Swap-o-rama-rama T-Shirt Transformations

Living in L.A. and looking for something to do this Sunday? You should stop by the Santa Monica Museum of Art from 2-5 and participate in the Swap-o-rama-rama T-Shirt Transformations! Bring a bag of t-shirts and admission is free for members of the museum, non-members pay $5 or $10 without a bag of shirts. You'll be able to take your pick from the shirts collected and a team of designers (myself included) will help you transform those shirts into one-of-a-kind creations. In addition to my applique station, there will be tote making, plushie creating, silk-screening and general alteration. Come on out and recycle with style!

Patchwork Recapwork

The Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival was this past Saturday. This was my 3rd time participating in this show and as always, it was awesome.

My booth was smack dab at the entrance to the Harvey's lot.


I have a tent, but I never use it. I like the way my stuff looks all out in the open. Consequently though, I have to endure the blazing sun all day. Sunscreen + water + sunglasses are a must. I forgot my sunglasses in the car but thankfully my switchboards/Flickr/Facebook/Twitter/craft show friend Shari watched my booth while I retrieved them.

Thanks Shari! It was a nice afternoon spent catching up with fellow crafters, seeing customers from former shows, meeting new people, and sending lots of kokoleos off into the O.C. I debuted a bunch of new eyeglass lens necklaces:

And sold several magnets and necktie accessories:

As part of what I called my "Recession Special" I reduced all bags and grownup clothes to 50% off and tossed a bunch of stuff in a $5 box. I know how much I like a bargains so I like to give some to my customers as well. It helps to get rid of old inventory and all those low dollar amounts add up. Speaking of bargains, I got these cool button rings from Tacos n Eggrolls:


$9 for both! A steal! I also scored a cool crafty handgun t-shirt from fellow vendor Steph of Hearts and Laserbeams. I won it last week simply by leaving a comment on her blog. I also won a Yelp! tote at the Yelp! booth for signing up for their mailing list and pulling out a winning Jenga block. (I didn't tell them that I sign up for their mailing list every time I see them at an event in hopes of winning a tote. I guess I can stop now.)

Yay for a great day, good sales, and cool new stuff!

Two free tickets to Maker Faire!

I can't make it to Maker Faire, but I've got these two tickets. Who wants them? The first person who replies and says he or she wants them, gets them. Free! (worth $50) But you can't sell them. You have to go.


Maker Faire is the world's largest DIY Festival, held at the San Mateo County Expo Center. These tickets are good for May 30 or 31. Unfortunately I've never been able to make it to one of their events, except for the mini version that was part of Felt Club one year. I've only ever heard great things though, so you should go. You'll see hundreds of people who make things making things on the spot, exhibiting the things they make, and teaching others how to make things, plus hundreds of did-it-themselves artists selling their goods. That sounds like my version of crafty heaven. It's sure to blow your mind.

So, any takers for 2 free tickets to Maker Faire?

PATCHWORK Indie Arts and Crafts Festival

What are you doing this Sunday from 11-5? If you're in the L.A./O.C. area, come check out PATCHWORK Indie Arts and Crafts Festival in Santa Ana.

Shop for one-of-a-kind never-seen-befores! Make your own buttons! Listen to live music! Eat! Support independent businesses and the the handmade community! Have fun!

Thrift Thursday - Beaucoup Buttons!

I got this giaganic glass container for $2 at a yard sale last week. I brought it home, cleaned it out, and filled it with my buttons which had previously been kept in various tins and boxes around my studio.

It's hard to see how big it is from that picture. Here are some more with McKenna beside it to show the scale.

It makes searching for buttons a little easier since I can see through the sides. Plus, I like plunging my hands into it and stirring all the buttons around and around. Mmmm, button soup.

Mom-made for McKenna

I made a few things for McKenna this week, like this Powerpuff Girls shirt:

She and Bubbles kind of look alike with their big blue eyes and pigtails (though the pigtails never last long before she pulls them out). McKenna is fearless like a Powerpuff Girl too, and hard to catch when she's zooming all around.

I also made her this dress, which is my new favorite creation:

It's composed of parts I got at various estate sales over the years and then set aside. This is why I don't get rid of stuff - because one day the right project comes along and all those pieces I was saving come together perfectly.

After I put it on her, she said, "Tankoo mommy" and gave me a kiss. Awwwww.

With the little elastic I had left, I made her this corsage:

Which she quickly yanked off and threw in the bushes. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Books!

I usually don't purchase craft books because I like to make my own stuff uninfluenced by others. I don't even like to follow store-bought patterns because I want to figure things out on my own. I'm stubborn like that when it comes to crafts. But when I know the person, it's different. I like to see the projects that I've seen in person all nicely photographed, read their instructions and hear them speaking to me, and admire how they brought all their hard work together into book form.

Saturday night I made a special trip to Reform School in Silverlake to attend Christine Haynes book party (and I won a raffle too, Yay!). She wrote Chic and Simple Sewing:

And it's awesome. The photography, the helpful hints, the pocket-o-patterns - they all make for a beautiful book. Her clothes are simple yet classy, sleek, and flattering. Plus, she's got a great sense of style. I'm honored to say I weathered many a craft show with Christine, and am happy to see her hit the big time.

I really need to remember to bring a decent camera to these events.

It seems a lot of people I know have recently published books. Jenny Ryan from Felt Club and Home Ec. published Sew Darn Cute, full of projects based on items from her Sew Darn Cute line. I went to her book party at Reform School a few months back and got her Jenny Hancock on my copy.

The perfectness of her stitches amazes me and she chooses the best fabric for her projects. It has a nice conversational style too so it seems like she's right there with you talking you through each project.

Another book party I went to last month at Handmade Galleries was for Kathy Cano-Murillo (see my last outing with her here). Her book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing:

is practically a polar opposite of Jenny and Christine's books, but is awesome in it's own right. Her work is bright and wild and bold with a Latina flava, and her projects serve as inspiration for the reader to find his or her own funky style. Kathy also has a novel (set in the craft world) coming out next spring entitled Waking Up in the Land of Glitter. Oh, and she has a line of glitter and other craft products - the woman is a crafty powerhouse!

Stephanie Calvert, Stacy McQueen, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Cathy Calahan, Jenny Ryan,
and me (sporting some Crafty Chica earrings I won.)

The next craft book I'm going to buy is Button It Up by Susan Beal,

but I'm waiting to get it when she comes back for an L.A. visit and has a book party. You should get it though, because it looks lovely. I loooves me some buttons.

Other Crafty Books you will want on your bookshelf:

Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design by Faythe Levine.
The Naughty Secretary Club Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry by Jennifer Perkins.
Tiny Yarn Animals: Amigurumi Friends to Make and Enjoy by Tamie Snow.
(more to come.)

All of these ladies are inspiring. For years I kept thinking that one-of-a-kinds were where it's at. I'm learning though, that while a one-of-a-kind is special and precious, showing someone how to make their own one-of-a-kind is empowering. I've been writing more tutorials and leading some crafty workshops for this reason, and have recently gotten a couple small publishing opportunities (which I won't discuss until I actually see them in print). Seeing your words printed for the masses is exciting! I've learned though, that the first rule of writing a book is don't tell anyone about the book you're writing, at least not until it's almost done. Therefore, I won't be discussing my book, but look for it on bookshelves in 10-20 years!

I've discovered through Facebook (am I talking about Facebook too much?) that I have other friends who've recently published books also. I haven't had the chance to pick them up yet so I can't give a proper review, but if they're anything like the people who wrote them, then I'm sure they're awesome.

My former Appalachian studies professor and friend, Dr. Tate, wrote Power in the Blood: A Family Narrative:

Which "traces Linda Tate’s journey to rediscover the Cherokee-Appalachian branch of her family and provides an unflinching examination of the poverty, discrimination, and family violence that marked their lives." It looks pretty fascinating. I hope that hundreds of years from now my great great grandchildren write a book about me.

And another Shepherdstown friend and Martinsburg Journal alum Seth Muller recently published a book for young adults entitled Keepers of the Windclaw Chronicles.

It's about a Navajo girl's experiences in the Animal World. I can't wait to get it and read it with Sage. Sage isn't all that interested in things like sports and video games, but he loves to read and lately has been flying through novels. Sometimes, as soon as he finishes a book, he goes back to the beginning and reads it again.

My friend Karen writes books too. She's a celebrity among Canadian teenagers and her books are even taught in schools. I especially love her Haley Andromeda series (I'm even included in the thank you section of one of them). Check out all the books she's written on her website karenrivers.com.

What about you? What book is inspiring you right now? Do you have a book? If so, leave a comment and tell me about it and I'll add a link to it in this post. If you took the time to read my lil ole blog then I'll gladly promote your literary labor of love.

A cape and an apron

Reconnecting with old friends on Facebook has nearly doubled my commission business since last year. Plus, since friends are sharing pictures of their kokoleo stuff, their friends are finding out about kokoleo too and sending more business my way. Yay for social networking! Are you a fan of kokoleo? Become one on Facebook and you'll get a Facebook Fan discount, see the new stuff I'm working on, and find out about secret sales. Plus! I'll love you forever.

Speaking of Facebook friend commissions, I made this cape for my Shepherdstown friend Liz's daughter Drew (a.k.a. Super Drew).

Here's McKenna modelling it:

I'm now offering them as an option in my Personalized shop. Thanks for the inspiration Liz!

Another Facebook friend (and former ice hockey rival from Wheeling) commissioned me to make this reversible apron for her stepmom:


Her stepmom Robyn was best friends with my good friend Stewart's mom, who passed away from breast cancer last fall. Jenny wanted me to make an apron inspired by their friendship - one side would be for Robyn who owns the famous fresh fruit and veggie Wheeling establishment Jebbia's Market, and the other side would be Janie inspired. Anyone who knew Janie knew that her favorite things (besides her family) were hearts, gourmet food, wine and chocolate. She was the quintessential hostess who loved being surrounded by family and friends.

It ended up being one of the harder commissions I've done (even these paragraphs have been hard to write) not because the sewing was difficult, but because it made me sad. I kept having to step away from it. It took me a while to find the right fabric combination but finally, after my mom sent me the heart and chocolate print (pocket) fabric from her stash, it came together and I felt like it was something Janie would have loved. So, in honor of Mrs. Altmeyer, no more tears. Cheers! To good food and good friends.

Some recent personalized stuff. . .

I always have a list of names written on a dry erase board in my studio. It never fails, as soon as I cross off one name, another one takes its place.

Sometimes it's even for the same name I just finished.

Or for names I've done before, but in very different color schemes.

These were all names I've never done before:





You want to know something terrible? I've made hundreds of these things for kids I've never met, but I've never made one for my own kids. I made Sage a personalized shirt once, and they have monsters and lots of kokoleo clothes, but no banners or pillows. I keep meaning to make them each one but I'm usually too busy making them for other kids. What's the saying? The cobblers kids wear no shoes. My kids aren't that bad off. They wear shoes at least.

Thrift Thursday - a Gnome for our Home

Some days the thrift gods drop unexpected awesomeness in my path. Like this:

For $3.48! It's the kind of sweet deal that when you find it you hug it tight and make a beeline for the checkout before they have time to realize it should be more expensive. He's not your everyday stand-around gnome either, he's helpful! He's holding up a slice of tree trunk so we can use him as a table:

or stool:

And he does it all with a smile.

Welcome home happy gnome! We named him Mr. Awesome, Mossum for short.

How to make a Bunny (then a Kitty) Cake

One last Easter craft, brought to you by Sage.

I'm always surprised that there are some people who don't know how to make a bunny cake. I thought everyone did it at Easter time. I've been making them for as long as I can remember and now Sage is continuing the tradition. This year we used carrot cake (our great aunt Betty Crocker's recipe). Use the batter to make two round cakes and let them cool.

Then, cut one of the cakes like this:

And make those pieces the ears and the bow tie:

Then ice it and make a face with whatever you find in your cupboard. They come out different every time. Here's what Sage created this year:

We ate the bow tie and half of each ear first, then turned it into a Kitty Cake.

Later it became a smiley face. Right now it's Pac-Man.

Hope you had a happy Easter!