The Fever of ’57 premiere in Seattle
May 30, 2007 at 2:33 pm | Posted in chatty, out and about, washington | 2 CommentsI’m very pleased to announce that a new documentary, The Fever of ’57 (based on my father-in-law Paul‘s excellent book, Sputnik: The Shock of the Century) is premiering at the Seattle International Film Festival this weekend. Andrew and I are going up for the Friday premiere and staying for the encore on Sunday, too. If you’re around, please join us at one of the shows:
Friday, June 1 at the SIFF Cinema, 7:00 pm
Sunday, June 3 at the Neptune Theatre, 11:00 am
Sputnik in orbit in 1957
Paul will also be at both screenings, along with the director, David Hoffman, and there will be a Q&A afterwards. I also spotted this interview with David Hoffman, which Zee Grega posted on Metroblogging Seattle this morning.
On the crafty side of things, I’m also excited to check out the art show at McLeod and see my friends Maggie, Daphne and Karen. I love Seattle, and I haven’t been up there in forever! If there’s anything else I better check out, let me know…
a Super Crafty week in Portland + a new yarn, too
May 30, 2007 at 1:39 pm | Posted in crafty events, oregon | 1 CommentThe ladies of Portland Super Crafty and I are beyond excited to announce that Vickie Howell named one of her brand-new yarns in the CRAFT line after us! It was so sweet of her to think of us, and she gave us such a gorgeous color, too — very superhero-y. Her CRAFT yarns are all 35% milk fiber/65% organic cotton, perfect for warm-weather knitting. Torie, Cathy, Rachel and I are all thrilled! The new colors premiere this summer, I can’t wait.
the first Super Crafty swatch, knit up by Vickie herself!
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an especially skilled knitter, but now that I have a new favorite yarn I will re-dedicate myself to the craft… that would be great for baby things, or the Market Bag on Vickie’s site. And then I’ve been wanting to learn to crochet, especially after seeing Linda‘s pretty designs. Okay, it’s a plan then.
In the meantime, there is a lot of cool crafty stuff going on in Portland over the next week — here’s a heads up:
PDX Super Crafty is teaching three more free craft classes at the library in the next few days, please mark your calendars and come hang out with us! Register for any or all of them online or by calling the library at 503.988.5234.
Midland, Sunday, June 3, 2-3:30 p.m.: shrines
Hollywood, June 5, 6-7:30 p.m.: shrines
Rockwood, June 6, 6-7:30 p.m.: paper and fabric jewelry
We had a great time at the Northwest library craft-in last Sunday (after stopping by the big crafty swap, of course). People made all kinds of amazing matchbox shrines! We were really wowed. Torie made a special one for her grandfather’s birthday, and I put this monkey shrine together for a certain nephew of mine:
It was so fun — thanks again to the Multnomah County Library for being so crafty, and generously hosting us.
And then of course, Sunday is also the lov.li craft fair — don’t miss it!
Torie will be giving a talk on crafty business, which is exclusively for lov.li members before the fair officially opens to the public at 11, and then from 2:45-4:00, Carye will be demoing the mini-letterpress for the IPRC. There are dozens of vendors selling cool handmade stuff, plus cocktails (this is 21+ by the way), a DJ, a free crafty table, and a raffle. I will be there in spirit… but sadly, I’m missing all the PDX weekend awesomeness for a trip to Seattle — more on that shortly, it’s for a good reason!
Craft in America on PBS
May 29, 2007 at 1:59 pm | Posted in crafty events | 2 CommentsPBS is airing a new three-part, three-hour documentary, CRAFT IN AMERICA: Memory, Landscape, Community, tomorrow night and I can’t wait to see it. What a nice treat — especially on my first Wednesday without LOST to look forward to! Here in Portland it’s airing from 8 to 11 pm, but check your local PBS schedule to see when it’s on in your city. Each part of the series focuses on a different aspect of craft, and just from the descriptions, I’m most excited about the third hour, Community:
Throughout time, craft work has been a community activity. This hour will focus on the spiritual connection artists have to their communities through craft making. Some express the ideas, beliefs and desires of their community through their craft objects. Some pay homage to the community by continuing craft traditions that are in danger of being lost. Others actually perform their craft as a community project. The personal stories of gifted artists and passionate newcomers alike reveal the deeply held belief that craft is about more than just the making of an object – it is also about a way of life, a reason for being.
You can see a preview here and there’s lots more information on the documentary here.
Even more exciting is the news that the Museum of Contemporary Craft will be exhibiting the companion visual show, CRAFT IN AMERICA: Expanding Traditions, as their premier exhibit when they reopen in their new Northwest Portland space in July. The show is currently in Arkansas, and will also travel to San Diego, Houston, Oklahoma City, and Palm Springs (along with several other cities) through 2009.
There will also be a companion book published in the fall, CRAFT IN AMERICA: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects, which looks amazing too.
ps: I’m having annoying wireless issues, so sorry about the lack of visuals…
stop the presses! sale at ReForm School!
May 25, 2007 at 4:10 pm | Posted in california, crafty events | Leave a commentI really wish I could be in two places at once… I just found out that the ladies of ReForm School are having a sale this weekend, too!
Here’s the info:
Just a quick note to let you all know about a Memorial Day sale we are having this weekend. Take 15% off EVERYTHING in the shop this Saturday through Monday, including previously marked down merchandise. Stop in on your way out of town for a new Freitag travel case or pick up a Shim & Sons apron set for your holiday barbecue. Take advantage of the great weather & the great discounts.
Also, stay tuned for the launch of our brand-new web shop, due to open in a few weeks…
I can’t wait to see their new website, and since they just got back from the stationery show in New York, I’m sure they will have some incredible finds for sale soon! Billie and Tootie have the best eye for cool stuff.
Crafty announcements round-up: Austin and Portland
May 25, 2007 at 1:55 pm | Posted in crafty events, oregon, out and about | 2 Comments
So I just heard that applications went up for the November Stitch Austin show! Jennifer says, “Last year Stitch had over 3,000 people attend and we sold out the Austin Music Hall. This November 10th will be Stitch’s 5-year anniversary and we are going to be there again — they have expanded so things are going to be even bigger and better. More make and take booths, awesome DJ’s, a podcast hosted by Vickie Howell, an afterparty that is going to rock your face off, the Indie Business start up grant is back with even more perks, and of course the 500 goodie bags.”
You have until August 15 to apply for a spot in the craft bazaar or the runway… or take a look at some pictures from the last four years for inspiration!
On the Portland side of things, Carye Bye of Red Bat Press is leading her latest Small Museums by Bike Tour tomorrow. It sounds like a lot of fun…
postcard by Carye Bye
Carye says, “This tour will visit book arts shows at the Central Library & the New American Art Union. Also we’ll have a DIY workshop at the Independent Publishing Resource Center learning simple book-binding and a chance to pull a print on the letterpress.”
Book Arts & Fine Press Bike Ride in the SW Park Blocks – meet at the North End at Salmon & Park, Portland, Oregon
12:45 pm (3.5 – 4 hour bike tour), Saturday, May 26
Carye’s past tours have included stops at the Cal Skate Museum, Velveteria, and the Contemporary Crafts Museum. Stop by her website and jump on her mailing list if you want to join in the bike tours!
I went to the Cool Cottons sale today and scored some nice prints from the sale room… don’t miss it! I got enough fabric to make two dresses, one in a Mendhi pattern from FunQuilts (this one, actually), and one yellow-and-gray flower print from King’s Road, both on sale, and a half-yard of Katie Jump Rope just because. I can’t wait to sew with them!
But another of my favorite Portland shops is having a sale this weekend, too… have you been to Office on Alberta?
Like Cool Cottons, they’re making room for some new stuff: their finds at the New York Stationary Show last weekend. Exciting!
Memorial Day weekend sale at Cool Cottons
May 24, 2007 at 12:07 pm | Posted in crafty events, oregon | Leave a commentI got an e-mail this week that Cool Cottons is having a big sale all weekend — buy two yards of over 50 of their fabrics and get a third yard (priced the same or less) free! The sale includes prints from Free Spirit, Kaffe Fassett, and Hoffmann. Three yards is the perfect amount for sewing a dress… hmm. I think I’ll be walking over tomorrow! The other cool thing is that the entire reason they’re having the sale is to make room for all their fresh new summer stuff, which I can’t wait to see.
The sale runs from Friday the 25th through Monday the 28th, so mark your calendars — and don’t forget to stop by the craft supply swap and our shrine-making workshop on Sunday, too!
If you go:
Cool Cottons
2417 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, 97214
503-232-0417
p.s. I decided to hold off on writing up Maker Faire for just a couple more days, since Natalie generously offered to send me a DVD of all her pictures from the weekend to add to mine. I’ll let you know here when it’s up!
Speaking of Maker Faire, I am trying my best to swing going to Austin for the next one — October 20 and 21. I have never been to Texas at all, and it would be so awesome to hang out with Jennifer, Jenny, Julie, and all the Lone Star crafters. Anyone else planning on it?
vintage dresses and vegetarian food in Berkeley
May 23, 2007 at 12:14 pm | Posted in california, vintage crafty | 6 CommentsI’m back in Portland after almost a week in the Bay Area, and still sorting through my zillions of pictures from this weekend. I’m planning to have those and a Maker Faire post up by tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can check out some amazing photos from Nancy, Jenny, Bonnie, and lots of other crafters via Natalie’s round-up on the CRAFT blog. It really was such a spectacle! I’m so glad I got to go.
Yesterday, just before I left town, I met up with Nicole for some crafty East Bay action. We went to Stop the Clock Vintage first — isn’t it handy that they just happened to be having a 40% off sale?
I found a cute splashy 60s flowered shift and Nic got a pretty pink skirt. I was really tempted to keep shopping, but since my suitcase was already jam-packed with Bazaar Bizarre and post-jewelry-demo stuff, I had to draw a line in the sand and stick to it.
The shop is adorable — lots of colorful vintage for men and women, plus some new costume-y stuff and sunglasses in the mix. They also have gorgeous carved Bakelite jewelry and really nice handbags, and lots of elegant black-and-white movie-style shoes.
I thought Nicole looked so cute and vintage-y that I made her jump into one photo!
And the bonus is that the shop is a block from my favorite Chinese restaurant in Berkeley, Long Life Vegi, so you can get a $4.50 lunch special after you browse all your vintage favorites…
If you go:
Stop the Clock Vintage
2110 Addison Street, Berkeley
(510) 841-2142
(40% off sale through June 2)
Long Life Vegi House
2129 University Avenue, Berkeley
(510) 845-6072
Craft Supply Swap and Super Crafty Love-In in Portland this weekend
May 21, 2007 at 7:58 am | Posted in crafty events, oregon, recycled crafty | 3 CommentsI’m in Berkeley, recovering from two amazing, crazy days at Maker Faire and Bazaar Bizarre… I just collapsed after I got home last night. I took 200 pictures, taught two workshops, bought some really cool handmade stuff, and hung out with lots of great crafty people. More on this in a couple of days — I’ll be writing it up for whip-up mid-week, with plenty of photos!
In the meantime, here’s a heads up about some cool Portland stuff going on. This upcoming Sunday, May 27, there are two crafty events to hit if you’re interested in crossing town — I think it will be a fun afternoon!
From 11-4, Sister Diane of Church of Craft will be hosting a craft supply swap at One Hundredth Monkey Studio (110 SE 16th Ave.). I’ll be there at the beginning for sure, it sounds great. I certainly have one or two things to donate, too.
And from 2-3:30, the girls of Portland Super Crafty and I will be leading a free shrine-making workshop at the Northwest Portland Library (2300 NW Thurman St.). Register online, in the library, or by calling 503.988.5234. I’d love to see you there! (We’re doing five more crafty events this summer, and Diane is doing six, so mark your calendars now!)
Cathy Pitters‘ Forget-Me-Not Shrine, from Super Crafty
More info on the crafty swap:
Hi, Crafters -
I hope you’re coming by the Craft Supply Swap this weekend!
Here are some details for you:
- Please bring any art or craft materials that you aren’t using
anymore. We’re open to pretty much everything — paints, fabrics, yarn, beads,
buttons, pens and pencils, clay, paper . . . .
The only stuff we’re not looking for are those random cast-off things
you’ve been hanging onto in case that perfect project comes along. You
know . . . those paper-towel tubes and the guts of that old transistor
radio.
- There is no admission fee for this event. We do ask that you bring
something to swap. The 100th Monkey Studio will have a collection jar to
take donations for their Art Scholarship fund, in case you’d like to
donate a bit.
- You are welcome to take any art or craft materials you can use from
the swap. We’re not placing limits on what people take, but we hope
everyone will respect that this is a community event, and leave plenty for
everyone else. We are donating a large portion of the leftover material
to Outside In.
- We will have three free craft tables going on during the day, so you
can also hang out and make stuff:
From 11:00 – 1:00, we’ll be making Fabric Scrap Flower Pins.
From 1:00 – 3:00, we’ll be making Refrigerator Magnets, using all kinds
of found objects.
And from 3:00 – 4:00, we’ll be making Fused Fabric Greeting Cards.
panels, paella and margaritas at Maker Day
May 17, 2007 at 9:30 pm | Posted in california, crafty events, I love to make things... | 5 CommentsI just got back to Berkeley after a super fun afternoon at Maker Day. Jenny and I were on a panel with Carla of CRAFT and Jeffrey and Jillian of Because We Can, all chatting about modern crafting. I was a bit nervous but it was very cool! Then we headed outside to hang out in the sunshine with Nancy, Natalie and Cathy…
…and then an exceptionally clever Maker set up his reverse-engineered handmade margarita machine* right next to our table, and offered us the first ones to taste-test, so that was a nice bonus.
We all had paella for dinner… there were three huge vats of this amazing stuff, enough to feed a couple of hundred people. It was delicious!
Tomorrow I’ll be out and about in San Francisco, and definitely stopping at Doe and Beyond Beads before Lotta Jansdotter’s book party. And now that I’m here, I’m really getting excited about my jewelry-making workshops this weekend. I made plenty of sample pieces in different colors and styles on the BART ride down to San Mateo today. Natalie kindly posted about them this afternoon, and she also snapped this picture of me wearing a necklace and earrings set just like the ones you can make yourself if you come by this weekend! I brought lots of vintage beads along so you can pick and choose your favorites for your pieces. This olive green-and-red mix reminds me of a martini… and even though I don’t really like martinis I love the color combination.
So, please swing by Demo Area 1 on Saturday at 3 or Sunday at 11:15, or say hi if you’re just wandering around the fair. I’ll be the girl in the sparkly jewelry and black v-neck t-shirt (I brought four with me to keep things simple!) taking pictures of everything.
One more thing: starting next week, I’ll be contributing to whip-up every now and then, which I’m thrilled about. For my first post, I’ll be writing about all the goings-on at Maker Faire, with plenty of photos.
*cooler + garbage disposal + ingenuity = perfect slushy margaritas!
my jewelry workshops this weekend at Maker Faire
May 16, 2007 at 10:15 am | Posted in california, crafty events | 5 CommentsI’m leaving for the Bay Area in a couple of hours — I can’t wait! I’ll be at Maker Faire all weekend, and teaching two jewelry-making workshops, one each day.
The demos are free, but if you want to make up a sparkly necklace and earrings set, you can buy a little kit of choose-your-own vintage beads, findings and instructions. I’d love to see you if you’ll be at the event! Please stop by either of them if you have time, they’re both at Craft Demo Area 1…
Sat., May 19 — 3:00 – 3:30 — Make Your Own Bead Jewelry
Sun., May 20 — 11:15 – 11:45 — Make Your Own Bead Jewelry
Some of the demos I’m really excited to check out are Cecily Keim’s granny square and 3D object crochet workshops, Bonnie Burton’s make-your-own-Yoda-doll, Nancy Flynn’s tote bag and tank top classes, Tricia Royal’s Wardrobe Remix event, and Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing demo. And then there’s Swap-O-Rama-Rama and the ArtCar Fest that my friend Jo will be showing Bruce at, too! A full schedule for the weekend is here.
And then of course there’s Bazaar Bizarre! My friends Cathy of Bossa Nova Baby, Jenna of Woolies, Cathy of California, and Deborah of Chic Cosas will all be there along with hundreds of other vendors. Hope to see you there!
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