Darksome Art & Craft Market - Out of the Crypt

The time has come for the Darksome Art & Craft Market!

This weekend, you can shop over 100 of the best, spookiest artists and artisans from around the country. There will be shop updates, sale codes, charitable fundraising, artist demos, and more! Although the market originated in Philly, since the beginning of the pandemic, all the events have moved online, allowing more artists to participate, and more art lovers from all over the country to shop and find new artists to follow.

For this market, I’ll be offering 10% off all weekend with the discount code: DARKSOMECRYPT and I’ll be donating 25% of sales to the event charity: Mental Health America. I’ll also be releasing some of the new designs that I’ve been working on over the last couple of months, which will all be available in my shop update at NOON on Friday, May 14th. Here are the new items that will be available:

New Patches

Bone Earrings

New Collars

O-ring & Solid bands

Hand-dyed Fabric

Red Leather Hoop Earrings

There are so many other talented artists participating in this show! You better believe that I'm going to be doing a little shopping myself and my friends (some “OMG, I haven’t seen you in a year” gifts)! You can head over to Darksome- Out of the Crypt to check out all the participants. The website is live, but the donations, discounts, and shop updates will be on the weekend only. There is a list on the website of the times of all the artists’ shop update times. A lot of these folks run out of their merch really fast, so planning ahead is very helpful. Here are some of my favorite artists in the sale:

Above Images L-R: Cabinet of Curious Clay, Evil Tea Co., Forest Noir Photography, FTG Illustrations. Second row L-R: Hokum Wares, Martha Rotten, Nature’s Energy, Uruz Metals

Have a great and spooky weekend everyone!

American Craft Council Show: St. Paul Edition

Mark your calendars and get your tickets!!! The American Craft Council Show is coming to St. Paul from April 8th - 10th (with a preview party April 7th).

Show Dates/Times    -    Tickets $12 (free for ACC members or children 12 & under)

Friday, April 8     10am - 8pm  ($5 after 5pm) 

Saturday, April 9     10am - 6pm

Sunday, April 10     11am - 5pm

Preview Party:

Thursday, April 7   6pm - 9pm, Tickets $75  (proceeds benefil ACC's educational programming)

Here is a sneak peak to some of my favorite artists at the show:

Workerby/Ruby 3

Elizabeth Peckacek

Bergen Anderson

Korrin Lohmann

Polite Society

Tara Locklear

P.S.- I'm giving out free tickets to 3 lucky newsletter subscribers!  If you haven't subscribed yet, you can HERE.

Thank you, Renegade Brooklyn!!

I'm finally getting back into the swing of things after a couple of weeks on the road.  After swapping my big, ol' truck for my parents' Prius (a lifesaver, with A/C, waaaay better gas mileage, and more than AM radio), I set out to traverse half of the country.  Although 16+ hours alone on the road is a bit draining (especially for someone who doesn't particularly like driving), I saw some beautiful scenery along the way and arrived in Brooklyn just in time to enjoy a walk in the rain. 

My primary reason for going to New York was to participate in my first Renegade Craft Fair!  If you haven't heard of Renegade, you can (and should) check to see if they are coming to a city near you.  Founded in Chicago in 2003 by a slew of makers, Renegade is the largest indie craft fair in the country, with an emphasis on the underground DIY culture,  a strong connection with the surrounding community, and a nicely curated selection of handmade goods, local eats, art installations, and fun activities.  

Here are some of my favorite makers from the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair:

Melissa Weiss Pottery - Iron  + white rings pour over set

Based in Asheville, NC, potter Melissa Weiss makes amazing pottery out of clay that she digs up from her land in Arkansas.  After a long process of preparing the clay, she uses a variety of methods (wheel thrown, pinched, and slab constructed) to create the pieces and finishes them with her hand-made glazes.  I was drawn to her booth any time I left mine, falling in love with every piece, especially this pour over set!

www.melissaweisspottery.com

Louve - Wood and leather fringe necklace

Louve Montreal is beautiful, minimalist jewelry made from salvaged wood and leather by designer Virginie Turcot-Lamarre.  I love the simple, yet bold and sleek statements that her jewelry makes and the unconventional materials used!

www.louvemontreal.com  

YES PLS - Wall vessels

YES PLS makes slip-cast ceramic vessels to hold the things that you love, whether it is a plant, a peach or a smashed beer can.  I loved (and had to buy!) a cool little soap dish casted from a geode.  

www.y-e-s-p-l-s.tumblr.com

Lvnea - Ghost pine parfum botanique

LVNEA creates unique scents from essential oils, absolutes, plant extracts, floral waxes, and tree resins to evoke the primal smells of nature. Not only are they hand-made, all natural, and unisex, their branding is the coolest!

www.lvnea.com

Beetle & Flor - Porcelain goat skull with 14k gold plated horns

Beetle & Flor makes fabulous, incredibly detailed and realistic porcelain skulls with gold luster details.  With a background in illustration and model making for the Museum of Natural History in New York, maker Christine Facella creates these lovely pieces, teaches classes in mold making, and does branding and illustration for a variety of clients. 

www.beetleandflor.com

July Shows: Made Here Market & Bauhaus Brewery Nightmarket

July is shaping up to be an exciting month for Black Spoke Leather Co.!  

Not only did we make some custom pieces for L'assassins new music video (more on that once it is released), we have a few really great craft fairs coming up in Minneapolis!

JULY 19 & JULY 26

The MADE HERE Market will feature local artisans displaying and selling Minnesota-made handicrafts and art. Up to 35 eclectic vendors, selected from a broad open call, will participate each Sunday. The Market will stretch from the parking lot to an adjacent indoor event center. The Third Bird is also hosting a pop-up art gallery.

Sundays July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

11am-6pm

Free! 

More info HERE.

July 21

Come see the spectacle of NORTHEAST NIGHT MARKET at Bauhaus Brew Labs! Hang out with friends, be entertained and support local craftspeople and artisans. Leave reality behind for a few hours and get a taste of New Orleans' special kind of awesome. The market will have over 30 local artisan booths as well as local musicians and street performers wandering throughout the space for a spectacle for the eyes! 

Black Spoke Leather Co. will be sharing a booth with the kick ass screen printing artist, LOWWBONES.  

Due to an amazing turnout at the first Night Market in June (20,000 people!!!), tickets will be limited to 3,000 and are available HERE for $2 ea.  All ticket proceeds go to fund future markets and pay the amazing group of volunteer performers (they're working for tips, too y'all...hint, hint!).

July 21

6pm-10pm

$2 

More info HERE.