Artist interview with Kristen from Cakehouse

Kristen, from Cakehouse, and I were able to have a great chat several weeks ago about how she transforms vintage sheets from the Salvation Army into lovely screen-printed napkins and other soft home goods. Just after, we met up at the Brooklyn Flea where I got to check out her products in person. Recycling vintage sheets is not only a great way to bring eco-consciousness to the table, but you also get the gorgeously soft hand-feel of the softest cotton as a result of lots of washing. With lovely llamas, foxes and cats screen-printed in the corner, they are a must-have for any table setting.


Alexandra: OK, tell me a bit about how your business got started.

Kristen, cakehouse: I guess to really see the genesis of the whole thing, I have to go back a few years... I had been working in publishing, which was something I had fallen into and was starting to not enjoy. So I quit and went to FIT for the textile design program (which was fabulous). But I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I graduated, because I didn't want to design on a computer, and I didn't really want to work for someone else. Thankfully I was spared having to make that decision by getting pregnant about 7 months before I finished school! ;) So I stayed home with my son for 3 years, and slowly formed the idea in my head of doing something handmade---during those three years, I started going on craftser and other sites, learned about etsy, and became more and more familiar with the indie craft community, and knew it was somewhere I could see myself. so when my son went to pre-school in the fall of ‘07, I traded in my childhood savings bonds for a laptop and a vintage sewing machine and dove in.


Textile design is so fun. There are so many gorgeous fabrics out there.

I know! it was definitely all of the amazing vintage textiles that I found in thrift shops that led me to the focus of my work.

Speaking of thrift shops, I know you re-purpose a lot of materials to make your products. How do you find your materials? What criteria do you have when shopping to help you decide what will be used and what won’t?

95% of my fabrics come from the good old Salvation Army, in the form of sheets and pillowcases and bedspreads. I am a total thrift store devotee---I get all of my clothes and most of my son's clothes and tons of the things in our house at the thrift shop. my mom always took me when I was little, and I’ve always loved the sense of discovery when you find something wonderful and unique. And now that I’m older I appreciate the value of re-using rather than buying new. My criteria mainly is that the patterns need to be appealing and in that 50s-60s-70s aesthetic wheelhouse. And they mostly have to be lighter-colored patterns, with an all-over motif that will work well with one of my silk-screened designs printed over it. And, of course, it can't be excessively stained or ripped... ;) though I will buy a sheet that I am totally in love with even if it's torn or stained and I can only get maybe 1 or 2 sets of napkins out of it.... ;)


There can be some amazing things in thrift stores, but you often have to dig through a lot of junk to find it. Are there some neighborhoods that have better thrift stores than others?

Oh yeah, there's a lot of digging.... thankfully, I live three blocks from a great and relatively undiscovered Salvation Army. I think I’m the only person to shop in the sheets aisle... Generally, Salvation Armies are the best for my needs. Goodwills carry hardly any sheets at all, and in general are less interesting to me because they get a lot of donations of overstock from stores, so you're less likely to find things with a lot of personality. The best thrift stores I have found, actually, are in Philly.... and thankfully, one of my best friends lives there, so I can go visit her and call it a business trip. hee.

Oh, and Florida! My mom lives down there, and I always get to as many shops as possible when I visit. Those little old ladies downsizing from big houses into condos give away some great things.... actually, I thrift on vacation whenever possible. I found this great site, http://www.thethriftshopper.com/, where you can put in a zip code and it tells you all of the local thrift shops. brilliant!

It’s a great excuse to go shopping. People get rid of some amazing things. Have you noticed any difference between wealthier neighborhoods or less fancy ones? I always wanted to hit up the Greenwich Salvation Army and see what they are throwing out...

Wealthier neighborhoods are as hit or miss as any others, in the long run, I think. I’ve found just as wonderful things in the Salvation Army in my neighborhood (which is definitely not wealthy) as in the ones on the Upper East Side. It all depends. I think a good amount of the good loot being given away in wealthier neighborhoods goes to consignment shops, rather than thrift shops. And the ones in wealthier areas are definitely pricier!

So once you have found an amazing sheet, what is the next step?

Once I have a sheet, I take it home and wash it with natural detergent and a natural enzyme cleaner, and hang it out in the yard to dry. I’m so lucky to have a yard with a clothesline. I don't know if I could function without it, nothing makes things smell as good as being hung out on a line.... Then I take it in and cut it up into napkin-sized pieces (with my trusty rotary cutter...), or a combo of napkin-sized and placemat-sized pieces. Then I print one of my animals on, cure the ink in the dryer (the only thing I use my dryer for at this point), and sew them up.


Tell me more about your printing process...

I have a great silk-screening table---it's an old iron table that I got on freecyle.com from a photographer who was dismantling his studio. On that is a wooden top that my husband and son made to my specifications, into which I’ve screwed some clamps that hold the screens steady. I’ve marked out on the table in black masking tape where exactly I need to place my fabric rectangles to get the motifs in the same place on each one---this is especially important in the 2-color designs, which need to be printed with two different screens, so the fabric needs to be in exactly the same place for printing with the 2nd screen as it was for the 1st screen. I’m totally anal about getting my two-color designs to match up (getting proper "registration", as it's called). I get more frustrated than I probably should when things don't line up and I know I can't use that piece of fabric.... I think it's because I have such a limited supply of each fabric. Anyway, I mix most of the colors myself, and though I coordinate them to the fabrics, I don't drive myself nuts trying to match exactly. I only do the printing myself. I don't burn the designs into the screens myself. I don't have the equipment for it, and don't feel like I’m ready to invest in that yet. So for now I have a great local screen printer, Roxanne of roxy's tees, burn my screens for me in her studio.


I would love to learn how to screen print one day. It’s such a science.

It is! it was my first class at FIT, and I fell in love with it. I was just saying we should do a new new screen-printing class....

Sign me up. You mentioned your son--how do you find balancing home life with your company?

It's difficult sometimes to balance the boy and the work. One of my goals for this year is to really put a strong line in the sand between my work time and my time with Wile. He's only in school 3 days a week, so on his days off, because my studio is in our house, and my laptop is always there, it's really tempting for me to try to get some work done.... but I’m trying to resist that. My time with him, when he is so little, is more valuable than anything to do with my business. I know it's a cliché, but childhood goes by so quickly---I’m still shocked every time I remember that he's going to be 5 this year... so I’m doing my best to be ultra-productive on my work days, when he's in school, and to put the laptop away when I’m with him. My husband has been really supportive of me, carting me and my tent and my tables all over creation to this fair and that fair, and/or taking Wile for the day while I’m selling in person. Fairs definitely cut into our weekend family time, but they're a big part of my business right now.

That leads to my next question... where else could people find your products, other than Etsy?

I’m doing a booth at the Brooklyn flea with may luk ceramics and box design (custom furniture from the people who brought us beacon bookmarks....), the third weekend of April, May, and June, and I’ll be doing two big spring fairs: Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philly, and Renegade here in Brooklyn. I’ve also gotten into some great stores: Youngblood gallery and boutique in Atlanta, and Renegade handmade and Sprout home in Chicago, both of which carry my things in their online shops as well. I’m aiming toward building my wholesale/consignment business. Though I love Etsy and want to always maintain a presence there, it's hard to keep up with the photographing and listing process when everything I make, I only make 4 or 5 sets of, because I only have that much of each fabric....

It’s really neat that everything you make is by nature limited edition.

I do really like that aspect of it, it makes them even more special.


Why should people buy handmade? What would you tell them?

To feel a connection with the object. To know that someone put thought and care into it, that it wasn't created by a marketing team to appeal to the masses, but by an individual with a unique creative viewpoint. And I have a personal relationship with all of the objects in my home and all of the items in my closet, and it makes me happy to look at something and think "oh, I remember buying that from so-and-so at that craft fair, they were so awesome."

Do you plan to expand into any other product categories or new screen designs? Where do you want to take your company next?

I’m about to have two new screens burned: a dachshund, and letters for monograms. I’ve done a few monograms in the past, but haven't had a screen, so I hand-painted them, which is crazy-making. so I’m excited to have the screens done. I love letters and typeface and fonts, so I’m really excited to incorporate those. And the dachshund is for my husband, who has a thing for them.... as far as new products, I’m working on wall hangings---for the people who look at my napkins and say "they're too pretty to use!"---and squares, which will be single-layer squares of fabric that can be used as a handkerchief or a bandana.

Next up? I’d like to eventually have someone coming in and sewing for me (which would mean actually coming up with patterns/guidelines instead of eyeing everything like I do now, ay yi yi!). And like I mentioned, I’d like to do more wholesale/consignment. I’d also like to eventually move my studio out of my house---though it's super convenient, it would be nice to have a more tangible divide between work and home. and I’ve always wanted to have my own shop. When I was little I dreamed that it would be a clothing shop, but now I dream of somewhere I could sell the things I make, and things I love that other people make...



Do you have any creative tricks that you could share?

I’d say that what has helped me be the most creative has been finding a niche that really appeals to me. Once I put together my philosophy and aesthetic---vintage, repurposed, home---the ideas just started flowing. Find what you love, and don't be afraid to run with it. Others will love it too. And: don't go anywhere without a pen and paper!

Where do you want to be in ten years?

In Brooklyn, still part of this awesome indie craft community, seeing my friends and still creating things that we love and being able to support ourselves with it---seeing more people being able to do that!

How-To: Refit Old Jeans with Side Panels

We all have them. Those jeans that we USED TO be able to wear. Those jeans we WISH we could still wear. I admit I am guilty of keeping a bunch of jeans I wore in college. Ten years and two kids later, and there is very little chance that I will ever be able to wear them again, even if they were, by some odd chance, to come back in style again.

Since I have serious problems getting rid of perfectly good clothes, there is a simple solution: make the jeans fit by adding a side panel that provides a little more room. Let's start with the jeans we are going to refit.

These jeans are pretty great, with the exception, of course, that they are about 2 sizes too small. On the plus side though, they are in great condition, they have the right length inseam for me, they have a button fly (which I love), and they are boot cut, so I won't have to add any additional width at the bottom to account for tapered jeans. They're also FREE, having been in my attic since I got pregnant with my 6 year old.

Incidentally, if you're not a denim hoarder like me, you can also do this with any pair of old jeans from the thrift store. In this economy, who wouldn't love to be able to walk into a store, pick up pretty much any pair of second-hand jeans in the store and know they could make them work?The first thing to do is to rip out the outseams with a seam ripper. I do this exactly the way your sewing instructor told you NOT to rip out seams. I put the seam ripper between the two sides of denim and cut the threads. Since the jeans have been sewn together with a chain stitch, you should be able to get enough play to just pull and rip without ripping a hole in the denim....and heck, it's quicker.

Cut all of the stitching on both sides from the beginning of the waistband to the hem. At the hem, tear out the stitches a few inches to either side of the seam and unroll the hem around the outseam.

Once your seams are ripped out, remove the stitches and left over thread pieces. Do NOT press the jeans after doing this. At the waistband, cut the waistband straight up from the seam.

At this point, measure the outseam of the pants INCLUDING the extra fabric from the unrolled hem, but NOT including the waistband. This will be measurement A.

Additionally, measure the width of the waistband.
Then, try on the pants. Yes, post rip. Now you can get them on. The way I like to do this is by running a belt through the belt loops and tightening it so it hits at my waist.

Straighten out the jeans so the seams are in the right place and measure how much space there is between the outseams. Measure in a few different places along your hips, thighs, and waist, and be sure to measure on both sides. One measurement will be the largest. Use that one to give you an idea of how wide your side panels will have to be, as you can see in my picture here.
I need about 4" at the lower hip. For the panel I need to make, I will add 1" for seams and an additional 1" for comfort, for a total of 6" of width. This will be measurement B.

Note: this is a good time, if you want to, to add any appliques, embroideries, or other embellishments to your jeans.

Now, you know how large the side panels of your pants will need to be. (A long, by B wide). The easiest way to do this is to cut a single piece of fabric to that measurement. I, however, tend to prefer to make a patchwork panel for the sides of my jeans, so that is what I will be showing.

I start off by laying out the patches for my pants to get a good idea of how they will look. I then sew the patches together. Since the patches are cotton, and cotton is lighter weight than denim, I like to also add a lining piece of fabric for the inside of the jeans. This adds weight and also increases the durability of the panels.
For the waistband, I take a piece of fabric the width of the panels and twice the length of the waistband plus 1" for seams. I fold the fabric lengthwise and place the raw edges lined up with the top of the panel going into the side of the pants. If you are using a lining piece, line this piece up also, matching the wrong side of the lining to the wrong side of the panel with the waistband piece on the outside, sandwiching the panel piece. Additionally, I like to have a small piece of heavy duty elastic to add to the inside of the waistband. This helps pull in the waist from the comfort inches I added into the pants earlier.

I cut a piece of elastic 1" smaller than the actual measurement I needed from the pants when I measured them (for me this is 3"). If you prefer not to have elastic in your waistband, make the waistband the actual width you needed added to your jeans plus 1" for seams, and taper out from the waistband measurement along the sides of the panels until you get to the full width of the panels at approximately 3-4" below the waist. I prefer the elastic because it allows for "fat days" and slight weight fluctuations.

Line up the elastic with the center of the waistband, pin right sides together, and sew your side panel onto your jeans. The easiest way to do this is to have the jeans on top going through the sewing machine, and sewing right along the old seam line. The jeans should still have a slight fold where the old seam was. Just slowly follow along in this. No worries about the different coloration from the dyeing of the denim showing,and the jeans will automatically press to the side after stitching so they lie flat.You will need to be careful when sewing around the rivet. Just go slowly and make sure you don't try to actually sew it. It should be off to the side, but in some jeans it is close.

Once you reach the hem, you may have some fabric left--cut that off straight across. Then sew on the other side of the panel, again with the jeans on top. Stop right before you hit the waistband on the way up, pull the elastic through the casing, and sew everything together. It should look like this when you are done:

Repeat with the other side.

Once the side panels are all sewn in, I like to finish the seams. This will keep them from unraveling. I have a serger so I just serge the edges of the seams, just as they were before I ripped out the side seams of the jeans. If you don't have a serger, you can zig-zag along the raw edge, or you can use an over cast stitch if your machine has one.

For the hem, re-roll the jeans back to how they were originally rolled. The panel will start to roll for you. Just follow that roll all the way across, top stitch following the old hem seam, and you are done.
To troubleshoot length: If your jeans are NOT the correct inseam length, there are a few ways to work through this. If the pants are too short, measure how much additional length you need. you can either cut off the hem, and sew a length of fabric onto the bottom for this extra length as an easy fix, or you can use this more complicated method: After opening the outseam, but before measuring for the needed length of the panel, cut the measurement of the additional length you need above the hem plus one inch off the hem off the jeans. For example, if you need 3 extra inches, cut your jeans off 4" above the factory hem.

With the jeans open, sew a strip of fabric that is the extra length you need plus 1" for seams onto the bottom. Then sew on the hem of the jeans. Finish the jeans as above.

Try on your new jeans and give yourself a pat on the back.
One other trouble shooting tip: If your jeans are tapered at the ankle, you can counter that by tapering the bottom of your side panel so the bottom of your jeans is nice and straight...and along those same lines, if you like flares, just flare the panel as much as you want. Above all, feel free to experiment!

Another great thing about these jeans: If you get tired of the way they look, or if you lose or gain weight so they no longer fit again, you can just rip out the panels and start all over again! Good luck and Enjoy your new wardrobe!

-Angela
http://coquiainjelfire.etsy.com/

A Thrifty Way to Spend the Afternoon

With the recession looming over our heads, my husband and I have been doing our best to have fun without breaking our budget. Now is the perfect time to go out and enjoy Spring; but how do we do that without spending money? Following Nordea's post from last week, we decided to follow suit and dug out our own rusty rollerblades. With a 50lb dog in tow, we bladed while our dog Samantha "Sam", ran alongside us on a trail not too far away from our home. It's been a year or more since I've worn my rollerblades but luckily within a few minutes, I got the swing of things and we were off.

Sadly, we don't take Sam out too often. She was tired and beat in no time.

A tired dog is a happy dog!
I'm so glad the warm weather afforded us such a wonderful memory! Not only did we all get much needed exercise, we were able to enjoy an afternoon out without spending any money. What fun activities have you been doing that don't break the budget? Please share!


-Wai Sze

Everyday Natural Oils for Health and Beauty

In honor of Earth day and recessionary times, I will highlight four readily available natural oils that serve a variety of health and beauty purposes.

Coconut Oil
Any Indian, or in my case Bangladeshi, knows that this oil promotes healthy hair and scalp. Coconut oil also helps to rid the scalp of dandruff (Natural News). Moreover, not only does this lubricant relieve dry and rough skin but it may improve psoriasis and eczema, as well as prevent liver spots and other age related blemishes. It also repairs sun burns and is a great natural tanner. Nurture your body by applying the oil at bedtime or massaging it into your skin before a bath. Possessing antiseptic qualities that help bring temporary relief to the skin, coconut oil can heal, repair and ward off skin problems and infections (Virgin Coconut Oil).

Jojoba Oil
This is a great hair conditioner, especially for protection against dry split ends. Jojoba oil is an ideal beauty product as it is similar to the skin’s natural sebum and therefore readily absorbed (Vitamin Stuff). Use it as an eye make-up remover and eye lash conditioner, and to regularly moisturize dry lips and cuticles(ILoveIndia.com). Jojoba oil also treats acne, both by reducing sebum production and by protecting the skin from harmful bacteria. Try it as a body or massage oil, or apply before shaving for a smooth shave and to prevent razor burn (Acne.org). Jojoba is great for sensitive skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema (Pioneer Thinking).

Rosemary
Frequently used in aromatherapy and massage to reduce stress, rosemary oil is also excellent for the hair. It prevents premature graying, dandruff and hair loss, softens hair texture, and even thwarts and treats head lice (Green Herbal Remedies). In addition, this non-sticky oil can be used on the face and body for moisturizing as well as for reducing muscle and arthritic joint pains. It also has the ability to heal wounds and regenerate the skin ( The Raw Divas Blog).

Citronella Oil
When on vacation, citronella oil is my bed time non-toxic protection from insects for body and face, as it is safe for all including children and sensitive skin types. Additionally, it may be used as an astringent to help correct oily skin areas. Apply a couple of drops of the oil to a cotton pad and gently wipe off excess oil from the skin before proceeding to your regular facial routine (Citronella-oil.blogspot.com). If this fragrant oil is diluted into a base oil (like Jojoba!) it can provide physical and mental benefits such as alleviating muscle and joint pain, calming nerves, and reducing pressure from migraines and headaches (Suite101.com).

Points to Note:
Oily and sensitive skin types should cautiously consider these tips and everyone should take a spot test. Apply oil on the skin of the inner forearm to safeguard against irritation. Always consult an aromatherapist if in doubt about the use of essential oils.

Home treatments lack the finesse of the spa products from the Etsy NewNewTeam, so if you have no patience for dealing with oily messes, remember to visit our stores.

I’m looking forward to shiny healthy hair, strong nails and seasons of moisturized and bug bite free skin on a beauty budget.

Talita
fairywallah.etsy.com

Top Five List for Recycling

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

We hear those words evermore these days, not just for the sake of the environment, but also for the sake of our wallets.

I absolutely try to reuse anything and everything that is meant to be disposable.

And so here is my top five list for recycling items that you normally might just throw away: (In no particular order)

1. Empty cereal boxes, the kind that have an inner liner where the food is held. This is one of my favorites! What I like to do is carefully dis-assemble the box and re-assemble it inside out so that I have a box that I can either use for gift giving, shipping items in, or even just storage for small items. If you choose to use it as a shipment box, make sure you put a label over any writing that might be inside the box, otherwise that box is ready to be labeled and shipped.

2. If you don't already save them, the plastic container that your wonton soup arrived in would make an excellent storage container, and not just for food. They're great because they are see through and easily stacked.

3. Page-a-day desk calendars, the kind you rip off the comic or other with the day and probably crumple and toss. Not so fast! Collect those and use the non-printed side for scratch paper for your grocery list or other musing.

4. Lonesome sock, you know the kind, the one the dryer left lonely without a mate. Good news, our single sock now has a new life, as a dustrag, a puppet or sock monkey.

5. That pesky junk mail. Especially the kind with the envelopes for you to mail back applications and such. I use those envelopes to store receipts in, for different categories and write exactly what's in them.

What are some things that YOU give a second life to? Please share!

by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono of http://www.beadscarf.com/ and http://beadscarf.etsy.com/

Where to Find The {NewNew} April 25 + 26

This weekend is filled with great markets in Manhattan and Brooklyn, so check out the following events and be sure to say hello to your {NewNew} team.


Curves & Cocktails is the Ultimate Girls Night Out for Women with Curves. Shop amongst vendors who are all plus-friendly and carry sizes between12 and 24, and beyond! Sip on some tasty beverages and a signature cocktail created exclusively for the event. Snag some serious swag with fabulous goodie bags, and most importantly, have fun in a setting that is completely plus friendly while benefiting One In Three, a global campaign to raise awareness about violence against women. {NewNew} vendors include CollectiveElements, YaniaCreations, and L'élephant Rose. General Admission: $15. Location: 15 West 28th Street. Time: 12pm - 6pm.

The hugely popular Brooklyn Flea is back again this weekend in two locations: Saturday at Fort Greene (Location: Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, Lafayette Avenue between Clermont and Vanderbilt Avenues) and Sunday at DUMBO (81 Front Street). Drop by and enjoy great food, music, and fabulous {NewNew} vendors!

Saturday, April 25th Fort Green Line-Up: Karen's Monsters, BetterThanJam, PepperSprouts, CajaJewelry, and NordeaSoaperie

Sunday, April 26th DUMBO Line-Up: AdornmentsNYC, KnitKnit, and Jantar

Wabisabi Brooklyn and Fofolle will be back at the Brooklyn Indie Market this weekend, so head out to the lovely neighborhood of Carroll Gardens and get some spring shopping done. Location: Red and white tent at Smith and Union Streets. Time: Saturday, 11am-7pm; Sunday 11am-6pm.


Have a lovely weekend!



Karina
WindowsOfAgate

Knitting for the Streets

Shortly after exiting the Court Street train station, the pink blossoms of a flowering tree beckoned. At the corner of Montague and Clinton, I stood in front of St. Ann's Church and took out my camera to capture the neighborhood. There was a saxophonist playing in front of the the stained glass Gothic windows. Making my way past him, I noticed a woman kneeling beside a parking meter. She appeared to be "fitting" it with a brightly colored tube. I snapped a photo. Still kneeling, she said to me, "We're making 70 of these." Having put two and two together, I responded, "I'll be making some too." It turned out that I had run into Magda Sayeg of Knitta.

Both of us were on our way to an introductory meeting about the upcoming project commissioned by the Montague Street Business Improvement District. Knitta has been commissioned to cover 69 parking meter poles on Montague Street with knitted sleeves.

Self described as a "yarn vandal," Knitta is known for tagging urban spaces by wrapping knitted art pieces around poles, door handles, monuments etc. Through its "crew" of knitters, Knitta's work has made its way to streets throughout the US, tagging Austin, Seattle, New York and Hollywood and claims international notoriety in Paris.

Next month tagging comes to Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. The community and local area knitters have been enlisted to realize this project. Several members of the {NewNew}, signed up to participate. Nguyen of KnitKnit and Lorina of Beadscarf are two members who were able to attend the meeting. Should you meet a knitting {NewNew} member at a craft fair in the coming weeks, that project just may end up on a parking meter on Montague Street. Though the poles will be covered, you will still have to pay the meters.

-Red Bridge Studio

Rollerblading in the City

Springtime is here, and now is the perfect time to dust off the rollerblades and go for a spin! I purchased my first pair of rollerblades back in 1994. I absolutely loved them, and they soon became my primary source of exercise. The problem became finding “blade friendly” places to go in the city.

I have never lived more than about 20 blocks from Central Park, and used to escape the city streets by heading to the park. Unfortunately, the park is also home to horses & carriages, crazy bikers (going 100mph training for the Tour De France or something,) and “newbie” rollerbladers who tend to grab onto anyone and anything passing by if they find themselves losing their balance or unable to stop.

Luckily…I discovered the bike path that runs alongside the West Side Highway. This path stretches from Battery Park and goes all the way up to Fort Washington Park in Washington Heights. Best of all, there are no horses, very few crazy bikers, and wonderful scenic views of the Hudson river.



I have always considered the path split into two sections, above and below 59th street. You can start out on the path heading south, passing the Intrepid, skating through Chelsea Piers and down through the west village into Battery Park City. There are wonderful scenic areas, but there are also places where you will have to cross a few traffic intersections, and areas that are heavily populated w/tourists and pedestrian traffic….especially near 42nd street and Chelsea Piers.

Above 59th Street, the path weaves around basketball courts, small parks along the promenade that take you past Riverside Park, and further uptown passing Fairway near 125th street (if you need to pick up a bottle of water.)

I love skating along this path because most of it is off the street, it’s smooth and paved, not as busy as Central park and very few hills!



-Nordea
Nordea's Soaperie

Spring Handmade Cavalcade Raffle Prizes

We're gearing up for our big event, the Spring Handmade Cavalcade. One of the benefits of shopping at this event is the opportunity to enter a raffle drawing. Wondering what's up for grabs? They are ten embellished tote bags filled with donations from {NewNew} members. See some of the prizes below.


Nordea's Soaperie


Wai Sze Designs


Wabi Sabi Brooklyn


Sweet Buddha


Saru Star


Pulp Sushi


Meekiyua



Lu Crafts


Look Closely Press


L'atelier Des Bijoux




- Red Bridge Studio

How-To: Making a Miniature Artist's Canvas

I have always been obsessed with creating miniature versions of the things I use in my everyday life. I think the extra focus required to make miniature objects imbues the tiny things I make with a special quality--as if they are more charged with meaning than they would be at their regular size. Another reason to spend your time making tiny stuff is that it doesn't take up a whole lot of space, which, if you have friends who live in small apartments and want to give them beautiful handmade things but don't want to burden them with a lot of clutter, is a very good thing!

This tutorial will teach you how to make dollhouse-sized blank artists' canvases from empty tissue, granola bar and cereal boxes, which you can then paint and add to friends' art collections. I am hoping I can spark a whole trendy miniature painting craze!

Here's what you will need:
-empty boxes made from thin cardboard that you otherwise would have tossed into the recycling
-muslin fabric
-white glue
-acrylic gesso
-a normal size brush for applying the gesso, plus teeny tiny ones for doing the actual painting
-acrylic paints
-a gridded acrylic ruler is helpful for making accurate right angles when cutting up your boxes

Step 1: Figure out what size you want your miniature canvas to be. You can just eyeball the size if you like, but if you want it to be the perfect size to fit into a dollhouse, you'll want to do a little math. The standard size for dollhouse accessories is 1/12 scale, which means that you want to divide all your regular measurements by 12. If the full-sized painting would be 18 by 24 inches, then you want to make your mini canvas 1 and 1/2 inches by 2 inches.

Step 2: Once you have cut your cardboard to size, spread it with a thin layer of white glue and stick it to a piece of muslin. Make sure that the sides of your canvas are parallel to the grain of the fabric.

Step 3: Fold the fabric around to the back of the canvas and glue it down.

Make sure the folded fabric edge is glued slightly inside the edges of the cardboard so it can't be seen from the front.

Step 4: When your glue has dried, paint your canvas with a thin layer of acrylic gesso. You want to make sure not to put the gesso on too thickly, because being able to see the grain of your muslin is crucial to having a miniature painting that looks like the full-sized version. If you want to have an especially texture-y canvas, try different types of fabric and see which one looks best.

Paint gesso on the edges & back as well.

That's it! These miniature canvases are so easy and fun to make that you can create hundreds of them in nearly no time, then invite some friends over to have a painting party.

Then you and your friends can have a miniature art show:

Stella (lookcloselypress)