{NewNew} for Good:Disaster Relief in Haiti

I work for a non-profit Foster Care/Adoption agency which has many clients from Haiti, and as such we have been given suggestions to donate for Haiti's disaster relief.

In addition to my independent donation, I have discovered a way that perhaps more could be contributed for the relief effort in Haiti.

And so for the months of January and February, I pledge to donate a percentage of The Original Beadscarf net Etsy sales to The Red Cross in order to contribute to Haiti's disaster relief. Please visit http://beadscarf.etsy.com for more details.

Lingua Nigra is also running a similar campaign for Haitians in distress for the month of January.

Please feel free to comment here if you are doing any similar charitable effort within your own Etsy shop!

Thank you for your support.

Book Review: 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse by Garth Johnson

Book Review:

by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono
of The Original Beadscarf

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse by Garth Johnson
pub. date: Nov 2009 / 320 pages

'Inspirations' might be a better word than 'Ideas' for the title of this book. I would imagine that most crafters, myself included, have experienced what would be akin to writer's block. One flip through Garth Johnson's '1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse' could inspire at least several weekends of creative energy.

Inside this beautifully curated and photographed book are images of items whose parts would have likely found their way to a landfill. Instead, they have been fished out of a junk drawer of extra castaways and recycled/ repurposed into jewelry, objects d' art, bags, couture dresses, clocks and even furniture.

Amazingly, no parts or refuse are rejected!

The impressive collection includes playing cards transformed into butterflies and attached to pearl necklaces; single bud flower vases created from empty toothpaste tubes and Full scale art installations. Fabric, glass, even ice is recycled! Postcards in place of wallpaper; Tea carton wallpaper and furniture; Bottlecap mosaics to mimic famous paintings; a sugar packet table cloth in a pretty flower motif; money chandelier made of US $1; and most striking, if not downright gruesome-, jewelry made entirely of dismembered Barbie doll parts- again, no part spared!

As I thumb through 1000 Ideas, I couldn't help but notice the works of many crafty colleagues I know featured from TheNewNew and beyond.

Although the works included in this book are mostly from USA, there are also adaptations from Canada, New Zealand Germany, Finland, UK, Spain, Australia, Israel and Sweden to name a few.
So next time you are feeling crafty but can’t seem to get going, pick up this book, grab that remnant you’ve been saving for ‘making something someday’, and get inspired.

Be warned though: I have a feeling this book may just spawn a new generation of crafters!

Philadelphia's Magic Garden

Quick! What do CheeseSteaks, Rocky and Eagles Football all have in common?

They each call Philadelphia, PA "home".

Last month I agreed to watch my coworker's 3 year old son while he and his wife ran the Philly Distance Run, a Half Marathon. Although Philly is a mere 2 hour ride away from NYC, I don't manage to visit all that often. And so I jumped at the opportunity not just to help out a friend, but also to take in some of the flavors (cheasesteaks!) and sights of Philadelphia during that weekend.

Located in the Neighborhood of South Philly, The Philadelphia Magic Gardens is a real spectacle!

The grounds are a winding garden of a collage of broken plates, bottles, mirrors and tiles. Sparkling with every step of the winding paths, you will find mosaics at every turn, the floor, all around you.

Artist Isaiah Zagar began tiling South Street in the 1960's and in order to preserve his dedication to this massive project, a nonprofit organization was formed by artists and community members in order to promote it and keep it alive. On some weekends there are also live music performances.

I highly recommend a visit to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens, you'll never look at a broken piece of glass or tile or bicycle spoke the same way again!

Washington Square West, 1022 South St., Philadelphia, PA 19176
http://www.phillymagicgardens.org/

by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono of The Original Beadscarf

Craft in Bermuda

This summer, I decided to do something for vacation that I've never done before. Ok, so it's not terribly uncommon on the whole, but for me, it is absolutely uncommon. You see I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal - don't like being cooped up in any one place on a trip. I'd rather explore on land, and see and meet the locals, than be on an invisible leash. But not this time. This time I went on a cruise.

4 days out to sea, and 3 days in Bermuda. I won't bore you with the details because all I really want you to know about is this:

A little shop called Dockyard Glassworks. The shop is conveniently located within walking distance of where the cruise ships dock (I know what you're thinking: "tourist trap"!)

Ten years ago, the owners of Dockyard Glassworks decided to collaborate in order to open their art glass business. Since then, they have been producing art glass for sale locally and to export.

Perhaps the best thing about Dockyard Glassworks is not only the unique items for sale, but rather that you can watch the glass artisans at work! For more info, visit http://www.dockglass.com/



by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono of The Original Beadscarf and beadscarf.etsy.com

Socrates Sculpture Park

Socrates Sculpture Park


On the far west side of Queens, overlooking Roosevelt Island and Manhattan, is a very special, and dare I say, magical place, located in my very backyard of Long Island City/Astoria.

It’s called Socrates Sculpture Park and it is one of the best spring and summer destinations in NYC for families, couples or to wander around on your own.

Once upon a time, Socrates Sculpture Park was an abandoned riverside landfill. In the 1980’s it was transformed into an outdoor exhibit space and studio by a group of artists and members of the community. Today it serves as a world renowned outdoor museum and artistic workspace, as well as a multifaceted activity park.

The best part about the activities on offer is that they are all free of charge and available several times a week during the spring and summer, with some continuing into the fall.

There are educational art workshops, a film series, and a weekend fitness program including yoga, capoeira, pilates and more!

It’s all just a short hop from Manhattan on the N or W subway lines to Broadway, and then a 10 minute walk.

For more information on all the Socrates Sculpture Park has to offer, please visit: http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/

At a Glance:

PARK HOURS: Socrates is open 365 days a year from 10am until sunset. Click here for sunset times

ADMISSION: FREE

DIRECTIONS TO SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK: N/W to Broadway (Queens)

ADDRESS: 32-01 Vernon Boulevard at Broadway, Long Island City (Queens), NY 11106

by Lorina Pellach-Ladrillono of The Original Beadscarf &

beadscarf.etsy.com

Handmade Nation comes to NYC!!!

By Lorina of The Original Beadscarf

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of attending a Q & A session featuring the authors of Handmade Nation and the indie documentary film of the same name.

Andrew, the Editor in Chief of American Craft Magazine was on hand as moderator of the event. He likens the Indie craft movement to the Punk rock era of the 70’s and 80’s in which self expression was rebellious in nature, much the way today’s crafters are anti-“big box”.

Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl travelled through the US to interview crafters from every corner of our country. Both being indie crafters themselves, became very interested in learning how various communities of crafters evolve and thrive.

The two met while they were vending together at markets and eventually decided to put up a video on youtube to promote their journey documenting indie craftspersons of America.
Particularly interesting was when Faythe mentioned that there was a tremendous interest from people outside the community who didn’t know what they were doing, and had to explain what crafters actually do. They also found that men became increasingly aware and interested in joining this female dominated arena.

Cortney and Faythe believe that the web is an integral part of the future of crafting in the form of online communities, forums, sharing of info and getting one’s name into the public eye. Crafting fills a need to get people together in person, which is often challenged by contemporary life. Crafters often feed off each other in complementary ways. There is definitely a social aspect to crafting.

Handmade Nation the film has sold out for its showing at the Museum of Art & Design for Thursday night’s premiere; however, there will be additional screenings the weekend of Feb. 14 and 15. Visit http://www.handmadenationmovie.com/ for more information.

For more blogs from Lorina of The Original Beadscarf, please click here.

Indie-pendent Craftepreneurs of the Bahamas Straw Market

by Lorina of The Original Beadscarf

Who doesn’t love to visit local markets while traveling? Sure you have your usual souvenir suspects: shot glasses, t-shirts, caps, the list goes on. But my favorite is always the local craft, especially when the person who created the item is also the person selling it. The item just seems to have more meaning.

On a recent trip to the Bahamas, I visited the Straw Market. The largest of its kind in the world, the Straw Market houses some 200 vendors selling everything from those ubiquitous tourist t-shirts and counterfeit handbags to figurines and toys.

But just past that knockoff “status” bag, you will find the most prominent of all the items. They are the bags, hats, fans and baskets all made from colorful straw, and their purveyors working tirelessly on these items.

These are the indie-pendent craftepreneurs of the Straw Market. Tourism is the most viable industry of the Bahamas and these craftepreneurs are ready (and eager!) to provide a personalized straw item on-the-spot! For many of the vendors at the Straw Market, this is their primary means of income. You can find them stitching dried palm and sisal plants, which are sometimes dyed, to create beautiful and useful souvenirs every day of the week.

At this market, I also found someone who created toys from recycled soda cans.

A fun day out, the Straw Market in Nassau, The Bahamas is definitely worth the trip!

All text and images
©Lorina Pellach Ladrillono 2008

What to wear on your big Valentine's Date!

Wondering what to wear on your big valentine's date - come shop with the {NewNew} - we've got it all picked out for you!
Earrings - $22 - BrooklynButterfly
Bracelet - $195 - NinaDinoff
Handbag - $25 - JTStitches
Hat - $25 - BrooklynBee
Necklace - $25 - Beadscarf
Shirt - $27 - KimmChi