Got Craft? Spring 2012

Hey Vancouver, Got Craft? is coming up soon! Sunday May 6, to be exact. Can you believe this is already the 11th edition of this awesome show?

Got Craft?
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 - 10 am to 5 pm
Royal Canadian Legion - 2205 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
$3.00, kids under 12 free
For more info, visit GotCraft.com

As usual, there will be ton of talented crafty vendors and swag bags for early birds. New this year is a cute look book that Lotus Events has put together to give you a taste of what to expect.

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Sewing Capes for Social Change

 I love this initiative from Vancouver-based outdoor clothing company, Arc'teryx. Under the name of The Birds Nest Project, Arc'teryx employees volunteer their time to sew scrap material into weatherproof capes, which they then donate to homeless shelters and people living on the street. Now in the third year of the project, in 2011 they donated over 700 windproof, waterproof capes to those in need.

Good for the environment, good for people. Amazing. (Also, 'capes' and 'helping people' do tend to go hand in hand, don't they?) Read more about Arc'teryx's The Birds Nest Project here.

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Hot One Inch Action Vancouver 2011

It's been so busy recently (helloooo, Christmas!) that I haven't had a chance to share a few pics from the Hot One Inch Action button show. Until now!

I was happy to see another dessert button in the show! And even more pleased that they placed our buttons side by side! :)

You can check out all the Vancouver 2011 buttons on the H1"A site.

The show was a lot of fun. Lotsa people, lotsa buttons - even some brought in from previous years! After we left the busy gallery, we were happy to see that the delicious Nicli Antica Pizzeria - where they make real Neapolitan pizza - was just a couple of doors down. So it was a good excuse to celebrate with a magherita pizza and wine! Mmm...

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Dust off your lapels...

A reminder that the Vancouver edition of the Hot One Inch Action button show is tomorrow night!

Did I tell you that the button design I submitted is going to be in the show? Well, it is! Pretty cool. Mine is the one with the slice of pie, called "I Heart Pie." I originally designed it as a part of the button collection for guests at my wedding this summer. Lotsa pie, losta love.

You can already see a gallery of the buttons from Seattle's H1"A show in November, but you'll have to go to the show tomorrow night to see -- and trade! -- the Vancouver buttons in person.

Hot One Inch Action - Vancouver 2011Saturday November 26, 2011 from 8-11pm
Gallery Gachet, 88 East Cordova St, Vancouver, BC
with DJ Darwin Meyers
Invite your friends on Facebook

The Vancouver show features button art by: Ada Fu, Adelle Bueno, Amanda McCuaig, Andrea Hooge, Anne Emberline, Becky McEachern, Ben Worth, Brian Bredonia, Carelle B. Dunn, Carita Ho, Charles Ferguson, Colin Moore, Dacosta!, David Camisa, Dusan Postolovic, Eileen Soo, Eleanor Rosenberg, Ensoe, Erica Lapadat-Janzen, Evin Gibson, Far Sebastian, Gayle Koyanagi, Jacqueline Klobucar, Janette Ussher, Jen Sheppard, Jenn Brisson, Joshua Johnson, Kalynn Kallweit, Kathryn Mussallem, kdot, Kel/Kel, Kris G. Brownlee (k.g.b.), Laura Eveleigh, M.el. Jensen, Maisie Lam, Matt Bowen, Mauve Pagé, Meagan Mah, Megan Majewski, Mélanie Kimmett, Monika Koch, Nicole Pinkerton, Rhys Edwards, Robin Konstabaris, Robin Thompson, Russell Alton, Shauna Eve, Siobhan Rich, Skyler Luke Punnett, and Skytox.

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More Hoopla!

If you're in Vancouver tonight, Leanne Prain will be speaking at the central branch of the library 7pm about her book, Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery.

There will also be a little craft-in at the event, as Leanne will be demonstrating how to do the project from the book that I designed, Photo Feelism.

There are more details about tonight's event on Leanne's site, where she's also posted some great examples of Photo Feelism in action at her San Francisco event! So fun.

If you can't make tonight, there are a couple more Hoopla vents coming up later, too.

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Hot One Inch Action 2011

Hot One Inch Action is back on again this year, this time hitting up three cities: Seattle (Nov 5), Vancouver (Nov 26) and Portland (Dec 1). If you haven't heard of it before, Hot One Inch Action is an event that that celebrates the 1" button: 50 tiny round artworks are selected, made into buttons and displayed on the walls. You can also buy a bag of buttons at the show and trade them, which is fun and hilarious. Really interesting to see which buttons become hot commodities on the trading room floor!

Submissions for the Vancouver and Portland shows are due by November 16, 2011. Get more info on how to submit here.

For a little inspiration, check out the H1"A Presents video series. They are really lovely glimpses into some artists' studios and processes. This one's about Vancouver artist Arleigh Wood, who mixes photography, painting and printmaking, and there are more online on the H1"A site.

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Hoopla Happiness

The Vancouver book launch for Hoopla was really fun. It was great to see such a good turn out, and great to chat to everyone there, including the lovely Leanne Prain (author extraordinaire) and Kirsten Chursinoff (embroidery artist extraordinaire), and one artist who's project is featured in the book who had travelled all the way from New Zealand to be there!

I didn't know which photos were going to be included in the book, so it was a fun surprise to open the book and see. The photo of me and my husband got into the book, looking all super cute (even if I do say so myself, heh) with embroidered hearts all around us, as well as my favourite photo of all: my little nephew 'reading' the newspaper, looking very serious and dapper with his embroidered moustache!

I'm really excited to see my work in print. In my day job in the publishing industry, I work with books every day, but seeing your own work in a book is pretty thrilling. More of this to come in the future, I hope. There are so many awesome artists featured in the interviews and projects; it's interesting to see the different directions that makers are taking the medium of embroidery.

As it turns out, Leanne is going to be doing my project at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco, as one of their Craft Bar events this Thursday, October 6th. So if you're in San Fran, bring a photo and some embroidery floss and go to the event!

Leanne will also be in San Mateo, Portland, Seattle, and Bowen Island. All the details are on the Hoopla Book Tour webpage.

You can read more about Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery on Arsenal Pulp Press website or on UnexpectedEmbroidery.com

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Finders Keepers

I just read over on Poppytalk about a great project happening on Granville Island, here in Vancouver, so wanted to spread the word. Keep an eye out on the island starting February 11th for a few scattered hearts, as artist Jasna Sokolovic will be playing cupid...

Up to 200 ceramic hearts will be dispersed across Granville Island, on the upcoming weekend and will be waiting for you to pick one up. If you find it, take it, keep it for yourself or give it to someone who will cherish the love.

Each heart has my the artist's website on it, so you can send an email, comment or a photo. Read more about this project and see more of Jasna's work on her website.

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Call for Submissions: Knitting Baby Hats in British Columbia

The Period of Purple Crying is inviting knitters to get knitting for a good cause!

The Period of Purple Crying is a program which educates parents and caregivers about normal infant crying and the dangers of shaking a child. Here's the info I received about the project and how you can get involved:

We invite you to join our mission: make a PURPLE newborn baby cap so we can give select babies born in British Columbia the week of November 15th a gift to coincide with Canada’s National Child Day. Please share your knitting or crocheting skills to help Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC.

Unite and lend your hands now to knit or crochet PURPLE newborn baby caps for this great cause.
Create as many as you like - from five to 50, or a...ny number in between, using any newborn baby cap pattern, and any colour of soft baby-friendly PURPLE yarn.

PURPLE caps must be received no later than by November 5, 2010.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Pelto: melissa@limelitepr.com or call 778.786.1495

Please knit and mail your PURPLE caps to
BC Children’s Hospital:
c/o Claire Yambao
Provincial Program Coordinator, Prevent SBS BC
BC Children's Hospital
4480 Oak Street, K1-209
Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4

By knitting and sending PURPLE newborn baby caps to be given to babies across the province, you will make a difference by:

• Raising awareness for this life-saving project - Period of PURPLE Crying - Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC - that promotes crucial parenting skills, infant/parent bonding, and understanding of a typical early infancy stage that every baby goes through which is frequently misunderstood.
• Participating in a growing, province-wide grassroots effort to educate new parents about the normalcy of early infant crying and how to cope with the frustration that can accompany it.

Assist in promoting the Period of PURPLE Crying - Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC so that parents (and all others) learn to understand normal increased early infant crying and that crying is a key trigger to shaking.

The Period of PURPLE Crying - Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC is a part of the most comprehensive shaken baby syndrome prevention initiative in North America. To learn more, visit www.PURPLEcrying.info and follow us on Twitter @PurpleCrying

More details are available on the Facebook group page.

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Little Drifters!

Booooooom.com is partnering with the Vancouver Sun to inspire a lil' bit of cuteness and summertime goodness.

Be a part of the Little Drifters project by creating a tiny boat using natural materials like twigs, leaves, grass, feathers or whatever you like.

Then head down to Trout Lake Park on Saturday July 24th at 1pm to launch your creations!

Send your photos of your boat launch in to Booooooom.

You don't need to be in Vancouver to participate: they'd love to get photos of mini-boats from elsewhere, too!

Read more about Little Drifters on Booooooom.com.

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Mini Vancouver

Severe cuteness alert.

Much like the fake model photography (blogged about before), this video of Vancouver makes the city look oh-so-tiny and oh-soooooo-adorable.



The video was created by dangerous68 (his YouTube name), who's also made a Mini LA. He created the film using time-lapse photography shot with a tilt shift lens, inspired by the work of Keith Loutit.  Check out Keith Loutit's website or Facebook page to see a whole bunch more cute-ified locations he's filmed for his  Small Worlds Project.

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The (Pink) West Coast

Movie poster designs typically follow certain formulas... but when your film is all about design, things get a little more interesting...

I love these posters for the upcoming documentary Coast Modern, a film about West Coast Modernist Architecture, from LA to Vancouver.

This is the kind of poster I'd want up in my home as artwork, not just as a movie promo. (Actually, they're selling a limited run of 100 right now... but are a bit too pricey for me!)

The other poster is also lovely (and less pink).

Learn more about the Coast Modern film, watch a trailer, or buy a poster in the shop. 

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StudioShop: Open Studio Sale at the Mergatroid

I'm looking forward to the the open studio sale at the Mergatroid this weekend!

StudioShop
Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th
11 to 6pm 5pm

Mergatroid Building, 975 Vernon Drive, Vancouver

Featuring work by a collective of artists in the Mergatroid Building who include, Su Foster, Eikam, Laura McKibbon (Cul de Sac Design), HeyDay Design, Dahlhaus, Braden Hammond, Bronsino, and on Sunday only, Karin Jones.

UPDATE: A couple of revisions to the above info, thanks to Dahlhaus: "Our time for the studio shop will be from 11-5 (instead of 6). And unfortunately Braden Hammond won't be able to open his studio doors this weekend as he was planning on. The rest of us will be there so if you are in Vancouver, please do come by for a glass of wine and some nibblies while you shop in our studios."

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Low Tide

Vancouver textile artist Kirsten Chursinoff has a new exhibit opening this week. If you've ever walked along the beach at low tide, and crouched over a small pool to see what's living there, you're going to enjoy this show...

Entitled 'Low Tide', this collection is inspired by the amazing creatures living along the shores of British Columbia: anemones, birds, starfish, and more.

Low Tide

The exhibit celebrates the details of tide pools and treasures of beach combing with the traditional and contemporary techniques of embroidery and quilting. By layering and combining materials such as cotton, silk and wool, the artist uses the natural texture and unique surfaces of thread and cloth to their full potential.

The opening reception of 'Low Tide' is on Thursday, June 17, 6-8pm at the Craft Council Gallery Crafthouse at 1386 Cartwright Street on Granville Island, Vancouver. Kirsten's also giving an artist talk on Tuesday, June 22, 7pm (RSVP to kirsten at chursinoff dotcom).

Keep up with Kirsten's work on her blog and flickr.

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Call for Submissions: Unexpected Embroidery

Do you create unusual embroidery?

Leanne Prain, who co-authored the subversive knitting book Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti, is turning her attention from yarn to floss.

Her new book, Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery, is due out in Fall 2011, and Leanne is looking for needlework designers to contribute projects.

Do you design unusual or unexpected pieces of needlepoint? If so, you should design a pattern for Hoopla, The Art of Unexpected Embroidery, to be published by Arsenal Pulp Press in fall 2011.

Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery rebels against the traditional notions of quaint embroidery with motifs of flowers and songbirds. The book will feature unusual stitch work on a variety of surfaces and textures. With off-beat patterns including subway maps, feminist Girl Guide badges, and metal band letterforms; Hoopla will demonstrate that modern embroidery artists are as sharp as the needles that they work with. If you describe your stitch-work as arresting, subversive, quirky, or conceptual, Hoopla should feature your design work.

To find out more about how to submit a project, visit UnexpectedEmbroidery.com. Go quick though, as the deadline for submission ideas is June 15th, 2010.

On a related note, the Drawing in Thread exhibit at Mount Ida College in Massachusetts looks awesome. You can see some photos of the show here and here.

Pictured here are Bren Ahearn's Sampler No.5 and Andrea Dezso's Embroidered Walk Cycle from the Drawing in Thread exhibit.

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Vancouver Draw Down

One more for the June event calendar... This weekend is Vancouver Draw Down!

Described as "a celebration of drawing in everyday life", Vancouver Draw Down runs Friday June 11 to Sunday June 13. All kind of events are planned, including a comic jam at the Roundhouse, button making at the Museum of Anthropology, and chalk street drawing across the city.

The "Making Place" event at the Vancouver Art Gallery sounds like lots of fun: join in the creation of a gigantic, collaborative, chalk pastel drawing of the perfect neighbourhood. Also, over at the Roundhouse, you can even ride your bike or skateboard through paint to create a big collaborative painting.

Check out the Vancouver Draw Down site for the full schedule of events.

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Crafty Cover Story

Nice cover (!) story in the WestEnder today about so-called "hipster homemakers" in Vancouver - featuring Spool of Thread, Coco Cake, Baker’s Market and the Modern Quilt Guild!

You can read the full article - including a nice close up of the amazing yardstick counter at Spool of Thread (not to mention Lili and Henry!) - on the WestEnder site.

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Parties and Quilts and Cupcakes, Oh My!

June is a crafty month in Vancouver! Here are just a few of the fun happenings around town this month...

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Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild

The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild is holding its inaugural meeting!

Thursday, June 17, 2010
7pm to 9pm
Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge
101-649 E. 15th Ave.

Join us on Thursday, June 17th, 2010 for the inaugural meeting of the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild at Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge! This is the place to be if you love fresh, modern quilts!

Come to this informal meeting to meet other fabric lovers, show us your modern quilts, and share your ideas for what this guild could become! Stay tuned for more details (door prizes anyone?).

Find out more about the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild, the larger Modern Quilt Guild movement and get more deets on the Vancouver meet-up.

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Etsy Party!
Friday, June 18, 2010
2 pm to 5pm
East 15th Avenue, between Fraser and Kingsway

Got Craft along with Collage Collage, Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge and RubyDog's Art House; will be opening their doors for the Vancouver Etsy Craft Party! Bring a craft project and join us for a day of making, good conversation and support your local community.

Get all the details and RSVP here.

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Cupcake Challenge
Sunday, June 20, 2010
11am to 3:30pm
Yaletown Roundhouse Community and Recreation Centre
Free Admission

We are inviting you, the cupcake connoisseurs and lovers of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, to join us in sampling and judging Vancouver's Best Cupcake! Through collaboration with notable Foodies and Bloggers in Vancouver, as well as the general public, we will present awards and notoriety for the business voted as baking the most favourable cupcake at the event.

Mix and mingle with yummy bakers and test a variety of cupcake flavours and recipes! With prizes awarded throughout the day, this is a tasty event that you will certainly not want to miss.

Get all the sugary details on Miss604 and Eventbrite.

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Swap-O-Rama-Rama Vancouver
Saturday, June 26, 2010
11am to 4pm
Museum of Vancouver, 1100 Chestnut Street
Admission: $6.00 at the door or $5.00 in advance plus a bag of clean clothes and / or a bag of craft supplies to swap. (Leave with all the clothes and supplies that you can carry!)

Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a clothing and craft supply swap in which a community explores reuse and creativity through the recycling of used clothing. A series of DIY stations will be on-hand to unleash your creativity including screen printing by Blim and sewing stations by Plush On Main. Take as little or as much as you like! All remainders will be donated to local charities.

Heaps more deets over on Got Craft? and on the Facebook event page.

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Spool of Thread - Vancouver's Sewing Lounge

Vancouver crafters have something to celebrate! Spool of Thread is finally opening!

After a few months of teasing (and a ton of hard work!), the shop is all set up, with the Grand Opening happening this Saturday.

Grand Opening of Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge!
Saturday, June 5th
11am - 6pm
649 East 15th Ave, #101 (at the Fraser/Kingsway triangle)
Treats and giveaways throughout the day!

Spool of Thread is a sewing lounge, offering classes (here's a PDF schedule for their June workshops), as well as drop-in sewing time, where you can use the machines in the shop. They'll also be selling some lovely fabrics.

The concept reminds me of The Workroom in Toronto. I'm glad Vancouver now has something similar!

You can read an article about Spool of Thread on Yoyomama.ca, and get a sneak peek of the shop on the lovely Rachel's blog. LOOOVE the front counter which is covered in vintage yardsticks!!

Keep up with Spool of Thread on their website or on Twitter.

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Got Craft and Get Lucky

It's Springtime in Vancouver... the cherry blossoms are blooming and craft is in the air!

The Spring edition of Got Craft? is coming up on Sunday, May 2nd, and I bet it's gonna be good.

Got Craft?
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010
10am to 5pm
Royal Canadian Legion – 2205 Commercial Drive (at E. 6th Ave)
Admission $2.00 (kids 10 and under are free)

The fine folks at Got Craft? are so by swept up in Spring fever, they aren't just offering up a great craft fair - they're also giving away a ton of stuff: if you're among the first 30 to get into the show, you'll be lucky enough to grab a swag bag.

You can also enter to win a YUDU screen printer, worth over $300. just take a photo of a Got Craft? poster that you spy around town, and submit it to their flickr pool. The more you upload, the more chances you have to win!

Read the full contest details on the Got Craft? blog.

For more information about Got Craft and for a full vendor list, check out GotCraft.com.

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