i got a big envelope in today's mail. of course it was more vintage flower loom stuff for the kits. there was also a little note from the seller thanking me and asking that i "don't let this craft die!". well debi of collecthappy815 you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
i finally got to visit the curiosity shoppe while i was in san francisco. it's such a cute little place and the show in their gallery made me happier than i should probably admit. let's just say the overuse of googly eyes is right up my alley.
please go here to see some highlights from the show.
many of us have our "secret sources" - i certainly do. it's good to share but sometimes you don't want everyone to know where you find your special things. there is a shop in the bay area that is a very famous well kept secret and i finally had a chance to visit. now i would normally also want to keep a special store like this a secret but i feel compelled to tell the world about this one because it's just so extra special.
exclusive buttons is located in el cerrito which is just a little north of berkeley. it's been on my list of places to visit when i'm town but i never seemed to be able to get around to it - and boy am i kicking myself now that i had been blowing it off all this time. it's a very tiny shop with more buttons that you will probably ever see in one place at one time. it's very neatly organized and lovingly maintained.
i had the pleasure of meeting mary who now runs the shop on her own since her husband vince passed away last year. she told me about their wholesale business and how they started the shop. mary proudly told me that "none of our buttons are plastic" and showed me some amazing bakelite and glass buttons that are stored in tiny little drawers. it's so cool to meet someone who has so much passion about something and continues to work at it into their older years.
i really didn't need anything but i did buy a few cards of buttons (one for me and some to give as gifts) but i kind of felt like i wanted to have one of each button so i could somehow hold on to the experience of being in that store forever. i actually got a little teared up as i walked out the door.
exclusive buttons
10252 san pablo ave
el cerrito, ca
510/524-5606
open fri + sat 11am - 4 pm
and since i was in the hood i also made the pilgrimage to tail of the yak in berkeley.
well there i am in action at my workshop. how about that overhead projection? i was even wearing a microphone! with those skills i think i can finally apply for my dream job as demonstrator for "a touch of purple" at the county fair. i think i actually taught a few people how to use the looms. thanks to everyone who came by to watch. and special thanks to natalie from craft: for inviting me to do the workshop + for her ongoing support!
maker faire/bazaar bizarre was a blast and i am exhausted. i sold a whole bunch of the kits and a few other things. we were in pretty tight quarters so i'm glad that i had some really great neighbors like cathy and tamie. and once again jamie and her crew did an amazing job organizing this year's bazaar. thanks to everyone who stopped by my table - it was a pleasure meeting you.
other than my demo i was not able to get away from my table very much at all. but i was able to sneak away to see garth from extreme craft's slide presentation. i may never fully recover. do not miss him if he comes to your town.
i'd better run since there's no rest for me because i now have to prepare for renegade in brooklyn next month!
(images via natalie's flickr)
i am so excited to once again be a vendor at bazaar bizarre/maker faire on may 3-4 at the san mateo expo center (that's just a little south of san francisco). please check out this video podcast of last's year's event so you can see what all of the fuss is about!
i'll be selling some of my vintage flower loom kits along with some of my other handicrafts. i will also be teaching the "create ribbon straw flowers on vintage flower looms" workshop/demo on sunday from 2:00 - 2:30.
please stop by my table and say hi!
i'm tossing these new ribbon straw flower pins (and a whole bunch of other stuff) in my car and heading up to the bay area. see you there!
(p.s. sorry about the sucky lighting! i think i really need to get a tabletop studio)
i will be bringing some of my collection of vintage flower looms to the workshop/demo i will be teaching at maker faire.
i just love the new "kyuuto" series of books. i recently went to visit a client and she was just unpacking an order. she pulled out the "woolly embroidery" book from the series and said "this book has your name written all over it". how could i resist?
i think this cushion has to be my favorite. just love that there is only one tassel!
(from kyuuto! japanese crafts woolly embroidery published by chronicle books, 2008)
OK so i know you're thinking that i only like vintage kitsch. well you might be surpirsed that i also like nice new things too.
i became aware of the work of natalie chanin because of my work in the fashion industry. i just fell in love with her designs for her former company "project alabama". and i was so inspired by her story. natalie grew up in florence, alabama and left to work in fashion in new york and europe for 22 years. she returned home started her company and employed local quilters and seamstresses - "stitchers" - to hand sew the garments. the results were breathtaking.
natalie's work continues with her new company "alabama chanin" and she has just written a very beautiful book. it's a lovely book to just sit down and read even if you never actually make any of the projects (like the skirt pictured here). my favorite part is how she explains to "love your thread".
(alabama stitch book - projects and stories celebrating hand-sewing, quilting and embroidery for contemporary sustainable style published by stewart, taboori & chang, 2008)
spent all weekend preparing for bazaar bizarre/maker faire!
