If you really want to scare yourself, witness the environmental impact of plastic bags on the environment globally. It’s staggering how many we use, and heartening to see that countries all over the world are banning them. We No Coast organizers want to help our shoppers opt out of disposable bags, so we are launching a new product offering this year - the recycled, reusable tote. The new No Coast Craft-o-rama tote is an earth friendly cloth tote made from Ecophab™ - an upcycled fabric made from 100% recycled pop bottles. As an added bonus, the print process is water based and doesn’t create toxic waste. As an even BIGGER bonus, the paper used in the image transferring process is recycled - now THAT’S Earth Friendly!

If you’re a vendor, please encourage your friends and family to bring reusable bags to the event this year. We can make a difference!

Truth be told, Zeichen Press owners Fran and Jen Shea didn’t start a letterpress intending to be the next Hallmark. Sure, Zeichen can be sweet, but when you’d rather be honest, borderline snarky, Zeichen’s notecards are refreshingly blunt. The 30-something sisters-in-law have backgrounds in design—Fran formerly an art director and Jen previously worked as an interior designer—and both had been stay-at-home moms prior to starting the press. The Shea sisters use an antique press to make bold, new statements such as “I’m glad you’re having a baby and I’m not.” If it’s true, why not say what you feel? www.zeichenpress. com

We here at No Coast headquarters think long and hard about how to ensure that our shoppers can find things for everyone on their holiday shopping list at our sale. One of the toughest to find is good gifts for the male species. After all, not too many men in our lives are big fans of knitted tea cozies or smelly candles. This year, I really think we did a good job in sniffing out some fantastic crafters of good gift ideas for guys. Here are a few of my favorites:

• For the boyfriend, how about a fantastic pin-up calendar or cityscape calendar made by poster artist Adam Turman?
• For your little Anglophile baby bro’ — a totally hip Union Jack shirt from Charlie and Sarah!
• For dad, a clever film canister by Marti Nelson.
• Great for all the hot rodsters on your list, a cool vinyl art piece by Nate’s Custom Sewing
• What I want to send my husband, the punker: a sweet punker postcard by Rar Rar Press.
• Another great boyfriend gift, a set of coasters featuring “social don’ts” from Zeichen Press
• For dad or grandpa, a beautiful Japanese woodblock-inspired stained glass window by Green Lantern Glass