Craftside

Lisa Solomon author of Knot Thread Stitch event at Purl Soho

Today I have news about an event taking place at Purl Soho in New York City with Lisa Solomon, author of Knot Thread Stitch: Exploring Creativity through Embroidery and Mixed Media.

Join Lisa Solomon of Knot Thread Stitch: Exploring Creativity through Embroidery and Mixed Media to learn the art of selective stitching!

-Using embroidery as embellishment, you'll add a handmade touch to a gorgeously designed printed tea towel.

-Transform a simple tea towel with colors and textures into unique kitchen décor or a great hostess gift!

-You'll learn a variety of embroidery stitches, how to arrange the composition of your tea towel, and have fun stitching with Lisa!  

Selective Stitching Embroidery Workshop

• Sunday - March 10th, 2013 | 12-5pm with Lisa Solomon of Knot, Thread, Stitch (5 spots available as of 2/20/13) Sewing and Quilting classes are taught at: Purl Soho 459 Broome Street, NYC.

Please call Purl Soho at 212.420.8796 (12-6pm Sat-Sun & 12-7pm Mon-Fri) to sign up for this class, or send them an email for additional information.

And to get a taste of the cuteness inside check out this great idea for embroidering a pet portrait.

Last week I shared a tip from the book The Art of Urban Sketching that talked about only coloring in part of a sketch. That's part of this embroidery project. The doggie sweater is a dimensional print applique. Like this project and want the pattern and full tutorial? Grab yourself a copy of the Quarry book:

Knot Thread Stitch:
Exploring Creativity through Embroidery and Mixed Media

by

Lisa Solomon

Knot Thread Stitch presents a modern, experimental, and creative approach to thread and embroidery projects. You'll find fun and surprising project ideas, a unique artistic approach, and unconventional mixed-media materials such as stamps, paint, sequins, paper, and shrinky dinks. With easy-to-follow steps and project variations, this book also includes project contributions and embroidery patterns from a long and stellar list of renowned artists and bloggers, including Lisa Congdon, Camilla Engman, Heather Smith Jones, and Amy Karol, just to name a few.

Profoundly interested in the idea of hybridization (sparked from her hapa heritage), Lisa Solomon’s mixed media works revolve thematically around domesticity, craft, and masculine and feminine triggers. She is drawn to found objects altering them conceptually so that their meanings and original uses or intents are re-purposed. She often fuses “wrong” things together – recontextualizing their original purposes, and incorporating materials that question the line between art and craft. Visit her online at http://www.lisasolomon.com.

   

Buy 10 Things Design Challenge from the Book I Just Like to Make Things by Lilla Rogers

Today I have a super fun design challenge/creative exercise from the book I Just Like to Make Things:
Learn the Secrets to Making Money while Staying Passionate about your Art and Craft that you will L.O.V.E! Oh and a fun video from the author Lilla Rogers!

First up check out this inside peek of Lilla's studio and world.

 

And then get creative with the "10 Things Design Challenge." Click on these pages from I Just Like to Make Things to enlarge and read all about this great way to get your creativity flowing. Just to make things extra fun, let's throw in a GIVEAWAY. Here are the rules:

1. Follow my "Groovy Granny's Junk Shop" board on Pinterest.

2. Create your own Groovy Granny's Junk Shop board on Pinterest.

3. Pin the below image from Lilla's book along with 10 random pictures of things that you would buy/find to create something awesome. At least two things have to be from my Pinterest board.

4. Copy/paste the URL to your Pinterest board here in the comments section by midnight on March 5th, 2013.

5. I'll randomly pick a winner and send you a copy of Lilla's amazing book, I Just Like to Make Things.

 

 

Along with the 4 options Lilla suggests, I have a few of my own to come up with 10 random things to combine to make something.

- How about going through your "junk drawer"? Don't we all have one usually in the kitchen filled with all sorts of stuff.

- I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to clean off my creative work space quick and I "broom" it all off into a box. It doesn't get sorted and the bits don't make it back where they belong. Why not try making something with all the items in that box?

- Clean out your jewelry box. Take all the pieces you haven't worn in a while and "rebuild" them into a new piece.

More about the Quarry book:

I Just Like to Make Things:
Learn the Secrets to Making Money while Staying Passionate about your Art and Craft

By

Lilla Rogers

Gain a wealth of information, inspiration, and know-how on moving your artistic career forward from one of the most successful illustration agents in the industry!

I Just Like to Make Things is a dazzling, colorful volume of career and personal advice for artists, filled with ideas, playsheets (as opposed to worksheets), case studies, and tools for staying inspired and creative. These pages are grounded in the wisdom and experience gleaned from a long and buzzing career as creative juggernaut Lilla Rogers shares her analysis of leveraging various working styles and ways to keep your art fresh. Artist interviews provide inside details about the best jobs, as well as tips on how to work smart and stay creative. You’ll also find annotated case studies of several successful art jobs, in addition to coloring book pages, hand-drawn charts, and lots of crazy fun.

Acquire real-life, professional advice from an artist known for setting the trend with I Just Like to Make Things!

Lilla Rogers was a full-time, highly successful illustrator beginning in 1984 with clients ranging from theNew York Times, Takishamaya, Barneys New York, and Levi’s. She had agents in Tokyo, Paris, and New York. In 1994 her top students asked her to represent them. Since that time, Lilla Rogers Studio has become one of the most respected illustration agencies in the US, with clients in Europe and Asia and known for setting trend. Being an illustrator and teacher allows Lilla the unique position of helping her artists grow as she fully understands the creative process and how to nurture the best in each artist. She has lectured internationally at conferences and trade shows, such as the Illustration Conference (ICON) and PrintsourceNewYork, colleges and corporations, and is interviewed for her expertise as an agent, trendsetter, and artist. She lives in Arlington, MA. Visit her online at http://www.lillarogers.com.

   

Interview with John Sartin author of The Complete Photo Guide to Making Metal Jewelry

Today I have an interview with John Sartin author of The Complete Photo Guide to Making Metal Jewelry to share with you. And in honor of John's book being released, QbookShop.com is offering a code for 30% off his book-METAL13 and all others good until Midnight CT, March 3,2013.

1. What does your workspace/ design space look like? 

 This is half of the building. I'm remodeling the other half. 

 
2. Do you save your mistakes or designs you don't love right away, or do you ditch them?

Sometime mistakes are not mistakes. Serendipity has been a good ally, but if I am not happy with the finished product it is taken apart and recycled.

 
3. What's on your "next to try" list?

More traditional Japanese metalworking techniques. I have been exploring the traditional technique of Mokume Gane and it has piqued an interest in other aspects of Japanese metalwork.

5. Do you ever work with recycled materials?

All the time. All of the silver and gold materials I use are either recycled by me or purchased from a reputable supplier of recycled precious metals.  

6. What music do you listen to when designing?

I have a incredibly wide range of music I listen to everything from bluegrass to jazz to classic rock, all depends on the mood I'm in on a particular day.

7. How long does a design take you to create?

Designs bounce around in my mind, sometimes for months, before they are put down in a sketch book. But once the kinks are worked out, depending on the complexity of the design, it takes me anywhere between 30 minutes to 3 weeks.

8. How do you organize your supplies?

Pop on over to John's blog to check out on how he organizes his supplies.

9. What books/magazines do you read?

As far as the jewelry trade, I read: Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Art Jewelry,  and any resource that I can get my hands on.

10. How would you describe your personal style?

I'm a casual jeans and t-shirt kind of guy.

11. How do you determine what a design is going to be made with? 

There are several aspects that I take into consideration: the finish or surface texture I want to achieve on it, the working characteristics of the metal, and what the finished piece will be used for (i.e. ring, pendant, bracelet). All  are taken into consideration during its design. 

12. Do you have a collection of anything?

As a metalsmith I'm a tool junkie, so that's what I collect; anything that has been, will be, or can be used in the studio. 

13. How did your book come to be made?

A friend of mine, Lexi Erickson, recommended me for this project.

 

14. And the all important question (from Ravelry) what is your favorite swear word?

Turds! And if I'm really upset, Double Turds!

Thanks John for taking the time to share a little bit about yourself and your creative world!

More about the new book from CPi:

The Complete Photo Guide to Making Metal Jewelry

by

John Sartin

With beautiful illustrations and step-by-step instructions, this how-to book includes all the techniques involved in crafting metal jewelry, including:

—Cutting and filing

—Cold connections

—Soldering

—Texturing

—Forging and forming

—Setting stones

—Applying specialty finishes

The book’s clear organization provides easy access to information with straightforward directions and hundreds of full-color photos. You’ll also find easy projects for trying the techniques, as well as a stunning gallery of metal jewelry pieces by experienced designers. Find beautiful jewelry examples and gain skills and inspiration with The Complete Photo Guide to Making Metal Jewelry!

John Sartin designs stunning, unique handmade jewelry in gold, silver, copper, brass, and precious and semi-precious gemstones. His jewelry has appeared on the cover and in the pages of Lapidary Journal, and he has also been published in Art Jewelry magazine and other Lark publications. He has won numerous awards for his designs. He lives in Albuquerque, NM. Visit him online at http://www.johnsartindesigns.com.

How to make a recycled candy box book

Over at Jeannine Stein's blog, Ink Stained Book Arts, she has an awesome tutorial on how to make this recycled candy box book. It is so extensive it is in two parts: Part 1 and Candy box book Part 2.

 Inside the recycled candy box book:

And if you need whole books about making books check out her two books:

Adventures In Bookbinding:

Handcrafting Mixed-Media Books

and

Re-Bound:
Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials

Next up I want to congratulate Nancy W. of Tualatin OR. She is the proud new owner of copy of 

Precut Patchwork Party:

Projects to Sew and Craft with Fabric Strips, Squares, and Fat Quarters

by

Elaine Schmidt

And in more crafty news:

QuarrySPOON

Recipe for lamb meatballs witih cilantro mint pesto sauce

RockPaperInk

Getting all you need from the client. Project management from A-Z

Where Women Create

Using lavender and twin on gifts

Lisa Solomon Musings

Cool photos!

ACreativeDream 
June's first journal page in over a year. 

Art quilting design help for beginners 
Cyndi has the opportunity to review a wonderful new book on art quilting design and techniques. 

Free Beads Leaving Soon! 
February is a short month, so do not space out and forget to enter to win some gorgeous lampwork beads over at the Crafty Princess Diaries. 

Rainbow Craft Challenge 
Drop by the Family Crafts site and check out some fun rainbow crafts and then take a moment to share yours. 

The Difference Now - Mixed Media Print 
Cherie uses words from an early poem to create a new mixed media print. 

Think Spring and Read How to Preserve Purple Iris 
Iris are among the trickier flowers to preserve in 3D but don't let peoplw tell you it can't be done. Here are the secrets for iris and many other delicate blooms. 

Recipe for bacon-wrapped dates with lemon aioli from the book The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods

I don't know about you, but I don't think you can ever have too much bacon. Especially if it comes from a book with something healthy in the title like The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods:
Your Starter Manual to Going G-Free the Easy, No-Fuss Way-Includes 100 Simply Delicious Recipes!.

Click on this page from The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods: Your Starter Manual to Going G-Free the Easy, No-Fuss Way-Includes 100 Simply Delicious Recipes! to enlarge and read the full recipe for bacon-wrapped dates with lemon aioli.

More about the Fair Winds Press recipe book:

The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods:
Your Starter Manual to Going G-Free the Easy, No-Fuss Way-Includes 100 Simply Delicious Recipes!

by

 Olivia Dupin

Whether you live gluten-free due to a wheat intolerance or digestive disorder, or because you’re simply looking to eat healthier and lose weight, The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods is your one-stop reference to going g-free naturally and effectively.

Part 1 shows you how to begin a gluten-free diet with ease, with information on everything from how to shop for naturally gluten-free ingredients—many of which you’re probably already familiar—to what to look out for at restaurants and in packaged foods, to how to stock your pantry with the best and healthiest staples. You’ll also learn the keys to following a balanced gluten-free diet, so that you can be sure you’re getting all the fiber and nutrients you need to be your healthiest.

Part 2 includes 100 delicious recipes you can make with ingredients you’d find in any supermarket—no scary, foreign-sounding fillers or other products included. From classic home-style dishes like BBQ Pulled Pork and Soft Tacos, to new favorites like Quinoa Pilaf with Roasted Root Vegetables and Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies, you’ll find countless meals to fit your time, budget, and tastes.

With The Complete Guide to Naturally Gluten-Free Foods, going g-free has never been easier—or more delicious!

Olivia Dupin is a private chef, recipe developer, and consultant and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) in 2009, she has been committed to creating simple, delicious gluten-free recipes so that those with restrictions can still enjoy the foods they love.

Olivia has worked as a private chef to clients such as professional baseball player Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees and comedian and television star Jerry Seinfeld. She is also a consultant, recipe developer, and food stylist for Energy Kitchen Restaurants, a healthy restaurant franchise.

Olivia maintains a recipe blog for Energy Kitchens (http://www.energykitchen.com/live-healthy), which features healthy recipes under 500 calories, as well as her own blog dedicated to simple, home-style, gluten-free recipes at http://www.livglutenfree.com. She resides in Jersey City, NJ.