I was actually able to fulfill a decades-long dream this past May of going on a safari. It was, as you might expect, transcendent. For a nature and animal lover, what is better than being able to stare for hours at unbelievable landscapes and majestic wildlife? I am amazed by animals of all kinds, even pigeons and squirrels. Which is lucky for me. The big cats were by far my favorite. I'd have to say that my second favorite were the hyrax, which sounds like a chocolate sandwich cookie made by Dr. Suess, because they were just about the only animal I'd never heard of before. Plus, they are adorable. I hope that you have the chance to go on a safari. But until then, here are some animal goodies to tide you over.
To get us in the mood, let's adorn ourselves with Talisman'sStudios' Kenya Batik Hair Accessory: BubbaandBoo's majestic lion. I cannot tell you how I felt looking at a lion. Let's just say I cried. She was so perfect. At times we saw some bachelor elephants on their own, but mostly we would see family herds. And because elephants breed year-round, there was always a baby! Elephants are very social, as WindowsofAgate well knows: Malathip's artwork highlights endangered creatures, such as the magnificent giraffe. I loved looking at the gorgeous rosettes - each different, like a snowflake. It is pretty rare to see a rhino, but we did, crossing the road at daybreak. Man, that was cool! But you can see one right here, in AbsyntheJewelry's Glass Locket: I am sorry to have to tell you, but hippos are actually rather disgusting. They fill up these watering holes, lay half on top of each other, crap everywhere including on each other, and then drink the crappy water. But we will forget all that when we see Felt It's adorable hippo. I hope you enjoyed our little adventure today.
If you read my last post, you probably know all about Thing-a-Day already. Here's a quick recap: By joining the Thing-a-Day project you pledge to make a thing a day and showcase your project on the Thing-a-Day blog.
If you are planning on participating in the project and are trying to figure out what you could make, here are some tutorials courtesy of the busy bloggers from The {NewNew}
A cable knit purse by KnitKnit a.k.a. Nguyen:
Cable Knit Purse by Knitknit
You can find her tutorial her blog knitknitknits.blogspot.comhere. According to the instructions, this pattern takes about 4 to 5 hours to finish.
If you like shiny things, maybe you want to try out this tutorial by Metalicious:
"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us." ~ Epicurus, Greek philosopher
Friendship Pack Mini Bean Bag Dolls, from HoneyPieTree
Winter in the tri-state area so far has been cold, damp, and seemingly determined to last for quite some time. Whenever I find myself cussing at the dark that descends way too early, my first instinct is to reach out to a friend and make a little bright spot in the evening. Whether its drinks, dinner, a movie, or crafting in companionable silence, we all find ways to remain connected and to draw on the support our connections provide.
The {NewNew} is a vibrant collective of cross-discipline handmade artists devoted to supporting one another in developing our creative and business potential within the New York tri-state area. We share the tremendous resources New York City has to offer, mentor new craft business owners, and seek out new marketplace and business opportunities for our highly eclectic membership.
The aspect of the {NewNew} team I most enjoy however is the sense of community. I know if I'm struggling with how to take better pictures for my Etsy shop, need a table at the last minute for a street fair, or simply want words of encouragement for a new venture, someone in the group will have an idea or even a possible solution.
As a team, we work well together to make events like our Spring Handmade Cavalcade and our Governor's Island Handmade Treasure Chest pop-up shop -- both happening again this year -- great places to shop for truly unique handmade goods. I like to think the care we take in supporting each other is reflective of the care each of us takes in crafting our items.
Perhaps that's why shopping with the {NewNew} on Etsy sometimes feels like hanging out with an old friend. It's familiar, but you still don't know what they might say to surprise you.
One of the fantastic features of Etsy is the Treasury section. In this section you can explore member curated collections by theme, color, holiday. The {NewNew} keeps treasuries on the team page. Here you can also find coupon and sales information, links to all The {NewNew} team members shops and even check out our latest press.
Cold weather, snow, ice, short days... Cure for the winter blues? A trip to a local museum! With a sketchbook in hand, and a fellow illustrator in arm, I made a trip to the Museum of Natural History to get a good dose of inspiration, dinosaur bones, and yes, taxidermy.
Where else could you get this close to animals of this size from around the world and really get a feel of their form and natural habitat all in one place? Crazy cool!
I've made numerous trips to this museum over the years, but every time something new piques my interest. This time the dinosaur bones really took the cake. When I was little I thought the sound of being an archeologist was just too cool. And well, still today it sounds amazing. Look what some of them get to unearth!
What: The Museum of Natural History
Where: 79th Street & Central Park West, Manhattan
When: Open Every Day 10:00am - 5:45pm
Admission: Donation (suggested $16 adult, $9 child)
What are your favorite museums in and around NYC? Please post if you have a favorite one!
Until next time... ;)
Today's installment of Tools on Tuesday features Courtney Webb of Webbedware. Courtney makes cuff bracelets and (coming soon to her shop) necklaces. Courtney's trademark is the use of textiles or other fiber in her designs.
Courtney's collection of "tiny tools" --- mini versions of standard hardware store stock -- enable her to achieve a level of craftsmanship that would be impossible otherwise. More specifically, her tiny ruler, tiny drill bits, tiny file and tiny scissors allow her to make precise cuts of leather for her cuff bracelets, teeny holes in shapes to attach to jump rings and chains for her soon-to-be-introduced dove and butterfly necklaces, and smooth edges on said shapes. They are her favorite tools not only because they're easy to use and perfect for the job, but also because "they're so darn cute!"
Now, to illustrate:
First, using the tiny ruler to measure and precisely cut the leather for cuff bracelets. The bracelets are metal, and the leather goes on the inside as a liner so that the cuff is comfortable to wear.
Next, using a tiny drill bit to make holes in the shapes for attaching to chains and jump rings. The hole has to be drilled in exactly the right spot for the shape to hang properly. As you can see, the shapes are so dainty that there's not a lot of room for error---nor really for the hole itself! Talk about precision!
And then, using the tiny file to smooth out the edges of the metal shapes before fusing the fabric to them.
Followed by trimming the excess fabric off of the metal shapes using the tiny scissors. Once the fabric is in place Courtney coats the pieces with acrylic to enhance the color of the fabric and to preserve its condition.
Put it all together with a dash of style and you get Courtney's distinctive couture-inspired accessories. Nice work, Courtney!
Christina Li is a woman of impulse, at least when it comes to her drawing. An idea will randomly pop into her head, inspired by something she had seen or read or experienced, and then she filters it through her love of anime and manga. She is, in her own words, an avid fan of the style which allows her to step back into the sneakers of being a kid.
Christina began drawing to pass the time while waiting to be picked up from school. One day, during a particularly long wait in first grade, she spent the entire afternoon drawing a horse. Suddenly it occurred to her that she had created something with her own hands and that was of great value. Christina never stopped sketching, and her interests since then have grown to include painting, stamping, and knitting.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Traveling with my friends and family with a drawing pad in hand.
What is your greatest fear? Insects and spiders (Though butterflies and ladybugs are tolerated)
Which historical figure do you most identify with? This is a tough one... a friend did compare me to Napoleon because I was short.
Which living person do you most admire? Too many to name... I admire Hayao Miyazaki a manga artist who also directs and produces wonderful animations such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Howl's Moving Castle." He's doing what he loves, every one of his works is so magical, and his eye for detail is incredible.
Do you have a theme song, and what is it? No theme song, though if I were to have one, it would have to be dramatic. I'm told I tend to be "over dramatic" sometimes.
What is the trait you most like in yourself? My creativity.
What is the trait you most like in others? Confidence. That is one thing that's very hard to maintain and exude without seeming cocky.
What is your greatest extravagance? Investing in a high quality printer and computer solely dedicated to my art.
When and where were you happiest? Sitting on the kitchen table as a child, drawing on yellow drawing paper while my grandma knitted on the sofa during a late afternoons.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Definitely stop being so paranoid and worried over every little thing!
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Opening my Etsy store. I'm generally so wary and self conscious about my own work, the idea of selling my art was just a dream until Etsy gave me the perfect environment to go at my own pace.
If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be? A neurotic cat... or a cabbage, but not sure why.
What is your most treasured possession? The protection necklace my grandma gave me.
Which talent or skill would you most like to have? Able to do math properly.
Who are your heroes in real life? My mom is the hero in my life. She endured a lot in her life from immigrating to an entirely different country, raising two kids as a single mother, and never faltering when faced with many obstacles. She is the most forgiving and kindest person in my life.
What is it the one thing you dislike the most? When people are disrespectful. Doesn't matter if you're earning minimum wage or are a millionaire, we're all people and should be treated as such.
What is your motto? Always keep smiling.
Who are your favorite artists? Tomie dePaola is my favorite children's book illustrator because his drawings are so playful and immerse me into the stories. Leonardo da Vinci because not only was he an artist, he excelled in so many fields it gave me the belief that I could pursue my love of science while making my art.
Artist at work, by Tomie dePaola. All rights reserved.
Is there any invention you wish you had thought of? Just recently I brought clear scotch tape and it's so useful especially when shipping prints and posting up inspirational pictures and posters on my wall. I wish I'd thought of it.
What's the first thing you remember making? That drawing of a horse in first grade.
You'll find Christina this winter at the Brooklyn Flea at One Hanson Plaza. Check out her website to catch up with her Flea schedule, and to learn more about the person behind the quirky cute designs of LiPeony.
I love coffee. In fact, I'm kind of a coffee snob. I love me a cup of strong joe, with just enough sugar to bring out the taste and a bit of milk for mellowing. I actually didn't start drinking coffee until I quit smoking. I hated it at first! But like any good addict I persevered and now am happily ensconced in my 2-cup-a-day habit. So why is this blog about tea? Because I needed a topic and discovered January is National Hot Tea Month. And luckily, the artisans of the {NewNew} are very tea-inspired! So cozy up with your favorite warm beverage and check out these whimsical offerings!
tamaragarvey's awesome original cotton fabric - tea and cakes mcflashpants has made a pendant from slices of a teapot spout! This print by virginiakraljevic keeps me smiling: Use nordeasoaperie's Stinky Soap with tea tree oil to help balance your complexion: Lipeony's Sir Octopus and his Afternoon Tea demonstrates the benefits of having 8 arms: Who wouldn't love to find Grace Notes Papers invitation to a tea party in their mail box? Knit your own hand warmer mug cozie with KnitKnit's pattern! I absolutely adore this Fonz Mug from LennyMud: Until next time, toodle-oolong,
Tomorrow is the opening day to sign up for the Thing-a-Day project. The premise of this month-long event is to give your creative spirit a workout by making a thing a day. The project brings to front the "long artistic tradition where endurance, perseverance, and hard work [converge into] one solid path towards personal, and sometimes professional, fulfillment."
Swirls by groundsel
ZeFrank originally inspired this project after having posted a new piece of original content on his website zefrank.com every day for a year and presenting such a challenge to one of his classes at NYU's Tisch School of Arts. In 2007, students from the class launched the first public Thing-a-Day, which is now in its 5th year.
Potato Stamps by LittleBunny
To me, the beauty of Thing-a-Day is that you can make anything; on the blog you will find a daily collection of compositions, drawings, explorations in electrical engineering, landscape photographs, photographs of lovingly prepared dishes, writings--if your creative spirit can conjure it up, it's probably on the site.
Greek Salad by WabisabyBrooklyn
And here's my personal favorite: Louise's collection of mini vegetables. Every time I saw her last year, she was working on another healthy yarn project.
Collection of Tiny Vegetables by Warpedesign
I hope you feel inspired. Sign up for Thing-a-Day begins on January 21st and ends promptly at Midnight February 1st.
BubbaandBoo's majestic lion. I cannot tell you how I felt looking at a lion. Let's just say I cried. She was so perfect.
At times we saw some bachelor elephants on their own, but mostly we would see family herds. And because elephants breed year-round, there was always a baby! Elephants are very social, as WindowsofAgate well knows:
Malathip's artwork highlights endangered creatures, such as the magnificent giraffe. I loved looking at the gorgeous rosettes - each different, like a snowflake.
It is pretty rare to see a rhino, but we did, crossing the road at daybreak. Man, that was cool! But you can see one right here, in AbsyntheJewelry's Glass Locket:
I am sorry to have to tell you, but hippos are actually rather disgusting. They fill up these watering holes, lay half on top of each other, crap everywhere including on each other, and then drink the crappy water. But we will forget all that when we see Felt It's adorable hippo.
I hope you enjoyed our little adventure today.
LuCrafts
Lipeony
