Craftside

Good Mail Day Commemorates The 20th Anniversary of the Fall of The Berlin Wall with a Mail Art Call Out

2009-11-11T06:00:00-08:00

Have you ever received a personal letter in the mail and it made your day, week, month? Mail art is a great way to express yourself and stay connected with friends and family, wherever they may be. Join us as we celebrate this art form and highlight the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Where were you when it happened?

What did it mean for you?

What sort of impact did the "Fall of the Wall" have for you?

Send your mail art to:

"Good Mail Day" c/o Jennie and Carolee

Attn: "Fall of the Wall" dept.

PO Box 170271

San Francisco, CA 94117, USA

All mail art entries will be entered to win:

1. A copy of Good Mail Day signed by Jennie and Carolee.

2. An original piece of mail art (sent through the USPS, naturally!) from the authors.

3. A portable mail art kit.

The Fine Print:

"Es tut mir Leid: we apologize that we cannot return your entry. All entries become property of Pod Post/Good Mail Day.

Please include your name, address, email address, website or blog address where applicable.

All entries must be received by Nov. 30, 2009. We will randomly draw the name of one winner on Dec. 4, 2009. We will also select some of our favorite entries to display on www.good-mail-day.com and here!"

Want to see more from Good Mail Day? Just click on the link at the bottom of the post for a bunch of inside peeks!

Good Mail Day:
A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal Art

By:

Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler

"What is a good mail day?" A good mail day is a day when, instead of just bills, catalogs, and advertisements, your postal carrier delivers artful, beautiful, personal mail from friends and acquaintances all over the world. Mail art is a collaborative art form with a long and fascinating history populated by famous artists as well as everyday practitioners.

The term "mail art" refers to pieces of art sent through the mail rather than displayed or sold in traditional venues. Mail artists often use inexpensive and recycled materials including postcards, collage, rubber stamps, and photocopied images. Mail art is a truly international activity and a fun way to connect with people in every corner of the globe. Readers will learn to create decorated and illustrated envelopes, faux postage and artistamps, find penpals, make a mail art kit, and much more!

Jennie Hinchcliff has been an active part of international mail art circles and communities for over a decade, has curated San Francisco mail art shows, and produces the quarterly mail art zine Red Letter Day. She teaches book arts and bookbinding at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Carolee Gilligan Wheeler teaches popular classes on bookbinding at the San Francisco Center for the Book.

This was posted over at The Good Mail Day blog. What a great idea, using used/vintage stamps as cupcake toppers! Brilliant.

Vintage looking rosary style necklace inspired by a piece in Rejuvenated Jewels

2009-11-10T08:30:22-08:00

I was so excited to find this cool vintage looking rosary link by the Blue Moon Beads Royal Boheme line because I had been eying this project from Rejuvenated Jewels and didn't currently have a rosary that I was up for dismantling. Problem solved!

I gathered up a bunch of bits and pieces. I had these white floral filigree and I thought they kind of looked like snowflakes and I thought that might make a kind of cool winter necklace.

After playing around a bit and performing a bit of jewelry surgery I had a necklace I really liked. This might end up being a gift so I wanted a safe place to store it for the moment. I thought since it was a gift I could attach it to a card and what better place than in a Card Album to keep the card!

I cut a length of 24 gauge wire about 3 inches and formed a loop in the middle of it.

Then I punched two holes near the top of the card and one in the center toward the bottom. The placement was so that there was very little if any slack between the three points. The excess chain that would be around the back of the neck dangled freely.

There you have it: a new/old combo piece nicely stored and displayed. I was also thinking if I made pieces to sell at a craft fair this Card Album would be an easy way to transport and show off my jewelry.

There is still lots of time to make more pretty jewelry and I don't think there is a project in this book that I don't want to make:

Rejuvenated Jewels:
New Designs from Vintage Treasures
By
Amy Hanna

In Rejuvenated Jewels, you'll learn where to find fabulous vintage jewelry, beads, and artifacts, and how to create stunning one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces using these amazing finds. Rhinestone beads and clasps, mercury glass beads, oxidized metal chains, rosary beads, tiny book charms, and more are retooled into fabulous statement pieces that can be worn every day.

Amy Hanna (Laguna Niguel, CA) has been creating and selling jewelry for nearly a decade. A collector at heart, Amy began haunting flea markets and yard sales more than 20 years ago, and it was always the vintage jewelry, metals, and rosary beads that caught her eye. Her collections lay in drawers and vintage jewelry boxes for years until a friend encouraged her to create. Unable to find jewelry that represented her personal style, Amy began making one-of-a-kind pieces from her beloved collections.

Jimi Hendrix Gear: The Guitars, Amps & Effects That Revolutionized Rock 'n' Roll

2009-11-09T05:20:06-08:00

Are you into the beauty of musical equipment and the life of Jimi Hendrix? You definitely need to check out this video about the book Jimi Hendrix Gear: The Guitars, Amps & Effects That Revolutionized Rock 'n' Roll.

Jimi Hendrix Gear: The Guitars, Amps & Effects That Revolutionized Rock 'n' Roll

Author: Michael Heatley
Consultant Editor: Harry Shapiro
Foreword: Roger Mayer

How did he do it? So many years later, it's still the question guitar aficionados ask about Jimi Hendrix, whose music was like nobody else's. Song by song, album by album, concert by concert, this book analyzes how Hendrix achieved that sound—and shows you how to achieve it, too.

The book examines all of Hendrix's equipment, providing a nuts-and-bolts analysis of each of his guitars (including serial number, history, and provenance), his amps choices, and his singular use of revolutionary effects from wah-wahs to overdrives to bizarre-o pedals like the Fuzzface. A practical reference book like no other, this volume gives the proper guidance and tools to any guitarist who wants to take a stab at emulating one of the greatest players of all time.

And since it's Monday that means I've got some crafty links to share with you to kick off your week:

About Family Crafts
Sign up for Sherri's 12 Days of Christmas... Crafts email newsletter and you will receive a variety of Christmas related craft ideas delivered to your email box every day for 12 days - everything from advent calendars to Santa Claus crafts!

Cathie Filian
It is apple craft time! Cathie is stamping up napkins and a simple apron. She also has a delicious recipe for apple crisp.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is super busy and "something's gotta give!"

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
Two very different quilts from the same pattern and Linda shares the story of them both along with a story on getting one of the quilts published in McCall's Quick Quilts.

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever wanted to learn how to weave? Cyndi's got a book giveaway going on that could help you out!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Two fun necklace designs featuring charms made with a Faux Scrimshaw polymer clay technique from the book Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton.

The Artful Crafter
Make some sweet, goofy, felt and feather Tom Turkey Place Card holders for your Thanksgiving table.

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares a sneak peek at the ad campaign she shot with her lovely daughter AND the instructions to the Cupcake Glitter Shirt Avalon is wearing in the ad in this post for iLoveToCreate!

Wool Felted Sweaters get Re-Bound into a cute little Christmas needle book

2009-11-06T05:46:20-08:00

Yup, Halloween is not even a week in the past and I am makin' stuff for Christmas!

I whipped up this little needle book out of scraps from recycled wool felted sweaters, a bit of embroidery floss and 2 pom poms.

Safe and cute storage for those little sharp objects.

Here is how to make a needle book:

Rough cut 3 rectangles of felted wool sweaters.

Then stitch the three layers together. I left the ends of the floss a bit long so I could glue a pom pom on each end. Then I trimmed up the book. Why, you ask, would you not cut all the rectangles nice and neat to begin with? I'll tell you: in the stitching process things can get a bit off, and also the thickness of the sweaters really affect where the ends line up when the book is closed.

To embellish the cover I ironed on a bit of Heat and Bond to the back of a scrap of wool felted sweater. Then I ran it through the Sizzix Hello Kitty Die cutter with the "B" die.

Then I just peeled off the paper backing and pressed the "B" onto the front cover of my little needle and pin book.

What made me think of making this today? Well, I was flipping though Re-Bound and this cool project jumped out at me:

Now this little journal has paper pages but I thought I would make a needle book because I needed something to hold my needles and pins for my cross stitch on the go bag.

Do you like making books out of interesting things? Check out more from:

Re-Bound
Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials
By
Jeannine Stein

Re-Bound shows readers how to take every day materials
from around the house, flea markets and thrift stores, and
hardware and office supply stores, and turn them into
fabulous books. Instead of saying, What can I make a book
out of, readers will be thinking, What can't I make a book
out of? In Re-Bound, a vintage souvenir wallet becomes
a photo album. Last year's trendy sweater becomes a takealong
journal. Even potato chip bags get a second life as a
handy pocket notebook. This fun pursuit is economical as
well as ecological. A variety of attractive, uncomplicated
bindings, how-to instructions, and step-outs bring each
project to life.

Jeannine Stein (Los Angeles, CA) has been making
books for more than 15 years, exploring bindings,
mediums, and techniques. She has studied with
notable book artists Daniel Essig, Keith Smith, Kitty
Maryatt, and Charlene Matthews. Her work has been
featured in such Quarry titles as Pockets, Pullouts,
and Hiding Places, Beyond Scrapbooks, and 100 Ideas
for Stationery, Cards, and Invitations. Her projects
have also been appeared in magazines, including
Home Companion, Romantic Country, and Stamper's
Sampler.

Unexpected Art Forms - Latte Art, Just one of the 365 readings from The Daily Book of Art

2009-11-05T05:32:29-08:00

I LOVE coffee but it never occurred to me that my yummy treat that keeps me going could be a place for creativity, boy my eyes are open in more than one way! Want some more artistic knowledge and inspiration? Grab a copy of:

The Daily Book of Art
365 readings that teach, inspire & entertain

By
Colin Gilbert, Dylan Gilbert, Elizabeth T. Gilbert, Gabriel Guzman, Rebecca Razo, Sharon Robinson, Amy Runyen, and David J. Schmidt

In today’s fast-paced world, creative people are as eager as ever to pursue their artistic passions, but many of them simply don’t have enough time. Catering to this modern dilemma, this is the perfect remedy for over-burdened artists. The Daily Book of Art includes a year’s worth of brief daily readings and lessons about the visual arts that entertain as they inform.

Ten exciting categories of discussion rotate throughout the course of a year, giving readers a well-rounded experience in the art world. From color psychology and aesthetic philosophy to the proverbial argument over whether cats and elephants really can paint, art-starved readers will encounter a broad range of inspiring subjects.

The Daily Book of Art also features a ribbon bookmark so readers can keep their place throughout the year. The ten categories of discussion include Art 101, Philosophy of Art, Art Through the Ages, Profiles in Art, A Picture’s Worth 200 Words, Art from the Inside Out, Art Around the World, Artistic Oddities, Unexpected Art Forms, and Step-by-Step Exercises.

Art Making & Studio Spaces: Unleash Your Inner Artist: An Intimate Look at 31 Creative Work Spaces

2009-11-04T05:36:17-08:00

Can we talk about eye candy?

Art Making & Studio Spaces

Unleash Your Inner Artist: An Intimate Look at 31 Creative Work Spaces

Lynne Perrella

Art Making & Studio Spaces is a visual studio tour, an opportunity to turn the key and discover the inner workings of artists in their ultra-personal, unique workspaces. The mission of the book is to look inside studios in progress, amidst the throes of the artmaking process, and to investigate the thoughts of the artists within.

This book reveals the interplay between artist and studio, and explores how each workspace reflects a different, distinctive creative journey. Photography by Sarah Blodgett, plus contributed photos by some of the artists, combines with personal insights to provide an incomparable studio tour that will inspire you to create your own private work space. Pages from Lynne Perrella's art journal are included, to give further insight into this bottomless topic of "art and where it happens."

Lynne Kendall Perrella is a mixed-media artist, author, designer, workshop instructor, and incurable collector. Her interests include collage, assemblage, one-of-a-kind books, and art journals. She conducts creativity workshops in the United States and abroad and exhibits collage in galleries throughout the Berkshire Mountains. www.lkperrella.com

Click on the images to enlarge and read about Pam Sussman, just one of the artists who is giving us a peek into her wonderful creative space! As you can see it is packed full of books, just the way I like my creative space!

Pam, a lover of books, funny enough is the author of a great book on book making:

Fabric Art Journals:
Making, Sewing, and Embellishing Journals from Cloth and Fibers

In addition to the wonderful photos of the art spaces and writing from their owners in Art Making & Studio Spaces there are fabulous and inspiring quotes like this one:

"Books meet each new encounter
without any need for their
batteries to be recharged,
software upgraded, or chips replaced.
But it is the densely
informative immediacy and intimacy
of the experience provided by books
which is at the heart of their longevity."

-Johanna Drucker, The Century of Artists' Books

Well, I don't know about you but I am inspired to be creative now!

Beautiful Japanese Wave print pocket ATC made with a print from the book Pattern Sourcebook: Nature

2009-11-03T08:25:38-08:00

Yesterday's post about Legends of Surfing inspired today's Japanese Wave Print Pocket ATC:

Here's how I made my wave print pocket ATC:

I went to the book of 250 Japanese nature patterns - Pattern Sourcebook: Nature

I picked this pretty multi-colored one that had some nice smooth wavy lines that I could cut along and cropped it to just under ATC size so that I could cut it out with a small white border. Feel free to download it and try it!

Next I had a nice little stack of quotes, you could also use fortune cookie fortunes.

I cut the slits in the wave print.

I cut the quotes down to little strips and popped them into the slits.

My ATC needed a backing and I thought of recycling an envelope that I had gotten a gift card in. My Aunt has such pretty handwriting I thought it would be nice on the back. I took care to only put glue around the edges so the slips of paper could slide in and out.

If you liked this print and want more grab a copy of the book and CD:

Pattern Sourcebook: Nature

250 Patterns for Projects and Designs

Shigeki Nakamura

This book presents a collection of carefully selected nature inspired patterns for use by designers and artists in their projects and personal work. A companion CD-ROM provides 250 patterns in high-resolution JPEG format along with PSD format from which you can freely manipulate and modify the patterns to customize them for your own use. This is an inspirational and highly practical reference and sourcebook for anyone working in the area of visual art.

Shigeki Nakamura began his career as an art director in 1964 in Japan. He established his office, Cobble Collaboration, in 1987, which has produced design pattern books under its own brand. He is a member of JAGDA (Japan Graphic Designers Association).

Get Published in the upcoming book 1000 Ideas for Decorating Cakes, Cupcakes & Cookies!

2009-11-02T11:47:34-08:00

Calling all cake bakers and sweet treat makers!! Quarry Books is seeking submissions for possible publication in their upcoming book 1000 Ideas for Decorating Cakes, Cupcakes & Cookies (scheduled to be published in November 2010).

Quarry is looking for high-quality photographs of finished cupcakes, holiday/theme cakes, decorated cookies, wedding cakes, and other beautifully decorated desserts. Submission deadline is January 8, 2010. Click here for more details!

Legends of Surfing: The Greatest Surfriders from Duke Kahanamoku to Kelly Slater and Crafty Blogger links!

2009-11-02T05:23:37-08:00

Mixing it up today I thought I'd share with you this cool video about this new book Legends of Surfing (or just listen to the killer tune) while you read the Crafty Blogger links. If you know someone who is into surfing this would make a great gift, and it's never too soon to start that holiday shopping.

Legends of Surfing: The Greatest Surfriders from Duke Kahanamoku to Kelly Slater

Author: Duke Boyd
Photographer: Jeff Devine
Foreword: Steve Pezman

Surfing, Jack London remarked, is "a royal sport for the natural kings of earth." The greatest of those natural kings grant readers an audience in this glorious celebration of the world's best surfers. Part exquisite picture book and travelogue to the top of the world, part biography and reference guidebook, Legends of Surfingprofiles one hundred great surfers, men and women, from throughout the world. In life stories, and in exclusive interviews—which only the surfing icon Duke Boyd could have pulled off—stellar surfers such as Wayne Bartholomew, Tom Curren, Andy and Bruce Irons, Duke Kahanamoku, Dave Kalama, Gerry Lopez, Rob Machado, Mark Occhilupo, and Kelly Slater give us a rare firsthand look at what it's like, in this crowded world, to "seek and find the perfect day, the perfect wave, and be alone with the surf and his thoughts." (John Severson, Surfer magazine, 1960)

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has started another small quilt, this time featuring pears!

The Artful Crafter
Make some romantic mood light candles with decorative tissue paper and decoupage medium.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Halloween Decoration using my craft supply stash to make Jack O' Lanterns and then use this idea for any holiday!

The Impatient Crafter
This is a story of a refugee who found her strength in creativity. Though she recently died, her story lives on. Please read and share the story of Haiffaa Ali.

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Vickie shows how to customize photo mats to go with your favorite photos!

About Family Crafts
Sherri gives you an excuse to craft every day during the month of November using this calendar of events.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen offers an easy peasy earrings tutorial!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy found out crocheting chemo hats is trickier than she thought, but she found success.

How to ask good questions that lead to good design from the book Form, Fit, and Fashion

2009-10-30T05:24:30-07:00

This is really interesting and I think just about anyone who makes anything will be interested in these questions for a bit of self discovery and help to think about how to move forward in a creative plan.

Click on these images to enlarge and read about the Socratic method and some really great questions that can help make a plan.

These intriguing questions are from the book:

Form, Fit, and Fashion
All the Details Fashion Designers Need to Know But Can Never Find

By
Jay Calderin

An indispensable primer for students and first-stop reference for professionals, Form, Fit, and Fashion guides the fashion designer through the entire design process, from conceiving a garment to marketing it.

This handbook collects the information and ideas essential to planning and executing fashion projects of every scale and distills them in an easy-to-use format that is compact enough to slip into a tote. Linking six central phases in the cycle of fashion--research, editing, design, construction, connection, and evolution--Form, Fit, and Fashion will help designers to develop effective strategies for building a cohesive collection and communicating their vision.

Jay Calderin teaches a wide variety of fashion and professional development courses at the School of Fashion Design in Boston, where he is also the Director of Creative Marketing. He founded and serves as Executive Director of Boston Fashion Week. Calderin’s designs have appeared in the pages of Vogue and Elle magazines.