Art Star Craft Bazaar 2012

Posted on by
Reply

Gorgeous!!!

That was the weather this weekend at Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philadelphia, where I spent the weekend with my sweet, generous Mom. She helped me lug my block printed fabrics and home goods and display up the hill at Penns Landing, set the booth up with me, and even manned the iPad while I did way too much shopping at the other vendors’ booths.

Thanks, Mom!!

One of the things that was so exciting about Art Star, besides being my first two-day show and my first show in Philadelphia, was that it was the first opportunity to set up my booth that Dan and I have been working hard on for the past month! I wanted to have a space that was inviting and home-like, while also taming the visual clutter that can result from the many varied patterns and colors in my products.

I think we pulled it off! We started with a small table in the middle of the booth that breaks down for easy transport. We added two chairs on the side and a drum pendant above to create a little breakfast table area. I used coffee mugs as holders for my business cards, and added a simple pot of flowers- they looked pretty and also kept our table runner from blowing away.

On the left is a door that we found at a local flea market. We painted it green, added Bjarnum hooks from Ikea and hung our kitchen towels from doll clothes hangers. To continue our “Home Sweet Home” theme, we found two old windows from a different flea market, which Dan stained grey and finished, and to which I applied my fabric to the back side. Several people asked if we sold finished pieces like this, which surprised me, but definitely gives me something to think about!

I added a gallery on Flickr where you can see more pictures of the booth display, if you’re interested.

We definitely had a good time at the show! I loved so many of the vendors and their goods. I had more time to walk around and talk to people than I usually have at shows, and it was really wonderful. I got to catch up with talented folks that I’d met before, like Rachel of Red Prairie Press and Sara Lee Parker. I got to meet new folks too, like my new block printing kindred spirit (and new Philadelphia resident) Chanee of {me}longings studio, and Noelle from Xenotees.

There’s a funny story there. I’ve been wanting this one damn shirt from Xenotees for a while. Like a year or two. My husband, being a good man, looks on my Etsy favorites list to buy me Christmas and birthday presents. He has bought me at least two shirts from Xenotees, which are well on their way to being worn out, but not the one I had in mind. So… Happy Mother’s Day to me! The shirt is finally mine! I also got awesome shirts for the boys (will share photos before they manage to ruin them) and mother’s day presents for my lovely helper.

There were other things that I saw that I did manage to abstain from, at least for now. I loved this rocking horse from Sawyer Bee for our youngest, who is already a thrill seeker at 18 months old. There was jewelry from Interstellar Love Craft, and someone who was in the booth across from me, who I can’t remember right now, but I’ll make sure to look up and share.

So we had a great time, and loved our Philadelphia weekend at Art Star. Time to take a few days to rest, and then get back to work to get ready for the Delaware By Hand Members Show on May 26th!

 

How to turn a table runner into a wall hanging

Posted on by
1

My old house is full of charming odd spaces. Some of those spaces are narrow, and would be perfectly suited by equally narrow wall decor. Perhaps you have some of those in your house too- between two doorways, or the wall that faces the stairs?

One idea is to use a table runner as a wall hanging. Runners come in different widths and lengths, are generally pretty inexpensive, and some are a work of art unto themselves. Here are a few ways that you can turn a table runner into a wall hanging.

#1: Thumbtacks

This method doesn’t need much elaboration. It works nicely on drywall, not so much on plaster. I poked the thumbtacks through each corner of the runner and then held the runner up and made sure it was level before I pushed the tacks into the wall. Easy peasy.

#2 Hanger

Couldn’t be simpler. This is good to see if you like the look or placement of the runner, too.

#3 No-Sew Rod Pocket

A little more elegant and/or permanent looking than thumbtacks or a hanger. Still pretty simple, though. Get yourself some iron-on hem tape, a scrap of fabric, scissors, a dowel rod and ribbon, and follow these instructions:

Cut a piece of iron on hem tape that’s a little shorter (1 inch or so) than the width of your runner.

Cut a rectangle out of your fabric that’s the same length as the short side of your runner, and about 5″ wide. I used muslin here- anything will work, just so long as it doesn’t show through the front side of your runner and will stand up to the heat of your iron. (Yes, that is green paint on my ironing board cover…)

Fold the short edge over 1/4 inch, and then fold again and press. Do the same on the other side. Place your iron-on hem tape near the top of the table runner, and then place your fabric on top of the tape as shown. Make sure the hem tape is completely covered by your fabric. Press according to the directions on your hem tape. My hem tape came with a pair of curtains that I bought from Ikea but didn’t use. I don’t know where the instructions went, so I just turned the iron on to a cotton setting and pressed down, one segment at a time, for about 10 seconds.

Fold your fabric over and press again. See how the fabric is close to but not touching the top edge?

Fold the bottom edge under and press again. Cut another piece of hem tape a little shorter than your fabric square, place under the bottom edge (or left edge, in the picture) and press again just like you did the top edge.

Cut a dowel rod a little shorter than the width of your runner. Don’t buy a dowel rod if you don’t have one. In my case, I found a random bamboo stake, so I used that. You could also use a paint stirrer, or even a piece of stiff cardboard, I bet.

Cut a length of ribbon, DMC thread, bakers twine, or whatever you’d like to a length that looks good to you. I liked the look of using three strands of thread in different shades of blue. I held the thread up to the runner and eyeballed the length. Just make sure you leave enough extra to tie knots. If you want a clean look without a ribbon or thread hanger, try using two small stick-on hooks to hang the runner instead.

Since I used three strands, I could just tuck the bamboo stake in between the stands above my knot, but if you were using one strand or piece of ribbon, you’d just tie it around your stake. If you find that the thread slips off your stake, you could hold it in place with a dot of glue, too.

Ta da! You’re finished! Now go find yourself a runner and hang it up in your own charming house!

 

 

The National Day of Prayer and/or Reason

Posted on by
1

On the ride into work yesterday, I heard a short piece on the radio about the National Day of Reason coming up on May 3rd, which was founded as a response to the National Day of Prayer on the same day. Pete Stark, a congressman from California, issued a proclamation in support of the National Day of Reason, saying:

“Our nation faces many problems—bringing our troops home from Afghanistan, creating jobs, educating our children, and protecting our safety net from irresponsible cuts. We will solve these issues through the application of reason. We must also protect women’s reproductive choices, the integrity of scientific research, and our public education system from those who would hide behind religious dogma to undermine them.”

This radio segment put a bee in my bonnet, as do so many issues that lie in the expansive intersection of religion and politics. Against my better judgment, I read up on the proclamation a little bit later on. The proclamation ends by saying:

“I encourage everyone to join in observing this day and focusing upon the employment of reason, critical thinking, the scientific method, and free inquiry to improve our world and our nation.”

(sigh)

OK.

I am a Christian, and I’m annoyed by the proclamation for the National Day of Reason. Not because I oppose reason, or women’s’ reproductive choices, or the integrity of scientific research, but because I oppose the premise that reason and faith are mutually exclusive. The National Day of Reason, as a counter to the National Day of Prayer, continues the damaging and anti-productive false dichotomy that you are either faithful or reasonable. I oppose the idea that prayer needs to be countered, and that the opposing side should include reason, critical thinking and free inquiry. Really? Is it impossible that I came to faith through the use of these very tools?

Anyway, I do have to admit that there’s a short list of issues that often represents a kind of Christian Club Membership Test:

“Anti-abortion?”
“Check.”

“Opposed to gay marriage?”
“Check.”

“Global warming?”
“It’s a crock.”

“OK, you’re in.”

But that’s the problem. These issues, while some of which are rooted in faith, are not the faith itself. I’m a fairly socially liberal Christian who attends a very conservative church. I’m not exactly a round peg in a round hole. Why do I go there? Because what I do have in common with the members of my church (you know, Christ) is more important than what we do not have in common.

I also see my membership in that church as a small example of an important interaction and dialogue that needs to happen on a much, much larger scale. National Day of Prayer or National Day of Reason? Boycott both of them. I say no more choosing to be in one camp or the other.