Yes, you may have seen Jessica and Jennifer talking up Handmade Arcade on Pittsburgh Today Live this morning on KDKA. And we’re in print too: Pittsburgh Post Gazette “Armory offers handmade goods, history” & Weekend Hotlist, Pittsburgh City Paper Short List. Hey, we’re even mentioned in a catagory in the Best fo Pittsburgh Goods & Services staff picks “Best store for people who don’t get enough of Handmade Arcade” — congrats Wildcard!

Thanks to Rebecca Morris for her Handmade Arcade plug in the Pittsburgh Business Times. If you haven’t done so yet, get thee to Rebecca’s new store, Wildcard — PRONTO. She surely has the best greeting card selection in the city, plus other crafty goodness from clothing to housewares. I think I’d like to live there if I could.

A is for AA Bondy screenprinted poster by Largemammal, Absinthe Perfume Oil from Squeaky-Queen Soap Laboratory, Apple photograph pendant by Pretty Vicious, Ascots from Anchored in Pittsburgh, Alexa Band from The Candy Thief   B is for Button barettes from CutieCooties, Bowling Pin Earrings by Autumn’s Antics, Bird skirts by lilbunni, Ballerina snow globe from eclare, Black Mustaches print by Emily Berezin, Button bouquets from disCARDS, Black Pugs Rule Pocket Mirror from My Favorite Mirror   C is for Cruelty-free bath products from Sunstone Soap, China Doll Bib from Petit Tresor, Craft-to-go roll ups from MoxyGirl, Chocolate Chip Cookies from Dozen Bake Shop, City of Rock T-shirt from Campfire Goods, Color wheels shirts by Kate Stevens, Crafty Superstar by Grace Dobush of gracie sparkles books, Crocheted animals by Rin Meek of Girl Pie   D is for Dutch Tulip Garden Tunic by Red Prairie Press, Dinner napkins by The Point Needlecraft and Fabric Arts, Duquesne Incline Coasters from War Admiral Press, Double Pyramid Necklace from Beth Pohlman Jewelry   E is for Elvis Costello print by Autumn&Eve Illustration, Earthy Soap Trip from Biggs & Featherbelle, Electricity for the birch lantern by Kirkiture, Early Birdie Tickets for Handmade Arcade   F is for Fruit Salad onesie from Squidfire, Fawn in the Forest Necklace from Figs & Ginger, Fushion Beaded Earrings from wearableJULES, Friends and Foes from Friend or Foe, Felt flower pins from MandaLin   G is for Groom Cuff links by Yummy & Company, Glass beads from Sweetgrass Beadworks, Green Galaxy Clutch from Red Clover Clutch, God Save Pittsburgh T-shirt from Commonwealth Press   H is for Hedgehog postards from rhymes with twee, Hand-dyed yarn by Hooktastic Designs, Hula hoops from Spinster Hoops, Handbound books by Paper Breakfast  I is for I Heart Robot Necklace from Stevie Lynn Jewelry, Icing on the cupcakes from Coco’s Cupcake Café   J is for Jerusalem Vintage Map Pendant from Anne Holman Jewelry Design, Jackie O. plastic canvas from Tiny Rat   K is for Knit One, Embellish Too by Cosette Cornelius-Bates of CosyKnits (literally), Kids aprons from Petunia Girls   L is for Leaf Green Belt from Miss Alison, Lovebird Checkbook Cover from Get Felt Up!, Little Orange Bag from PristineSewing, Letterpress cards by Sapling Press, Leg warmers from By Suz, Lace Bird Clock by Garbella   M is for Mason Jar Recipe Cards by Pink Bathtub Designs, Mike Budai, 1” Magnet sets from Miss Chief Productions, Metallica Tee Tote Bag by Lisa Lorraine of Girl Pie   N is for Napalm Lipbalm from Stinkybomb Soaps, Needle felted objects from ZuzaBlue, Navy and Gray Plaid Hat from Endless Hats, Non-toxic dyed yarn from CitySpun Handspun Yarn, Necktie wallets from prix-prix   O is for Owl pillows from Gingercake, One-year subscription to Ker-bloom!, Organic franks from Franktuary   P is for Payphone Key Bracelet from 19 Moons, Peace on Earth holiday cards from L2 Design Collective, Potholders made from repurposed fabric by Curious Machine, Pillowcase dresses by Christa Yandrich of Girl Pie, Pressed Mineral Eye Shadow from Kitty in Pinx   Q is for Quiche from Coca Café   R is for Recycled notebooks by Subu, Inc., Reusable snack bags by Jen Licon-Conner of Girl Pie   S is for Snail Woodcut by Tugboat Printshop, Silkscreened designs by Dreamy Days Printing, Steelers gear from Diondega, Sustain Our Libraries poster by Mary Tremonte of Justseeds, Sewn stationery by Umbrella Girl Productions   T is for Tea Kettle Windchime from Whimsical Wonders, Talk Nerdy To Me Postcard by Rar Rar Press   U is for Upcycled sweater bags by Wren & Rita, United States pin ring made by Ringo Wild, Unicorn Mountain, Unisex Handmade Arcade t-shirts   V is for Vesper Sock Club brought to you by Knitterly Things, Vintage book picture frames from Genghis Khraft, Vegan sweet treats from My Goodies Bakery, Vintage wallpaper notecards by Buzz Buzz Designs   W is for Wilco screenprinted poster by strawberryluna, Walnut and Maple Wood Belt Buckle by Solidio Wood & Metal Craft, Wild Horses Tee from Fresh Popcorn Productions   X is for Small-3X sized clothing from The Garbologist’s Wife, X-mas Tree Brooch from the littlest bean  Y is for Yellow Wildflower Buttons from RedRaven Studios   Z is for Zinfandel upcycled wine bottle cheese plate by Mitchell Glassworks

Earlier this month, Al Hoff and Jessica Manack had the privilege (and loads of fun) repping Handmade Arcade at the Hello Craft Summit of Awesome, in Washington, D.C.

The three-day Summit of Awesome brought together craft-fair organizers, crafters, indie-craft players such as Etsy and anybody else interested in the future of the still-growing scene.

Two years ago, Handmade Arcade organized the first-ever Craft Congress for craft-fair organizers to meet and exchange info, and we’re so pleased to see the good folks at Hello Craft carry the torch — and then some. This action-packed event was super-organized, and dare we say, awesome. Check Hello Craft’s Web site for recaps, photos, podcasts, mailing list and more.

Where to begin? There were demos, break-out information sessions, a mini craft fair, a film premiere, make-and-take tables, and nearly 200 crafty folks to meet up with. (Fortunately, the event was in a neighborhood with plenty of cafes, coffee shops and bars, so socializing … er … off-site strategizing was easy-peasy.)

Al and Jessica — along with Christy Petterson from Atlanta’s Indie Craft Experience and Kathy Malone of Brooklyn Indie Market – led a session on “How to Organize a Success Craft Show.” We had a great turnout, especially considering we were up against such hot concurrent sessions as “Successful Online Selling” and an embroidery demo from Sublime Stitching’s
Jenny Hart. Attendees asked lots of questions, and among the conclusions reached: Organizers can never be too organized, and having a great, catchy name that conveys what your event is all about is worth more than 10,000,000 postcards.

Also on deck: the DC premiere of Handmade Nation, Faythe Levine’s film documenting the indie-craft movement. We cheered for the folks we knew, for the crafters who were turning a hobby into a satisfying vocation, and left newly inspired.

Thus fired up, Al picked up some donated needles and yarn at the Summit’s make-and-take table and got to work on some guerrilla knitting on the drive back to Pittsburgh. Few things get crafters more fired up than seeing other crafters getting’ crafty. Great event.