Patriotic NewNew

A selection of July 4th-themed items from members of The {NewNew}.

Vintage Flag milk bottle cap Earrings by MilkMade, $15

Apple Star Quilt greeting card by Studiopetite, $3

Shooting Star Lariat by Metalsugar, $110

Liberty Eagles antiqued gold buttons hair accessory by TalismanStudios, $12

Vintage Navy Blue-and-Red Plaid Market Bag by Copabananas, $40

Blue and White Stars on Red embroidered brooch by Urbahnika, $25

Mix and match your favorite red-white-and-blue NewNew items and celebrate this year's Independence Day in style!

Linda

PurtyBird

Catch and Release Fishing - Governors Island Inspired Craft for Kids

Since the advent of the {NewNew} Treasure Chest on Governors Island, my daughters and I have taken a few trips on the Governors Island ferry to drop off product and work at the store. My older daughter (2.5 years old) loves the ferry - her only regret is that the boat ride is too short! She was so enraptured by the boat that she is now pretending that everything is a boat - she swings her legs off her bed into the "ocean" and sits in shipping boxes that she calls her ferry. I decided she needed a fun activity to do on her sailing adventures.

It is very easy to made a simple fishing pole and fabric fish. I used one magnet at the end of the fishing line and one at the mouth of the fish so my daughter can catch fish and take them off of the line.

1. First, you'll want to draw a pattern of a fish onto paper or cardstock.

2. Next, trace the pattern onto fabric and mark where the eyes will go.

3. Sew eyes using thread or yarn. You can also cut eye shapes out of felt or use buttons.

4. With right sides together, sew along the edges of the fish with a 1/4" seam allowance. Leave one part unsewn and turn inside out. Insert magnet at the fish mouth, stuff lightly, and sew closed.

5. For the fishing pole, I put a magnet in the middle of a triangular piece of fabric, brought up all the edges, and stitched the sides and top together, capturing the magnet inside the fabric. Make sure the magnets are positioned so that positive meets with negative so they will attract instead of repel. I tied a big knot at the end of the fishing pole string and put the knot inside the fabric before sewing up the top. That way the line is held securely inside the fabric wrapped magnet.

6. Wrap and tie the end of the string to the fishing pole. You can use a stick, twig, or chopstick for the fishing pole.

This activity is great for building coordination in young children! Before giving my daughter this new toy, I read her "Curious George Flies a Kite" because the story has a part about Curious George observing a man fishing and then trying to fish for himself. I think this helped her understand how fishing works since we live in NYC and have never gone fishing ourselves!

I put a piece of blue fabric down as a "lake" for the fish. You can also make a bucket using an old yogurt container, punching two holes on each side, and tying a piece of stiff string through the holes as a handle. This also acts as a nice storage case for the fish and pole. Now enjoy a lazy afternoon fishing!

Karina

Windows of Agate

* Please note that magnets and buttons are choking hazards!

A Crafty Questionnaire: Karin Persan

Karin Persan is a fabric and clothing designer who recently fulfilled a long-held dream to open a co-op boutique that features her own work, as well as the work of many talented, local artisans. Flying under the banner "Better Than Jam," Karin's handprinted fabrics add a rich dimension to her collection of unique designs that comfortably flatter the body and inspire the wearer with their artistry.

Her Etsy shop of the same name is filled with colorfully structured wrap dresses and skirts, bags, scarves, and other accessories. If you can't make it to her boutique, but want to experience Karin's inventively printed fabrics in person (and you should, the pictures don't do them justice), then head on out to Governor's Island. Karin's designs are part of The {NewNew} Treasure Chest of handmade gifts, currently on display (and available for sale) through September 5.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I see myself retiring and moving to a hut on a beach somewhere, making coconut monkeys.

What is your greatest fear?
Sharks in swimming pools, and not being able to travel to every country in my life time.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Don Quixote

Which living person do you most admire?
Amy Sedaris

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
Hmm, no, but in high school it was Pharcyde's "Officer" but I don't even have a car now, so I'm safe from traffic cops.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
My strong work ethic. I'm not an idle person.

What is the trait you most like in others?
I really need the people in my life to be reliable. I am there for them, I like to think they will be there for me too.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I save every little bit of money so I can travel at least once a year. I haven't been able to in the last couple of years, and it's killing me!

When and where were you happiest?
Don't remember really, but I'm sure it will happen again.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I have lots of imperfections; would rather not hone in on one.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
So far, my store. I hope I have more achievements though....

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
Maybe a horse, but I would hope not to be a carriage horse.

What is your most treasured possession?
My bike. It's an old Italian racer, super fast, my dad gave it to me.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
All of them! I wish I could build a house or a car.

Who are your heroes in real life?
My closest friends.

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
Laziness.

What is your motto?
It's not mine, but I like it..."Life is short, Art is Forever"

Who are your favorite artists?
Egon Schiele, Kiki Smith, Yinka Shonibare, Toulouse Lautrec, Gustav Klimt, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon. Just discovered Julie Mehretu. I like art.

Is there any invention you wish you had thought of?
No, but I want to create a punctuation mark for sarcasm.

What's the first thing you remember making?
Mud pies? Houses for frogs I caught. Wreaths out of beach grass. A diorama with clay birds living in a log, which my teacher didn't believe I made. Purses out of my pants in high school.

Learn more about who and what inspires Karin creations on her blog, or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.




Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you

Around the Corner: The Cloisters

Hey all, Happy Summer to you!  Hope everyone's getting out to the beach or have some nifty plans this season.  Yesterday I was driving by the Cloisters and thought, "by golly! that's as good a place as any for my next around the corner feature".  And so here you have it.

Have you been to the Cloisters yet?  Did you know that it's a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art?  Did you also know that this amazing castle-like setting is right here in Manhattan?  Neat-o.  It's free to walk around the grounds (that's connected to Fort Tryon Park) and admission inside is whatever you can donate.  This branch of the Met is dedicated to the art and architecture of medieval Europe and is seriously breathtaking.

Overlooking the Palisades -- right off Riverside Drive

How to get here: A Train, M4 Bus, Car via Henry Hudson Parkway

Are you staying local these next few weeks?  What places will you be visiting either on-the-cheap or *free*?  Please let me know a place you recommend in the comment section below.   Thanks so much!  Ta Ta and happy travels.

Brought to you by:
Virginia Kraljevic

Where to Find the {NewNew} June 26 + 27

Look at all the gorgeousness that talented {NewNew} crafters will be selling this weekend!
Left to right: AdornmentsNYC, IreneCStudio, CantAffordEmCrafts, SansMap,
LatelierDesBijoux, MShoelace, OonaghNaturals, LinguaNigra,
FuBabee, ItsALjubica, WebbedWare, ApertureAgog,
WoollyBoo, AlleneLaSpina, RoseMcKaydesigns, Elments4InspirdLiving

Saturday, June 26
The annual Smith Street Fun Day on Smith Street between Union and Bergen is this Saturday! Join IreneCStudio and other {NewNew}-ers at this craft-friendly festival. As a bonus, find bargains at the many stoop sales that will be going on!

The {NewNew} table at the Brooklyn Flea's Fort Greene Market will be manned by AdornmentsNYC, ItsALjubica, LatelierDesBijoux and FuBabee.

At the Hester Street Market, you'll find WebbedWare, Elments4InspirdLiving and IreneCStudio.

Sunday, June 27
The Fulton Stall at the South Street Seaport will be home to OonaghNaturals, MShoelace, Elments4InspirdLivng, CantAffordEmCrafts, SansMap and LinguaNigra

At the Hester Street Market, you'll find AlleneLaSpina, SaruStar, and RoseMcKaydesigns

Both Saturday and Sunday
ApertureAgog will be in Philly for the East Coast Derby Extravaganza!

Join WoollyBoo at the American Crafts Festival at Lincoln Center

Until next time,
LuCrafts

June Weddings Make Me Sigh...

Fresh cut flowers.  Sparkly gemstones.  Crystal toasting glasses.  Friends and family.  A June wedding is a warm and wonderful celebration.  The {NewNew}s have plenty of ideas to make your wedding a memorable handmade event!

For The Bride

Something old... 

How about this pretty little vintage heart locket.  So sweet! 

$24 at ACommonThread.

 Something new...

A one-of-a-kind wedding band in bronze 

with diamonds that twinkle like tiny stars.  

$525 at LuisFernando.

Something borrowed...

 Buy this for your best friend, then 'borrow' it for your special day!

$30 at ThePeachTree. 

Something blue...

Breathtaking blue topaz and kyanite earrings.

$25 at YaniaMor.

For The Groom

Fused glass cufflinks that are subtle but really really cool.

$36 at GlassHouseJewelry.

Wild and unique, this Tunisian coin necklace is a truly special gift.

$29 at AdornmentsNYC.

Handmade Wedding Ideas

 One-of-a-kind thank you notes!

$6.95 at AltonWeekes.

Handmade wedding favors your guests will LOVE!

Customized soaps, 30 for $30 at MetropolisBody.

Customized wedding favor tins... fill them with goodies!

$2.50 at Waisze.

 Customize the colors of this clutch for your bridal party!

$50 at JesSwitaj.

That concludes today's shopping trip for your very own handmade wedding.  Check out more wedding items handmade by local New York artists on Etsy.  May you celebrate much love, joy and laughter with your partner for a very, very long time.

Stephanie Maslow-Blackman

Metalicious

A Rose By Any Other Name

Ever wonder how ETSY gots its name? It remains an unsolved mystery, as explained recently by The Name Inspector. While we may never know the true inspiration behind that name, we do know why some {NewNew} NY Etsy Team members chose the unique and original shop names that they did.





ABSYNTHE JEWELRY
Absinthe, also known as "the green fairy" has a mysterious and intriguing history. Shop Owner Ruby chose it for a shop name because it was used by artists and writers in the late 1800s. "It was thought to make you more creative" she says, then adds: "It was also thought to eat holes in the brain and make you crazy." Though she personally hates the taste of it (anise), she liked the way the word looked after she changed the spelling.



MY ZOETROPE
This shop owner chose her shop name because in Greek "zoe" means life and "trope" means turn-- it may be taken to mean "wheel of life" or "living wheel". Michelle feels her shop is an ever-evolving circle of silliness, craziness, prettiness, and the absurd.



SANS MAP
Corey explains why she chose this shop name: " Sans is the French word for 'without', so my shop name means 'without a map.' I didn't always sew, or create and I never really used to make anything--but it was always in me, hiding somewhere. Just over a year ago, a switch clicked: I now lead a life that is true to me, my inner creative-gal was unleashed. We never know how or where our lives will lead us- I don't have mine mapped out, scheduled or all figured out because no matter where I am today, or where I'm going in the future--it's always a journey. I live without a map, fly free, and explore. "


JOYELLA
Jennifer describes how she chose her shop name: "I was trying for ages to think of a good name for my brand when someone suggested that I use the word for jewel in Italian, which they said was Gioiella. This sounded pretty, but I was planning to sell online and there were just too many vowels in a row for English speakers to ever figure out how to spell, so I kept the sound but changed the spelling to Joyella. I affectionately refer to my shop's name as a bastardization of the word that means jewel in Italian.



GRACENOTESPAPERS
Laura named her shop after her sister, Grace - who encouraged her to share her cards and invitations with a larger audience. Also, a grace note in music is a small additional embellishment which she always thought were fun and added some creative flair to the musical pieces.


ROSIROUGE
This shop owner says she was nicknamed Rosi Rouge at a younger age because she blushed A LOT. While she says her cheeks rarely get that red anymore, she hopes the sense of innocence that first garnered her the nickname remains in her creations for baby.


MCFLASHPANTS
Jen explains: "my shop name came courtesy of a telemarketer who we suspect was attempting to get herself fired. She called my dad during dinner (naturally) asking not for Thomas McGlashan, but Thannis McFlashpants. He got offended, and naturally, we all laughed until we peed. It still makes me laugh. Nobody ever forgets it. And most importantly, it constantly reminds me not to take things too seriously.

Here are some other {NewNew} shop names and their origins:

OVERALL BABY makes Overalls. For babies.
WEBBEDWARE products of art or craft (wares) plus Courtney Webb's name. In times passed, it meant clothweaver and while this shop owner doesn't weave, she does design jewelry and accessories with fabric, cloth and textiles.
HEARTFELT4KIDSmakes clothing out of Felt. With lots of Heart.
APERATURE AGOG The aperture is the part of the camera that determines how much light is let in and also means an opening. Agog means intense excitement. Together they reflect how this shop owner's work is all about being open to the world and having great enthusiasm in creating.
ANGEL IN STITCHES Hand stitched cards that will leave you in stitches.
GROUNDSEL is a ubiquitous weed with a pretty little yellow flower..which may be poisonous.
A STUDIO BY THE SEA A shop owner who loves the ocean and everything to do with the sea and wanted a shop name that encompassed many artistic disciplines including her ocean themed beads and jewelry.
WABISABIBROOKLYN This unusual shop name roughly translates into "beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" and the materials this artist uses, which include copper and paper, change into things unexpected through her processes.
METALICIOUS Jewelry that is better than chocolate!
OWLIDAY INN This shop name combines a love of owls and puns (the shop owner is a fan of the Bunnicula series of books by James Howe. )
METROPOLIS SOAP
This shop name comes from Fritz Lang's 1927 silent movie "Metropolis" and a love of The Big Apple.
WARPE DESIGN This shop owner loves all things warped - from the action of twisting and bending, to looking at life in a unique way, to weaving, to the speed at which a Star Trek ship moves!
TAKE ME HOMEWARE This shop offers fantastic ceramics that the owner would like people to TAKE HOME...preferably after paying.

Some shop names incorporate all or part of the names people were given at birth. Please visit these other great Etsy shops with shop names based on real life monikers:
Alton Weekes (fine stationary), Mulry Jewels (beautiful jewelry), JTopolski (beautiful ceramics and jewelry), Lola Falk (amazing accessories), Loella Medina (stunning jewelry), Nordea Soaperie (awesome handmade soaps and scrubs), Lu Crafts (fun filled candles and magnets), Laigrai (amazing fiber art), PriaVanda (beautiful stationary products), Kimm Chi silkscreened apparel, and Peppersprouts (incredible home goods.)

And finally, there is me--who named her shop after a cat that used to live there and now has to spend the rest of my Etsy life letting people know my real name isn't Lenny, and I'm a woman.
Lennymud

Treasures Abound on Governors Island!

Okay, so you may have heard us buzzing the word about our summer-long pop-up shop on Governors Island.  You may have also heard that each item featured in the shop is 100% handmade and/or upcycled by local artisans/members of our Etsy Street Team.  But did you know that some of the product was either exclusively made for the island shop or is Governors Island-themed?  How neat!

Claudia Pearson Illustration -- Governors Island Tea Towel (a super memento of your trip here!)

Knit Knit -- Anchor Necklace (for the sailor in all of us!)

Metalicious -- Bubble Earring (they're bubblicious!)

May Luk Ceramics -- Magritte Nicked My Bike (for the Governors Island bicycle enthusiasts)

J Topolski -- Shipwrecked Necklaces (for the pirate lovers -- arrr!)

Windows of Agate -- Art Wallet with Crayons -- NYC and Governors Island Coloring Books (for the little ones to remember their trip!)

And much, much more!  You can stop by our Treasure Chest at Nolan Park House 6B every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until September 5th!

For more info, please visit our official site here.

We look forward to seeing you!

Reported by

Virginia Kraljevic

Where to Find the {NewNew} June 19 + 20

Heaven ... I'm in heaven,
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak

'Cause I've found the NewNew team on Park Slope streets

Join us at 7th Heaven for crafts awesome and unique

The 36th Annual 7th Heaven Street Fair is Sunday, June 20! Crafts, music, food and fun for all ages cram the avenue from Flatbush to 16th Street - that's 23 blocks! The NewNew is always a strong presence at the handmade crafts section between St. Johns Place and Union Street and this year you'll find

from left to right: Lu Crafts, LuCraftsCandles, Priavanda, Irene C Studio, Yaniamor, KimmChi, NordeaSoaperie, Alton Weekes, Ellis Designs, CityBitz, EnchatraGirl, Panda with Cookie

Find decoupage jewelry by WabisabiBrooklyn under the red and white striped tent of the Brooklyn Indie Market at Smith and Union Street on Saturday, June 19.

At the {NewNew} spot at Hester Street, on Saturday June 19 find functional art totes and fine prints by BhekiPainting, and unique handmade jewelry by WebbedWare and Owliday Inn. On Sunday June 20 jewelry lovers will be thrilled to find three very different  jewelers Elle F Bijoux, AdornmentsNYC, and LoellaMedina.

Handmade jewelry with a vintage touch by AdornmentsNYC and overalls for babies and toddlers in adorable prints by OverallBaby can be found at the {NewNew} table at the Fort Greene location of the Brooklyn Flea on Saturday June 19.

Find WoollyBoo's organic bedding for babies and toddlers and LouiseFischerCozzi's sophisticated polymer jewelry Saturday and Sunday at the 34th Annual American Crafts Festival at Lincoln Center.

Until next time,

LuCrafts
LuCraftsCandles