DEADLINE to apply for The Bearded Ladies Present: Shop Austin

I am WAY behind on posting this, but if you are a crafty or otherwise enterprising Austinite, you still have a few hours to register for this incredibly rad event. "The Bearded Ladies Present: Shop Austin" is one of many local artisan fairs that are effectively giving the term "crafts" an edgier, more badass appeal. T-shirts are less puff paint, more screen printing. Jewelry is less macaroni, more antique lockets. You get the idea.

Anyway, according to event organizers, artists involved in pottery/ceramics, mixed media art, bath and body items, and FOOD are especially encouraged to apply. Local cupcake artists, where you at?! The event is April 18, and by the looks of it, will be fairly huge. So Etsy Austin gals, Craft Mafia, and anyone with the last name "Perkins" - jump on it! Mostly because I want to come buy your stuff in one centralized, convenient location!

To apply, just click here.

While we're on the topic of crafts, I want to plug a local crafter I had the opportunity to meet this weekend at Etsy Austin's Holiday Bazaar. Her name is Kristen, and even though she's new to Austin, she's one of the forces behind Etsy Austin. To my understanding, the organization got "officially" up and running this past October, so it's a fairly new creation (p.s. am obsessed with Etsy).

Anyway, Kristen blogs at Pommes Frites, and in addition to all her crafty ideas she has a link there to her Etsy store, where she sells these ingenious little "safes" made out of books. So it looks like you're carrying a copy of Jane Eyre...but you're really carrying a flask. Example:

Yes.

For more of Kristen's glorious safes and overall cleverness, just head to Pommes Frites.