A Handmade Nation review & a commitment to community

Last Thursday, I saw the Vancouver showing of Handmade Nation, the documentary that documents the modern craft movement directed by Faythe Levine. I was really taken by The Little Friends of Printmaking, a couple who talked not just about their craft (silkscreening posters) but about the politics involved in the art vs craft movement (plus, I've loved their posters for years). The Buy Olympia guys were fun to watch and I loved how they started their business by the seat of their pants. Jenine Bressner, a glass bead maker, was also a highlight since she was awesomely wacky and she was really great at narrating what she was doing while holding a blow-torch. I found it super inspiring and it reminded me so much of my 20s when I was making zines, making movies, reading Bust magazine, playing bass guitar in a punk rock band, and volunteering at a local underground cinema. The documentary brought up all kinds of nostalgic feelings which is kind of strange since it's a film completed this year.



While I'm definitely a part of the new modern craft movement with my 2 etsy shops & recently participating in craft fairs around town, somehow I feel a bit more removed now than when I was in the thick of it back in my 20s. I guess it's because I do most of my creative outlets by computer now. I work from home running my own business with my husband, I have my popular food blog, I use Illustrator to work over my sketches, I sell online, I respond to people's questions via email and I Twitter.

While I do feel a connection with others online, I'm much more removed from the camaraderie and person-to-person contact that I used to have daily. As a response to that feeling, I recently I made a commitment with myself to meet up with new people - food bloggers, crafters, web designers - and step outside the cushy online comfort zone that I've created for myself in the past few years. And so far, it's been good. I've attended social events, crafty gatherings, and met a host of wonderful people in person. I even got to attend a small but totally rad party to welcome Faythe Levine the night before the film showing. Want to know Faythe's favorite food at the party? My lemony goat cheese stuffed dates! The internet is a great place to bring people from all over the world together and create community, but it's just as important to create those ties in real life as well.

budget cool crafts

I stumbled onto Dollar Store Crafts this morning. So many fun projects here, like creating budget plant terrarium, a gardening apron or a wall hook out of a fork. Not that I have time to do any crafts right now since work is really kicking my ass lately. However, it's a good resource for others!

calling all vancouver craft-addicts!

The Got Craft fair is coming up on Sunday May 3rd!!! I'll be there along with a ton of other fabulous local crafters, so make sure you stop by and say hello. Get more craft fair information on their brand spanking new website (logo & website designed by yours truly).

And in other news, the lovely Got Craft people are bringing to town the documentary, Handmade Nation! The screening will be at the Ridge Theater in July but you can buy your tickets now.

craft fairs are fun!

All my fears about taking part in a craft fair were silly. My friends came out, I met lots of great vendors, and lots of people who came out because they read my blog! Seriously, who knew that I had fans :) It was fun and I look forward to taking part in more fairs around town. If you came out, thanks so much for your support! It was really appreciated.

My new calendar was well received and I had a lot of other new items. Take a peek at some of the new things that are now in my shop, including these cute teddy bear gift tags, new holiday Christmas cards, retro holiday cards, and adorable acorn gift tags. The birthday calendar will come this week!

crafty tutorials

Wow, 2 really great tutorials found on my blogroll this morning. The first comes from The Small Object on how to sew up some great no see-thru curtains.


The next tutorial is from How About Orange about how to stretch your own fabric to make wall art. So easy!

hello, december!

Last night we put up our christmas tree. It's actually the first year that we haven't had a real tree due to space constraints in our tiny apartment (oh! I miss that fresh pine scent!). It's a silver tinsel tree and i love how sparkly it is and how all of our vintage and handmade christmas decorations seem right at home.


Last night, I also pulled out our Christmas stockings and fell in love with one I had made a few years ago out of an old pair of cords. That year I made stockings out of old cords for all of my friends. The best part, naturally, is the bum pocket as extra treats can be put inside...because everyone loves more treats on Christmas morning!

etsy gifts

I love Etsy! Not only do I sell my notecards there (hint, hint!), but I do a lot of my own shopping and browsing there. It's the perfect place to snoop out great gifts for the holidays. It's also a great way to spend your money since you'll be supporting the crafters and artisans directly, instead of buying junk from a stoopid giantMEGAcorp. Here are just a few of my favorite (under $30) things...

This beautiful limited edition print from AshleyG's shop:


A lovely letterpress desk calendar from ilee's shop:



Shuttlecock lino print!!! From johnathanapgar's shop:



This sweet mini raincloud necklace from sudlow's shop:

!luvyoujeannett3

Last night I tidied up my little corner of the livingroom, also known as my office. Inside a basket I found this little alphabet block set and when I opened it up, my heart melted immediately. Cornelius got me this little gift years ago and I had totally forgotten about the secret message inside.

holiday cards are ready (finally)

Oh I've been so neglectful of my blogging habits lately. No worries. My full time contract job is over and done with and I'm back to working from home again (hooray!), so I'm sure I'll be cooking up a storm and browsing the interweb for cute things to post here. Yay! Back to my regular life and you know what? I like it.

And speaking of cute things, I've put up my holiday cards on my etsy shop. They are ready for the purchasing and I've made them available individually and in a set of 6 (or more, if needed).

jack-o-lantern

Every year a form an unhealthy bond with my jack-o-lantern. When I was a kid, I'd spend the whole day planning out my perfect pumpkin face, drawing out various templates until I found the best one. After Halloween, I'd keep my jack-o-lantern in my room for a few days as a doll house of sorts, and then in the backyard to watch it decompose. I still have that strange attachment with every pumpkin every year.

holiday pack, sneak peek!

I spent the day drawing! So much fun. The result? Holiday cards featuring winter footwear: snowshoes, mukluks and ice skates. I love them. I'll sell them as sets and individually at my etsy shop. I'll keep you posted when they make it into the shop.

time to craft

I'm not a very handy at sewing, but I do have a sewing machine that I rather like using once I work up the nerve to try a new project. My original plan was to create a wee bunny for a friend that just had a baby...but my crafting nerves got the better of me and I walked away from the pattern in terror. Instead I decided to create a little bear of my own making and I think he turned out alright. He's a little bit messy (my embroidery skillz aren't that hot), but I think his imperfections make him all the more adorable! At least that will be the enthusiasm in which I will present the lil' bear to the intended new baby. Hmph.

the beautiful project

I used to have a little etsy shop, but I sold a few things and then forgot about it. I've decided to revive the love and share the rest of my sweet lil' one-inch buttons. Cakes, puddings, blanc-mange, powerlines and pineapples....what's not to love?


Don't know quite what to say? Let this straightforward card do the talking. I've got a few cards that I'm unloading on my etsy shop as well. The other cards do the sweet-talking. Really.

i love peter-pan collars

After seeing this lovely shirt on SouleMama, it made me want to be a much better seamstress! How cute is that shirt? The Simplicity pattern is 4179 and it almost makes me want to run out to Dressew and pick up the pattern, pronto. True, I'll definitely get frustrated, but maybe with some help from a friend, I just might be able to craft myself the most perfect shirt ever. And of course, if I don't end up making the shirt myself, does anyone have any recommendations on where I could buy a cute lil' blouse with a peter pan collar? I love the shirts at The Red Dress Shoppe, but alas, they wouldn't fit over my chesty biggins. Sigh, what's a big-boobed girl to do? It really does seem like sewing is the best option!