Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Handy, Crafty, DIY Folks of Maker Faire in Detroit!
Posted by Crystal
I have always loved Craft: magazine. I remember the flutter of sheer joy I felt in my chest when I saw the first edition at Border's. "These are my people," I thought....and probably said out loud! I have been known to talk to myself. ;)
Anyway, I was super bummed when it was announced that Craft: would no longer print the magazine after Volume 10 featuring the hilarious and crafty Amy Sedaris. (Inside Joke Alert: "Looks better on the floor, Dave!")
Fortunately, Craft: still maintains an awesome website dedicated to transforming traditional craft.
ANNNNNND...Craft:'s partner publication Make: magazine is still in print! In fact, Volume 23 just came out. Make: focuses on technology, electronics and gadgets. It really taps the DIY resurgence that our country is experiencing right now.
How do I know?
I went to the Motor City Maker Faire in Detroit last weekend!
May I just say...WOW! I was so supremely impressed with all the handy, crafty, DIY folks showing off their awesome creations.
I have always loved Craft: magazine. I remember the flutter of sheer joy I felt in my chest when I saw the first edition at Border's. "These are my people," I thought....and probably said out loud! I have been known to talk to myself. ;)
Anyway, I was super bummed when it was announced that Craft: would no longer print the magazine after Volume 10 featuring the hilarious and crafty Amy Sedaris. (Inside Joke Alert: "Looks better on the floor, Dave!")
Fortunately, Craft: still maintains an awesome website dedicated to transforming traditional craft.
ANNNNNND...Craft:'s partner publication Make: magazine is still in print! In fact, Volume 23 just came out. Make: focuses on technology, electronics and gadgets. It really taps the DIY resurgence that our country is experiencing right now.
How do I know?
I went to the Motor City Maker Faire in Detroit last weekend!
May I just say...WOW! I was so supremely impressed with all the handy, crafty, DIY folks showing off their awesome creations.
Bre from MakerBot Industries promoting their 3D Printer. MakerBot was on the cover of Volume 21 of Make.
Matt of i3 Detroit built this DIY organ out of glass jugs (beer growlers), garden hose, garbage bags and duct tape. I love the crazy things that people create just for the love of making!
So, totally random, but I ran into a band at Maker Faire that I saw a while back at The Flint Public Library! This is Light in August. Alex (vocals and guitar) is in the middle, Mark (bass and vocals) is on the right and Alex's brother Paul is on the left. I like them all that much more for being fans of Maker Faire!
Rick casts aluminum. He recommends Backyard Metal Casting for all your casting needs! Rick teaches jewelrymaking classes, too...I totally wanna take his class! He was a super nice and funny presenter, so I'm sure he'll be a great teacher. :)
This cast came out a little wonky, which is why Rick displayed it...to show us what NOT to do!
Artists from several foundries in Chicago, including Happy Accident Sculpture Studio and Chicago Crucible, joined forces to do an amazing Iron Pour demonstration.
Get your fresh baked cannonballs! Only $20! Joe Sandor was the mastermind behind the Iron Pour. Thanks for making a point to display the pieces to all of us in the audience, Joe!
This is a sweet laser engraver. It will be housed at Maker Works in Ann Arbor. Maker Works is a 10,000 square foot workshop full of modern tools that will be opening in Spring 2011. I can't wait!!!
Lish of Handmade Detroit holds it down at the Craft: table. Handmade Detroit organized a Craft Faire within the Maker Faire...how cool is that?!?
FH Director of Sales & Merchandising Amy (l) and I in front of her Made With Luv booth at the Craft Faire!
I love when I find crafts for guys! These ties from Cyberoptix are suh-weet! I might try to make some with my Yudu. ;)
More guy-friendly crafts! Cutie robot head magnets from Deanne of by deets (who I met at Baar Bazaar).
I did not catch this gal's name, but her yarn was adorable. Check it out at hands + notions.
Julie from Nourishing Notes is so stinkin' nice...and her cards rock, too! Perfect for the foodie in your life.
Nayyirah of Crochet Science (l) and Erin of Stone Sheep rep for Flinttown!
Tuesday of MuggyTuesday is the sweetest! She and her sister came all the way from Chicago to vend with us at our 2010 Spring Craft Market.
Allie from Mitten Made! When I finally get a chance to post about my trip to The Blue House in Ann Arbor, you will see the awesome crocheted flower brooch I bought from Allie. ;)
Sara from Broadstreet creates the most awesome upcycled necklaces from vintage jewelry. I absolutely adore her work!
Olivera from my favorite craft store in Columbus, Ohio! You may recall my Wholly Craft road trip blog post from June. Wholly Craft is totally awesome in store and on the road!
Stephanie (l) and Amy of Handmade Detroit with their pinata friend.
Thanks so much for working to put this show on, ladies of HD! I hope Maker Faire and Craft Faire come back again to The Henry Ford again next year!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Calling All Fabric Crafters and Quilters!
Flint Handmade is now accepting submissions for the 2010 Flint Festival of Quilts!
We are seeking modern quilted pieces to display at The Lunch Studio!
We will feature an eclectic collection of eco-aware quilts handmade primarily by women in their 20s-40s. A variety of traditional and non-traditional materials in a wide array of colors, textures and patchwork styles will be showcased in quilted form.
If you would like to display a quilt, please email a photo and brief description of the piece(s) to flinthandmade@hotmail.com by noon on August 18, 2010.
This a FREE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE showcase. At least one piece per crafter/artist will automatically be accepted provided it fits with eclectic/eco-aware theme.
For information and photos from the 2009 Festival of Quilts, please see our Contemporary Fiber Art Blog Post.
Flint Festival of Quilts
September 9-11, 2010 from 9am-5pm
We are seeking modern quilted pieces to display at The Lunch Studio!
We will feature an eclectic collection of eco-aware quilts handmade primarily by women in their 20s-40s. A variety of traditional and non-traditional materials in a wide array of colors, textures and patchwork styles will be showcased in quilted form.
Steph Bills made this baby quilt for her daughter Olive and displayed it in the 2009 Festival of Quilts.
If you would like to display a quilt, please email a photo and brief description of the piece(s) to flinthandmade@hotmail.com by noon on August 18, 2010.
This a FREE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE showcase. At least one piece per crafter/artist will automatically be accepted provided it fits with eclectic/eco-aware theme.
For information and photos from the 2009 Festival of Quilts, please see our Contemporary Fiber Art Blog Post.
Flint Festival of Quilts
September 9-11, 2010 from 9am-5pm
Thursday, July 29, 2010
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!
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?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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!
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!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
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.
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!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
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!
For more pics, visit our July 2010 ArtWalk Set on Flickr.
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.
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