Craftzine.com blog: Bazaar Archives

Bazaar Archive: Bazaar

December 1, 2008

Build: LED Clock Kit

I needed a clock for a top secret project (coming soon) so I decided to put together the LED Clock Kit from the Maker Shed. The LED clock is put together by twisting wires together and doesn't require any soldering, which makes it an easy beginner electronics project. Since the box has a picture of a father and son making it on the cover, I decided to make my dad put it together with me over Thanksgiving.

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November 28, 2008

Build: Crafty Alien Knitted Felted Hedgehog

Patti and I must be on the same wavelength because this week she posted the Crafty Alien Raccoon and today I present my build of the Crafty Alien Hedgehog. This kit would be the perfect project to do with a young aspiring crafter. It has just a little knitting, a little felting and a little embroidery. I must confess that my crafts are predominantly knitting and sewing so I had never felted or embroidered anything. I appreciated that the kit included the major ingredients and un-intimidating instructions. The knitting part was really simple, but I made the mistake of forgetting which part was the head and which was the body. For a first time felter, this project was really easy. You fill a container with warm water and a little soap and squeeze the knitted pieces under the water for about 20 minutes. I had a little more trouble with the embroidery and despite some web research, I think I need a bit more practice.

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November 26, 2008

Build: Crafty Alien Knitted Felted Raccoon

One of my favorite things about going to Maker Faire is the Maker Shed, where you can covet all the kits and books in person - it always amazes me to see a huge empty room transformed into one of the coolest stores ever! I got the Crafty Alien Raccoon kit in Austin. I knew it was cute; I wanted to see how it was to make. I think it would be a great gift, either the kit for someone crafty, or make it yourself and give away the little critter!

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November 21, 2008

Chronicle Books Sale

Our friends at Chronicle Books are having a great sale through December 5--just use promo code FRIENDS for 35% off and free shipping.

November 20, 2008

Robot Screenprints

Spotted in the CRAFT Flickr pool: Growbots just posted some group shots of these new robot screenprints they made for their Etsy shop. Fun!

Knit a Singer-Songwriter!

Spotted in the CRAFT Flickr pool: Caffaknitted was commissioned to create this knitted portrait of UK singer/songwriter Jess Lewin for her CD cover. Now Caffaknitted is offering the pattern in her Etsy shop too--it even includes templates for the little felt guitar and eyeballs!

November 19, 2008

Vintage Doily Clocks

Katie Runnels posts about these wonderful clocks created by Etsy seller and furthermore, which are made from wooden disks and vintage soft plastic doilies. They really pack a graphic punch!

November 14, 2008

Art Swap at Arizona State University

Here's a fun event happening this Sunday if you're in or around Phoenix, AZ: Current and former grad students in art are bringing work for sale and trade in celebration of clearing out their studios and celebrating art giving for the holidays. From the flyer:

Prints! Drawings! Photographs! Ceramics! Sculpture! Paintings! EPHEMERA! Oh MY!
Current and Former ASU Art Graduate Students are clearing out their studios and letting go of their originals at bargain basement prices for one day only!

Fine Art Swap Meet
Sunday, November 16th, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Neeb Plaza, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

No entry fee. Cash, check & paypal payment accepted. Come early for the best selection!

Featured Artists:
Mindy Sue Meyers
Corie Cole
Marco Rosichelli
Jana Evans
Nick DeFord
Melissa McGurgan
Peter Bugg
Ryan P. Miller
Becky Stern
Ellie Richards
Chad White
Arius Elvikis

Snatch up some amazing deals before the Holidays! We hope to see you at the Swap!

City Sampler: Portland, OR

The new City Sampler from Portland, Oregon was coordinated by Portland Independent Artisans Cooperative (PDXindie) for the Sampler. They grabbed items from 20 Portland artists to create 100 boxes. Here are a few of my personal favorites from the collection:

cute Robo Dino sticker from Lolly-Tots
little glass mobile from Leah Pellegrini
recycled marble thumbtacks from TaDah!
Portland denim patch by Salmon Street Studio
organic catnip slugs by Trillium Artisans

November 10, 2008

Migration Sale @ Happy Owl Glassworks

I've been a fan of Happy Owl Glassworks for a long time, and was excited to see they're currently having a "Migration Sale"--all bird-themed items are 30% off! The sale lasts until Friday, November 14, so hop to it.

October 30, 2008

ReForm School Moving Sale

My favorite art/craft/design shop in L.A., ReForm School, is relocating to a larger storefront and is having an online sale to celebrate. Since their physical doors are closed until next Tuesday, you can get 15% off all online purchases until they reopen. You can read more about their move in their guest post on design*sponge, or check out their own blog here. (Full disclosure: I'm teaching how-to classes there starting in January 2009!) Here's the scoop on the new location:

ReForm School
3902 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029

October 29, 2008

Hikje's Etsy Shop

I was doing some browsing on Etsy and came across Hikje's shop. There's something very appealing about the angular, cartoony offerings therein. I especially love these twine-wrapped cranes (wrecking balls?) built from string and cardboard.

October 26, 2008

Holiday Artisan Fair at the De Young Museum in San Francisco Nov 21-22

If you are in the Bay Area, don't miss the second annual Holiday Artisan Fair 2008 at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park San Francisco on November 21 and 22. This festive seasonal event offers distinctive pieces from tabletop to textiles that make for artful gifting. The Fair will feature the work of seventeen of the Bay Area's finest artisans, as well as an expanded selection of unique gifts, books, objects and jewelry from noted designers and publishers featured in the Museum Store. The Fair will be held in the de Young's Piazzoni Murals Room. Admission is free, and FAMSF members will receive a 10% discount on all purchases. I got a chance to see a small preview at the De Young last month and you can see the photos in my Flickr photo set. Pictured above is artist Hiroko Kurihara and her handmade home decor and accessories. Each time a product is purchased from her, a blanket or scarf is donated to someone who is homeless or a tree is planted for community sustainability.

De Young Museum
Golden Gate Park
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118

Friday, November 21, Noon-8:30 PM
Saturday, November 22, 9:30 AM-4:30 PM

October 24, 2008

Interview with Fashion Designer Daniel Vosovic of Fashion Inside Out + Book Giveaway

Fashion Inside Out: Daniel V's Guide to How Style Happens from Inspiration to Runway and Beyond by Daniel Vosovic
Pre-Order on Amazon ($19.77, available Oct 28th)
Daniel Vosovic's Web Site
Daniel Vosovic's Project Runway Blog

I think most of you know by now how much of a Project Runway junkie I am. My favorite season has to be Season 2, since that's how I've come to know over the years Diana Eng and Chloe Dao. Now, I am extra excited to get a chance to talk to another Project Runway Season 2 alum, fashion designer Daniel Vosovic. Daniel's got a brand new fashion book due out next Tuesday, October 28th aptly titled, Fashion Inside Out: Daniel V's Guide to How Style Happens from Inspiration to Runway and Beyond. First off, the book is beautifully designed with gorgeous photography. Yet, it's more than just a book to look through -- it's really a comprehensive guide on how to create your own fashions -- from inspiration and design, to the technical process of pattern-making and sewing, and finally selling your work to a client and taking it down the runway. Interspersed in the book are Q&A's from industry professionals too. I love the many tips that Daniel adds throughout the book from drawing croquis to great pressing techniques for various fabrics. My favorite section if I had to choose, is "The Execution: Creating a Garment" where he discusses the "rub-off" technique -- a way to create patterns for your garment with out having to start from scratch. You'll also learn a lot about draping, something I've been interested in knowing more about for a long time. I could go on and on about this book but you'll just need to see it for yourself! There's really never been such a fashion design book like this before. It's an inspirational guide + reference book that will help any crafty fashionista take their design and sewing skills to the next level.

One lucky CRAFT reader will get a copy of Daniel's new book! Just leave a comment to this post and tell us why you need this book. Please make sure your email address is in the email form field (not comment body) so we can contact you if you win. All comments will be closed by Noon PST on Saturday, October 25th. The lucky winners will be announced on Sunday evening on the CRAFT blog. Good luck!

Now, let's find out more about Daniel Vosovic in our CRAFT interview!

Natalie: Your new book, Fashion Inside Out, is one of the most comprehensive books on the fashion design process I've ever read. What was the inspiration behind writing it?

Daniel: A huge inspiration was the fact that I had never seen anything else like it on bookshelves... anywhere. Having gone through years of structured design education, I was taught many things by many different designers and professors, but a lot of my education focused more on technique, rather than how to harness an actual idea and growing it from there. Without getting too philosophical, I wanted to provoke people into creating something solely from an idea's conception, or at least showing them how I do it.

Natalie: How do you find inspiration before you design a collection?

Daniel: I have to sort of turn a visual and mental valve in my head on and off. I wish I could wander around month after month simply spitting ideas out left and right, or scribbling in my notebook, but eventually I reach a time in the design process where I need to "shut it off" and focus on moving the design forward.

Natalie: If you could narrow it down to two, what in your opinion are the key sewing or production techniques that every aspiring designer should know?

Daniel: Knowing how to alter/check your own patterns for necessary alterations: armhole ease, cap adjustment, twisting seams, etc. Also, knowing how to use a seam ripper properly - I couldn't live without mine when I first began haha!

Natalie: How would you describe your experience being on Project Runway?

Daniel: Exhausting but fruitful. If anything, at least I can sit down 30 years from now and have amazing memories documented of a very intense experience in my life.

Natalie: Are there any new or upcoming projects you are working on that you can share with us?

Daniel: Aside from working on this book since June 2007 and heading out on a national book tour, launching a successful clothing line for over 150 NYLO Hotels that consists of sleek men's and women's separates as well as a handbag & luggage line, the continued groundwork of my own label (launching soon!), the occasional dress for young Hollywood, collaborating with different TV shows like Lipstick Jungle, weekly blogs on bravotv.com and of course the obligatory dress for a family member or friend in need... no, that's about it. :)

I'm just anxious to get back into a design room and get this book in your hands already!

And now, Daniel answers questions from CRAFT readers:

Kristine: What did you find was the most difficult part of marketing yourself and your work?

Daniel: Self-promotion is undoubtedly a needed part of being a designer in today's industry. Yes, there are those designers who are more in the mainstream's eye, but even those behind the scenes must exude confidence in their work at all times. It is hard to always be happy or supportive of ALL of your work, but personally, I've tried to choose an array of projects that I love and feel proud to support, showcasing finished products that I know represent me as a designer.

Celiana: Are there any past trends making a comeback now that you hate (or don't particularly love?) When that happens, how do you bring yourself to incorporate that trend into your designs if the trend itself does not really inspire you?

Daniel: My ultimate hatred in street wear comes in the form of cut-off tights, ESPECIALLY when they're worn as pants with just a top thrown on. 1) Most women would (or shouldn't) wear garments that cut them off at the calf, which usually makes them look quite stumpy 2) Most women wouldn't go out of the house in just a pair of panties, which essentially is what all of us have to look at when a girl is walking in front of us because there is no support for her derriere! Great - now I'm getting all heated!

Fontgoddess: What are your thoughts on balancing the creative [DIY] with the curatorial [choosing pieces made/designed by others] aspects of fashion? How do you think they mesh for a person interested in creating their own style and fashion in their personal wardrobe?

Daniel: Great question. My personal style consists of low and high-end pieces: t-shirts from Uniqlo and jackets from Marc Jacobs, and I think that's how more and more people today are dressing. Even the die-hard fashionistas rarely wear one designer head to toe, day after day, and instead opt to mix-n-match to make their look a bit more personal. If you're having trouble finding, say a skirt with some personality to it for the price you want to pay, than opt to give it a try on your own sewing machine, and I guarantee that it will make those 2-year old shoes you can't afford to upgrade just yet, look a lot more special; What's the point of designing something if it's not going to be new or improved upon?

Fontgoddess: High fashion frequently seems either unattainable or impractical for much of the population. How do you, as a fashion designer, balance the fantastical fashion that inspires and the practical fashion that a person can wear in their daily life? How do you see others in your industry dealing with that balance?

Daniel: It's definitely an important balance in a designer's career: balancing aspirational designs with those that can be worn on a regular basis. This becomes logistically easier as a designer's collection grows, as they're able to offer a wider range of designs to better encapsulate all of their client's needs. Also, secondary lines or capsule collections have become huge cash cows for designers, allowing them to reach a much larger demographic while still keeping the integrity of their main collection. However, that being said, there is definitely a time and place when that happens. For where I am in my own career, I don't have the capabilities, or the desire, to provide something for everyone. A designer must know their strengths and capitalize on them, get the designs out there and hopefully people will find them soon enough. One doesn't go to the GAP for a cocktail dress the same way most people don't go to Vuitton for undershirts.

Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu | Oct 24, 2008 12:00 PM
Bazaar, Fashion, Interviews | Permalink | Email Entry | TrackBack

October 22, 2008

My Aunt Debbie

I'm not sure how I even came across the My Aunt Debbie shop, but it's a load of fun--colorful, clever, and kitschy. Her offerings run the gamut from jewelry to clothing to housewares, with all of it made from repurposed and thrifted materials combined in new ways. Some of my favorite items in her shop include the Granny Chic Crochet Belt (pictured above), created from rescued thrifted crochet squares and vintage buttons...

The Vintage Thimble Necklace, fashioned from vintage thimbles (duh) and shiny black snaps...

And the Tennis Bug Coffee Cozy, stitched from a thrifted, felted sweater and a vintage patch.

October 17, 2008

Book Review - Art of the Slow Cooker by Andrew Schloss

I love to cook but lately being very pregnant, I find that I'm trying to find quick solutions for dinner that's not the typical pasta or salad. Enter in the book, Art of the Slow Cooker: 80 Exciting New Recipes by Andrew Schloss (published by Chronicle Books). I tried my hand at two recipes, The Pork Sirlion Roast (pictured below) and the Beef Stew Provencal. Both took me less than 30 minutes to prep. Within 6 hours, dinner was ready without much effort on my part. During that time, the house was filled with the tantalizing aroma of food cooking. (Don't you just love that?) The recipes weren't just delicious, they were amazing! The pork roast and beef stew were not the usual fare -- they had a flavor like nothing else I had ever tasted thanks to Schloss' detailed recipes filled with fresh herbs, spices, and special ingredients. I also liked that my husband went back for seconds each time (a rarity in our house). With winter coming upon us soon, the recipes in this book will be perfect when you want to stay warm from the cold outside. It's also a great way to prepare a meal for lots of people without much effort. Again, can I mention there's really not much effort involved? Well worth it for the taste of such good food.

Oh and I had no idea you could also make dessert in a slow cooker. The book has numerous dessert recipes and the next one I will try has to be the Ricotta Vanilla Bread Pudding. Mmm.... Now go and get this book so your friends and family can be wowed by your amazing culinary skills!

October 14, 2008

Skull Projects with Noah Scalin (Video)

Noah Scalin of SkullADay.com and the upcoming book, Skulls, joins Martha to show off some of his skull projects from the blog and book. He also crafts with Martha to make a skull potato stamp in these videos from the Martha Stewart Show.

October 13, 2008

Ply Textile's Modern Doilies

I really love these "modern doilies" from Ply Textiles, which are created by stitching together hexagon shapes from re-purposed wool sweaters. There's something modern and earthy about them at the same time.

October 10, 2008

Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner Sweepstakes

I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Anna Maria Horner's new book, Seams to Me. Enter the "Sew Like a Pro" sweepstakes for your chance to win a SINGER® sewing machine, a signed copy of the book, fabric from FreeSpirit, thread and more! Check out Anna Maria's blog for more info.

October 7, 2008

Handmade Nation Embroidery Patterns

I'm so excited that Sublime Stitching has teamed up with Handmade Nation to release this limited edition pack of fundraising embroidery transfer patterns!

Faythe Levine's Handmade Nation is an upcoming documentary about the DIY movement (a subject we like). This set of desgins by artist Kate Bingaman Burt features movie cameras and her famous, hand-styled typography shouting out all regions of the crafty USofA.

Get 'em while they're hot!

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Fashioning Technology by Suyzi Pakhchyan

Take your craft projects to the next level with "smart" materials where you can create accessories, housewares, and toys that light up, make sounds, or do even more! Available now in the Maker Shed.

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