Crafty Holiday Event Round-up

Yup, the BUST Craftacular wins for best show I've been to in a while, biggest and great selection with 2 floors at The Metropolitan Pavilion, nice.

Even Amy Sedaris was there signing her new book, which cracks me up: Simple Times, Crafts for Poor People.  I can't show what I bought for gifts, but I did buy myself a small present: delicate hammered silver knotted bangles by Baublettes by Beth who I bought a pretty ring from in April at the Not Yo Mama's Craft Fair.  They're sitting on a pretty leather journal gift from Hermes, yay holidays!

Also went to the Handmade Cavalcade in a new location at the OpenHOUSE Gallery.

And to the very cool Brooklyn Kitchen to see pastry chef Joanne Chang demo her recipe for a roasted pear and cranberry crostata.

Man, was that good, so flaky and yummy and Joanne really explains the science behind baking for everyone who's ever wondered what's going on in the oven.  She's also just about the nicest pastry chef I've ever met. 

The recipe's in her new book Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe (and her famous sticky buns beat out Bobby Flay in a throw down!) so trust me and stop by one of the Flour locations if you're ever in the Boston area.  You can also read more about her tasty treats on Justin's blog.  Then we checked out the Degenerate Craft Fair for a change of pace.

Bunnies painted on a diaphragm case anyone?  Hmmm...and not, but not least, was an event at White Castle to celebrate their hamburger candle (yup, that's right...)

The proceeds from the sales helped to raise $500,000 for Autism Speaks, wow!  And attending?  Martha Stewart!

And Vera Wang.

Celebs, martinis and fried food for a good cause, I like it.

Haul Out the Holly

It's a busy party day in NYC: lots of events going on all over and I've got 5 to prepare for today.  So, what better time to make 2 dozen holly corsages for the waitstaff to wear?  Anyway, I started crafting and blogging last year during the busiest work month possible, I guess it's a thing for me.

It took quite a large bunch of holly to get enough nice sprigs with berries on them.

And of course I got stuck a little bit separating them out.  And there was definite manicure damage during the process of hot gluing safety pins to each bunch.

But I put on the Glee Christmas Album while I was working to put myself in the holiday mood and now all the waiters' jackets are festive.  And here's a peek at my other purchases from the flower market for my next project...happy holly-day!

Braving the Cold for Martha

Saturday, December 4th 2010: a grey near freezing temperature day by the Starrett-Lehigh Building that houses the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Offices, just a block away from the wind whipping along the Hudson River.

The line for the 2nd year of their Holiday Craft Sale actually didn't look too bad until I realized it wrapped around a corner and came back the other way, but even the chill couldn't keep me away from another visit to those hallowed halls.

Almost there...

There was another line to make your own glittery ornament.

And yet another for the 2nd room they added this year.

But in the middle were lots of pretty things, including setups from this month's magazine.

There were paper flowers by the Martha Stewart team,

and pretty gift tag ornaments from La La Laurie.

Purl Soho had a great table

and then I bought a MSL snowflake punch from the craft corner and was so inspired by the 50% off a Michael's purchase coupon they handed out that I headed way uptown to buy some glitter.  And what do you know -- another line!

Later on I walked by Carlo's Bakery, home of the Cake Boss to see more people waiting in the cold.

Guess they really wanted some holiday sweets!

Anyway, it was all worth it...Martha, you've stolen my heart again.