First Mondays Giveaway - Father's Day Edition!

Congratulations to Gina R of Smithtown, NY, the winner of last month's Mother's Day Giveaway giveaway, which included a necklace, a set of stationery and a pillow! This month, we have an amazing collection of items geared more towards the testosterone-producing types of humans. See below for rules and good luck! For the outdoorsman, a category that includes those grueling trips to the post office, an ear-warming handmade helmet hat by Projects by Carm. The genius of this little guy is that it can be worn as is or under a bike helmet. Carm specializes in knitting, crocheting and felting and uses these techniques to make all sorts of functional and adorable items. Click here for one of my favorites! Have you seen this show on Animal Planet called "Must Love Cats"? This cute guy travels the country to report on all things feline and even sings original songs about the cats he meets. I love this show. And if you feel the guy in your life "must love cats" then this print by Deborah Julian is just the ticket! Cats are definitely Deborah's muse - take a look at her reinterpretations of famous paintings that are made vastly improved - as is everything - by the addition of cats! To round up this month's Father's Day offerings, Letters That Wow has contributed a framed, personalized sports-themed artwork! You choose any 3-8 letter name and any theme in LTW's shop. What a great addition to an office or den! The winner of this giveaway will be announced on Monday, May 2 and our new June giveaway will be posted! To enter: 1. Make sure you are a follower of this blog. 2. Your comment is your entry. Only comments received by April 15 will be eligible. 3. One entry per person, but if you tweet, blog or facebook about this giveaway it gets you additional entries. Post a LINK back to your personal post right here in the comments section. 4. Winner picked at random. Winner must ship to USA address only (sorry!). 5. Items will be shipped individually. Best wishes. LuCrafts

Father's Day gifts from the {NewNew} team!

Here are some of the best Father's Day gifts, all handmade in New York by local artists. And all fit for a king!

If your Dad is a fancypants, he'll need a pair of cufflinks.
These are actually nickels with images on the Brooklyn Bridge on 'em. Wowza!
$45 at WabisabiBrooklyn.

I know my Dad was more forgiving of me having cookies for breakfast.
Give him a card and stay on his good side.
$3.50 at Gramkinpaperstudio.

What better way to honor Dad than to give him something to mark his territory?
Who rocks the potty?
$6.00 at LennyMud.

Uber cool and he can know what time it is, now all he needs is a remote and he's all set!
Made from an actual Iron Man comic... it really does tell the time, too.
$20.00 at CantAffordEmClocks.

Yep, Dads can be smelly.

But not if they use this scrubby soap made from sandalwood, vanilla and a hint of lime!

$7.00 at NordeaSoaperie.

Your Dad will remember the movie and think he's the coolest with this money clip.

You just want to make sure he'll have spare cash for that pony you always wanted.

$25 at Citybitz.

This is the cutest Dad-n-kid Robot t-shirt ever!

$23 at MamaRobot.

Do you have the coolest Dad? No?

Well you will when he wears this denim fedora. It's NYC coolness-in-a-hat.

$52 at RocksandSalt.

That brings this week's shopping spree to an end. You can find more great NYC-made stuff for Dads from the {NewNew} team on Etsy if you click here: Happy Father's Day!

Hope it's a great one!

Stephanie Maslow-Blackman

Metalicious.etsy.com

Daughter's Dancing by Father's Design

My father Luis Fernando Quintero moved to New York City more than 30 years ago. After a series of uninspiring jobs in Long Island City's factories, he decided to seek a job in the jewelry industry. He knew a thing or two about polishing from past jobs in his native city of Medellín, Colombia and recognized that he was a man of artistic abilities. After going door to door from jewelry company to jewelry company, his persistence paid off and he landed a job with the company Parisian Creations. His time at Parisian Creations would be long, but educational. When someone would leave, he would quickly learn to do their job until he had learned it all. There were other jobs in between, but in 2005, he used this expertise to design his own jewelry lines for his new independent business, Fernando Jewelry.

I had always admired my father's talent and secretly wished that I could work with him. It wasn't until this fall, when I decided to change careers and enrolled at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, that I would get my wish. Having quit my job to return to school, I faced the challenge of finding a job I could do while dancing. Given my demanding rehearsal schedule, I knew it had to be a job that would rely heavily on the internet. Short of a website, I noticed that my father's jewelry designs had virtually no online presence. I immediately had a vision for a father-daughter partnership. My father, with a talent for manipulating precious metals into any shape and pattern imaginable, would design all the jewelry and manufacture it by hand. I, with a talent for movement, would focus on moving his fine jewelry designs from where they live - his Manhattan workshop - into the online shops of the world. And so Fernando Jewelry's e-operations, a collaboration between a father and a daughter, began.

I never would have expected that the internet could bring my father and I closer together. While launching Fernando Jewelry's e-operations, I learned a lot about my how my father creates his jewelry masterpieces. He is a perfectionist and has been nicknamed by former co-workers the "jewelry doctor," for his amazing skill with restoring damaged jewelry. He is also someone who goes to great lengths to conserve. While collaborating with Meghan Myers at WedVert to develop a line of organic wedding bands, I learned that my father already habitually recycled and reused metal scraps and older jewelry to create his designs. Since then, he has agreed to make it a priority to incorporate these personal values and work practices into all of his designs.

So for this Father's Day, my father and I want you to join us in celebrating the internet - blogs, Etsy, Google groups and all - for the opportunity it gives jewelry artists to share their art with the world, while enabling a new dance artist in the process. Happy Father's Day!

by Karla Quintero
luisfernando.etsy.com

Sonora Who? - Don't Forget Your Dads

Germany's Father's Day falls on Ascension Day. So a few weeks ago I received a phone call from my dear dad who said: "Hello, today is Father's Day!" Much mumbling on my end of the phone that eventually ended in: "Happy Father's Day." So in order for you not to find yourself in a similar situation, here are some unique gifts for the fathers in your family:

How about a set of coasters depicting Rockaway's architectural landmarks from Bungaloe?

I've been eyeing these cufflinks for months now. Coney Island's Parachute Jump affixed to nickels made by Wabisabi Brooklyn. My husband's aunt actually jumped off that thing in her heyday.

For the athlete in your family, a tissue cozy from muppetloon. What, you don't already own one! Where do you keep your tissues? Wrapped in some plastic?

And finally a special something for the Lewis Black fan - found at E.Binard.

Also, don't forget to check out Karen's Monsters for t-shirts and cute monsters, Jes Switaj for ties, Ikyoto for more cool t-shirts, and yummy soaps from Nordea's Soaperie and Dirty Loves Clean.

By the way, Sonora Smart Dodd was the first to solicit support for a day honoring fathers in 1910.


Simone
groundsel.etsy.com

♥♥♥Father's Day Idea: Edible Gifts♥♥♥

Finally Dad’s get a day that is all about them and if your Dad is anything like ours he acts as though he doesn’t take this day very seriously. Like most Dads he is deceptively hard to shop for. When the LuxSugar team asked their Dads what they would like their responses were generally "Whatever you think I would like."

What we here at LuxSugar have come to realize is that sometimes you have to think outside the box (specifically outside the toolbox) when it comes to Dad. Ties are great and, hey, all Dad's love a good gadget but through trial and error (ie: birthdays and Christmas) we have realized what most fathers love is a sweet treat. This year Heidi and Shari's Dad is getting his favorite cheesecake, the "Big O" with extra caramel topping, Tashia's Dad is getting a mix of Lux Coconut Bars and Brownies & Peggy's Dad is getting two Pineapple Upside Down mini-cakes... just in time for Fathers day.

But these yummy items aren't the only things you can send to your Dad this year. Cupcakes, bundts, and cookies are also a great gift idea. This year LuxSugar has created a slew of treats that are all about Dad and packaged them in a rugged colorful tin and box with a "LuxSugar loves DaD" sticker to seal the package in order to ship to all the special Dads all over! We are sure it's a gift they will never forget!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL DAD'S EVERYWHERE!!

~Luxsugar

http://www.lux-sugar.com/

http://www.luxsugar.etsy.com/

Father's Day is almost here

I’m not sure whether it’s simply the male DNA to blame, or some chemical/biological change that occurred the moment he became a father, but either way, my dad is impossible to shop for. He doesn't want for new clothes (still wearing t-shirts from well before I was born), has no hobbies really (unless you consider his clarinet playing, but he does that professionally so it doesn’t count), and is generally pretty content with the stuff he already owns.

So what to buy the man who doesn’t want or need anything? Well, he already has a lamp made from an old clarinet - seriously - so anything from the likes of Yours truly is out the window.

I looked to my fellow New New’ers for ideas, and here are some of my faves…

A new tie from ikyoto


Message to dad: Stop wearing those awful clarinet ties! They are even dorkier than a piano tie, and most people wouldn’t have even thought that was possible. Now THIS is a tie! I have no idea what the text on it might say, but as a tie, it practically screams “I am the coolest dad ever!”

Cuff Links from wabisabi brooklyn


French cuffed shirts are a classic, classy look; it’s too bad more men don’t wear them. These super cool cuff links are a perfect gift for a new dad who needs some subtle fashion advice. Unfortunately my dad is too far gone.

Nice soap from Kopah


I know for a fact that dad’s appreciate a nice, handmade soap. My grandparents were visiting this one time, and there just happened to be some goat’s milk soap that my mom had picked up at a craft event in the shower they were using, and my gramps went ga-ga over it. Help your dad ditch the Irish Spring and broaden his hygiene horizons (my dad’s name his Gene, insert pun there).

And don’t forget the card...from waisze


Or if you’re like me, it might be all about the card. Because he is, as I said, impossible to shop for, and as homage to the fact that I am truly my father’s daughter (read: I am cheap, and I learned it from watching you dad), I have been known to acknowledge Father’s Day with nothing more than a thoughtful card and a timely phone call. And you know what, I’m still his favorite daughter.

-Yours Truly

Crafty Dads

I've heard and read lots of interviews with artists and crafters, and usually when the question "why are you creative" comes up, moms get the credit for leading by crafty example. But in honor of the month in which we tip our hats to dads, I'd like to take a little peek into how the fathers (and husbands) of some {New New} members have inspired, collaborated with, and otherwise conspired to make us want - and need - to make stuff.

The Art Stick
Brooklyn based artist Kimm of KimmChi, who makes unique jewelry, tote bags, and tee shirts, had this to say: "I grew up with a very crafty dad - everything was art to him, and everything was inspiring. He once found a branch on the street and was so taken with it that - I kid you not - he covered it in canvas and painted it a very unnatural metallic copper. That was 25 or so years ago. He still has it, as adults we have taken to calling it the "Art Stick" - the ever-inspiring art stick."

Tailor Made
May of May Luk Ceramics cited both her father and her husband as inhabiting the crossroads of craft and good old fashioned labor: "My dad was a tailor before he retired, so he can be considered a craftsman. But in Hong Kong, he is just another worker in a sweaty shop (not sweat shop, just hot in temperature). Back then when Hong Kong was still manufacturing goods, most people worked with their hands. He tried to teach me how to make patterns when I was a kid but I never got it. I sewed one shirt and the collar was lopsided. I enjoyed drawing fashion when I was a kid but I never picked up fashion design. He did tell me not to do things that everybody can do. I do get that from him; I try to have a very strong individual style as a person and in my designs. Now I am married to a graphic designer. Graphic design and typography used to be crafts but are no longer considered so."

Love of Craft
Jen of JT Stitches talked about her father's inspiring handiness: "My father has always been a very handy man. I can always remember my father building something, sometimes ripping down a room and totally rebuilding it. He's has made backyard and pool decks, rebuilt bathrooms, and has helped a many members of my family with home based projects. These things just come naturally to my father. He's not in construction professionally; he is retired from the New York City Police Department. My favorite example of his handiness is: when I got my embroidery machine a couple years ago I needed something to prop it up to make it easier for me to embroider large pieces. I gave my father the measurements, showed him a picture of what I had in mind and he made it for me, adding detail to the edges and engraving the bottom, To Jen Love Dad."



Jack of All Trades
Karen of Karen's Monsters is married to a man of versatile craftiness: "My husband Joe is one of the most creative people I know. He calls himself my idea guy. He has come up with half the ideas behind the monsters I make, he names each one, and he just recently designed the t-shirts I'm having printed. When I first started selling, he made me the most awesome sign (see attached photo). And now he's gotten into making hula hoops. We spend most evenings up on our roof hula hooping now. Since he was little he's always liked making things and I'm happy to have him putting a lot of that creative energy into my crafting business. Though I'd love it if he could have a work space to make all of the big ideas he has."

DIY Dadoo
Kari of ikyoto talked about her father's DIY influence on her: "While mom was the one in my family to pass on the sewing skills that I use every day, the DIY attitude of my dad (aka Dadoo) has made quite an impression as well. Long before I was born, he was clinching his title of "super geek" by building a hat with it's own built-in fan. An impish prank that got him in trouble in elementary school was a handmade valentine to his teacher. The box said on the front "You pierce my heart..." upon opening shot out a little dart and continued, "Did I pierce yours?" He has helped me on many projects over the years including learning black and white photography in the bathroom lab, team effort handmade paper, and soldering together a theremin kit. For this I'm forever thankful, with a bonus thanks for the fact that I always know what to get him for Father's Day: some kind of instruction manual!"

Here's to the paternal (and husbandly) influence on craftiness!

-MaryAnne, wabisabi brooklyn

Father's Day Family Sketchbook

Each Father's Day my family struggles to think up a new and inventive way to say "We Love You dad"! My dad is not a Tie-Wearing-Dad, nor is he a Suit-Wearing -Dad, nor a Coffee- Drinking-Dad nor a Writing-In -Journals sort of Dad. So this has always been challenging.

He is more of a I'm-a-chemist -but-i-really-want -to-be-a-painter sort of Dad! The sort of Dad who would go out to a nearby farm on his lunch break to draw the cows as they grazed up and down in the grass.

So this year we decided to try and get the whole family involved in a present that he would really enjoy and be able to look back at for years to come. I had read about three artists that shared a sketch book and each would draw on one page and then pass it on to the next, with each drawing inspiring the next. I thought this would be a great project to replicate with my own family.

All you need is:
-1 sketch book or blank journal
-Various art supplies, pens pencils, markers etc
-A sizeable pre-paid US Postal Office envelope

Now all you need to do is have each family member draw on a given page. We started our's with the youngest - my nephew drew a whole "My Family" drawing which included hearts and dogs. His mother took some inspiration from that and drew her son with the two dogs in their yard. I am working on a portrait of my nephew.

Once we have all had our go at sketching in the book, I will present the book to my Dad on father's day with instructions (and a prepaid flat rate shipping envelope) for him to mail it back to the next participant so we can keep the family sketchbook active.

I think I've finally found a gift that he will truly love to take part in.
Do post comments below about any interactive gifts that you've participated in.

-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com