Archive for the ‘Handcrafted’ Category

handmade inspiration: mini quilts on the Purl Bee

Friday, February 25th, 2011

I love these mini quilt ideas that are featured monthly on one of my favorite blogs, The Purl Bee.  Somehow the idea of making a full-size quilt seems quite intimidating, especially without a proper sewing space (not to mention the time involved), but these small sample-size pieces feel very inviting and doable.  I appreciate that they’re inspired by vintage quilts, and the fabrics, patterns and colors are just lovely.  On this snowy day in Colorado, making something that evokes *spring* feels just right.

CIRCULAR APPLIQUE

featuring Liberty of London Tana Lawn

COURTHOUSE STEPS

a traditional quilt block that takes its name from the stepped pattern it makes

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Firefly Promotional Pieces

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

This weekend marks the first Firefly Handmade Holiday Market to be held in Boulder.   I’ve been fortunate enough to volunteer my time to help with various elements of the event, including display booth design for BirdDog Press, compilation of burlap swag bags stuffed with goodies for all the participating vendors, and will be assigned wine-pouring duty during Friday night’s opening party (not a bad gig!).  Saturday and Sunday you will find me helping The Makerie with the Community Table they are sponsoring for the duration of the market.  In exchange I’ve been offered the opportunity to display some promotional pieces during the event, for both vendors and visitors.

I had a good supply of letterpress “tags” available from a previous project, so designed my promotional piece for the vendors around the tags.  The tags are made of three layers of paper: gray on the front with my logo pressed in silver, orange (sandwiched in the middle) and brown kraft on the back.  I found a printer who offers 100% recycled kraft board in their paper selection, and worked with them to produce 5×7 cards featuring a digital version of wood block type from BirdDog Press.  Tucked inside are informational postcards, and the package is wrapped with orange and white cotton string from The Twinery.

The postcards will be available on the Community Table, displayed in a vintage hardware drawer (it is orange and gray – how perfect) found on Three Potato Four.  Please come visit Firefly this weekend!

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Handmade for the Holidays

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

This year my recommendation for handmade holiday gifts is very simple: go to the Firefly Handmade Holiday Market!  Less than two weeks away, this three-day market will be host to over 60 indie makers and the variety is spectacular.  Stop by and enjoy some festive holiday shopping December 10th [5pm-9pm], 11th [10am-5pm] or 12th [10am-3pm] at 1904 Pearl Street in Boulder.  I will be volunteering at the Community Table, hosted by The Makerie – hope to see you there!

My five Firefly favorites (though it’s nearly impossible to choose):

custom vintage wood type stationery by BirdDog Press

repurposed tumblers from Bottlehood

hand-crocheted flapper-style hat by Fringe Outerwear

mixed media assemblage on old wood by Studio 22

the Beyond Bling collection by Amy J. Metals

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save the date: Firefly Handmade Holiday Market

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Please save the date(s) for the Firefly Handmade 2010 Holiday Market, taking place in Boulder and featuring 60+ Indie Makers.  If you live anywhere even remotely close to Boulder be sure not to miss this event.  We can’t wait!

December 10th, 5pm-9pm
December 11th, 10am-5pm
December 12th, 10am-3pm

60+ Indie Makers, Gifts for EVERYONE on your List!
Sandwiches & Snacks from Dish Gourmet
 Kids Craft Activities sponsored by Clementine Studio
 Community Table (we will be volunteering here) courtesy of the Makerie
 + Eco Gift Wrap from Lyziwraps and oh so much more!

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Handweavers Guild of Boulder

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

The Handweavers Guild of Boulder is putting on its 39th Annual Show and Sale from November 3 – 7, 2010 (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) at the Boulder County Fairgrounds (Hover Street and Nelson Road, Longmont).

Come enjoy this unique show and sale put on by over a hundred local artists. You’ll find items, both large and small, by weavers, knitters, bead artists, quilters, spinners, felters, basket makers, and more, including unique clothing, artwork, jewelry, ornaments and kitchen items! This free-admission show includes a juried exhibit of work by artists of national stature.

Admission and parking are free.

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My Maruca Loot – Fall 2010

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

After an extended hiatus from blogging to re-energize and get some projects built cheap viagra canada (and ride my bike in Tuscany), I am back with renewed focus and lots of ideas.  It seems fitting that my first post of the Fall season features the handmade, woven works of Maruca Design…some of you probably know by now that I love textiles, and someday – someday! – with any luck I’ll pull my floor loom out of storage, learn to spin fiber and start weaving again.  In the meantime, I’ve been focusing on drawing inspiration from the everyday things around me, in particular the colors, textures and light that Fall brings.  Along with work from my fellow makers.

On Friday I spent several hours at the Maruca Design studio here in Boulder.  Their annual sale provides a rare opportunity to poke around their fun workspace and purchase beautiful jacquard handbags at a seriously discounted rate.  They also have boxes of fabric scraps sold by the pound and yardage of woven fabrics in multiple patterns and colorways.  Heaven, right?  I had to resist buying fabrics for some yet-to-be-determined project, but I did make a mental note of everything there and how I could use it.

I couldn’t resist some of their handbags, however, so I stocked up for future holiday gifts, or maybe just to keep for myself…we’ll see.  If you missed the sale and want to purchase a Maruca bag locally, they are sold at the Boulder Arts Cooperative.  If you live elsewhere, Maruca has a list of vendors on their website.  Their bags can even be found in my hometown of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

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New from Waterworks: Grove Brickworks

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Waterworks just introduced a new surfaces collection and I’m loving it.  Baked from brown clay in kilns built in the 1920’s, Grove Brickworks possess an organic yet refined modern quality.

The collection’s texture is slightly rustic, creating planes rich in character.  In a modern palette of grays and blues both light and dark the Grove Brickworks field tile is perfect for bathrooms and kitchen backsplashes…and just about any other application you could dream up.  I’m working on a kitchen at this very moment that will be the perfect test case!

Visit Waterworks to learn more and see the full line of color options.

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As we celebrate Spring…

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

On April 1st Heath Ceramics will release a limited edition Summer Seasonal Collection.  As you probably know by literature review writing now, I love – okay, adore – everything that Heath Ceramics makes, and their their new Ocean Pacific pattern has me wishing for an unlimited budget (and space) to continue building my humble collection.

From Heath: the Seasonal concept gives us a chance to explore new colors, techniques and ideas without altering our standard line. We offer them in limited edition runs, as a way to explore our creativity, and push the limits of our design and manufacturing capabilities.

This season we bring you Ocean Pacific, a three-color pattern created by two glazes. It starts with aqua — each piece is hand-dipped. Once dry (within moments), the piece is dipped again, this time in zest yellow. In the area where the aqua and zest overlap, another vibrant yellow is created. The resulting pattern resembles the horizon line of the sea on a bright summer day — the inspiration palette for the 2010 Summer Collection.


AMAZING.  Maybe it’s crazy that these little pieces of art can fill my being with such joy, but I think that’s just it – everything Heath makes are objects of art.  Not to mention that I’m craving bright splashes of color following the subtle surroundings of winter.  Enjoy.

Posted in Handcrafted, Home Accessories, Inspiration | 2 Comments »

Haik Avanian’s ReKnit Project

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

I heard a piece on NPR’s All Things Considered recently entitled “Mother, Son Create a New Life For That Old Sweater.”  The story featured the ReKnit Project by graphic designer Haik Avanian.  As with many things I hear about on NPR, I had to learn more.  What I discovered: ReKnit is nothing short of fantastic.

From Haik:

Reknit was launched as a small project to share a resourceful family tradition with the world, and to encourage my mom to partake in her hobby more often. The project is based around the idea of reclaiming yarn from old clothes, and reknitting that yarn into something new and useful.  It’s a really simple form of re-using/re-purposing that can be very fun.

Folks interested in participating in the project send an old sweater and $30 to Haik’s mom, who then unravels the old sweater and knits it into something new.  January’s project was a scarf, February featured fingerless gloves and March’s hat project sold out in a day, from what I heard (they limit orders to 30 per month, because, as Haik says, he only has one mom).  On the ballot for April are a laptop case, a baby jacket, socks, or sweatbands.


Posted in Handcrafted, Inspiration, Lifestyle | 2 Comments »

Handmade for the Holidays

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

I always start off the holiday season with the best of intentions when it comes to making gifts for my loved ones.  Some earrings, a necklace or two, a few hand-knit scarves, no problem.  Until I look up and realize that Christmas is in a week and I haven’t even started on my gifts yet.  Out of necessity, I begin to modify my plans, simplify things, and look for items that allow that special handcrafted feel without requiring a week of very late nights to get everything done.

I suspect that I’m not alone in being overly ambitions, and felt a surge of joy when reading my favorite knitting blog today.  The Purl Bee has a posting titled “The Opulent Eleventh Hour Scarf.”  Rejoice!  Bulky yarn and big needles save the day.

eleventh-hour-scarf

Onto jewelry.  Carlentini Designs, owned by my good friend Catherine Pistone-Cooper, offers beautiful jewelry – still very much handmade, just not by me!  She works in semi-precious stones and hand-forged silver, and she takes custom orders.

cpc_necklace

And there is always the lovely customized vintage wood-type stationary made by Alli Bozeman of BirdDog Press…perfect for just about anyone.

bdp_1

bdp_2

And for something funky and unusual, I think these steel wire hangers for Tillandsias (a.k.a. “airplants”) are quite delightful, and in combination with a few airplants would make a gift I know that I (for one) would love.

airplant_1

Posted in Handcrafted, Lifestyle | 1 Comment »

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