Crafting with Photos at the BCAE

by Lucie of Lucie Wicker Photography

Happy Saturday! I just wanted to let you know about a class I will be teaching at the Boston Center for Adult Education on Wednesday, June 15. The class is called Beyond the Album: Crafting with Photos, and here is what it's all about:

What good are your photos if nobody ever sees them? Learn how to turn your favorites into treasured heirlooms or gifts for your loved ones! We’ll show you how easy it can be to transform your photographs into unique, thoughtful items for all occasions: ornaments, coasters, note cards, and more. You’ll learn how to work with different types of printing papers, adhesives, and sealants to create a variety of craft items. All materials will be provided.

It will be at 6pm for 2 hours and it'll be a lot of fun, I think you should sign up! To register for the class, please visit the BCAE website. See you there!

Project Accessory

by Allison of Fraske Designs

Attention, jewelry and accessory designers! Project Accessory, a new reality competition show spun off from Project Runway, will begin casting jewelry designers—along with handbag, shoe, and other fashion-accessory designers—in four cities this June.

According to Lifetime’s website, the show will follow enterprising artists competing for a cash grand prize by creating the newest and hottest trends in accessories. The grand prize is meant to help the winning designer launch a fashion accessory business.

Goodbye Pictures is hosting open calls for interested designers in New York City on June 18–19, in Miami on June 21, in Chicago on June 23, and Los Angeles on June 25–26.

For more information, visit the JCK website.

Painting with Threads

by Sharon Fischer of Straynotions

On Monday night I taught an intro to embroidery workshop at the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE). While the participants learned how to interpret their ideas as embroidered pieces -- I learned what a total embroidery and thread geek I am! Here's my current "palette" which doesn't include the silks I use for Japanese embroidery. Lots of DMC and "Coats" cotton in solids and variegated hues, a new batch of shiny rayon in hundred of colors, some sparkly and and metalics, and pearl (perle?) cottons-- enough for a lifetime perhaps.

Phish Supporting Artists

by Karen Mahoney of City by the Sea Ceramics

Summer is here, which means I will be spending some days doing one of my favorite things- seeing Phish live. Aside from making my favorite music, I love them for supporting independent artists. I want to share with you a few of the many supportive things Phish does for creative people like us.

For each show they play, they commission a design from a printmaker. Each artist creates a limited run of prints to be sold at merchandise booths at the show. Collecting these prints has become huge in the Phish community, evident by people lining up for hours to get into the show, not to get a good seat, but to ensure they go home with a coveted print, as they always sell out.

About 15 years ago the band began to have artist Jim Pollock design images for their concert tickets that are ordered directly from the band. These days, tickets are still available from the band through a pre-sale lottery, and they continue to be decorated with images created by many different artists, something you won't get on your tickets when purchased from Ticketmaster.

Vermont sculptor Lars Fisk, whose work you can see on view at the DeCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA, created a piece for the album Round Room. His ball sculptures are instantly recognizable. He has also worked with the band as a creative director for their festivals.

Artist Alyce Santoro had one of her sonic fabric pieces worn and used onstage in 2004. Using the tape from cassettes, she wove a fabric that emits sound when swiped with the head of a tape player.

At their festivals, Phish has always made art a staple of the event, creating an area for attendees to explore between sets of music. I've seen incredible fire sculptures, life size styrofoam cars 30 feet up in a tree, and interactive exhibits where they invite viewers to create with 10,000 rolls of masking tape in a forest.

Perhaps the most direct way Phish helps artists early in their careers is with the Seven Below Arts Initiative. It was formed to "foster artistic development and support arts education in the state of Vermont", offering residency programs for artists in a time where funds are disappearing. The effort is a collaboration with Burlington City Arts and is open to artists from anywhere, not just Vermont or New England.

Is there a way that your favorite band support artists in similar ways?

Three Reasons to Love Screen Printing

By Evan of Evan Webster Ink

Over the last couple of years working as a screen print artist I've gotten a very complete understanding of the craft. I've decided to think about exactly what I like about screen printing and try to summarize those thoughts for you here.

1. Repeatability: This is a key to my enjoyment of screen printing. For as long as I can remember I've enjoyed finding quick ways to do things. In grade school they called me "señor flash" based on the time it took me to complete homework assignments. For this reason, painting is not for me. Screen printing offers a way to prepare a design well and then repeat it consistently and quickly - perfect!


2. Creative Wiggle-room: I do like having the ability to print the same exact image every time. But I also love the fact that minor twe aks can be made between prints to give them a true hand-made, one-of-a-kind look. Exactly the same every time is boring but slightly different is fantastic! For example, one can mix colors of ink in a screen which results in a blended color, the exact blend of which changes every print. Also, to improvise color intensity I sometimes adjust the pressure of how hard the ink is pushed through the screen. This makes me think of my aunt's mug collection. Each mug is exactly the same shape (with a little thumb area on the handle!) but they are all glazed totally differently. This mix of consistency and variation is great in pottery and in screen printing.


3. Color Constraints: The more colors in a design, the more screens you have to make, the more work that has to be done in preparation, printing and clean-up. There's an inherent incentive in screen printing to use less colors of ink. This forces screen printers to get creative while getting simple. Thinking about visual expression with limited colors has vastly improved my artistic ability and allows my work to say more with less.

Thanks for reading everyone, if you want to follow me check out twitter.com/evanwebsterink, facebook.com/evanwebsterink and evanwebsterink.com/blog!

Monday Mosaic: Music to my Ears

Curated by Lynne of Cozy Cottage Creations



1. Ornate pictorial necklace , by Parrish Relics
2. Trumpet 5x7 Photo Print , by Lucie Wicker Photography
3. 1 inch wide Dog Collar in Guitar Hero , by Cody's Creations
4. Night Song, Original Collage , by Reclaimed to You

Disaster Relief Donation Efforts for Western Massachusetts

by Jennifer T. of MaJenta Designs

On June 1, 2011, we had some severe weather that passed through Massachusetts.

The storms have now passed, and luckily we didn't get hit too hard out here in the Boston area...however, the area where I grew up in, the Springfield and Western Massachusetts area got severely hit by at least 3 tornadoes. This is something extremely unusual for the New England area, so we weren't prepared for this type of severe storms and devastation.

I will be looking into possible volunteer opportunities... but currently the local Red Cross is gladly accepting monetary donations to help those who have been affected by the storms; several homes were leveled, things completely destroyed.

Here at MaJenta Designs we want to do whatever we can to help out. We will be donating 100% of ALL our proceeds from our sales from now until June 15th.

Thanks so much for supporting our relief efforts!

Boston Handmade is Accepting Membership Applications!

Boston Handmade Member Beth Brennick of Elizabeth Brennick Designs at a show with her handmade wearables.

Since 2007 Boston Handmade has been connecting local artists and craftspeople, bringing together arts professionals in all stages of their careers, encouraging dialogue, and harnessing the power of many to strengthen the success of each creative individual.

As a group, the membership of Boston Handmade is dedicated to working collaboratively for mutual inspirational and professional benefit, regularly producing exhibition and educational opportunities for one another. As individuals, our members are committed to succeeding as working artists, creating their original work by hand in small studio environments.

If you are interested in applying to become a member of Boston Handmade please read our full information on our website, and submit an application online.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 5, 2011