My good friend Tobias Fröberg's sophomore album "Somewhere in the City" is a contemporary Mamas & Papas (without the Mamas) or a less Pacific Ocean, more Baltic Sea, update of the Beach Boys. For the next 2 months, he'll be schlepping his sideburns around the US and the UK. Check him out and take a listen.
Recent work by artist Scott Oliver transforms the various materials found inside an old overstuffed armchair into a mountainous landscape. Part of a group show, entitled "Furnishing Assumptions," at Rena Bransten Gallery in San Francisco, this piece appeals to the frugal scrap-saver in me. Each material mined from the innards of the chair is used in a way that transforms its unique color, texture and form into the convincing details of mountain rock face and scrubby brush. Though the average viewer may not recognize it, the landscape depicted is the Hetch Hetchy Valley, the controversial site of San Francisco's water reservoir. The gallery has produced a short video about the the group show - featuring Oliver's piece about midway through.
Crafty Leftovers is a very cool idea from Kristin Roach. We all have bits and bobs of leftover craft materials from our various projects. Can't bear to throw them away, but then again, what can you actually DO with all these little pieces of fabric, yarn, ribbon, etc?
Well, Kristin has designed a whole series of craft projects around using up these leftovers. She posts a new project tutorial on her website every other week. You can enter a drawing to win the Crafty Leftovers kit of your choice -- just post a comment to the site within two weeks of each new project post.
Through this very cool site, WholeLife Mastery: Daily Arting/Crafting Challenges Online, I found this site: Wednesday Stamper, which features a new challenge for the stamp artist every Wednesday. The hope is that you'll break out your rubber stamps and make some art, and then share what you've created. This online project is run by Belinda Schneider and Christine Baier.
I've been reading a book called "Meditation For Wimps" to help me unwind. Embroidering is still my favorite way to relax, but I'm trying new things too. Like the modifiable mantra of "I am ____". Lately, "I am making beautiful things" has been my soothing thought. It seems that crafting and spirituality go hand in hand rather easily (and I'm not talking about the projects you made at Vacation Bible School). Check out this article about Saturday knitting church groups where people are purling more than wool into their knitting.
Berlintapete is a wall paper printing company with a wide range of awsome papers OR you can send them your image - single image or repeated pattern and they will print it right up for you! Thanks Brett.
The Pincushion Challenge -- a new theme is announced each month, and you are invited to make a pincushion based on that theme, and then send in a picture of your finished project. For August and September, the theme is "Recycle." Last month's theme was "Flowers," and you can see the entries here. This site is run by Julie Anderson, who also produces the Stitch-Cast podcast.
1. Make It -- "A blog for craft entrepreneurs. Stories and tips on how to turn your creativity into business."
2. Helloindie -- "The ezine of the DIY craft scene."
Take an amazing free craft class this weekend, while you check out cool handmade work from dozens of crafters! First, on Saturday in Los Angeles, Felt Club will have workshops in needle felting, shrink art, and spinning yarn. On Sunday in Portland, Jen of DIY Lounge will be teaching vintage chenille flower-making at Crafty Wonderland. Both sales are the second weekend of every month, so if you're too busy (or too far away) to make it this time, mark your calendars for 9/10 and 10/8! p.s. Felt Club is moving to a new location, the Echo, and a new day, Sundays, starting in September.
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden always has a lot to offer. Right now there are two special features. A Corpse Plant- the world's largest flower that when open smells of carrion to attract pollinating bugs. AND Nancy Blum's stunning drawings. * *
