It's the night before our Handmade Holiday Show and Party! We're busy making little thank you gifts and hauling sewing machines into the backroom. It's a haven of making here and we can't wait until tomorrow! So thrilled to welcome back Stacie who was so much fun at our First Ever Fiber Trunk Show (I stare at my skein of her yarn each morning imagining all that it will become). Did you know Stacie was a bookbinder, too? Well, now you do!

What's your name, what's your business name and where are you based?

I'll be bringing some handbound journals, some mini-haiku-books, some paper cutouts, and some handspun yarn! I think any of the items I'll have will be delightful treats for crafters to receive and use in the new year, or to give as encouragement to future crafters!

I've got some big book plans for the new year, and I'm going to try to keep my shop more consistently stocked with handspun yarn!

You can shop via Etsy, read all about Stacie's adventures on her blog and meet her tomorrow at our Handmade Holiday Show!

Woo-hoo, it's Friday! That means tomorrow is the Handmade Holiday Show and our Holiday Party! So excited to introduce friend and role-model, Eling. Her elegant sense of color and her whimsical creations not only make us smile but we highly covet many of her handmade goods. She balances a busy schedule, has a studio space in Lowell and is too awesome for adjectives. We're thrilled she's part of the show and know you will be, too!

What's your name, what's your business name and where are you based?

I'm Eling, I run migration goods as well as rhinofluff yarn & fiber, and my studio is in Lowell.

What's your handcraft? And how long have you been practicing it?

I handsew little tiny pieces of felt & fabric into adornments & fun cute things (migration goods). I'm also a spinner & a dyer (rhinofluff). I've been designing & making jewelry & accessories for almost 8 years, but shifted really heavily into sewing two years ago. I've been spinning and dyeing for about 7 years. <PREVIEWEND>

What items will you be bringing to the Handmade Holiday Show? Why do you think your (insert noun here) are perfect for the crafty-genius to give or receive?

I'm bringing an assortment of festive hair accessories, brooches, bookmarks and ornaments, plus a nice selection of handspun yarns & handdyed yarns & fibers. I've got lots of little gifts so crafty folk can still give handmade to those they've run out of time to make for (not that this happens to anyone). And of course knitters & spinners can never have enough yarn or fiber...

What are you making/giving to your friends and family this holiday?

I'm making: a bunch of cross-stitch pieces (that aren't quite finished yet, yikes!) & (hopefully) cookies from the momofuku milk bar cookbook. But mostly I'm giving goods handmade by other people that I've been buying over the last few months.

Anything new in 2012? What can folks expect to find at your (insert studio/website/etsy shop) in the new year?

I'm working on making more elaborate wearables as well as small art pieces for your walls. I've also got some collaborative custom things on the way, for weddings & events. Mostly I hope to keep making colorful things that make people smile.

You can see what Eling is up to on her blog, buy her fiber here, buy her felt pieces here, follow her on twitter, check out her photos on Flickr, and check out her stash/knitting on Ravelry.

What's your name, what's your business name and where are you based?

2012 promises to be a very exciting year, and in an effort to gently nudge myself and craft into the 21st century, I will be greatly increasing my online presence. There will be a new website with a flashy portfolio of past and current work, a blog (which already has a cool, bloggy name) for musings, shop photos and how-to, and a revamp of my current Etsy site. I'll also be engraving some wooly mammoth ivory pieces for a Los Angeles-based jewelry designer, which should be a very fun and exciting collaboration.

To preview some of the things you may find at the Handmade Holiday Show visit Mike's Etsy shop here and see photos of his recent work on Flickr.

What's your name, what's your business name and where are you based?

I'll be bringing my reusable fabric giftwrap bags and the aforementioned bejewelled stitch markers. Also, some bookmarks and cat toys, cause, I make 'em, so why not?

Erm....

Check out Susanna's reusable gift wrap on Etsy.

It's already Wednesday!!!! Only a couple days until the Holiday Party. Somewhere between posting our last feature and posting today's I decided the best thing I could do would be to make a holiday party dress before Saturday. Now that I've shared the plan with you all I have to do it! But without further ado, here's Katherine, who also happens to work full-time in the shop and teaches our crochet classes. We're happy to give her the opportunity to share her awesome fabric with you on Saturday!

What's your name, what's your business name and where are you based?

My name is Katherine Codega. I'm based in Boston.

What's your handcraft? And how long have you been practicing it?

I've been drawing basically forever. I've only been creating designs for fabric for about a year or so, when I became interested in sewing. I subsequently discovered the custom fabric site spoonflower.com, and that's when I began to explore using some of my illustrations in fabric design. <PREVIEWEND>

What items will you be bringing to the Handmade Holiday Show? Why do you think your (insert noun here) are perfect for the crafty-genius to give or receive?

Fat quarters of fabric are good for really quick, last minute gifts. There are so many things you can make with a fat quarter! And calendars are always useful, obviously. Plus you can reuse it as a tea towel at the end of the year, and I think that's super-cool and very eco-friendly.

What are you making/giving to your friends and family this holiday?

They are all getting tea towel calendars. They all got them last year, and now they expect them.

Anything new in 2012? What can folks expect to find at your (insert studio/website/etsy shop) in the new year?

I've got lots of ideas percolating--I'm thinking about sewing kits, embroidery patterns... After the holidays I'm going to devote some serious time to brainstorming.

You can find more awesome Katherine Codega designs at her online shop: katherinecodega.etsy.com

Day 2 of our series on our Handmade Holiday Show & Party! Rachel was one of our very first students when we began offering classes in March. She quickly went from doing her alterations to making custom bags for co-workers which has spiraled into an Etsy shop. We're thrilled to be Rident's very first trunk show! And so excited to see our fabrics made into gorgeous bags!

What's your name, what's your business name and where are you based?

My name is Rachel Vaughan, my business name is Rident and I'm based out of my home in Chelsea, MA.

What's your handcraft? And how long have you been practicing it?

What items will you be bringing to the Handmade Holiday Show? Why do you think your (insert noun here) are perfect for the crafty-genius to give or receive?

My niche is custom bags so that people can have input in the creative process and truly have a unique item that speaks to them.  That being said, I will be bringing some pre-made bags in my smaller sizes that will be perfect for people that want to give a gift right away, love it so much they can't put it down or just can't wait the 7-10 days for me to make it from scratch.

What are you making/giving to your friends and family this holiday?

Anything new in 2012? What can folks expect to find at your (insert studio/website/etsy shop) in the new year?

Have you marked your calendar? On Saturday, December 17th from 2 - 7 pm, we're hosting a Handmade Holiday Trunk Show and our annual (well, our first) Holiday Party. You'll find great handmade gifts for the crafty genius in your life as well as enjoy a cup of good cheer (Virginia's now famous warm cider) and enter to win cool prizes! Mix and Mingle with a host of friendly makers and give the gift of handmade this holiday.

Our first feature is on our not-so-secret craft-crush, Liz of Made in Lowell. You can watch Liz on the Martha Stewart Show over here! (I think that appearance automatically makes her one of craftiest geniuses ever.) Read on to learn more...

What's your name, what's your business name and where are you based?

Liz Smith, Made in Lowell, Lowell MA

What's your handcraft? And how long have you been practicing it?

I've been working with polymer clay for over 20 years, and felting for about 5.<PREVIEWEND>

What items will you be bringing to the Handmade Holiday Show? Why do you think your (insert noun here) are perfect for the crafty-genius to give or receive?

Pincushions!! Shaped like cupcakes!! I don't think I need to explain why that's awesome :) Also eco-friendly cup cozies and fun, felty brooches, maybe a few other sweet goodies.

What are you making/giving to your friends and family this holiday?

Notepads, cup cozies, scarves and hats!

Anything new in 2012? What can folks expect to find at your (insert studio/website/etsy shop) in the new year?

Working on a new line of felted coasters and bowls!

Check all that is beautiful at www.madeinlowell.com

You can follow Liz on twitter and read her words of crafty wisdom on her blog.

Day 4 of our series! Meet NJStacie*Made - spinner extraordinaire and all around crafter. So happy she'll be joining us this Sunday (November 20th)!!!!!

What's your name, what's your business name, and where are you from?

My name is Stacie, my business is njstacie•made.  I'm originally from New Jersey, but I've been in the Boston area for 13 years. <PREVIEWEND>

What came first knitting - dyeing - spinning?

What's your favorite fiber to work with?

I love love LOVE to spin longwools like Wensleydale and Romney.  It's got a great luster and hand, and knits up wonderfully.

How do you fend off creative-block?

What do you love to make with your yarn/fiber?

Any exciting things in the works that you want to share with us?

Holiday crafting is about to take over my life :)

To quote Stacie, "I blog (infrequently) over at njstacie.blogspot.com" and "I occasionally sell things on Etsy."

Day 3 of our series! Excited to introduce KnittinK aka AdyBee who created a new yarn in honor of a crazy dream of mine, "Unicorn Mane"! In my humble opinion, she's a rockstar. Without further ado...

What's your name, what's your business name, and where are you from? 

AdyBee, KnittinK, & I can currently be found in Roslindale, MA <PREVIEWEND>

What came first knitting - dyeing - spinning?  

Knitting, then dyeing, then spinning. It's a ::very:: slippery slope, be forewarned. 

What's your favorite fiber to work with? 

oooh tough call. I adore BFL (and blends) and Polwarth. They're strong but soft, and have myriad uses from socks to sweaters to mitts. 

How do you fend off creative-block? 

I have a thread on my Ravelry group where I ask people to post pictures and ideas they 'd like to see in yarn/fiber. I'm really lucky to awesome and hilarious customers. 

What do you love to make with your yarn/fiber? 

HATS. I'm addicted to hats. I can never have enough and I LOVE making them.  

Any exciting things in the works that you want to share with us? 

Yarn clubs, kits, new products, lotsa stuff. Stay tuned, cupcakes!  

You can sign up for KnittinK's newsletter here, follow her sass over on Twitter, and shop for her awesome fiber right here!

Day two of our Trunk Show artist blog feature! Shannon is one of the first spinners I approached about the shop. She believed in a stranger and for that I will always be grateful. So excited to have her join us on Sunday!

What's your name, what's your business name, and where are you from? 

My name is Shannon and I'm the monkey behind the wheel of The Spun Monkey Fiber Shoppe. I am originally from the SF Bay Area, but have found my home in southern VT with an awesome husband, a wild child and lots of crazy feathered creatures. <PREVIEWEND>

What came first knitting - dyeing - spinning?

What's your favorite fiber to work with? 

Hmmm...my favorite fiber? I will pick sheep's wool over any other protein fiber, hands down. I don't go in for plant fibers unless I blend them in with a lot of wool. I don't pick favorites with the sheep fleece because I love each and every one for its unique characteristics.

How do you fend off creative-block? 

What do you love to make with your yarn/fiber? 

I am a hat girl, all the way. It's my favorite one-skein project, and my favorite way to show off a great handspun yarn.

Any exciting things in the works that you want to share with us?

New things on the horizon are some themed repeatable colorways that will be offered on fiber as well as millspun yarns made with local small-farm fibers in limited edition runs.

You can learn more about Shannon on her blog, get updates on her Facebook page, and buy her yarn/fiber on Etsy!