Indie Craft vs. Target - Why shop Big Box for items better bought at home?

down and dirty screenprinting for under $10

you’ve always wanted to screenprint. when the investment is so low, why not take the plunge? 

coming up this saturday: june’s installation of market day. stop by saturday, june 26 between 9a-2p (maybe after the farmer’s market but before the des moines arts festival?) 
market day is arts and crafts, but not your granny’s embroidered pillows and wicker baskets. it’s screenprints and clothing and vintage goods and handmade jewelery. not to mention gourmet cupcakes. 
check out market day on facebook. we’re looking forward to seeing you. 

coming up this saturday: june’s installation of market day. stop by saturday, june 26 between 9a-2p (maybe after the farmer’s market but before the des moines arts festival?) 

market day is arts and crafts, but not your granny’s embroidered pillows and wicker baskets. it’s screenprints and clothing and vintage goods and handmade jewelery. not to mention gourmet cupcakes. 

check out market day on facebook. we’re looking forward to seeing you. 

(via pasteyourface)
a project from street artist mister12gage out of portland. he pastes up strangers’ faces. 

(via pasteyourface)

a project from street artist mister12gage out of portland. he pastes up strangers’ faces. 

last week we held our first “alternative” drink & draw, and leslie hall was our costumed and sparkly model. we’ve never had a model wearing clothes before, so we got to snap photos this time. check them out on our facebook or flickr. 
next month we’re back to a nude model - you should stop by on june 10th. again, facebook is a good way to find information. stay tuned for more alternative models in the future. 

last week we held our first “alternative” drink & draw, and leslie hall was our costumed and sparkly model. we’ve never had a model wearing clothes before, so we got to snap photos this time. check them out on our facebook or flickr

next month we’re back to a nude model - you should stop by on june 10th. again, facebook is a good way to find information. stay tuned for more alternative models in the future. 

may drink & draw: may 13

featuring leslie hall as our bedazzling model. join us at 8! $5, BYOB. 

today (may 1!) is the last day to apply for may's market day.


des moines swap-or-rama-rama stormed the make\break doors over the weekend and set up shop with piles of clothing to trade and workshops all day long - from embroidery to screenprinting to dye baths. 
attendees brought a bag of gently-used clothing to add to the pile, and had the opportunity to pick out new pieces. from there, the crafty headed upstairs where there was a buffet of crafting scraps and a dozen sewing machines to help them alter, repurpose and overhaul their finds. 
we all had a few darby cakes and picked up crafting tricks, and by the end of the day SORR had collected two dozen bags of clothing to donate to charity. the afternoon was exactly what make\break is about: making things without fear. 
click over to our facebook to look at our album, and visit http://dsmswap.org to learn more about SORR. 

des moines swap-or-rama-rama stormed the make\break doors over the weekend and set up shop with piles of clothing to trade and workshops all day long - from embroidery to screenprinting to dye baths. 

attendees brought a bag of gently-used clothing to add to the pile, and had the opportunity to pick out new pieces. from there, the crafty headed upstairs where there was a buffet of crafting scraps and a dozen sewing machines to help them alter, repurpose and overhaul their finds. 

we all had a few darby cakes and picked up crafting tricks, and by the end of the day SORR had collected two dozen bags of clothing to donate to charity. the afternoon was exactly what make\break is about: making things without fear. 

click over to our facebook to look at our album, and visit http://dsmswap.org to learn more about SORR. 

less talk, more rock: sixtysome female entrepreneurs making, breaking, experimenting and doing things in central ia.

this is definitely an incomplete list of ladies we know, keep tabs on, or watch on twitter. you can also follow the whole list on twitter here

@kmillersmith – catchfire media
@urbanestics – leslie poyser, artist
@goodposture – sarah wolfgang, artist
@barbniccum – entrepreneur
@craftleftovers – kristin roach, artist
@johnpemble – john pemble, lady. ZING!
@kbitt, @basemintdesign – kelly bittner, designer
@maydayyo – mindy hoskin driscoll, designer
@daniAWESOME – dani ausen, designer, photog
@ophelias_garden – rachael rhoades, theater entrepreneur
@itsdibby – darby shannon, baker
@abbieshipton - abbie shipton, cofounder, impromptu studio (and thanks to her for help on this list!)
@suzika, @vacuumista – suzana sankovic, owner, vacuumista cleaning service
@ephemeradesign – arin and karen, owners, ephemera design
@kathy_l – kathy landin, producer, writer, blogger
@evdayspa – cassie Sampson, owner, ev day spa
@angatdorotheas - angela petraline, owner, dorothea’s closet
@vitaedesign – all the ladies at vitae design collective
@candacecamling – candace camling, artist
@jillh, @hillabean, @onpitch – jill haverkamp and hillary brown, owners, on pitch
@kelseycliche, @srbracelin – kelsey blessman, stephanie bracelin, artists, organizers of @dsmswap
@alyssabowers – alyssa bowers, owner, acanthus apparel (and part of vitae collective)
@marymcadams – mary mcadams, singer/songwriter
@roxicopland – roxi copland, musician
@sozealous – erin stover, artist
@notcarol – cara hall, writer, crafter
@artbymagic, @iaartistcoop – monika agic, artist
@popsicle_stick, @chrissyjensen, @shopdomestica – christi jensen, owner, shop domestica
@heyjenrenee – jen geigley, designer, crafter
@katyjokimbley – katy jo kimbley, photog
@tanyakeith – tanya keith, owner, simply for giggles
@jennic – jennic, owner, kangerooboo
@clairecelsi – claire celsi, pr
@theGPB - sara middleton, owner, grand piano bistro
@hollyegg, @beckymollenkamp, @sosiowa, @monicawimber, @justcourtney, @rgiertz, @wingsofrefuge - the pet project midwest
@wallypop - lady-made cloth diapers
@storkwearhouse - also ladymade cloth diapers, natural living goods
@lilpaddedseats - ALSO ladymande cloth diapers, natural living goods
@edeniowa - jen hanson, owner, eden
@kate919 - entrepreneur
@addiepalmerdsmentrepreneur
@iatravelerentrepreneur
@jennimack - photographer
@jezebelcapture - photographer
@thelivingroomIA - coffee shop in VJ run by ladies
@daniellefoxfoto - danielle fox, photog
@lindasuedesigns - linda agnew anderson, designer
@kellymoorepr - kelly moore, pr consultant
@igdesign - ginger stevenson, designer
@hamptondesigns - julie hampton, artist
@pjmomof3boys - paula reece, writer
@nordstromstudio - lori nordstrom, photography
@mandymiller - mandy miller, photog

and a few who inexplicably aren’t on twitter:
rebecca brandow - willow avenue pottery -rebeccajdbrandow.etsy.com
marcia steele – found things – www.foundthingsdsm.com
gina elkin – saturday manufacturing - www.saturdaymfg.com
kari heath – o’toole merchants, who i swear was on twitter –
www.otoolemerchants.net

and oh hi, i’m cat rocketship, and I run make\break.

dsm swap is looking for artists’ goods for swag bags

visit their blog for useful info, consider pitching in.