PiP = Project in Process: Upcycled Fabric Button Magnets

Posted by Crystal

I have a button maker.  I love my button maker.  I have decided to use my button maker to make upcycled fabric button magnets. 

Several years ago, I got a bunch of quilt fabric from someone who donated it to The Lunch Studio.  I've been hanging on to it for all this time just waiting for the perfect project to come along.

And now it has!

First, I use the circle cutter to, well, cut circles.  Duh!  The circle cutter works very well on paper, but you have to be more careful with fabric.  Be sure to cut on a old surface because the cutter leaves a mark.  I'm using an thick, hard plastic placemat I got at a garage sale for FREE!  I love free. 

Then, I put all my cut circles in a little dish for safekeeping.

I'll post another PiP once I actually make the buttons.  Then, I just have to figure out packaging and I'm good to go!

For now, I'm trying to decide if I want to do matching sets of magnets with all the same fabric or coordinating sets of magnets with all different fabrics.  What do you think, blog readers?

Handmade Out and About: Black Rose Ring at The Crofoot

Posted by Crystal

You may recall that I bought a ton of awesome handmade goodies at Baar Bazaar.

Well, I got a chance to rock one of my purchases recent at The Crofoot.  I went to see my bff Tunde and his band Stereoluxxx open for Robyn.  Stereoluxxx also played at Bang to a Different Beat where Flint Handmade vended.

This is (l-r) my friend Gwen, my sister April and me...wearing the Black Rose Ring by White Lily Jewelry.  I told you Krystal of White Lily was my new favorite jewelry artist!

Email your real life pics of you wearing handmade out and about to flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we'll post them on the blog!

P.S. I'm not in love with the name "Handmade Out and About" for these posts.  So, if you have another idea, comment with your suggestions.  If your idea is selected, you will win $15 in Flint Handmade merchandise of your choice!

I am the Leslie Knope of Craft...

Posted by Crystal

Confessional Time:  I am a nerdy birdie county parks junkie.  I love, love, love that there are so many parks and nature preserves in Genesee County.  I go absolutely bonkers when I see deer or rabbits or other woodland creatures in nature.  I don't know why.  I just do.  :shrugs:

So, when Genesee County Parks and Recreation invited Flint Handmade to host a craft workshop for their summer programming, I was like, "HECK YEAH!"  This, of course, prompted a ton of Leslie Knope jokes at my expense from my fellow FH committee members.  Thanks, girls!  :P

We decided to go with a 2-part family-friendly upcycling series.  At our first workshop, we taught kids and their parents how to make chip bag wrapper chains that we turned into bracelets.  We learned this awesome skill from Mercedea at The Flint Public Library who created an upcycling info page on the FPL website. 

Michelle uses the rotary cutter to cut chip bags into strips while A'lasia (l) and Megan look on.

Katie from Genesee County Parks became an expert at the wrapper chain...by the end of the workshop, her chain was so long that she made a tiara!

All of the kids show off their awesome chip bag bracelets!  Bottom row (l-r): A'lasia, Derrick, Malik, Megan.  Middle row (l-r): Kai, Tenajia, Madie.  Top row: Me.

At our second Genesee County Parks workshop, we are going to make no sew duct tape bags which we also made at the June 2010 craftLAB.  Feel free to join us at Davison Roadside Park on Wednesday, July 28 from 7pm-8:30pm if you would like to make a bag!

July 2010 ArtWalk in Downtown Flint

Posted by Crystal

Lemme tell you straight out: THE SPARK IS BACK IN FLINT!

In the past 5 to 10 years, Flint has seen a HUGE amount of revitalization and reinvestment on the part of residents, nonprofits, businesses, foundations and arts organizations.

Downtown Flint is now home to several art galleries, restaurants, cafes and businesses.  We have a yoga studio, hair salon, bookstore and tshirt shop.  We host dozens of art shows, music festivals, car and motorcycle shows, road races and other large events.

One monthly event that you MUST check out is ArtWalk!  Hosted on the second Friday of each month by the Greater Flint Arts Council, ArtWalk features exhibitions and vending by local artists and crafters in multiple locations on Saginaw Street.

The July 2010 ArtWalk was outstanding!

A painting in the Rowe Building.

"Knock the Cans" and win a FREE Art Battle shirt!  More info on the Art Battle to come!

Cutie fish made by Steph of Frankenstitch Productions at 625.

Gotta have a busker outside The Lunch Studio at ArtWalk!

Crocheted earrings by Nayyirah of Crochet Science at The Lunch Studio.

Dangerous Lee and her book "Keep Your Panties Up and Your Skirt Down" at The Lunch Studio.  Dangerous Lee will be one of the featured authors at Book Bizarre at the Greater Flint Arts Council on Friday, July 23 from 7pm-10pm.  Be sure to check it out!

For more pics, visit our July 2010 ArtWalk Set on Flickr.

July 24, 2010 = A Craftacular Saturday in Michigan!

Posted by Crystal

So, what are you doing next weekend?

I'm going to The Blue House in Ann Arbor for MittenMADE...

...and the The Marquee in Redford for I aRt Festival!

It's gonna be a craftacular Saturday!  Oh, yeah!

Upcycling Love: Spare Metal Car Parts into Home Decor!

Posted by Crystal

What do you do when you are an automotive engineer and you love cars and you have a ton of spare metal parts laying around?

Well, if you are my friend Tom, you bust out your welding gun and make some sweet ass candlesticks and a toothbrush holder!

The bases of the candlesticks are spider gears from a rear axle.  The stems are exhaust valves from an engine and the candle holders are valve springs.

The toothbrush holder is a large intake valve from an engine with two valve springs welded to it.

Close-up of the toothbrush holder.  The metal can get a little rusty in the moist bathroom, so make sure to apply lots of layers of clear coat!

How cool is it to take something you love and bring it into your home in creatively upcycled ways?!?  

So, blog readers, do you have any nifty upcycled projects made from things you just adore?  Are you a bibliophile and make purses/lampbases/shelves out of books?  Or maybe you love vintage china and use it to make trays/wall decor/mosaics? 

Email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we'll post your upcycled projects on our blog!

Fantastic Craftiness Photo Tour: 2010 Baar Bazaar!

Posted by Crystal

May I just say...Baar Bazaar at The Majestic Theatre was freakin' awesome!  I saw soooo many of my favorite vendors and lots of new crafters with really innovative products.  Plus, there was TONS of good stuff for guys! 

Allow me to take you on a photo tour of the fantastic craftiness:

Liz of Random Noise Bursts makes the coolest drawstring bags out of old tshirts.  She accepts donations of tshirts, so feel free to send some her way!

Rachel (l) and Jennifer of The Funky Eye Patch are the cutest crafty sisters ever!

I am madly in love with the Boh Bon Soap Company packaging.  You rock that paper, Chrissy!

Krystal of White Lily Jewelry is my new favorite jewelry artist!

Jill's Barrel of Monkeys buttons and magnets are always clever and hilarious.  I had to get a True Blood magnet for my little sis.  :)

Christina (l) and Dennis with their gorgeous Perfect Laughter screenprinting.  Crafty couples rock my socks!

Who can resist a tough guy selling baby gear for his girlfriend?  Justin watches over Butter Bean Inc. while cutie patootie Ashley shops the Bazaar.

Amber of Woolly Mammoth Design makes the most adorable sweater creatures.  The squid is just perfect!

Deanne of by deets was selling these nifty radio tube critters.  Deanne, I saw a bunch of radio tubes for sale at an antique store in Northville!  I'll email you the info.  :)

Jason (l) chucks the deuces...and paints the most adorable pictures!  He sells as Paintings by Jason Gibnerd on Etsy.

Chris of Detroit GT had THE BEST automotive/Detroit apparel.  I still need to get one of those Detroit Vette shirts, Chris!

I didn't meet you at your Paper a la Mode table, Ashley.  But, your mom really held it down!  Email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com when you get your Etsy up.

These nerdy lovebirds (and their Scrabble tile crafts) were so stinkin' cute!  Check them out at Double Nerd Score.

Two of the lovely ladies of Handmade Detroit: Amy (l) of My Marigold and Bethany of Reware Vintage.  Great job putting together Baar Bazaar, Bethany!

This is Leann.  Leann works at The Majestic Cafe.  Leann is my new best friend because she totally gave me a bag for all of the stuff I bought at Baar Bazaar.  I gave Leann a Flint Handmade Follower Card and took her picture for the blog.  This is that picture.

My haul (l-r): Wellies Notecards by Sloe Gin Fizz, Aqua Flower Hairpin by ttishbite, Black and White Button Ring by The Funky Eye Patch, Green Owl by Woolly Mammoth Design, Black Flower Ring by White Lily Jewelry, True Blood Magnet by Barrel of Monkeys and Scrabble Tile Keyring by DoubleNerdScore.  All of my stuff is displayed on vintage fabric I bought at Baar Bazaar from Justin.  :)

For lots more pics, check out our 2010 Baar Bazaar set on flickr.

Call for Vendors: Aestival Festival in Metro Detroit

Jenn from Blackenedruby Jewelry clued us into the Aestival Festival in Metro Detroit!

According to their website, the "Aestival Festival is a once a year celebration of the inner creative spirit created by artistically minded individuals that seek to showcase the best local musical talent and artists in Metro Detroit. On August 6th and 7th 2010, the 3rd annual Aestival Festival will be bigger and better than ever with a new location, national acts, and an additional stage that will maximize presentation over two days near the end of summer."

Here is their Call for Vendors:

Aestival Festival 2010 - Seeking Art Vendors

The producers of the 3rd annual Aestival Festival are looking for Artists that want to sell their works August 6th and 7th 2010. A 10 foot by 10 foot space can be reserved now for only $75 for both days. The festival hours are 11 AM to 1 AM both Friday and Saturday. This is a free festival that will draw a fairly large crowd with around 30 local musical acts, 2 national acts, performing artists, a beer tent and more. The location is Lenox Twp., MI (28 Mile Road and Gratiot).

Please contact ron@audiomiteproductions.com with art details, a few pictures of your work and any questions you may have.

Happy 5th Anniversary, Baar Bazaar!

Posted by Crystal

Who is going to Baar Bazaar on Saturday?

I am!  Woo-hoo!  Happy 5th Anniversary, Reware Vintage and Baar Bazaar!

Quilted Coasters for Amy's 40th Birthday!

Amy, our lovely Director of Sales and Merchandising, celebrated her 40th birthday a couple months ago.  Of course, the rest of us FH ladies had to throw her a little celebration.  :)  We had balloons, flowers, cupcakes and, duh, handmade gifts!

Tracey put together a basket of spa goodies, Crystal made a tote out of a pillowcase and Michelle created awesome quilted coasters.

The coasters were so awesome, in fact, that we are providing you a link to the fabulous Martha Stewart tutorial that Michelle used to make them.  Enjoy!

materials

finished product

No July craftLAB, but Craft Supply Swap in August!

There will not be craftLAB on Sunday, July 4 in observation of Independence Day.

Join us on Sunday, August 1 for the Craft Supply Swap!

Check out the posts from our swaps in August 2009 and Februrary 2010! 

Trust us.  You want to take advantage of this opportunity to destash your craftroom...and then score some FREE supplies to restock!

P.S. If you can't make it to the swap, but still want to donate supplies, just drop them off under the info table by the front door of The Lunch Studio.