For the Love Of Craft and Book

Sipping cocktails, crafting up a storm is not all we Petaluma Craft Mafia do around here ya know.
Many of us are avid bibliophiles. When I first moved to what I now affectionately refer to as my "hometown" of Petaluma, I immediately ran smack-dab into Copperfield's Books because books and I are inseparable and have a date with destiny. Connecting with one's local bookstore, for me at least, was a way to ground myself and settle in. For those who have never visited Copperfield's Books, it is an independently owned bookstore with stores in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Sebastapol, Napa, Calistoga and of course Petaluma. As if being a bookstore wasn't enough, they also host a gallery dedicated to local artists and businesses, a comfortable meeting spot and act as an all-around community supportive bookstore. I have an ongoing love-affair with Copperfield's. The Petaluma store also boasts a rare and used book collection downstairs that is sure to get your tender bibliophiliac heart thumping.

Copperfield's has long been supportive of the local literati, as well as the arts and crafts arena. They always graciously lend us a spot in their much coveted window to dress it up as craftily as we please. This year we decided to go for a paper mache theme based around taxidermy paper mache mounted heads. It was hecka fun, and interesting to see our crafty compatriots all came up with.
We decided to go for a clean kraft wall-papered background (Greta's staple gun is my new best friend) and contrast the kraft with a clean and graphic white for total pop! My love of painting came in handy as I painted my antique fireplace mantel, and too many picture frames to count a vivid clean white. I think I've still got paint under my fingernails. Greta made a sparklelicious unicorn, Jenna made a sweet doe with the longest, sparkly lashes, and I made a ram-bull skull... kinda of Georgia O'Keefish style. Jenna's Petaluma Craft Mafia banner and Greta's delightful origami tweets are the final touch.

The Copperfield's Book Fairies (aka amazing staff) then came out and dusted our window with all kinds of glorious books related to Craft. By the way, Copperfields has a helpful and knowledgeable staff - Many thanks to Patty and Alan for their kindness and gracious hosting of the Petaluma Craft Mafia.
We're really pleased with how it came out. My photos do not do it justice. We got oodles of great feed-back from the community about the window and hope we helped inspire you to get in touch with your inner crafty self!



Copperfield's Books Petaluma
140 Kentucky St.
Petaluma, California 94952

Craftaluma's "How The Craft Was Won!"

Howdy-do Craftistas and DIY'er Sharpshooters!

Summer is here at long last. The Petaluma Craft Mafia is in the mood for a show! We've branded a smokin' hot show for you this summer on August 21st at the Petaluma Art Center for Craftaluma's "How The Craft Was Won!"

The Petaluma Craft Mafia has teamed up with the Petaluma Art Center and we are pleased to announce our first outdoor craft shindig! Craftaluma's "How The Craft Was Won" outdoor Indie Bazzare.
Per usual we are anticipating a whole passel of crafty talented vendors! Sublime, irreverent, kitschy and just well made crafts of local and independent artists who will inspire you to get your craft on.
Not your granny's craft show, but we know she'd be pleased as punch with the amazing craft found here. So join us, and if so inspired by our pioneering, glue gun waving cowgirl, please dress in your favorite cowgirl threads or throw on a pair of boots.
Along with awe inspiring crafts, we will have live music and treats!!

*** Vendors will need to apply to Craftaluma's "How The Craft Was Won" show at the links here or below. Keep in mind that this is an outdoor venue. Tents, tables and chairs are not provided.

Crafty FYI ** In addition, we are hosting our annual holiday show this year. Craftaluma's "Holiday Hoe-down" will be December 3, 2011 at the Petaluma Veteran's Hall. When registering for August's "How The Craft Was Won" you will save 40 dollars by registering for both show in advance.

* Applications are due by August 7, 2011. Thanks in advance!

Hold your glue guns folks, this show is smokin' hot!

With love and glitter,

Your Petaluma Craft Mafia


** Register for CRAFTALUMA'S "How The Craft Was Won" here:
http://www.petalumacraftmafia.com/craftaluma/howthecraftwaswon.html
http://www.petalumacraftmafia.com/craftaluma/index.html

PCM's Naked Lady Party!

Happy (belated) New Year! It's the last day of the first month of the tenth year in 2010. Confused? Us too! The last of the Christmas tree needles are falling off the tree, but the stores are already lined with Valentines, and heck, even Easter candy. I've got the peeps to prove it. What kind of candy is currently lining the shelves is how this crafty lady keeps track of the months. While January is biding adieu to February, you can beat the Petaluma Craft Mafia is busy planning a super crafty year.

As usual, the PCM is never idle. Lot's going on, and we're gearing up for a wonderful 2010. We've got some swell new members to add to an already stellar crafty assortment of creative bon-bons. Everyone does such diverse work, we have a knotty knitter, (Judy, this hysterical image above is for you), a vintage jewelry maker, a re-purposed clothing designer, a lady who just sews the cutest vintage pillows and plushies, and a woman who saves vintage items and consigns them, makes cooool t-shirts. I mean, if life is like a box of chocolates, your Petaluma Craft Mafia is the ultimate assortment of sweets without the tooth-ache.

Petaluma's crafty first famiglia is hatching a whole host of fun things to do this year, and we'll be sure to keep you posted.
One fun event, is our Naked Lady Party we are holding at crafty Mafia sister Alison's vintage consignment shop on Kentucky Street. Sorry, folks, this is a private party in March, and a great way to dust off winter and welcome spring. Our crafty famiglia and a few assorted friends who we adore, as NLP parties can get pretty chaotic fast if you get too many women in one room trying on clothes and sipping cocktails. So if you here lot's of hootin' n hollerin' it's just us, the normal noises!

But, even if you don't get an invite to this event, don't fret folks, you too can host your own NLP, add some new clothes to your wardrobe, and clean out your own closet in the process. I mean, how can you beat that?

Some simple guidelines for hosting your own NLP. Most importantly, have fun and don't invite too many folks, or it can get quickly overwhelming, especially if space is at a premium. Remember, the goal is to find clothes, get feedback from your fellow naked ladies, and leave with some gems, and give some gems. I'd recommend inviting peeps whom you know you admire their taste in threads, vintage or current, or swapping is not going to be nearly as fun.

Music, get the mood going with some music that will keep you grooving as you dig through piles, and pull jumpers over your head. Food, snacks or a MUST. Trying on clothes with your gal pals works up an appetite and can get fatiguing, as any woman knows. A few libations both alcoholic and non-alcoholic for tee-totaler friends to switch it up.

Last but not least, privacy. Yes, you want to be sure to schedule time for when it's men's poker night, and the kiddy's are at a sitters so as not to distract you. Hey! Trying on other's cast-off is not only green, and a great way to get a new wardrobe, but it requires focus.
It's also a great time to think about others. Have some separates or suits that would work well in a more professional setting? Put together an outfit that would benefit a woman of modest means trying to re-enter the work force. There are numerous agencies you can donate the back-to- work items to, who would greatly appreciate it.

Stay tuned here, We'll be reporting back on our Craft Mafia Naked Lady Party.

Ciao, Ciao!

Craftaluma 2010 "Craftyville, The Usual Suspects"

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Yawwwn, s- t- r- e- t-c - h..... Late winter; time to shrug off the insulating attitudes, peel back the cocoon of winter layers, allow the imagination to roam along the dreamscape that meanders down the cool, blue path to tangerine sunsets. Butterflies, zebras, moonbeams, it's time to plant bulbs for spring fragrance and harvest summer crafty magic, like only the Petaluma Craft Mafia can. Get ready to make a journey to "Craftyville," join the usual and some unusual suspects for Craftaluma 2010!!

The talented creatives that make up the Petaluma Craft Mafia are busy planning our next show! We've got CRAFTALUMA 2010 penciled in on the PCM calendar for JUNE 19th, 2010!! Yaay!

Have you seen the usual suspects of Craftaluma's Craftyville? There's the Church of Craft, spreading the Crafty gospel, (and you know, as the Petaluma Craft Mafia, it's well infiltrated), then there is the river, well, that's where all of our crafty secrets go for a swim. More on that, later. Yes, in Craftyville, your Petaluma Craft Mafia is involved, fighting for craft and giving it a voice. Your crafty famiglia is here, committing craft, living and working in our community, and creating the best craft show in the world. Yes, Craftluma 2010 is on it's way, and we've got the keys to the town.

Stay posted, stay tuned, and most of all, stay crafty.

xoxo, The PCM

Pin-Ups for Paws

So many causes, charities, we'd love to get involved in them all. We in the Petaluma Craft Mafia try to help out wherever we can. One organization that is near and dear to our hearts is helping out our local animal shelter, the Petaluma Animal Shelter. We have been brainstorming on this for a few years, and finally the time is right to make Petaluma's first Crafty Pin-Up Calendar. Proceeds will go to Petaluma Animal Shelter. What a fabulous way to support your local Animal Shelter, and see your Petaluma Craft Mafia ALL year 'round! You may also learn a thing or two about a particular craft...

Be sure to stay posted here, and on our Facebook page for updates on our "Crafty Pin-Ups for Paws" calendar coming in 2010.


Peace, love and glitter,

Your Petaluma Craft Mafia

Struttin' our crafty/fashion stuff at Craftaluma's "Running with Glitter!"

"Running with Glitter" where the eco-conscious crafty and fashionistas come to play."



Happy Cinco de Mayo! Our December - May hibernation has come to and end. It felt soooo good! You've been wondering where we've been. I know, I know. But frankly, it felt marvelous to take a snooze from anything remotely smacking of blog and craft. But what better day then to celebrate spring, love, life, craft, ashion and um, glitter...yes, you heard right!

For the record we are strutting our crafty stuff at Craftaluma 2009 this season! The emails started with a slow trickle in late December following Mafia Made Holiday Craftacular, to a steady buzz of inquiries about WHEN our next Craftaluma will be! Gee, thanks everyone for your re-newed interest. We love you!! To set the record straight, yes, Craftaluma 2009 is in the works, and this year that fashion show I've been dreaming about for two years will happen! We have too many local talented Indie designers NOT to have a fashion show. I just know it! That's the Petaluma spirit! Coordinate that with the creative minds behind the Petaluma Craft Mafia, and it will be one heckuva a gittery good time! We are very excited!

Ambitious? Sure, this will be a bigger show, and very high energy with a glittery runway filled with craft, music, and the addition of a glittery runway with sashaying models sporting local handmade DIY fashion and accessories. An eco and up-cycle vibe is encouraged! All of it requires lots of coordination and planning . But you know by now, the PCM is always up for a challenge, and Ms. Moxie, our bella capo, loves to roll up her sleeves, toss the glitter in the air and see where it may land. We've got a hard-working, talented and fun famiglia and a cast of supportive awesome volunteers to help make it all happen. So, if you catch us MIA on the blogs, it's not because we've taken off to Greece like I keep dreaming about - at least not yet! No rest for the weary - crafty! (Martha, eat your heart out!)

We'll keep you posted about the date, and in the meantime, you can of course, always contact us here about applications. The Craftaluma, "Running with Glitter" site will have online applications as well. Vendors, round up your models, and of course your glitter. We are SO looking forward to the submission photos and the coordination between the designers!

Come and be inspired, and have a glittery good time!

Many glittery cheers, sashay, sashay!

The PCM

Mafia Made "HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR!!"

Dreams of holiday tinsel and Sugar Plum fairies waltzing through your head? Have you ever wanted to meet Bumble the abominable snowman from "Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer?" Stir that together with a sprinkle of Nightmare before Christmas and you have Mafia Made HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR! You can bet your candy-cane striped toe socks, we've got another crazy show planned! The Petaluma Craft Mafia is pleased to announce our first annual holiday show, "Mafia Made HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR" to debut on Saturday, December 13th from eleven to five at the Petaluma Veteran's Hall. Our first show CRAFTALUMA was such a success, we keep getting requests for when we would have another show, so we decided to put together a holiday show with some of the most talented DIY'ers, crafty crafters and kick-ass artisans we could assemble - that includes you! We will have plenty of crafty how-to demos from many of our inspiring and talented vendors. Mojo talented and local live entertainment from the ever-fresh and pretty dang crafty themselves, Bluebellies and adorable Gabby LaLa. You'll be thrilled to know that the Petaluma Craft Mafia plans to have another crafty raffle. **Vendors, (please send us your swag and any goodies you would love some lucky person to have to promote your wares and your crafty company). Swag bags to the first 50 folks through the door. Our theme is a Retro Winter Wonderland with a hint of kitsch and a bit of underground fantasical Holiday flavor going on -remember, this ain't your dear granny's craft show. Bumble the Abominable snow man may drop by and take pictures with the young folk...and you never know who else.... Get your Holiday Shopping done in one fell swoop, and come away inspired by our crafty cast of characters this year at Mafia Made HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR. Belly up to our decorate your own christmas cookie and cupcake table... I might have to find an excuse to work that table...hmmmm... ** VENDORS: Vendors, applications are now available, Send me an e-mail (here or at cheryl@petalumacraftmafia.com) and I can forward you an application. FYI: This show is for Crafty, DIY, craft and art, items only, no re-sale or multi-level marketing items, thank you! I'm working on the downloadable application and website as we did for CRAFTALUMA in my spare time, so please be patient. :) ** SPONSORS: Please contact cheryl@petalumacraftmafia.com if you are interested in sponsorship and/demo table. Show attendees and adoring public: We heart you! Thanks for coming out to support your crafty famiglia and their friends at CRAFTALUMA, and making our first show such a success. We couldn't have done it without you! HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR starts at noon and admission is 2 dollars. You will get a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of our awesome crafty prizes, and if you bring a toy for our "Toys for Tots" you will automatically get another chance at the raffle. Children under 16 are free. Crafto'licious swag bags for the first 100 folks through the door! Come on down and meet Petaluma's Crafty famiglia, we'll have a jolly 'ol tinse'licious time! Cheers, Cheryl and the PCM "Mafia Made" HOLIDAY CRAFTACULAR Saturday, 11-5 December 13th, 2008 Petaluma Veteran's Memorial Hall 1094 Petaluma Boulevard South Petaluma, CA 94952

CRAFTALUMA! "the greatest show on earth"

Since forming the Petaluma Craft Mafia last summer with my three cohorts in crime, (now double), I've been wanting to come up with a name for a local Petaluma craft show that is uniquely Petaluma. There were lots of names that came to mind, ideas come easily to me, but everything I came up with was either another regional show elsewhere in the country, or it didn't feel like "Petaluma" to me. Then a couple of weeks ago, before the holidays it came to me, "Craftaluma." Craftaluma? Yep. My other two founding members lurrved it. I wasn't sure, but felt like we were on to something, and Himself hated it. Then the theme and tagline came instantly, "The greatest show on earth." Kind of Barnum & Bailey, no? Elephants with knitting needles, a big top, trapeze artists with a yarn net... nawwww.

So, I posted a poll along with some other craft show name suggestions for my crafty famiglia to vote on, and hands down "Craftaluma" was the winner. Yay! Now the design process begins. It would be a no-brainer to do a carnival theme, and my original thoughts were to do that, but I'd like to do something a little unique that incorporates both Petaluma and that running away to the carnival crafty feel. Romantic, but slightly soiled around the edges with carny sweat and the sweet waft of stale caramel corn and greasy corn dogs on a stick.

I haven't done a thing with the design until this afternoon as my famiglia and I are planning for our Petaluma Craft Mafia's first show this summer. Yay! But it has been on the back-burner of my subconscious and I think inspired a scary clown dream a few weeks ago.

We are very excited about our show, but have loads to get done, loads.

Are you a local craft vendor? Look for "Craftaluma" information soon. If you're interested in being a vendor or caterer or a local band looking to strut your musical or crafty stuff, you can contact us for an application at cheryl@petalumacraftmafia.com.

Just uh, please don't send in the clowns.

Are you going to San Francisco?

We are! And with flowers in our hair. Okay, maybe sans flowers, but you never know! Now I've got that delightful song stuck in my head.

Our extended crafty famiglia, the San Francisco Craft Mafia, in the sweet little city by the bay, are hosting "Mafia Made" trunk show in Golden Gate Park at the Hall of Flowers On October 21st.. Y'all know the park. It's gorgeous. We are excited to be exhibiting and have lots to get done between now and October 21st.

Come on down to the Hall of Flowers between 12-5 p.m. Say hello, meet the famiglia and get some early Christmas Shopping done. That way, when the holidays roll around, you won't have to fight the crowds. Just rest easy with a big mug of spiked egg nog, and dream a little dream of snowflakes.

We at the Petaluma Craft Mafia look forward to meeting you there.