Melissa, from This Year’s Girl, is a talented digital artist. She creates collage prints that remind me of the covers of books that have taken me to far off places and keep me coming back again and again.

Carrie creates hats & other accessories for her exceptionally clever store – Like Clochework. Throughout the month of May, get a FREE mini flower pin with any purchase!

Finally, check out Kind Over Matter, a new blog focusing on kindness & craft. How lovely! Amanda is looking to connect with locals who “want to spread some Guerilla Optimism.”

I am lucky to have some of the greatest sponsors on the interwebs! I’d like you to meet some of my newer ones and invite you to give them all a little love!

Melissa, from Melissa Lobach Design Studio, is a graphic designer with a passion for marketing! She is also a crafty lady. You can follow her on Twitter @theIllustrator. She specializes in design services to make your small business pop.

Linda, from Little Flower Designs, creates modern folk-art ceramics. To find out more about Linda and her work, check out this interview I did with her a couple of months ago! Linda’s OOAK work is available on Etsy, her full line is available on her main site, and she also has a bridal registry.

Mary Beth, the founder & creator of E A Poo’s, is a “cloth diaper evangelist!” Being a cloth diapering mommy myself, I totally understand this title: we’ll tell anyone who will listen about the joys of cloth diapering. Mary Beth creates fitted cloth diapers, menstrual pads, nursing pads, and all sorts of other reusable cloth accessories for mama & baby!

jCrane Jewelry is sleek, polished, and sophisticated. Working in sterling silver and enamel, Jessica creates pieces that can be worn to make you feel special everyday. Her work incorporates both contoured and cut metal.

I will share bits from more sponsors later today!

But I also wanted to make an announcement about advertising on HiP. Until today, advertising has been limited to craft/art businesses in Pennsylvania. However, I believe that you, my readers, may be interested in supporting other small PA businesses that you might not have been previously aware of. So advertising is now available here to all PA small businesses, in keeping with HiP’s mission.

If you’re new to internet advertising, Handmade in PA is a great place to start! Rates are now based on a set number of impressions, or views. You can purchase as little as 1000 views for $2.50. Check out the advertising page for more information on HiP’s demographics.

Confession: I had to look up whether it was “roll call” or “role call!” Turns out that’s a pretty popular Google query.

Today’s post will be a quick one. First, a short personal story from me. Then, a shout out to a new sponsor. And finally, a list of topics I would love for you to submit appropriate items for or personal stories/tips.

My husband was an incredibly smart man this Christmas. Among my gifts there was a gift certificate for coffee – having coffee out is one thing I virtually gave up to be able to stay home with my daughter – and the other was a gift certificate to the local yarn store! Even though this FREE YARN was burning a whole in my pocket, I lasted until today… two weeks, not too bad.

This store is totally intimidating to me because of its shear beauty. Shelf after shelf, stacked with chunky yarns, thin yarns, soft yarns, stiff yarns, yarns that are fuzzy, yarns that are smooth… pale colors, vivid colors, hand-painted, hand-dyed – so inspiring. The problem is it’s overwhelmingly inspiring! I had $30 to spend and my plan was to go straight to the loose patterns, pick one and find the right yarn for it. Too many patterns….and too much temptation to look at the yarn straight away.

Finally, I decided on a slightly thick/thin cashmere blend and bought 2 skeins. It has deep, opulent colors, from orange to violet to ruby to saphire.

I’ve already worked up a simple, everyday kind of scarf out of one skein. I have no idea what I’m going to do with the other! Suggestions? If you’re in the Reading area though, do stop by The Yarn Gallery in West Reading on Penn Ave. The staff is very helpful (and so are the two cocker spaniels!) and the selection is great.

I’m proud to announce that the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen has joined us as a sponsor! Please click their box to the right to find out about all the workshops they teach. I know there are several on my wish list…

Finally, here’s the “roll call” part of the Friday Roll Call. Each Friday, I plan to make a post like this one. It will include several topics for which I’m looking for suggestions: items, tips, techniques, stories. Please take a look at each item and let me know if you have something to contribute. If you’re included in the post on that topic, you’ll of course receive a link to your shop in the citation. This is a great way to get foot traffic to your site, as well as help out the Handmade in PA community.

Topics:

• Photographing items for sale. What is your number one, must-have technique? What is your favorite photograph of one of your projects? What sells an item in a photograph?
• Artisans in the Allentown/Lehigh Velley area.
• Artisans in the Erie area.
• Craft fairs. What are some upcoming craft fairs your participating in?
• Valentine’s Day gifts.

As always, thank you so much for reading. I look forward to your suggestions!

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