Monday Mosaic - Every Day Is Earth Day

Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd and there's lots of ways you can get ready to honor the earth for that day and help make our planet more sustainable all year long. Here at Boston Handmade many of us create our artwork from recycled materials, and consider minimizing our carbon footprint every day in our studios. Included in today's Earth Day inspired mosaic is work by:
Reclaimed To You
Mimi K
Lucie Wicker Photography
creatively anew
Nancyrosetta
Sea Glass Things
Glamourpuss Creations
Designs By Lulubelle
The Hole Thing
and thank you to Mimi K for putting it all together! You can see more photos by members of Boston Handmade in our Flickr group.

CRAFTBOSTON Today and This Weeekend

If you are an artist, crafter, or a fan of the arts you will find yourself enthralled with all there is to see at this year's CRAFTBOSTON show.

Ellen Grenadier, ceramics, booth # 102

7th Annual CRAFTBOSTON - March 28 - 30, 2008

The Society of Arts and Crafts presents CRAFTBOSTON 2008 at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center. CRAFTBOSTON is the premiere New England exhibition and sale of contemporary craft. The show features more than 175 outstanding artists showcasing one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces in baskets, ceramics, decorative fiber, wearables, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper and wood.

Alex Brand, glass, booth #147

A complete list of participating artists is now available for viewing on-line at www.CRAFTBOSTON.org

NEW this year: CB to GO
Look for CB to GO signs and tags at CRAFTBOSTON identifying works in exhibitor booths that retail for $100 and under. CRAFTBOSTON exhibitors offer a wide range of items priced from $10 to $10,000 insuring that everyone can afford to bring craft home.

Tami Rodrig, jewelry, booth #119

With CB to GO all visitors to CRAFTBOSTON will be guaranteed to find a distinctive addition for their home, workspace, or wardrobe. This unique program highlights handmade work by independent artists, artisans, and craftspeople that can be purchased without breaking the bank.

In addition to shopping and exploring the booths of world-class exhibitors, visitors to CRAFTBOSTON can expect an in-depth and rewarding educational experience. The show features emerging artists from leading schools and universities, non-profit craft organizations, artist mentor program booths and a craft book vendor. Visitors may also attend the educational lecture series conducted by artists, curators, show jurors and other experts in contemporary craft.

Claudia Mills, fiber decorative, booth #419
LECTURE—Contemporary Rag Rug Weaving: Updating an Age Old Technique
Friday, March 28th, 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

WHEN is CRAFTCOSTON:
Friday, March 28, 2008 • 10am-6pm, Saturday, March 29, 2008 • 10am-6pm, Sunday, March 30, 2008 • 11am-5pm

WHERE:
Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02210

COST:
General Admission: $15, Senior Citizens & SAC Members: $12, Children 12 years & under: Free
Admission tickets valid for readmission throughout the weekend.

For more information call 617-266-1810 or visit www.CRAFTBOSTON.org

CRAFTBOSTON is presented by The Society of Arts and Crafts. Incorporated in 1897, The Society of Arts and Crafts, America's oldest nonprofit craft organization, has been at the forefront of the American craft movement, fostering the development, sales, recognition and education of crafts for over one hundred years. SAC programs promote public appreciation of craft and proceeds from CRAFTBOSTON benefit the outreach and educational programs of SAC and enable the continuation of a tradition of excellence. For more information about SAC, please visit www.societyofcrafts.org

Women of the Cloth Exhibit at Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery

Article by Linda of All Dunn

Women of the Cloth continues on exhibit at the Bunker Hill Community College through April 18. If you have any interest in fiber, go now. You may want more than one visit to take it in.

Laura Montgomery, director, has broadly interpreted the show's tactile and spiritual themes. The 52 pieces explore a range of contemporary textile art. Some pieces celebrate traditional techniques, such as quilting, shibori,and mud dyeing. But most take the tradition and stretch it into new forms, even a silk-screened body bag.

Kasia Bytnerowicz's deconstructed paintings echo with the presence of the body that has just left the room. Laura Morrison's whimsical felted creatures disturb you with their suggestion of growth gone awry. Margot Stage's Flight (pictured below) feels like a model for a huge installation. Jennifer Mecca shreds used clothing only to reassemble it in the model of a regal kimono.

Every piece comes from a deep point of experience.
Jeanne Williamson calls the exhibit "competitive to Fiber Art International," quite a compliment. From a walk on the beach to a brush with cancer, from an empty room to a pointless war, the show explores personal journeys and profound concerns.

Workspace Wednesday...

with Jaye of thirteenthstory



Yeah, I've got an office job again. After taking a few months off to concentrate on my art business, I've gone back to work to make money and keep the momentum going. Paychecks go towards materials and advertising and savings; that's the plan anyway. My cat had surgery last month, so the vet gets some of that paycheck right now.

Its been a challenge to be creative within the new schedule, so I squeeze in some sketching during my lunch hour. Even though I can't get a ton of artwork done during that time, I get enough done so that at the end of the day I'm charged up to keep going in the evening and on weekends.

-Jaye of thirteenthstory

Alzheimer's Quilt Initiative

article by Linda of All Dunn
Karen Musgrave and the Alliance for American Quilts recently teamed up with the Alzheimer's Quilt Initiative to document the stories behind the traveling exhibit of quilts, Alzheimer's: Piece by Piece. She interviewed me by phone last week, and posted our conversation on-line recently. My words will be in the Library of Congress. What a strange feeling that is.

My quilt, Trying to Remember, is a tribute to my dad, who died with Alzheimer's some ten years ago. Here he is, as a young man, and much later, as I remember him.

Monday Mosaic - Spring!

It's spring! Well, that's what they say anyway, even though it's still chilly in Boston. Here are some items and photos inspired by the season with contributions by:
creatively anew
Sea Glass Things
The Hole Thing
Amy Olson Jewelry
Mimi K
muchacha K
Pogibabies Handmade
Nancyrosetta
Fraske DesignsReclaimed To You
Elizabeth Brennick Designs
Stonehouse Studio

and thank you to Mimi K for putting it together! See more photos by Boston Handmade members in our Flickr Group.

The Junk Box Challenge

by Lisa of Glamourpuss Creations

Every crafter has one: a box (or boxes!) filled with little odds and ends, bits of material, pieces of chain, a stray bead they just can't bring themselves to part with.

I put the challenge out to members of Boston Handmade to create the prettiest and most unique thing ONLY from their junk box items.

Here's mine - a pair of earrings made from bits of left over chain, some neat glass buttons I've had forever and a few vintage beads. Can't wait to see all of yours!

Crochet to Felt

by Dawn of creatively anew

Missing out on the Knitting Workshop because of 6" of snow in Grafton, MA I decided to crochet. I haven't had any lessons doing this and thought I would wing it.

I started crocheting single stitches and wrapped them into a spiral picking up stitches as I went. Having no idea how to crochet a bag I thought I had to add stitches after I determined the bottom size. Happily doing this I ended up with a ruffle of sorts. Knowing I wanted a straight tube like purse I then dropped some stitches and determined to keep the same amount of stitches around. This worked rather nicely. To add the strap I crocheted 9 stitches and then down to 5 until I was satisfied with the length. Attaching it on the other side I just grabbed the stitches where it met the rim.

Now the fun part. I have always wanted a felted bag so now was my chance. The 100% wool yarn went into a pillowcase then into a mini cycle of hot water with a little detergent. I just started the machine and checked it in about 15 minutes. I then took it out of the pillowcase and just let it be by itself for the rest of the cycle. When I heard it spin out I wasn't sure what I was going to get. To my surprise it really felted itself and the stitches looked like they were gone. I hung it on a doorknob to dry.

I was thrilled! I did it! Thanks to Boston Handmade for the inspiration and just because it snowed I kept my date with some yarn!