From Asheville, North Carolina, it’s This Dog’s Life. I’m Ira G. Each FRIDAY, of course, I pick a theme and present a story around that theme.
Moving: What a pain in the rump. I’ll be glad when the boxes are all gone. Someone wake me up when it’s all over.
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Learn how to make this project from the book Stitched Jewels.
I thought I’d share a fun and awesome free project from a current jewelry book I love, Stitched Jewels. These earrings by Jennifer Kahn aren’t only cool and modern, but they’re also easy to make and eco-friendly since they’re made mostly of leather and fabric scraps.
The PDF will show you how to make the frames and secure the sides. Just add your own style with fabric and you have a great pair of earrings!
Enjoy!
I’m a big fan of BRAVO’s show, Inside the Actor’s Studio and it’s host, James Lipton. So much so, that I paid a little homage to them with a a crafter’s version of the questions that each actor is asked at the end of each episode–”in the tradition of Bernard Pivot and Marcel Proust”– within the pages of Craft Corps. It was a fun way to cap off, an otherwise in-depth conversation (not to mention how much it thrilled me to know that I’m not the only crafter with a trash mouth!). Here are just a few–Etsy’s Christina Batch-Lee, Craftster’s Leah Kramer, & the legendary, Carol Duvall–of the 30, Crafter’s Studio profiles, included in my book. Read ‘em. then share your own answers to the questions below!
Christina Batch, Etsy
Leah Kramer, Craftster
Carol Duvall
Join us in the Crafter’s Studio, by answering these questions in the comments section below!
In tradition of the great James Lipton:
1. What craft sound or smell do you love?
2. What craft sound or smell do you hate?
3. What career other than your own would you like to try?
4. When you have a craftastrophe, what is your favorite exclamation?
Psst…pass it on!
Craft.Rock.Love,
Twitter: @vickiehowell
FB: facebook.com/vickiehowell
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/craftrocklove
Asheville Bookworks’ annual weekend celebrating Book Arts happens Sept 24-25, and the deadline for submissions -September 8- is fast approaching. To find out more visit their website:
ashevillebookworks.com/bookopolis/
Patrick Fox, Fabric Remix photographer
Patrick Fox, photographer for Sandy Stone’s new book, Fabric Remix, sat down with us to talk photography, flying, and what it was like to work on this beautiful book. Check out Patrick’s portfolio and blog for more of his photography and high-flying adventures.
How and when did you get started as a photographer?
I have always had an interest in photography. When I was a child, my father flew to Japan frequently and he would always bring back cameras. When I was 13, I got a paper route and saved up to buy a nice SLR camera. As a high school freshman, I was encouraged to apply for—and got—a photographer spot on my high school newspaper. I went on to get a BA degree in photography from Brooks Institute. After college I moved from California to Minneapolis and assisted in photography for a year. I started my own business in the late 80’s, and have been very fortunate to work for great clients both locally and nationally.
When did you start flying, and what kind of planes do you have?
I got my pilot’s license in 1990. My father was a pilot for the airlines, and I have always loved to fly. I have over 1300 hours flying, and I still enjoy learning something new and the adventures it brings. I own two airplanes. One is a Piper Supercub, and the other is a Cessna Skywagon. Both airplanes are called tail draggers, which have an older style of landing gear. Instead of a nose wheel they have a tail wheel in the rear. That allows for both planes to land on grass or other unimproved landing areas. The Supercub has skis on it for winter lake landings—a real bonus in the Northland! The Skywagon is a full instrument airplane, so it can be flown in most weather conditions.
Long story short: I’ve had a touch of the remix bug ever since I laid eyes on Sandy Stone’s stunning projects in Fabric Remix. I’ve spent a large portion of my summer searching our local thrift stores for fun (and easy) furniture makeover projects. Since I’m no upholstery master, chairs make a great starting place (especially since upholstery fabric is such a great other kind of fabric to love!). Check out these fresh remixes from talented flickr folks…. some seriously scrumptious finds!
(Please click on the links below to see more works from these artists.)
1. Spruce Upholstery, 2. Patchwork Chair Project, 3. reupholstered chairs, 4. Modern fabric: Blue floral velvet + green leaves + slipper chair, 5. fun upholstery (5.5.10), 6. Gretchen From The Side, 7. Found arm chair, 8. chair, finished, 9. amy’s reupholstery
Read more about Sandy and her work here, here, and here.
I love thrift shopping and upcyling…I must admit I hadn’t heard of this word until recently, but I believe I’ve been doing it most of my life. Basically, you find a cool old thing and figure out some way to transform it into something usable (and lovable). So of course, I really love the new Lark book, Fabric Remix by Sandy Stone (on shelves now!). She’s got a fantastic eye and amazing ideas.
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[From Lark Jewelry & Beading: a new, semi-regular feature profiling popular jewelry and beading bloggers with five quick questions.]
Name: Carol Dean Sharpe
Place: Anthony, New Mexico, USA
Blog: Sand Fibers
Carol, what do you blog about?
Everything and nothing. No. Seriously.
I blog about my new creations and collaborations with other artists. I share some of my personal life, my animals, my mini pecan farm adventures.
I take my readers on window shopping tours around Etsy, and I introduce them to the curators of Etsy treasuries my work is featured in.
What else? Oh, yes, every now and then I have a giveaway, usually to celebrate some sort of milestone for Sand Fibers, but sometimes just because.
Stacks of 24 Karat Gold Peyote Cuff Bracelet by Carol Dean Sharpe
I have three scheduled posts every week: Thursday’s Treasur(i)es, BAO (Bead Art Originals) Item of the Week, and Saturday Window Shopping with Sand Fibers.
You never know what I might throw in on other days.
Who are you?
I am a beadweaver and, when I find the time and the energy, I’m a wife, “mother” to three large dogs, and friend to some wonderful folks offline and online.
I look for and find joy in the small things in life. (Hmmm … delica beads ARE small, are they not?)
I’m getting older, not much wiser, but hopefully better at my craft.
Why do you blog?
I started blogging the day before my 45th birthday, stating that I was doing so as “a way to explore what I’m doing creatively, perhaps even a way to ensure that I do explore creatively. We’ll see what happens.”
This was before I had any online stores, a Twitter account, or a Facebook page. I’m not sure who I thought my audience was.
Four and half years later, I hope the “explore creatively” part is still true. But I now have to add several other reasons for blogging: showcasing my work and that of other artists I admire, thanking treasury curators, counting my blessings, supporting the Bead Art Originals team, and sharing bits and pieces of me with people who might be interested.
You Are My Sunshine Necklace by Carol Dean Sharpe
Who and what inspire you?
Inspiration is an amazing gift from the Universe: It’s everywhere.
While the inspiration for most of my peyote cuffs comes from striking color combinations, fabric patterns, symbols (especially spirals), and simple geometry, a gorgeous art bead can lure me away from my cuffs and into the world of pendants and ropes.
