Join the Hudson Valley Etsy Team!

Are you an Etsy seller in the Hudson Valley looking to connect with other handmade businesses in the area?   The deadline to apply for the Fall is TOMORROW!   You can read more our team criteria and how to apply on our website and while you're there, don't forget to check out our gift guides!

Pathmakers: Women in Art, Craft, and Design Midcentury and Today

I made my first trip to the Museum of Art and Design near Columbus Circle in Manhattan to see Pathmakers: Women in Art, Craft, and Design, Midcentury and Today (through September 30th). As I walked the small exhibit, I tried to take some photos of works that I thought would be inspiring to other Hudson Valley Etsians.

The first work that struck me was the Belly Button Divider by Eva Zeisel. I didn't really make the connection until I read the title, but I love the colors and the sense of humor in the piece. She calls herself "a maker of things" because innovation is not a part of her work though I wonder if many would disagree. 

Belly Button Screen, Eva Zeisel

Belly Button divider on permanent display at the Standard in Hollywood

Another ceramic work that I thought was really cool was the piece below by Rut Bryk, a designer of ceramic tiles and objects for Arabia . The abstract modular piece below was inspired by the folk art of India and Southeastern Europe. The show is very tactile so don't be surprised if you feel like reaching out and touching the pieces. 

Rut Bryk

As a pattern maker, I really loved the two examples from Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi. She worked for Marimekko and then for her own company, Vuokko Oy until 1988. She started another company, Vuokko Nurmesniemi Oy which she still runs today. She is a pattern trailblazer inspired by nature.

This knitted piece by Mary Walker Phillips blew me away. Walker Philips cut her teeth as a weaver for Frank Lloyd Wright and Dorothy Liebes but in 1960 started to focus on experimental textiles and knitting. Wow! This is such an amazing piece. I love the delicate stiffness of the string.

Habu Textiles  comes to mind for materials for your next experimental knitting project.

These are two beauties by Lenore Tawney. So light but so powerful:

ink on paper

linen thread woven form

Lenore Tawney, (1907-2007)

 Michelle Grabner's paper weavings also inspired me. It is amazing what happens when artists co-opt their kids crafts with better materials and more experience.

Michelle Grabner, Paper Weaving

So the next time you are in Manhattan, add the Museum of Art and Design to your roster. In addition to the galleries, they have a gift shop featuring local and national makers and offer programs for artists, designers, crafters. See the schedule here.

Susan - Lunule.etsy.com

St. Patrick's Day Crafting and Snacking Round-Up

It's been a long, cold, snowy winter and I'm personally in a cold weather funk. One way to get the creative juices flowing is to break out the crafting supplies and try out some new ideas - along with some delicious snacks.

Here is a round-up of some fun St. Patrick's Day crafts and snacks.

1. Lucky Penny Letters

photo credit Made by Marzipan

This copper-colored LUCKY sign is something you could keep up all year, but it's also a great leprechaun St. Patrick's Day decoration.  It just uses paper mache letters, pennies, paint and glue.

Full tutorial here at Made by Marzipan


2. Pot o' Gold Cereal Snack

photo credit Yummy Healthy Easy.

Similar to Chex Mix, but sweet and made with Lucky Charms!

Full recipe here at Yummy Healthy Easy.


3. Shamrock Shoes

photo credit by Andres Hurtado / Magic of Ireland

Go thrifting (or maybe dig through your grandfather's closet) and find an old pair of "leprechaun" shoes. Pots of clover can be bought at a garden store, or easily grown yourself (germination is just a few days) and plopped into the shoes. Only catch? Clover needs warmth so this decoration will have to stay indoors if it's still cold where you live. 

4.  Guinness and Cheddar dip

photo credit The Parsley Thief

Beer and cheese. A match made in heaven. This dip has just a few ingredients and can be made in your food processor. It only calls for 1/4 cup of Guinness beer so, sorry, you'll have to finish off the bottle so nothing goes to waste.

Full recipe here at The Parsley Thief

Ryan - Lil' Mint and WickedMint

Winter Whites

White Winter Dreams

from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

December Narcissus by DigilioDesigns

Hand Knit Cowl by Elena Rosenberg

Brocade Bag by Huzzah Handmade

Penguin Notecards by Karmabee

Bridal White Earrings by PulpSushi

Linen Drawstring Bag by Frau Lammli

Jody

a Studio by the Sea

Out Of My Studio: At Fiber Flame

Recently on this blog we read about a visit by fellow Hudson Valley Etsy Team blogger

Lark Practical to the Rhinebeck Arts Festival. She reviewed the booth provided by Fiber Flame and the wonderful time her son had spent painting a lizard. I decided this month to visit the mother ship- the original Fiber Flame studio located on route 212 between Woodstock and Saugerties. I say mother ship because recently Fiber Flame have also opened a studio in Rhinebeck and can be found at many local events, festivals and fairs.

Mother ship can also be used to describe the inspiring futuristic construction of the Fiber Flame building. Upon entering you are immediately welcomed by a beautifully curated gift shop, combining wares made from local crafts people to fair trade goods sourced from all over the world. This area is truly inspiring for any would be maker to get their creative juices flowing.

Gift shop at Fiber Flame

The space is then given over to numerous crafting tables where visitors are able to get making themselves. Shelves are jam packed with projects for children and adults alike to decorate and assemble. The walk in studio offers visitors the ability to come in whenever fits their busy schedules; Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 10am-5pm and Friday and Saturday 10am -6pm.

Some Halloween 'blanks' ready for decorating

Visitors first choose a 'blank' on which to work. This could be anything from a onesie to a wooden car, a piece of pottery to glaze or a canvas tote to decorate. Each 'blank' has varying prices from $1 upwards. You also pay a studio fee of $10, for this fee all the studio materials are included in your two hour session; from buttons, beads, fabrics, papers, embellishments, a rainbow of glazes and also help from one of the friendly assistants if you need it.

Embellishments

Fiber Flame also offers a wide variety of classes for children and adults including its monthly Dirty Girls Night Out; offering women the chance to have a night out, make a mess,  try something new, meet and chat with fellow like minded people and get creative.  Previous nights have included embroidery, needle felting, indigo dyeing, jewelry making and pottery.

The studio also throws wonderful children's birthday parties and is open to private bookings including film showings on its huge movie screen. Kids Nights Out are held regularly whereby the youngsters can create, eat dinner and watch a movie while their parents enjoy a night out.



Dirty Girls Night- Indigo Dyeing Workshop



Main area- crafting tables

It is truly a remarkable and creative place well worth a visit -to fill some time on a rainy day, learn a new skill or to make Christmas gifts for the whole family.

"Fiber Flame is our effort to honor and feed the ancient human need to adorn ourselves, our loved ones, and our environment with handmade beauty. In a mass-produced world, it feels good, essential even, to make, have, give and receive one-of-a-kind, imperfectly-rendered objects." Shea and Christina


For more information about classes and events:

Fiber Flame

1776 Route 212

Saugerties

845 679 6132

make@fiberflamestudio.com

www.fiberflamestudio.com

or visit the new studio at 18b East Market St Rhinebeck

Sarah Omura - So Handmade

Gone to the Beach

It's time to go to the Beach

with the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

It's full on summer and one's thoughts turn toward the shore.  Here are some lovely handmade items from the team inspired by a love of the waters around us!

Charms of Faith

Unnamed Road

RG Clay Designs

Huzzah Handmade

a Studio by the Sea

Stone and Fiber

Jody
a Studio by the Sea

Graduation Gifts

Gifts for the Graduate

from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

Charms of Faith

Jewelry to inspire the grad heading out into the world.

Lark Practical

Something to hold their keys to the kingdom.

Beyond the Picket Fence

Keep clean, make a good impression.

Luke Gilvey Glass

For a heirloom toast to the Class of 2014!

Jody - A Studio By The Sea

In My Studio: Sew Woodstock

In the center of Woodstock a new sewing studio has recently opened its doors. The studio called Sew Woodstock offers many great ways for visitors to explore their own creativity. In a gorgeous light and airy space patrons can make use of the sewing machines, cutting tables, mannequins and ironing boards to make their own creations, bringing their own fabrics or buying from the colorful shelves.

The studio offers clients the ability to pay for a one-off day pass or join the co-op enabling them to come anytime during the studios regular opening hours. It is a great way for people without the room and equipment at their own homes to make use of the comfortable and well-equipped space whilst also providing a way for like minded sewers to sew, improve their skills, share ideas and develop friendships. The well stocked supplies shelves reminded me of old fashioned haberdashers store, brimming with wonderfully packaged sewing provisions.

Sew Woodstock also offers different classes in all aspects of sewing crafts including embroidery, dressmaking, crochet and beginners sewing machine classes. Up to date class schedules can be found on the website: www.sewwoodstock.com

Sew Woodstock has come to life through the determination of Sally Russ and Molly Farley.

Sally, Sew Woodstock’s proprietor, was taught to sew as a child by her mother. Sally has many fond memories of shopping with her mom for fabric and looking through pattern books together. For about three decades, sewing was put on the back burner, and she made her living as a photographer. Her interest in sewing resurfaced about four years ago when she started a weekly sewing group. The great success of that group, and the general surge in interest in made-by-hand, gave her the idea of creating a sewing shop and co-op available to the public, and Sew Woodstock was born.

Molly is Sew Woodstock's resident alterations expert, teacher and vintage reconstructionist. She has been sewing for most of her life, initially learning from her mom in Minnesota who was a sewing teacher. The past seven years were spent working in the costume department at the Fisher Center Theatre at Bard College working with students and the Summerscape Opera Seasons. Molly's love of recycling and reusing clothing and textiles fits right in with the Sew Woodstock philosophy of repurposing.

Sew Woodstock is a wonderful addition to village of Woodstock, bringing together many of the community's attributes with today's new domesticity. I truly hope that with our patronage and support it will flourish and other communities will follow in its success.

SEW WOODSTOCK

15 ROCK CITY ROAD

WOODSTOCK, NY  12498

www.sewwoodstock.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Sew-Woodstock

Tel: 845 684 5564

"Sewing mends the soul"  Anonymous


Good Luck and Good Making!

DIY Thank You Card

DIY Thank You Card

from the Hudson Valley Etsy Team

Here's a little Flower Garden thank you card you or the kids can easily make!  Just like those expensive cards you find in stores, it becomes three dimensional when you add your own selection of buttons.  All you need is a printer, glue, card stock paper, invitation size envelopes, buttons, a ruler, and a scissor or other method of paper cutting.  I'm not sure how I collected all these buttons, but lots of crafty people seem to have the same secret stash.  This is one way to make use of them!

Download card design free printable here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4emWuO6AltRSkdXZ1I2VHJ5djg/edit?usp=sharing

Print out full bleed if you can.  Otherwise the image will be short on the edges.  Cut in half.

Glue on buttons at the top of the stems.  Let dry.  Fold in half, and it's done!

Jody - astudiobythesea.etsy.com