Handmade Nation

Just happened & coming up....

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:02:00 +0000

I just returned from an overwhelming weekend in Minneapolis at the American Craft Council Creating a New Craft Culture conference. It was overall and amazing experience as well as an opportunity to be surrounded by an amazing group of talent, knowledge and resources. I have a lot I would like to share with you about my experience representing my community as well as interesting reflections on other aspects of the weekend but I need time to sort out my thoughts as well as catch up with other parts of my life (i.e. the 100+ emails I need to answer since last Thursday). So, stay tuned with more thoughts on the ACC conference later this week.

Coming up this weekend are two screenings. One on Saturday in Norfolk, VA that I will not be attending (information below) and the second is Sunday in Huntington, NY that I will be attending and doing a Q&A at, information for that HERE.

Sat, Oct 24 at NARO Cinema (Norfolk VA)

Handmade Trunk Show from 3 to 5pm

Sat, Oct 24 at 5:15pm Film

Premiere!

HANDMADE NATION Filmmaker Faythe Levine explores a burgeoning art community that is based on traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, and feminism. She travels around the country to 15 cities and interviews over 80 visionary artists. She has authored a companion book of the same name. (65 mins) http://www.handmadenationmovie.com

Seven Cities Crafters is a local artist cooperative and will be presenting a Handmade Trunk Show of arts and crafts before and after the film in the lobby and on Colley Ave from 3 to 5pm.

http://www.7citiescrafters.com

Admission to film -- $6 all seats

Call 625-6275 or visit http://www.narocinema.com

As a side note I received a package from Brian Singer of 1000 journals a week or so back with a cardboard card reading "Home Street Home" more information on the project that is raising awarness about homelessness in San Francisco visit http://altitudesf.com/.

Official DVD release information!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:11:00 +0000

After three years of work I am please as punch to announce that the Handmade Nation DVD will be available Tuesday, November 3, 2009 for $19.95

Buyolympia.com is responsible for the November release of the movie. BIG LOVE TO THEM!

All information for retail and wholesale is right HERE for your convenience.

I can not tell you how excited I am..... Can't wait to post a picture of me holding the first copy in my hand in a few weeks!

Also a very special thanks to Kate Bingaman-Burt who lovingly did the DVD packaging design.

P.S. I'm on the airplane on my way to SEATTLE for my screenings as I type this.... I heart airtran.

Journal of Modern Craft

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:07:00 +0000

My first post as a guest blogger went up on the Journal of Modern Craft this afternoon. I am going to be popping in there through December. Check out the site, some of it is a little much for me on the heavy academia tip, but overall it is a great resource creating some fantastic discussion about craft today.

Handmade Nation DVD for a holiday gift anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:17:00 +0000

This is a screen shot of the last steps of getting the Handmade Nation DVD to press! The final disc was sent out Tuesday to Buyolympia.com who will be releasing the DVD in November (for wholesale & retail purchases contact them)! My good friend Kate Bingaman-Burt of Obsessiveconsumption.com did the packaging design and it looks RAD!

This is one of the last steps in a now 4 year process, I am pretty dang hyped to be this close to holding a final copy of the DVD in my hand.....

New Orleans & Hamburg!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:58:00 +0000

Sitting here in the French Quarter having my morning coffee before I head up the Delgado Community College for the first of two days of programing here in New Orleans. Today is programing for the students, however tomorrow there is a FREE screening open to the public at 6pm.

I haven't been here in about 8 years, it is really amazing to be back and see old friends and meet new people. I would like to extend a warm thank you to the Irma Thomas Center for W.I.S.E. (Women In Search of Excellence) Women at Delgado Community College and the New Orleans Craft Mafia for sponsoring my visit. pssssst..... Listen for me on the radio tonight at 10pm

Information about the New Orleans screenings is HERE.

This is where I am staying for my visit here.

PLUS:: If you happen to be in Hamburg, Germany or know any peeps there, today Handmade Nation is screening at 8pm at lichtmess-kino.

Milwaukee Art Museum:: MAM After Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Handmade Nation was a part of the Milwaukee Art Museum's MAM After Dark Series last month. Since Milwaukee is home, I was really excited to have my film showing there.

The event was a smashing success with tons of hand's-on tables, dj's and my favorite was the weavers from the ABK Weaving Center.

Cortney Heimerl (co-author of Handmade Nation the book) was out with her new son Abe to sign copies of the book.

A big thanks to everyone who came to the event and supported the Milwaukee Art Museum.

September 1-3rd: Albuquerque, NM!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Hey New Mexico you can see Handmade Nation today & tomorrow at the Guild Cinema! Three screenings a day! Information here

Oh life...you move so fast

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Tonight I have a screening in my hometown at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I'm really excited to be home for the week and it should be a fun time. Information on MAM After Dark is HERE. Next week, Austin here I come! Book signing at Domy and all sorts of RAD programing you can check out HERE.

Did I mention that Portugal is amazing....

Hello from Portugal!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:04:00 +0000

With so much travel on my calendar it's hard to keep up, so here are some photos from the past few weeks of events. I am currently blogging from the kitchen of my good friend Solana who I am visiting in Portugal, nothing wrong with a little vacay!

At the end of July I went to the CHA in Orlando to do a book signing with Provo Craft and the Crafty Chica was there!

Then zipped over to Philly for a premiere at the Philadelphia Buyers Market & just happened to be in town for the Amy Rice opening at Art Star Gallery & Boutique.

Me & Amy Rice at Art Star

Me & Tracy Bull of Happy Owl Glassworks

Drove up to Minneapolis for the premiere at the Soap Factory. It was a very hot and muggy weekend in 612

To San Francisco for a screening at the American Craft Council show.

Then to Los Angeles for the premiere at Cinefamily where between screenings there was a mini craft fair out back.....

Cathy of California's mini table

Totes designed by Kate Bingaman printed by our sponsor Provo Craft

Yudu demos inside the theater during the mini craft fair!

Yessssss, lot's of travel. This vacation is doing me good. If you want to see pictures of my Portugal trip, there is a photo set HERE.

Treehomes dyptic by Jill Bliss released by 20x200

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:06:00 +0000

Well, I think Jill Bliss has outdone herself with these "Treehome" prints she did especially for us and 20x200. This amazing dyptic hangs vertically- which I LOVE.

I blogged about this project last week but for those of you who are not familiar Jen Bekman curates 20x200 and she believes in Handmade Nation and is running this edition as a benefit for us (I still have a chunk of debt from production). I truly appreciate her and Jill's support.

Read about Jill HERE.
Sign up for the 20x200 mailing list HERE (do it, they do such RAD stuff).
And peep these amazing TREEHOMES!

TREEHOMES are available HERE & HERE

A visit to the country & all sorts of press!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:35:00 +0000

I got out of town for 24 hours of NON-work to go visit Micaela O'Herlihy. Micaela, for those of you who don't know shot the footage for Handmade Nation. Micaela and her family live out in the country in Wisconsin, a good 3+ hour drive from Milwaukee where I am based. Since I am out of town so much these days I took one of my three days home this month to make the drive out and see her new house, new baby (Oota) and her preggers belly
((and of course the cutttttte goats)! I also got to visit some other amazing friends of mine in the area, the Hodapp family
(more on them soon).

Aaron and I got back late last night and I was up early this morning to do a ichat interview//convo with Kate Bingaman-Burt for the upcoming release of our 20x200 edition that we did with artist jill bliss. More info on that blogged a few days ago HERE.

Then I rushed down to Aarons shop to use the landline for a live radio interview on the Kansas City NPR affiliate KCUR which you can listen to HERE. It was a quick one but they pulled a great audio clip from the documentary from Andrew Wagner and Kathie Sever which was a nice change of pace.

After that interview I ran some errands and picked up some local produce, plus, this this great plant for $8) at the Westown Farmers market. I only get one homecooked dinner this month and it's gonna be YUMS!

Today I also got news about fantastic press in the San Francisco Chronicle covering the screening next Friday as well as some local press from my friends over at The Decider.

Looking forward to my trip to Minneapolis this weekend. Don't forget to get your tickets a head of time at Crafty Planet. There are only 100 seats per screening!

20x200 + JILL BLISS= Awesome!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:09:00 +0000

I am SO SO SO excited to announce this news.....

Earlier this year on a trip to New York for a screening of Handmade Nation at the Museum of Arts and Design I had the pleasure of being introduced to Jen Bekman by our mutual friend Kate Bingaman-Burt over lunch. For those of you who are not familiar Jen is responsible for a number of amazing projects one of which is 20x200. 20x200 offers exhibition-quality limited-edition prints exclusively online. New editions are released twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and alternate between photography and fine-art. It was at this time that Jen expressed interest in helping out with raising funds for Handmade Nation when she learned I am still working on paying off the production cost of the film.

It was after this meeting that I approached artist Jill Bliss about creating two new pieces of work for a duel release through 20x200. Jill is featured in Handmade Nation the book and documentary and I am a huge fan of her work.

I am so very pleased to announce the release of two beautiful limited-edition print editions by Jill Bliss through 20x200 available on August 12th. Proceeds from the sale of one of the prints directly benefits the production cost of Handmade Nation.

I want to thank you for your continual support of Handmade Nation's mission to promote DIY art, craft & design and the creative community it encourages and empowers.

To be automatically notified when the editions by Jill Bliss are released and to be among the first to learn of all new editions featured on 20x200, sign up for Jen Bekman's newsletters.

PHILLY! Handmade Nation premiere!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:02:00 +0000

I am here & holy crap did it rain today!

I got in this afternoon and already went to the Mutter Museum & The Independence Seaport Museum for the Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor exhibit. Now, I'm off to Art Star for the Amy Rice opening.

Don't forget to come see me and Handmade Nation tomorrow:

August 1st: Philadelphia, PA
6-8 pm, Public admission: $5 at the door. Seating is limited.
Pennsylvania Convention Center, RM 103
1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 19107
Advanced tickets can be purchased at: ART STAR GALLERY
Sponsored by the Buyers Market of American Craft
Director Q&A following the screening, moderated by Kris Stewart, editor of NICHE Magazine.

Xenobia Bailey at Kohler Arts Center

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:44:00 +0000

If you have the option to go to the Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan WI it's always a good idea. Right now you should go check out the amazing installation done mostly in crochet by Xenobia Bailey. I just found her blog, which looks really awesome too! is great check it out.

I snuck these images of Xenobia's work from the show for you to peep and get excited about.....

VACAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:45:00 +0000

I am taking the week off to go up North in Wisconsin and only checking email once a day! Making a huge effort to just being as lazy as I can, which is reallllly hard for me. Found this great thrift score on the way up here. Crying girl velvet painting for $2 in Two Rivers. Not bad at all....

Baby update!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:02:00 +0000

Cortney's son Abe is doing so so fine, he is about one month now. Here we are hanging out yesterday afternoon. I've been trying to see them as much as possible in between trips. Luckily they only live a few blocks away!

PHILLY: Ticket giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Handmade Nation ticket giveaway on INDIE FIXX, the deadline is July 22nd so snap to it!

ATLANTA:: Handmade Nation is coming your way!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:38:00 +0000

We got into the Atlanta Underground Film Festival Aug 26-30th

Dates & Times coming soon HERE

Oh Smithsonian you did me right + Edmonton, AB on Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:43:00 +0000

Here is my weekly wrap-up peeps! I am taking next week off, going to a cabin in the woods!

On Wednesday I took the train from Baltimore to DC. I got picked up by my friend Kate at Union Station. We walked back to her house and then just chilled out with her boyfriend. I had a long list of suggested spots to visit in DC but I've been traveling so much we opted for Dinner and Harry Potter (it was RAD).

Thursday I ate breakfast at Founding Farmers (highly recommended) with all of my Milwaukee to DC transplant friends. It was great. The headed over to the Renwick Gallery. From their site: "The Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, features one of the finest collections of American craft in the United States. Its collections, exhibition program and publications highlight the best craft objects and decorative arts from the 19th century to the present." I met up with Katie Crooks the program director who introduced me to Nicholas Bell the curator who was initially interested in bringing the film there. My screening was scheduled for 12 and about 80 people showed up for the programing.

It was such a huge honor to see something I made in such a grand space. After the screening I did a brief Q&A and book signing. Then Nicholas and I had a really great casual meeting and talked about the indie craft community.

Thanks Renwick Gallery, you added another amazing notch to where the gospel of DIY has been spread.

Next stop for the film is this Saturday July 18th in Edmonton, AB presented by "Make It". Tickets are available HERE. I am heading back to Milwaukee for a little down time. My next stop is the Philly screening on August 1st. Tickets for that show are available at Art Star.

All you UK crafters Handmade Nation is screening for FREE on July 25th at the V&A and July 26th in Northampton, UK at The FishMarket.

Check out my Baltimore photo set on my other flickr account with images from Baltimore's ArtScape Midway. One of my favorite things I've been at in a long while.

Baltimore!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:41:00 +0000

The screening last night in Baltimore was fantastic. I met so many lovely peeps and some great old friends from Seattle and Milwaukee came to see the film as well! I also got to spend a little time around Baltimore.

If you come here make sure to visit the American Visionary Arts Museum. I was lucky enough to get to meet the director and founder Rebecca Hoffberger who was one of the most inspiring women I have ever met.

I also had the treat of getting to go up into the Bromo Seltzer clock tower! My hostess Kristen Grey works in the building and it had the BEST view of Baltimore! So so awesome.

Time to go catch the amtrak to DC for my screening at the Smithsonian tomorrow! Come see me or send peeps down there on their lunch breaks!

BALTIMORE: free screening today!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:46:00 +0000

San Francisco: check this out

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Go to this
Originally uploaded by Handmade Nation!.

Chronicle Books is hosting this event on Monday if you are looking for something fun to do....

Vancouver wrap up!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:44:00 +0000

I had a whirl-wind trip in Vancouver this week. Flew in on Wednesday then an insane full day on Thursday.
I did a TV appearance

Book signing at Barefoot Contessa

& the premiere was at the Rio Theater with over 300 people in attendance + a great mini craft fair to boot!

I even got to meet the authors Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain of the soon to be released book "Yarn Bombing" at the welcome party at my hostess with the mostess Kim Werker's house.

I was also tickled by these amazing vegan cupcakes made for me by Coco Cake Cupcakes

"Welcome Faythe".... um, amazing.

AND, Kim & I spent her 33rd birthday doing all sorts of fun shopping & eating (I ate the best sushi I've ever had besides in Japan). She took me to The Assembly of Text which I was of course in LOVE with every aspect of... go there if you like letters, typewriters, zines, indie publications and girls who do dope shit.

((please note this amazing window display))
&
Check out the rest of the photos in my flickr set

A very very special thank you goes out to Andrea & Rob of Lotus Event's (they bring you GOT CRAFT?) who brought me to Vancouver, organized a fantastic sucessful event and are just overall lovely people doing great things.

Happened & Happening: VANCOUVER+BALTIMORE+DC+LOS ANGELES!!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Last week::
I took a trip out to Los Angeles for the Dwell Design Conference to be on the panel "

Crafting and Creating in Consumer Culture"moderated by the lovely Jordan Kushins (Assistant Editor, Dwell). I was on the panel with Brian Singer (Principal/Creative Director

Altitude) & friend Billie Lopez (Co-owner ReForm School).

I also took a minute to meet with Jenny Ryan (organizer of Felt Club and founder of HomeEc) and Tootie (Co-owner ReForm School) over at Cinefamily where we will be doing the Los Angeles premiere in August (NOTE: TICKETS WENT ON SALE TODAY HERE).

Tonight::

Monday, July 6th

Live radio interview: 7:30-8:00pm
KDHX-88.1 FM, community radio in St. Louis
"Tonight we kick off a month of conversations on "The Life Creative" -- folks of all stripes are getting down with DIY, whether knitting scarves for charity, planting victory gardens to avoid corporate food conglomerates or self-publishing conspiracy theories while wearing the tinfoil hats. What's behind our impulse to make stuff, to do stuff, to get more self-reliant and creative? And how can even suits benefit from more creativity? We'll talk about it all month with a variety of voices. Tonight's guest is Faythe Levine, author and film director of the book/documentary movie project "Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design." We'll talk about her 19,000-mile journey to document the resurgence of indie craft and its implications for sustainability and subverting traditional capitalism...and the movement's limitations"

Thursday, 9th::
Vancouver Premiere! ((Come meet me, I'm making the trip))
Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway @ Commercial Drive Screening at 8:00pm, Craft Showcase at 7:00pm Tickets HERE

Tuesday, 14th::
Baltimore Premiere! ((Come meet me, I'm making the trip))
7pm with director Q&A to follow
University of Baltimore auditorium, 21 W Mount Royal Avenue (the corner of Mt Royal and Maryland Ave)
FREE & open to the public

Thursday, 16th::
Washington DC Premiere! ((Come meet me, I'm making the trip))
Renwick Gallery :: Smithsonian American Art Museum
12:00 book signing & screening
More info here FREE & open to the public

Vancouver:: ticket giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Faythe Levine) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Go on over to Poppytalk to check out their ticket giveaway for the July 9th screening of Handmade Nation in Vancouver! I'll be there too!!