threadbanger halloween party: THREADBANGER is throwing an EPIC Party on the eve of Halloween! Thursday October 30, 2008 @ 8pm at Mercury Lounge in NYC – more info.

Nationwide contest just announced and presented by SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING, and PFAFF. To enter the GIFTS BY YOU contest presented by SVP Worldwide and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), upload a photo of a sewn project at www.marthastewart.com/sew between November 17, 2008 and December 31, 2008. Images of the uploaded sewn projects will be displayed on the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia website at www.marthastewart.com during this time. Entrants will be asked to enter their project to be judged in one of the following four categories: home décor/crafting, fashion, machine embroidery and machine quilting. Each person who uploads a photo of their own project will receive a $5.00 gift card they can use at authorized and participating SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING and PFAFF retailers throughout the U.S.-it’s SVP Worldwide’s holiday gift to sewers. More info.

Giveaway at Hallmark magazine blog – a beautiful tote filled with K&Company’s Amy Butler scrapbooking supplies!

vote for the next lionbrand knitalong.

2009 knitty calendar is up read all about it here and see the winning images.

CHA is very excited to announce a unique opportunity for Indie Crafters to present their distinctive work and display it at the CHA 2009 Winter Convention & Trade Show. The Show will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA from January 25-28, 2009. Just send us a photo and description of your work and we will select the top 30 projects and display them. Project must be innovative and creative or must demonstrate how to use ordinary materials in a new way This contest is open to ALL crafters. Completed winning projects must fit in a 1 ½’ wide by 3’ high by 1’ deep space or 3’ wide by 3’high by 1’ deep space. You may enter up to five projects. Email a photograph and description of your project(s) to aadoff@craftandhobby.org. Entrants have until November 21, 2008 to submit original ideas to be considered in the contest. We will notify you if you are a winner by December 19, 2008

If you are interested in lobbying to get knitting needles and crochet hooks allowed on Australian planes again – write a letter – here is all the info (thanks Kylie for the link)

On December 6th and 7th, 2008, over 100 indie crafters will be selling their work at the fourth annual Urban Craft Uprising, at the Seattle Center in downtown Seattle…and you could be one of them!

 Applications are available here : Deadline: September 8th.

there’s a Craft-Off going on over at Indie Fixx! Last two standing will win prizes! including: One-year subscription to Craft: magazine : Lotta Jansdotter book published by Chronicle Books: Lotta Prints : and more – info here

Announcing the Grand Prize winner of the Spread the Craft contest, and recipient of $1000, is: Crafty Rockstar Grungeboard Pin by Margot Potter. The People’s Choice Award and $500 goes to: Light Painting-Fun With Photography by Tony Siciliano.

You Bazaar! You Bazaar! 2 November 2008 : San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. Featuring 30 craft vendors and a series of workshops : A family friendly event to kick off the Plush You SF Show 7 November 2008 – Applications are being accepted from July 25th to August 15th 2008.

Jennifer Perkins from the Naughty Secretary Club has a new book out (The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl’s Guide to Handmade Jewelry) where Whipup along with other cool crafty sites is mentioned. Congrats Jennifer.

Amy Butler has a new eco-friendly gift and party line featuring 100% post-consumer recycled giftwrap, gift bags & gift card cases – also…Soy Ink printed and water-base coated paper tableware & napkins.

Melanie is having a Japanese fabric giveaway – in return for advice on a Fabric Lovers Guide to Tokyo guide book that she is working on.