Take the "Shop Local" Pledge & Buy Handmade!

You may have seen it on ABC news. Many Americans are promising to spend, at least part, of their holiday gift budgets, on items "Made in America!" Locally, Yelp has asked shoppers to take their "Yelp Shops Local Pledge" and buy from local shops & businesses. We'd like to add the "Buy Handmade" pledge to your list of pledges! Handmade products are great gifts and when you buy directly from the artists who created them, you get that extra personal touch by knowing where your product came from. It's almost like getting something custom made since handmade products are not made in mass production like some items from overseas. Where can you find these unique handmade gifts? Well, if you missed our Holiday Hit List last weekend, there are still opportunities to shop from multiple artists at once at some upcoming holiday shopping events. Here are a few where Mafia members will be participating. Mark your calendars! We want to see you there!

(Almost) Last Minute Holiday Shopping
Thursday, December 15, 2011
6 pm - 9 pm
El Take It Easy
3926 30th St. - 92104
View the Facebook event

North Park Independent Bazar
Sunday, December 18, 2011
1 pm - 6 pm
Queen Bee's Art & Culture Center
3925 Ohio St. - 92104
View the Facebook event

"Sunday, Crafty Sunday" Día de los Muertos! - October 16th!

It's been a while since we've hosted a Sunday, Crafty Sunday event, so what better way to bring those back than with a Day of the Dead celebration? We'll have a DIY crafting table where you can make a fun craft to take with you, there'll also be a DJ, food, our own ofrenda (or altar), and of course - crafty vendors!* The event will be at the Centro Culteral de las Raza in Balboa Park. You don't want to miss this one!


Learn more about the history of el Día de los Muertos!

Sunday, Crafty Sunday -
Día de los Muertos
Sunday, October 16th
Centro Culteral de la Raza in Balboa Park
2004 Park Blvd., 92101
Noon - 6pm

*Download the vendor app. or email us for more info.
Send emails to - kim@sandiegonorthparkcraftmafia.com

Give Some Old Shoes a Makeover!

Do you have some old shoes that aren’t looking so good anymore, but you just can’t bring yourself to get rid of them? Why not give them a makeover? I saw this post made on the La Sophia blog for some fabulously fun sequined shoes! Check out her project here. Too cute, so I decided to give this project a try. I found a pair of fabric shoes that had water stains on them, so they were perfect candidates for this project. I love how they turned out!

Supplies Needed:
• A pair of shoes to recycle
• Modge Podge
• Sequins & plastic gems (in various shapes)
• Confetti (I used paper & mylar)
• Glitter (I used a fine cut glitter that had stars in it.)
• Seed beads
• Jewel It glue (for the sequins & gems)
• Paint brush
• Newspaper or freezer paper

Start by spreading out some paper to cover your work area. I use freezer paper so that I can pour the Modge Podge and all my decorations out on my work surface. I began by applying large pieces of the mylar confetti that I bought at my local dollar store. This will be the base layer. Then I added pieces of the paper confetti, from the same store, and also a few sequins with the Jewel It glue. The paper confetti will add some dimension to your layers. For a smoother look, only use the larger, flat pieces. I decided that I was going to go for a dimensional and layered look.

After that dried a bit I could see areas that I had missed and added more confetti. Then more sequins. Next I added some of the plastic gems. I would leave no space unadorned.

After the glue on the gems had dried I added some of the glitter by brushing it on with the Modge Podge. I brushed the glitter over some of the sequins and it really made them sparkle! After the glitter dried I added more sequins and a few more gems. I noticed that there were some areas around the foot opening that needed attention, so I added some seed beads to fill in the gaps. Take a break and let it all dry overnight.

The next day you can look at your project with “fresh eyes” and see if you think you need to add anything more. If not, then you are done with decorating and ready to apply an even top coat of Modge Podge over the entire surface. You don’t have to cover the gems if you don’t want to. They should hold just fine. I recommend letting the shoes dry for a couple of days before wearing. That will give you time to put together the perfect outfit to show off your latest creation!

Check out the San Diego North Park Craft Mafia's monthly newsletters for more crafty fun!

Time For Friday Night Liberty - July 1st!

The summer is continuing with the next Friday Night Liberty event on July 1st from 5 pm - 8 pm! Get the holiday weekend started off right! Come to the NTC Promenade at Liberty Station where you will find galleries and art studios are open to visitors. We've also invited some crafty vendors to set up around the venue. Be sure to check out all the great stuff there! Admission is FREE and there's always lots of parking. Be sure to stop by the Velvet Klaw Studio located in Barracks 19 building!

Vendors to Include:
Jewels of Friendship, Lillie's Soap Co., Lisa's Ribbons, Mai Couture Shoppe, R. Priest Ellgy Co., Rochelle DiMaggio, Samari Designs, Sweet Girl Boutique, TaBou Treasures, Tropicoso, & With Heart By Elaine.


For more info. about Friday Night Liberty Visit:

http://www.ntcpromenade.com/what.php

Show Your Support For Skating in San Diego - Tonight!

The battle to save San Diego's last roller rink is far from over. One developer has backed out, but others may be planning to submit proposals. We just don't know what is going to happen, so this is where YOU can help. Please attend tonight's "Linda Vista Community Coffee Hour". to be held at Bayside Community Center. District 6 Councilmember, Lori Zapf, will be in attendance. This is an opportunity for you to let her know that you support Skateworld and want to see it remain as a full-time roller skating rink! Let you voice be heard. If you can't make the meeting, you can email Lori Zapf at: loriezapf@sandiego.gov

We hope to see you there in your "Save Our Skateworld" t-shirts!

Linda Vista Community Coffee Hour
Bayside Community Center
2202 Comstock Street - 92111
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Come See Us Tonight!

It's the first Friday Night Liberty of the summer! Stop by the studio and see what's going on! Galleries and art studios are open this evening, plus there will be a great line up of crafty vendors set up around the venue. It's all FREE admission and lots of parking. It's a great way to kick off the weekend!

* Fork Dress by Osbaldo Ahumada




Vendors to Include:
Dots Jewelry, Lulu Sweetheart, Casey Withers Photography, Vee Y Design, Laura Mulder, Reents Pottery, Wink Artisans, p-starr, R. Priest Ellgy Co., & With Heart By Elaine.


For more info. about Friday Night Liberty Visit:

http://www.ntcpromenade.com/what.php

Read the Latest in the Fight to Save Our Skateworld!

For those of you who know that I skate with San Diego Roller Derby at Skateworld, you know that I am also involved with the fight to save the city's last remaining roller rink. I have been working with the Friends of Skateworld, a non-profit group dedicated to saving this historic building and the roller rink it houses. Today the U-T reported that MRW, the development firm that was working with Bayside to take over the property and redevelop it into a "mixed-use" venue, has backed out of the project. Though it is uncertain whether Skateworld will be allowed to remain and serve the community as it has since 1975, this news brings some hope that we will see that happen. Skating has had a huge resurgence in the past several years. Why take away the last rink in the City of San Diego?

Read the story in its entirety here -
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/26/developer-pulls-out-skateworld-redevelopment-proje/