I guess Phil the groundhog was wrong. HA! Even if we are in store for more winter, it sure doesn’t feel like it. I was lucky enough to wander Hampden on this beautiful day, and everyone seemed so happy. With sixty degree weather, I had a little spring in my step too. Of the shops open today, most of them had their doors wide open. Since people were out and about grabbing a bite to eat at many of the local restaurants, the open doors were inviting for people to stop in and take a peek. I know I did! Watermelon Sugar has some wonderful spring and beachy decorations for the home—including Easter decor. Angela Lynn has some nice lightweight jersey tops and sun dresses, as well as basic tanks and beautiful jewelry. doubledutch is full of fun, flirty skirts, spring scarves, and dresses to fit any warm weather occasion. If you get a chance, today is a wonderful day to walk around Hampden and enjoy not only the great weather, but the shops’ new spring items as well. —Nikki Reese (intern)

Following in the footsteps of neighbor Shine Collective, Form is moving to Clipper Mill this April. The boutique will reopen Saturday, April 10th at the Poole and Hunt Building (to the right of Woodberry Kitchen) at 2002 Clipper Park Road. I think it’s great for everyone. A space for new tenants on the Avenue—I hear a restaurant is coming—and turning Clipper Mill into a new shopping destination. Aimee’s store is so beautiful and I’m sure her customers will follow her anywhere. I know she also wants to dedicate more time to her jewelry. The last day to shop at Form in Hampden is March 28th. —JED

That’s—Thank Goodness It’s First Friday. Here are some suggestions for tonight:

Shine Collective, with their new location behind Woodberry Kitchen, will host their event from 7-10PM with an exclusive meet and greet with artist Xavier Schipani, a graduate of illustration from MICA. Most shops over on the Avenue in Hampden also stay open late tonight, with refreshments, live music, discounts. Earth Alley is hosting their reschedule Mole Party—as in authentic Mexican mole dip, plus  sangria and music of the Native American flute by Jan Seiden.

Over at Mt. Washington Mill—”Around the Mill” lasts from 5-8pm. Customers are encouraged to “mill around the mill” and enjoy refreshments and discounts from Amazing Glaze, dogma-life (pets welcome), Gore Dean, Holly G Boutique, Home on the Harbor, Mt. Washington Wine Company, Starbucks and Whole Foods. Those who get their mill passes stamped (available at all stores) will be automatically entered to win a gift basket (total value of $400) containing goodies from all participating merchants at the Mill. —Nikki Reese (intern)

I hope to see/meet some of you tonight at the “new” South Moon Under at Kenilworth Mall. We’ll be celebrating both SMU’s redesign and B Mag’s spring fashion issue. I’m told there will be food, fashion, music and loads of discounts! The first 50 guests get a SMUgift bag (which includes our March issue.) The store is at 822 Kenilworth Drive in Towson and the party is from 6-9 PM. –JED

Ok, so as you know by now I hit the American Craft Council show last week. I love wandering the aisles and seeing what captures my attention. There is a lot of great stuff and, well, stuff that really isn’t my taste. Here are my Top 17 picks—I starred the local folk—from the show, in no particular order. —JED

*1.Dandelion Blu (by Sherry J Insley), left, hand-sawed and pierced copper lace shapes with opaque enamel.

2. Damian Velasquez’s modern handcrafted furniture.

3. Elements Jill Schwartz jewelry (you can find at Red Tree and Whimsy.)

4. Wooden Specs Studio handmade wooden eyeglass frames.

*5. Greenstar Studio’s new Folkies.

6. Wearble Jules felting scultpures.

7. Lisa Neimeth’s hand-formed dinnerware.

8. Baldwin Toys’ wooden airplanes and cars.

9. Giant Dwarf cloche hats (see my earlier post) and headbands.

10. Banansaurus Rex vintage goodies. (One of my faves!)

11. Justin Rothshank wacky ceramics. (Also at Red Tree.)

*12. Giselle Kolb jewelry designer.

13. Jenn Bell ceramics.

14. Erica Rosenfeld Designs glass jewelry.

15. Erin Moran Designs hand built pottery and jewelry.

16. Owl + Mouse textile designs (buffalo stuff.)

17. Sarah Loertscher’s geometric jewelry.

(Image from Dandelion Blu.)

Toni James opened Katwalk—her Mt. Vernon boutique on West Read Street—in 1999. Her shop is full of edgy and eclectic apparel and accessories.How long has Katwalk been around? We opened in 1997 in Catonsville and relocated to our permanent home in Historic Mt. Vernon in 1999. My husband and I actually searched several areas in Baltimore, but when we came upon Mt. Vernon we thought it was a great fit because of Antique Row, the boutiques of Charles Street, the restaurants/clubs, the hair salons, the colleges, museums, and the numerous festivals each year. Also we were looking for a space with more than one floor and huge windows, and that is what we found,. We love it!What inspired you to open a boutique? As a child I loved the movie Mahogany with Dianna Ross and that inspired me to design and want a boutique. My family all sew and we had a sewing club called the Busy Bees where we made all sorts of shirts and dresses. Also at Western High School I use to design my classmate’s prom dresses and was the VP of the Fashionettes Fashion Club.What is the age range of your customers? I’d say 23-35.What is the most satisfying thing about having a store? I can say the most satisfying thing about having Katwalk is building a business with my husband and creating a total new image for my customers that they would not get in a department or chain store. Our customers look to us for guidance for that perfect dress for their birthday or the weekend our with the girls. We have to always be on point with the hottest new designers that the other boutiques or local stores have not gotten wind of yet.How do you choose your merchandise? As the lead buyer for the store, I primary buy for my clients in mind, I kind of shy away from buying for me, I have to keep in mind Katwalk customers love to wear interchangeable pieces, things that will last a lifetime. I wear everything in the store, but I primarily wear Sass & Bide and Cesar Arellanes. Another line we use to carry alot of is MiMi Turner I still wear loads of her items. I promote Katwalk daily—you will not catch me without Katwalk items on. I believe if you sell it you should be wearing in.What are the trends for Spring 2010? Spring is going to be stunning for our Katwalk Customers. Its all about colors, shine, and patterns!What brands do your customers favor the most? Our customers love the Australian designer line Sass & Bide. It is very edgy this season with beaded palazzo pant jump suits, crop studded tees, foil printed dresses, and body suits along with stencil printed tops. Clients also love Cecilia De Buccourt–known for beaded and hand studded scarves and belts. We picked up her new accessory line this spring with python oversized bags, studded bags, and leather studded and chain dripped cuffs. Our other popular clothing lines include Wink, Crash & Burn, and Arynk.Are you bringing in any new lines? We will be carrying Whitney Eve, the designer from the television show, The Hills and The City. Her gold butterfly top is sure to be a big hit. Along with her, we will have Anna Kosturova hand-knit dresses, rompers and emblem t-shirts, as well as luxury leisure wear from brands Alp-n-Rock and Butter.Katwalk also carries items for customers to accessorize with. What are some of the pieces you’ll have for spring? Vivienne Westwood’s Lady Dragon Heart Shoe and the Wing Gold Platform Sandal will be debuting at our upcoming in store event on March 20th. We’ll have crystal animal along with oversized geometric bracelets and multi-colored earrings from Noir Accessories. From Patricia Field, we will be carrying geometric print clutches and silk scarves to match.Do you design anything yourself? Our customers love our exclusive in-store brand Simon Isrial–vintage inspired ruffled puff sleeve tops and dresses.How do you give back to the community? Our boutique has the Katwalk Shoes that Fit program. We have recently donated over 200 pairs of new shoes, boots, hats, scarves, and socks to Baltimore City and County schools with the help of Education Matters and the WBAL Kids Program. Anyone and everyone are welcome to drop off new kids shoes sizes child 11-adult 9 to the Katwalk Boutique during regular business hours to continue with these efforts. —Nikki Reese (intern)

… that David T. Abercrombie the original founder of the modern American lifestyle brand, Abercrombie & Fitch, was born in Baltimore on June 6, 1867? He was educated in the public schools here and by private instructors. Abercrombie later came to study at Baltimore City College. Thank you Wikipedia!

I asked Juliet Ames of The Broken Plate Pendant Company to send me her thoughts about being a part of the American Craft Council’s AltCraft section. —JED

AltCraft Highs and Lows
I just wrapped up my first American Craft Council show as an exhibitor, and I must say it was exhausting, exhilarating, and motivating all at once. I had much the same feeling when I visited the show for the first time six years ago. I went as a part of a school trip at Towson University where I was an Inter-Disciplinary Craft major. I remember walking through, incredibly impressed with the work and thinking, “Maybe in 20 years, I will be ready for this.” Fast forward six years, I had no idea what to expect as I wheeled my suitcase of broken plate pieces into the convention center. The first day was, we’ll say, interesting. Apparently, the artists on the main floor where a little confused and resentful of the artists in the AltCraft section, where I was a vendor. The AltCraft section, in its 3rd year here, is billed as a section for artists from the “alternative craft movement.” Basically, we normally do smaller indie craft fairs like those organized by The Charm City Craft Mafia and Squidfire locally. Also, we have not done the ACC show before. AltCrafters get one year to exhibit in this space before competing for space on the main floor. It seemed that all that the main floor artists knew about us was that we paid less for our table space. The reception was a little less than friendly, but I can understand, I don’t think we were introduced properly.

During the first few days of the show, we were met by our fair share of confused customers as well. Some of these shoppers have been attending this show for 30 years and were put off by our penned in area of “punk rock craft.” I was even asked by one shopper, “Is this art time out?” This is one of the more positive questions I heard. After a short explanation, though, folks were happy to browse and get a taste for what is happening in the new craft movement. As mentally exhausting as constantly explaining our presence there was, it was such a great opportunity to expand our audience. Friday and Saturday were a totally different story. Many shoppers said they came just to see this section. The negative comments were replaced by, “Oh, this is where the cool stuff is!” Quite a few Etsy shoppers, who had never even heard of this show, came out and discovered a new February tradition. Just what the Craft Council and the artists are hoping for.

I do really appreciate what The American Craft Council is trying to accomplish with the AltCraft section, and am so thankful for the opportunity. In the end we are all just artists trying to make a living doing what we do best. I can’t help that what I do best is break plates. We all have to start somewhere, right? The section just needs better integration with the rest of the show and better explanation to the other vendors and shoppers. I will defiantly apply for a spot on the main floor next year, I feel like I will be able to communicate a lot more in a 10×10 area and will be spending a lot less time explaining my presence there. Hopefully I’ll see you next year, and I will be sure to bring the AltCrafters a welcome basket or something.—Juliet Ames

(Image by Allison Formich of Tigerlillyshop.)

On the hunt for a new pendant lamp for my dining room. I like simple and modern. The one I have now is an oversized raspberry-hued drum lamp bought years ago from West Elm. I live in a row house so all the rooms blend together—so I have lots of colors to contend with. My kitchen is turquoise blue, my dining room chocolate brown and my living room a blue-gray. Hmmm. Maybe it’s time to wallpaper something too. I love adding new stuff, rearranging, new paint colors. While on my hunt I found this great n.a.l. coat tree (not a lamp!) for my entranceway and this great hopscotch rug for my kid’s room at CB2. If you have any suggestions for pendant lamps—send them my way. —JED

… well, you’ll have to tune in tomorrow I just got home. But what a great show. So much talent. I loved loved the AltCraft stuff, of course and was thrilled to see so many local folk. I’ll do a round-up tomorrow … but for now I’ll leave you with my newest obsession out of Philadelphia—Giant Dwarf. Ohh, my. I loved everything. I bought my daughter one of her beautiful cloche hats and I’ll be getting myself one next fall. Her color choices were so modern but worked within her very vintage inspired line. I loved the headbands and felt placemats. Hmmm, maybe I will head back again tomorrow. I still have my press pass. —JED