Need holiday gifts on a really tight budget? Homemade is the way to go, and if your crafting skills make you blush, then come to the Holiday Craft Bazaar for the Shriners Transportation Fund. It is all for charity and inexpensive as well. The Ben Ali Shrine Ladies Holiday Bazaar will be held at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, located at 6151 H St. in Sacramento from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 1st. Over 100 tables of crafts, holiday decorations, home baked goodies and fresh crop fruits and nuts, as well as a Christmas tree silent auction and photos with Santa. This year there will also be two estate collections: a large number of porcelain dolls and accessories, and glassware, mid-c

Summer is a traditionally a time of fun for children – yet can also be a time for accidents. To help families approach summer in "safe style," South Sacramento nonprofit groups and businesses are teaming up to present the second annual free Kids’ Safety and Health Fair Saturday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625-24th Street, Sacramento (off Fruitridge Road between Freeport Boulevard and Highway 99). In addition to a free BBQ hotdog lunch, there will be face-painting, karaoke, a magician, music and a children's bounce-house. Among the participating groups are the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento City Fire Department, Sacra

As part of Black History Month, volunteer members from MatrixArts recently conducted a workshop on making Paper Beads at the Arden-Dimick library on Watt Avenue. Paper beads are made using strips of colorful paper, wound tightly into a shaped cylinder, glazed, and then strung into creative jewelry pieces. Any type of paper can be used, from magazine pages & newspaper to old wallpaper sample books. Heavy papers will produce larger beads, while the thinner papers will produce smaller, more delicate beads. While paper beads were a popular artform in Victorian England, more recently the craft has grown popular in Uganda, where women make beads from recycled paper. The craft has caught the

Growing up, sometimes we forget to exercise our creative activities. For some, our creative drive dies right along with the hand-me-down car from Grandma senior year in high school. Sometimes our creative energy is put on the backburner as stresses and responsibilities of being an adult such as finding a job, keeping a job, paying bills, the mortgage and providing for our families take over… or our creative energy fades away completely. Here in Sacramento, we love each other. We support each other. Seriously, we do. Just stop for a moment and think back on how many creative projects, ideas and businesses that have thrived in the last decade or so. Regardless if the doors of any of these i

The best food in world does not come from five-star restaurants that take months to get a reservation and a month's salary when you finally get one. No, the best food comes from treasured family recipes lovingly handed down from one generation to the next. That beautiful tradition will be celebrated at the upcoming Jewish Food Faire sponsored by Carmichael's Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, October 16th, from 9 am to 3 pm. Savor stuffed cabbage, corned beef on rye, chopped liver and a dizzying array of Jewish style baked goods, among other iconic Jewish foods. "The best food comes from the heart," said Sheila Wolfe, Jewish Food Faire Chair. "That's what we want to convey with this year

Foodies and those who just love good food in a festive atmosphere will gather at Carmichael's Congregation Beth Shalom on Sunday, October 16th, for the 35th Annual Jewish Food Faire, featuring iconic Jewish deli items such as authentic corned beef on rye, bagels and lox and noodle kugel, plus a dizzying array of Jewish style baked goods. The Faire, located at 4746 El Camino Avenue (Mission), will be held from 9 am to 3 pm, but come early because the food does tend to go fast. This year's Food Faire theme is "Generation to Generation," recognizing the rich tradition practiced by many cultures in the Sacramento area of passing down family recipes from one generation to the next. Join us f

From friendly greeters to crafty artisans and everything in between, the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation is now accepting applications for more than 200 volunteer positions during Gold Rush Days 2011.  Widely known as Old Sacramento’s annual heritage celebration, Gold Rush Days volunteers are needed over Labor Day weekend (September 3-5) and for a preview “education day” on Friday, September 2, that is set-up primarily for area school children. Gold Rush Days 2011 is free to the public and produced by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Sacramento and California State Parks. Given the sheer magnitude of the large-scale comm

If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend that will also help kitties in need, please stop by the Sacramento Cat Hospital's Third Annual Cat’s Meow Arts & Crafts Fair. Fair hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 22 at the Sacramento Cat Hospital, 4115 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael. All fair proceeds will benefit the Sacramento Cat Hospital Foundation Benevolent Fund, established to provide treatment for injured, sick, and feral cats. Some of these cats require extensive and costly treatment to save their lives. The Benevolent Fund also provides routine physicals, vaccinations, viral screening, food, water, and shelter to the hospital’s foster cats until they find for

Sidewalk chalk isn’t just for kids, anymore. This Labor Day weekend, Sacramentans can get in touch with their inner child at the 20th annual “Chalk it Up! to Sacramento” chalk art festival in Fremont Park. Saturday through Monday, 200 professional artists will be on their hands and knees, creating two-by-four masterpieces on the sidewalk. Non-professionals can purchase their own squares for $10, which includes a box of chalk. A communal space with communal chalk on the interior of the park will also be available for kids and adults alike to chalk it up. Darby Flynn, president of Chalk it Up! said this type of event is special to Sacramento. “We want to make sure that our arts remain vi

 The world’s most popular reggae singer came to Sacramento Sunday and played a show in front of 4,000 ecstatic fans.   This, in and of itself, doesn't seem like it would be all that noteworthy.  Big stars play shows in Sacramento, if not all the time, at least semi-frequently.  I mean, John Mayer is coming to the Sleep Train Amphitheater in August, right?  And Carrie Underwood is coming to Arco in a couple of weeks.   But Matisyahu, the Jewish reggae artist whose album, "Bright Side of Life," has been at the top of Billboard’s reggae charts for six weeks, didn't play at Arco for $45 a seat, or Raley Field for 35 bucks a pop, or even Harlow's for 18 a ducat.  He played for free, on the

Fairytale Town's second annual Goes Green! event is back this weekend. The family event will feature educational displays, activities and crafts aimed at promoting conservation and environmental awareness. "When the director of Fairytale Town approached me with ideas about hosting an agricultural event, I wanted to tie in a green theme," said Education and Program Manager Sharlene Lal. "But as we developed the event, we realized that going green is a big idea and a movement that needs its own outlet." Several local organizations have partnered with Fairytale Town to provide learning tools. Representatives from Solar Cookers International, the Department of Utilities, the Air Resources B

Chances are you’ve heard of Etsy. It’s the world’s most expansive marketplace for handmade and vintage items. With neighborhood networks and a shop-local function, Etsy is revolutionizing the way people shop online. I spoke to artist and team leader of SactoMetro Etsy Street Team, Marianne Bland, about her team of local artists and craftsmen representing the Sacramento area on Etsy.com   Tell me about Sacramento’s Etsy Team SactoMetro Etsy Street Team has soap makers, painters, people making spiritual items, fine art…just a huge variety of items. We have people doing it to supplement jobs, full-timers, mothers at home school… It's an interesting group of people trying to help each other

Hot Zombie Chicks, kids, crocheters, neck tattoos, furry monsters, autobiographical comic books, and customized handcrafts were assembled under one roof at the Scottish Rite Center Saturday and Sunday. One story is being retold in different words at the "Vinyl Toy, Indy Comix and D.I.Y." show and it transcends all mediums at Indy Euphoria. People are discovering they have the capacity to create the things they want to see realized. Indy Euphoria shows there is a market for those creations. Hundreds of vendors displayed theirs at the event. Nora Kniveton from Transient Treasures was approached by Indy Euphoria creator Anthony Leano to table at a comic convention for the first time. Kni

One of the best kept secrets of the South Sacramento area is a small, private school tucked away in the Lanai Shopping Center on Freeport Boulevard, neighboring the Sacramento Executive Airport, where it has existed in rented space for 21 years. Over the years, most of the shopping center tenants have moved away. Meanwhile, countless hours of parent, teacher and student work have gone into transforming a run-down property into a school with colorful classrooms and playgrounds. It has an understated entrance, but Camellia Waldorf School is an oasis for children. The kindergarten yard is home to Mr. Mountain, a big pile of dirt, and Ms. Sandy, a big pile of sand. There are climbing struct

More than 95 regional artists and craftspeople will offer their unique gift items during the Crocker Art Museum’s Holiday Art & Craft Festival at the Scottish Rite Center, located across from the main entrance of California State University, Sacramento, at 6151 H Street. Visitors will support the Crocker and local artists while they shop for everyone on their holiday list with an array of gift items and price ranges. The artist’s creations for sale include jewelry, ceramics, paintings, gourmet food, a variety of unique holiday items and more. You can also capture the holiday season by having photos taken with a Victorian Santa Claus in the front lobby. Attendees will also enjoy free parki

Spring is almost over and so begins the onslaught of fun, fabulous things to do during the summer months in Sacramento! It's not quite time to break out the bikinis and flip-flops, but I have spotted some sleeveless tops and open-toed shoes lately...my all-time favorite season in Sacramento is almost here! This week, and particularly this week-end, is already jam-packed with music, festivals and outdoor events with the promise of the heat soon to come. I hope you haven't made plans already... Tuesday 4.28 Music: Rev Theory-- $12 at the door Where: Marilyn’s on K When: Doors- 6:30pm, Show- 7:15pm Why: You may get an idea for their music-style by the bands they’ve opened for: the likes of

IndieSacramento’s biannual trunk show and craft bazaar happens once again this May 2, from 10am-3pm at Fremont Park in the Midtown/ Downtown Sacramento area. The IndieSacramento May Market hopes to spread a DIY ethic throughout the Sacramento area, encouraging patrons to live both cheaply and creatively during these trying financial times. The May Market boasts over 40 craft and fashion vendors, carrying a wide variety of affordable and fashionable handmade goods. Besides having the opportunity to support local small businesses and crafters, IndieSacramento is also giving patrons the opportunity to dabble in DIY themselves by offering IndieSacramento's first ever Craft University. The Cra