Third Installment of the Boston-Based Blogs Series

by Laura Collins of Pansy Maiden


Erin Gates began her blog, Elements of Style, as a component of her Boston-based interior design company's website, Element Interiors. The blog has really taken off due to the sleek look and Erin's keen eye for fashion and design. Erin doesn't focus on Boston design but her finds are really lovely, especially if you refer to yourself as a "fashionista."

Elements of Style has become a touchstone for readers all over the world in search of design inspiration, advice and a few laughs. Lauded by the Washington Posts as one of the “Top Ten Design Blogs of 2008″, E of S sets itself apart by not only combining fashion, interior design and pop culture, but by doing so with a sense of humor and realistic approach that the general public can understand and access.

Boston Mamas is a great one-stop shop for information about local designers who specialize in products kids will love or products that make parents' lives easier. Christine Koh is the lady behind this blog. She also hosts regular giveaways so be sure to check this site out.

Boston Mamas is a one-stop source for cool ideas & resources for families in Boston & beyond.

An Interview with Lady Dye Fiber Arts and Design

By Diane of Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design

BH: What is your background?
Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design: My name is Diane and I live in Jamaica Plain, MA. I have five brothers and two sisters and come from a very close knit family. I was raised by my grandparents in Highland Park, IL from a very young age until my early teenage years in which my family then moved to Conyers, GA. I graduated from Georgia College & State University with a B.A. in Political Science and Mass Communication with a concentration in Print Journalism in 2001 and I have a M.A. in Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from Suffolk University. I currently work for The Boston Foundation and love my job.

BH: How long have you been doing your artwork/craft?
Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design: I have been in the world of the fiber arts since December of 2002 when I first learned how to knit. From then on I became passionate about everything fiber. I have been knitting for the last 8 years, crocheting for 6 years, spinning and dyeing yarn for 5 years.

BH: What first made you want to become an artist?
Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design: As a young girl, I was always interested in crafts. It wasn’t until I received a sketch pad and colored pencils at Christmas way back when, did I begin to understand art and drawing. I was very crafty growing up and I would often times sew my doll clothes by hand. Eventually, the ideal of being an artist slipped away for several years until my close friend Nicole gave me my artistic niche back when I moved to Rhode Island in 2002. We both knit and overtime, I developed my love of the arts again thanks to her.

BH: Please describe your creative process?
Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design: My creative process for dyeing yarn is really inspired by the changing of the seasons. It’s so amazing to see the transition of Mother Nature every year and the colors that surround us. I look forward mostly to spring and the fall where I get my inspiration for which fruits and vegetables I will dye my yarn with but also for spinning my yarn. During spring and fall, I often enjoy walking around outside or looking at what people are wearing and draw inspiration from the colors surrounding me.

BH: What is your favorite color?
Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design: My favorite color is blue…all shades of blue!

BH: Why should people buy handmade?
Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design: Buying or receiving items handmade is a treasure and I find that people value these items more because someone took their time to craft something unique.

BH: Name your top five books and movies?
Lady Dye Fiber Arts & Design: For movies it would have to be: The Color Purple, Fried Green Tomatoes, Schindler’s List, Roots, Anne of Green Gables (although it’s a series I love it!). My favorite books are: All Souls, Happy to be Nappy, Fried Green Tomatoes, the Harry Potter series, and Taming of the Shrew and yes…it’s a play but a great play!

Muppets not Muskets - My Dinner with Jim

by Sharon of Stray Notions

In those (real or imaginary) conversations where one is offered dinner (or whatever) with a hero of choice ... dead or alive ... Jim Henson has always been on my list. That's ignoring the fact that I'd probably be too awestruck to speak.

I didn't grow up with the Muppets but rather babysat for the kids who did, and from that time the fascination with a mind that could come up with the ideas he did always amazed me. So when the touring exhibit which is a tribute to him came to the Museum of Our National Heritage (MONH) I was there (twice). Once during Patriots week ... so while reenactors were recreating the shot heard round the world outside ... I was inside looking at sketchbooks, videos, constructions ... perhaps hoping that some of the magic would rub off and wondering about this thing we call creativity: Can you work at it? are you born with it? both?

And how cool is it that a the MONH a seemingly serious place saw fit to host this exhibit. The show has moved on (next stop Chicago) but the Museum seems to have an interesting mix of exhibits including, at the moment, spectacular large format photographs of all of our National Parks and a permanent collection on Freemasonry. Perhaps I'll return to learn those secrets. Admission is free (though I personally would encourage a voluntary donation).

Beacon Hill Photowalk

by Kerry Hawkins of khawkinsphoto

A small group of us from Boston Handmade went wandering from Park Street to Beacon Hill to take photos and chat. I brought a map but, we really didn't need it. We just walked wherever and took photos. I have been here many times to Beacon Hill but, I always find something new and interesting. It is also fun to see the different photos people take of the same spots. It was a steamy night but we explored quite a bit. We ended the night with a delicious meal at the King and I. I had never been and was a delight.

Check out Allison's, Lucie's and Arthur's photos here.

Monday Mosaic - Summer Sun

1. Sunshine Onesie by Elizabeth Brennick Designs
2. Felted Yellow Tulip by Cozy Cottage Creations
3. Lemon Yellow Seaglass Earrings by Sea Glass Things
4. FIN Four, Limited Edition Print by Thirteenth Story
5. You Are My Sunshine 5x7 Print by Fraske Designs
6. Yellow Anchor Coptic Journal by White Sparrow Bindery

5 Ceramic artists you need to know!

by Arthur of Arthur Halvorsen Ceramics

Below is an EXTREMELY PARTIAL list of ceramic artists I have been looking at for quite some time.

Deborah Schwartzkopf
Deb was artist is residence last year at Mudflat and is now in Seattle making her work.

Kari Radasch
Kari works in Maine, and she is basically my mentor in the ceramics world. Whenever I need advice or a good kick in the butt I give Kari a ring!

Ayumi Horie
Ayumi is basically the current Lady Gaga of ceramics at this moment. I took at workshop with her last year at Penland in North Carolina, and I have NEVER learned as much in two weeks as I did with Ayumi!

Michael Kline
Michael works in North Carolina near Penland, and his work is just amazing to say the least!

Kirsten Kieffer
Kirsten is a local working in western mass, and she has a hand that has such a touch on her porcelain forms that is just to die for! I have considered switching to porcelain because of her work.

Last but not least Molly Hatch
Molly is another Mass ceramics artist and I think her work especially her current work just speaks for itself.

A lot of these artists can be found on either Facebook, Twitter or both... and they can all be found on Etsy! I hope you have enjoyed taking a look at some of my idols in the ceramics world, and hope you take the time to take a close look at their work as well!

Marketplace Rescheduled for SUNDAY!

WEEKEND FORECAST:
Rain this afternoon, and Marketplace tomorrow!

Batten down the hatches, put on those wellies,
today's forecast is for an all-afternoon downpour!

But have no fear,
the Boston Handmade Marketplace is moving to
Tomorrow, SUNDAY, July 11, 3 - 7 pm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Somerville Arts Council & Boston Handmade present an ArtsUnion Event: the 3rd annual Boston Handmade Marketplace in Union Square, Somerville

Thanks in part to The Somerville Arts Council and Etsy.com, local artists, artisans, and craftspeople associated with Boston Handmade will be in Union Square Somerville for our 3rd year showing and selling handmade jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, art, photography, ceramics, glass, soaps, and more!

Musicians will be performing throughout the Boston Handmade Marketplace and there
will be craft demonstrations with the Common Cod Fiber Guild and Stitch House.

See you tomorrow in Union Square!

For more information about the event, directions, and links to all the exhibitors, check out the web site: www.BostonHandmade.org

Boston-Based Blogs: Second Entry in a (short) series

by Laura Collins of Pansy Maiden

This is the second entry in my short series on Boston-based blogs. As I mentioned in my first entry, I know you readers of the Boston Handmade blog love to support local talent (big *hug* and lots of air kisses to you all!) so I wanted to spread the love by telling you guys about some other Boston ladies and gents who are writing about interesting things. Some of these blogs might be familiar to you, others may not. If you have a special Boston-based blog you'd like to share, please feel free to mention them in the comments. I have a few more coming down the line...

Today I present Urban Sherp and Style Carrot.

Urban Sherp doesn't focus on Boston-made products or events but they are Cambridge, MA-based and have an eco-focus which, as you probably know, is close to my heart. Their tag line is, "Your Guide to an Eco-Modern Lifestyle." (Love that tag line!) They feature everything from eco-fashion, eco-finds for tots, the newest gadgets to help you "green" your life, eco-decor, and general green tips for green living. Living an "earth-friendlier" life doesn't have to be an inconvenience and I believe the writers at Urban Sherp totally get that.
From their "About Us" page:

We hope that one day we’ll no longer have to ask the questions: Is it green? What makes it green? How does this product affect the community? Is it sustainable? How far is it transported? Someday green design will be inherent in all design. Manufacturers, designers and consumers will recognize the value in creating products that tread lightly on our planet and the people who inhabit it. Until then, we’ll keep asking the questions.

Style Carrot, written by Boston-based fashion journalist Marni Katz, is another hidden gem of a blog. Marni has the inside info on design events happening in and around the city of Boston, terrific entries about up-and-coming Boston-area designers, as well as finds of a more "cross-country" and "global" nature. By looking at her design picks and the layout of her blog, it is obvious she has a natural eye for design.
From her "About" page:

i am a freelance writer living in boston, obsessed and affected by the aesthetics of life. i got my professional start in the fashion closet of rolling stone magazine. but the true birth of my passion for combining pictures and text began at age twelve, in the basement of my childhood home in connecticut. there, perched on the modular sofa under a disco ball from the previous decade, i carefully crafted copy to accompany the fashion photos i had my sister snap. i can still see my favorite shot (though the actual image is long gone), of me, in a silky (read, polyester) dress with a swingy skirt (purchased for my cousin’s bat mitvah), sitting prettily at our bamboo bar, champagne glass in hand.