The Urban Craft Center

The U.C.C Blog Has Moved!

2009-03-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

For current blog entries and info about The Urban Craft Center, please visit the blog located on our website, or click here

Thank you!

Indie Holiday Craft Fair

2008-12-11T11:20:00.000-08:00

We recently got the wonderful opportunity to sponsor a FREE local indie craft fair called The Pehr Space (craft) happening this Saturday December 13 from 5-midnight. (An evening craft fair! How fantastic!) Pehrspace is an amazing little art space/music venue located in Historic Filipino town. (325 Glendlae Blvd. 90026 to be exact, look for a small plaza of shops).

Stop by and enjoy hot apple cider, scarf a vegan hot dog outside, check out indie bands and meet local craftsters. If you've ever thought that L.A is without a strong crafting community, let this be the event that proves you wrong.

We will be there, so please say hello. You can't miss us. We will be in the very front just as you walk inside with needle felting demos, mini felt kits and our holiday favorites from the store. We can't wait to meet new friends and see familiar faces.

For more information please visit http://thepehrspacecraft.blogspot.com/

Create! Create! Create!

Book Reading Craftacular!

2008-11-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like a truly inspiring idea to light the spark in your belly that helps you create. When we saw that Maura Madden's new book, Crafternoon: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty With Your Friends All Year Long has an entire year's worth of inspiration, we just had to plan an event to celebrate. Not only does she offer project instructions, but ideas to make your craft parties and get togethers a success as well. Now that's bringing community and creativity together!

Maura will be reading from and signing her book at our studio and we will be giving away two signed copies at the end of the evening!

Maura Madden presents......

Crafternoon: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty With Your Friends All Year Long.

Date: Monday December 8th

Time: 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

We love all of her ideas. The only addition we would have made is a special section about planning your craft parties at The U.C.C!

We hope to see a lot of you on the 8th. In the meantime, don't hesitate to bring those unfinished projects out of your home and into our studio. We have plenty of space to work in, books to explore and equipment to utilize.

Gobble Gobble!

OUR GRAND OPENING HAS ARRIVED!!!

2008-11-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that our Grand Opening will take place this Sunday November 23rd from 10-4. If you haven't already dropped in to craft, take a class or just say hello, we are located on 2433 Main St. in the Edgemar building. Stop by the Farmers Market on your way to the celebration. The creators of an amazing shopping cart christmas tree sculpture (yes, really!) are putting the finishing touches in the courtyard today and we're all getting ready for the holiday crafts to roll on in!

Join us by the tree tomorrow for free kids craft demos outside and adult craft demos in our studio. We will have raffles throughout the day so come early :-)

Bring your craft projects along with you, because we are also offering

FREE STUDIO TIME all day! Use one of our brand new sewing machines or get to work on your holiday scrapbooks. We are excited to debut our updated winter class list and holiday class specials as well.

Finally, we know that a lot of you have been patiently awaiting our website.

Well, it is coming soon....very soon....we promise.... :-)

Thank you to everyone in the craft community for your support of the U.C.C. We are enthusiastic to watch your ideas grow into projects and for us all to share and support each other as we create! create! create!

See You Soon :-)

The Urban Craft Center goes to Felt Club!

2008-11-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

Q: Is Felt Club all about Felt?
A: No! No! It's all about crafts!

We have plans for you this Sunday afternoon! Come to Felt Club, November 16th at the Shrine Auditorium. It's one of the biggest and most exciting craft events in the country...we are one of their sponsors and we will most certainly be there with a booth and goodies to share. We can't wait to see all of our friends' crafty faces as we celebrate the love to create!
www.feltclub.com

Introducing....Lil' Orange, Lil' Mushroom and Lil' Whale.
Our mini needle felted friends will be strutting down the red carpet in little kits for you to pick up and make at home. These kits are only available at our booth at Felt Club.

Have a wonderful weekend, we hope to see you soon.
Next up...our Grand Opening November 23rd :-) Exciting news to come

Open at long last!!!!

2008-11-11T17:13:00.000-08:00

Yes Friends, the wait is finally over! We are thrilled to announce that both the studio and shop are open!!!! (There just aren't enough exclamation points in the world for how overjoyed we are)! The journey she has been long, she has been tough, she has been tedious and tear-jerking at times. But doesn't that make it all the more wonderful that we are finally open? Sure does.

Come visit us- our giant orange sofa is soo lonely! Our new sewing machines sit, waiting to be used, and our tables lay wide open, screaming "COME CRAFT WITH US!!"

Shop the most fantastic assortment of crafty goods in L.A. and take some fun classes with our awesome in-house teachers!

The Countdown is almost over.....

2008-10-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

....to our soft opening next week and our GRAND OPENING November 23rd!!! The shelves are filling up with colorful balls of yarn, luscious bolts of fabric and all kinds of goodies to complete the simplest to the most ambitious crafting adventures.
Here are a few sneak peak photos of what you will be able to see at the U.C.C next week:
prints! prints! prints!

books and kits and supplies, oh my!

worsted! bulky! soft and silky!

Sign up for our newsletter to get more details about our November 8th celebration, or better yet, stop in and say hello. We are excited for the crafting community to have a place to come together, build friendships, inspire one another and of course...CREATE!
See you soon!

Girls with Big Balls

2008-08-25T15:05:00.001-07:00

What did you think I meant?

I would like you all to meet BB-short for Big Ball, our official mascot for the UCC. BB is the result of 2 days of winding yarn, but she is 100% pure wool-all yarn, no artificial filler. I invite you all to come and check her out in person. And try to pick her up.

Angharad

PS-the birthing process:

Linocuts

2008-05-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

A beautiful multi-colored print, found here:

On fine Japanese paper, found here:

You can even use fabric paint with your linocut, here used on cotton tape:

-Carolyn

Bead people

2008-05-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

More playin' around with beads and wire:

Angharad made the top row,

I made the bottom two.

-Carolyn

Faux embroidery...

2008-05-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

Don't these pieces look like they were embroidered? Onto leather or something...

It's polymer clay! The artist is Jennifer Morris ,found here.

-Carolyn

Novel threads

2008-05-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

Can you tell I love embroidery? It's so versatile!

-Carolyn

found here found here

Beaded Earrings

2008-05-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

Playin' around with beads and wire.

-Carolyn

Vinyl - the next frontier

2008-05-20T21:24:00.001-07:00

Look what people are doing with vinyl : these are all different designers : how cool!

Basically, these are stickers. Be sure that where you place it is truly its final resting position. Removal involves scraping it off, so your best bet is porcelain, or tile, or stone. On paint? That takes dedication!

-Carolyn

one

two

three / four

five

six

Big News

2008-05-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

We're moving!!! Yes, our lease is up and we're tired of the parking issues, the temperature issues and the "can't find you after driving around for an hour" issues. We think Main street is more our vibe anyway, so we hope you'll follow us to our new location in the historic Edgemar building. 2433 Main street to be exact, with a Pete's coffee, Ben and Jerry's, and Urth cafe right outside our door. And have I mentioned the abundant parking?

To celebrate the move we're throwing a free craft party! Friday, May 30th from 6 pm onwards-bring your favorite project, your favorite friends, and your favorite drinks and craft the night away with us. We'll have door prizes and felting and craft projects out on the tables-so come and help us kiss this place goodbye!

Angharad

PS-visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to receive updates, special coupons and to find out when our grand reopening will be!

the story of three little piggies

2008-05-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

I've been inspired by the zakka felting books that we have in our extensive library. At first I was just going to make a white felt sheet to make little coasters but then..it started to look a like a pig to me...so I grabbed the little grab bag of felt bits and before I knew it...I had a pig with two little orange birth marks....then I decided to add a mustache. Not a complete hit but I like it. Then I decided...well, I like things in sets. And I made two more.

It reminds me of the needle felted Christmas tree that I made when I was a student here a while ago...
that grew tentacles...
and then became a squid.

-Jamie

Polymer Clay Bowl

2008-05-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

-Carolyn

Hand embroidered wares:

2008-05-13T20:13:00.001-07:00

Jan Constantine of the UK sells beautiful hand-embroidered pillows:

-Carolyn

(actually it's the trout pillow I really want)

Finally finished with my wet felt!

2008-05-12T13:50:00.001-07:00

It's a cosy for a tiny....tiny teapot.

Here's my wet felted wool sheet. More to come soon!

-Jamie

tribble...what is this???? A little vibrating plushie that I made at Makerfaire

2008-05-12T12:03:00.001-07:00

My little tribble which I made at makerfaire was originally going to b this little cuddly bunny...that turned into this shapeless rounded rectangle. It's called a tribble because we added a little cell phone motor that turns when you press the little silver button. Rachael and Annie, our instructors, taught us how to create these little plushes from scratch....and you can make one too! Just follow these instructions [link].

Tribbles are apparently supposed to be hugable heart pillows...not shapeless blobs...but it was fun! It's also featured in this quarter's craftzine if you subscribe to it.

- Jamie

knitting drummer from Maker faire

2008-05-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Useless but cool....performance art?

-Jamie

Lace Tatting

2008-05-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

So pretty & fun - but time consuming!

I really enjoyed Billie Dyer's workshop!

-Carolyn

It takes quite a bit of practice....notice the rings on the left are slightly irregular, and the rings on the right are more uniform.

(p.s. I can roll a flower round out in about half an hour now...learning is the hard part...after that...a breeze!)

Norwegian Folk Throw....

2008-05-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

-Carolyn

.....ok....I cheated........

(thank you Kelly for sharing your Jacquard Textile Color with me!)

More thrifted sweaters:

2008-05-08T22:48:00.000-07:00

Here's another cool thing you can do with thrifted sweaters (from the same site), done by Alicia Paulson.

I looooove this bag!

-Carolyn

'Thrifted Sweaters & Vintage Threads'

2008-05-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

We have a collection of thrifted sweaters that we are always adding to, and are often felting.

Here's an example Jamie showed me (here) of what one artist/or group of artists at Cocoon Designs is using them for:

-Carolyn

The Felted Female

2008-05-06T21:35:00.001-07:00

Absolutely amazing!

Stephanie Metz makes these intricate felted female figures. The fact that these pieces are formed from wool somehow enhances that certain organic grace and ease which reflects true feminine beauty.

Jamie directed me to this site. Thanks, James!

-Carolyn

Highlights from Makerfaire

2008-05-06T17:27:00.001-07:00

Hola everyone. Makerfaire was great fun and I was so happy to see some of the people from Craft Con (xoxo Shana!). You can see all the pixs on our flickr site here [link].

Hightlights included:
- Meeting the crafty peeps from Craft Con...
- Creating my own little vibrating pillow...thanks Rachel!
- Meeting Lauren from goody goody and Missy from Crafty Carnival
- Watching a glass bead demo from the amazing Jenine (look at her necklace...ten years in the making and counting)...
- Making a little notebook with rub-ons at the Hambly screen prints booth
- Watching robots fight to the death! Poor Pleo :(
- Seeing random things go on fire and people rushing to see it...
- Meeting Teresa from Tall Wheat...your batik stuff is so cool!
- Walking around the Howl's Moving Castle caravan and drinking irish coffee with the steam punk folks
- See a father and his little baby zooming about in a mobile cupcake with pills as topping

-Jamie

Successes, Failures, & UFOs : Following Up!

2008-05-05T17:20:00.001-07:00

Ok. Following up on previous posts...we have finished with the final stages of 2 projects. One was a success and the other was unfortunately a failure.

We were successful with our wet felted pieces. Scroll down to see them mid-process:

Jamie's & mine

We tried firing our PMC pieces. We have never used this type of open kiln before and it got too hot, too quickly. My 'C' charm completely melted. The backs of the smaller ones got imprinted by the wire mesh:

And I just thought I'd show you my embroidery progress. I've always got about a million other projects on at the same time- so it is slow-going!

-Carolyn

Pyrography - my new addiction!

2008-05-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

AKA - woodburning

...just for that ski lodge smell alone.

-Carolyn

More Gocco fun

2008-05-02T20:48:00.001-07:00

I <3 spinning

2008-05-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

While I'm just a spinning neophyte as you can see below....

Ugh...look at those knots!! I'm in complete awe of the Ashley of the lone knitta...

and Tiffany of Noddy Boom.

I really hope that we have another spinning class soon. I love spinning...it's a wonderful way to destress....thank you Angharad for teaching me this addiction! I think I need a wheel.

-Jamie

Instructional videos:

2008-05-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Check out this site if you're interested in working with resin. I wanted to inspire you on other things you can do with resin, as we have the "Little Windows" workshop coming up this Saturday:

http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/video_detail.aspx?id=790

And one of our members mentioned that she is interested in tie-dyeing a t-shirt. Remember that? I made quite a few tie-dyed items in junior high and in high school. I wanted to post this for her:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl7mOF4ZJo8

-Carolyn

Going to Maker Faire

2008-05-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

I'll be going to Maker Faire in SF this weekend and I am excited at the line up of folks that will be there. Will be sharing highlights next weeks.

-Jamie

Just playin' around

2008-04-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

We wanted to experiment with our new small jeweler's kiln so the 3 of us each whipped up a pendant (or 3: Jamie) to fire using PMC (Precious Metal Clay). Here they are bone dry. I'll show you what they look like after firing.

And then Jamie and I did some wet felting. Angharad's the expert in that department.Jamie'smine
(looks like spinach)

I'll show you how these come out, too.

I love before & after shots!

-Carolyn

'Great Green Goods'

2008-04-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

I just found a great blog that is all about crafting recycled waste:

-Carolyn

recycled bicycle tires
recycled clam and mussel shellsrecycled skateboard jewelry

(double sided)

This is harder than I thought!

2008-04-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to recreate a beautiful pair of earrings I saw. It's become quite the challenge!

It looked simple enough- knotted thread with a bead at the top of each peak- wrapping around the length of the hoop (like a stegosaurus).

These are peaks #'s 2 & 3 (I undid the first attempt). It's time consuming, but I'll keep at it.

Wish me luck!

-Carolyn

Tidy yarn storage

2008-04-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a handy idea ( I found here) for storing balls of yarn, that puts to use unnecessary waste at the same time:

-Carolyn

Sculpted knits

2008-04-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

Another star student that I have blogged about before is my friend Evi. (see her blog).

She recently told me about some knitwork that I must check out. Sandra Backlund is the artist's name. I had the devil of a time trying to remember this woman's name. It's like one of those phone numbers that is impossible to remember- (even though no one memorizes phone numbers anymore)- because there's no pattern to the numbers- and no matter how many times you dial it, you cannot retain them. She had to train me phonetically. It became sort of a joke. I'm usually pretty good with names, too...

Anyway, I looked up her site and the work is just stunning! Hand-made. Not much is planned- she lets her needles go where they take her.

I agree that her work is more sculpture than fashion. Thanks for the tip!

-Carolyn

Dyed reeds

2008-04-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Preparing for the Basket Weaving class I wanted to offer other color options besides just the natural reeds- which are beautiful in their own right.

Here I combined natural with a subtle nude color:

-Carolyn

I achieved the colors for this basket and the basket Eugenia made (pictured below), using a mixture of Jacquard Acid Dyes and Kool Aid packets:

Star student

2008-04-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

Somehow yesterday's Basket Weaving class had only one person signed up. It was just Eugenia and I, and it was such fun.

I thought you guys should see her basket. She really excels at crafts that require meticulous attention. I blogged about her soap batch a little while ago...

Here she is working away...(on turbo speed it looks like).
Great work!
-Carolyn

New toy

2008-04-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

We just got a cricut machine. It is technical, but fortunately it comes with a (rather amusing) instructional video. We've been having fun playing around with it's extensive capacity.

It is a computerized diecut machine. Each template is plugged in to procure different shapes and lettering. Here are a few template examples that we have:We also have a Cuttlebug, which is a manual diecut machine:
Great for Scrapbooking, or Art Journaling, or Paper Crafts, etc!

-Carolyn

Linocut Print Making

2008-04-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

I wanted to see what I could get by applying pressure using only a wooden spoon:

Not perfect, but ok I think.

-Carolyn

Embroidered porcelain?

2008-04-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

Diem Chau is an artist who is doing some interesting things with embroidery.

How did she do it? At first I was perplexed:

The perspective was odd...
...but could possibly hold true if the artist's approach was calculated:
This one is my favorite:Then I saw this photo of a similar piece where you can see a dip in the middle:
She embroiders on a screen, pulls it tight across the tops of the porcelain dishware, and then adheres it to the rim: Phew! At one point I wondered if she were gluing down each individual thread. What a great idea!

-Carolyn

And I threw in these carvings of hers just because they're so cool- Crayola crayons!

More Paper Making:

2008-04-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

In order, actually:

These first two had more of a landscape direction...

...and then I got sidetracked with abstracts:

-Carolyn

Embossing Powder is addicting!

2008-04-15T20:24:00.001-07:00

I made these beads out of paper, etc. What glossies them is sprinkling embossing powder over them and then melting it. Repeat this process adding several layers and mix-media materials. "The possibilities are endless!"

-Carolyn

Through the ages....

2008-04-14T18:44:00.001-07:00

...was completely charmed by this first image and set out to find more:

-Carolyn

"Purple Stockings"
(c?-c?)

"The Knitting Girl"
(c1831-c1910)

"The Wool Winder"

(c1725-c1805)

"Madonna Knitting"
the oldest Western knitting image
(c1345-c1415)

In the works

2008-04-12T14:25:00.001-07:00

I'm starting a new embroidery project. And it's big! I drew out a light diagram for myself, so obviously that's all going to be covered with embroidery floss.

Can't wait to see how it turns out...

-Carolyn

First Sewn Tote Bag

2008-04-11T19:57:00.001-07:00

Ever have one of those projects that really only needs a few last things done to it. So minute. But yet you don't get to it for ages? Probably because it's part of a pile that's grown - and it's the same thing with all of them - the very last 2 or 3 steps.

Well, I finally finished my first tote bag that I started a while back. I already blogged about my 2nd one...so it was started even before that one.

And by the way - I love strawberries! My mother said that she ate strawberries by the barrel-full when she was pregnant with me...so...maybe that's why....Does that mean I'm sweet?

-Carolyn

Candle Making

2008-04-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

This was a fun and simple project.

The flakes are eucalyptus leaves and they smell heavenly.

-Carolyn

Artfest 2008

2008-04-08T19:01:00.001-07:00

Artfest 2008
We're back and had a great time!

Out of the 3 workshops I took, somehow I wound up with 2 that were more art than craft. It seemed to take away from the whole Artfest vibe. So many amazing techniques are being shared by innovators in their field- it was a shame not to tap that resource a little more. You get 3 choices for 3 days worth of workshops and either get your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd pick. Basically, you choose 9 classes and wind up with 3.

'Waxy Layers' with Judy Wise was one of the classes I chose and didn't get.

I want to share with you the PMC Bird Pendant workshop I took with Catherine Witherell. It was a great class- Catherine's a lovely teacher- and I was amazed at how easy, yet complicated the whole process was. It works like clay, then you put it in the kiln and it clinks like metal. Because it is metal. The clay burns off during the firing process as it is merely an organic binder. Fascinating!

-Carolyn

Here are some examples of Catherine's work:

Here's the pendant that I made:
(someone told me that it looks like a Pacific Northwest Thunderbird)

We're back!

2008-04-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Jamie went to CraftCon in San Francisco, and Angharad & I went to Artfest up in Port Townsend, WA. It was a great time and I will tell you about it tomorrow.

For now, here's the Gocco Screen Print I made in class tonight:

-Carolyn

In SF for the Craft Congress!

2008-04-03T23:29:00.000-07:00

Here in SF for the Craft Congress. I've been invited to speak on a panel on Sunday from 10-11am. Excited to meet other crafters and for the ready made party tomorrow. Will report in tomorrow.

-Jamie

Soap Making for the faint of heart

2008-03-31T20:18:00.001-07:00

It's no lye!

You don't have to deal with chemical reactions if you don't want to. Melt n' Pour Soap is a class we offer where you do just that- melt and then pour.

It can be very creative and rewarding!

-Carolyn

We are in the LA Times Guide!

2008-03-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

-Carolyn

March 27, 2008

Action Man: Making Soap

By -- Liam.Gowing @latimes.com

SOAP. On a rope, in a bar, in a jar, it's one of those everyday inventions we take for granted. And it is an invention. Unlike salt, it doesn't occur naturally or, like cinnamon, grow on trees. So what is soap anyway, and how is it made?

These were the questions I brought to the Urban Craft Center, a spacious, loft-style workshop in Santa Monica. Launched last year by Angharad Jones, a longtime crafter, the UCC offers classes in a stupefying array of home arts and crafts, including soap-making, which, at $80, is the Rolls Royce of the curriculum.

Taught by UCC studio manager Carolyn Crosse, my two-hour tutorial began with a short history. "Soap is actually a pretty ancient art," Crosse explained, citing its accidental discovery by Romans washing their clothes in rivers at the foot of sacrificial altars, where ash and animal fats would collect after rain.

Fascinating. Would my classmates -- three congenial thirtysomething ladies -- and I begin our class by likewise sacrificing a goat to Apollo? Not quite.

Pursuing a strictly vegan recipe, we were each given a Crock-Pot set to "low," three kinds of oil -- coconut, palm and olive -- a beaker of water and a tub of powdered lye. Following directions, we dumped the oils into the pot and, while waiting for them to heat up, selected two or three prefab soap molds and perused an assortment of optional fragrances such as lavender and peppermint.

Then, after donning gloves, glasses and gas masks, we added the highly alkaline lye to the water. Expecting explosions, smoke or at least a little fizzle, I was slightly underwhelmed. The beaker just got hot.

"That's the chemical reaction," Crosse explained.

"What kind of reaction?" I asked, intrigued.

"A chemical reaction," she replied.

Oh.

With the lye dissolved moments later, we dumped the solution into the hot pot with the oil, whisked it together with an electric mixer until it took a meringue-like consistency, and waited for "saponification" to occur, which was pretty neat: The mixture expanded like a soufflé; fatty pools of glycerin rose to the surface. And voila! After about 20 minutes, we had soap, ready -- after an ounce or two of fragrance was added -- to be spread into the molds, where it would harden into bars overnight.

All in all, soap-making was fun. I came away with a dozen handsome bath bars and the knowledge to make more. Still, for $80, I think I should have gotten a goat -- not to sacrifice necessarily -- maybe just to have a goat.

Black Lace

2008-03-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

I love lace!

I think it is the ultimate feminine accessory...delicate...intricate...

Then again I have a friend who says that lace makes her think of "dust and death." I don't personally think that lace connotes granny's vintage attic...but...to each her own.

To knit lace is definitely a time investment. Angharad completed this beautiful black shawl a few months back. What a masterpiece! Gorgeous! But certainly a labor of love- 2 years of love! (Of course, at the same time she started and finished many, many other projects during these 2 years!)

-Carolyn

Angharad's black lace shawl

black lace gloves

black lace bowl

Paper Making is so fun!

2008-03-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

I only made one of the pieces of paper from that whole batch of paper I posted about earlier- entitled: 'Recycling paper...literally!'

I was able to tell which one was the piece that I made because if you look closely you can see a bit of text that came through and it was the word 'China'. (You can click on the single sheet, to enlarge the photo, and will be able to read it). I was hooked. That little bit of unexpectedness got me so excited to make more paper.

Here's my latest batch:

-Carolyn

Public Craft

2008-03-25T20:14:00.001-07:00

-Carolyn

Pergola - Northern Italy industrial lace fence
in Pergola, Italy

knit tree
in Yellow Springs, OH

knit pole
in Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Seuss-esque felted sculpture
at the Largo-Kettering Branch Library, Largo, MD

Scrap material

2008-03-24T20:36:00.001-07:00

Recognize the fabric? The lower 2 are from my shopping tote project that I blogged about a few days ago. The top one is the extra fabric Jenna brought with her to make her shopping tote. Thanks for the scraps! I made these fragrant herb sachets and filled them with lavender buds. Great for your closet. If you have enough material for a long rectangle, they make a soothing eye pillow.

Nothing is wasted here!

-Carolyn

Dandelions

2008-03-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Gocco Screen Printing - here's my latest:

I bought this stamp at the Pomona Quilt Show.

Each blog has it's unique header or title image that introduces it at the top. A symbol that the blogger identifies with. If I decide to create a personal blog, I'll use this stamp as mine. I love the clean, slender lines.

-Carolyn

Printed Easter Goodness!

2008-03-21T19:55:00.001-07:00

I find this image absolutely charming! I found it here.

This effect could be achieved using the Gocco Screen Printing machines we have here.

-Carolyn

fern animal glow in the dark

2008-03-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

Cuteness...!
fro Ashley's blog: "

This project is a collaboration between Fern Animals and Velle Magazine. We have all been working this for months now, and I am so excited to finally be releasing it!

This exclusive glowing Fern Animal is completely hand embroidered with glow in the dark thread, and comes in a hand made glowing carrying case produced by Velle.

The animal is made from recycled linen that was pulled from the back of an Audubon print (I have a book conservation friend!) and is stuffed with 100% Natural Organic Cotton.

The carry case is hand made from natural wool felt, clear vinyl and polymer, and is also stitched with glow in the dark thread.

This is the first in a very small edition of only six glowing animals!

The auction begins tonight, March 20th at 10pm EST, and will be up for five days, ending Monday March 24th at 10 pm EST." Link.

-Jamie

happy easter

2008-03-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

- The UCC

Steven Darden...our wire hero

2008-03-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

who will so happen to be teaching a class here! I met Steven about two months ago and he was selling a few of his wire figure at a charity auction and they absolutely blew me away. These spiders here are made from paper clips, copper and steel wire and stuff that he found on the streets around his neighbor. link.

He will be teaching a class on how to make the wired spider on Saturday April 26th at the UCC. link.

-Jamie

Moxie has out done herself....she is the felting queen!

2008-03-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

I am definitely a needle felting aficionado but Made by Moxie just....tops the cake with this. Holy smokes....I can't even imagine how long that took her to do....she must of used her monster 18 needle felting tool that she made herself. Playfully interpretation of Little Big Dog. :)
[via]. Link.

-Jamie

Needle Felted Easter Goodness!

2008-03-19T16:00:00.001-07:00

I saw Miss. Potter recently and enjoyed it very much. It is about Beatrix Potter, the creator behind the Peter Rabbit story series. I am very inspired by her- the Beatrix Potters and J.K. Rowlings out there who can find success through their visions- devising complete little worlds. A goal of mine is to write and illustrate a children's book someday...

I found these adorable needle felted Peter Rabbit bunnies here, just in time for Easter.

-Carolyn

Finished sewing projects! And they're reversible!

2008-03-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that I'm not alone here, but I love taking the 'U' out of 'UFO' and making a Finished Object (from an Un-Finished Object).

-Carolyn

Repurposed Western shirt/skirt - from Candi Cancel's class.

It's reversible! I arranged for pockets on both sides.

My shopping tote.
I stitched the straps together at the top, so maybe this project would be more accurately described as semi-reversible.

World Famous Crochet Museum

2008-03-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

The World Famous Crochet Museum- does anybody know about this place? It's right outside of Joshua Tree, CA.

I was just in Joshua Tree on Monday, but didn't read about this place till yesterday!

This darling little desert gem was written about in the same issue of Craftzine as yesterday's blog posting.

-Carolyn

Mark this up on your 'to do' list- after visiting the world's largest ball of yarn- and don't miss the 'poodle wing.'

TOO MUCH! Again!!!

2008-03-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, I can't breath, I am hyperventilating, this is really TOO MUCH!

You have to check out this site. It is in Japanese, but just scroll around and click on things and you'll get the tour. There's a particularly cute miniature doll house. I came across it looking back to an old Craftzine blog entry from November, 2006.

Again, nature-derived...everything is made out of nutshells...which means...everything is mini!

We love mini-sized things here, and of course things nature-derived, and well, nuts too!

-Carolyn

Speaking of thinking outside of the box...

2008-03-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

...I came across these nature-derived jewelry pieces by Terhi Tolvanen on one of my favorite blogs (Found Object) - and they are just gorgeous!

I do love it when Mixed-Media really works - it looks purposeful and as natural as the objects themselves.

-Carolyn

glass, silk, pressed wood

gold, tourmaline, wood, textile

tourmaline, glass, silk, wood

Speaking of Quilts...

2008-03-11T22:06:00.001-07:00

...I like quilts that think outside of the box:

-Carolyn

found here:

Tutorial-how to sew a double-sided strap

2008-03-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful tutorial courtesy of Fat Orange Cat. Easy, clear and clean instructions....my favorite! [via] link.

-Jamie

Story Boards

2008-03-08T11:50:00.001-08:00

I was looking around at the myriad of blogs out there, as per usual, and came across this wonderful little Peruvian quilt here.

It reminded me of this old story board I had as a kid which depicted all of the main fairy tales compiled onto one large panel. It hung across the wall above my bed and each night my parents would tell me a different bedtime story using it as a reference. One night it would be Cinderella arriving at the ball in her pumpkin carriage, follow the same road down a bit and there would be The Three Little Pigs inside their houses of varying sturdiness. Travel further along said road and you might happen upon The Muffin Man selling his Hot Cross Buns....

Which then reminded me...

...remember the old felt boards you had as a child? They were great- and they forced you to use your imagination in a similar way...but then went even further by being interactive.

-Carolyn

(aw, Goodnight Moon, my favorite!)

Goldilocks And The Three Bears

Show & Tell kit

Old felt board

...and who remembers Colorforms?

(I personally don't remember these, but thought them apt. Apparently, my boyfriend had the one for Happy Days....).

Our fabric from the Pomona Quilt Show

2008-03-07T18:46:00.002-08:00

What fun we had yesterday! Here's a sampling of some of the goodies we got:
(click to enlarge)

-Carolyn

Leftovers....

2008-03-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

I hate wasting...really...almost to a fault. After our paper making experiment (pssttt...something in the air tells me that we might offer it as a class soon)....we had some leftover paper mulch so let's see what happens to these little guys over the next few days....

-Jamie

At the Quilt Show in Pomona

2008-03-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to the Quilt Show in Pomona and it was a shopping frenzy! We got there shortly after the show opened in the morning and there was a line snaking around to outside the gate....there must have been over 200 people in front of us eager to get in. Once we got in, we saw a herd of people in front of the booths in front of us and the shopping frenzy began....

After about three hours of that and bumping and fighting through crowds of people, we headed home to the studio, inspired by all the different quilts, vendors, patterns and interesting new things/crafts the different vendors created. (Also saw an embroidery sewing machine for the first time...omg...it was $5,000+). New classes will definitely be coming from all the different fabrics and things we bought.... :)

-Jamie

Our collection

2008-03-06T19:25:00.001-08:00

......and here is a sampling of our button collection:

-Carolyn

Repurposing vintage buttons

2008-03-05T13:33:00.001-08:00

These old buttons have been repurposed into elegant, contemporary earrings. You can find them here:

1920's ruby glass buttons

1880's jet black shoe buttons

We have a nice collection of vintage-y 1950's-ish buttons here at The UCC.....

-Carolyn

Superfine Felt

2008-03-04T18:37:00.001-08:00

The first image makes me think landscape....and depending the size of the bottom figure, it could be a ring that fits on your finger.

I found these great felted pieces here:

-Carolyn

artist: Emily Barletta

artist: hisano takei

Recycling paper...literally

2008-03-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

We made these sheets of paper the other day from our recycling bin.

-Carolyn

Homemade Goods

2008-03-01T18:43:00.001-08:00

Eugenia came in and made this beautiful batch of soap. Excellent work!

While I was teaching her about soap-making from scratch she taught me how to jar my my own jam. Now I need to put all that useful information to practice. First up - strawberry jam.

Funnily, the topic came up due to her reservations about working with lye, compared to my fear of botulism in home canned food.

Thanks, Eugenia!

-Carolyn

No - nothing beats duct tape!

2008-02-29T18:58:00.001-08:00

-Carolyn

Duck Brand Duct Tape 2007 Contest Winner

40 rolls of duct tape were used.....found here:

Cardboard - better than duct tape?

2008-02-28T21:52:00.000-08:00

This fabulous stove top is made entirely out of corrugated cardboard. Fabulous! Instructions on how to construct one of your own for that special little someone can be found here.

-Carolyn

THE GREENSET

2008-02-27T15:38:00.001-08:00

One of my best friends, who I actually went to high school with - yes, all the way back to high school days- writes a blog called the greenset about eco-friendly fashion and eco-friendly beauty products. She is a lively writer, and her postings are extremely well-researched.

We are all about repurposing here at The UCC.

-Carolyn

Here is just one of her entries:

PRELOVED

" New clothes! Made from old clothes! OMG! These dresses are sweet, and so is recycling old garments and vintage materials into fresh new looks. It's cool that so many independent designers are working with the art of re-fashion, and it's even cooler that companies like Preloved are doing it so well.

And they make dresses for guys too! Well, not dresses, but clothes anyway.

www.preloved.ca

pre-love it:

www.bunkyboutique.com

www.sodafine.com

www.candystorecollective.com

www.oliounited.com "

Beet, Beet, Aubergine, Pear....

2008-02-26T19:33:00.001-08:00

I don't know....I thought this grouping of faux food went well together. Love it!

Looks very autumnal....actually....not very spring-like....

One of these artists is a friend of ours, and may be teaching a class project here in the near future....

-Carolyn

Beet, Beet, Aubergine, Pear :

"Too Much!"

2008-02-25T19:24:00.001-08:00

I'm not usually into cute-sy, but this is ridiculous!

I have 2 cats myself...and as Jamie would say: "This is too much!"

These little characters can be found here.

-Carolyn

Sittin' Pretty

2008-02-22T15:05:00.001-08:00

-Carolyn

knit chair seat

chair stamp

le chat est sur la chaise

chair tee

Simplicity itself...

2008-02-21T15:54:00.001-08:00

I found these embroidered pieces on the Bella Dia blog.

-Carolyn

I love the idea of doodling with embroidery...

...and of course love the beauty of a very simple design.

My friend Evelina's wonderful blog:

2008-02-20T16:15:00.000-08:00

My friend Evi does all things fiber...and she does it well...and adds an intellectual bent to her work, too.

Check out her site: http://www.sublevi.com/sketchbook/

-Carolyn

Fiber artist spotlight Ronel Jordaan

2008-02-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

These beautiful handmade wool items are by South African fiber artist Ronel Jordaan. Here are some amazing rocks made from wool. She has done a mobile version, cushion and rug. link.

-Jamie

An amazing sculptural scarf.

I Love Craft Geeks

2008-02-19T17:43:00.001-08:00

Crafter tattoo:

In tandem with the science tattoos below:

-Carolyn

I Love Science Geeks

2008-02-19T17:20:00.000-08:00

On the Extreme Knitting blog I came across Carl Zimmer's Science Tattoo Emporium. It's not craft, but I definitely agree that it is art. I have also heard tell of crafters sporting their ball of yarn tattoos.

-Carolyn

Darwin-outang

Darwin's Tree : Transmutation of Species
Solar System

Copernicus_Ptolemy

Stegosaurus

Periodic Table

(my personal favorite)

Metol

(black & white photographic chemical developer)

somewhere out there....there is a person that wants this...

2008-02-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

Yuck but neat....don't you want one on your hand? Or two or three? The eyes have a glitter for you. via. link.

-Jamie

oh deer....mech deer

2008-02-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

Weird but interesting... by Lisa Black. [via] link.

-Jamie

oh.....small little objects...how I love thee

2008-02-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

Cute! Only one item left after one day....it's amazing what you can do with clothes pins and a little bit of polymer clay with some found objects.

-jamie

Sold!!

Sold!!!

If you have three hundred dollars...this little cutie can be yours... link.

repurposed light box via ikea furniture

2008-02-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

What a clever idea. I'm always having problems with lighting when I take product shots and I know there are a number of different ways on instructables to create simple light boxes. This repurposed one however is one of my favs. [via] link.

-jamie

here's another repurposed light box with ikea items. link.

The Science of Arts & Crafts

2008-02-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

-Carolyn

Extreme Knitting

2008-02-16T19:28:00.001-08:00

-Carolyn

Angharad - this one is for you ^

Jamie - this one is for you ^

Found here:

UCC edibles

2008-02-15T19:12:00.000-08:00

Some faux food we've needle felted here:

-Carolyn

Carolyn

My friend Tracy Gilman from Brooklyn

Jamie

Angharad

Jamie

Angharad

Carolyn

Angharad

Whoever said knitting was for old ladies?

2008-02-14T20:33:00.000-08:00

And the ultimate crafters Valentine's Day accessory : KNIT LINGERIE. All designs made by Joan McGowan-Michael:

-Carolyn

(yes, we have this book)

Valentine's Day countdown continues......

2008-02-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

Maybe this is kind of "ugly," but I like it. I'm not really sure how it was made, but I do know that it involves enamel (fusing powdered glass to metal) and copper. Perhaps I've answered my own question and that's all there is to it. The artist seems intrigued by the end result herself.

Definitely a one-of-a-kind.

-Carolyn