shelves! Here is the before and after of a recent special request that put a smile on this Bookbinder/Librarian's face.

Holiday Art Mart

Five down and two more holiday shows to go! I look forward to Squidfire's Holiday Art Mart this Saturday, December 12th, from 11 A.M. to 6 P.M. in the Dunburns arena in Baltimore. Lots of awesome crafters will be there including some of my favorite Etsy sellers: See Katie Sew, Bette's Bags and This Chickadee. Come on up and visit us . Now back to bookbinding!

Weekend Craft Fairs

I had a fun time at the D.C. Craft Mafia's Holiday Heist this weekend. It was great to catch-up with fellow crafters. There was a good turn out and the Soundry was the perfect venue! I ended up with some awesome items from See Katie Sew , Ugly Kitty, and blugrn design.

Here are a few pictures of the event:

Here is my corner of the room. I liked being in an actual studio space with equipment!

A close-up of my accordion photo albums in one of my favorite vintage luggage pieces.

Katie of See Katie Sew in her beautiful booth.


Katie's pencil cases are the bomb!

Holiday Craft Fairs

Yes, it is that time of year. The start of the holiday market season. I wanted to let you know my schedule so you can come by and visit me at my upcoming markets. I am all over this year with shows in D.C., Virginia and Maryland. There are lots of new products: chalkboard journals, felt photo albums and new sizes of books made fromLEGO® pieces.

Holiday Heist
Saturday, November 21 12-6 P.M.
The Soundry
316 Dominion Rd.
Vienna, VA 22180
Hosted by the D.C. Craft Mafia in a super-cool location!

Temple Sinai Chanukah Mart
Sunday, November 22 9 A.M. - 3 P.M.
3100 Military Road
Washington, D.C. 20015
Can't wait to participate in this fundraiser for Temple Sinai.

Holiday Shop-N-Stroll
Saturday, December 5 10 A.M. - 3 P.M.
Ellsworth Drive
Silver Spring, MD
This is an OUTDOOR market in downtown Silver Spring with over 50 vendors.

Squidfire Holiday Mart
Saturday, December 12 11 A.M. - 6 P.M.
Dubuns Arena on Boston Street
Baltimore, MD
The cool kids of the Squidfire T-shirt company are putting on this BIG show!

Holiday Booty Show
Saturday, December 19 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
Design Within Reach Showroom
1838 Columbia Rd.
Washington, D.C. 20009
A mini Crafty Bastards reunion with 20 vendors who all participated in this year's show.

Finally Felt

I have had these colorful pieces of German felt (thanks to FilzFelt) for months. I have actually gotten around to making felt photo albums with them. The cool thing is that the felt is so thick that no boards are necessary in the binding process. The result is a limp style binding. A cozy photo album to warm those cold winter nights!

My struggle was how to add a bit of fun to the cover. I thought about cutting out designs in a contrasting felt color to attach to the cover but this proved more difficult than I anticipated - the felt is 100% wool and VERY thick. So I decided to pull out the sewing machine and add a decorative stitch to the edge of the felt. I am so happy with the results!

Chalkboard Journals!

I had so much fun making these chalkboard journals. The journals are covered in black oilcloth that you can write on with chalk markers. Put a quote on the cover or your grocery list! The marker is erasable with a damp cloth.

Journal comes with your choice of candy colored chalk markers!