DIYthing

What a great shirt dress by Rip Studio over at Asian iCandy.

Rip Studio’s designs seem to be very flowing and free. If you are looking ahead to summer you will want to check out their complete line over at Asian iCandy.

I love the saying on this silked screened replica Vintage poster by sfgirlbybay on Etsy.

Right now, more than ever, Deb and I can relate to this poster. As most of you know, we are hard at work getting ready for the launch of DIY City the mag. You will find over 60 designers featured on the mag and countless shops and resources. Join us as we continue on with the DIY spirit when we launch in February 2008.

Have you always wanted to take a class on Letterpressing - well if you live in NYC give The Arm a call because Daniel Morris is giving a class this Sunday January 6, 2008 from 11AM-5PM. You may even see Henry around…so bring a couple extra doggy treats when you stop by.

You will learn the basic principles of printing on the Vandercook cylinder proof press. You will learn the parts of the press and how it operates, how to lock up a form from type or photopolymer plates and how to make a print. Oh, and to clean up the press after you’re done!

The cost of this workshop will be $110 per person. The enrollment fees can be paid by Paypal to dan@thearmnyc.com to secure a spot.

The Arm’s public studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is now open by appointment even late and on the weekends. Press rental for any of The Arm’s Vandercooks or C&P Pilot presses is $15 per hour and one-on-one teaching on any of the presses is available for $35 per hour.

Email The Arm if you’d like to come by for a visit @ dan@thearmnyc.com

Check out The Arm on Flickr!

Here is the work of another artist, Tami Curtis-Ellis, that I met at the Arts Market of New Orleans. I love how Tami uses vintage wooden frame windows and screens in many of her pieces. Not only is it eco-friendly, but the screens also connect you to a different time in our history. Many of the artists at the Arts Market were using found objects and recycled pieces in their works.

Tami has a rich history on the Louisiana art scene. You can read her profile at the NOLA Fun Guide. Stay tuned, we hope to bring you more about Tami and her colorful, jazzy style soon.

Green Fleur de lis, originally uploaded by adiything.

Wishing you peace and joy for this special holiday season. Heather Mattingly ’s work is so peaceful and always brings me much hope - not only for New Orleans as it continues to rebuild, but for all who are experiencing rebuilding. You can see more of her work at Flickr photostream.

Create in ‘08 at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn! One of our favorite places for artists, 3rd Ward, has some new resources for the new year. 3rd Ward is adding more benefits to their membership plans to encourage people to “Create in ‘08”.

New Trial members (3-month term at $60 per month) will receive a complimentary 4-hour block of time in the photo studio or day pass in the wood and metal shop. Photo studio time will be great for you to take photos of all of your great work. And don’t worry, new Annual members (12-month term at $30 per month) receive one month of free membership and the same a choice of a complimentary 4-hour block in the photo studio or day pass in the shop.

And if you want unlimited access to all of 3rd Ward’s facilities you should check out the I Heart Brooklyn members ($300 per month) as it offers the best savings.

Find out all the details at www.3rdwardbrooklyn.org.

What Can You Dream Up? “Create your dreamiest quilt block and win big prizes!” Here is another great contest for DIYs. This one is sponsored by Babylock. If you are familiar with, Baby Lock you know that they have been creating machines for sewing, embroidery, quilting and serging for the past 40 years. I think you will love the open-ended design of this contest.

Simply create a NEW 12-1/2″ x 12-1/2″ quilt block — it’s your dream so you select the color, style, fabric, etc.

Fill out the entry form and upload a photo or snail-mail a photo of your quilt block to Baby Lock. This contest is super easy. Deb and I both have done some quilting and may have to enter this one. The 12 semi-finalists’ quilt blocks will made into a quilt and it will be raffled off at the annual Paducah, Kentucky quilt show. And another nice note, donations will go to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. You and your friends will have a chance to vote on the best quilt block and the grand prize winner will win a trip to Paducah to play the I’m Dreaming of a Quilt game with a chance to win $10,000.00 cash! So what are you waiting for, start dreaming now.

AMACO and STAEDTLER, Inc. are proud to announce the joint sponsorship of the latest in a series of designer challenges to support “Bottles of Hope,” a grassroots national polymer clay craft movement. This movement seeks to increase awareness about charities and hospitals that deliver services to people living with cancer, through the distribution of decorated bottles (once used in chemotherapy) to patients and their families.

There is still time to get in on this great designer challenge, deadline for entries is January 12th! All mini-bottles created for “Hope on a Rope Designers Challenge” will be gifted to cancer patients and their families.

Requirements: Each mini bottle must be decorated with Fimo® Soft or Fimo® Classic clays with a minimum of 10 beads hand-rolled with any AMACO Bead Roller™. Mixed media adornment is strongly encouraged, but the beads and bottle embellishment must be 80% clay. Finished pieces should be created with kids in mind. The entire necklace length does not have to be beaded.

Categories: Winning entries will be selected for the following Categories: Best Expression of Hope, Best Use of FIMO®, Best Use of Bead Rollers™, and Best of Show to be chosen by editors from an on-line gallery at amaco.com; and People’s Choice (to be chosen by attendees at CHA).

see entry form here

Any questions regarding this event can be directed to Lisa Pavelka at: lisapavelka@cox.net.